Every person has their own story that they have to write in their own story. With the help of their friends, family, and who is around you. But when things happen, it can affect your story from success to failure. However, these experiences can also alter their perspective on success when they face numerous failures and challenges. Whether it's struggling with bad grades in school or dealing with family conflicts, these experiences can shape a person's outlook on life. These experiences, in turn, mold our perspectives, aspirations, and definitions of success. In the past, finding success was a challenge for me. I struggled with poor grades and often doubted if I could continue my education. These experiences took a toll on my self-esteem and made me question my abilities. However, due to COVID-19, I had the opportunity to do school at home, which ultimately led to an improvement in my grades. I found success in completing my projects and earning good grades. Additionally, I devoted time to reading books for both my classes and for leisure. Despite hearing that most people don't have time to read for fun, this notion is beginning to fade away. I now have the chance to connect with new people and experience a change of pace. Success was fun to see through my grades and the hard work that I put into the work. But before high school, there were a lot of hard times in the school that I went to from kindergarten to 8th. I was bullied a lot and had very bad grades. Things were ever hard but this coming year is going to be a huge change in my freshman year of college. Because from the end of 8th grade to now I have been part of an online school through the public school system. Going to classes with other students around me and going to class instead of just sitting behind my computer all day. While the challenges I faced in my earlier years left lasting effects, they also instilled in me strength and courage that I believe will be beneficial in the future. One success that I would be extremely happy about is obtaining my nursing degree. It would prove to myself that I can achieve whatever I put my mind to. It wouldn't just be a saying that my mom tells me because part of me believes her and another doesn't. I just have to make it through four years of the most expensive school I have ever been in and try to secure some grant money or more scholarship funds from the school as I work on very hard schoolwork. How this opportunity will help you achieve it? This opportunity will help me because more scholarship means fewer loans. After all, at this time I will have a lot of loans. With the rising costs of tuition and fees, I will accumulate a lot of student loan debt over the next few years. This scholarship would make a tangible difference in mitigating that debt and allowing me to focus more fully on my studies without the added stress of financial worries.

“There was a pier filled with thousands of people, men and women, fathers and mothers and children—so many children—children from the past and the present, children who had not yet been born, side by side, hand in hand, in caps, in short pants, filling the boardwalk and the rides and the wooden platforms, sitting on each other's shoulders, sitting in each other's laps. They were there, or would be there, because of the simple, mundane things Eddie had done in his life, the accidents he had prevented, the rides he had kept safe, the unnoticed turns he had affected every day. And while their lips did not move, Eddie heard their voices, more voices than he could have imagined, and a peace came upon him that he had never known before. He was free of Tala's grasp now, and he floated up above the sand and above the boardwalk, above the tent tops and spires of the midway toward the peak of the big, white Ferris wheel, where a cart, gently swaying, held a woman in a yellow dress—his wife, Marguerite, waiting with her arms extended. He reached for her and he saw her smile and the voices melded into a single word from God: Home.” (Albom, 193) This is from the book; The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom—the same author of Tuesday with Morrie- another incredible book. Even though there is a lot of sorrow throughout the book, there are still some happy moments. The protagonist finds peace with his wife and learns more about the history of the boardwalk where he worked for years, just like his father. Even during difficult times, there is a joy to be found. For Eddie, it was the sight of children running around and enjoying the rides with their parents. The boardwalk has a long history, but one thing that has stayed the same is that people love coming there with their kids. As he looked out at the pier where he grew up and worked, he saw a crowd of faces - young and old - coming together. Their laughter and cries mixed into a beautiful symphony of life. The space was filled with countless children, reaching for the future with their tiny hands and reflecting the dreams that were yet to come true in their eyes. Also the adventures and the life they will have or going to have at some point in the future. Even though the pier had some hardship because of his father and dreaming that he would never work there. But the pier is also a symbol of joy and recreation and becomes a stage for the drama of human life. It is a place where laughter and sorrow intertwine, where hopes and dreams are born. The image of children, from the past, present, and future, gathered together, in one place of joy and imagination. They all depict different stages of life, suggesting that we are all connected, and bound by a shared human experience. All though we never know where our story is taking us who we will meet or who we will see in our story. One thing we know our lives can change. Eddie's life did not work out the way he wanted but a single, pivotal moment would force him to confront his past and make a choice that would alter his destiny. Even though Eddie's journey affected his liberation from the burdens of his past, the voices at the end ended with one single word: “Home.” This suggests the feeling of belonging and ultimate fulfillment. However, the final image at the end of the book shows Eddie returning to his wife, Marguerite. This symbolizes that his life’s journey has finally come to an end and, in the end, he truly finds his happiness.

