From the time I learned to write sentences with a subject and a predicate, I have known that I have wanted to be a writer. Throughout my life, I have loved to create and become inspired off of others’ creativity. When I wrote my first story, a tale inspired by Egyptian mythology in a little paper book that I bound together, I knew that I wanted to try and make it big. Writing is an escape for me. When I start writing the intricate lines of my story plot, it only takes me a few minutes to get sucked into my story. The characters and storyline become my every waking thought, and the satisfaction I feel from finishing another chapter towards the climax of my story is enough to motivate me to continue the next day. I love to spin the words of my story; to create art with each of my verb choices and intricate descriptions so that my readers know exactly what I want to convey. When I share what I have written with my friends and family, I anticipate and become excited for their commentary. I want to know what they enjoyed and didn’t so that I can improve my writing and make them even more enthralled with my story. I have also known from a young age that I could not have a career that didn’t let me create. If I could wish for anything from a genie’s bottle, I’d ask for a writing contract for a fantasy series and a cottage in Scotland where I could write in solitude, an air of peacefulness with the quiet sound of my dog’s footsteps padding along the stone floor. However, I know that I must be the one to make my dreams come true, and it doesn’t come from only hoping, but that is good fuel. Every day, I set myself the goal to work on a set amount of words for my latest project, and although it is hard to draft your first official novel, I know it will be worth it in the end. I know, deep within my heart, that I was put on this earth to tell stories, and to transport others into the world I’ve created in my mind. For me, writing is like breathing. I do not realize how much I need it until I stop, and I never want it to be another way.

From a young age, I have always been challenged with the task of being a leader, and it was most often represented through playing violin. Starting at the age of seven, I began to learn to play, and much of my life has been characterized by the positions of responsibility I had to take in various youth symphonies and school orchestras. One of my most challenging responsibilities was serving as the concertmaster of my high school orchestra for four years. The concertmaster is the first chair, first violin, and they are tasked with many responsibilities, but more when it is a chamber orchestra. Our top group in my high school was exactly that; chamber orchestras must be able to perform without a conductor. On top of the normal duties of a concertmaster, like getting your group warmed up and running first violin sectionals, I also had to learn and struggle through the process of leading an orchestra without any prior experience. There are a lot of unsaid rules to running an orchestra while playing in it yourself; you are responsible for making sure all the sections are together, as well as listening to them to coordinate cues with the nod of your head and commanding attention with the gaze of your eyes. Another thing that you learn while leading a group is that you must ask for feedback from other students. Without feedback, you can never know if everyone is satisfied, and can never have a productive conversation that improves your own manner of directing the group. While working with other combating personalities is hard, what is harder is trying to make sure that everyone understands each other and is able to use their teamwork skills to create. Although it was a process full of improving little things along the way, I have never regretted my time learning to become a concertmaster. Now, I am much better at managing teams and understanding others’ perspectives. It is easier for me to identify the strengths and weaknesses of my group and myself, and learning how to improve every working part of it was established within me in my time in the orchestra room. When you foster your leadership skills in an accepting environment before coming to the workplace, you come that much more prepared. Teamwork is the fabric of our future, and we must do everything we can to establish and preserve it.

