The father figure who has had the greatest impact on my life is my dad, Matthew Ritter. Throughout my life, he has been my role model, mentor, and the person I look to for guidance. When I think about the values that have shaped who I am today, almost all of them come from the lessons he taught me growing up. In many ways, he taught me everything I know about discipline, responsibility, and how to approach life with purpose. My dad always led by example. Rather than simply telling me what was important, he showed me through his actions. From a young age, I watched the way he approached his work and his responsibilities. He believed in doing things the right way and taking pride in the effort you put into something. Whether it was his career, supporting our family, or helping others when they needed it, he consistently demonstrated that hard work and integrity matter. Watching that shaped how I think about success. It taught me that success is not just about achievement, but about the character you build along the way. One of the most important lessons my father taught me was discipline. He made it clear that goals are rarely achieved through talent alone. They require consistency and a willingness to keep working even when progress feels slow. There were many times growing up when I faced challenges in school or other parts of life, and he always reminded me that setbacks are normal. What matters most is how you respond to them. That mindset helped me learn to stay focused, keep improving, and trust that effort over time leads to results. He also encouraged me to think independently. Instead of giving me all the answers, he often pushed me to figure things out on my own. At the time it sometimes felt frustrating, but looking back I realize how valuable that approach was. It taught me how to problem solve, how to think critically, and how to take ownership of my decisions. Those skills have become incredibly important as I pursue my education and start preparing for my future career. What makes my father especially meaningful as a father figure is the constant support he has given me. No matter the situation, he has always been someone I can rely on for honest advice and encouragement. Knowing that he believes in me has given me the confidence to pursue challenging opportunities and push myself outside of my comfort zone. Whenever I face a difficult decision or obstacle, I often think about the lessons he taught me and how he would approach the situation. The influence my dad has had on my life continues to shape the person I am becoming. His emphasis on hard work, integrity, and perseverance guides how I approach my education and my goals for the future. As I pursue a career in business, I hope to carry those same values into everything I do. Matthew Ritter is special to me not just because he is my father, but because of the example he set every day. Through his actions, he showed me what it means to live with purpose, treat others with respect, and always strive to do your best. The lessons he passed down to me will stay with me for the rest of my life.

Pursuing higher education has challenged me to think deeply about what kind of impact I want to have in the world. While my coursework has helped me build strong analytical and financial skills, one of the most meaningful challenges I faced was finding a sense of purpose within my education. Like many students early in college, I knew I was interested in finance and accounting, but I was still searching for how I could use those interests to truly help others. Over time, that purpose became clear through my involvement with Unconquered by Debt, a financial literacy organization at Florida State University. I joined Unconquered by Debt during my freshman year, initially hoping to learn more about personal finance and meet other students with similar interests. What I discovered instead was an opportunity to directly impact the lives of others through financial education. The organization focuses on helping students build strong financial habits by offering one-on-one financial coaching and hosting workshops that cover topics such as budgeting, credit, saving, and student loans. As I became more involved, I started leading workshops and coaching students individually. Today, as a junior, I continue to teach multiple workshops each week, some of which host up to sixty students at a time. In these sessions, we break down complex financial topics into clear and practical steps that students can apply immediately in their own lives. During one-on-one coaching sessions, I work directly with students to discuss their financial situations, set goals, and create realistic plans to manage their money more effectively. One of the challenges I faced early in my college experience was understanding how my education could translate into something meaningful beyond the classroom. Through Unconquered by Debt, I found that connection. I realized that financial knowledge has the power to change lives. Many students simply have never been taught how to manage money, build credit, or plan for long-term financial goals. When someone leaves a workshop feeling more confident about their finances, or when a coaching session helps a student create a plan to pay off debt or start saving, the impact is immediate and tangible. This experience shaped my goals in a powerful way. It showed me that the most fulfilling part of finance is not the numbers themselves, but the people behind them. Helping others understand their financial situation and make better decisions gives them a sense of control and opportunity that can influence the rest of their lives. Looking ahead, I want to continue building on this foundation by pursuing a career where I can combine financial expertise with meaningful client relationships. My education in finance and accounting provides the technical knowledge necessary to navigate complex financial systems, while my experience teaching financial literacy has strengthened my ability to communicate those ideas clearly and effectively. Ultimately, I envision using my education to expand the impact I have already experienced through Unconquered by Debt. Whether through wealth management, financial advising, or community outreach, I want to continue helping individuals gain the knowledge and confidence they need to build stable and successful futures. Financial literacy empowers people to make informed decisions, and I hope to spend my career making that knowledge more accessible to those who need it most.