There is this famous saying, ''Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world". I couldn't agree more. Growing up as a kid, I vividly recall myself taking my education for granted. I hated going to school and doing homework, but as I got older I came to learn just how important education was. I began to love to learn and explore. I began to read more, to educate myself a bit more about many things all to help me with becoming independent. Now I stand in the state where I can proudly say that my passion has driven my growth mentally and physically. Recalling my childhood, I always used to hide my homework and never turn it in, but now I'm the absolute opposite. I try to do my work ahead of time if I have access to it. I make time for my projects, and I make time to learn new things. Maybe back then it could be due to me not having a specific dream job back then like other kids. Or it could also be due to my immigrant parents having to slave for work to provide for me and my siblings. But regardless back then I couldn't say that I would want to be a Doctor or Pilot. However, gradually while growing up, I was very much interested in science, mathematics, and other science programs. I did well in my academics, and I completed my school education by being in the top 10% of my class. After my schooling, I determined that I will study science, more specifically forensic science in the pathology route. I chose to pursue a AA in Crime Scene Technology and I am happy to say I will be graduating in June of 2021 before I continue on to a Bachelors' degree in Forensic Investigation. I can use the skills and knowledge that I will gain from these classes and as well as any courses I will be taking a part in to do my part in order to serve the country.

In the past, I used to visit an Elderly home all the time. I would help with bingo nights, breakfast time, and even dinner time, but sadly I no longer live close to their area, and I do not have the time to visit. I have resorted to sending a letter to those who can communicate. I have learned throughout the months, that most of the elderly's families have shoved them to the side. They no longer visit, nor do they stay in contact with them. That is why I maintain frequent communication. I like to check in on them to see how they are doing. I want them to feel loved and cared for, as well as included. Everyone from a young to very old age wants to be useful, so back then when I cared for older adults, I did my best to make them feel like I still needed their help. When I asked them for help, I noticed how happy they looked, and they no longer felt like a burden. I know they can not do every task efficiently or perfectly, but that is ok. What is vital is that they are being included. Another thing I loved to do with them was to do Crossword puzzles, sudoku, reading, and writing with them. These activities helped them with mental stimulation and assists with a sharp and active mind to improve their well-being.

If you're looking to save up more money for school, I suggest you ask the college you're signing up for to help you out. Grades can only get you so far as school has become very expensive now, and a way I have been able to resolve the financial problem for books and classes is by asking for more financial help from the school. Let me further explain, you as a student should speak to your financial aid officer or even admissions officer. There are times the school receives donations, and there is leftover money for the year. With that leftover money, they have nothing else to do but to hold it off till next year. It is best that you request money from the school, but you need to show you are in financial need. If the school cannot provide you a donation, they will give you a scholarship. That scholarship will then help you earn money without so much as lifting a finger. Schools are always willing to help, but you need to make the first step by asking for help. Speak up if you need help, and schools will find a way, or so I have learned.

Please meet my pets, Boba, Munchy and Rocky. The first image is Boba, she was taking a nap after a long day. I had left her home the next day in the hallway and she somehow got a teddy bear and teared it apart. The third picture is Boba and Munchy after a bath. As for the last one, it is 3-year-old Rocky. He had to use a cone for some time. I have more pets, (fishes, gerbils and a bunny), but, sadly I couldn't provide photos. The gerbils always hide, the fishes are elsewhere, and the bunny passed.

My dream life isn't the typical life one wants with all the luxurious cars or houses. What I dream about is living a life that is full of love, laughter, and happiness. My dream life is my dream job, and if I accomplish getting my dream job, my dream life is set. My dreams all revolve around my dream job of being a Forensic Scientist for the FBI. If I do not accomplish this, my dream will no longer be a dream but a nightmare. I want to do what I like, what will keep me happy and glad to be up and going the next day. I don't want to live a life where I wake up and dread every second of the day because I'm working a job I do not like. And if I am only working that job because of the income, I want all to know that money means nothing. It cannot bring happiness, and it cannot solve all your problems. The phrase Arianna says, "Whoever said money can't solve your problems. Must not have had enough money to solve 'em" is a lie. It doesn't matter the abundance of money you have, because, in the end, it cannot solve every little thing. It can't bring true friendship, happiness, or love because those who say they don't want you for your money always seem to use you for your money. That is why I will work hard to make this dream a reality, and once I accomplish it, I will be set for life. I will be set both financially and emotionally. I will have more than the living wage, and I will have a car and home that pleases my family and me.

