What makes me a leader is my ability to bring people together, create positive environments, and support others even during stressful situations. I have learned that leadership is not always about being the loudest person in the room or having a title. True leadership comes from the way you treat people, the example you set, and the impact you leave on those around you. I try to lead through encouragement, empathy, and consistency in both my personal and professional life. As someone who has faced personal challenges while balancing school, work, and life responsibilities, I understand how important it is to feel supported and included. These experiences have shaped the way I interact with others and strengthened my ability to remain patient, adaptable, and understanding. Rather than allowing challenges to discourage me, I have used them as motivation to continue growing and pushing forward. I believe resilience is one of the most important qualities a leader can have because it allows you to continue showing up for yourself and others even during difficult moments. One place where I demonstrate leadership is at work. In a fast-paced environment, I try to create a calm and welcoming atmosphere for both patients and coworkers. I naturally step in to help where needed, encourage others during stressful moments, and stay dependable under pressure. I have learned that even small acts of kindness and positivity can change the energy of an entire environment. People may forget specific tasks, but they often remember how someone made them feel. That is something I carry with me every day. My involvement in community service and volunteering has also shaped my leadership style. Through my church, I have volunteered at nursing homes, spending time with residents through conversation, games, and activities. These experiences taught me the importance of compassion, listening, and making people feel valued. I have also volunteered at a thrift store, which inspired my dream of opening my own thrift store café one day. I want to create a space centered around creativity, comfort, and community where people feel welcomed and supported. In addition, my experiences in speech and debate during high school helped me grow into a more confident communicator and leader. It taught me how to express my thoughts clearly, advocate for ideas respectfully, and listen to different perspectives. Those skills continue to help me in school, work, and everyday life. I believe leadership is about influence, not authority. It is about inspiring others through your actions, uplifting people during difficult moments, and creating environments where everyone feels seen and respected. My experiences have taught me the importance of resilience, compassion, and positivity, and I hope to continue using those qualities to make a meaningful impact in my community and future career.

My experience with mental health has influenced nearly every aspect of my life, especially the way I view relationships, personal growth, and my future goals. As a first-generation college student, there have been many moments where I felt pressure to succeed while also trying to navigate adulthood, work, finances, and higher education without a clear roadmap. Balancing these responsibilities at times became overwhelming and caused periods of stress, self-doubt, and emotional exhaustion. However, these experiences also taught me resilience and helped me better understand both myself and others. One of the biggest ways my mental health journey has shaped me is through the way I treat people. Going through difficult moments made me realize that everyone is carrying struggles that may not be visible on the surface. Because of this, I have become much more empathetic, patient, and intentional in the way I interact with others. I try to create positive and welcoming environments wherever I go, whether at work, school, or within my community. I know how meaningful kindness and encouragement can be during difficult periods in someone’s life, and I always want people around me to feel heard, valued, and supported. My experiences have also strengthened my beliefs about the importance of community and emotional support. During stressful periods, I learned how important it is to have people who encourage you and remind you of your worth. I became more open about the importance of mental health and realized that struggling does not make someone weak. Instead, overcoming challenges can build emotional strength, self-awareness, and compassion. I believe mental health should be discussed more openly so people feel less alone in their experiences. These experiences have also influenced my career aspirations and future goals. I want my future career and business goals to center around helping people and creating environments where others feel comfortable and accepted. Working with patients and interacting with people daily has shown me how much positive energy and compassion can impact someone’s day. In the future, I hope to open a thrift store café that combines creativity, comfort, and community into one welcoming space. I want it to be more than just a business; I want it to feel like a safe and uplifting environment where people can connect, relax, and feel supported. Although my experiences with mental health have been challenging at times, they have ultimately helped shape me into a stronger and more understanding person. They taught me resilience, empathy, and the importance of human connection. Most importantly, they showed me that even difficult experiences can inspire purpose, growth, and the desire to positively impact others.