Hi there! I'm Grace Petersen, a former student at Potomac Falls High School. I'm now eagerly embarking on my college adventure at the Catholic University of America to pursue nursing. I can’t wait to meet new people and get involved in different clubs. The only thing I'm nervous about is how I'll keep up with the heavy class loads, but I'm excited about meeting my new roommate. A bit about me: I'm an only child and the proud owner of Foxy, my small Yorkie Terrier. I enjoy staying active by taking leisurely walks with Foxy and spending time with friends at the outdoor mall. What can we do as a society to end the stigma surrounding mental health? Mental health is something that not a lot of people want to talk about. Some are nervous about discussing it, while others feel uncomfortable when others talk about it. What we need to focus on is finding a middle ground between these perspectives. By finding common ground, we might be able to end the negative talk surrounding mental health. One small thing we can do is to have a class discussion about mental health or simply talk about it more in high schools. With all the kids having to deal with COVID and not understanding what is going on, they might experience mental health issues as a result. If we talk about it more, it might draw more attention to the issues these kids are facing, especially high school teens who were introverts before COVID-19 and are now dealing with social anxiety. As they have gone back to their high schools or even going to college for the first time. Talking about anxiety, is one of the main mental health problems that many teens deal with. Anxiety is mainly caused by traumas such as bullying and other mental health issues in their past. Bullying is not fun to deal with, coming from someone who was bullied a lot in middle school and late elementary school. Even though I do have anxiety from the bullies, I can still work through it, unlike many people. Social anxiety is one of the most common forms of anxiety. Another common form is anxiety disorder, which involves fears and tension. There is also panic disorder, which involves the fear that brings on panic attacks. Lastly, there is Agoraphobia, which I haven't heard about before. It is the fear of being in a place that is difficult to escape. Additionally, there are other types of anxiety. It's important to note that anxiety is not the only mental health disorder; there are also depression, schizophrenia, and eating disorders. Anxiety is the one that I know the most of adout so that is where I leave you we need to talk adout more than we do.

Throughout my school career, from kindergarten until 12th grade, and getting ready for my freshman year of college. I have had a lot of problems from bad grades to being bullied a lot mainly in middle school and late elementary school. From all the bad grades my parents thought I couldn’t go to college. High school and Covid changed all of that. I started online school I got new confidence and my grades started to get a whole lot better. Things started to get a whole lot better and with the confidence I found my love for reading. Yes, I loved reading in middle school but it was from audiobooks and then reading them myself. Things just got better. The main reason for the bad grades I having a reading disability called Dyslexia. Thanks to a middle school teacher finally figured out what was going on with me. Even though nothing can change how bad my grades were back then. At least my high school grades change big time like A’s and B’s. What areas am I excelling in? My science teacher would tell me that I excel in her class. On the other hand, my parents would argue that I excel in all my classes. But that is probably just what you expect from my partners. What do I excel in? I don’t know. I love to read, but it's not a subject in school. I love to dance and have fun with my friends; well, that is a fun thing to do. But what subjects do I excel in the most? Like science - well, more like chemistry. I am not a big fan of earth science. It's just that I've never considered that question before. When I was younger, I would have said math, but now I don't know. This past year I have really excelled in English and I can’t believe that I am saying that. I think that is the class that I have been excelling in at least lately. The way that I can tell this is that I have been asking more questions and the grades on the papers have been a lot better in the past year. I'll be