I am someone who is success oriented. And how I define success is "what impact did I leave on people?" I believe I can leave an impact on people through a career in education. This field entails being involved with many types of individuals. A career education would involve me engaging with other people and I would impact them by experiencing them, guiding them, and helping them. My desire to pursue a degree in education stems from my experiences in my youth. I can easily recall being in high school, a mere couple years from when I write this now, feeling very lost in life. Remembering the times I wished I had someone to help me with life and wishing someone would just tell me what to do, sparked the inspiration to be that person for myself. But better than to just guide myself, I could also guide others in my future. I also understood as someone who did not have a good relationship with my parents, that teachers more often than not, became parental figures in a sense. As an educator with my own personal experiences, I could empathize with my students and assist them in whatever was necessary. Students come in groups of many, however each one must be treated as an individual who is going through their own personal struggles. I would keep this in mind, for many people I have met that work as educators do not do this. I would not be the type of teacher to dismiss a student as “one of the 110 I teach,” but instead I would find the uniqueness in them. I would try to learn from them as they learn from me. This is important, as knowing them will help me guide them. Knowing who they are means I would know what would benefit them, and what would make them happy .One important aspect of being a teacher is, of course, educating students on subjects such as math or English but what is even more important is teaching life lessons as well. My impact as an educator would be through guiding people who are lost and those who need it. I am confident that these people would never forget what I taught them, and I would make it a personal mission to make sure they are given only the best lesson to remember. This is important because students are the backbone of the future, and ensuring they are the best they can be will make the future they lead the best it can be.

My dream in life is to live a life of abundance and peace, and to do what I love. An abundance of wealth, love, happiness, and opportunity. Peace of mind where I am content with life. Where I live without fear or anxiety that cripples me, and I am able to exert all my pure intention and energy into what I love.

My love of art came from the encouragement of my mother, and my own personal connection to it. Art is something I value greatly and I hope to incorporate into my career and life outside of school. For as long as I could remember, art has always been around me. Before I was even making sketches on my math homework, I was admiring the murals my mother painted, and the pieces she had in her high school portfolio. She crafted immense and vibrant works on the sides of businesses that would take her hours and days and sometimes even weeks to complete. I can recall going to her work with her while in elementary school, watching her step onto the highest peak of her ladder, and sweeping a massive roller onto the bumpy textured wall. It was very inspiring to watch, my mom enjoyed it and got paid for it too. Once I started drawing everyday, and studying the many shapes in faces to incorporate them in my portraits, I realized I had a connection to art. I realized I wanted to get paid for art like my mother. This is where my love of art stemmed from, seeing it everywhere and being encouraged by my mother. When asked who my favorite artist is, the first image that sparks in my mind is one of Vincent van Gogh and one of his self portraits. Notably the one with him gazing back at me with a solemn expression amidst a background of his signature wisps in the same baby blue as his shirt. Understandably, van Gogh is a very popular artist to reference and favor, this is because in my opinion he is the quintessential artist. To me, he encapsulates the fundamentals of what art and an artist is. As complex as art is, so was van Gogh, and with his talent he managed to fit all his complexities into his craft. Art is subjective, and it has the ability to be profound and deep in meaning and purpose. Many artists tell stories of themselves, others, or the world around them through artwork. Hence why many historians turn to artwork of certain time periods they study. Van Gogh executed the archetype of the artist perfectly. From At Eternity’s Gate to Starry Night and The Cafe Terrace at Night, each one of his pieces told his story and displayed his emotional state. Starry Night was created in the image of van Gogh’s view from the asylum he stayed at. This piece alone holds the story that reveals how his mental state was as it was based on what he saw whilst he was seeking assistance with depression. At Eternity’s Gate depicts van Gogh’s utter despair and his faith in God that got him through it. The Cafe Terrace at Night, with the bright colors and gorgeous setting, demonstrated where he was living and the happiness that was present in his life at that time. This very artwork is what has inspired me to paint based on experience and emotion myself. I have found that this is very good for my mental health. Painting and depicting my feelings through art is as nurturing as writing about them. I completely understand why van Gogh channeled his emotions into art as it is very healing. My value and love for Vincent van Gogh lies in his profound mind and intense purpose in his art, as well as his inspiration to me and my art as well.

