Ever since I was a little girl, Rapunzel has always been my favorite Disney character. When I was younger, I loved her beautiful hair and the illuminating lanterns. I loved her purple dress, and her gorgeous paintings in her tower. In fact, I think I dressed up as her three Halloweens in a row. As I got older, however, I began to realize the darkness of her story. I saw that she was held captive in that seemingly beautiful tower, and that she was torn from her own home and family at such a young age. Growing up, she had no clue what her real story was. She had been lied to by a woman claiming to be her mother, who manipulated her and entrapped her in the tower for her whole life, only so that she could use her to get what she wanted. Her story, as sickening as it is, has always stuck with me. Even today, I have grown to appreciate how Rapunzel fought for what she wanted. She wanted to go see the lanterns and leave the tower, and through her own drive and perseverance, she got what she wanted (with a little help from Flynn, of course). This act of defiance, though rare for her, symbolized her individuality and showed that she is no longer tied to the woman she called her mother. Her journey outside of the tower allowed us to watch her grow as a person and character, and begin her self growth and be herself instead of a mere reflection of Mother Gothel. We were able to watch her learn her true story, and watch her slowly unravel the truth, even after hitting a few bumps and stumbling back to the woman responsible for her current life. Throughout her story, she maintained the strength and perseverance necessary to get what she deserved, and fight for the truth and ultimately get her family back. While all Disney movies and stories have their own darkness to them, Disney's Tangled has always been dear to me, and has always been my favorite because of Rapunzel's drive for her future and how she knew what she wanted in life, and didn't let anything get in her way in order to get what she wanted.

Whether we like it or not, technology is going to be in all of our lives. There is no way around it. For better or for worse, technology has driven it's way into our lives, and doesn't plan on going anywhere anytime soon. One somewhat recent technological advancement that inspires me today is the cell phone. While some may argue that cell phones have ruined society as we know it, others would say they have improved it. Personally, I believe that cell phones have worked to strengthen our society. Without them, my grandmother would have been all alone during the pandemic, and we would not have been able to see her face and video chat with her. She would have been left to her own devices, and we would have had no way to engage with her or see her. I know what you are thinking. "Wow, another teenage girl obsessed with her phone". But in reality, cell phones do so many things for society. They work as a GPS system. They allow us to easily call or text our loved ones and employers. With multiple people in my family, cell phones allow for easier phone calls than the landline phone, and allow for multiple people to call from separate phones versus just one phone. They allow for a quick way to snap a photo or set a reminder. If I'm out with a friend, I can quickly share my location with mom, so she can know where I am. If I was ever in an unsafe situation or emergency, I have my own device to call to police. Cell phones also allow for instantaneous internet access in our hand, and for information to be spread much faster than ever before. They provide a way for people to stay in touch with those who they would never see otherwise. One instance that demonstrates this is when my mom was reunited with her college roommate after not seeing or hearing from her for several years. She had lost her phone number, but was able to stumble across her Facebook account and reach out. There are so many features to cell phones that someone 20 years ago could only dream about. We have come so far technologically with them, and only keep improving. While there are definitely some drawbacks, I honestly cannot see myself not using a cell phone in my lifetime.

Growth and change are major parts of life as a whole. Flowers don't start out beautiful and colorful, they start out as a seed and have to overcome adversity in order to become the sweet, blossoming flower it is always meant to be. However, in some instances, the seed never becomes a flower. It gets dried out or shrivels up, or just isn't strong enough to make it. It dies before it has the chance to reach its full potential. The one's that do make it, show that their work pays off and that their continued fight for life payed off in the end. Personal growth is a very important factor for human life. If someone never changes, are they truly learning? One way that I as an individual have grown is that I no longer seek validation from my peers. I do things for my self, instead of for someone else. While I still go outside of my comfort zone, I do it for me. I have stopped worrying or even caring what others have to say about me, because I have come to realize that I am my own person. I have also realized that it is impossible to try to be friends with everyone. It may sound cliche, but by being myself I have found some of my best friends in this past year. The one turning point, you might call it, was when my "friends" and I were at a party. I really didn't want to be there. I am not really a party person, but I didn't want to miss out or look like a loser by not being there since all my so called friends were there. They started making fun of me and insulting me and how I looked, and were getting angry with me for not doing all the things they were doing. They also got angry when I told them I was leaving. This really was the beginning of the realization that I needed to work on myself. Since whenever I can remember, I have always been a people pleaser. I always want to prove to everyone that I am good enough and I have tried for so long to friends with everyone. It was at the point where I would create different personalities based on who I was with. I would bend over backwards for others, and not think twice about it. That's just how I was. I thought so little of my self and talked so badly about myself, thinking that if I tore myself down and changed everything about myself, I would fit in more. It became exhausting. From the night of the party, I realized that I matter too. I cannot put everyone else before me. While it is important to care for others, I needed to draw a line. And I have. Now, I have respect for myself and the person I have become, all while remaining compassionate and kindhearted. My friends call me the "mom" of the group. I have learned to love myself and to value the things that make me the person I am. I have met amazing people that have helped me form better relationships with others. If 8 months-ago-me looked at the person I am today, she wouldn't recognize her. This truly reflects the power of growth and change can have on a person, and what can happen when you finally learn to appreciate your own self worth.