Percy Jackson, Katniss Everdeen, and Harry Potter; these three book characters have defined what it means to be a Gen Z reader. For me, these characters are what made me who I am today. At the age of seven years old, I told every adult around me that when I wanted to grow up, I wanted to be an author. Even then, I knew it wasn’t for fame or money, but for the responsibility of defining a generation. As a child, I wanted nothing more than to see other kids like me in the future reading a book that I wrote. Relating to the characters, pretending to be them, and writing their own little spinoff stories made me so eager to get to work, I started writing as soon as I could properly combine a subject and a predicate. Writing today gives me a feeling that is not able to compare to any of my other pastimes. When I sit in front of my computer, hammering down on the keys to no end, I become immersed in my stories. One day, I could be with my character during a battle of magical power, and another, I could be exploring the nooks and crannies of a forest’s caves, looking for clues to further progress the storyline. When I manage to pull myself out of the near-daydreaming trance, I realize that I have once again hypnotized myself with the wonderful world that is storytelling. A sense of accomplishment and pride courses through me, but the most obvious feeling is that of elation. Creativity feels like it is pouring out of my hands and onto the paper or screen, and I feel like I have done what humans are meant to do; create. Writing is not only a form of self-expression, but it is also a way to understand myself. By writing characters that feel like myself or others in my life, I begin to further comprehend why I hide certain parts of myself and accentuate others through my character’s inner monologue. As I delve further into the plotline, I can create characters that are indeed mirrors of everyday life, but also people that teach me about the world around me. In contrast, I have found that the only time I am truly disconnected from the world is when I am writing. It may sound odd, given my previous statement, but I believe that to write you must separate yourself entirely from your surroundings to look at them in an unbiased and nearly omniscient light. Writing is my form of self-expression, understanding, and most accurately where I feel the happiest, wandering contentedly among my words and characters.

Throughout my life, I have been commended on my writing and presentation skills. Growing up, it has always been easy for me to think of intricate sentences on the fly; it was second nature to think of an obscure vocabulary word to ornament my writing. However, I have never been good at memorizing material, and whenever I was asked to memorize my work, whether it be music or poems, nerves shot through me like a million minuscule cannons when presentation time had come up. When I was a sophomore in high school, my English teacher chose me to write a speech for a rotary contest. While I was extremely excited to analyze and defend my topic of choice, the looming fear of presenting the memorized speech dominated all of my creative thoughts. From the weeks leading up to the speech, I tried to convince myself that the fateful day was farther away. I would revise my writing with my teacher, however, a little voice in the back of my mind nagged me, worried that as soon as I got on the call with the rotary board, I would be unsure if my extensive research and rebuttals would be memorized in the precise way I wanted them to be. I can still remember two nights before the speech; I was at my kitchen table with my mom, with only a cue card to remember the beginnings of my sentences. When I stuttered on the wording of one of them, I felt a fear so deep within me it made me nauseous for the rest of the night. My mom tried to reassure me that I could memorize it, but my anxious feelings took over my entire body. I knew that if I was going to succeed on the day of the speech, I had to power through. On the day of the speech I recall not being able to stomach anything but toast for breakfast; my stomach was churning at the thought of drinking cold water. When I reached the principal’s office at school, where the meeting was going to be held via video call. Connecting to it was nightmarish; I had to restart my speech because there were issues with the audio and the adjudicators could not hear me. However, I reminded myself that I was able to achieve whatever I put my mind to, and when I restarted, I delivered the entire speech by memory. Sure, my palms were shaking and sweaty, but the sense of relief and accomplishment I felt when it was over was reward enough. As I walked to the rest of my morning classes, I realized that I was able to conquer my anxiety, which kept me restrained and holding back my true abilities for my academic and extracurricular career. If I was able to control the fear that guided my decisions and dictated my actions, I could achieve anything I wanted to. I was no longer ruled by fear; I was running on determination.