starting my nursing program this fall. I'm thrilled about pursuing a career in nursing, but I'm anxious about maintaining the required grades. I'm starting to feel less nervous because the program offers support services like tutoring, and the teachers are available to help. Additionally, I was expecting larger class sizes of 25 to 40 students. For a class that all freshmen have to take. But I've learned that there will only be 18 students per class, which is reassuring. What are the goals I wish to accomplish once I graduate? My goal is to have a good job. I know most people say that before they graduate college, but I would love to get a good job even outside the state where I am living. Let's just say I would most likely be happier away from the family drama, which I have been forced to deal with for the past couple of years. With the good paying job I am hoping to become a foster parent to give younger kids. By becoming a foster parent, I can provide them with the care they may have never experienced before. What changes am I looking to accomplish both in my field and for myself? I don’t know what type of things I can change in the nursing field, but I can be there for the patients who need me. The change that I am looking to accomplish for myself is to work harder than I ever have before. I want to prove to myself that I can do anything I put my mind to, even though it will be hard at times. I will prove to myself that I can do it. What am I willing to do to achieve these changes? Mainly work hard. I'm not saying that I'm a procrastinator because I'm the total opposite. I want to get things done as soon as I'm told or given an assignment. Slowing down and asking more questions will help me improve my grades. One thing for sure is that starting college will bring big changes on the first day. I will take it one day at a time, but I will reach my goal of becoming a nurse. Even though I'm taking things one day at a time, some days might feel slower while others may pass by quickly. I understand that living in a big city while in college will be challenging and different. However, I'm excited about the prospect of meeting new people, learning new things, and gaining new perspectives in unexpected ways. I'll have to wait and see how my great adventure unfolds.

I have had many wonderful teachers from middle school to high school, but the high school teachers who truly stood out to me from my high school are Ms. Brown, Mrs. Raburn, and Ms. James. Without them, my experience would have been very different. Ms. Brown helped my parents and me when we had questions or when I needed assistance. Mrs. Raburn was my favorite science teacher, and Ms. James was always there to help me with math or discuss the books we were reading. The teacher who deeply influenced me was Mrs. Raburn. Without her, I wouldn’t have taken an AP class, something I never thought I would do. I used to think I wasn't smart enough for it, especially considering my poor grades in middle school. However, near the end of my junior year in high school, Mrs. Raburn told me that I would be taking her AP class in my senior year. She even said she would call my parents if they said no. I'm not sure if she called them or not, but on some days when I had AP classes, I didn't want to be there. But I don’t know what is going to happen in class. I know that I will not regret taking the smart kid's class. As May approached, the stress increased because I was the only one in a class of two taking the AP test. The reason the class is so small is because it's an online school. My parents and I estimate that the senior class has about 25 students. However, I am still graduating from my home school or my local public school, which has a class size of about 415 students. Throughout the past two years, Mrs. Raburn has been incredibly helpful to me. However, as this year comes to an end and I prepare to go to college next year, I found out that I have to take statistics. Although some people have assured me that I will be fine in the class, it's reassuring to know that I can also rely on Mrs. Raburn for help. She even offered to assist me if I had any questions. How has she influenced my approach to life? She has changed my life for the better. Even though she pushed me beyond what I thought I could do, and it was stressful at times, without her, I might not have had the courage to pursue my dream career, which is to be a nurse. Her impact has truly changed my life for the better.