My personal experiences have shaped my sense of purpose by teaching me the importance of perseverance, community, and creating opportunities for others. As a first-generation college student from an immigrant background, pursuing higher education has felt both exciting and challenging. Navigating college without parents who have experienced the process themselves has required me to become independent, resourceful, and determined to build a better future for myself and my family. Growing up in a low-income household also taught me the value of hard work and resilience at an early age. Balancing school, work, and personal responsibilities has not always been easy, but those experiences motivated me to continue pushing forward. They showed me that success is not only about personal achievement, but also about using your experiences to positively impact others. My experiences working with people and volunteering in my community have further strengthened my sense of purpose. Whether helping patients at work, volunteering through my church, or spending time with residents in nursing homes, I have learned how meaningful kindness and human connection can be. I want to continue building a future centered around helping others feel supported, valued, and encouraged. These experiences have inspired me to pursue higher education not only to create stability for myself, but also to become someone who uplifts others and creates welcoming spaces within my community.

Growing up, one thing that has always made me stand out is how deeply I care about people and the environment around me. I have always been naturally drawn to creating positive connections, making others feel included, and bringing good energy into stressful or uncomfortable situations. When I was younger, I sometimes worried that I was “too friendly” or overly talkative because I genuinely enjoy connecting with others and making people feel welcome. Over time, though, I realized that this quality is actually one of my greatest strengths. I am also someone who tends to explain things carefully and thoughtfully because I want people to feel supported and understood. Whether I am helping a classmate, speaking with a patient at work, or encouraging a coworker during a stressful day, I naturally try to create an environment where people feel comfortable and valued. This has helped me build strong communication skills and has taught me the importance of patience, empathy, and understanding different perspectives. Another thing that makes me stand out is my ability to remain positive and dependable during difficult situations. I work in a fast-paced environment where people can often feel stressed or overwhelmed, and I have learned how important it is to stay calm and supportive. I try to bring encouragement and kindness into every space I am in because I know small interactions can have a lasting impact on someone’s day. I believe people remember how they are treated, and I always want others to feel respected, heard, and welcomed around me. Outside of school and work, I have also enjoyed volunteering through my church community. I have spent time visiting nursing homes, playing games with residents, helping with activities, and simply talking with people who may not always have visitors. Those experiences taught me how meaningful human connection can be. I have also volunteered at a thrift store, which sparked my interest in creating a future business of my own someday. I hope to eventually open a thrift store café that combines community, creativity, and comfort into one welcoming space where people can relax, connect, and feel inspired. While some of my qualities may have once made me feel different, I now see them as strengths that shape who I am. My ability to connect with people, encourage others, and create welcoming environments is something I value deeply, and it continues to guide both my personal growth and future goals. I want to continue using these qualities to positively impact my community, build meaningful relationships, and create spaces where people feel genuinely valued and supported.

Sustainability should be a priority in every field because the choices businesses and individuals make today directly affect the quality of life future generations will experience. In business especially, it is easy for companies to focus only on profit and convenience while ignoring long term environmental consequences. However, I believe true success should also include responsibility, ethical decision making, and consideration for the communities and environments being impacted. Sustainability is not just about protecting nature, it is about creating systems and lifestyles that can continue thriving without causing unnecessary harm. As someone interested in business and entrepreneurship, sustainability is important to me because I want to create spaces that are intentional, community centered, and mindful about consumption. One of my biggest goals is to eventually open a thrift store café. Part of what draws me to that idea is that thrifting naturally encourages reuse, creativity, and reducing waste. Instead of constantly promoting overconsumption, thrift culture gives items new life and helps people appreciate individuality and sustainability at the same time. I think businesses can still feel beautiful, creative, and successful while also making environmentally conscious choices. I also believe sustainability connects strongly to mindset and education. Many people are becoming more aware of how fast fashion, excessive waste, and overconsumption affect both the planet and people around the world. As future business leaders and professionals, it is important that we think beyond short term trends and begin asking ourselves how our decisions impact others long term. Even small efforts such as reducing waste, supporting ethical sourcing, encouraging reuse, or creating environmentally conscious spaces can create meaningful change over time. In the future, I hope to help reduce environmental impact through both the values behind my career and the environment I create within my future business. I would want my thrift store café to promote intentional living and community rather than constant consumerism. I envision using secondhand furniture and décor, supporting local artists and small businesses, reducing unnecessary waste, and creating a welcoming environment where people feel connected rather than pressured to constantly buy more. I think sustainability becomes more effective when it feels approachable and naturally woven into everyday life rather than forced. Beyond environmental impact, I think sustainability is also about protecting the emotional and social wellbeing of communities. Spaces that encourage creativity, connection, slower living, and mindfulness can positively affect people just as much as environmentally conscious practices affect the planet. I hope to create something that reflects both of those values together.

“Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one.” — Marcus Aurelius, Meditations I believe the underlying meaning of this passage is that true character is shown through action rather than words, appearances, or intentions. Marcus Aurelius is criticizing the tendency people have to endlessly discuss morality, values, and virtue without actually practicing those things in everyday life. The quote is short, but its message is deeply powerful because it challenges people to stop performing goodness and instead live it consistently through their behavior. What stands out to me most about this passage is the simplicity of it. In modern society, people often focus heavily on appearing morally correct, successful, spiritual, or compassionate, especially publicly. However, Marcus Aurelius suggests that none of those conversations matter if a person’s actions do not reflect the values they claim to believe in. A person’s true character is revealed in ordinary moments through how they treat others, handle pressure, respond to hardship, and carry themselves when nobody is watching. I also think this passage connects strongly to personal responsibility. The writer is implying that becoming a good person is not something achieved through theory alone. Wisdom without action becomes meaningless. Many people wait for the “perfect time” to become disciplined, kind, courageous, or purposeful, but Marcus Aurelius argues that virtue is built through immediate action and daily choices. Even small decisions matter because they slowly shape a person’s identity over time. This quote resonates with me personally because I have realized that the people who impacted my life most were not necessarily the loudest or most impressive people. They were the people who consistently showed kindness, patience, integrity, and compassion through their actions. Volunteering in nursing homes especially taught me this lesson. I met people who simply wanted someone to sit with them, listen to them, and make them feel seen. In those moments, goodness was not something theoretical or philosophical. It became something tangible expressed through presence, empathy, and action. I also think this passage reflects the idea that a meaningful life is built quietly through consistency rather than recognition. Society often celebrates people for what they say they believe, but much less attention is given to the quiet discipline required to actually live according to those beliefs every day. Marcus Aurelius understood that character is not proven in grand speeches or public image, but in repeated choices made over time. Someone who treats others with respect when there is no reward, remains honest when dishonesty would be easier, or continues showing compassion despite personal hardship demonstrates a level of integrity that words alone cannot create. That idea has become increasingly important to me because I want my own life to reflect authenticity rather than performance. I believe the strongest people are often those who quietly live according to their values without needing recognition from others. I think Marcus Aurelius ultimately wanted readers to understand that virtue is something lived rather than discussed. The quote strips morality down to its most honest form. Instead of debating endlessly about what a good person looks like, a person should focus on embodying those qualities daily. In a world where appearances and words are often valued more than actions, I believe this message remains timeless and increasingly important. It reminds people that true character is not built through image or reputation, but through everyday choices, consistency, humility, and the way we treat others when nobody is watching. This mindset creates stronger communities and more meaningful relationships because people begin focusing less on appearances and more on becoming genuinely trustworthy, compassionate, disciplined, and intentional individuals in their daily lives.