One important thing to know is to spend less than you make. I am still in the process of learning this because in today's community it is easy to pull out your wallet and spend it away. Today's society is consumer-driven, a place where we need to live beyond our means, but a good rule of thumb is to try and save at least 15 percent of my income. I follow this rule to the best of my ability to stop overspend. All the overspending on unnecessary things has sometimes led me to struggle to pay for simple things. I am also a college student that needs to pay for any upcoming fees, and if I continue to spend more than what I earn, I will be in extreme debt. One thing that has helped me accomplish this rule is the technique of paying with cash instead of credit or debit cards. With this technique, I have been withdrawing a fixed amount every month, and it has made me aware of how much I spend. As I watch the amount that I am spending each month, I have set a budget. This budget, however, first began with me asking myself if the expense is worth it. Will I make good use of this, do I need this, can I find a cheaper option? So on, and so forth. These questions then lead me to make better spending choices. These better spending choices are due to a budget as well. The budget keeps me on track and has proved to be beneficial. A budget plan set in place has proved to me, it can limit one's spending. Once it limits one's spending, it causes you to adjust your regular everyday expenses to fit the 15 percent rule as well.

Every scientific discovery is incredible, and some are life-changing, but there has always been one scientific discovery that I would like to show some extra affection to, Forensic science. Many have heard of Sherlock Holmes, a fictional detective created by British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. He is a well-known character because of his unique skill. Sherlock, a very observant, deductive, and forensic science-using character, brought out my love for forensics. This character has inspired forensics, bringing up many of the ideas used today, such as serology. Serology is known as blood testing, which in forensics it has helped determine how a victim had passed if they have no injuries. Not only that, but Sherlock has also come up with the idea of valuable evidence in criminal cases. He came up with Ballistics, the importance of fingerprints, and even the importance of examining a person's handwriting or typewritten documents. To further explain, Holmes quickly recognized the importance of fingerprint evidence as he showed how fingerprints are unique to each individual due to their loop, arches, and whorls. This discovery led to quickly solved homicides compared to the use of the Bertillonage technique where one had to measure every body part. If it weren't for forensic science and the influence Sherlock had on it, many cases today would not be solved, especially the cold cases. There are techniques used today that I have not mentioned, ones that I didn't realize would be so important because who knew the fibers of one's clothes, someone's hair, and their bodily fluids could lead to a nasty criminal. All in all, I am enamored by Forensic science, and to me, it is my favorite scientific discovery.

There are only four words that hold much more meaning than the words I love you, and those words are I'm here for you. I'm here for you are the words that will make even the strongest of us feel weak in the knees. It is so powerful because although loving someone can be great, loving someone and being there for them are two different things. This is where mentoring comes in. I like to believe that mentoring is like the phrase " I'm here for you". It can give people the sense of being cared for and that they're not alone, and positive results can occur, such as in one's personal, academic, and professional situations. Because of this, I want to be seen as a mentor. I will take the time to help those who need a hand in life-to-life situations. Why you may ask? Because I feel that mentoring connects a person to personal growth. One's growth is vital for the real world, as, for something to grow, they will need to depend on someone to help them grow. For example, flowers depend on the rich soil to provide them with nutrients, and they depend on bees and other animals to help them pollinate. Yet people grow up without mentoring, which can help them grow. Due to that fact, I want to accomplish being someone that means the words "I'm here for you". I want to make meaningful connections that have an impact on people and influence their lives at home, at work, and in their communities. I can help improve their academic, social, and economic prospects if I am a mentor, and by creating relationships, I can also help develop leadership and management skills, expand a mentor's professional network, and provide an empowering opportunity to give back.

