My indirect experience with drug and alcohol addiction has affected my beliefs by forcing me to learn to sympathize with other people, instead of judging them. Before I understood what addiction was, I used to pass prejudice to people who were open about their struggles because I thought they were being overly dramatic about their situation and were using their struggles as an excuse for their actions. But after seeing some of my friends and family battle with their addictions, I began to realize it wasn't dramatics but an actual struggle with substances and learned that it is something that needs to be discussed more. It has affected my relationships by showing me that sometimes, the best thing you can do for your loved ones, is just be there for them. After having to witness certain family members experience trials with their minds and willpower, I realized I needed to stop being apathetic toward others who were struggling and start supporting them in any way I could. Even if that meant doing something as simple as writing them letters while they were in jail or calling to congratulate them after a successful couple of weeks in rehab. I started doing my research on substance abuse, while also trying to figure out if I had missed signs from those around me that they too struggled with addiction. I also looked into ways of improving their state of mind through support groups, self-help techniques, and possible therapy. I provided them with information even though I didn't know if they would ever use it. Just being able to help in the smallest ways was enough for me. Lastly, it has affected my career aspirations by giving me the idea to broaden my employee scope. While researching, I found out that a lot of addicts that go to jail or have a history of substance abuse on their record, don't get the same job opportunities as their sober counterparts. As an aspiring entrepreneur, I want my business to be built on positive values rather than discriminatory views. I want all potential employees to be screened the same whether they have addictions, disabilities, etc. I plan on continuing to spread this mentality with my friends and acquaintances in the future business world. I encourage others to do the same. In a world ready to judge you, it's good to know you have a few friends in your corner.

On my ideal bookshelf, some must-have titles are, 'It Ends With Us' by Colleen Hoover, 'Archer's Voice' by Mia Sheridan, and the entire Grishaverse series. I have come to love these books and I would recommend these titles to anyone willing to read them or anyone looking to start and grow their book collection. They expose you to multiple genres and writing styles. And even though some of the plots are drastically different, each one has made an impact on, not only myself but also the #BookTok community. The first two books, 'It Ends With Us' and 'Archers Voice', are both contemporary new adult romances that focus on the depth of relationships and life experiences. They were also both nominees for 'Best Romance' in their respective years. And while 'It Ends With Us' did receive the award, it does not undermine the quality of 'Archer's Voice'. Both books deal with heavy topics such as domestic violence and childhood trauma while offering a side of romance between relatable and complex characters that moved audiences and made them sympathize with the events in the story. The final set of books, the Grishaverse series, is a young adult fantasy with intense action, enticing drama, and a side of swoon-worthy romance. It is mainly set in an imaginary land called Ravka that is separated down the middle by a shadow wall called 'The Fold'. The main characters are called Grisha who are human beings with special powers based on natural elements. Corporalki- Heartrenders, Tailors, and Healers-, Etherealki- Squaller, Inferni, Tidemaker, Sun Summoner, and Shadow Summoner-, and Materialki- Durasts and Alkemi. About half of the books have been nominated for an award including the 'Goodreads Choice Award' and 'Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction'. After the release of those books, many creators and authors took a liking to the genre and series similar to them. Creators made entire fan accounts for the books with series recommendations, fanart, and merch. Some authors, those who were inspired by the writing, even wrote their books in the same genre. These books also opened up the floor to readers who may have been going through similar situations as their favorite characters such as an abusive parent, a toxic spouse, and even common relational drama. They contributed to the normalization of speaking out against violence and inappropriate behavior, while also creating a community where survivors can feel comfortable, seen, and heard. Overall, these books have not only had an impact on the #Bookok community, but on society as well.

