The whole Stranger Things squad has its perks, but only being able to have three on my team means I need to choose correctly. Each character has its pros but facing this upcoming supernatural threat, they need to be on their A-game. The first character I would choose would be El. El has regained her powers and is stronger than ever. Having someone on the team who has supernatural powers to counter the supernatural we encounter will be an advantage. Not selecting her, I think, would be a mistake. Not knowing what is on the other side, having someone like El will start us on the right track to win. The second character I would choose is Steve. He may not be many people’s first choice but when others are in danger, Steve steps up making sure everyone is safe. Steve shows a strategy to get to the end goal, defeating anyone or anything in the way. He would also be the comic relief during this stressful time. Just like in the show, there are moments where a laugh is needed and the one to do that is Steve “The Hair” Harrington. How could I pass on having that hair on my team, I think that is a win by itself. Last but certainly not least, I would choose Hopper. During any situation, Hopper will bring technique and strategy. Being a Sheriff taught him techniques that could be implemented into our encounter. Also, we need an adult on the team. For whatever people we encounter during this, Hopper will be the one to scare them into what we need. If the other characters try to it won't work. He will be the “dad” of the group and Steve will be the “mom”. Both of them will make sure that we are all safe and also defeat any supernatural threat that comes our way. Overall I think this team is great for any supernatural threat that comes into Hawkins which we will defend.

Currently, I am attending Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island. I am a junior majoring in Culinary arts with a minor in Sommelier management. I am a full-time student taking classes needed to graduate as well as working within the dean's office on campus. At the office, I work the front desk greeting people who come in, answering phones providing the appropriate information needed, and assisting the deans when needed. College is expensive, worth every penny, though it won't pay for itself. Working well in college is a way to start saving up. Yes, I have earned money but that is not the most important thing I have earned while working during school. Experiences and lessons have no price and are the most valuable to me, all of which I am encountering working for the school. Just like all students, we have assignments/projects that need to be completed, though some don’t have to worry about going to work. We all have the same amount of time in the day, but I lose hours of working on assignments when I work. This led me to become better at time management. I have struggled with time management in the past but since having to develop a balance between work and school I have learned tricks to become better at it. One method was to write out all the assignments due within the week. With each day, focus on only one class so I don’t get overwhelmed. I would also set aside time in the day for me to focus on doing homework. Having it laid out on paper in the same spot I think was a major help. Without needing to find a balance where I can still perform well in school and at my job, I don’t think I would have found what works for me. This is a skill that I will carry with me into my personal life and professional career. Knowing what tasks need to be completed during the work day and personal days, will help me keep things in order. Instead of balancing school life with work, I will take the skills I learned and find a new balance between my life and career. Finding the balance also impacted my professional goals. Since working at the desk, I have interacted with a variety of different people, developing my networking skills. With any industry that you embark into people are going to be a major part of it. Networking is the way to get to know people, which is very important. While working at the desk, I was able to focus on this skill and develop it more. Every interaction that I had with a guest or staff member of the university, I took it as a networking opportunity. This is a skill that I will never let myself forget because I will always need it. I started working at the office to help pay for college but since finding the balance of school and work, I am learning more than I thought I would. All impacting my experiences now and in the future with both my personal and professional goals.

Currently, I am a junior attending Johnson and Wales University in Providence Rhode Island. The food and beverage industry is all about serving the people, your customers. Without them, you would not have a business. Hospitality is seen everywhere in everyday life, even if you don't think so. Of course, it ranges from slight to extreme but often when it is done correctly you will notice it. Food is only part of the equation when it comes to both restaurants. You can have the best food but if all the staff members, especially the front of house team don't have good hospitality then it won't matter. Every detail matters. What does the guest see from their seat? How loud is it in the dining room? Is there a draft over one table/seat? Is there not enough room between the tables/seats? These are just some examples but the list can go on. Sometimes many staff members overlook these details or don't think of them at all. If the staff of the establishment is able to pay attention and notice these minor details the customer will have a pleasurable experience. They may not notice it but when they do notice a detail it will affect them more because they will remember that. All guests around the world do the same thing, remember the bad over the good. However, there are rare occasions that people will remember a good one and that is due to it being more than usual or expected or even to the extreme. As I enter into the hospitality industry I will bring the knowledge that I learned from Johnson and Wales into the industry. People may see being hospitable as an overwhelming and time-consuming task, which leads them to affect the guest's experience. I think that taking the time to make a small effort will have a large impact. I want to create an experience when people dine in the establishment that I work for. Each guest is different and I want to make an experience that is curated to that table. Another effort is to make connections with the guests. Get to know them, making them feel as if they are a part of the team/family. When this effort is made the customer feels emotion and has a memorable experience wanting them to come back. Not only does the customer feel good but so will the individual that is responsible for it. If I am able to encourage others to take this course of action, it will be a step in the right direction.

