Power of Positive Thinking

Mohammad Salah
ASU

Imagine being trapped in yourself. At first, it may seem like a mild mood swing. Then, it starts growing on you as the days pass by. You start to think you’re worthless, and even question the reason for your existence. Your goals and motives for life fade away as you start evaluating and analyzing your reality. You look at other people around you and see how happy they are, you envy them and hate them because you think you deserve that smile they have on their faces. You start separating yourself from other people, because you think that no one can understand you and feel your pain. And when you interact with other people, you only show them that fake and momentary smile to tell them you’re okay. You start avoiding going to bed because you know that when you try to sleep, all these issues and questions will shatter your mind. You want to break yourself free, not from this mild mood swing, but from your body, and you know that there’s only one way to do that.
Depression, that’s what it feels like. When I moved out from my parent’s house for college, I thought that this mild mood swing would be gone. I thought that starting a new life and getting rid of my old friends would make me a happier person. But the real world was different. The further I was trying to get away from my relatives and friends, the worse my depression would get. I felt that there were a thousand reasons for my depression, and the more I thought about them, the more I realized how little control we humans have over our own lives.
I lived next to a religious center that was helping Syrian refugees and those in need. As the days passed by, I realized something. There were a thousand reasons for me to be depressed, but there are more than million reasons for me to be happy. I realized that the more I consumed myself with my bad fortunes and negative thoughts, the less I enjoyed the blessings I already have. We waste a great deal of our valuable time comparing ourselves to others wishing we have what they have. But what about the blessings we already have?
Now, here comes the power of positive thinking. It is about being satisfied of what you already have because you know that you have great blessings many wish to taste. It is about looking up to people not because you envy them, but because you see yourself in them as a successful person and being certain you can be as successful if not more successful than them. It is about doing your part in helping those in need and being optimistic that soon all this misfortune happening around the world will end. It is summed up in the saying “just look at the bright side”.
My experience with depression is probably mild when compared to other severe cases of depression. But living with a positive attitude and focusing on my goals had remarkably helped me wake up each day with a clear head, knowing that I can achieve my goals and overarching dreams. I didn't get accepted to an ivy league school, but I know that I'm in a great fortune for being able to enter higher education and having a family willing to support me by all means to get that degree. I may not be the most sociable or have the most friends, having a few good friends and being able to effectively communicate is by itself a treasure we can't comprehend its greatness.
When I was first admitted to ASU, I was very skeptical and thought I deserved a better university. As the days passed by, I started looking on the bright side that I actually have a chance to get higher education, but there was still a part in me that wanted to get to the better schools. I stayed in this state until I met someone that came from Yale University. He explained how that school was very tough and how every student tries his best to avoid socializing because he knows that that will affect his grades. He also told me that even his friends from his hometown refused to help him when it came to studies because they wanted that better grade. “The competitiveness will kill you”, that’s how he summed up his experience at that university. At that moment, I thanked God that I didn’t get accepted to tougher schools, because I realized that having an easy 4.0 GPA and welcoming environment is much better than the prestige the other universities were offering.
None of us have perfect lives, and if we consume ourselves with all the misfortunes we have, we will be lost in a maze of depression. The true key for happiness is realizing that you are one of the wealthiest people on earth for having gifts many wish to have a taste of. Positivity has the power to change people’s lives. Most importantly, it has the power to bring happiness to even the simplest of people. Moreover, if we are able to find positivity in everyday events, we might have found the happiness we long for. Take for example all the apparent evil happening around the world, the homeless, the Syrian refugee crisis, global warming, and poverty to mention a few. It is heartbreaking and everyone should do their part to solve these problems. Now here is the silver lining, these misfortunes are actually evil, but they have the power to bring people together and make us all realize that at the end we are all humans and should help each other like one body.
In conclusion, life is hard, and very often, incredibly unfair! There’s no getting around that fact, but “Life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you react to it” - Charles R. Swindoll. So, we can either choose to be depressed every time we are tested with a difficult situation, or we can look at the bright side and see it as an opportunity for us to seize, use, or learn from it. Moreover, if we try to deal with everyday events with positivity, we might as well be the happiest individuals on earth. Because truly, the most important outcome of positivity is its ability to make us always happy, no matter how bad the situation is.

The Power of Positive Thinking

Toan Nguyen
​ASU

My name is Toan Nguyen and I am currently a sophomore studying Biomedical Engineering at Arizona State University (ASU). During the second semester of my senior year of high school, I was in a car crash that resulted in a traumatic brain injury (TBI), a 3-inch scar on the back of my head, and a totaled car. Following the crash, I had an immense difficulty in my classes because senior year was the year that I decided to take college level courses to increase my chances of being accepted into the engineering program at ASU. I remember the headaches that made it nearly impossible to focus in class, the inability to speak/think naturally without strain, and the extreme fatigue I felt 24/7. It felt impossible to do well in school because of this and as I started to get worse grades, my hope of doing well in high school and college began to fade. I was unhappy with everything around me because one accident changed my entire life. I felt like I didn’t want to continue school because even though I worked hard and studied hard, I wasn’t able to get the grades I wanted.
However, after failing time and time again, I asked myself if I really should be angry that I’m not getting the grades I want despite trying my best? This question made me realize slowly that if I’m trying my best in all that I do, I shouldn’t be mad that I come short or that I didn’t do well and that I should think more positively about my situation. Even though I was struggling in everything I did, I was learning more and more how to work hard and to find the ways to study that worked for me. Yes, the situation that I was put in was unfortunate, but in the end, there is nothing that I could do about it except work with what I have and make the most out of it. My last semester of high school was not an easy one, but with hard work and dedication, I was able to graduate from high school.
When college started, doing work with my injured brain was even more difficult than I expected. I was learning new content in a new environment under new pressures I’ve never really felt before. For example, my grades seemed based off of 3 tests and one final that determined my entire grade. Not only that but it seemed like my life was based off of the GPA that I get each semester. I began to regret what happened to me in high school more and more. Freshman year of college was when I started to lose hope again of doing well in school and felt the pressures of getting a really good GPA as well as many extracurricular activities to make me stand out from other students. I don’t know how many times I walked around campus alone at night, since I was living in the dorms, because I just needed fresh air from the stress I was under. Over time I realized that college isn’t necessarily about the grade you get. College is about the experience you make, the knowledge you learn, and the opportunities you grab. This realization didn’t stop me from trying my best and definitely didn’t make me light hearted about the education I was able to receive because I continued to study hard despite difficulties and stress. I then began to focus more on the learning aspect of college and not so much the grade aspect of college. This ultimately made me a better student with a more positive outlook on college.
I am currently in my second year of college and have been fortunate enough to make it onto the Dean’s list every semester so far with a 3.66 cumulative GPA. I have made many life-long connections and learned many things throughout college. Furthermore, I was fortunate to be accepted into Dr. Mehdi Nikkhah’s lab under the supervision of Danh Truong, a PhD student studying breast cancer. Mr. Truong helped me complete two Fulton undergraduate research initiative (FURI) projects that involved the study of breast cancer cells and fibroblast cells. Every day I am in the lab I am learning more about breast cancer, how to work in a group, and how to read relevant publications that can help me design experiments I wish to study. Currently, I’ve been a part of the Nikkhah laboratory for 1 year and hopefully will be able to design my own experiments. In the semesters coming, I plan to grow even more. I aspire to intern for Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGEN), a medical company that can further shape the way I understand biomedical engineering. I understand school is not going to be easy, but I am sure that hard work and patience will ultimately lead to my successful future. 

The Power of Positive Thinking

Natalie Carranza

Do you ever wonder if the glass if half full or half empty? Mine is always half full! Positive thinking has many perks to it. In fact, it helps with increasing the life expand, lower levels of distress, and lower rates of depression (Mayo Clinic Staff, Par. 6). Imagine living a little longer because you’re simply just being positive all the time. Besides medical benefits, positivity can benefit you by boosting your self-esteem, increasing your confidence, and pushing you to do better. Positivity has benefited me in many ways throughout my life.
            Even though I am a very positive person, I haven’t always been. My freshmen year was when I realized that thinking positive would change the rest of my life. The first semester of my freshmen year, I kept to myself and always had my headphones in. I never wanted to talk to anyone and I didn’t want to be there. I walked to every class with headphones in my ears and in class, I didn’t want to talk to anyone, I just wanted to get my work done. My last hour, that semester, was Spanish I and I had a friend that was a junior in that class. I remember her telling me that freshmen elections were coming up for student council and she wanted me to do it. I remember my exact response, “Maybe my junior year I will.” She gave me a really dirty look and said, “I hate when people say that! They always say that but never do it!” I realized I did want to do it, I was just scared to run; I didn’t have the confidence to run. I came home and told my mom about it and she wanted me to do it so bad. She knew that this would help me not hate high school so much. I convinced myself to run, but I was going back and forth on whether I should run for president or vice president. My mom told me to run for president, she said, “Go big or go home.” I kept telling myself that I couldn’t do it and that I would lose and be humiliated if I ran for president, that I’m not good enough to hold that big of a position. These negative thoughts kept coming. Thankfully, my mom put so many positive thoughts in my head like “I can do it”. I ended up winning and I couldn’t be happier. Ever since then, I strive to be the best that I can be. I am no longer afraid of any negative outcomes because I put positive thoughts in my head. Most importantly, I am no longer afraid of failure. When that time comes in my life where I fail, I see that as an opportunity to learn, get back up and try again. My mom taught me that if I stay positive, nothing can keep me down.
            I always hear my peers talk about how they hate a class or how they dislike a teacher. But when I’m in that class or with that teacher they talk bad about, I don’t see anything bad about it. It’s the way the positive thinking works. When you think positive all the time, you will have very few “bad” classes or teachers or whatever the case may be. I always tell my mom that whatever job I end up with in the future, I know I’ll enjoy it no matter what because I make the very best out of what I have. I am so thankful that my mindset is so happy and positive. I thank my mom for my positive attitude. Now, I don’t doubt myself. I strive for the best and reach for the stars. Positivity taught me that the sky is the limit and nothing can hold me down.

Personal Development

Robelio Medina

I went to a high school called East Palo Alto Academy in California. It was a good school in which the teachers and students were close. I personally felt they went a bit too easy on the students. For example, they will let us turn in work late or just drop the work completely. While they did prepare us for college I felt the school should have been less lax for the student sake. It was common for seniors who one to college t say they did not feel ready for what college had prepared for them. The transition from our high school and college was too great. That's why instead of going to a four-year university right away I chose a community college instead.
            I chose to go to De-Anza community college to prepare myself for a San Jose State university. I feared that college would be too tough on me and I thought a two year would make the transition easier. I want to become a clinical psychologist when I graduate college. If there was ever a case in which I wanted to switch major it would be cheaper and easier in a two year. I want to avoid being in debt as much as possible. Going to a two year helps a lot since I can complete my first two years cheaper. I can also learn the life a college student before going to a four year.
            I have chosen that I am no longer going to UC Merced for transfer anymore. The reason is that they have general psychology as a major. General psychology is a far too broad for any major. I must study in clinical psychology in order to be a clinical psychologist. The school I decided to go to is San Jose State. I want to go study at this school since it’s close and seems fun to go to. I still am not decided where to go once I finish San Jose State. For my major I need a master’s degree. I am considering attending Palo Alto University for my master’s degree.
Once I started college I was quick to learn that no one will hold my hand. I can control if I pass or fail I can control so much as an adult now. I focused on all my weakness and learned how to improve in those areas. I could get advice from other students and how they studied and worked. One of the most useful skill I learned was rewriting my notes at the end of the day. I found this helped make it more easy to understand the content of my class. College has been such a learning experience for me.
            My first quarter at De-Anza I knew I had to do math classes which I am terrible at. This is the first time where I went to get a tutor to help me. This was one of the best decisions in my life since it helped me greatly. I did carry a bad habit in this quarter from high school. Which is that I don't really study since I think I know what I'm doing. This proved bad since I got a B in math but C in the rest of my grades. This was my first wakeup call that I need to change how I did work at school. I started to learn for new ways to study so I can pass my classes with all my effort.
In the spring quarter, I took a statistics class. Statistics was going to be my last math class I need to take. So far during the year I have gotten B’s with all my math classes. Statistics was a much harder class than I expected. I got a D in the class which devastated me greatly. This made me realize for this class I need a new way to study. I started my second time taking this class. Using my new methods of studying I have already started to see that I have better grades. I also like that the teacher gives the notes before so I can focus on what she is doing.
            Ever since this fall my life has been nothing but learning how I can become better. When I started, I thought I knew what to do. I quickly learned that college is so much more different especially with time management. I will work as hard as I can in college to become a Psychotherapist, to become the first one in my family to attend college and to become a role model in my community. I need support since my family cannot help pay for my education. I have tried my best in scholarships, making sure I apply to everyone I can find, but more importantly, I have been making decisions not to spend the money irresponsibly my freshman year. I want to grow into even a better person and can use my skills. With the support of this scholarship.