Learning to manage finances is one of the best ways to better prepare oneself for adulthood. Once you leave the comfortable bubble that is the structure of the education system, an unsettling feeling of independence washes over you; you realize for the first time that managing money is no longer saving for a new video game or pair of shoes. Money is used as stability and is the way the world turns. Practicing how to manage finances as a student can make this transition much easier and less confusing; by making a monthly expenses chart of predicted expenses and then the actual expenses at the end of the month, managing finances becomes a less-stressful and ominous skill that your future needs. As a student that has many extracurriculars and leads a busy life, managing my finances takes one stressful thought out of my everyday life; how much money am I spending, and am I making enough to put a considerable amount aside for college? By allowing myself a designated budget for each area of my life, such as gas/transport, savings, insurance, and misc/food, I can manage my income for the month and still enjoy some activities and purchases for myself. This type of system translates quite easily to adult life, as I’ve suggested this method to my friends who are now out of college and part of the workforce. Being able to visualize spending and income is extremely helpful, they have told me, and it is easier to understand where one may need to cut back on spending to make room for other expenses. Teaching yourself the discipline of resisting those ‘buying compulsions’ creates a more responsible adult consumer. Although it is fun to go on shopping sprees and buy the newest video game, how will one be able to pay for their monthly insurance bill? Understanding the limits to these budgets is vital in the transition to early adulthood. Learning to manage money is a skill in itself; humans are hardwired to have desires and wants and have an instinct that tells them to act as soon as possible. By visualizing the bigger picture of monthly payments versus salary through using a system, it is much easier and less stressful to ‘adult.’ The transition from the teenage years to young adulthood is said to be the hardest, but by understanding how to manage your assets, one can become a successful everyday citizen with ease.

The smallest actions can make noticeable impacts on our lives and the state of the earth. Taking initiative and changing our individual habits to live more sustainable lives is the greatest change you can make in your life to help the earth heal. For myself, I have found after researching that actions like reducing our plastic consumption and consuming goods from sustainable brands can help reduce individual carbon footprint: the amount of carbon that your actions and consuming tendencies need to be produced. Sustainable living has a stigma around it that many beginners may be wary of. Social media depicts a picture that everything you must do needs to be perfectly made and if you buy any product without knowing the origin of how it was made, you cannot be considered a ‘sustainable consumer.’ However, that is simply not the case. Any action one makes to live a more sustainable life can make a great change on the earth but additionally influence others around them to do the same, making an even greater impact. For example, by recommending a sustainable jewelry brand to a friend, an individual has already altered the consuming habits of two people! The communication carries, and then an entire community begins to change their habits. When carefully researching the origins and materials of the products we routinely buy, we become more educated consumers, which in turn reduces the number of materials and nonrenewable resources needed to live our everyday lives. Additionally, knowing what materials our products are made of can help us properly dispose of or recycle them. Identifying the material, for example, plastic, can ensure that it does not end up polluting the ecosystem, as many of these materials end up in places such as the sea, killing wildlife. Choosing to properly dispose of consumed goods is an educated change that is simple to start and continues to benefit the environment. Being a conscious consumer is one of the most important factors when beginning to live a more sustainable lifestyle. The environment receives great benefits from these actions; less carbon is reduced in the air, helping the ozone layer heal itself, and wildlife areas are at less risk of endangerment due to decreased air pollution, water pollution, and deforestation. It is my goal as a consumer to influence others to begin to do the same; living sustainably is the greatest solution to healing our environment.

When I was fourteen years old, my brother asked me to start doing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with him. Growing up, I loved to play outside and run around, but as I got older, I could not seem to find a sport that I truly enjoyed. For me, I felt as though I needed a good community to come with the sport as well as one that involved intense strategic thinking. At first, I was hesitant to accept his offer. I could remember thinking to myself, how could I be the type of person to do jiu-jitsu? My brother had been doing jiu-jitsu for a little over a year after finishing his senior year of wrestling in high school. I felt as though only incredibly muscled guys with lots of stamina could do such a seemingly complicated sport. However, when I expressed this concern to my best friend, she encouraged me to try it out with my brother, saying, "You shouldn’t be afraid to try. What if it ends up changing your life?" At the beginning of the class, I was paired up with a mom of three and a newly-graduated nurse. As they began to work with me, they kindly showed me how to do the moves we were taught and behaved exactly the opposite of what I was expecting. I was thinking earlier that day that I would probably get paired up with a guy that didn’t have the patience for a newbie, and I would just feel embarrassed for the entire class. To see that women of all shapes and sizes were learning this close-contact sport with men side by side was truly inspiring to me because it ignited a small spark of self-assurance within me. After that first class, I never stopped. I have been training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for almost four years now, and I love it. Finding a new way to exercise did wonders for my physical and mental health. Not only did it gradually increase my body strength and stamina, but it also helped me nurture an ability for strategic thinking. Lastly, but most importantly, I have found the greatest community of strong and kind women and men that uplift me and celebrate my victories alongside me. Athletics have not always been something I have known, as I’ve rotated through several sports throughout my lifetime, searching for a community to find camaraderie in. Ever since I walked onto the mats on that first day, I have found myself more and more intrigued and captivated by jiu-jitsu. Not only has it brought me a healthier lifestyle, but one with more happiness from the people I am surrounded by.