I started cooking with my mother and grandmother at a young age; always wanting to help do something even if it was the smallest task like holding the bowl. As I got older I became more and more involved, taking on bigger tasks within the recipe. Anytime visiting my grandparents, cooking was a part of the visit. My grandmother has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Now when I visit she might not know who I am but when I cook her something I see a smile on her face as if she remembers the little girl she used to do that with. Currently, I am attending Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island to obtain my Bachelor's degree in Culinary Arts. I am also minoring in Sommelier management. In the future, I want to own a restaurant that embraces family in all aspects, from the food to the atmosphere. Using the memories that I have in the kitchen with my mother and grandmother, recreating them and creating new memories and experiences for the guests. I want the guests to have a connection with the staff as if they are a part of the family that they haven't seen in a while. Same with the food, having memories fluid back with each bite reminds them of their family memories. The restaurant will be a place where all are welcome and can be a location that sparks new traditions. Cooking is a language that everyone speaks around the world and how people share emotions. Happy, sad, sorry, don't know what to say, in an argument, cook a meal. Food can say what we mean when we can't find the words to say it. I want to use my culinary degree as a ticket to connect people. Knowing how ingredients and techniques work together can be used to bond people together just like bonding flavors.

Gentle synth sounds start in the distance. I know that sound anywhere. I run to the living room as I see the white screen with Wii in grey illuminate the room. I nestle between my brother and our grandmother on the couch. My brother hands me a controller and I am ready to go. Mario Kart begins to load and I grip the controller like it is life or death. As we pick our characters and karts we explain to our grandmother how to play and what buttons to click. We are all ready and it is time for our first race. 3..2..1.. GO! We are off everyone leaves behind the finish line, except grandma. She was holding the button, she was in reverse. My brother pauses the game and says "Wrong button, hit the other one" She panics hits the right button though we are still in the pause screen. We resume the race and we are all together. We complete the first lap and things take a turn, not just the course but our places. I get hit with a red shell, my brother is runs over a banana, and grandma loses control and starts driving into walls. Each of us become focused on trying to get ahead. It's the last lap of the race. As we get closer to the finish line we climb with our placements. Me and my brother fighting for third as our grandmother is catching up from eighth to fifth. I grip the controller firmly and hold down B as I drift around the corner, and so does my brother. I am grouped with four players, one being my brother, with grandma behind in the distance. Out of nowhere, a blue shell is weaving between players as it gets closer. I'm not in first but am close. I see the finish line, it's right there. BOOM! A blue dome forms around all the characters from first to fourth. My brother and I scream in a panic as we spin out of control. Shoosh, grandma flies by. She got first in her first race. But how? She started the race driving backwards. She lit up and started laughing with joy. I love to play Mario Kart with friends and family because it is a simple game that anyone and everyone can play. Driving around on a creative map with great characters with competition at each turn. It brings us together with friendly competition though it sometimes gets a little too completive. Those moments are what make everyone remember that race because someone pulled off a win for some crazy reason. I look back on this moment with our grandmother and I miss it. My grandmother has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and isn't who she used to be. This was long before she was diagnosed but I wish I knew to enjoy it even more during the moment. Seeing her play and being herself. Starting the race driving backwards, hitting the wrong button, crashing into walls, and then somehow winning. All while laughing at herself as she does it, I miss that laugh. It's the one where in a crowded room where everyone is laughing you can find her in a second. That was who she was, laughing at everything she did. One of the lessons I learned from her was to laugh at your mistakes, crash into walls but get back up and try again. You never know you could end up winning the race—all due to us playing Mario Kart on the Nintendo Wii.