Positive Thinking

Molly Oneal

“I got the job!, we are moving to a new hotter than hell state where you will most likely die from loneliness, boredom, and be permanently damaged for life because of it”. My mother said cheerfully and excited almost like she was singing the news. Lighting and thunder rained down on me forcing me to drag back to the theater room. Okay so it did not truly happen that way, but as a 17-year-old girl who had lived in the same postage stamp sized town her whole life, it's how It felt, and because of that I spent entire year feeling bad for myself. I let my attitude towards moving keep me from enjoying my new home. I walked back into rehearsals bawling my eyes out, black eyeliner streaming down my face and told the cast of people who at the time were closer to me than my family the world shattering news, I was to move after the show. I had lived in Elsinore my entire life, I was Miss teen Lake Elsinore, a tour guide of the town's history museum with the energy of a chipmunk, and had become the stage manager with better organization than Martha Stewart. My parents had to drag me kicking and screaming into the state of Arizona. I had this idea in my mind that it would never be the same as my home for 17 years, and in a way I was right but where I was wrong was this wasn't a bad thing. I learned my closer than family friends were only friends of proximity as soon as I told them I was leaving, I became dead to them. My last week in town they threw a party and didn't invite me. Feeling crushed, beaten, and angry I subconsciously decided never to make friends again. I let in bad thoughts dictate how I lived my life. That no matter how Arizona was I was going to hate it. Around 3 months later I was about to start my first day at shadow mountain high school. With my stomach in knots all morning I put on a facade hair done up, makeup caked on and my outfit I spent months exploring peaks of the mountains of clothes that is my closet to find the perfect dress paired with a ripped vest in tatters and patches. I did all of this to mask the fact I was a sacred mess of a person so pressurized with emotions that one push would make me explode. After spending time listening to a dull plain jane of a receptionist drone on about “ The wonders of shadow mountain!” her mono toned voice barely changing as she recited the speech for the millionth time, I Began to walk into my first class. It was a cave of a room with the only light glowing from the projector. My chemistry teacher rushed over and said angry and frustrated “what do you need miss, can't you tell I am lecturing?” my hands trembling like an earthquake my voice tumbled out a mess and landed on the floor “ I am in this class now, I just moved here.” The teacher removed her glasses hands me back the paper and shushes me to the desolate back row with no further instruction. I stumble to the back row the kids in front of me practically drooling on their notebooks, after 3 centuries of notes, she had the rest of the class partner up and work on homework, while she shoved paper after paper of class instructions and expectations into my hands. When the bell sang I couldn't be happier to leave. I beat the world record for speed as I jetted out of the door. I had to keep my head down and be unnoticed for the rest of the day. As I handed my schedule to this odd french-Russian man who was my french teacher. He had my introduce myself in French to the rest of the class what I meant to say was j’m’apelle molly, what came out was barely a squeak as I rushed to the closest empty desk. I scribbled in my notebook for the rest of the class period. I met Mrs.Porter who was sweet and cheerful and assigned me a watered down gothic girl to help me out. That's when I realized I was a complete outsider in comparison to the rest of the class. Most girls dressed simply and conservatively with great contrast to my black dress and punk patch jacket. Most of the class had brown or blonde hair so my bright neon purple mop of hair stuck out. I spent the rest of the class period and lunch half-heartedly pretending to like the same music as the watered down goth and practically ran to the class I was most excited for production workshop and management. I had always had a passion for building and designing and for once during that day had my head up high, this was my domain! I was greeted by a bubbly actress of a teacher her curls bouncing and her voice dancing out. I was utterly horrified, I knew Instantly she knew nothing about carpentry and an acting was teacher covering for the shop class. I was dead on the money, the normal workshop teacher was out for a semester. As we worked on focusing lights someone ask if I could get them a light wrench I quickly found one and handed it to this large gruff looking man, he just looked at me and laughed and said very annoyed “ I wanted a light wrench, I thought you said you were a light designer” as he pointed to another student holding a pair of dykes “ I wanted something like that. “ and after 15 minutes of arguing with a wall that that wasn't a wrench but a dyke he googled it and very embarrassed apologized and walked away. In this moment I panicked I knew that I could not even find peace in my home, the theater. How was I going to survive? and over the next couple of months I hated every moment of moving but during this time I did what I thought was impossible, I survived, once I realized that almost a year later I had a moment of clarity. The only way I could ever be happy in a new environment was to stop comparing to my old life. To change my way of thinking, I finally internalized what my mom had told me for years “do not get worked up about what you can not change, instead with your head held up high tell yourself you can do it.” With that inspiration, I had to move away from the safe shallows of spending time alone into the depth of living and embrace the differences. After I did this I finally become myself again after a semester of hiding in bed, I learned to let myself have friends again and I grew to love Arizona not because it was like Elsinore but because it was different. After that realization I know I have the ability to adapt and grew wherever I am planted and not only survive but thrive, I now feel I can tower over the world as long as I tell myself that I can

Maintain a Positive Attitude

Maya Terry

"We have the power to change things. We have the power to speak up, use our voice, and change things we don't believe in. Don't forget that.  You have such an amazing gift of an educated voice, use it.  Whatever you believe, speak up, stand out loud.  Because I promise you, if you think it or believe it, at least one other person thinks the same thing."
-Stacy Nadeau, Dove® Real Body Campaign Model
 
On Tuesday night, as I sat in Graham Chapel on Washington University's main campus, these words echoed and filled the room, the sound waves causing sequential vibrations of the ear drum as well as the other parts that constitute the analogy of the ear. Stimulation of hair cells in the ear would then send information and signals to the auditory nerve where these remarks would be processed by the brain's primary auditory cortex.  Just by those last two sentences alone, it is clear that I am getting a WashU education inside of the classroom.  I can wholeheartedly say that I am passionate about the psychology and neuroscience courses that I have been excelling in this first semester. But in the short time I have been here at WashU, I have learned many things that go well beyond the scope of an academic setting.  
 
Being a student at Wash U has afforded me the opportunity to listen to some amazing speakers thus far, one of them being Stacey Nadeau.  As a part of Love Your Body Week, the club Reflections, along with the Alpha Phi sorority, brought her in to talk about embracing real beauty, having been one of the 6 women in the Dove campaign that demonstrated real women with real curves.  When the campaign was introduced over 10 years ago, Dove's mission was to make more women feel beautiful every day by widening today's stereotypical view of beauty by inspiring women to take great care of themselves. According to surveys conducted by Dove, only 4% of people will admit to feeling comfortable calling themselves beautiful.  As a result of her work with Dove, Stacy Nadeau has become an ambassador for women's empowerment and has made it her life's work to travel the country, offering her expertise on women's issues, body image, and how to better your environment.
 
With every motivational presentation, there are always takeaways that can impact the ways in which you view the world and what steps can be taken to change the society in which you have been placed.  As if her commentary on the power of our voices wasn't enough, other pieces of advice have stuck with me since then: Commit to defining your own best healthy self.  Find the place where your mental health and physical self meets in the middle. Remember that fat shaming and skinny shaming are both equally as bad. Treat yourself like your own best friend.  Demand the level of love and respect you deserve.  Confidence is attractive, even in silence.  All of these messages seemed to be a culmination of all the reasons why I decided to get "self love" tattooed on my wrist. In Psych, we talk a lot about the idea of positive reinforcement.  The goal is to increase behavior by presenting specific stimuli repeatedly.  In layman's terms, one example of positive reinforcement would be the more you continue to demonstrate certain levels of optimism and self-assurance, the more these concepts will be ingrained in your mind. 
 
As if hearing Stacy Nadeau tell her story wasn't enough, the following morning I was able to meet Amy Cuddy, a social psychologist and professor at the Harvard Business School. Her TED Talk "Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are" with 37,092,646 total views and counting is the second most viewed talk of all time (click here for the link to the video).  Her 2015 book Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges is a New York Times Best Seller.  While her TED Talk briefly explains some of her beliefs, I would like to emphasize her "fake it 'til you become it" mentality.  There is something known as the self affirmation theory in which you attempt to ground yourself in who you are by asking questions such as "what makes you you?" or "what are your core values?" If your #1 core value was taken away, would you still be you? 
 
While Amy's research on nonverbal behavior and power posing is fascinating, some of the most compelling arguments she made were related to her research on prejudice and discrimination.  In a conversation with her separate from her talk, she spoke to me and a friend of mine about powerlessness, stigma, and the emotional burden of race. One of the concepts she shared that immediately clicked in my head was this idea of attributional ambiguity, which describes the difficulty members of stereotyped groups may have in interpreting feedback.  This idea was substantiated by a study done at Princeton University between interracial roommate pairs.  It was found that if a black student knew up front whether their white roommate was racist, they were better off than those who had to assume and try to decipher the motives of their roommates while more often trying to prove their own worth.  I immediately recognized the attributional ambiguity in my own life.  It is the reason why I have a hard time making friends at my predominately white institution.  It is easy to stay away from the kid who proudly wears his "Make America Great Again" hat. You can make mental notes of the guys you overhear calling black women unattractive.  It is the fear of the unknown that makes meeting new people all the more difficult.  
 
Needless to say, after 24 hours of having been flooded with positivity and various ways in which I could begin to improve my best self, I felt like I was on Cloud 9.  I seemed to have forgotten all the things that I disliked about being at WashU.  In my Facebook post regarding the two events I commented, "Being able to engage in conversation with these two phenomenal women was absolutely incredible and provided me with more clarity on what role I play in this world, my identity, and what purpose I eventually plan to serve." This feeling of euphoria was unfortunately short-lived, and all it took was sitting in my Identity Literacy class for me to be brought 5 steps backwards from all the progress I thought I had made.  
 
Identity Literacy is a pilot course at WashU in which students are randomly selected in order to develop skills needed to thrive socially and professionally in diverse communities. This topic of discussion was the structural inequality of St. Louis.  Due to my large interest in public health and racial disparities, the subject matter is one of great importance to me.  Having lived in STL for about 2 months now, the issue that pains me the most is “The Delmar Divide”. Since the time I stepped on campus in late August, I have participated in two bus tours that explored “North of Delmar,” an area where WashU students are often told not to venture out. Delmar Boulevard is intriguing for many reasons. The racial divide could not be more evident—south of Delmar is 73% white and North of Delmar is 98% African American. This discernible segregation is deeply rooted in the occurrence of white flight throughout suburban St. Louis during the 1940s and 1950s. Local, state, and federal policies led to an intense concentration of blacks in certain neighborhoods and there appears to be a virtually unbreachable wall between St. Louis City and its suburbs. After seeing firsthand “the Delmar Divide,” I still cannot wrap my head around the fact that on one side there are beautiful, old, expensive homes and on the other side you can expect to see the exact opposite, a place that never found its footing. The median home value and household income varies drastically, as does the number of college degrees earned. South of Delmar continues to prosper as North of Delmar struggles with a certain kind of “plantation living.” This structural inequality impacts so many aspects of life in St. Louis such as jobs, education, health, food security, and the general quality of life.
 
The discussion we had in class discouraged me for many reasons.  The other students (who all live on my floor I might add) laughed about that one time one kid walked all the way from Downtown STL and back to WashU extremely late at night, a feat that took him about two hours.  My teacher, along with the rest of the class, talked about how dangerous his decision was and how he should have thought more about his safety.  My instructor also thought it was a good idea to share that she went 10 years living in NYC without being mugged by taking the necessary precautions of carrying "$20 of mug money" in her pocket.  One person asked if I had ever been mugged.  As a native New Yorker, I took so much offense to all of this. It is pure ignorance to believe that NYC is full of hoodlums and criminals.  But on top of that, I didn't appreciate the way in which the black, impoverished areas of STL were being regarded.  I wanted to speak out. I wanted to respond to my peers.  But as the only black person in that room, I felt silenced. I did not want to come across as the angry black girl, nor did I want to be the spokesperson for my entire race.  I knew I should have said something, especially because this was my future life work we were talking about. The conversation should have been more about how systematically fucked up the city is and what we can do as the next generation to fix it. Instead, one person contributed to the conversation by saying that he was afraid he would have to take on the city's problems as his own.  
 
Like I do in most instances when I feel like I messed up, I started to beat myself up over the fact that I sat angry and in silence.  Unlike what Stacy Nadeau urged the audience to do, I did not use the power of my educated voice to stand up for what I thought was right. I felt defeated and disappointed in the people at the university I claimed I was so proud to attend.  Later in the afternoon, I had my first official breakdown in college and started to cry.  I expressed my frustration to my mom about the entire situation.  If anyone knows how much I love quotes, it's her.  She left me with this:
 
"I have a quote of the day for you: 'Don’t lose sleep because you’re not accepted and celebrated by everyone. Don’t focus on your critics or get distracted fighting battles that don’t matter. Just keep running your race and being your best.'  I thought this quote was appropriate based on you meeting those two women. Joel Osteen said it."
 
My momma was right.  I could not let this one incident ruin the faith I had in WashU and the positive changes I planned to implement in my life.  As the title of this piece says, learn how to maintain a positive attitude even when life manages to challenge your newfound sense of empowerment.  Stay up, stay proud, and be loud if you have to.  