I've watched a lot of movies over the years, both with my dad and with my friends. I've seen movies from different decades, from action to romance. Romantic movies range from French kisses to Hallmark Christmas movies. Action movies like The Avengers to a crazy spy movie called The King's Man. My all-time favorite is probably The King's Man, although I'm not exactly sure why. It's one of the few movies I can watch without getting bored. You might expect a huge Marvel fan to mention something like 'The Avengers' or 'Marvel Avengers: Endgame,' as these movies have had a great impact on me. I do love them, and 'Endgame' is both sad and funny in different parts. However, I had watched them so many times that when 'Avengers: Endgame' was released, a couple of boys in my class spoiled the movie for me. Alternatively, you might expect me to mention 'Kingsman,' but it's not that one. But the movie that has greatly impacted me is something a little bit different. Even though every little girl says that it has impacted them, and that is Cinderella. Well, if you asked me a couple of years ago, that would have been my answer. But I am writing and thinking about it. But the movie that has greatly impacted me is A Week Away. "A Week Away" is about an orphaned boy who gets into trouble with the police at the beginning of the movie. He has done other things, like trying to sell his school on eBay. Instead of going to jail, he is given a choice to attend a summer camp. The interesting part is that it has now been turned into a musical, as he goes to summer camp, meets new people, and possibly falls in love with a pretty girl. Even though he has been through a lot and normally runs away from where they place him. This time he decides to stay and a lot of things change. I remember the first time I saw this movie. I was at my grandmother’s house, trying to get to sleep. Instead, I watched this random movie that was new on Netflix. I loved the music even though I didn’t know the songs at the time. But now I know all the songs by heart. I love listening to them in the summer, whether getting ready for a summer camp or just because. This movie has shown me that no matter what you have been through, you can find friends or even family in any situation. I met one of my new best friends at the summer camp I was nervous to be working at. I thought I wouldn’t meet anyone new, but I did.

Something I've learned from books is that you can find adventures everywhere, from high school to college. Even though my high school years are coming to an end, college is the next step for me. In some books, the main character might become a chess champion, like in "Check and Mate" by Ali Hazelwood or attend a secret college, like in Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson books. It doesn’t matter where you look in books there is an adventure. Even though I may not have the perfect roommate, like in "Fangirl" by Rainbow Rowell, or a magical roommate, like in "Magical Creatures Academy" by Lucia Ashta. Even though I may have different types of college experiences, I can read about them. But I'm still nervous about going off to school like “Renegades,” by Marissa Meyer, which is about a villain going to a hero's HQ and acting like a hero. For this example, I may feel out of place because I never attended a traditional high school. Instead, I was part of an online high school program. It's like when Annabeth left camp for the first time in years in "Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan. But it is ok for my dreams and plans to evolve as you navigate your college journey. Like at this point I am dreaming of becoming a nurse and being a nurse as a student. But when I get into the class I might change and become I don’t know maybe become a scientist.   Even though I'm not going to the same school as my friends, it feels like our lives are playing out a scenario from "Loathe to Love You" by Ali Hazelwood. Three friends set out on different paths to find themselves. Things can change I rather them not change but they do.  Something can quickly change, just like Katniss Everdeen's life transformed rapidly in Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I won't be entering an arena like she did, but her life did change extremely quickly. Alternatively, I could be like Bella, sitting in her truck, wondering what comes next, as in Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. By the way, I do own a very old truck that makes a lot of noise and I have sat in it for no reason. They have taught me that whatever comes next can change for the better or the worse. So, I hope it is for the best, even though my life is not a perfect storybook-like Prince Charming and Cinderella. But like in an adventure, things change, you meet new friends, and sometimes you hope your life is a story where you can meet Prince Charming. But something tells me that wouldn’t happen but hey who knows?