I maintain healthy mental, physical, and nutritional habits in school by incorporating them in everyday life with practicing my spirituality before school, exercising after school, and keeping healthy eating habits during school. These habits I prioritize all throughout my day and life. I maintain my mental health by starting my morning with a spiritual ritual that gives me confidence to go through the school day. While getting ready for school, I make it a priority to practice “self concept,” something that I believe grants me with better self esteem and confidence. I practice this by spending at least five minutes by looking into a mirror into my eyes in the reflection, and repeating positive affirmations to myself. These affirmations are powerful and beneficial for my mental health. By practicing self concept consistently, it has assisted me with my self confidence, which has impacted how I navigate school. I am able to do my assignments and socialize with positivity and self assurance because of my spiritual practice before school. Doing this retains the well being of my mental health. Additionally, what benefits my physical health is frequently exercising after school. Whenever I do not have homework or I am finished with my homework, I like to find time to workout. Due to a consistent gym schedule I have cultivated for myself, I have managed to transform my physique in terms of toning my body, burning fat, and growing muscle. Next to physical health, my mental health is improved as I feel more confident from the results of my workouts. From working out I have noticed that my body is in a very good state. Typically after an hour-long workout, the next day I feel refreshed, with a clear mind and vibrant energy. So, during school I perform better compared to when I skip a workout and I am lethargic and sleepy the next day. Exercising after school helps improve my physical health and helps me perform in school. Furthermore, what goes hand in hand with my physical health is my nutritional health. Due to my upbringing with my household being very focused on being conscious of what we put in our bodies, through the years I have developed many clean eating habits. These habits include being aware of how many calories and macronutrients I consume in a day. I usually use efficient and convenient apps on my phone to do so. In school, I apply this with what I choose to eat during lunch or what I buy from the vending machines that are packed with junk food. I typically will eat the lunch provided that includes a cheese stick, a serving of cereal, and a bag of goldfish. I choose this because the calories are listed on the packaging of the food, and unlike the spaghetti or pizza they serve, I do not have to guess the contents when I track it. I find that ensuring I do not overeat and get an adequate amount of nutrients benefits my nutritional health and I carry this into school. Maintaining my health in all aspects is very important to me, and I do this before school by practicing self concept, exercising after school, and keeping healthy eating habits during school.

College will be the catalyst for many new opportunities in a new era of my life, and that concept alone is very exciting to me. Although I am excited for opportunities, new friends, and new experiences, I understand that these changes may negatively impact my mental health. So in order to maintain the health of my mind, body, and soul all while experiencing the challenges college will bring, I intend to remain grounded, keep the balance, and stick to my goals. To remain grounded to me means not allowing my negative emotions and delusions to distract me from what is reality. And to ground myself actively through college will help me to maintain all aspects of my health. Staying grounded entails me keeping sane through spirituality practices, engaging with nature and finding time for my hobbies amidst the schoolwork. In college I will always keep my spirituality in mind and turn to it when a dark moment comes. Always remembering to do my affirmations, meditation and prayers. Same thing with my hobbies. As someone who sees painting and story writing as a good comfort, I will not put it on the back burner. I will always make time for even fifteen minutes of it as it brings me joy. And this joy will help me get through whatever challenges I am given. Through remaining grounded, my mind, body and soul will flourish. What will also make my health flourish through my college experience will be for me to find a balance between my social life and schoolwork. Being an extrovert, the energy of my friends and other people is what puts the battery into my back. On the other hand, I, of course, have the desire to dedicate a generous amount of time to my schoolwork in order to keep scholarships and etc. But that may cause burnout fairly quickly and sour the rest of my semester or school year for that matter. A solution for this is to find a balance between both. Balance my schoolwork, but do not allow it to consume my social life and make me isolate myself, as that would not benefit the health of my mind, body and soul. Additionally, another big part of my health is the goals I have had set in place. For years I have stuck to the same health goals regarding diet, and exercise. For me, exercise benefits me greatly. I think clearer, I am more confident, and I do not get sick as easily. Eating clean and managing my calorie intake reaps near identical benefits to that of exercise. Being able to exercise or choose good food choices in college will sustain my mind, body and soul. In college, to maintain a healthy well-being I aim to prioritize the act of remaining grounded in reality, keeping a balance of schoolwork and a social life, and sticking to my health goals.