Power of Positive Thinking

Ryan Stanley

Hello my name is Ryan Stanley. I’m 18 years old I live in Bend, Oregon and I’m currently in my senior year at Bend Senior High School. I would like to tell you my story of how the power of positive thinking helped me get through a very hard time in my life. My sophomore year of high school my talents in baseball were trusted enough to play on the varsity team. Most sophomores play junior varsity, but my coaches wanted me to play up on the varsity team. I was so excited to play on varsity, everything that I had worked hard for paid off. At that point in my life I had never worked harder for anything. It was the most fun that I had ever had while playing a sport. The coaches were great, and my teammate were incredibly fun. Over spring break the team took a road trip to Arizona to play in a very competitive tournament. During our second game at this tournament I got my first start of the season in the field. I was incredibly nervous, it was my shot to prove to the coaches that I had the talents to keep my role as a starter. I played very well, I got on base twice and caught a ball that was almost hit over the fence that would have lost us the game. But that was the last out of the inning and we went into extra innings and won the game. I remained on varsity for the remainder of the season and started over half of our games in either right or left field.
            We were a very talented team and had a very successful season. We won a lot of games and finished 2nd in our league of 5 teams. To get a playoff birth we had to beat La Salle Prep, it was a win or go home situation. We were losing 4-5 in the bottom of the 6th inning. I was the designated hitter for this game and I stepped up to the place with 2 outs and a runner on first. I needed to get a hit to extend the game, everyone needed me to pull through. I worked a 3-1 count and on the next pitch I hit a line drive into the left center field gap. The runner stretched from 1st base to 3rd base and I ended up on 2nd base. The inning ended with my teammate and I stranded on base. In the bottom of the 7th inning with a runner on first our best hitter hit a walk off homerun to give us the win 6-5. That win sent us into the Oregon 5A playoffs and gave us the 8th seed out of 16 teams. We beat our first round opponent 8-1 and next played the number 1 ranked team at their high school. This was the biggest stage that I have ever played on. I was so excited all week for this game I could barely sleep. Finally game day came, we had a long 3 hour bus to get to the game. The game started and was scoreless through the 1st inning. We scored 2 runs in the top of the 2nd inning and we all started to feel really good about the game. Then we crumbled, they scored 9 runs in the second inning and continued to score runs through the whole game and we lost 14-4. I had 1 of few hits in that game and they had 3 of the best pitchers in the state. The season ended after that game but I still had a blast playing on that team and I was and amazing experience.
            I saw a lot of success in that season. I had a .400 batting average, had 7 stolen bases and struck out twice in a 29 game season. I couldn’t wait for the start of my junior year of baseball. I couldn’t wait to play a sport that I love and be a leader on the team and be a huge contributor to the team’s success. The whole off season my coaches told me that I needed to be ready to be a huge part of this team and bring my success from last year into this year and be a great player. I was itching for the season to start. I had the worst baseball season of my whole life. It took me 10 at bats to get a hit. I struck out more in one game than I did in the whole season my sophomore year. My coaches lost faith in me and discontinued my role as a starter. Something that I was once very good at I was now bad at and I had no idea why. I stayed after practice everyday to hit and no matter what I did I couldn’t break my slump. I was absolutely crushed. I couldn’t sleep I was upset all of baseball season. I had let everyone who believed in me down.
            The season finally ended and it was the toughest period of my life. I had never been so frustrated and had never had something effect my happiness as much as baseball did. Football had started I could not have been happier. I wanted to do something that would help me forget about baseball and just do something new. I didn’t overthink I didn’t play for the satisfactory of anyone else but myself. I just played for my enjoyment and the love of the game. I had the best season of my athletic career. I had started on both offense and defense. I had a total of 9 touchdowns, 50 tackles, led the team in receiving yards, was tied for first in tackles, and was tied for first for average rushing yards per carry. I was voted a first team all-league defensive back by other coaches in the league, and was voted a second team all-state defensive back by other coaches throughout Oregon. It an absolute blessing of a football season.
            I learned that whatever you are going through in life, whatever problems you are faced with, you have to keep fighting for the next day and think positive, because if you fight through the tough times there will be a brighter light at the end of the tunnel. Because I battled through the tough times I faced through the 3 month baseball season and had positive thoughts and got to see the brighter light of the tunnel, which was revealing my talents in the game of football. Which has recently been noticed by division III football coaches. I have my strong belief of positive thinking to thank for that. Thank you so much for listening to my story and thank you for this scholarship opportunity. 

Achievement Through Focused Progression

Donald Williams Jr.
Mercer University

The want to try and understand the reasoning behind events or lack thereof is a tricky and often unsatisfying business. It dampens the heart when we try to force an outcome but continue to fall short of that goal. It can warp ideals, burn bridges, and isolate an individual. The only way to keep such actions from happening is to focus on the things that we can control and work to make those actions our most defining. That is why I have decided to focus my life on the betterment of myself and my community. Now this might sound like an oversimplified notion but think about it. If every person worked to progress as an intellectual being and citizen while also giving their best efforts to better their community, we probably could solve every problem we have today. Without ideals and principles how do we define ourselves as people and human beings? The only way to define ourselves is through these ideals and by the decisions we make. That is why I want to be defined by a model of progression- one that not only reaches inward but also outward. I want to be a part of an ideal that looks to better what is around it and works to do so with diligence and humility. My principles for progress are what motivate me to strive for grander goals and work my hardest. I want to initiate and inspire progress in others and the only way I know how to do this is to lead by example.
            Growing up, I spent much of my life as the quiet kid who was always in his books. It really was not until high school that I actually broke out of my shell and started to become the person I am today. It wasn’t puberty or something cliché that sparked the change; it was my desire to overcome my obstacles. I had begun to place myself in programs, afterschool activities, and volunteer services that forced me to face my communication and confidence problems. Freshmen year I earned a spot on the varsity track team and became a part of JROTC. These two activities were my first step to overcoming my challenges. Track tested my communication and teamwork skills while JROTC was constantly working on my confidence as an individual. Over the course of that year, I became more outspoken and outgoing, pushing past my original barrier. I enjoyed this me new; the progress I had made was remarkable. However, I felt it was not enough; I knew that I could progress even further and so I set out to do just that.
            Sophomore year of high school, was the breakthrough year; it was the year that I joined the debate team which catapulted me into the man I am today. Being a part of the debate team was a constant critique of my knowledge, communication skills, and patience. Debate taught me that through understanding and hard work, you can overcome any obstacle or situation as long as you take the necessary steps to assess what stands in your way. This understanding was truly vital to my forward transformation of myself and my community. Sophomore year was also the year that I helped initiate a progressive program that looked to promote youth education and understanding. The program was a summer debate camp for middle school students with the focus of helping kids think critically, polish reading skills, and become more communicable young citizens. Working within this program was truly eye opening; it gave me the vision and insight necessary to understand that by being a part of this program I am not only inspiring progress in these students but also instilling in them a progressive light that they will want to share with those around them. It was mind-blowing to me; I was initiating progress in my community by focusing my mind on the progression of each student I came across. That year I progressed as a student and citizen, while also uncovering my progressive nature as a teacher and mentor.
            Moving into my Junior year of high school, I looked to focus farther on progressing myself and my community more than ever before. I took part in service activities with a focus on youth education, reaching out to programs such as Safe Kids Columbus and The Columbus Community Center. These were programs that focused on bettering the knowledgeability and learning environment for kids. The center served as a place to encourage growth and curiosity in young minds and was also a place of safety away from home. Safe Kids Columbus served as an outlet for needed equipment to be provided to kids in order to lead a healthy and active life. Moreover, within each of these activities, I tasked myself with expanding my communication skills by working with adults and children in each program learning the best ways to communicate across the board. Continuing my focus of progress, I also partook in a program called the Georgia State Superintendent Advisory Council. In this council, there were students from various counties and schools from across Georgia, all with one goal- to make Georgia education the best it could be. Within this council, I served as the advisor to the Lieutenant Governor; I was one of six other students, along with the Georgia State School Superintendent, leading discussions for change. This council proved to be an effective tool for educational progress with its ability to allow students to voice opinions of schools and counties throughout the state of Georgia. The council was a herald for success and it continues to progress and move towards creating a better school system for years to come. By keeping my mind focused on progressing as an individual and improving my community I had slowly transformed from the quiet bookworm into a man of confidence and progression working within a state council to initiate change.
            Senior year I continued my work with the Columbus Community Center and Safe Kids Columbus while also maintaining my various afterschool activities. However, this was the year I stepped out of my progressive ideal of normative education and service. What I mean by this is that senior year was the year I began to teach myself python computer programming language and began to progress in a whole new world- one of ones and zeros. I spent that whole year learning the python language, and with each new skill, I applied it to real world applications. I actually began to create encryption and decryption ciphers after sparking a curiosity in cyber security. Senior year was my bridge year; it was the year I realized that due to my progression as an individual, I was now better suited than ever to lead a life of progress and also better instill that same progression into my community.
            So, I write to you today, as a progressive community activist looking to spread the principle of focusing on what you can control and using that to progress the world into a better day. Do not let the world bring you down through its confusion; focus on producing the most impactful of legacies- one that leaves your community and the world in a better state than when you arrived. As for me, I spend my life focusing on the principle that I have control over how I progress and how I can share my progression with others. I have the aspiration to achieve today, but I have an even greater aspiration to inspire achievement in those who will lead tomorrow.  

The Power of Positive Thinking

Codie Schneck

As Swiss physiatrist, C. G. Jung, once said, “I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become.” This has been a quote that I feel embodies my life and what I hope to become. Life for me has not exactly been a smooth sailing ship. As with most people, I have been dealt challenges and have had to overcome them. This is how I use the power of positive thinking to better my life.
            At the age of six, my youngest sister and I were taken away from our parents due to their alcoholism and lack of responsibility. The last thing my mom said to me on that fateful day was how I was a “mistake.” That was something that always stuck with me growing up and to this day.
            After being removed from my parents’ custody, my little sister and I were taken in by our eldest sister-against her husband’s wishes. From the start, my little sister and I were never really accepted by our new family. To top that, I was frustrated with my parents’ appearance of caring about their substances more than their girls.
Growing up, I was angry. It seemed like the whole world was out to get me. Life at home was not great. My sister and her husband’s marriage was deteriorating, causing my sister to follow in my parents’ footsteps with substance abuse, and her husband to resent my little sister and myself. Emotional abuse was starting to take its toll and I was trying to find my way through the chaos.
As I entered into adolescence, I began to really think about my future and I realized that those who were supposed guide me were not setting good examples of how to live a fulfilling life.   I realized how the dysfunction of the adults in my life was ruining not only their lives but the lives of those around them. I did not want to be like them. I needed to create my own destiny. I realized that the mistakes of my providers were not my fault and I could still be successful in spite of the challenges of my childhood. I had begun to change my life for the better by positive thinking. I knew that I had to stay away from alcohol. I knew that I couldn’t keep taking out my anger on the world. I had to accept that life up until that point was beyond a child’s control. With positive thinking, I could achieve a brighter future.
Still, life threw more challenges my way. While I had begun to reconnect with my father, the effects of my oldest sister’s drinking were starting to catch up with her. The woman who had raised me through the difficult years of my childhood, passed away in 2012, due to her body shutting down from alcohol and substance abuse. Even though we had our battles, she still raised me and did her best to take care of my little sister and I. Losing the woman that was for all intents and purposes, my mother, still hurt. Unfortunately, my father was not in a place to take care of me again forcing me to become more of an adult than a person my age is equipped to handle.
Through it all, I was able to graduate high school with a good GPA and a promising future. I was on the way to college with my goal of achieving a better life. Funny how life works though, just when you start to taste success, life has its way of throwing you an even more difficult challenge that tested my faith in positive thinking.
While my mother was still nowhere to be found in my life, my father had been trying his best to make up for lost time. He became my best friend. He helped make the challenges seem not so significant, with his youthful spirit and genuine care. He had quickly become one of the most important people in my life, even with his continued struggles. In 2014, my dad died. For all the improvement he was making with his life, he still struggled with alcohol. Regardless of the way that he died, it was still the greatest tragedy of my life. While my dad may not have always been there for me growing up, he had been doing his best to reconnect and I appreciated his effort. So now I was without my eldest sister, who had raised me growing up, and my father who was my best friend.
After my dad’s death, it was time for me to make serious changes. College unfortunately had taken a backseat. My life in New Jersey, with its reoccurring roadblocks, started to wear me down. I needed something new. So I followed some friends to Kansas to see if a new lifestyle brought better experiences, all while still grieving my father’s death. However, things have seemed to turn around. I’ve found a great job with people who I can call my friends, given birth to my daughter and started a family that I was never able to experience growing up. I’ve even reconnected with my mother, where we are the closest that we have been in my entire life.
Positive thinking got me through some pretty serious challenges. Positive thinking is what is motivating me to take the next step in life by going to college and hopefully giving my family and most importantly, my daughter, a better life than what I grew up with. I feel that no matter what life has thrown at me, I’ve done my best to keep my head up and have not let any of the bad things stop me from my achieving my goals. As Mr. Jung said, the challenges of my difficult past is not what will define me. What will actually define me is how I was able to respond to the challenges of life with a good spirit and continued positivity.

