Many would wonder, was influence does literature pose in each of our lives? Interestingly enough, Golden Steps ABA provided an impactful statistic that shows that “65 percent of Americans have read a printed book in the last year” (goldenstepsaba.com). If there was one book in the world that everyone should read, it would have to be The Bible. Yes, this may be a controversial response, but from personal experience and the events I have faced, the Bible has been the best-published literature that could be used to reflect on and better one’s life. You have the verses that would focus on what our purpose is in life. Ideally, it should be noted that the purpose of life, as quoted from the Bible, is to “Love God (the creator) and love our neighbors” (Matthew 22:37-40). The personal growth one can experience from reading one or more than one Bible verse a day is enough to trigger a spiral of positive effects in one’s life. Even this, is enough to fluctuate and regulate certain mental health troubles, factors that never change in our lives, and it creates a domino effect that impacts your daily life and the life of those who surround you. This way, each of us can further understand the good intentions of Jesus Christ and God. Ultimately, one can also get to know ourself better by learning what the Bible has to say about life on earth. If the Bible can influence as many lives as possible, just as it has influenced me, it could be considered the best book to have ever been created. From the reflection of life to smaller worries surrounding love, money, work, and even building relationships with one another, the Bible is the book that the whole world should read. It changes the way that people think, and processes life; just as much as it could be a stepping stool to building relationships, and making the differences this world needs. There is much truth behind the Bible (John 17:17) and it is also the only way to understand Jesus Christ’s motives for His crucifixion, rising on the third day of death, and His second coming (John 3:17, Proverbs 16:20, Romans 15:4, Matthew 24:27). May you be blessed and may this be a message that spreads hope, even if small as a mustard seed.

Out of all the books in the world, the Bible has got to be my favorite book. I grew up in a Christian household with a family that has always had the mindset of doing good in life. Personally, that has got to be the reason why I find the Bible to be my favorite book. It is also the most popular book in the world; but for me it is more than that. The Bible for me is a way to grow, reflect, view life and to live life the best I can. From the amazing stories to the creations and God’s almighty power; the gift of Jesus Christ and the gift of redemption and forgiveness are just some of the things that make the bible my favorite book. When I have doubts or when life gets tougher than needed, I always turn to the Bible for great advise. If I am happy or sad, or struggling with school or finding a better paying occupation; the Bible is my go to book. Even if I have read other amazing books that have sparked writing inspiration, the Bible is and will forever be my number one source of inspiration and success. I always suggest the Bible to everyone from believer to non-believer or those who may be interested in wanting to know more about God and his begotten Son Jesus Christ. All the translations and different language versions give a broad understanding around the world. This is my personal opinion and I will always stand with it. All books are beautiful and wonderful source of information. Nonetheless, the Bible will be my first love. I am very grateful to have such an important item in my life.

Staying optimistic through tough times can sometimes be hard. I find that two of the best ways to stay optimistic through tough times would be by taking a moment to stop, reflect, and really analyze the moment being experienced; and to have a sense of meditation on life. As someone who faces a lot of tough times, I find that stopping to reflect where I have gotten in life and to grow in my spiritual life helps the most. These two tips have helped me to not be too hard on myself when life gets harder than usual. Just because life can be oftentimes tough, that should not be a reason to overlook the tough times. There are a lot of lessons that can be learned from such events, and one can also grow while having a repetition of tough times/events. I know people around me that have gone through extremely tough situations and they have been so strong overcoming whatever comes at them. This shows me that if anyone can overcome tough times, I can also do the same. I just need to keep a positive mindset, and I need to accept the events that can ultimately shape my life for the better.

To convince a peer to attend college if they did not want to attend, I would remind them that attending college could not only be a great way to explore careers and different educational fields—but they can also get a lot of help and prepare for the working field. I would talk to them as a caring friend. Easy going conversations will make the topic less stressful or hard to understand. College is a huge door that is full of opportunities to be opened. Many companies and jobs will not give you the opportunity to work with them unless you have some sort of higher education. Along with the working field preferring a higher education degree, starting off in a Community College setting can save a lot of money. In community college, there is plenty of local and in-institution help. Financial aid is available for those who apply, and you can even explore majors while building a handful of credits that will help make Universities much more affordable. Think of it as a huge way to save on student debt. If you do consider going to a higher education setting, community college will ease up how much you can owe in debt at the end of attending university. Take as much advantage as you can while in college! You will always have local state help and scholarships on top of financial aid if you do qualify. This is your chance to grow! Take this time to see all of the possibilities you can achieve. Higher education will not always be easy, but assure you, free tutoring and learning services are always available. Those can help with finances, classes, careers, with guiding you and your path and more. And the best part about community college and university, if you are unable to receive financial aid, you can still make payment plans! My friend, I believe in you. This is why I think you should consider higher education and attending community college first. I did it, and it was one of the best decisions I could have made. I was able to explore many fields, take courses that helped me learn more, and I saved a lot of money/received a good amount of financial aid. Nonetheless, I cannot lie about the struggles of having to pay out of pocket and even once making the mistake of taking out a small loan I now owe. That will always happen, but if you take my advice, you will be okay. Think about what you want to do and we can talk about it whenever you are ready!