1. I would describe myself as someone who is compassionate, creative, and deeply people oriented. A lot of my experiences have shaped me into someone who values connection, kindness, and personal growth. Working while attending school has taught me responsibility and resilience, while volunteering through church and spending time in nursing homes helped me become more aware of how important empathy and human connection truly are. I naturally enjoy bringing positive energy into spaces and making people feel comfortable and included. I am also very passionate about creativity, travel, culture, and building a meaningful future for myself. As a first generation college student, many parts of my educational journey have felt unfamiliar, but those experiences have pushed me to become more independent and motivated to create opportunities for myself and my future community. 2. Although I have not yet studied abroad, I have learned a great deal through being exposed to people from many different backgrounds, cultures, and life experiences through work, school, and my personal interests in travel and global cultures. One thing I have realized is how much people can grow when they step outside of environments that feel familiar to them. Interacting with people from different cultures has helped me become more open minded, understanding, and curious about the world. It has also taught me that although people may grow up differently, many human experiences such as wanting connection, belonging, peace, and purpose are universal. I believe learning across cultures helps people become less judgmental and more compassionate toward others. 3. One of the biggest perspectives I have gained through my educational journey is realizing that growth often happens outside of your comfort zone. As a first generation student, there were many moments where I felt uncertain or overwhelmed because I did not always have a clear roadmap in front of me. However, those experiences taught me how capable and resilient I truly am. I have also learned the importance of balancing ambition with compassion. Success is important to me, but I no longer view success as only academic or financial achievement. I believe success is also about the impact you have on people and the kind of energy you bring into the world. The most meaningful lessons I have learned so far involve empathy, adaptability, perseverance, and the importance of staying true to yourself while continuing to grow. 4. My academic interests and future career goals are deeply connected to the kind of impact I hope to make on people. I am pursuing business because I eventually hope to create spaces and opportunities that bring people together in meaningful ways. One of my long term goals is opening a thrift store café that feels creative, welcoming, and community centered. I want it to be more than just a business. I want it to become a place where people feel inspired, comfortable, and genuinely seen. Receiving this scholarship would help support my educational journey financially while also giving me the opportunity to continue growing academically and personally. More importantly, it would bring me one step closer to creating a future where I can positively impact others through leadership, creativity, compassion, and community.

For a large part of my childhood, my family and I were deeply involved in the Jehovah’s Witness community. We attended meetings regularly, went to conventions and memorials every year, and much of my understanding of life, success, and the future was shaped by that environment. Growing up, I remember constantly hearing that higher education was not encouraged because worldly success was seen as less important than spiritual devotion. Pursuing college or larger career ambitions was often framed as distracting, prideful, or unnecessary. As I got older, that became emotionally difficult for me because deep down I always had a strong desire to learn, grow, explore, and build a future for myself. I remember feeling conflicted because I wanted to make my family proud and stay connected to the community I had grown up in, but I also felt a growing pull toward education and personal growth that I could not ignore. For a long time, I felt guilty for even wanting more for myself. I tried to silence parts of myself that were curious, ambitious, and creative because I was afraid of disappointing people around me. One of the hardest parts of that experience was feeling like I had to choose between belonging and becoming the person I knew I was meant to be. When you grow up in an environment where certain paths are discouraged, it can make you question your own instincts and abilities. I struggled with fear, uncertainty, and the feeling that maybe my dreams were somehow selfish or unrealistic. Over time, however, I began realizing that pursuing education did not make me a bad person. Wanting to grow, experience the world, and build a meaningful future was not something I needed to feel ashamed of. In many ways, choosing higher education became an act of courage and self-discovery for me. It forced me to think independently, trust myself more deeply, and imagine a future beyond what I had always been told to pursue. Today, many of my goals center around growth, connection, and creating a life that feels authentic to who I truly am. One of my biggest goals is earning my degree and eventually opening a thrift store café that feels welcoming, creative, peaceful, and community-centered. I want it to be a place where people feel inspired, comfortable, and genuinely seen. I also hope to travel, experience different cultures, continue growing spiritually and personally, and create a life built on purpose rather than fear. Although the journey has not always been easy emotionally, it has made me more resilient, compassionate, and motivated to create a future that reflects both my values and my dreams. I no longer want to live a life where I simply suppress parts of myself to fit expectations. I want to build a life that feels meaningful, fulfilling, and fully my own.