Namaste

Kathleen Huynh
ASU

Going to yoga on Wednesdays has not only benefited my body, but more importantly my mind. I am exceedingly timid, and I have a tendency to stress over petty things, so undoubtedly I was anxious to begin college. Reflecting over my first semester, it seems as though I have matured more in the last four months than I did in four years of high school. I am a Nursing major at Arizona State University, and I can vouch that it is extraordinarily competitive. As a freshman, I am required to maintain a 3.5 grade point average or else I lose my direct admission into the nursing school that begins my junior year. At first, that seemed frivolous; I exceeded in college level courses in high school, so I thought that I was well prepared. Little did I know, the study habits that I acquired in high school of completing assignments and showing up to class would not be sufficient for college. Strangely, in college I am required not only to regurgitate facts, but to comprehend and to become proficient in the materials presented in lectures. I quickly became avid in my studying; I wrote everything down in my planner so that I would not procrastinate, studied at various locations to stay awake, and even visited my professors during office hours to get extra help. However, I felt like I was working twice as hard as the students around me and still earning the same, or even lower grades. Towards the end of the semester, this became more and more evident to me, which in turn lowered my self esteem. The only thing I looked forward to was going to yoga with some friends every Wednesday. Between 4:45 and 4:55 we would all meet outside of the main entrance of the dorm. Huynh 2 Two walls of the room were glass and looked out to the still pool and sun setting behind the tall building of Downtown Phoenix. The scenery along with the calming background music playing made this the most relaxing place on campus. I was reluctant to attend yoga the first few times because I felt like an extra hour of studying would be more beneficial, and to be honest I had no idea what I was doing, but each week I went. Yoga was harder than I expected-- not only did I find myself sweaty after each class, but the next day I would be extremely sore. However, I slowly learned that yoga is not a group effort, but a personal effort. The instructor would stress the importance of taking breaks in child’s pose whenever necessary, but also pushed me to hold each pose an extra second longer than I thought I could. Savasana, the final pose of each yoga class, lasted between five and ten minutes long. It requires each person to lay on a mat in anatomical position, head centered, palms facing up, and feet slightly apart. While I would rest on the ground, the instructor would repeat that the class was to acknowledge our thoughts, and then draw our attention back to our breath. This position encourages focus on the present while also realizing all of the distractions of life. During Savasana, the instructor wanted the class to be aware of every part of our body, and instead of controlling a deep slow breath, we were to be conscious of our natural breathing habits. The first few times I attended yoga, this was not very easy for me. Rather, I felt annoyed and wished that the class would have simply ended ten minutes earlier. While I laid on the hard, cold floors so many thoughts raced through my mind; I wondered about how hard my tests were going to be, what the dining hall would be serving for dinner, and reminded myself not to fall asleep. By the end of the position, we were to slowly move each part of our body and then get up. When we finally exchanged “namaste” between the instructor and the class, I would be a little frustrated, but being the person I am, I couldn’t tell my Huynh 3 friends. I truly enjoyed the time spent with my friends; however, I was confused because yoga was supposed to be stress relieving, yet I felt more overwhelmed with less time to accomplish all of my tasks. As the weeks progressed, something clicked. I began to get better at holding poses, and when I finished the class, I felt relieved and lighter. For the hour that I was in the class, I centered my energy on improving my poses, and during Savasana, instead of disregarding or dwelling on reoccurring thoughts, I did exactly what the instructor said. I acknowledged the thought, but then gathered my attention to my breathing and the position of my body. I gave more power to the things that I could control at the moment, insteading of allowing the things that I could not control inhibit me from giving my all to the task in front of me. Now, if I applied this during finals week, I would have saved myself from puffy eyes and fifty dollars spent on coffee. Here was my dilemma, in order to keep my 3.5 GPA I could get a “C+” and three “A’s” or I could get two “B’s” and two “A’s.” However, I was for sure going to get a “B” in statistics, but in order to get a “B” in anatomy I had to get an “A” on the final which would be nearly impossible. Still, a little piece of me had hope; I would just study for the next two days and sleep during winter break--at least I told myself that. On Monday, after I took my ethics final, a class in which I was sure I would get an “A,” I cried for the first time in college. I walked up to my room, got in bed, hid my face from my roommate, and silently let tears stream down my face. I knew that I had failed the final, so I was going to get a “B” in the class too. This meant that my GPA would be lower than a 3.5 and I would lose my direct admission into the nursing program. While it was true that I could still be accepted into the program by taking a Huynh 4 standardized test and having competitive grades, part of me foolishly thought that I was not destined to become a nurse. I cried again during dinner in the dining hall. When my friend simply asked how finals were going I told her how worried I was about my grades, and that is when I began to cry. She then tried to comfort me by telling me it was going to be okay, but I continued to cry--not uncontrollably, but to the point that I started to make the others uncomfortable. Knowing that my pity party could last forever, my friend elaborated. “You’re going to be okay,” she said for the second time. “Stop worrying about your grades. You can’t control it. It already happened.” An awkward silence filled our group of friends with the chaotic dining hall students in the background. Her words were tough, but changed my perspective. I would just have to work harder than ever. I could not just give up and change my major that quickly. I took a bite of my dinner, took a deep breath, and changed the subject to break the tension. “I am going to be a nurse!” I thought to myself as I opened my grades the following week. Not only did I get an “A” in my ethics class, but my anatomy professor curved the class so that my “C” became a “B+.” I had earned a 3.74 GPA for the first semester of college. Today, I understand that God has a plan for me and he will equip me with everything I need to get there; all that I need to do is exert all of my attention on what is in front of me. That way, I do not exhaust my energy on what I cannot control, and in turn I will be giving my all in the things I can.

The Power of Positive Thinking

Vanessa Valdez

​Everyone knows that life is a roller coaster and that the only way of getting through it is rolling with everything in a positive state of mind. I think it is safe to say that I have always had that positive attitude no matter what happened. Just having that positivity can spread and good things can come out of bad situations.  Life is about learning and growing as a person and how you make of it. 
 So lets start from the beginning of senior year of high school, which was the most stressful year ever. It was my last year of high school, last semester to be exact, and everyone knew where he or she was going to school next year. I was playing softball at the time and was very committed to it so much that every weekend was spent at the fields from morning to night. My goal was to receive a scholarship from a school of my choosing and to have my education paid for. Now whenever we had a big tournament around the corner my parents were always on me about making sure that I wrote enough E-mails to these college scouts to come watch me perform.  As I mentioned earlier it was spring semester meaning that I already was late in the game in the “softball world” because girls my age were already committed and what not. 
 Finally I was receiving phone calls and emails from coaches who were very interested in me and I felt like I could breathe again. Everything felt like it was finally coming together until things started to get complicated with the offers. Most of these schools were Division 3 schools, which was a bit of a problem because all they can really offer is academic money. Some people say, “hey that’s great!” but in my situation my family would not be able to really afford the extra fees. Soon my options were becoming smaller and smaller and graduation was only a few months away. Throughout this process I kept trying to tell myself that something better would happen and that everything would work out. 
 Thankfully my positivity worked wonders because my father had told me that the local city college was interested in me and would like to meet. Now going into this meeting I did not know what to think because I would always tell myself I would not end up at a city college, but if this was my only option left then why not give it a chance. I sat down with the coach and my parents and I was actually surprised with myself because I loved everything this coach had to offer to me so I told her I would think about it and get back to her. About three months later I found myself attending Long Beach City College and was ready to better myself so that I could move on to the next level. 
 Now to shorten up the rest of the story my first year at Long Beach City College went pretty well and felt like the coaches had faith in me as a person and player. Because of that I was able to perform at my best and felt like I was falling in love with the game once again. Everything was going well until we got the news that we were getting a new coaching staff, which threw everyone off. All we could think about was what about going to the next level and who was going to help us and in a way we all felt betrayed. By the end of summer we had gotten our new coach and more transfer students. Nothing felt the same, but I knew I was going to have to make the best of this and show her what I had. Although we were all friends on this team we knew that we would have to fight for our positions.  The season had started and I no longer started, the faith that the other coaches had in me was not the same for this new coach and I was falling out of love for the game. I made the best of my spot in the line up and did so well my hitting average was looking better than ever. 
By the end of the year I had made the decision that I was not going to continue softball and that it was my time to hang the cleats up because it was time for me to focus on my schooling.  I applied to Grand Canyon University and received my acceptance letter and was filled with excitement because I knew that this new change in my life would benefit me in the future by studying to become a Nurse. So see positive thinking can make bad situations into the best no matter what position you are in life just remember that positivity is key. I know this may sound cheesy but if you believe in yourself and have that mind set that anything is possible, good things will come. 

An Everlasting Piano Lesson

Roya Green

Thirteen years ago my parents forced me to take piano lessons. Every week my piano teacher, Leanne, came to my house and teach me how to read music and to play the piano. Leanne was raised in a very strict family and came from a highly structured culture. Her expectations of me reflected her intense upbringings. Needless to say I spent most of my piano sessions crying due to her relentless demands and her yelling at me. This weekly year long unpleasant experience resulted in me resenting piano lessons and I stopped playing the piano before I turned five years old. Little did I know that quitting was a huge mistake. Sometimes one encounters challenging obstacles in his or her life and giving up is not always the wisest approach. Piano was my challenge because it never came easy to me. I sat in front of my piano for hours every day crying because I did not know what I was supposed to do. Later on I learned that piano was the very foundation of what came about later on in my life. Instead of giving up on a challenging math problem that I don’t know how to solve, I think back to when I started playing piano and remind myself that I am capable of figuring out the solution to it just the same way that I learned how to play piano. Playing the piano has taught me dedication, perseverance, and how to never give up.
    After about a year of taking a break from piano I decided on my own to start taking lessons again, but with a different music teacher. I never forget the day I had my first piano lesson with Ms. Allisen. The moment she stepped through the front door I sensed an aura of confidence and joy around her. Instead of telling me what to play she asked me what I wanted to play and instead of yelling at me, she made constructive comments as to how my playing could improve. Ms. Allisen taught me that piano lessons were more than just playing the correct notes. It is about playing with passion and learning that even when a song is difficult you cannot give up, you have put your whole heart into it and give it all that you have got. The lessons I learned from Ms. Allisen not only have helped me with my piano skills but also have had great value in other aspects of my life. With Ms. Allisen’s help and ten years of classes I turned into the pianist I am today.
Two years ago I began competing in pageants with the Miss America organization. In order to win a local title one must have a talent which would help her rank higher in the competition. My talent was playing the piano, with a passion. I walked onto the stage extremely nervous but my nervousness soon turned into excitement. My talent piece was called The River Flows in You, a contemporary piece composed by Yiruma. I would first play for about 8 seconds, then when there was a rest, I would turn my head and smile to the audience and judges. I soon discovered that my performance could be both entertaining and enjoyable as everyone laughed and seemed to have a great time. That night I won the title of Miss Tucson Old Pueblo’s Outstanding Teen and received the highest score in talent for the evening. I discovered that piano was more than just playing notes. It meant originality because a player has to have a unique style in order to stand out, hard work in order to master the piece, patience because not everything comes easy, dedication because one cannot be a pianist without putting forth extreme effort and more importantly, having fun all at the same time.
The piano is my best friend. Everyday after school I come home and with great enthusiasm I play the piano. It is comforting to know that whenever I need a friend my piano will always be there waiting for me in the corner of my living room. On days when I feel gloomy I return home and play a sad song such as Moonlight Sonata by Ludwig Van Beethoven. If I am happy I play a happy upbeat song such as Malaguena by Ernesto Lucia. It does not matter what mood I am in, my piano is always waiting for me like a good, loyal friend sharing my highs and lows.
My music can tell you more about me than I ever will. My love of volunteerism, and my compassion for helping others will always come out while I am performing. I love playing piano and love sharing my music with others. Once every couple of months I set aside an hour or two and go visit nursing homes and play piano for the residents living there. My favorite memory is when I played Somewhere over the Rainbow and one of the residents started singing along to the song. She was immediately joined by everyone else who started singing as well and the room filled with the voices of one hundred jolly people. If I have learned anything from playing piano at nursing homes it is that people love the gift of music and it is important for everyone to have a little music in their lives.
In the end piano has taught me a lot. Originality, patience, hard work, dedication, compassion and joy. With every practice I strive to become a better musician.  With the stroke of each key, a little bit of stress gets taken away from me. Through playing the piano, I connect with others at a deeper level. I am able to share my feelings with other individuals and hope that they enjoy listening to me playing the music as much as I enjoy playing it for them. I am grateful for having been introduced to piano at such a young age and I cannot imagine my life had I not re-started lessons despite my fears and frustrations. Afterall a lesson can be just a lesson or it can be a lifelong experience that will carry you throughout past, present and future.