Before I begin, I would like to introduce myself. I am Ivelis Hernandez, an 18-year-old former student at Keiser University pursuing a degree in Crime Scene Investigation. I am half Cuban, half Mexican, and a first-generation American thanks to my parents. My parents have given me the one thing I could not receive in their homeland. I had been given an opportunity, more specifically, I got the chance to pursue higher education and live a better life in the US than I would have had in my home country. I was lucky enough to be born in the USA since if I had migrated from elsewhere, such as my parents, I would have been coming into a completely new culture, language, and way of living. For example, my mom, at the ripe age of 17, made her way to the US. It was a very young age when she was left to be on her own and she was just a few months pregnant with my older brother. It was very stressful especially since she had no family to take her in. From the few stories she had told me, I can picture how much of an outsider she must have felt. Before I further explain, I would like to mention how bad it was in Mexico. Mexico has always struggled with the challenges of the Cartel and human trafficking, something that made my mother question her safety. She was scared to be a target, and she had to think fast. On top of that, she carried the burden of living in a household of 12 people, including her. It was too many mouths to feed and care for at the time, so to add one more person to the bunch would make matters worse. She was already struggling to have food in her stomach, and if it were not for my grandparent's hard labor on their farm, my mother would not have had food on the table. Not to mention, my grandparents already struggle with buying my mother and her siblings any clothes, hygiene products, and supplies for school. These factors are what led my mother to take the final step to travel to the Americas, the land of the free and the land of opportunity. As mentioned before, she left her homeland, Mexico, at 17, and at this time, she had yet to finish high school. Her inability to speak English made it hard to communicate, and others did not make it easier. She told me how she struggled to assimilate into American culture without losing her own as it was the only thing she had from back home. After some time, she managed to find herself a job working at a skate factory where she met my father. My dad, a Cuban refugee, was fortunate enough to travel with my grandparents and his two siblings. They were fleeing from political problems and made a home in Miami where they switched from one job to another. Their stories of when they were in Cuba were similar to my mother's but not fully. My dad worked night and day studying for school to the point he stressed himself out and started pulling chunks of his hair out. Not only that, but he also stressed over ways to get to school. If anyone has gone or lived in Cuba before, they know it is hard to find transport that will take you to and from school. There was more than just a lack of transport though. My father dealt with a lack of income, and with the lack of income comes a lack of food. Back then, their current president took most of the hard-working Cuban's money out of greed. This greed caused many to be in poverty, way more than they already were. There was already a lack of groceries, whether it was food, clothes, and medication, they did not have much or any at all. Now with the president's greed, it only made things worse as not having enough money meant not enough to pay for anything. I will admit, their life was not easy. However, they did fight for a better one. I appreciate them, and this appreciation pushed me to work hard, especially in school. I have the opportunities they did not. I had a diversity of school supplies and careers to study. In their homeland, they only had a few careers that in the end, no matter which one you study, you will not get paid very well. If it were not for them, I would not be where I am today with the broad access to education, books, food, clothes, medication, and the access to a ceiling over my head. Living in Florida has given me this access to high-quality education, and I have utilized it and will keep utilizing it to the best of my ability. I did several extracurricular activities like being on the Swim team, being in the National Honor Society, and being very involved with my community. I have earned several awards due to my dedication to my education, and I was allowed to knock out some college credits in the process. I also developed my passion for Crime scene investigation along the way due to the access to a criminal justice academy, something neither Cuba nor Mexico had. This program prepared me for the classes I am currently taking at Keiser University in West Palm Beach, Florida. With that being said, I will be the first girl and the first in my family to receive a bachelor’s degree in Crime Scene Investigation, which is an amazing moment for my family and me. It is due to all of their hard work that I am where I am now. A bilingual, university student who is an active participant in her community, never had food or home missing and was provided with what she needed even though her parents were struggling to make ends meet.

I can't speak much about mental illness, but I did a bit of research. Throughout my research, one thing stuck to me. "How great would it be if all people who needed professional help with their mental health went to get such help." One of the many obstacles that come with mental illness is seeking help. With that being said, the quote itself holds a good amount of truth to it. The search for aid is where a lot of people struggle because although one knows they need it, they can't find it. Luck in finding help is so scarce these days, all because many are told when they seek guidance that their mental health is laziness. Today in age, this generation has grown to believe that people will look down upon them, and the principal cause is the older generation. The older generation has embraced the mindset that mental illness doesn't exist. They excuse it as one being lazy. But why was that mindset accepted? Because they believe that life now is "easier". Nothing is "easy" really. However, we can better this all with one clear thing that has helped my friend and me. We need to think positively and whether we believe it or not, social media can help. Social media has brought mental illness to the light, it has given platforms, such as TikTok where people can share their mental health status and can be anonymous. As people share their experiences with mental illness, others support them with many positive comments and suggesting positive ideas like hobbies. Social media for this generation was the best thing to exist as more people, and their struggles with mental illness are brought to light.