I believe clean living is important as it can drastically enhance your life and health. I myself have witnessed the benefits by incorporating clean practices into my life such as being conscious of what I eat and the nutrients I put in my body, using more natural products, going outside, and exercising regularly. In my everyday life, I typically utilize clean living habits. These habits are present very often as I make sure that my three meals a day are clean. Keeping myself hydrated with at least half a gallon of water a day takes precedence. I make it a priority to track the calories of everything I eat to ensure that I am not overeating. Furthermore, I use the same app to track calories to also track my macronutrients such as protein, carbs, and fat. This is to ensure my body is receiving an adequate and needed amount of nutrients in order to fuel my health. And on the off chance I do not reach my intended goal, I can always rely on the multivitamin supplements I take. Eating habits are important to me because I want to nourish and take care of my body. And with taking care of my body, also comes my dedication to exercising regularly as well. I have a gym membership that I frequently try to make use of. The specific exercise I prefer and enjoy and that I believe is healthiest for my heart, lungs and body is weightlifting. With weightlifting, it is imperative that I understand how to reap the most benefits from it. Due to this, I practice my form and trying to get stronger whenever I can. I workout at least three times a week as a clean and healthy lifestyle choice. Although the physical health that comes with clean living habits is astounding, the mental health aspect is also notable. Clean living habits can also include morning rituals that help your mental health. For instance, I make it a habit everyday while I am getting ready, to look into the mirror into my eyes, and repeat positive affirmations. I put on a heart chakra frequency and repeat affirmations such as "I welcome the blessings that today brings" and "I can do anything I set my mind to." I do this for at the most five minutes. Working on my self concept has made my confidence and self esteem improve greatly. In summary I understand that the value that comes with living clean is phenomenal and something that can transcend the lifestyle of anyone. I have reaped these fruitful benefits myself through diet, exercise, and morning ritual.

Writing is a creative outlet that I have valued for years due to its importance in fields such as education, the creativity it brings, and the overall joy it brings me. For me personally, writing is very important as it has always been a passion in my life. Typically passions arise in individuals at different points in life, some are lucky enough to understand what it is that drives them from a young age. Thankfully I am one of those individuals. My passion for writing, specifically creative writing, was ignited in elementary school where it was hard to not find me with my nose in a book. My favorite series was the novel series Warriors written by Erin Hunter, books that I read almost every single one of. I fell in love with the flowery essence of the writing and the engaging fictional culture of cats. It was inspiring enough for a 10 year old me to sit by my mother’s feet as she executed various tasks, and recite a story off the top of my head. My stories typically involved these cats that I read about. I came up with original characters and stories that were all featured in the Warrior setting. My stories were rather odd. One of the significance was about a cat with a vision of prophecy that was a river with blood and severed heads running through it. To tell other people my stories of my own world, and to spark a complex and new world into my own was so motivating, that it persuaded me to go even bigger. I stepped out of the zone of cat fanfiction and began to write stories of completely original characters and settings. My penchant for fantasy led me to creating lands, societies, characters, and magic systems, and then my penchant for film led to converting my stories into screenplays. I can appreciate writing for being a creative outlet for myself and those other authors who inspired my own stories. Writing made me appreciate it for the passion it gave me and the creativity it allows to be exhibited. Furthermore, writing has benefited me in the way that it has educated me and taught me great wisdom. Writing is an ancient art and has allowed people from all time periods to document their wisdom and stories. The writings of Neville Goddard, Siddhartha Gautama (Lord Buddha), and William Shakespeare have allotted me with the foundation of the beliefs I hold. Goddard’s works educated me on esotericism, a concept I apply to my everyday life through another one of his teachings: the law of assumption. Additionally, the teachings of Buddha have also assisted me in everyday living, as I try to consistently apply his mantras. Shakespeare’s writings as well are an inspiration to me, as I have studied and tried to replicate his iambic pentameter and sonnets. I have even learned about history through textbooks, and although seen as boring pieces of media, even textbooks’ writing is valuable. Writing has taught me numerous things and this is universal. Finally, writing is very valuable to me. Writing has inspired me, allowed me to express myself, and has taught me lessons that I intend to carry for the rest of my life. To me, writing will always be a fundamental part of my life.