Positive Thinking

Kasun Daundasekara
​ASU

When I found this scholarship, and read the topics that could be written about, I was immediately propelled to share my story about my journey from a poor family in Sri Lanka to being an ASU college student in the United States. The topic required in this essay is the exact thing that has kept me motivated and inspired to not give up: The Power of Positive Thinking. I was born in a small town, Marassana, Sri Lanka, a small Indian Island south of Asia. Both of my parents were teacher. My mother an art teacher at a local girl’s school and my father taught math. I feel like my parents being educators helped me seek to study and better my education and myself; not only for me, but for them as well. But seeing my family struggle, I knew I wanted more. I knew I wanted to be able to uproot my family from the poverty we had lived our entire life, and I knew I possessed what was needed to make it happen; my mind. Even when my parents would return from long days of teaching, their earnings were so little that they were barely able to purchase the essentials for our family. Growing up, I would see the struggle and anguish on my dad’s face as he greeted my mom who waited anxiously for him to return with money so she could go to the market and buy rice and lentils for us to eat. My mother always dreamed of cooking us delicious and intricate meals, but with such a small amount of money to provide for five people’s meals, she had to settle for the basics. I knew that when I was old enough, I wanted to give my mother the beautiful silk clothes and spices she desire, and I knew it was possible. I knew I had what it took to make a difference in mine and my families lives; my thoughts. So, I started planning for my future. In the evenings, after I finished school, I would carry water for elderly widowed woman, assist in feeding and taming injured wildlife at a local animal shelter, and do handy man work around the village. I would save the few rupees I could earn here and there for a bigger and better purpose; something I had always dreamed of, and something I knew would give me the opportunities to make the difference in the lives of my family that I had always imagined – coming to the United States to study. After completing college with exemplary exam grades, I applied for a student visa to travel to the United States. I was given priority due to my hard work, and shown dedication to my studies. I applied to begin my college studies at Los Angeles City College in California. I wanted to pursue an engineering degree. While I was granted some scholarships to help pay for my education, I was still required to work 50 hours per week to pay for housing, food and books. I took a job at a local gas station working the night shifts from 4pm until 3am. The tuition for out of country students was extremely high, and working more than full time in addition to my work schedule took a toll on me badly. I was forced to move out of my apartment and could no longer afford my vehicle, but still I paid for and attended my classes. For a long period of time, I was homeless and my only means of shelter was the gas station where I worked at night. I struggled to buy food and attend classes without sleeping. Often I studied outside only by the light of the street lamps. Life was extremely difficult, and I was forced to drop my course load twice. But still, I carried forward. Even though I was sad and depressed, I knew I had what it took to complete my studies and I wasn’t about to let that stop me from trying. Kasun Daundasekara December 24, 2016 As exhausting as handling a full course load was and working more than full time, one thing continued to propel me forward – the power of my positive thoughts and knowing that anything was attainable if I put my mind to it. And I did it. On my third attempt to complete my coursework, maintained a 3.5 GPA throughout my freshman and sophomore semesters and in addition to working more than full time, I tutored students in Chemistry and Physics. Beyond the small amount of money that I was compensated for my assistance, I wanted to instill motivation and inspire other students to truly appreciate the opportunity to better yourself. I became the top tutor and struggled to keep up with the demand for my assistance. It took a toll on me physically and mentally, but I never stopped. Now I am a junior biomedical engineering student at Arizona State University and now, more than ever, I lean on the power of my mind and being positive to lead me through life. I have learned that life has many obstacles that will hinder you financially, economically, physically; all of which you cannot control. However, life can never affect the power you have over yourself. The power of being positive.

Focusing On Things You Can Control

Anne Marie Gregory
​Delta State University

This past October I celebrated my four-year anniversary as the director of Greenwood Leflore Recycling, a municipal recycling center located in Greenwood, Mississippi. Although I have made the decision to follow my dream and go back to school to become a Registered Dietitian, I look back on these past four years as perhaps the most formative time in my life thus far. In what was my first full-time job as an adult, I learned many lessons about a variety of topics, but the one thing they all have in common is that they resulted from my focusing on the things that I could control. Management For a twenty-five year old woman who had just moved to Mississippi from Portland, Oregon to take her first job, the prospect of managing employees caused a lot of worry initially. Over the past four years, I have supervised five different employees. All five were men and four of them were older than me, which complicated the situation. One of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make was when I had to have my first two employees arrested and fired from their jobs after I caught them in an ongoing stealing operation while working for me. Soon after, my third employee fell on hard times financially and abruptly made the decision to quit his job so he could cash out his retirement savings in order to pay his debts. I tried to counsel him into staying, offering to help him figure out his financial situation, but he had already made up his mind. In each of the aforementioned scenarios, I had to reach the conclusion that the specifics of each situation were out of my control. I could not control the fact that my first two employees had been stealing from the recycling center continually for more than a year. I could not control the decisions that my third employee had made to cause him financial distress. The only thing I could control was my ability to hire new employees to fill the vacancies, and in so doing, I was able to bring two new men on board, both of whom have proven their worth to the organization because they are trustworthy, have good communication skills, and follow through on their job responsibilities. By focusing on the things I could control with relation to management of people, I was able to grow the business through outreach into the business community and in the local schools system. I used good management techniques to encourage them to be better employees. I tried to be a positive role model, praised them for doing good work, and did not micromanage them. I think my approach paid off for both of them, as well we as Greenwood Leflore Recycling. Organization When I received a $400,000 grant for Greenwood Leflore Recycling, I was tasked to create and implement a residential curbside recycling program for the City of Greenwood. At first, I was nervous about the responsibility of creating something new from scratch. I knew that in order to do my job correctly, I would have to be organized, and that to be organized, I would have to focus on the skills I could control. In retrospect, by adopting this mindset early on, I do not think I could have done any better. I decided to implement a pilot program in a small neighborhood first and to add additional neighborhoods as demand increased. When we first started collecting curbside bins, I knew it would be important not to make many mistakes so that residents would not get frustrated or confused. The first month, I personally rode on the back of the recycling truck with my employees so we could make sure we did not miss any households, and that we picked up only the things we accepted at the recycling center. It has now been almost two years and because we were organized from the outset, we have had very few missed pickups and even fewer resident complaints. After I fully turned the curbside route over to my two efficient employees, I realized how much I missed it and how much fun it was to start the new program. I learned through experience that organization is really about focusing on the things you can control. Public Speaking Along with the estimated 75% of women who have a fear of public speaking, I was terrified at the thought of having to make public speeches when I first took my job as recycling director. In fact, public speaking gave me so much anxiety that in college, the ability to opt out of the introductory speech course was one of the reasons I decided to major in nutrition! In my first month on the job, however, I was invited to speak at the local Rotary Club along with the public works director and the city clerk. I rode to the meeting with the public works director, who was formerly a schoolteacher, and she told me how nervous she was about the presentation. I remember being perplexed that she was nervous about speaking among peers when she spoke to classrooms full of high schoolers every day at her previous job. To my benefit, I did really well at my first public speaking event and surprisingly even enjoyed it, especially the questions at the end. Looking back, I realize that focusing on the things I could control, like having an in-depth knowledge of the topic at hand and getting a good night’s sleep the night before the presentation, makes all the difference between a good speech and a bad one. Since that first presentation to the Greenwood Rotary Club, I have spoken at dozens of events, civic club meetings, city council meetings and in classrooms from kindergarten all the way through high school. I even presented an hour-long workshop at the state recycling conference in 2014. And although I probably did mediocre compared to others, I was able to conquer my biggest speaking fear by presenting a combined middle and high school assembly on environmental sustainability at the local private academy. Through all of these speaking engagements, I have learned that public speaking is like a roller coaster for me due to the nerves that I fight each time I am preparing a presentation. I am always thrilled when it is over and proud of my ability to meet the challenge. I do my best public speaking when I am able to focus on the things I can control, and not worry about the things I cannot. Conclusion By focusing on the things I could control in my first job, I learned some universal lessons that are sure to transfer to my new career as a dietitian. I look forward to strengthening my management, organization, and public speaking skills in my new field of nutrition.

Statement of Purpose

Chen Chen
Zhejiang University, China


Over the years, I have gained a profound appreciation for the field of Electrical Engineering, not only for its marvelous capability of ensuring engineering wonders, or the promising prospective in my career path, but for its unshackling of my social restraints as a “typical” girl. For this, I am eternally grateful, and therefore I will express my gratitude during a lifelong career in this field. To do so, I will require the most advanced professional training offered by a top university, and Arizona State University is my best choice. I realized my strong interest in electrical engineering in my freshmen year in college. Behaving like a “typical” girl during my first 18 years of life, I acted within the confines of the stereotype for girls in China—talented in arts, language and social science but insulated from engineering. That was why I chose to major in management at the beginning of my college life. However, accidentally, I stumbled into a lecture on wireless charging, completely rewriting my perception of electrical engineering. I thought it was amazing that such a technology can save me from finding and distinguishing the right cable for my cell phone, MP4 and digital camera. This small accident rerouted my entire bearing in life, as I steered towards a career in electrical engineering. A romantic beginning was always wondrous, but to reach a happy ending, hard efforts had to be made. To realize my dream, I prepared myself to overcome countless challenges. The first problem I had to deal with was changing my major. After a full semester of hard efforts, I achieved a GPA of 3.87, ranking 1/160 in my college. As a result, I became one of only two management majors to transfer to the College of Electrical Engineering and Automation. After this, I started to enjoy courses covering the fundamentals of mathematics and electrical engineering. I truly enjoyed acquiring knowledge related to my dream, but classroom learning was not enough. The opportunity revealed itself in my sophomore year, when I participated in the Student Innovation Training Program (SITP) and designed a blind spot reminder system. My motive of designing this rearview mirror blind spot detector came from seeing cats hiding under cars for heat in wintertime. When the cars started, cats were in a blind spot, and many of them perished under such circumstances. Therefore, I designed a system using an infrared detection technology to solve the problem above. The detection range can adaptively change with the speed of cars. I also accomplished a publication titled "Design of rearview mirror blind spot alert system based on the infrared technology" in Electronic Design Engineering (Chinese Core Journals) in my junior year. This project allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of this discipline. App Reference #: 892071 CHEN CHEN Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering - PHD [email protected] Fall 2017 2 Through these trainings, my motivation shifted from its interest derived from initial and sped towards a true fascination in academic research. I focused more on practical measures to solve problems that arose in real life, making use of my knowledge and experience in engineering to innovatively attempt in developing solutions by modulating projects, constructing systems, searching through literature and building models. I realized that this is how technological advancement is propelled. I was also alerted in the sense that further academic training is needed for me to become a true electrical engineer. Henceforth, I went on further studied Circuits and Systems in graduate school at Zhejiang University. During my three years of graduate education, I participated in a multitude ofscientific research projects in Prof. Helenian’s laboratory. These projects allowed me to craft out benevolent qualities for scientific research, namely perseverance and executability. Initially, as the only girl in the lab, I was presumed as the weakest link. I aggressively began to alter the views of my coworkers by engaging in intense study and research. Taking advantage of my thirst for knowledge and my desire for genuine creations of practicality, I was on an accelerated path for engineering achievements. After three years of concentrated study and research, I have managed to sharpen my acumen for research. Currently, my research interests include power management integrated circuits, power converter topologies and lowpower analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits. AC-DC converters: I have designed a primary side control LED driver with a novel constant current control mechanism. The driver employs two integrated cascaded power MOSFETs to detect the demagnetization time. Thus, the driver requires no auxiliary winding. The proposed architecture of my original design is capable of detecting the demagnetization time with high precision and realize precise output current by adapting the charging and discharging module. The proposed scheme has been verified through simulation. The demagnetization time detection error is less than 0.2% and the average output current precision is within +4.7%. Subsequently, I published “A Constant Current LED Driver Based on Flyback Structure with Novel Primary Side Control” at the International SoC Design Conference. IEEE, 2015 (EI cited). Ultralow power: The majority of my three years in graduate school was devoted to research in the conservation of power consumption. In order to improve the efficiency of energy conversion, I worked on designing power management modules with low power consumption and high stability. As a result, I succeeded in designing an ultralow power LDO with no off-chip capacitor 1.5V output and 1.5 mA output current. It consumes less than 881nA quiescent current with 2V to 4V supply. The chip has been App Reference #: 892071 CHEN CHEN Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering - PHD [email protected] Fall 2017 3 taped out and it provides high stability during line and load regulation without off-chip load capacitors. The line regulation is 10.417mV/V and load regulation is 1.780mV/mA. The maximum overshoot and undershoot under a 3.3V supply are less than 95 mV for full load current changes within 100ns edge time, and the recovery time is less than 800ns. During this period, I was met with many difficulties, such as how to ensure the power MOSFET be properly turned off under a no-load condition; how to prevent the amplifier from losing gain while turning off the power MOSFET; how to reduce level shifter latency and ensure no current leakage during different voltage levels switch. Moreover, reducing the dropout and increasing the PSRR was also part of my consideration. To clear these issues, I dived into a sea of literature, designed many circuits and eventually kept the static flow within 881nA, substantially lower than the power usage of existing designs in literature. A publication “an Ultra LowPower Capacitor-less Low-Dropout Regulator” on the Journal of Zhejiang University (Engineering Science, EI cited) was soon published. Daily laboratory work not only consolidated my independent research abilities, but also taught me to persist and explore. Besides experiments, the weekly journal club and work report were also important elements of my scientific training. Laboratory-held scientific lectures provided me with plenty of opportunities to communicate with top scientists and science researchers. This type of experience helped me grasp more professional knowledge, absorb design experiences, while at the same time, enhancing my own ability to express my thoughts with logic and clarity. Besides the academic field, there were several things that helped shape my personality. Three hours of practice on the Pipa, the Chinese lute, a day earned me the various awards in competitions, channeling my diligence towards success. Furthermore, as the manager and lead dancer of the Latin dance team of Zhejiang University, I arranged weekly training sessions, invited professional teachers to improve our dancing skills to deliver excellent performances on campus. It was not an easy task to arrange a proper time to fit everyone’s schedule. These various experiences improved my communication and organization skills, both of which benefitted me in my study and work. These experiences shaped my optimal habits in scientific research and I hope to continue my research in IC. Should the opportunity reveal itself, I hope to participate in relevant research in analog and mixed-signal integrated circuit. I am also interested in bioinformatics, mixed-signal integrated circuits for bioelectronics, and low-power sensor and seek to conduct further research during my pursuit for my doctorate if the chance arose. After graduation, I plan to secure a position as a researcher in App Reference #: 892071 CHEN CHEN Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering - PHD [email protected] Fall 2017 4 academia. In my opinion, electrical engineering is not merely consisted of theoretical formulas and simulations, but is an actual applicable science that takes heavy roles in our daily lives. In order to facilitate this objective, I feel the urge to obtain more skills and knowledge. With little doubt, the Arizona State University is my best choice: it not only has beautiful scenery, but it can also provide me with a higher perspective to view tasks, and to simplify them. Besides, Arizona State University wins global reputation for its excellent faculties and talent students in ECEE department and U.S. News & World Report named ASU the “Most Innovative School” of all colleges and universities in America. I have a strong desire to become a member of this great university, so that I may devote my personal efforts to achieve great accomplishments and contribute to the technological advancement of our entire civilization.