My faith in Yahuah, the Hebrew name I personally use for God, has completely changed the way I look at both my life and my future. Over the past few years, my relationship with Him has grown deeply personal, and it has become one of the biggest sources of strength, peace, and guidance in my life. There have been moments where I felt overwhelmed, uncertain, emotionally drained, or anxious about the future, especially while balancing school, work, and trying to figure out my purpose. During those moments, my faith grounded me and reminded me that I am not carrying everything alone. One of the biggest ways my faith has helped me is by changing my perspective on people and life itself. As my relationship with Yahuah grew stronger, I became more compassionate, patient, and intentional with the way I treat others. I started paying closer attention to people who may feel overlooked, lonely, or discouraged. Volunteering through church, especially in nursing homes, impacted me deeply because it showed me how powerful kindness and human connection can be. I realized that sometimes people simply need someone to sit with them, listen to them, and make them feel seen. Those experiences strengthened my desire to bring positivity and encouragement into the spaces around me. My faith has also given me confidence to dream bigger for my life. For a long time, I focused mostly on survival and responsibility, but my faith helped me realize that I was created with purpose and creativity as well. It encouraged me to pursue goals that genuinely inspire me rather than only doing what feels safe or expected. One of my dreams is to eventually open a thrift store café that feels welcoming, peaceful, and community-centered. I want it to be more than just a business. I want it to become a place where people feel comfortable, inspired, and valued. I believe my faith will continue helping me throughout my career because it shapes the way I lead, communicate, and interact with people. In any career field, there will always be stressful situations, difficult decisions, and opportunities to either uplift or discourage others. My faith reminds me to lead with integrity, compassion, humility, and understanding. It also motivates me to work hard while remembering that success means more than money or achievements alone. Most importantly, my faith reminds me that every interaction matters. Whether through business, leadership, volunteering, or everyday life, I want to positively impact people and reflect the love, kindness, and encouragement that Yahuah has shown me throughout my own journey.

For a long time, I think I was so focused on simply getting through life that I forgot I was allowed to dream bigger for myself. Like many first-generation students, a lot of my mindset came from survival. I focused on being responsible, working hard, balancing school and work, and trying to create stability for my future. While those things shaped me positively, there were times when I became so focused on what was practical that I stopped thinking deeply about what truly inspired me and made me feel alive. Over the past few years, I have learned resilience through balancing work, school, and personal growth all at once. Working while attending school has taught me discipline, perseverance, and how to keep pushing forward even during stressful or uncertain moments. There were times I questioned whether bigger dreams were realistic for someone like me because everything about college and planning for the future felt unfamiliar. As a first-generation student, I have had to figure out so much on my own. Even though that has been overwhelming at times, it has also made me more determined to create a meaningful life for myself rather than settling for simply surviving. One thing that completely shifted my perspective was realizing how deeply passionate I am about the world and the people in it. The more I have grown personally and spiritually, the more I have felt called to explore beyond my comfort zone, meet different kinds of people, and experience different ways of living. Traveling does not feel superficial to me. It feels transformational. I want to see how people live, what brings communities together, what traditions shape them, and how culture influences the way people think, connect, and find joy. Volunteering through church and spending time in nursing homes also changed the way I look at life. Speaking with people who had lived entire lifetimes made me realize how important it is to truly live while you still can. I remember hearing stories from people who regretted never taking chances, never traveling, or never pursuing the things that excited them because life moved by too quickly. That stayed with me deeply. That is why studying abroad feels so important to me. I am currently in the process of researching programs and exploring opportunities that align with both my education and personal goals. More than anything, I hope to gain perspective, independence, confidence, and deeper cultural understanding through the experience. I want to immerse myself in unfamiliar environments, challenge myself to grow, and learn directly from people whose lives may look completely different from my own. I believe studying abroad would help me move from simply surviving toward building a life that genuinely feels like mine. A life built not only on responsibility and routine, but also on curiosity, connection, creativity, faith, and purpose. I want a life where I continue growing, inspiring others, and creating meaningful connections wherever I go in the world.