To whoever reads this, I think that the biggest problem the world currently faces is war. With everything that has been taking place in Ukraine, we cannot forget about the other troubles that have been increasing around the world (homelessness, pain, loss, poverty, COVID-19, and even religious aspects have been affected as well). War, has brought this world apart. It always seems like there is one location in the world that wants to rule more than the other-- and it goes back and forth like so. Why must there be wars? There is a scientific event that has been named as "Pangea" or one united continent. That was said to be about 200 MILLION years ago! Can you imagine that? A time when we were one true world? In the Bible, the book of Genesis 11 mentions the change of humans going from being one, to then worshiping their own human accomplishments. It was then when they forgot everything God had done for them, and they eventually build the Tower of Babel. I feel that the reason for war always goes back to the desire of power and to play the game of 'who is better than who'. In my closing remark, I think I should admit that we are all going through a hard time. It should be crucial for governments, schools, companies to frequently ask how people are doing. I don't ever hear anything about children being questioned or asked in schools about how they feel with the current events around them. There is not one group that is not affected by our current events. Everyone and anyone has been affected by our current events. I simply hope that we can live a life of peace and unity. Thank you for your consideration and time, Take care.

To whoever this may concern, I have always been someone who dreamt of making a difference in my community. For the longest time, I did not know how to do so -- until I turned my life over to my Savior, Jesus Christ. As corny as this may sound, the more I grew up, the more I became lost in this world. I wouldn't want others to feel the same way. There is nothing good about feeling lost or as if you will never be good enough to make a difference in this world. After some personal life changing experiences, I have been extra motivated to write. I think that if I can express my writing with the world, maybe that way people will realize that there are more than gloomy feelings to this world. As a proud First Generation, Puerto Rican graduate from Paradise Valley Community College, I can gladly say that I am honored to take up my next educational journey in Grand Canyon University; where I will be working on a Theology Bachelor of Arts - Emphasis in Biblical Studies. When I started my Community College journey, I had chosen a major that I knew would not satisfy my happiness. I only thought about the money and how I could be financially stable! From some time of really pondering on what I wanted, I decided that I wanted to write. Just as I had cried back in my Senior year of high school. I truly wanted to write-- even if I did not make it big. That alone was enough for me to feel a sense of gladness. Since I am a writer at heart, I would like to use my creative abilities to make others feel a sense of belonging. Over the past couple of years in Community College, I decided that creating Christian and Contemporary poetry could be a good way to get my message across. Along the way, I would like to also create other creative pieces-- and even novels. I do not just want to make a difference in my community: I also would like to show others that life is not about having to work something unpleasant to make a living. It is quite awful that there are such high standards and expectations in our society. Oftentimes, it feels like we must please others more than we build our lives well. By self-publishing what I create, I am sure that just that alone, can be a shining light for those who search for something more around the world. If I am granted the opportunity of receiving this scholarship, it would help me with paying student loan and with being better prepared for my time at Grand Canyon University. This opportunity would also be of inspiration to many of my close friends and family. Whatever may be left after paying my student loans, I can use to stay up to date on any bills or debt I may have. Being able to get to this point of applying is already an honor itself. You have been giving a lot of students hope to not give up on achieving a higher education. I would like to conclude this essay by giving a huge thank you to the founders of this scholarship. I have been in situations where I have been, from a lack of better words, desperate to have a bit of financial stability during hard times. My biggest goals in life have always been to strengthen my faith, to be someone of motivation to others in life, and to make my family (but most importantly my mom) proud of how far I have come with their help and constant support. Please allow me to share a piece of poetry that I have created. I feel it goes very well with this essay. NEVER BOW DOWN [EVIL THINGS CAN BE LOW] At times a breath can be hard to take, But you must remember all that Jesus did. When you can walk no more, Remember that Jesus never stalled. When you can no longer run, Remember that Jesus had the strength to carry you in his heart. When you can no longer smile, Think of all the Christ given goodness that makes you alive. He wants you to be where you are— closer to him, and farther from the things that can corrupt your pure heart. Jesus wants you to reach for his hand. Trust him like you’ve never trusted him before. Walk in faith, Children of the Most High. Let no man take that of value that you have inside. Let no man rule over you in a game of deceit and made-up lies. Glory is to Christ the King; Glory to the Heavens above thee. Glory to the God almighty. Glory to the fighter that lingers within. Thank you once again for this wonderful opportunity. You are reaching the lives of many– and we are all grateful for the kind gestures. Have a beautiful day!