I can't speak much about mental illness, yes I have dealt with an extent of it, but I don't think it's to the point that it's an illness. And so, I did a bit of research. Throughout my research and reading that I did, one thing stuck to me like glue. "How great would it be if all people who needed professional help with their mental health went to get such help." This sentence had my mind spinning. One of the many obstacles that come with mental illness is indeed seeking help. The search for aid is the part that a lot struggle with because although one knows they need it, they can't find it. Luck in finding help is so scarce these days, and it's all because many are told when they seek guidance that their mental health is laziness. And I say all of this speaking from personal experience with a friend. Today in age, this generation has grown to believe that people will look down upon them if they speak about it too, and the principal cause of the issue is the older generation. The older generation has embraced the mindset that mental illness doesn't exist. They excuse it as every kid/teen being lazy and ungrateful. And why was that mindset accepted? It's all because they believe that life now is "easier". Nothing is "easy", and it all gets more difficult further in life. However, it's not all bad as throughout several month's there has been one clear thing that has helped my friend and me to think positively as our mental health was deteriorating, social media. Social media has brought mental illness to the light, it has given platforms, such as TikTok, people the ability to share their mental health status, and if they want, it can be anonymously. As people share their experiences with mental illness, others support them with many positive comments and suggesting positive ideas like hobbies. Social media for this generation was the best thing to exist as more people, and their struggles with mental illness are brought to light.

In the 17 years of my life, I have made many mistakes, some of which were serious enough to make me temporarily lose my ways. With time though, I healed myself of the pain that I inflicted on myself and moved on. And although it may sound as if overcoming these incidents is my biggest accomplishment, it is not. These incidents have made me a stronger person, and that's it. It did do more, as it has made me realize that there are so many more victories in life and with no particular order. But that's not what's important. The vital thing is that throughout all the bad events I have still managed to do one thing. I have been able to make people happy. No, I'm not a funny person, but I somehow still manage to make those around me laugh. Whether it is my contagious laugh or my stupidity, I always seem to make someone around me crack a smile and let out a giggle or chuckle. And I'm proud of that. I never know how someone's day is going, and I always want to make it better in some way or form. Me being someone that bottles everything in and tries to hide my problems from others, I know what it's like to walk around on eggshells. It isn't a great feeling, especially when you feel like you're on your own. At times you need a small stroke of happiness, and that's where I come in. I make people laugh and smile, and it doesn't matter if their day is going amazing already. What harm is there if I make it any better? I prefer placing a smile on people's faces and making them laugh because it was the one thing I always needed when I was in my darkest moments. To most, it may seem like it wasn't much, but it helped me a lot, and I would love to do the same to others. For that very reason, I want to accomplish is the reason someone is slowly bettering themselves and lifting themselves out of the hole they had gotten themselves into. I want to be remembered as the joyful bubbly girl that encourages people to never give up because in the end they will be shown that life will get better little by little. So with that being said, my greatest accomplishment is just being me.

I have always struggled with my body image. The reason for this is because of society its self. The men in this society see women as objects. Now for the women, they see other women as not being enough or not being the ideal women. All these ideas are due to beauty standards. Our beauty standards have change periodically, but recently it has stuck to curvy women. No, it does not consist of naturally curvy women. The definition of being curvy for almost everyone is a curve with no stretch marks, no belly, and no cellulite, which comes with a naturally curvy body. Men want natural women, but they do not need the stretch marks or cellulite that joins what we know as intrinsic. They prefer women like Kylie Jenner, who has used the money to build her perfect body. Do not get me wrong, there is no shame in getting some work done, but do not go on social media and say it is natural. These statements are miss leading. Those statements make young women feel like they are not women enough because they lack the prominent features Kylie has gotten work on. Getting something done to your body is your choice, and your money spent. For that very reason, there is no shame until curvy women with no work done are compared to them. True beauty comes from every shape and size a woman has. They can range from Victoria's Secret models, from fitness models or even singers like Lizzo. I look up to Lizzo. She is beautiful, a plus-sized singer, and a woman of color that holds and shows the very confidence many of us lack. Lizzo has demonstrated that any body shape can wear crop tops, bikinis, or even tight fitted dresses and still look beautiful. She has been working hard to destroy the discriminated, you can say, against bigger and curvy women. For example, Tiktok is quite a discriminating platform. She has posted many videos promoting body positivity to which had been removed one after another. Lizzo has kept fighting to keep her videos up, even going as far as to duet others, wearing the same clothes and the other person being thinner than her. She would ask what the difference is and how her videos are inappropriate to the rest. Ashley Graham is another person I admire as well. She is not ashamed of her real body, which is naturally curvy with cellulite. Ashley embraces her looks and has also thanked photographers and publishers for not retouching her photos as they show the real her. I remember a speech of hers where she spoke about the editing process of her photos. She talks about never wanting work done on her photos, and the only work aloud is to enhance her cellulite. Ashley likes to demonstrate that there is diversity in body sizes even past her size. I have seen several posts of hers speaking up about how she can not wear certain designer clothes or brands. The struggles are all due to them not wanting to cater to her size. It was not limited to just designer clothes either, but to other clothes in general that she liked since they did not flatter her body. These women are the type of women I look up to. They are the women that make me love myself and my body just a little more with each passing day. They give me the confidence to wear what I want when I see fit without feeling out of place. I can be me and feel comfortable to look like me as that is how I had been made. For that very reason, I would like to say thank you. Thank you, Ashley Graham, and thank you, Lizzo for forming who I know as me today and the me I will get to know in the future.