My personality has changed over the years. When I was little, I was crazy and all over the place. In elementary school, I had a lot of friends and would hang out with them, running around with no care in the world. Having fun summer parties in the backyard to biking with neighborhood kids to the pool for swim team. In the fifth grade, things got interesting from having the worst teacher in the school to being bullied a lot, with no end in signet. At this time I barely had any friends I had a BFF and one of the neighbors. I started to become more of an introvert  During middle school, the bullying decreased, but there was still gossip behind my back. My grades worsened until my teacher informed me that I have dyslexia. This diagnosis didn't change anything, but getting extra help from tutors did. Then 8th grade came, followed by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was the beginning of positive changes for me. We all started online, so some people hated others and some loved it. I was one of those teens who loved it. There was no bullying and it didn't matter what I was wearing because no one could see it. I kind of hoped I wouldn't have to go to school. Then high school started and we were still online. Then a program started and that's how I did high school. But I was more of an introvert. Until I started my favorite job working at Spirit of Halloween, I opened up and I was happy. Until it ended. The next year came around and it was Halloween and I worked at Spirit of Halloween again. But this is the year I lost all my friends except for one. Last summer was tough for me because instead of spending time with my friends, I had to work at a summer camp. I thought I had made friends with a couple of girls, but it turned out that I became friends with another teen. We discovered that we had a lot more in common than we initially thought - we both enjoy baking, reading, and spending time outdoors. Despite having different outdoor activities that we enjoy, such as her love for running and my preference for walking my dog. In my senior year of high school in some weird ways, I am going to miss these years when I was young but I can’t wait for the further ahead of me and spending time with my old friends.  Even though I haven’t had a lot of mental health struggles than most. I only have anxiety. I am mostly sure that I got from the bullies from a mix of middle school and elementary school. But truly haven’t affected me that much only when there are a lot of people around or a lot of loud noises. Like when we go to the beach during the summer. There is an outside game and rides place. When it is packed it is extremely loud. I usually get very stressed out.

The nursing industry interests me as a career choice because I love the idea of helping others. Nurses are there in times of need, from kids who need someone to talk to, to being helpful when people have questions about things. Nurses are the most hard-working people, the most generous, and kindred people. With everything they see, do, and have to deal with from the patience to the other staff. Even though they have been, they are still very hard workers. My goal for a successful career is to be there in times of need, to work hard, to gain skills from others around me, and ultimately to become a better nurse to help others. Whether it's working in a hospital or a doctor's office, each opportunity is a chance to learn from other nurses and improve my own abilities. By learning from others, I can also teach new nurses as time goes on, so they can learn like I did. The personal accomplishments I've achieved so far have enabled me to pursue my goals. I faced challenges with my grades and bullying in school, but high school brought about a positive change. I no longer experienced bullying and transitioned to an online school program, which boosted my confidence and improved my grades. One of my favorite achievements was when my favorite teacher invited me to join her AP chemistry class for my senior year. My personal health situation is when I found out that I had reactive airways, which is a lesser form of asthma. The nurse that my parents and I talked to were nice trying to teach me how to use one of the machines. They had the patience to do it with me over and over again. Because I keep doing it wrong. The machine was thinking that you have blow into blow out the candles and for some reason, I couldn’t do it. But at some point, I did do it. Every year during my check-up, sometimes the doctor asks for blood work or a shot. I really dislike needles and get very anxious when they're being used on me. The nurses are always very patient with me, helping me to calm down, and before I know it, it's done. My mom usually says, "That wasn't so bad, was it?" The nurses are really great at dealing with kids who are scared, like me, or crying a lot.

How does my mental health affect my academic performance? It impacts my study habits and how I approach assignments. For instance, when it comes to homework assignments that involve recording videos of myself or doing voiceovers, I become extremely stressed and tend to procrastinate until the last minute or even the day it's due. Despite knowing that I should do it, I struggle to muster the courage to start. Tests are another challenge. While I feel confident in subjects like history, I often find myself frozen when faced with an English test. I can sit at my desk, staring at the screen, unable to begin until I finally gather the courage to ask for help. Even though my dad tells me that I'll be okay, I still worry about failing. Once that thought enters my mind, it consumes me, making me think I should fail. While I do pass most of the time, there are still instances when I don't, reinforcing my fear of failure. Navigating my personal life can be stressful, especially when it involves my dad or his family. Their unpredictable behavior adds to the tension—I never know if they'll be pleasant or suddenly rude. And then there's the issue of my extremely lazy cousin. While I always want to spend time with them, I have to be cautious of their helicopter mom there in a second with the normal excuses like they do not want to play a game or they are too tired to play. What steps do I take to make my mental health a priority? The number one thing is dance. It does matter what is going on if it long week of school or I have to deal with my family. Dance is something that makes me forget what is around me. I can keep my head in one place, the movement of the dance. There is also walking with my small dog and don’t for the music. Just walking nowhere to be nowhere to go. Just walking even though I sometimes I have to head back to one of my classes for school. When I do add music I forget everything even what my next class is. Homework to a test it doesn’t matter what is going on, but when it comes to dance, walking, or music. I can feel free to forget free to move on but at some point, I have to come back to reality. Even though at some point I know I can come back to the freedom of no stress and anxiety.