Growing up in the early 2000s was anything but an ordinary childhood experience. From living through climate disasters, political crises, pandemics, and economic crashes, Generation Z has built a tolerance to life-altering experiences. Many kids my age have grown up hearing generally the same statement from older authority figures, ‘The earth is dying, but we won’t be alive to fix it. Your generation has to.’ This statement alone is an incredible burden to put on a child, but to face an entire generation with this reality? Picking up the pieces of centuries worth of wrongdoing for the earth can seem incredibly overwhelming. However, individuals have the power, no matter the generation, to make small decisions that in unity with our peers, can save the earth. Individual choices in consuming and properly disposing of consumed goods are what I believe can make the greatest impact on climate change. By eliminating and reducing the usage of products that contribute to air pollution, our carbon footprints, oceanic pollution, and general consumerism of materials that use nonrenewable resources to manufacture, great strides can be made. According to a study conducted by the University of Michigan, if everyone on earth consumed goods in the way the average American did, it would take five earths to support our population. Simple changes are the best way to start this transition. For example, instead of eating beef products, which is one of the greatest carbon-using meat industries, two to three times a week, changing that ratio to about once a week and incorporating meals of fish or plant-based protein already exponentially decreases the average household’s carbon footprint. Another change that can be made is using reusable and washable ‘plastic bags’ or tupperware for packed lunches instead of plastic ones. Sure, a single person may use only four of five a week, but if a family of five packs lunch every weekday, the plastic adds up! Lastly, it is always beneficial to recycle and use other methods of transport like public transport, carpooling, biking, and walking to destinations, as one of the biggest causes of climate change is pollution from waste and carbon emissions. Personal strides and goals to better our earth’s climate are the best things that my generation could ask for. I make it a goal to reduce my carbon footprint by consuming fewer meat products, recycling at every opportunity, and buying from brands that are verified as carbon or water neutral. By making smarter choices when buying and using products, an individual can make a great impact on the planet. Additionally, joining and signing for foundations that protect our earth through individual causes, such as deforestation, coral bleaching, and plastic use can bring awareness to individuals with greater impact, such as legislators. I’ve signed several petitions such as these and am currently looking for places within my county to participate in a peaceful protest for the battle against climate change. Everyone can make a difference, no matter how small the action. Being one voice can ignite within others the passion to save our futures and change the world.

“Can I get two strong boys to come up and help me stack chairs, please?” Was a phrase that was uttered by countless elementary school teachers throughout my life. As a child, this did not make sense to me whatsoever. Why should two boys come up and help the teacher with chairs when I was two heads taller than them? This was often my mental response to the statement, and because of this, I raised my hand and insisted I’d help anyway. My grandmother would look at me disapprovingly at this same age when I would question why we had to clean up dinner when I had helped her prepare the meal. Why couldn’t my brother and grandfather help clean? The first time I heard the word feminist was after one of these circumstances. My mother whispered to me as we gathered the finished plates, “Honey, I know it doesn’t make sense. She will just get angry if you keep asking, but you’re a little feminist through and through.” Feminism has always been something that I have admired in the actions of my favorite book characters, my teachers, and my mother. Feminism, to me, is the ability of women to strive for extraordinary things and their ability to fight for equal treatment among their male counterparts. It is characterized by hardworking, intelligent, strong and resourceful women who do not back down when someone gets in their way. My inspiration for my feminist qualities may be some parts of the women that I interact with in my everyday life, but I have always known deep within me that it was the girl I was; the one that questioned why girls could not be just as strong as boys, just as good at science, and even better at spelling. Because of those memories of small and confusing circumstances, I vowed to myself to constantly speak out against the unfair treatment of women and oppressive systems in school and everyday life. In honor of the girl I once was, I began to use my social media as a platform for women’s rights activism. I have shared countless links of ways to help groups of oppressed women with my friends, signed petitions online and in-person (I am happy I can do that now, as I’m eighteen) and used my education and school’s environment to write essays and participate in discussions, highlighting themes of feminism within our curriculum. Feminism is something that I will always defend and speak about with passion. We must highlight the importance of women’s treatment to give as many liberties as we can to make the world a more equal and just place for the next generation.