One of my strongest qualities is my ability to make people feel comfortable, included, and genuinely seen. I have always naturally been someone who tries to bring positive energy into spaces, especially during stressful situations. Whether it is at work, school, volunteering, or everyday life, I try to lead with kindness, empathy, and understanding because I know how much small interactions can impact someone’s day. Working in a dental office while going to school has helped strengthen those skills even more. Every day I interact with people from completely different backgrounds and experiences. Some patients come in nervous, stressed, embarrassed, or overwhelmed, and I have learned how important patience and compassion can be. Sometimes people do not remember exactly what you said, but they remember how you made them feel. I try to be someone who helps people feel calmer, welcomed, and cared for during moments that may be difficult for them. Volunteering through church has also shaped the way I view empathy and community. Spending time at nursing homes especially impacted me because it opened my eyes to how many people feel lonely or forgotten. I remember speaking with an elderly woman who told me she rarely had visitors, and that moment stayed with me deeply. It reminded me that empathy is not always about doing something huge. Sometimes it is simply taking the time to listen, include someone, or make them feel valued. Since then, I have become much more intentional about paying attention to people and the energy I bring into different environments. I believe one of the ways I can help build a more understanding global community is through creating spaces where people feel safe being themselves. In the future, I hope to open a thrift store café that feels creative, comforting, and welcoming to all kinds of people. I envision it being filled with greenery, music, books, coffee, art, and unique vintage items that each tell a story. More than just a business, I want it to become a space where people can connect with one another, slow down from the stress of life, and feel a sense of belonging. I also believe empathy begins with being open-minded and willing to learn from others. Everyone comes from different experiences, cultures, and struggles, and I think the world becomes better when people approach each other with curiosity instead of judgment. I want to continue growing into someone who brings people together, encourages others, and creates positive environments wherever I go. Although I may only be one person, I believe small acts of kindness, understanding, and connection can create ripple effects far beyond what we realize. I hope to use my personality, leadership, creativity, and compassion to leave people feeling inspired, supported, and genuinely seen.

Education is important to me because it represents growth, opportunity, and the ability to create a future that I genuinely feel excited about. As a first-generation college student, the process has not always been easy or straightforward. A lot of the time I have had to figure things out on my own, whether that meant researching schools, understanding financial aid, balancing work and school, or trying to plan for my future without really having a roadmap in front of me. Even though it has been overwhelming at times, it has also made me more independent, determined, and motivated to build a life that reflects both my goals and the kind of person I want to become. To me, education means more than just earning a degree. It is about gaining confidence, learning from different experiences, and growing into someone who can make a positive impact on others. Over the past few years, I have learned just as much outside of the classroom as I have inside of it. Working in a dental office while going to school has taught me patience, communication, responsibility, and how important kindness can be in stressful situations. Some patients come in nervous or overwhelmed, and I have seen how much a calm attitude and positive energy can completely change someone’s experience. That has stayed with me because it reminded me that even small interactions matter. Volunteering through church has also had a huge impact on me. Spending time at nursing homes and helping within my community opened my eyes to how much people need connection and compassion. I remember speaking with one elderly woman who told me she rarely had visitors, and that conversation honestly changed my perspective. It made me realize that so many people are carrying invisible heaviness, and sometimes something as simple as taking time to sit and listen can mean everything to someone else. Since then, I have tried to be more intentional about the energy I bring into spaces and the way I treat people. Education is important to me because it gives me the tools to turn my ideas into reality. One of my biggest goals is to eventually open a thrift store café that feels creative, comforting, and welcoming to people. I picture a cozy space filled with greenery, books, coffee, music playing from record players, and unique vintage items that all tell stories of their own. More than just a business, I want it to feel like a place where people can slow down, connect, and feel at peace. The legacy I hope to leave is not just about success or achievements. I want to leave behind positivity, compassion, and spaces where people feel valued and seen. I hope to inspire other first-generation students to believe in themselves and keep going, even when the path feels unfamiliar or difficult.

