The most inspiring book I've read is Becoming by Michelle Obama. Throughout the book, she divides her lived experiences into distinct stages with all of them playing an important role in the woman she becomes and is still becoming to this day. Her story resonates with me because as a young college student in America today, it can be easy to focus on minuscule details instead of the bigger picture. Social media has created this ideal concept of what a young person's life should be like as they age, whether that relates to income, body image, or overall success. This couldn't be further from the truth, and Mrs. Obama explains this perfectly. Rather than expecting to figure it all out at some set time in life, it's more realistic to realize that passions will change, goals will shift, and growth will occur as long as I take the initiative. This book has empowered me to appreciate the gift of each new day and to take the pressure of the world off of my shoulders. It would be a lie to say that I completely embody this mindset at all times, but I am able to acknowledge that there is a purpose to each experience I gain and every person I encounter. Becoming taught me that the road to being the person you dream of is a never-ending journey. Instead of being frightened by that reality, I have the self-confidence to define my own way of living life. For that, I will always be grateful.

The past three years of college have taught me a lot about life, especially with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic changing the world. This insight came from TikTok, which is my current obsession these days. The creator of the video touched on the topic of uncertainty and how it's affected his perspective on life. As a student who came into college undecided on his major, I felt like I knew all there was to know about the feeling, but I decided to tune in to see if there was something else I could learn. My biggest takeaway was to be realistic about my life. The reality of my situation is that I'm a 20 year junior with my whole life ahead of me. If I knew exactly how my life would pan out in terms of where I'd work, who I'd marry, and the location I'd settle down in, I'd be bored and lack the motivation to be the best version of myself I can be. Many of the most enjoyable parts of college and my life have been unplanned, spontaneous, spur-of-the-moment events. To rob myself of uncertainty would be a disservice to my growth as a person. Now, this doesn't mean that I will suddenly fall in love with uncertainty. But what it does mean, at least for me, is that I should enjoy the ride while it lasts. There are many parts of the process that will undoubtedly cause me stress. But in adjusting my mindset to acknowledge all that I've done to get to where I am now, I can see the beauty in not knowing what the future looks like. As a result of that, one thing I do know is this: I'll get through it, I'll learn from it, and I'll be better for it.

Above all, I wish for my mentorship of others to impact them in a way that empowers them to be bold. Too often in our lives, we are uncertain of where to go, who to turn to, and when to make a decision. Rather than embracing the ambiguity, we search for certainty and comfort because of how familiar it is. Mentorship is a great way to build a relationship with someone that encourages them to realize and broadcast the talent within them that they possessed all along. In my relatively short time as a mentor, the most fascinating thing I've been able to witness is just how resilient and capable each person is on their own; it's just a matter of helping them to get to the point of accessing that inner belief and motivation to see themselves how they are seen by the world. Being a mentor is all about teaching mentees to take that chance, challenge that self-doubt, and be bold. Being bold is key isn't about having the most accomplishments, the best grades, or the coolest resume. It is about knowing that whatever situation you find yourself in, you will give 100% because it will only benefit you in the future for doing so. If nothing else, I hope that my mentorship leads others to mentor those to be the boldest they can be, as the world needs more leaders.

The most helpful piece of financial advice came from a book called The Simple Path to Wealth, written by J.L. Collins as a collection of blog posts on investing tactics to his daughter. The advice he gave that resonated with me was that money can buy a person many things, but the most important thing that it can purchase is one's freedom over their life. My parents emigrated from Nigeria to the United States at the turn of the century to give my older brother and me a better chance at having a life free of financial worry. Winning the VISA lottery, my father saw an opportunity to change his family's future forever. From a young age, I've seen both of them struggle to ensure that our needs are met. Despite my mother's credentials as a nurse in Nigeria, she has had to re-test and re-certify herself by going through these processes again in America. My dad has worked a number of jobs to bring home a stable income, from working at AVIS Car Rental to establishing his own cleaning services and becoming self-employed. My parents have worked hard to live a life of hardship so that I will never have to, and I've taken that to heart. Reading The Simple Path to Wealth empowered me to see money in a different light. It can be used to pay back my parents for their sacrifices, and most importantly, provide me with time and resources to properly pursue hobbies I have like volunteering for underserved people, traveling the world, and learning to play the piano. Financial freedom will not just improve my circumstances but will allow me to dedicate my time on Earth to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others who deserve a chance at a better life.

The most inspiring book I've read is Becoming by Michelle Obama. Throughout the book, she divides her lived experiences into distinct stages with all of them playing an important role in the woman she becomes and is still becoming to this day. Her story resonates with me because as a young college student in America today, it can be easy to focus on minuscule details instead of the bigger picture. Social media has created this ideal concept of what a young person's life should be like as they age, whether that relates to income, body image, or overall success. This couldn't be farther from the truth, and Mrs. Obama explains this perfectly. Rather than expecting to figure it all out at some set time in life, it's more realistic to realize that passions will change, goals will shift, and growth will occur as long as I take the initiative. This book has empowered me to appreciate the gift of each new day and to take the pressure of the world off of my shoulders. It would be a lie to say that I completely embody this mindset at all times, but I am able to acknowledge that there is a purpose to each experience I gain and every person I encounter. Becoming taught me that the road to being the person you dream of is a never-ending journey. Instead of being frightened by that reality, I have the self-confidence to define my own way of living life. For that, I will always be grateful.