There are many books available from bestsellers to lesser-known authors today. The #BookTok is a great place to discover new and exciting reads and you never know what you will find. #BookTok contains a lot of new reads. One book I am surprised to see is a book called The Book Thief by Markus Zusak because the book is 15 years old. I think they should continue to have old and new reads for Variety. But, my ideal bookshelf inspired by #BookTok recommendations is books with enemies to lovers with a little bit of fantasy mixed into it. One of the must-have books is Fourth Winges by Rebecca Yarros, which is a perfect blend of both genres. Another popular author that has been talked about is Ali Hazelwood, with books such as Love on the Brain and The Love Hypothesis being highly recommended. Although I have not read it yet, I'm curious about Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi, as one of my friends enjoyed it. I might consider reading it in the future. There are many enjoyable books available to read, but I am glad that I discovered #BookTok. Without it, I may not have come across one of my favorite books, Lightlark by Alex Aster. How would I describe it to you? I would say that it is an unusual spin-off of the Hunger Games. Another book that's caught my attention through #BookTok, is The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon. However, I am nervous about reading it because of the length of the story, it has around 880 pages. How have these books impacted the #BookTok community? Well, to tell you the truth it shows the wide arrangement of books and that everyone has different opinions about books. Some might share their monthly reading lists, while others might share their opinions on which books to read and which ones to avoid. As you watch the #BookTok community you can find out there are books that some people like and others don’t. One of those examples is The Cruel Prince by Holly Black. I am part of the ones who don’t like it, all I am going to say is it does not hold my attention to complete the book. Nonetheless, these differences in my opinions make the #BookTok community unique and different. What I appreciate about #BookTok is that it shares multiple opinions on books to help me decide what I am going to read next. I recommend #BookTok as a useful resource for people who enjoy reading.

Throughout elementary school to middle school, I had a couple of different tutors because I was struggling in school. My grades were bad, especially when it came to spelling and reading. I wanted to read, but I couldn't, so I started to hate reading and writing. Every time a teacher said that we were going to read or have a spelling test I knew right away that I would get the lowest grade. I started to call myself an idiot, but Mom told me that she had bad grades. She still went off and got a degree. She was trying to show me that I could do anything that I put my mind to. But I still looked at myself the same. When I got to middle school, I was excited but scared. I had heard one of the teachers, the science teacher, was tough. Everyone was scared of her, so in her class, all of the students in the class were quiet. Other teachers had a hard time making my class quiet during instruction. But just walking into her room, I started to have an even harder time keeping my grades the way I thought they should be or just keeping up with my friends who had good grades. As time went on, I started to see my grades drop even though I studied all of the time with my mom. At a parent-teacher conference, she mentioned her observations of me and my challenges. That conversation changed my life. She told them that I might have a thing called dyslexia. Soon, I began working with a new tutor, but she treated me like a kindergartener, clearly misunderstanding my abilities and needs. I worked with several tutors after this, including the amazing Mrs. Waffles. Who did help me but she thought that I needed someone that teaches at a higher level. Next, we found was the one that helped me into high school. Without her still, I would be having a hard time. When I got into high school, everyone was still online because of Covid at the end of 8th grade. Many people hated distance learning, I was one of the few who loved it. A new online school started up for everyone who didn’t want to go back due to Covid. My grades started to go up. I started to feel more comfortable and self-assured with school. I began earning As and Bs. with the newfound confidence brought along my true love of reading and writing. I started to write more, not just for school, but for fun as well. Reading wasn’t just for school. I read all the time. What I know now is that I still have problems with a handful of different things. There are still errors in my writing, but I still love it. When someone asks me about my favorite activity, most of the time I ask, “Does reading count?” I love reading fantasy books like Supernova. But before, I gained confidence with reading, school was almost like pulling teeth and reading any book with my mom. It didn’t matter what book it was, it was hard to read. Every time I think about college, I can’t believe that it is next year. That brings up the question: what do I want to do? I want to be a nurse. Why do I want to be a nurse? Because I want to help people and do more than just help with their physical needs. Nothing, not even dyslexia is going to stop me from reaching my goals.