For as long as I can remember, I have loved to tell stories. As a child, I was always creative, making up new fairytale games to play with my friends. One day, we were mermaids and we each had our own kingdom, designated by the change of landscaping in front lawns between houses. The next day, we lived in a triple-decker treehouse; at least, one I outlined in chalk, detailing each intricate room it held across the sidewalk. As soon as I was able to read, my ideas flowed even more, and so I began to write. At first, my habit of writing started as something to keep just for myself, but when I finally began to understand the concept of writing as a job, I knew I wanted it. As a seven-year-old, I told all the adults in my life that I wanted to be an author, illustrator, and clothes designer. Six years, a failed wardrobe and a given-up sketchbook later, I decided that I should stick to writing. Being a published author is still a dream I hold to this day; to see my friends and family members’ reactions to the characters, storylines, and descriptive phrases I write fills me with such joy I could not imagine living my life without leaving a book that I wrote behind for the people of the world to read. To keep developing my writing skills, I began to write my own original stories in middle school. I would have my best friend read them, who still embarrasses me with their contents to this day, and then would continue to write the next story and the next. As I got into high school, I began to create outlines and more detailed fictional worlds. I would dedicate hours of writing a week just to myself to see if any of these outlines were worth hashing out, and eventually, I got to write some lengthy documents. I realized in that short time that I wanted to begin to write the novel I was dreaming about writing my entire life. I started to write it at the end of my junior year of high school, and now I am about a third of the way through my first draft. My creativity has always been something I held dear within myself. Because of that creativity, I was able to put my mind to work and begin to create something new to fulfill my life goal of publishing a novel. Now that I have put countless hours of work into creating this project, I feel as though I am starting something that will be a vital part of my future.

In the past year, I have become a more authentic version of myself. The mask that I used to put on for people is slowly chipping away, and it is entirely because I started to look at life from a different perspective. Before the pandemic, I floated across the waters of daily life, just waiting until my life was more enjoyable, believing the tide would bring me to the shore of happiness. When I realized that life was not always living on shore, everything changed. The lonely and bitter feelings I harbored before and during the pandemic demonstrated to me that life was not always going to be fun; when I got back to school, in person, I began to look at living as something to be cherished; a life full of friends, family, and laughter. Becoming a more authentic version of myself has led me to live a happier life that I can look forward to experiencing every day. The COVID-19 pandemic happened during my freshman year of high school; it was a vital part of my education that was taken away, however, in solitude I began to conclude that my friends meant a great deal to me. Before, I nearly took pride in the fact that I did not hang out with friends often and stuck to my academics before the pandemic, and while academics are important, I felt as though I needed to have a life with greater balance. When the second semester of sophomore year came around, I came back to school ready to have fun with my friends and make daily classes enjoyable for me. School was not something to get through anymore; it was a place where I could feel at home with the friends I had and the teachers I trusted. Becoming a more sociable person has made me a kinder person as well; when I recognize that one of my friends is not acting as their usual self, I am there for them and more present as a person. My compassion and apathy have always been a part of me, but it has grown to help others in times when I may not have realized it before. I learned that one of my greatest desires in life is to help others in any way I can, which has made me ponder becoming a teacher. Making a difference in others’ lives is something that the pandemic inspired within me; when others are struggling, I make it my mission to help them in any way I can. My journey of self-discovery has reminded me that people are always changing and growing. Life is not always fighting to make it to shore alone. Life is learning to let the waves take you and bring you to the shallow end, where your friends are waiting with their hands outstretched. By taking on new outlooks and perspectives in life, looking for the little things and big relationships to enjoy, and striving to be a good and helpful friend, I believe that I can fulfill my life’s goal; leaving the world a better place than before.