Even though I know it's cliche, my favorite K-pop group is BTS. Now before you jump to conclusions, I do know other songs besides 'Dynamite' and 'Butter'. And while those are great songs, if those are the only ones you listen to, you won't get the full BTS experience. I started listening to K-pop in 2017 at the request of my best friend. Well, it wasn't exactly a request, it was more like she shoved her headphones on my head and begged me to let her play a song. The song in question was, 'Come Back Home' by BTS, and it blew my mind. I had originally thought that K-pop was just American pop covers sung by Korean artists, but after listening to that song, I realized I was wrong. The first thing that shocked me was that the song starts with English lyrics. I thought I'd be listening to gibberish on top of a beat, but it reminded me of a hip-hop song. After that, I was hooked. I started doing more research on BTS and the genre when I stumbled upon their 'Love Yourself' campaign. During that era, they had released multiple albums that conveyed messages of self-love and acceptance and had their own nonprofit. I had been dealing with self-esteem issues for a while and was trying to find healthy ways to cope with them and learn to change my mindset, so I started listening to more of their music and watching some of their videos. I ended up learning a lot about myself and how to be authentic no matter what society says. Their message of self-love helped me grow to be a more confident person while also changing my views on cultures that are different than my own. A lot of people, including my parents, were skeptical about me liking K-pop. They worried about the messages expressed in the music, what they were teaching me, and what the community was like. But after many discussions and days of me playing them the music, they eventually realized that K-pop can and does have a positive and meaningful impact on society. Now, fast forward six years later, millions of people- young and old- enjoy K-pop and have started to explore not only Korean culture but other cultures as well. Fans have started non-profits under the influence of their favorite idols and have created groups and communities for fans alike to come and talk about everything from upcoming concerts to mental health issues. It's a very diverse and welcoming community that anyone of any age can be a part of. I encourage everyone to give K-pop an honest listen and to form their opinions about the genre.

If I had my own Barbie Dream House, it would be located in Washington state. Somewhere near Puyallup. That may seem like an odd place to have a Dream House, but that is my home state. So if I'm going to build a dream house, I'm going to build it somewhere I want to be all the time. It would be three stories high with six rooms and four bathrooms on each floor. It'd have a neutural color scheme with many varitions of browns and whites. I'd like to pick an inconspicuous color for the outside, as not to draw unwanted attention. I'd like a wrap around porch with a long walkway and windows in the front room. I'd like a backyard patio with a pool that goes as deep as seven feet. But also add a smaller pool that only goes up to four feet for children. On the inside I'd like two open staircases that lead to their respective floors. Along with elevators incase I recieve guests that have disabilities. I'd like two slides that start inside the house and end at both the pools, but the slides have automatic openings that lock after a certain hour so nobody can accidently slide into the pool. I'd like half of my rooms to be guest rooms, each with their own themes, and the other half to be my personal rooms. One room would be a closet, then a library, then a theatre, and so on. I'd like a huge kitchen with state of the art appliences and marble coutertops. I'd also like my Dream House to have hard wood floors except in the rooms, the rooms would be carpeted. And lastly, the security system would be iris identification so no one could come in without scanning my iris first or without me letting them in.

A woman in my life who has inspiried me to chase my dreams would be my Aunt. My parents got divorced when I was three years old but my father was still active in the military, so he asked his sister to move in with us, along with her daughter. My Aunt agreed and stepped into the role of my Mother from then on, helping parent my siblings as well. I've always wanted to be a singer, it's a secret passion of mine, but I was always too shy to share it. Even though I have been in choir since I was a little kid, I never volunteered for solo's and if I was asked to deliver one, I came up with excuses to back out. I had terrible stage fright. But, my Aunt never stopped encouraging and helping me to over come my fears. Without her I wouldn't have delivered my first church or school choir solo. Thanks to her, I was asked to join my high schools music company due to the fact that my choir director had witnessed my talent. She will forever hold a special place in my heart and be a huge contributor to my success.