Throughout elementary school to middle school, I had a couple of different tutors because I was struggling in school. My grades were bad, especially when it came to spelling and reading. I wanted to read, but I couldn't, so I started to hate reading and writing. Every time a teacher said that we were going to read or have a spelling test I knew right away that I would get the lowest grade. I started to call myself an idiot, but Mom told me that she had bad grades. She still went off and got a degree. She was trying to show me that I could do anything that I put my mind to. But I still looked at myself the same. When I got to middle school, I was excited but scared. I had heard one of the teachers, the science teacher, was tough. Everyone was scared of her, so in her class, all of the students in the class were quiet. Other teachers had a hard time making my class quiet during instruction. But just walking into her room, I started to have an even harder time keeping my grades the way I thought they should be or just keeping up with my friends who had good grades. As time went on, I started to see my grades drop even though I studied all of the time with my mom. At a parent-teacher conference, she mentioned her observations of me and my challenges. That conversation changed my life. She told them that I might have a thing called dyslexia. Soon, I began working with a new tutor, but she treated me like a kindergartener, clearly misunderstanding my abilities and needs. I worked with several tutors after this, including the amazing Mrs. Waffles. Who did help me but she thought that I needed someone that teaches at a higher level. Next, we found the one that helped me all the way into high school. Without her still, I would be having a hard time. When I got into high school, everyone was still online because of Covid at the end of 8th grade. Many people hated distance learning, I was one of the few who loved it. A new online school started up for everyone who didn’t want to go back due to Covid. My grades started to go up. I started to feel more comfortable and self-assured with school. I began earning As and Bs. with the newfound confidence brought along my true love of reading and writing. I started to write more, not just for school, but for fun as well. Reading wasn’t just for school. I read all the time. What I know now is that I still have problems with a handful of different things. There are still errors in my writing, but I still love it. When someone asks me about my favorite activity, most of the time I ask, “Does reading count?” I love reading fantasy books like Supernova. But before, I gained confidence with reading, school was almost like pulling teeth and reading any book with my mom. It didn’t matter what book it was, it was hard to read. Every time I think about college, I can’t believe that it is next year. That brings up the question: what do I want to do? I want to be a nurse. Why do I want to be a nurse? Because I want to help people and do more than just help with their physical needs. Nothing, not even dyslexia is going to stop me from reaching my goals.