Growing up as a Serbian-American has instilled within me a strong sense of my culture; the traditions and rich history behind the country of my origin have been a source of my pride and identity. One of the most important pieces of history that is taught to Serbian children is within the lyrics of a famous song, Tamo Daleko (Far Away). Throughout World War I, Serbians were forced to retreat from their homeland after the Central Powers’ invasion. Serbians starved and froze to death across the rocky terrain of Albania to the island of Corfu, Greece. Although this journey was devastating, Serbians kept within them their hope; “Bez otačbine, na Krfu živeh ja, ali sam ponosno klic'o "Živela Srbija!" (Without a homeland, I lived in Corfu, But I proudly cried, “Long Live Serbia!”)” One of the greatest parts of Serbian identity is our religion, Serbian Christian Orthodoxy. After centuries of religious persecution from the Ottomans and neighboring kingdoms, we persisted with our faith, even during the war. “Tamo mi spališe crkvu u kojoj venčah se mlad (There they burned down the church I got married in when I was young)”. The strength of Serbs has been something that I have deeply respected; like a phoenix taking its final breaths, we rise from the ashes because it is who we are and what we believe in. This piece of music is sacred to me and my history. My ancestors died for their homeland and lived in their identity proudly; they went wherever they needed to live as their truest selves. The longing, grieving heartbreak of these lyrics remind me that I have the strength fueled within me by thousands of ancestors to do whatever I can. If I keep my faith and my willpower strong, I will achieve anything.

Growing up with dogs is one of the best experiences you can give a child. Dogs are loyal, lifelong friends that can teach children a multitude of life skills like patience, persistence, and kindness. My childhood was an upbringing never known without a dog, and it was a happy one. I have owned two dogs, and both have taught me very different truths, but one resolute value; owning dogs has shown me that every dog you meet will always demonstrate to you how to become the best version of yourself that you can be. Whenever Luke, a muscled, black and dark-brown German Shepherd was by my side, I felt safe. He was loyal, resilient, and fearless. Although I do not remember it, my parents always look fondly back on a terrifying experience with Luke. When my brother and I were little, a Great Dane walking down our street with his owner pulled so hard on his leash that the owner let go of him. He charged for my brother and me viciously, ready to snap, but Luke bounded up toward the dog, my dad running furiously in his trail. At the last second, both the owner and my dad grabbed the dogs before any fight ensued. Luke had nearly fought to the death defending my brother and me. Growing up with him taught me many things, but the lesson I remember most was that if you wanted to be loved, you had to persistently defend your friends and family. No matter what trouble your loved ones were in, you had to help them in any way you could. Loyalty was what kept your loved ones close to you, and without it, life was not worth living. Whenever Harvey is by my side, I feel loved. Harvey, a red and curly-haired, lovable Goldendoodle is a friend of the world, a rambunctious and energetic dog who never stops begging for Goldfish crackers. I was fifteen years old when I proved to my parents through countless dog training books, powerpoints, saved money, and tears that I wanted to care for a dog of my own. It took much convincing, but I had a puppy in my hands nearly a year later. Learning how to care for a dog was much different than having a family dog. Harvey showed me that not everything should be about yourself. When you have to care for another life, you cannot be selfish. You have to make a commitment to be the owner of a dog, and you have to change your lifestyle to better the both of yours, sacrificing individual wants for something so much dearer. In my religion, Serbian Christian Orthodoxy, my dogs and I were born on Holy Days. January 7th, Luke’s birthday, was Christmas. My birthday was Saint Sava, one of the most celebrated and renowned Serbian saints. Harvey’s is Saint Ilija, one of the greatest prophets; he drove a chariot of fire as red as Harvey’s hair. I have always felt that because they were born on such holy days, they were meant for me. I was twelve years old when we had to put Luke down; and it is still one of the hardest things I have ever faced. Harvey is a constant reminder of improvement to me; in order to do better for Luke, I must make the most of Harvey and be an example of a lifelong friend, loyal to the end, because that is what dogs are. They are the best of humanity, and we must do right by them to be all that is good in the world.