If I could have everyone in the world read just one book, it would be The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. It presents those mature philosophies in such a manner that any child could understand. The book begins with the narrator sharing his opinion on the grown-up's inability to perceive "important things" and thus, creates a test to support his statement. The narrator later becomes a pilot and ends up crashing in the Sahara desert where he meets a small boy nicknamed, 'the little prince'. Upon meeting the prince, he gives him the same test he gave adults and the prince passes it, gaining the respect of the narrator. Later learning that the pilot only has enough water for eight days and a broken plane, the prince decides to share his life story to pass the time. The prince talks about his home planet, B 612, and the people he's met on his journey to Earth. The people he meets and the discussions they have together symbolize issues like materialism, conceit, and redundancy while trying to provide solutions for them. Although the adults the prince met while traveling to different planets played a large part in his story, the most significant character would be the fox. When the prince arrived on Earth, he encountered a fox who had the desire to be tamed. So, the fox taught the prince how to tame him. The fox taught the prince that by being tamed something goes from being ordinary and just like all the others to being special and unique. The prince learned that the things he once thought were common and ordinary were special because he had 'tamed' them by investing his time and energy into them. At the end of the book, the prince and the pilot are both dying of thirst and want to return home. The prince ends up finding a well, saving both of them, which allows the pilot to get the energy to fix his plane. Earlier in the book, the prince met a snake that told him he could help him return home if he wished it so. The prince bids farewell to the pilot and tells him not to watch his special departure back home because it may look like he died. The pilot see's him fall, and it is up to the reader to determine if the prince returned home or died.

My indirect experience with drug and alcohol addiction has affected my beliefs by forcing me to learn to sympathize with other people, instead of judging them. Before I understood what addiction was, I used to pass prejudice to people who were open about their struggles because I thought they were being overly dramatic about their situation and used their struggles as an excuse for their actions. But after seeing some of my friends and family battle their addiction, I began to realize that they weren't being dramatic and that having struggles with substance abuse is something that needs to be discussed more. It has affected my relationships by showing me that sometimes, the best thing you can do for your loved ones, is to be there for them. After having to witness certain family members experience trials with their minds and willpower, I realized I needed to stop being apathetic toward others who were struggling and start supporting them in any way I could. Even if that meant doing something as simple as writing them letters while they were in jail or calling to congratulate them after a successful couple of weeks in rehab. I started doing my research on substance abuse, while also trying to figure out if I had missed signs from those around me that they too struggled with addiction. I also looked into ways of improving their state of mind through support groups, self-help techniques, and possible therapy. I provided them with information even though I didn't know if they would ever use it. Just being able to help in the smallest ways was enough for me. Lastly, it has affected my career aspirations by giving me the idea to broaden my employee scope. While researching, I found out that a lot of addicts that go to jail or have a history of substance abuse on their record, don't get the same job opportunities as their sober counterparts. As an aspiring enteurpaneuer, I want my business to be built on positive values rather than discriminatory views. I want all potential employees to be screened the same whether they have addictions, disabilities, etc. I plan on continuing to spread this mentality with my friends and acquaintances in the future business world. I encourage others to do the same. In a world ready to judge you, it's good to know you have a few friends in your corner.

I have overcome mental illness by learning ways to keep a positive and healthy mindset. Before COVID, I used to pass prejudice to people who were open about their mental health struggles because I thought they were being overly dramatic about their situation or had a tendency to over-analyze certain things, which caused them to feel the way they did. I hadn't been through an experience like theirs, so it became easy to judge or feel like I was better than them. But after being isolated from most of my friends and family, I began to realize that they weren't being dramatic and that having struggles with mental health is something that needs to be discussed more. Something that people need to take seriously. After experiencing my trials with the mind, I realized I needed to stop being apathetic toward others who were struggling and start supporting them. I started doing my research on mental health subjects such as depression and anxiety, while also trying to figure out if I had missed signs from those around me that they too struggled with their mental health. I wanted to be able to go back and apologize or maybe even help people whom I may have overlooked or offeneded with my self-righteousness. I also looked into ways of improving my state of mind through support groups, self-help techniques, and therapy. I learned the importance of staying healthy both physically and mentally. Now, I apply the techniques I learned from my research, teach others about the importance of a positive, non-judgemental mindset, and talk openly about my mental health struggles. I want to be able to educate other people who may have felt the same way I did. I want to be able to show society that it's not right to judge others based on a biased opinion. I have gained many friends and acquaintances along my journey who've embraced my philosophy and made me feel accepted within their circles. I plan on continuing to develop an open personality and strive to be an advocate for mental throughout my adult life. I encourage others to do the same. I encourage others to put themselves in someone else shoes, in someone else's mind, for that matter. Living in a world that sometimes makes struggling with mental health a taboo subject, it can be difficult to feel understood. But if we work to educate one another on this subject, we can make a vast improvement in society as a whole.

