I enjoy many different genres of books. However, autobiographies and historical fiction are my favorites. In many unique ways, the books I have read shaped me and my goals. In 2021, Dave Grohl released his autobiography "The Storyteller". Dave Grohl has been in many bands but most notably, he was the drummer of the band Nirvana and lead singer of Foo Fighters. In his book, Grohl discusses his journey to get where he is today. He talks of many hardships and successes that have helped me realize the important things in life. He believes any dream is achievable if you work hard enough. It will not be easy but with determination and a strong work ethic you can be successful. However, success is not just money, it is fulfillment. Grohl says that the money is not what drives him, it is his passion and love for music. That ideology can apply to anything. I would not have found this out on my own. All my life, I have been told that the only way to be happy is to make a lot of money. However, since reading this book I have put all of my focus on my personal goals and what makes ME happy. Not anyone else. While "The Storyteller" helped my view of myself, Khaled Hosseini's historical fiction novel "The Kite Runner", developed my view of the outside world. Though this story is not based on real people, the book has given me a broader perspective of the outside world. Before, when I heard that wars were happening in other countries, I honestly did not think much about it. However, since reading "The Kite Runner", people no matter what country they live in have become more humanized in my eyes. I finally can grasp that individuals who live thousands of miles away are just like me. They are normal people who love, hate, make mistakes, and are sympathetic. I now want to publicly stand up and speak out for those in other countries who cannot. These two books are only a couple of dozens of books that have affected my life and my goals. I can confidently say that without literature I would not have the morals I hold dear today. I believe that being able to enjoy books is crucial to personal growth at all stages of life. I encourage everyone I know to never stop reading. There is a book out there for everybody that could make a major impact on their life.

Within the last decade, artists like Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, and Bruno Mars have been at the top of the charts. While these artists are well respected, pop music was becoming bland for many people like myself. This was until Chappell Roan's beautifully crafted album "The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess" was released on September 22, 2023. The 14-track album tells stories of self-acceptance, confidence, love, and heartache. Anyone with any background will find at least one of these songs relatable. The songs that resonate with me the most are Pink Pony Club and Kaleidoscope. These songs, and Chappell as an individual, have heavily impacted me and have led me to be one of her biggest supporters. The song Pink Pony Club is about unapologetically finding your community. In Pink Pony Club, Chappell discusses how, even though her mother disapproves, she finds a place where she feels loved and safe. As soon as I heard this song, I immediately felt a sense of gratitude that I had found my community. The song has helped me appreciate how lucky I am to have a strong support system within my sport of roller derby. Through this song, I have learned never to be afraid of how others may view me because of my unpopular passions and ways of self-expression. I interpret the track Kaleidoscope to be about a heartbreaking ending of a relationship that is viewed in a positive light. This song challenges the listener to look at negative events that have occurred in their life and look at them in a different light. The lyric, "And even all the change Is somehow all the same Turning to the left and right Colors shining in your eye And even upside down It's beautiful somehow" has specifically influenced me. Changed is scary, but if you look at it from another perspective, it is also quite beautiful. As a senior about to graduate from high school, I am terrified of all the change occurring. However, this song has dared me to be excited and appreciate all of the good that is about to come into my life. When doors close, new ones open. Chappell Roan is an artist who made music that ventured outside the typical material featured on the radio. She is incredibly brave and unapologetically herself. I support her as an artist because she represents herself as a real person. She is relatable to me. When she believes in or disagrees with something she is not afraid to voice her opinion no matter how unpopular the opinion is. I respect that and look up to her because of it. I truly think I have become a better version of myself because of Chappell Roan and her music.

Like many kids in my generation, I always adored the game Minecraft. It is filled with bright and beautiful graphics and fulfilling gameplay. When my parents allowed me to pay the $6.99 for the app on my iPad, I was hooked. My favorite part of Minecraft has always been building. Not just houses, but towns, secret hideouts, and farms. While I have beaten the Ender Dragon, I usually play in creative mode. The endless materials and options in the game make it impossible for me to stop exploring. I love discovering all of the unique and complex buildings my brain comes up with when given the materials. When I was younger, I was obsessed with building hidden compartments with secret basements. Long holes into the earth with ladders that stretched the whole way down. Within the basement, I would have pictures hung and multi-colored concrete blocks as the walls. In the towns I have built are ununiformed shacks: all different sizes and unique quirks. Sometimes, I will try to replicate buildings from real life in my town. I love trying to build different restaurants, stores, and even schools. However, my favorite things to build in Minecraft by far are farms. Creating fences and barns to spawn animals in. I even will build bodies of water for sea life. It is so satisfying to feed and see the babies of all of the animals I spawned. Minecraft is such a wonderful game that has done so much for me. Whenever I am struggling with my mental health I know I can turn to the game as a release. I feel the game has unlocked my creative side and has encouraged my love for art.