Attitude of Gratitude

Angel Coronado
ASU

My name is Angel Antonio Ogaldes Coronado, and I will be writing my essay on the attitude of gratitude. I was born and raised in Mesa, Arizona and I come from a family of ten children. I graduated with honors from Red Mountain High School in May 2002, I was the first of the ten children to graduate from high school. And I was the first to attend a university in Fall of 2002, although I did not graduate my parents were still proud. With life moving and changing I had to leave school and get a job to help support my family. Now I am thirty-three years old and I am back in school. I know finishing school is something I must do not only for me but for my parents that have done so much for me. My mother came to the states at the age of eighteen from Guatemala to better her life. My father is a Native American form the Yaqui Tribe in Tempe, Arizona. Tempe, Arizona is also where my mother and father met and started their lives together. My parents had their children and decided to move to Mesa, Arizona as there are better schools and a higher chance of their children attending college. I have so much to be grateful for all that my parents have done for me, although both my parents only have a high school education they saw so much more potential for their children. When I look back on the things my parents have done for me, I feel like I could never repay them back. Growing up in a household with so many children was not as easy as one may think. My parents were always working hard to ensure we had food to eat. There were days where my parents would not eat to make sure there was food for their kids to eat. Most night dinner was nothing more than beans and rice. But, although it was not much, mother always cooked with love and her heart that meant more to me than anything in this world. Until this day she is still this way on my birthday, always making my favorite dinner which is spicy red chili meat, rice and beans. It may seem like a simple meal but it always reminds me of my childhood birthdays and still makes me warm and sometimes even brings a tear to my eyes. I have learned that it is not what someone can buy or how much money they can spend on you. It is more that, it is about a person willing to take time out of their day, a person that is willing to stop what they are doing to help you. A mothers love is just that no matter how busy her life is, I know that she will always be there to pick up the phone or even drive over to make sure that everything is okay. I try to live by these simple principles each day. I know that when I have my children I will do the same and show them what my mother has taught me in this life as well. Going back to school was a very hard decision I had to make. I had a great career with Bank of America as Operation Project Analyst. I was with Bank of America for nine years where I entered as associate on the phones to collect on past due accounts and over the years I worked my way up to management. People always say “why would you leave your job to go back to school?” yes, I was able to accomplish a lot with just a High School Diploma, but going to back to school is so much more to me than just a diploma. I decided to go back to school to be able to advance in my future career, a personal achievement knowing I was able to get thru college, and lastly as a thank you to my parents to show my gratitude for all they have sacrificed for me in this lifetime. So with that being said I put in my two notice and applied for Arizona State University. I am a full time student at Arizona State University, where I am pursing a degree in Global Logistics Management. My current GPA at Arizona State University is 4.08. With this degree not only do I want to better myself, I want to be able to support my family in a big way. I know I can change the world and the way it trades and this degree would give me that opportunity to do that. I want to thank you for considering me for this scholarship that will help me to achieve my ultimate goal of graduating from Arizona State University, bettering myself, and making my parents proud.

Achieve More

Gianfranco Filice

When I was in the seventh grade, my mother was diagnosed with stage-four stomach cancer. I was 12 years old at the time and had no idea what that diagnosis meant or what the treatment would entail, but in hindsight, it’s clear that this experience changed my life in more ways than I could have ever imagined.
 
As my mother began the seemingly insurmountable task of fighting an aggressive form of metastatic gastric cancer; chemotherapy treatments, hospital stays, laboratory tests, and medications became just as much a part of our family as my sisters and me. Her prognosis was bleak at best and the more the disease afflicted my mother, the more I began to realize how fragile life could be. That idea—that life is fragile and more fleeting than I could truly comprehend—taught me that I couldn’t wait for the opportunity to make a difference in the world. I channeled all the grief and fear that I felt about my mother’s diagnosis into an unwavering drive to make a difference in the lives of those who are most in need; to be a voice for those who feel as if they are without one. Enter Ripple, a social-good clothing company that I started as an eighth grader that directly impacts the lives of the disenfranchised.
 
Ripple is based on the idea that people should be able to use their purchase power as a means to achieve social good. We facilitate this goal by collaborating with international charities; the charities receive a portion of our profits from the sale of our originally designed clothing in exchange for a particular metric. For example, for every 500 shirts sold, we can provide a water well for a village in a rural area; for every sweater we sell, we can provide 1 month of education to a child in Uganda. Through our efforts thus far, we’ve established a water-well in Haryana Village, India, provided emergency meals for 500 children, and funded 60 hours of service-dog training to individuals with disabilities. Customers receive fashionable and high-quality clothing while having the satisfaction of knowing that their purchase has made a difference in the life of someone in need.
 
The experience of founding and running Ripple over the past four years has taught me invaluable lessons that are integral to the man I have become. One of the first steps towards the success of the company was recruiting a team of my friends to help come up with creative ideas that would benefit those in need. As eighth graders, we didn’t fully appreciate all that would be required. We spent the next eight months devouring every business book we could find, which eventually lead to a 45-page business plan. I learned about teamwork and leadership, resolving interpersonal conflict, and the importance of basic business skills. These lessons have helped me develop valuable interpersonal skills, sound business acumen, and a strong work ethic; qualities that have allowed me to excel in business, in the classroom, and in my personal life.
 
My mother’s incredible strength, and will to beat her cancer, has inspired me to never give up in the face of adversity. Throughout the process of starting a business, I’ve gained a greater understanding of the importance of perseverance and adaptation on a smaller scale. I’ve lost track of the number of unanswered phone calls, ineffective sales pitches, and denied funding requests I made before finally gaining some financial traction. Moreover, the original vision for the company was to establish ourselves as a nonprofit organization. This direction proved to be a dead-end after countless hours spent filling out IRS forms to obtain 501(c)3 (charity) status, only to realize that our structure wouldn’t qualify. Yet, working with my team, pro-bono lawyers and business mentors to overcome obstacle after obstacle has helped make Ripple what it is today. 
 
The most humbling experience surrounding Ripple was developing my start-up costs fundraiser. After years of work, I launched Ripple using a social-networking fundraising platform called Kickstarter. I presented my Kickstarter page to every class at my high school and was featured in a local publication. On our first attempt, we had only raised $2,250 out of the $15,000 that we had set as our goal. Failing to obtain funding had been one of my biggest fears prior to launch. But we pressed forward, made some changes to our strategy, re-launched on Kickstarter one month later with a $5,000 goal, and achieved that goal in less than two weeks. Seeing my greatest fear materialize, and being able to overcome it, reinforced my belief that failure is just a part of the process toward success.
 
Today, our small team of junior high friends has grown into something significant. We now have an international team of designers and strategists, including brand development specialists from Canada as well as graphic designers and marketing experts from Europe. We’ve even created a company video showcasing Ripple’s background story, the journey, and all of the products that we’ve developed. Our success has also allowed me to become the youngest member in the history of my local Chamber of Commerce; an accomplishment I am incredibly proud of.
 
It is through the relentless approach that I adopted in starting Ripple that I’ve learned to transcend my skills and drive to the opportunities at Stanford University. For example, I am currently a research and development coordinator for the Drew Endy Bioengineering Laboratory. Within that lab, I am working with a team of engineers on the development of a robotic pipetting machine for medical research using computer science, mechanical engineering, and product design. The goal of the machine is to provide a device that not only prevents scientists from being prone to carpal tunnel but in fact, augments pipetting and experiment iterations. In the future, this device can indirectly be a factor that increases the speed at which life-saving cures for illnesses are found. It is through this interdisciplinary research position that has allowed me to see how my own talents and skills can be applied to a product with a massive potential to change the world.
 
In addition to my research role, I’ve also had the chance to become an officer for the Society for Latino Engineers (SOLE). Within my role, I’ve had the chance to play a part in addressing the overwhelming lack of diversity in technical roles in major companies. Currently, I work as the frosh director of professionalism in which I am communicating with various Fortune 100 companies and startups to see how they can mentor those within in our group to succeed in the future. In addition, SOLE works to mentor rising high school seniors with limited resources on how they too can attend renowned universities. One of the more meaningful opportunities through SOLE has been the privilege of seeing Hispanic engineers receive job offerings and internship opportunities from organizations I had personally contacted. As with Ripple, SOLE has reaffirmed that being result-oriented in a field that impacts others will always be a priority to me.
 
Lastly, given my entrepreneurial interests, Stanford has afforded me the chance to see my ideas blossom. I decided to take my idea for a financial technology startup called Abi, and recruit co-founders. After many pitches and some discouragement, I found a first-year MBA and a third-year PhD electrical engineering student who have as much enthusiasm behind my idea as I do. The idea for Abi is to develop an algorithmic-based investment platform for college students and millennials. Using machine learning, we plan to understand a client’s cash flow from their checking account, and from analyzing their spending and income patterns, determining an unnoticeable, but progressive amount of money that can be deducted from their account each week and put into an investment account on their behalf. The goal of Abi is to help create a platform that requires no change of behavior while currently building their financial literacy and outlook as they head toward retirement. Ultimately, the goal for this company is to become a social leader in assisting clients achieve financial freedom through unconscious investing and saving, most specifically in developing countries.
 
The lessons I’ve learned over the course of my mother’s illness and my experiences with Ripple have allowed me to discovered that my passion is, plainly stated, to help those who are most in need. Using positive thinking, and the law of attraction, I’ve use my setbacks and obstacles to make my dreams a reality. At Stanford, I’ve been given the opportunities and resources to turn that manifested my goals and visualization. I aspire to utilize my education to further develop the skills required to become a successful, dynamic business leader and culturally competent practitioner of international development. Using the same principles of the law of attraction that helped me get to where I am today, I plan to continue to utilize those practices to make a positive difference in the world. I will strive to become adept in all the pertinent fields, including business management, economics, political science, social justice, public health, and international relations. Through this process, I aim to learn how to make businesses succeed in a way that makes a positive impact on the world and inspires others to do the same.