The human brain is a complex and intricate web of neurons and synapses, connecting basic human function via neurotransmitter messages spanning the entire body. Every nerve is connected into a network of various systems with the brain being its leader. The brain is seriously underestimated and its value should be equal, or greater, to any organ in the body. However, mental health issues and conditions are not easy to spot, like a broken bone; they are oftentimes not measurable either, yet the mental health epidemic is rampaging throughout our society today. Mental health is incredibly important because a healthy brain influences the rest of the body’s wellbeing; by maintaining a routine of exercise, time with friends, pets, and family, and space in my day to focus on my mental needs, I am able to regulate a healthy consciousness that engages my body to live a happy and fulfilled life. Exercise releases the neurochemical dopamine, a necessary substance for daily life. Dopamine release can motivate a person to achieve anything; it is why we suddenly feel a burst of energy after a workout. For myself, I have found that doing sports that are enjoyable to me makes it much easier to consistently exercise. The satisfaction I feel on the mats when I succeed, whether I am at my Jiu Jitsu gym or the Wrestling Room at school, makes me want to keep coming back. The hard work of understanding a complex movement or submission engages my mental process and strategic thinking skills, not only growing my knowledge but giving my brain the neurochemicals it needs to be healthy. As introverted as I may be, everyone needs social interaction to keep a well-rounded mental state. Oxytocin is generated from these types of interactions. It is scientifically proven to regulate the amygdala, which reduces our fear and aggression responses, making us happier and more resilient people. Personally, I schedule in daily time with my dog to walk and play with him, as dogs are especially efficient at regulating stress and making us happier, but additionally because he is such an important companion and friend to me. I love to watch movies with friends and go with my family for coffee; I have found that after spending time with loved ones, my stress diminishes and whatever I may be worrying about suddenly seems less ominous and is not a dark cloud looming over my head. I have found that I am more content when I schedule social interaction, and it is something necessary for me to stay in the present, and regulate anxiety about the ever-changing future. Taking the time to process emotions and what may be happening to my mental state is vital to maintaining good mental health. Actions like journaling, reading, meditating, and yoga help me foster a mind that is proactive, not reactive. Being able to understand and separate myself from the initial, strong emotions that a stressful event may incur on my emotional state contributes to a more durable brain. Through writing down my thoughts and taking the time to methodically breathe, I create an environment that helps me carry on through my day in an encouraging and positive manner. It is incredibly difficult to consistently maintain a positive and strong mindset. With an evolving world around us, new ideas and bad experiences will always present themselves, so there is no guarantee that you can always approach the situation easily. By understanding the situation you are in, you can fortify your mind to be ready for the next challenge, because a strong mental state makes for a long future ahead.

