I am a Master of Social Work student at California State University, Northridge, completing my first semester of the program. My goal is to become a licensed clinical social worker. Currently, I am interning at a charter school that offers students a second chance to earn their high school diplomas. My role is to provide one-on-one counseling sessions to students and support them through their concerns. Once I graduate, I plan to continue working with students in schools as a school social worker. Currently, I am using Cal State grants to fund my education, but they are not enough to cover my full tuition each semester, along with required readings and campus parking. My program also requires me to complete unpaid internships for 2 years, which makes it difficult to hold a full-time job while attending school. I am in the process of finding a part-time job that works with my busy schedule, but in the meantime, it is challenging to keep up with the finances. I discovered TOMORROW X TOGETHER before they debuted back in 2019, because they were going to be BIGHIT’s newest boy group. I was excited for their debut, and once The Dream Chapter: Star was released, I instantly loved “CROWN”. Their stamina and coordination during the dance practice video were mesmerizing. As a group that just debuted, they proved they have worked tirelessly to get to that point. I was a casual listener of TXT for years after they debuted and became a MOA officially at the beginning of 2024. After watching their Lollapalooza performances, I started adding more of their songs to my Spotify K-POP playlist, and listened to them nonstop since then. TXT inspires me to keep chasing my goals and working hard. They work long hours and are constantly traveling to meet fans around the world. I look up to them as individuals who give their all in their careers, who genuinely care for the people around them. Last year, Beomgyu had an injury that prevented him from performing the choreography with the members, and I remember him crying on stage during their ACT: PROMISE show in Tokyo. The members ran to him to hug and comfort him. This injury not only hurt him physically, but also took an emotional toll on him, especially since he felt like he was not able to perform to his full extent. It was a heartfelt moment for the members and MOAs. Since Beomgyu is my bias, it pained me to see him cry. Right before their concert at the Tokyo Dome, they released a Japanese song titled “ひとつの誓い (We'll Never Change)”. It became my favorite song that they have released so far. This song exemplifies that, even as the members get older, they hold onto the promise that they still have the same bond they did when they were younger. This is also true for the bond they have with MOAs. In September 2024, a few months after the Tokyo Dome concert, I had the opportunity to see TXT in Fukuoka for Yeonjun’s birthday. The members were all energetic and happy during the shows. It was a relief to see that Beomgyu was healthy again and that the members were having fun. I was in awe seeing “ひとつの誓い (We'll Never Change)” live, with its choreography, where the members wore long ribbons tied to their wrists to represent their bond. Recently, TXT and BIGHIT partnered with UNICEF to support youth mental health and well-being. I was proud when this was announced, because not only does their music touch on the struggles of growing older, but they are also contributing over a million dollars to UNICEF to further advocate for mental health. As someone in the social services field with experience working with the youth, it is touching when people I look up to are helping the subject of mental health become less stigmatized. Through relationship building, it encourages people to seek help. My role as a social worker is to be an advocate for my clients, and that starts with relationship building. No one can go through life alone, and a strong support system is essential for people to thrive.