Throughout elementary school to middle school, I had a couple of different tutors because I was struggling in school. My grades were bad, especially when it came to spelling and reading. I wanted to read, but I couldn't, so I started to hate reading and writing. Every time a teacher said that we were going to read or have a spelling test I knew right away that I would get the lowest grade. I started to call myself an idiot, but Mom told me that she had bad grades. She still went off and got a degree. She was trying to show me that I could do anything that I put my mind to. But I still looked at myself the same. When I got to middle school, I was excited but scared. I had heard one of the teachers, the science teacher, was tough. Everyone was scared of her, so in her class, all of the students in the class were quiet. Other teachers had a hard time making my class quiet during instruction. But just walking into her room, I started to have an even harder time keeping my grades the way I thought they should be or just keeping up with my friends who had good grades. As time went on, I started to see my grades drop even though I studied all of the time with my mom. At a parent-teacher conference, she mentioned her observations of me and my challenges. That conversation changed my life. She told them that I might have a thing called dyslexia. Soon, I began working with a new tutor, but she treated me like a kindergartener, clearly misunderstanding my abilities and needs. I worked with several tutors after this, including the amazing Mrs. Waffles. Who did help me but she thought that I needed someone that teaches at a higher level. Next, we found the one that helped me all the way into high school. Without her still, I would be having a hard time. When I got into high school, everyone was still online because of Covid at the end of 8th grade. Many people hated distance learning, I was one of the few who loved it. A new online school started up for everyone who didn’t want to go back due to Covid. My grades started to go up. I started to feel more comfortable and self-assured with school. I began earning As and Bs. with the newfound confidence brought along my true love of reading and writing. I started to write more, not just for school, but for fun as well. Reading wasn’t just for school. I read all the time. What I know now is that I still have problems with a handful of different things. There are still errors in my writing, but I still love it. When someone asks me about my favorite activity, most of the time I ask, “Does reading count?” I love reading fantasy books like Supernova. But before, I gained confidence with reading, school was almost like pulling teeth and reading any book with my mom. It didn’t matter what book it was, it was hard to read. Every time I think about college, I can’t believe that it is next year. That brings up the question: what do I want to do? I want to be a nurse. Why do I want to be a nurse? Because I want to help people and do more than just help with their physical needs. Nothing, not even dyslexia is going to stop me from reaching my goals.

The two Disney Channel shows I would have a crossover event with would be the Miraculous Ladybug and the Thundermans. The episode would be called, "The Unexpected Event." The story begins with Marinette, Tikki, Alya, and Trixx discussing a school project that is due at the end of the week. Alya leaves when Mariette’s mom says it is getting late and it’s a school night. A little bit after Alya leaves Marinette falls asleep at her desk. The next scene shows Max and Phoebe Thunderman returning home from school. Max says he'll do his homework, but Phoebe knows he's lying and going down to his secret bedroom. Max goes down the slide, and there is a flash of light. Phoebe walks over to the slide but trips on one of Chloe's toys, falling down the slide. There is another flash of light, and she standing next to Max in front of the Eiffel Tower. A couple walking by them yells, "Akuma," and they run away. Max asks Phoebe what an Akuma is, and she has no idea. As they walk down the street, someone else yells "Akuma," and an alarm goes off. Meanwhile, Marinette's phone rings and Alya tells her about the Akuma alarm. Marinette transforms into Ladybug and meets up with Alya/Rena. They land next to Max and Phoebe, and Ladybug asks who they are. Max responds by asking the same thing. Cat Noir arrives, and they all introduce themselves. Suddenly, a giant baby appears, and Marinette yells for Max and Phoebe to help them get the Akuma. Phoebe asks what an Akuma is, and Rena explains it's like a moth. Cat Noir comments that it is a moth. They all work together to fight it off. Afterward, Ladybug thanks Max and Phoebe for helping them out. Out of nowhere another flash of light and they disappear with it. Cat Noir commented on how weird that was. Finally, Marinette wakes up at her desk and realizes it was all just a dream. As Marinette wakes up from her dream, she can't help but wonder if it was just a dream or if it was something more. She decides to tell Alya about the dream that she had. After school, Alya came over to work on the project. They take a break when Marinett’s mom brings them macaroons. Marinett starts to tell Alya about the dream when she is done telling her Alya says have you ever heard of Thundermans before? Marinette responded no. Alya tells Marinette that the Thundermans are a family of superheroes who live in a world where superheroes are common. Marinette wonders to Alya I wonder if we will ever get to meet them. Alya says we can only dream! The adventure continues.