If everyone in the world could read just one book, the only one that could come to my mind to recommend would be The Bible. Despite the lengthiness of the book, every page truly hold so much wisdom that if applied to the entire world population, I believe that we would be more united, united in love, and peace, and overall, agreement. The Bible commands individuals to treat other individuals with respect, a simple command that if everyone could truly listen to and follow with all their might, the wars you see happening, the babies that are innocent dropping to the ground, the eyes of mothers filling with tears, the hungry stomachs and thirsting throats would never be considered reality. The competition that is influenced by pride to be the most successful, the richest, the person with the biggest house or the prettiest car— all of that would disappear into air, air that is filled with love for others. The war against religion would be gone, the war against rivals wouldn’t exist, the hatred towards each other would be shamed instead of uplifted, and everyone could rest at night knowing that their community is united by one power. One power that holds the power to lift all sagging souls. Maybe I just want the tears to dry and the stomachs to be filled. Or maybe I just want the creation to know its creator, for the poem to know its poet, and the loved to know their lover. So truly, if I wanted one request from the world to be fulfilled, it would be to read this one book, and to apply it to their lives; Maybe then, and just maybe, we could all love each as Christ loved us.

This might sound cliche, but my favorite movie of all time is Matilda. I grew up in a household that was similar to Matilda’s. One in which the caretakers, the guardians, the people that are supposed to look after you and see your strengths and not your flaws, are your first enemies. Matilda was a brilliant individual, and sometimes I’d like to think of myself as the same (not to her extent, of course). However, because of the way she was raised, her brilliance never was seen by many people, it was never truly recognized until someone pointed it out for her. See, I find myself living in a world where everyone is so quick to see how I could be of help to them, how I could better suit their lives, how I can give them peace of mind. It was never how someone could be of aid to me. And that was the case of Matilda. She was an academic genius who was only totaled down to someone that could clean up after her parents, someone that can go get groceries when they were too lazy to, just someone that could change the TV channel when they refused to get up. She was never seen as the girl that can solve mathematical problems that was beyond her age and articulation. Not until someone saw her for who she is. It would be safe to assume that the movie hits home, if I ever truly had one, for me, and it’s a comfort movie that I can play in the background while I’m commanded to clean, while I’m lectured for my imperfections, or while I am taking advantage of by the people that raised me. She was in class one day, and her teacher comedically presented her class with a math problem, no one could solve, ever. Until Matilda. And that was when the girl who was always overlooked got her recognition. If I only had one movie to watch for the rest of my life, it would be Matilda. It would be the movie that has me hoping that maybe one day, I’ll get my ounce of recognition as well. It keeps me on my feet to believe that I have a strength, even when all everyone has ever saw, was a flaw. Matilda remains in my heart as an inspiration, as a kid who had so much more going for her then everyone had convinced her of.

I read this one book that seems to roam through my mind every know and then, the book in question is “Rich Dad, Poor Dad.” Ultimately the book is about a particular individual treat grew up with two dads, one that sees money a way that will lead him to a poor path and the other views money in the prosperous and finically freedom path. The book wasn't intended to shame the poor dad but instead, to create a compromise, to compare the two mentalities and how they impacted their lives financially just based on the approach in which they think. I always find myself going back to this book, taking notes on how I can use the successful dad’s mentality. While this book was outside of my so called education and instead was read on my own free time, I find it helpful for my future. The way the author pieces together advice and tips without necessarily shaming the opposing viewpoint really opened my eyes on how money should be perceived. My parents never grew up poor, and truthfully, neither did I. Usually, when you are in a household that barely feeds you or feeds you just enough, you crave more. You crave money in a way that people deem as obsessive and the “root of all evil.” I beg to differ. I believe it brought me down to reality. I believe that instead of seeing money as unreachable and instead attainable with hard work, I saw its value. I saw the way it was taken advantage of and used unwisely. The way people threw money around when they had a surplus of it instead of investing it or providing it to the families who grew up with the lack of it. Money taught me to close the lights when they're not needed, taught me to use that paper towel wisely, and it taught me to never keep the dryer going on for too long. But money also taught me to love, it taught me to buy that friend a coffee, it taught me to work an extra hour so I can give my mom a day off her job—— taking the workload myself. Money can be the root of all evil, if you let it. It can infest your brain to only see your own favor instead of others. It can teach you the ways of the poor dad, never giving you the opportunity of the rich. But most of all, it taught me that it doesn't have value at all. I am rich, rich in love, rich in community, and rich in compassion. And no bill can be capable of making me my definition of rich.