Personal Development

Madiha Charania
Georgia State University

As an ambitious senior at Georgia State University pursuing a dual major in finance and accounting, I plan to start a career in investment banking. In the past, I had been dealing with a lot of stress juggling with maintaining a stellar GPA, part-time jobs and fully funding college tuition and expenses. Additionally, I was constantly debating if investment banking will be a viable career option in the future given the work-life balance. Despite knowing that stress is not good for health, I had inevitable become stress reactive, and it took a toll on my mental and physical health. Therefore, I decided to be proactive and looked for videos on YouTube for relaxation techniques and alleviating stress from day-to-day chores.
Upon conducting an extensive research, I was able to find videos posted by the Buddhist Society, and the lectures conducted by a monk, Ajahn Brahm to be inspirational and valuable to lead a harmonious and a healthy lifestyle. A healthy lifestyle allows an individual to realize their goals and aspirations without worrying about the uncertainty that the future holds. Mr. Brahm’s lectures focused on the importance of living in the present moment without having the need to worry about things that are beyond one’s control. This healthy lifestyle-to live to the fullest in the present being is now incorporated in my life philosophy.
Previously, as soon as I woke up in the mornings, I would reach out for my phone to check for any unattended emails and messages. I began the day with a feeling of urgency to reply back to all the emails and efficiently planning ahead for the day to become more productive. In doing so, I was neglecting the need to have a healthy lifestyle. I spent barely any time with my friends and family and had completely isolated myself with external surroundings. I believed that hanging out with friends would deviate me from reaching my career goals. Also, I had given up a sense of present mind and was always occupied with thinking about solving an obstacle likely to occur in the future.
After watching several sessions of Mr. Brahm during the last spring break, I have an entirely different perspective of life. I wake up in the morning and put my phone in my bag without checking for any emails. Instead, I set up an alarm for five minutes in the morning to meditate. In my meditation, I focus on being mindful. I close my eyes to the chirping of the birds, the touch of the morning breeze and the warmth of the rays of the sun.
In that moment of surrendering to the beauty of nature, I would indulge in an act of gratitude. The ability to enjoy life with the confusion it holds. I was able to get reaffirmation that the uncertainty will eventually make sense. There is no way that I can plan for events in the future. I learned that future events are beyond my reach and the only thing that I can exert control over is the present. I started appreciating the love and support of my friends and family. I became actively engaged in my community and was motivated to serve the community altruistically.
Now, I take pride in every walk of life. My career ambitions are still the same; I still aspire to become a financial analyst at a Bulge Bracket firm after completing my education at Georgia State University. I am particularly interested in mergers and acquisitions sector of investment banking. This area mainly comprises of performing valuations to determine the present value of the company and seeking additional capital required. The company has various options of raising money to fund mergers and acquisitions. These include issuing fixed-income capital such as bonds or by initial public offerings (IPO) in the stock market. The analyst has to conduct research before suggesting the company about a feasible option to generate money. The work is intriguing because of its detail-oriented nature. I am fascinated to find the best possible alternative to raise funds for the company.
 However, the path that I have paved for myself is significantly different from my previous approach. Being present and alert has allowed me to be more productive and connect with other people. I am no longer clouded with thoughts about doubts.
I have learned a valuable lesson to extend care to the community without expecting anything in return. Now, after fully understanding the meaning of life, I feel obligated to inspire other capable students to reach their full potential. I want them to realize that stressing and being overly aggressive will not bring then any closer to their dreams. The only way that they will achieve their goals is by having an affirmative mindset and working diligently towards that goal by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. 

Focusing On Things You Can Control

Philip Cavello

My father is a Sicilian combat veteran from Brooklyn and my mother is an immigrant from El Salvador. The disparity of their backgrounds are immeasurable, but their lives have impacted me greatly. They divorced when I was 3, but their relationship is unbelievably strong. I lived in a diverse environment, speaking different languages and existing in polar opposite lifestyles. The dichotomy molded me and influenced my character, perspective and state of being. Under my father’s roof, I endured a military-style upbringing-but the love was apparent. I was encouraged to play sports and excel in my academics. I am competitive in nature, and achieving was always my aspiration. However, certain events have caused me to falter, but I now understand that the duty of each human is to delegate their time for the advancement of the species and if no one holds you responsible, it is imperative that you do so.
            When I was sixteen my father was stricken by Guillain-Barre syndrome, an inflammatory disorder of the peripheral nerves, and he became paralyzed within weeks, and the healing process still persists today. I didn’t tell my mother; and I felt utterly alone- going to school, practice, studying, cooking meals, and tending to my father whom was in the hospital. My father was in shambles, but I remained strong, and will-power kept us going and time helped soothe our wounds. My drive is enthralled by this experience, for he far exceeded the doctor’s expectations; and I intend to demonstrate equal determination in life. Obstacles will always emerge and life isn’t idealistic; however, I have the power to choose my reaction.
             During the application process, for my undergraduate studies, I always had football in mind, and the University of Redlands presented the best of both worlds: academics and athletics. My yin and yang was seemingly omnipresent until I tore my acl, mcl and broke my knee cap; obliterating my chances of continuing to play football. I was devastated, for my life revolved around two different pursuits and one was lost forever. I lost the yang to my yin, and my chosen response, in retrospect, was undoubtedly poor. I fell to the whims of depression, numbed my pain by partying and ignored my responsibilities. I had too much freedom, and it was a terrifying concept.  However the rigid road of college wasn’t over, my best friend took a leave of absence and suddenly died from an overdose. Emotionally distraught and astounded, this traumatic event pierced my soul. I was taught to hide my feelings, but this couldn’t be repressed. I tried to evade the issue and I hibernated in my room; avoiding class and confrontation. In retrospect, this was a dreadful decision, but my closest friend was the first person I knew to die. I came back the next few semesters to persevere, but I didn’t have closure nor did I deal with my depression- I was bound to fail.
            I ended my tenure at the University of Redlands with mixed emotions, but that opened the door for recovery. I conferred with loved ones and I accepted my circumstances. It was time to begin anew, and I dedicated the last year to finishing my degree and realizing my purpose. As an English major, I was always passionate about writing, reading, manifesting new interpretations and expressing ideas. I could pinpoint details and construct an entirely new implication. Everything has an underlying meaning that is awaiting to be understood, and life presents us with specific points of reference; and our responsibility is to grasp its value.  
My life has provided me a multitude of lessons, and I am shaped by my hardships, but life is predicated upon the efforts we sacrifice for the future. I am severely concerned of the direction humanity is headed, and legal education will provide me a platform to express my ideas, participate with the political sphere and hold people responsible. This affinity to venture for truth among varying perceptions is quite an endeavor, but I am determined to face opposition and engage in a nurturing environment that encourages challenge. With proper preparation anyone can improve their odds for achievement, and law school cultivates excellency.
Coming from a diverse background with various life experiences, I can contribute a new element into your School of Law. I can speak and understand three languages, and I’ve been exposed to a wide range of economic classes. My communication skills, along with my sense of understanding are dynamics that will improve the classroom discussion.  I firmly believe to reconcile tensions and conflicts among parties, an equal bridge of communication should be instituted first. I am a first-generation college student whose mom emigrated here and my dream to become a lawyer is as grand as hers was to come here. I come from my family who is willing to change, and I want to reflect that nature upon the world. I have eradicated all the distractions and I am compelled to provide another virtuous dynamic to society by taking hold of what I can control- my future. 

Focusing On Things You Can Control

Filip Mikijelj

     I’ve never felt more out of control of my life as I did when I landed this past August at the Phoenix International Airport.  I was in a new country, away from everything familiar, wondering what the future holds. I pondered what college was going to be like – Who would I meet? What would my classes be like? Would I meet the expectations required of me as a student? It was exciting and a bit frightening at the same time. At the same time, I also felt a great sense of accomplishment! It was a huge opportunity for me to be able to study in the United States at an amazing school like Arizona State University. Feeling overwhelmed, I decided that the best thing for me to do was take a deep breath and manage one thing at the time.
     Attending college in the United States is a really big deal for me. I am from Montenegro, a beautiful eastern European country, where my family’s heritage goes back to the Sixth Century. Montenegro is a wonderful place to live and offers many benefits, however, it is not the best place for opportunity for someone my age.  Coming from a southern city in the country as small as Montenegro doesn’t give you many options. People rarely leave, and if they do it is to move to a neighboring country. No one ever goes to the United States of America to study, partly because it is so expensive and partly because no one wants to sacrifice the comfort and safety of what they are used to.  This was more than just an opportunity for me, however, it represents the chance to change my entire life. With my family’s love and support behind me, I knew that I had to embrace whatever was ahead of me with courage and conviction.
     I knew that my first year of college was not going to be easy for either me or my family. I was prepared for the difficult academics but it was hard for me to be away from my parents and my little brother for so long. It was also difficult for my family because of the financial sacrifice they had to make to pay my tuition. I knew there was nothing I could do to make that part better besides honoring their belief in my learning and academic performance the only way I knew how:  by getting involved in everything I could and working as hard as I possibly can in my classes to achieve the best grades possible. I decided to focus only on the positive and focus on things I can accomplish that will better me. I joined Enactus, an entrepreneurship club, as well as the ASU Men’s Water Polo Club Team. I also volunteered as a goalkeeper coach for the Mesa Water Polo Club. I knew that being part of clubs and volunteering, in addition to my academic studies, would allow me to meet more people with a similar mindset and make friends and connections.
     As the fall semester began, I soon realized that for many students it was not a priority to do well in their classes but rather their interests were more from a social. It was quite surprising to me because I didn’t understand how these students could spend so much money on their education but didn’t seem to be taking it seriously in preparing for their future. It was confusing because when I arrived here I had a clear path to follow, but I was soon caught off guard by all these new ideas from people around me. I think every young person wants to make a lot of friends and have fun but I had to remind myself that any of that is immediate gratification and in the end, it is not worth it. I believe that everyone needs a balance between their social life and work, but priorities are priorities, I have found it is always better to sacrifice some things now because in future it’s going to pay off ten times as much.
       This philosophy of focusing on the things I can control has really paid off for me.  I received A’s in all my courses for the semester and ended with a 4.03 GPA. Additionally, I had the opportunity to work ahead in my math class and I finished all of my work and took my exam nearly 2 months before the semester ended.  This freed up a lot of time for me to work and study more on some of my more difficult courses. I also quickly learned to tap into the resources available to me on campus, such as the libraries and tutoring. It was a lot of work but I knew that if I started out my college career successfully, it would help me in the future as my course load becomes more challenging.  Most of all, I wanted to show my parents respect and gratitude for the sacrifices they have made for me to be able to attend college at ASU. They were both very proud of my grades and accomplishments and shared it with our family and friends in Montenegro. I can never express to them how grateful I am for this opportunity, but I definitely can control how it reflects in the work I am doing in my classes and in my attitude.

Strive & Challenge

Brittany Matassa
​ASU

As the first scholarship I looked into, this seems to be the one that was waiting for me. I strive to live my life by the examples of Achievement Today’s personal development principles. These axioms all go hand in hand. The Law of Attraction forces you to think positively, assuming you want positive outcomes in your life. Once you understand the Law of Attraction, you grasp the things you can control, and recognize the things that are out of your control and how to face those elements. As both a yogi and yoga instructor, I feel an obligation to be a role model and source of inspiration to those around me. And, happily, I will take on that challenge any day! Let us put an emphasis on the words “strive” and “challenge.” I am only human. I err. I slack. I falter. I achieve. I guide. I prevail. Sometimes I feel mentally and physically unwell. My bed in my only sanctity, the lights stay off, I shut myself in; days become nights, and I become exhausted with the world. Sometimes, I cannot see the light on the horizon through this dense mental fog. However, through training, experience, breathwork, and a magnitude of mental strength, I can make it to the next day. Then the next. And the next. What do I have control of in these disheartening times? I know my body and mind work in cycles. I know these feelings will pass and the light will shine. I trust my breath, as the vehicle that carries my health, my happiness, and my sanity. In elementary school, my health education teacher had us breathe through a straw for one minute (a minute in the life of a cigarette smoker). While it may not have been obvious at the time, this is something that stuck with me like a splinter. At the time, I felt overwhelmed and terrified (and to this day, I have never touched a cigarette for fear of this feeling). This was my first lesson that gave me a glimpse of the gratitude I had for my body, especially my lungs, and the beauty of each inhale and exhale they allowed me. Later on in life, formally learning breathwork and the importance of proper breathing has been the most valuable tool that I keep with me. For example, noticing a simple clench of the jaw and shortness of breath allows me to take a step back and observe both my body and mind. It helps me to recognize moments of stress versus moments of relaxation. It allows me transform stressful moments into quiet bliss. This past month, I have been with both of my grandparent’s as they took their last breaths only twelve days apart from one another. As their souls have moved on, each deep breath I take, I am reminded that I am inhaling the same air that they have exhaled. It is the closest I will ever feel to being with them again. Once more, it was my respiration that converted the gale winds into a calming zephyr. Inhale, take it all in. Everything. Notice your thoughts, notice your feelings. How do you feel mentally? Physically? Spiritually? Think to yourself, “isn’t that interesting?” Exhale. Forget it all. Detach yourself from those thoughts or feelings. Inhale all the stars in the universe, drink it up. Pause. Hold it. Exhale, get rid of all the toxins, all the negativity. Pause, start fresh. Once a person can control his or her thoughts, he or she can start to truly gain control of life. A simple breathing exercise can be the vector to start one’s journey of controlling the abundant thoughts running through his or her mind. Controlled respiration has helped in all aspects of my life, from allowing me to, dare I say, feel euphoric when faced with the momentous obstacle of depression, to helping me fall asleep and wake up when necessary. Our breaths are our gift of life and the greatest thing about it: it is under each individual’s control. As Earth exhales, I inhale. As I exhale, Earth inhales. I am pursuing a Master’s degree in Biomimicry (if you have not heard of it, it is the future. Check it out!). I look forward to all the program has to offer me and cannot wait to share my future education with the world. Thank you for your time and consideration and I look forward to learning more about Achieve Today