“If you don’t like the hand that fate’s dealt you with, fight for a new one," and that is what I am doing. I will not say my life was the worst, but I will not say it was the best. I was born into an immigrant family, a father that studied hard to make a living, and a mom that never had a chance. At the age of 17, my mother was pregnant with my brother. That resulted in her never getting her full education as she could have. She is not the smartest, but not as clueless as many people make her out to seem. She is my mother, the one that made her way to America to make a better life for my brother. She worked restless nights and days, only resting 30 minutes a day on her lunch break. As for my father, he was rarely home as he studied to make more money. His restaurant went downhill, and his last resort was to work for someone else and pay for his education. All of this lasted most of my life, and as a kid, I never understood these problems until I grew. I had limits on the amount of food I could eat as we needed to share between 5 people. I had restrictions on the number of clothes. I was even limited on the number of school supplies as well. For that very reason, I am pushing myself to study and get the life my parents have been fighting for. I am an American citizen, a person that has more open doors than my parents ever had. These opportunities and the effort that my family put into our family is what inspires me. I appreciate what they could and how they could do more than what one would have thought. With their limited power, they had managed to do much more and so much better. For that reason, I can make things finer for them and my future family. I am encouraged by their short but far-fetching success. I am motivated by their love and efforts. And I am proud to say I am inclined to be the best me that I can be. I compare the life I have now to the one I can have in the future. If I want to reach that success of a life I have managed to think up, then I have to push myself past my limits to accomplish them.

My life has been formed and based on trauma. After every incident that occurred in my life, I have broken down and shut down completely. These reactions have shown me that it does no better for me and the situation at hand. My coping mechanisms did not help me cope. It led me to experiment with multiple things until I stumbled upon the coping mechanism that I know now, anime. Many find anime to be something dumb, but I do not take it to heart. People will not think the same as me, and I expected. Regardless of that, anime is the one thing that has taught me many things. For example, Naruto is one anime that has shown me things like how not to give up and how revenge is not always the answer. However, one thing that has stuck to me throughout the whole show is, "My motto is to be stronger than yesterday, if I have to I’ll be stronger than half a day ago, even a minute ago!”. I am proud to say that I live by this quote. It may have come from a show that most may consider dumb, but not many realize that just like everything else in life, there hides a meaning behind it. The series has taught me to keep pushing no matter how heavy everything is weighing down on me. By pressing on, I have become powerful by the second. I can apply this to both school and my personal life. With school and the life outside of it is where I am needed to have to push forward. For example, in school, I have to jolt forth an effort, my strength, to better my math skills to which is the one thing I struggle with at school. As for my personal life, I need the ability to go on with my everyday schedule. I cannot miss more than two days of the week when it comes to going to the gym. If I do, then my strength will start to wither away. I need to be up to the FBI's standards, and if that is not good enough for them, I will continue to get better every second of the day to accomplish their goal requirement. Not only does it apply to that, but it also applies to my family and the future generation to come. I have to show I am powerful and that no matter how many times I fall, I will stand right back up with my head held up high. I need to be stronger after each fall, and that is how I will not be affected by an upcoming trip that may happen along the way. My family and the future generation depend on me no matter how many people tell me they do not. These people depend on me and my actions to learn from or grow from my mistakes, accomplishments, and strengths.