My experience with mental health has shaped my goals, relationships, and understanding of the world by forcing me to learn to sympathize with other people, instead of judging them. Before COVID, I used to pass prejudice to people who were open about their mental health struggles because I thought they were being overly dramatic about their situation or had a tendency to over-analyze certain things, which caused them to feel the way they did. But after being isolated from most of my friends and family, I began to realize that they weren't being dramatic and that having struggles with mental health is something that needs to be discussed more. After experiencing my trials with the mind, I realized I needed to stop being apathetic toward others who were struggling and start supporting them. I started doing my research on mental health subjects such as depression and anxiety, while also trying to figure out if I had missed signs from those around me that they too struggled with their mental health. I also looked into ways of improving my state of mind through support groups, self-help techniques, and therapy. I learned the importance of staying healthy both physically and mentally. Now, I apply the techniques I learned from my research, teach others about the importance of a positive, non-judgemental mindset, and talk openly about my mental health struggles. I have gained many friends and acquaintances along my journey who've helped me embrace who I am and feel accepted within the world. I plan on continuing to develop my personality and strive to be an advocate for mental throughout my adult life. I encourage others to do the same. In a world ready to judge you, it's good to know you have a few friends in your corner.

What Is Love Love, A feeling that expresses more than words can muster. Something that causes more pain than a bullet, Can cause more happiness than holidays, And more sadness than death. Love, It can come in different places, people, and situations. It can be between yourself, another person, or the world around you. Most people see love as a feeling between two people, Such as a married couple or a teen fling. But what they don’t realize is that you need to learn to love yourself, Before anyone else. Love, Is complicated. Like a puzzle you just can’t solve. It’s something that doesn’t come with a manual, You’ve just gotta try your best to figure it out. And just when you think you’ve got it, It throws you outta balance. Love, Is tricky. Something most people see in movies, But are disappointed when they try it in real life. Something that can be kind, Yet selfish at the same time. It requires trust, respect and a special type of love too. The X-Factor. Love, And the X-Factor are like siblings. We all know Mother Nature, And Father Time, Death is the Sister but on the bright side, There’s Love and X to gives us hope, Our life on earth was made for something. Love, Is something everyone treasures most. Something we can’t live without. Something we know we need. And if we don’t receive enough, It can take a huge toll on us. Whether its deep depression, Or just the mere fear of getting hurt. Love, Is sad. It doesn’t always work the way you want it. It can be like a roller coaster at times. And for some, The ride lasts forever. For others, It’s just a quick adrenaline rush. It can leave you feeling empty and useless. It can have you thinking you weren’t good enough. But at the end of the day, You still will enjoy looking back at the love you once had. Because you know, Out of the billions of people in the world you chose that person, And you made the best out of it. Love, Is beautiful. The feeling of another human being sharing themselves with you, Is heartwarming. The little things they do to make you smile, Is tear jerking. The way they look in flattering things, Is breathtaking. Just everything about them makes you love them more. Sometimes the idea of a life without them pops in your head, But then you realize, You should enjoy the moment while you can. Love, Can leave you hanging. If you get used, You never want to try again. If you learn heartbreak, You think it can never be fixed. If you have an amazing romance, You never want it to end. If you had a great one, You think it’s never gonna be like that again. It leaves you in a tight spot. Where you have to choose between listening to your head, Or your heart. Overall….. Love, Is weird. It’s probably one of the worlds biggest wonders. Something that will take centuries to figure out. Something that not even the smartest person knows how to solve. Not even the smartest scientist has a formula for. But what I can say is, No matter how weird it may be, It’s something we all love...ironically. And since we’re all human we tend to do things our own way, And take on new challenges. And this is one of them. And I hope we all succeed. -Marilyn Scott