Being a first-generation college student has felt both exciting and overwhelming at the same time. Growing up, college was always talked about as something important, but there was never really a clear roadmap in front of me. A lot of the process I have had to figure out on my own through asking questions, making mistakes, researching constantly, and learning as I go. There were moments where everything felt confusing, from applications and financial aid to trying to balance work, school, and planning for my future. Although it has been stressful at times, it has also made me more independent, determined, and motivated to create a better future for myself and my family. One thing that has shaped me the most throughout this journey is working in a dental office while attending school. Being in that environment has taught me how important patience, communication, and positivity are, especially in stressful situations. Every day I interact with people from completely different backgrounds and stages of life. Some patients come in nervous, overwhelmed, or embarrassed, and I have learned how much simple kindness and reassurance can change someone’s entire experience. That has stayed with me deeply because it made me realize how powerful energy and attitude can be. I try to bring positivity into every space I enter because you never truly know what someone else may be carrying internally. Outside of work and school, volunteering through church has also impacted me greatly. Spending time at nursing homes and helping within my community opened my eyes to how important human connection is. One conversation or small act of kindness can truly make someone feel valued and seen. Those experiences helped shape the kind of person I want to become both professionally and personally. My motivation for pursuing business comes from both my creativity and my desire to build something meaningful one day. Over time, I realized I do not just want a career where I work for something, I want to create something of my own. One of my biggest dreams is opening a thrift store café that feels welcoming, creative, and comforting to people. I picture a space filled with greenery, music playing from record players, cozy seating, books, coffee, and unique vintage pieces that all tell a story. More than anything, I want it to feel like a place where people can slow down, connect, and feel at peace. As a first-generation student, pursuing higher education means more to me than just earning a degree. It represents growth, sacrifice, and breaking cycles. I know the journey will not always be easy, but I also know I am willing to work hard for the future I envision. I hope to continue growing into someone who not only succeeds professionally, but also positively impacts the people and communities around me.

There was a brief moment that changed me, and it happened in a nursing home hallway. I was there volunteering through church, and honestly, at first I thought we were just going to play games, talk to people, and maybe brighten their day a little. I didn’t realize how heavy loneliness can actually feel until I saw it in person. There was one woman sitting by herself near the window while everyone else was in the activity room. I remember noticing how she kept pretending to look busy anytime people walked by, like she didn’t want anyone to realize she was alone. I almost didn’t go talk to her. Not because I didn’t want to, I just had that normal fear everyone has sometimes. What if I say the wrong thing? What if it’s awkward? What if she doesn’t want company? But something in me kept pushing me to go sit with her. So I sat down next to her and started asking simple questions. Nothing deep at first. I asked her favorite music, what she used to do when she was younger, little things like that. Within minutes, her entire face changed. She started smiling, laughing, telling stories, and showing me old photos she kept folded in her purse. At one point she grabbed my hand and said, “Thank you for taking the time to sit with me. I don’t get many visitors.” I don’t think she realized how much that sentence affected me. Because I realized the truth is, most people are carrying invisible heaviness. Some people just hide it better than others. Before that moment, I was honestly wrapped up in my own world and lacked a lot of perspective. But since that day, I’ve looked at people differently. I pay more attention now. I try harder to include people, encourage people, and bring positive energy into spaces that feel cold or stressful. That experience showed me the kind of person I want to be no matter where life takes me. I want to be someone who makes people feel valued, comfortable, and seen. I’ve learned how powerful simple kindness can be, and it doesn’t cost a dollar. The world genuinely needs more people who notice others instead of overlooking them. Even the smallest conversations or gestures can completely change someone’s day, and I hope to continue being the kind of person who brings warmth and positivity wherever I go.