Constant deadlines, extracurricular activities and dozens of hours in school a week can be exhausting for anybody. Without proper knowledge on how to recharge one’s body and maintain a well-rounded being, it is easy to feel as if you’re watching your energy crumble away, just an out-of-body spectator in your high school career. As a person who loves to plan every single day of her week, it is necessary for me to craft a routine that rejuvenates and reinvigorates my motivation. By scheduling in regular exercise, arranging time to cultivate positive mental habits, and eating consistent, well balanced meals, I create a sustainable routine that allows me to be successful in school and my life’s endeavors. Consistently exercising is a task of great effort in itself; if one does not engage in physical activity that is enjoyable, it is incredibly hard to maintain an exercise routine. For me, I have found that sports that involve my entire body are most enjoyable; I am a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and am on my school’s Varsity Girls Wrestling team. Learning self-defense technique and the intricacies of shots, submissions, and a plethora of complex movements is difficult. However, the satisfaction I experience when I get it right and the power of effectively using your technique overpowers any tiredness I feel. Additionally, these sports can make the body sore. Muscles and joints can be strained and pulled; it is vital to have a cool down that helps your body repair itself. Yoga, I have found, not only strengthens and releases tension for my body, but also provides me with the opportunity to strengthen my mental resilience. Maintaining mental wellbeing is much more strenuous than any physical activity because it is unable to be seen, and oftentimes, it is difficult to find the source of the problem. Mental disorders are rampaging amongst all generations today, but especially throughout Generation Z. Humans today are constantly bombarded with an overflowing amount of neurotransmitter information, caused most commonly from social media and other technology, and are unable to maintain the high-strung mental reactions to this surplus of chemicals surging through an individual’s brain. In order to reduce this information overload that everyone inevitably has to face, it is necessary to take time away from actions that overstimulate and numb your brain. By engaging in tasks that regulate my brain’s chemical levels, such as meditation, yoga, journaling, and reading, I am able to process information and daily occurrences at a healthier level. Through these actions, my body is able to stay calm in situations that would typically escalate someone’s influx of neural chemicals. By using this routine for mental wellbeing, I am able to sustain my mental welfare as a means of navigating life. Throughout our childhoods, we are reminded by our elders that eating a well-balanced diet will keep our bodies strong and healthy. What about the other forgotten benefits? For me, when I eat well-rounded meals, I feel energized and my head is clearer. I am less negative when I think, and I am able to study more efficiently. By taking in nutrients that come directly from the earth, like fruits and vegetables, we ensure the longevity of our lifespans. It has been scientifically proven countless times that when we eat natural, sustainable foods, we perform better in our work and school lives, our bodies are healthier, and our risk for developing mental illness decreases exponentially. When we maintain consistent diet, exercise, and mental practice, we ensure our chances for having happier, healthier lives; ones where we can live to our fullest.

Flynn Rider; ever the handsome and beautifully-flawed supporting role. When I was five years old, "Tangled" premiered in theaters. Everywhere you go, high school students now will argue that "Tangled" is one of the best princess movies Disney has made. I believe this is wholly due to Flynn Rider’s role throughout the movie. One of the countless reasons that I loved him, and still do, is that in the beginning, Flynn is a character with morally gray intentions. However, toward the movie’s end, Eugene’s ideals and morals have been challenged so greatly that he realizes the only abundance he should be looking for is an abundance of love. In the beginning of the film, he is wanted for thievery. It is not until Rapunzel uses her hair’s magic that he begins to change for his own benefit. Rapunzel is everything that Flynn is not; she is giving and kind, shameless and curious, optimistic, and even to her downfall, she is incredibly naive. Flynn knows of the world and entirely expects the worst from people. The two perfectly challenge each other’s perspectives. Eugene teaches Rapunzel that you must be wary of those you don’t know, although these truths are constantly rebutted by her happy-go-lucky, innocent nature. The princess makes Rider question his lifestyle, and why he steals; he realizes he is tired of living constantly on the run, and when this girl comes barreling into his life without warning, he is put in a spot of discomfort and change. This character arc that Flynn Rider undergoes is arguably one of the most underrated in Disney history. Flynn is realistically lovable, and he still has his mannerisms and quirks from the start of the story. He is not the perfect Prince Charming, but he is the perfect man for his newfound family. In some ways, I believe that as a child I felt pity for Flynn, even when he masked all of his desires and wants into comedic quips and bits. In my five year-old brain, I understood that Flynn had made bad choices but wanted to live a life of honesty, and I believed in getting a second chance to have the life that he wanted and needed. Flynn Rider shows to all children that people can overcome their circumstances, and with just a little patience and magic hair, they can develop to their highest self.