I'm on the road to becoming a business major. At first glance, it might not seem like it's an out-of-the-norm career path, but what will make it seem like it is, is my background. I come from immigrant parents. Parents who would rather die than not remind you every two seconds how much they had to sacrifice to bring you to the United States. And while that is true and their hard efforts are recognized by me and so many other kids, it comes with conditions. It comes with "I worked so hard for you to become a doctor! Or a lawyer! Would you want my hard work to go to waste?" So you end up having these conditioned passions placed on your shoulders that you never wanted in the first place. Whether I wanted to be a pop singer a YouTuber or a film director, it wouldn't matter. In their minds, I was already set to go into law or medical school as a repayment for their struggles and sacrifices. This isn't a revenge plan to sabotage my parent's lives for their pushy parenting. I wish the best for them, and in the future, I want to show them the world. I want to show them that I made it, without law school. I dreamed big and I got the future and life I wanted without medical school. This is genuinely who I want to become except I was raised into thinking that it wouldn't be sufficient. My life trajectory wouldn't be negatively altered, I know I have goals and I have the ambition and discipline to someday meet them. I wouldn't doubt that for the world. However, I do see my parent's relationships with me becoming rocky and distant. And for what? Doing something as simple as chasing after my dreams like every other individual who goes to sleep at night hoping and hoping for more. I want to become a business major, I want to learn how to be my own boss, and I long to learn how to control my work environment, and teach others the same. I want to show people that nobody should get in the way of your passions, even those that birthed you. Even the people that would've died trying to give you a better life. But I seek to look at my parents one last time, and tell them "This is a better life."

Stepping into an environment that is new to you has to be the most difficult, yet, least comfortable position to be in. I was "the new kid" before, and the pressure to step out of that label and step into the cliche that fit me best was like never before. The odd stares from my classmates, or my future enemies, friends, or backstabbers, were too many to count. Often, I would tremble the second I stepped into a classroom knowing the teacher was about to lead me to commit social suicide just by introducing me to everyone else. At this point, everyone had already formed their friends and their lovers, while I had to step into a group like that last drop of water that was about to overflow when filling a water bottle. I already had passions and dreams, but they would soon come to an end knowing they had to be altered for the sake of "fitting in." When you're a new kid, your personal interests don't matter, instead, you pick up on what everyone likes and force yourself to like it as well. This could be the new game that just came out that you would rather die than play. It could be the club that everyone wants to join despite your despise of all the members. It could be silencing your dreams and your passions just so that no one can be weirded out. But, it comes to a point, where the validation of others is no longer being depended on. I no longer have to think twice about what I have to say, I no longer have to play sports and games I never felt comfortable playing, and I no longer have to live my everyday life trying to please everyone. The new kid will eventually reach his peak once he looks at himself and realizes that no one but him is like him. And it would be a shame to get rid of a diverse part of a world that strives to blend in instead of out. The new kid will eventually understand the dilemma of attempting to please everyone. The new kid was me, and he still is me, but a developed version of me that can grasp how beautiful it is to appreciate every aspect of myself when no one can. Being the new kid changed my habits, it changed my passions, it changed my character, and it changed my life. It had its negatives that developed into positives, and If i had to be completely honest, I do not regret it one bit.