Throughout most of my childhood I grew up listening to music that my mother loved; she would frequently play songs by artists like Micheal Jackson, Alicia Keys, and New Editions. By introducing me to talented artists like this at an early age, my mother inspired my attraction towards music. More specifically, heartfelt music that influences one’s emotions, mindset, and behaviors. Although, the sensual vibes of R&B are somewhat different from Sabrina Carpenter's scandalous Pop songs, I still believe that Sabrina has played a powerful role as a talented artist who has shaped my love and appreciation for music that reflects the reality of what it truly means to learn, fail, and grow as individual, daughter, friend, and lover. Afterall, since Sabrina is one of the few artists that I have admired since my childhood, she holds a special place in my heart. I was instantly attracted by her humor and beauty as a kid from the moment I saw her appear as Maya Hart in “Girl Meets World.” In addition, rewatching the show makes me extremely sentimental because I remember how envious I was of Maya growing up since she had something that I lacked in my own life; attention and support from the people who loved her. Although Maya and I did share some unfortunate similarities of living in a single-parent household, she was still able to grow up with more emotional support than I did. Even so, something that I learned from her as a young adult is that growing up with two parents is not a requirement for someone to grow up successful or happy. Instead, I have realized that to create happiness in your life you must work and focus only on things that you can control. So, from that moment on I was enthralled by Sabrina and wanted to view any future projects that she participated in. I remember when she came out with her first album “Eyes Wide Open” in 2015. I was obsessed with the first four songs featured on the album, but especially "Eyes Wide Open" and "Can't Blame a Girl for Trying". I have a fondness for these songs because they remind me to stay present and enjoy the moments of my youth, but to also be aware of the lessons that are hidden in every moment. Moreover, like how Sabrina’s songs have evolved over time, so have I as a person. Her unique sense of style has also had an incredible influence on my desire to pursue a career in fashion (she has never looked bad in anything). Throughout each era in her career, Sabrina has fluctuated through various aesthetics and the way she presents herself. In the earliest years of her career, she would often wear dark colors but now she appears in bright colors with tons of sparkle! I love seeing her dress in brighter colors because they complement her eyes and give her an overall angelic appearance, pairing well with her old Hollywood glamour theme. Additionally, when she wears bright colors like yellow, baby blue, and pink it is visually pleasing and makes fans like me feel more confident and happier when listening to her music. Furthermore, if you take one look at Sabrina Carpenter's work, you can see how much she genuinely cares about her fans and creating art for people to feel connected to and learn from. She is a rare, kind-hearted person that I am grateful to have grown up with because she continues to help me understand and learn things about myself and others that I was unaware of before.

@tehyahenry

Normally, when someone is about to have a birthday they may spend a week or more planning their big day. I decided to do things differently the year of my sixteenth birthday. Instead of giving out invitations for my ‘sweet sixteen’, I chose to look for a job and just so happened to land an interview at two different restaurants. The first job had to send me away once they realized that I was underaged. I was pretty devastated but that didn’t stop me from showing up to my next interview with my head held high. After attending my second interview, the manager told me to come back after my birthday, and I landed the job shortly after. Setbacks like this made me realize from a young age that not everything will be handed to me so easily. Although, whenever I was passionate about getting something, it was never easy to shake off the anxious feelings that swelled up in me from anticipation. I always wanted to get things done quickly, but I have since learned that Paullina Simons was right when she said, “All good things come to those who wait.” So, whenever I truly want something I work for it by managing my time and resources efficiently. That’s why I need to manage my finances well as a student because I truly want to live smart, comfortably, and successfully. For me, financial literacy skills come in handy when dealing with financial aid for school, pay statements for work, and personal budgeting. In regards to financial aid, soon after I got accepted into my university, I made a budgeting plan and savings account; with this, I can easily keep track of how much money I need and already have available. So far, I have been able to make three different payments to my school because of this effective budgeting method. I also printed out a list of my remaining expenses for the 2023-2024 school year after the loans, grants, and personal money that I have earned have been applied. In addition, I schedule appointments with my financial aid advisor to stay on track with any documents or payments that require my attention. A way that I can effortlessly track my pay statements is through an app called, “ADP Mobile”. This app allows me to check how much I will be getting paid based on the number of hours I worked. It is extremely helpful because I can compare past statements to see if my pay declined, increased, or stayed the same. Another feature shows how much I made before taxes were taken out, and which taxes were applied. This app is great for anyone who is employed or needs guidance in budgeting! Personal budgeting looks like shopping at thrift stores and going straight to the clearance sections when at full-price stores. For instance, a few months ago I had to shop online for suitcases and suction bags because the school I am attending is out-of-state. During the browsing process, I made sure to compare prices, and look at the descriptions of the product, and customer reviews. This technique always helps me get better quality products while simultaneously saving money. Some other miscellaneous expenses I have been able to save money on due to this technique include a plane ticket, a first aid kit, and a laptop. Although, a few years ago supporting myself as a student was the last thing on my mind; I’m glad that I adapted these important skills so that I can support myself and manage my money properly as a successful college student.