You Catch More Flies With Honey

Haile Skuza

​My mother use to always tell me growing up that “you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.” I never knew what she actually meant until I got older. I always thought it sounded crazy. “Really mom? More flies with honey. Do flies even eat honey? Makes zero sense”, this was my thought every time she told me that as a youth. She would always tell me this when I was acting bratty or ungrateful. But now, I catch myself saying it all the time (and believing it), whether it be to my co-workers, step children, niece, nephew, pretty much whoever is listening. I like to believe my mother’s infamous words and her acts of kindness shaped the person I am today.
            I wasn’t always positive. I’ve been through rough patches in my life, as we all have. In those times I couldn’t imagine there was light at the end of the tunnel. But, it was years of heart-ache, mixed emotions, stress, and bad decisions that led me on my path to positive thinking. I know it probably sounds weird, but my negativity and bad attitude eventually made me see the light. I simply woke up, did my morning routine and looked myself in the mirror and asked “is this how you want to feel the rest of your days?” My answer was no. I was tired of feeling run down, tired, negative. I was tired of feeling like Charlie Brown and Eeyore combined with a twist of Stewie Griffin. I was tired of the dark cloud I thought was following me waiting to spill rain on me. It was exhausting to carry such a heavy weight, to constantly be at battle, to be on edge. I was done. It was hard at first. I would wake up singing a sun shiny tune, then something would happen and I would resort back to the old way of thinking. This went on for a while and I battled myself. I read self-help books, went to counseling, and took anger management courses. Anything I could do to stop feeling the way I did.
            I don’t claim to be a ray of sunshine all the time, but I do see the light at the end of the tunnel, even in a dark hour. I think that is what gets me through the tough times. Those tacos may not have been as tasty as I wanted, but I had a wonderful time catching up with friends. People may get fired from their jobs, but who is to say there isn’t something better out there. When one door closes, another one opens up. I keep these thoughts in the back of my mind. If I was to be bummed about the not so good tacos, it would have affected the good time with my friends. So instead of dwelling on the tacos, I try to concentrate on the good company.
            Back to my mom’s theory of the honey. She was onto something, I can see that now. About six years ago, I was promoted to supervisor of my department. I had been with the company for quite some time and I was good at my job, if I do say so myself. I was brand new to a position of authority. I only knew how to do my job, not how to run the department. So my thoughts weren’t so positive. I was discouraged. My team was all over the place, unorganized with no direction. I turned to my boss and asked her how she was so successful in running a department. How did she make the employees listen to and respect her? She explained to me the same as my mom, “You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar”. There it was again and decades later. She explained in more depth than my mom had ever done. She explained that everyone has a different personality and each needs to be treated differently in order for them to hear you out. Some people need a pat on the back, some people need a stern voice, and some people need a joke. People take to others who are kind and that are willing to work with them and take the time to understand. So she suggested having a meeting and laying out some rules and ask for suggestions. It’s beneficial to make the group feel included. So, I did and it worked. I was polite when I asked them to complete a task. I took the time for suggestions. I came in with surprises some times to let them know I appreciated them. We were a well-oiled machine and could conquer any task that was thrown at us and all because we were positive. We believed in ourselves, in each other.
            Though, I have moved on to another job, I still believe in those ethics. I may not be the supervisor, but I still do believe in the power of positivity. If I’m excited about a project, then maybe, just maybe, someone may catch on and be excited with me. It only takes a spark to start a fire. 

The Power of Positive Thinking

Elyse Pozniak​

​The mind is a vast realm where the famous “what if” statements are played out, memories are revisited, and the future is dreamt of. Carrie Fisher, one who was exceptionally respected and idolized by most, had just passed away. Carrie had a mental illness. She empowered herself to not let her mental illness consume her and take her ability to control her life away. She publicly admitted she had a mental illness, long before mental illnesses were even a topic of conversation. Due to her ability to find the silver lining in her situation, she stood tall, held held high, and showed America she was not ashamed of her illness. The strength it takes to openly admit anything personal, especially pertaining to something not widely accepted by social norms, is moving. Included in her public announcement, she told her mental illness to, “bring it on”. Carrie showed ample confidence and ​a heroic sense of mental strength.​ When speaking with others, Carrie would reassure those who had a mental illness in a laughing manner, “you can lead a normal life, whatever that is”. Her lightheartedness on such a degrading topic proves how she was able to overlook the negative facts, and be at peace with the cards she was dealt. The simple statement Carrie would tell others, largely depicts how out-of-this-world her life literally was. Although she passed away, she expressed she wanted her death to be reported, “I drowned in moonlight, strangled by my own bra”. Although she was dying in darkness, she still had her light. She was facing a hellish time, but she still was positive through it to the best of her abilities. Her mental illness did consume her, but it is not her death we are focusing on, it is the journey she took throughout her illness which highlights who Carrie Fisher was and the life she lead. Rather than sulking in your own misery about a situation most hardly ever encounter or have to deal with, you can still live the life you want. Living one’s life all depends on one’s perspective of their situation and how they react or deal with the downfalls. Charles R. Swindoll lead the famous quote, “life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it”. Carrie proved Charles words to America; her mental illness played an extensive part in how she came to terms about her life and how notable it was for her to not let her illness make a front-page burden on her. Life gets the best of us, but throughout her days, Carrie always chose to look at the silver lining in her situations, and through her positive thinking, she created the life of her dreams and ironically, a life others wanted. The power of positive thinking can make one’s life more valuable. Not only does positive thinking make one more attractive to be around and be known as beautiful minded, but it makes one’s life so much more worth living. Thinking positively offers one so much more of the world. Although it is necessary to see negative facts of the world, to be aware of what is happening, it is undoubtedly more essential to find silver linings in situations that are not satisfactory. Life throws many curve balls, and it is up to one to be powerful enough in their own mind to overcome the strikes of the game in a humble and positive way. Some would think it is child’s play to be positive, but for those who have poor habits of dwelling on the negatives facts of life, have a prolonged road of personal development ahead of them. There is everlasting room for growth of one’s personal development, but not all growth is a cinch to achieve. For one person, it may be easy for them to overcome a situation, but for another person, they may struggle beyond compare. It is key to help those who seek for guidance and be their silver lining in their time of darkness. A kind heart is not always the joyous person, but rather, a kind heart is always the most thoughtful and encouraging one. Treating others in a positive way travels measures farther than words can account for. A simple compliment, smile, or wave can turn someone’s day around for the better, all at the cost of a few seconds of one’s time. By having a positive mind, one sees the world as a much brighter and better place than others. Radiating positive vibes is contagious, it is addictive, and it spreads faster than media reporters chasing after a possible headline story. Focusing on the negative is a dark, deep, downward spiral that is nearly impossible to climb out of. Seeing how critical it is to maintain a positive attitude and mind, I try to only surround myself with positive people. Maintaining a positive mindset can work wonders not only for one personally, but for those around them. My positiveness has a healthy impact on my mother, and during my fall semester at Arizona State University, she sent me a generous care package along with a letter. Inscribed in the letter she wrote, “...continue to spread sunshine wherever you go”. I believe this to be one of the most commendable compliments one can give to another. She described my positive thinking as spreading sunshine and with that, it is remarkably true. One who has a positive mind, radiates like the sun, shining bright for all those around. People are remembered by their character and the way they carry themselves; being remembered as someone who “spreads their sunshine wherever they go” or “drowned in moonlight” is a positive way to be thought of once you have left.

Life

Manon Goodrich

​As I fell to the floor on stage during one of the most challenging ballet performances of my life, and I felt that excruciatingly painful “pop” in my knee, I suddenly knew my dance career was never going to be the same. This reality struck even more severely when I realized I could not walk, straiten, or bend my knee without unbearable pain. “Will it be better by the end of the week in time for my competitions and dance festivals coming up?” I kept asking myself, even though I knew something drastic just took place in my leg. * Rewind to six months prior. * I am finally getting noticed in my ballet school, finally being chosen by world renowned choreographers to star in their original works, and I can finally spot a professional ballet career ahead of me. Life is looking good. I’m the best dancer in my studio. People want to be like me.  * Fast forward back to the day of that life changing performance. * My parents are in the audience. My ballet director is about to move me up to the highest level. The young dancers look up to me and tell me good luck. But suddenly I find myself in the hospital emergency room with a torn lateral meniscus and find out I have to get 1/3 of my knee’s cartilage surgically taken out. As months passed by after this devastating day, I knew I would never be able to dance like I had been dancing before this show. With limited range of motion in my knee, areas where it is bone on bone, and a claim from the doctor that I will struggle with arthritis for the rest of my life as well as require multiple knee replacements, I contemplated quitting dance altogether. One doctor told me to never jump again. This is when I realized I had been living in a fantasy world most of my life. I was finally being forced to take a step back and actually live and cope with reality.
            I soon graduated from High School and realized that I now had no chance of becoming a professional ballet dancer, so I needed to figure out what else to do. I went to the local community college and began to take fun dance classes such as jazz. This was the first time I began enjoying dance without trying to achieve something. I did it for fun and without pressure on myself. I soon transferred to Arizona State University. I was tempted to become an English major, something far from dance. But in the community college dance class I remembered why I originally started dancing at the age of five. Dance is part of my soul. It’s part of what defines me. It gives me life when doing it for the sole purpose of enjoyment. This caused me to try again. I am currently a dance major at ASU, but I am not the same dancer that I was when in high school. I no longer perform on pointe, I no longer take four dance classes a day, I no longer am incredibly skinny, and I no longer have 20 hours a week of rehearsals. But I am equally as valid of a dancer. I now dance for myself. I now dance because it is what brings me joy. I dance to bless others. I now dance because I am grateful for the body I have been blessed with. Around the time of my knee surgery, a cousin of mine was diagnosed with lupus and became paralyzed. When I visited her in the hospital, I assumed I was going to bless her. The roles were actually reversed. She was one of the most positive people I have ever met. She was not depressed at all; in fact, she was the happiest I had ever seen her. She was the one who made my day better. She told me: “this gives me an opportunity to bless the nurses and do all the good things I can while in this hospital.” Even though she is still stuck in a home with invalids, she continues to bless and change the lives of the people who come to see her. Who am I to complain that I have knee issues when some people do not have legs? Who am I to complain when I am going to college and some people are not able to afford college? Who am I to complain when I live in a world of second chances and am able to dance even if in a different way than I originally thought I would be? Who am I to complain when I have an incredible support system in my parents and colleagues?
After growing up in a strict ballet school, I realized that I had not appreciated the simple gifts in my life and did not have an attitude of gratitude for a healthy functioning body. At Arizona State, the dance students learn a lot about finding integration every moment of every day with the earth, our surroundings, and with people. I learned that to really live, one must get off that constant treadmill of stress that leads to the future, when where we are in the moment is the most important thing to focus on. I realized that we choose how we live our life. Every day we either decide to be grateful for everything surrounding us, or we can decide to allow our trials to overtake us. Our attitude reflects what kind of person we are. I decided to make connections with people whenever possible because that is what life is about. When I put on a positive attitude, it rubs off on others and they become joyful. I made it a goal for myself to bless somebody every day by giving them a compliment or encouraging word. I truly believe my knee injury led me here and allowed me to come to this conclusion. The traumatic experience of my knee giving out mid-performance was necessary for me to change what I found truly important. Sometimes our trials lead to victories, but we need an open mind and open heart in order to reach those victories. 

Focusing On Things You Can Control

Rebecca Cleek

​I want to make philanthropic work a vital component of my every day by exemplifying our call to give back, help others, and be the best example of kindness and mercy in our world today. For this reason, I hope to intertwine my professional knowledge and abilities with my personal mission of alleviating physical and financial challenges for handicap individuals, strengthening a person’s self-worth and confidence, supporting the rise of female entrepreneurship, and encouraging diversity in education. With the right drive and the right focus on things I can control, I believe this dream can become a reality.
Upon acquiring my MBA and professional engineering license, I plan to use my financial management and project planning skills to start my own company where I will produce lighter, less expensive, 3D-printed prosthetic limbs for injured veterans and low-income families. Most prosthetics cost upwards of $10,000 and undergo significant wear and tear throughout their life span, making them impractical for many individuals to purchase and replace when outgrown, or damaged. 3D printing is a faster, more cost effective alternative that allows us to customize the prosthetic to fit any individual's limbs and print it within hours, at a fraction of the cost. By making prosthetic limbs more affordable, more individuals will have access to the necessary care they deserve and will be able to sustain a more empowered, independent lifestyle. My central goal is to positively impact someone's life and I believe building a purpose-driven business is the first step to achieving this dream.
With this business, I aspire to change a life for the better, whether it is through donating a prosthetic hand to a soldier injured in battle or encouraging the scholastic pursuit of men and women in the business and STEM related fields. I want to pave the road forward and lead an example of tolerance and respect for all patients, students, and individuals. This passion is fueled by my own experience and setbacks as a mechanical engineer and now MBA student. I encountered countless situations where peers and professors marginalized my ideas, made me feel inadequate, and fostered an environment of disrespect simply because I was different. I want to create a better tomorrow for professional men and women, so that they never have to encounter the same obstacles that discouraged me throughout my education. I would like to empower students to pursue what they love and rise above the harmful beliefs and stereotypes that label people as less than human or far worth their value as a person.
My involvement in Cookeville United Methodist Church, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and Society of Women Engineers has allowed me to mentor young students in after-school programs and help foster acceptance and respect for all students in their academic pursuits. Through this experience, I realized that representation is everything in an industry where you are a vast minority.  By starting my own business and succeeding in engineering and management, I want young scholars to realize that the science and business professions are achievable for not just a select few, but for everyone. This dream is open to all budding, creative intellectuals from any demographic who simply seek to make a difference. We need diverse thinkers and problem-solvers because they are the solutions to the many complex, difficult problems in our world today. I want to broaden this spectrum. And I want my business to be the fundamental building block to this life goal.  Thank you for your consideration and opportunity to be an instrument in aiding others. 

My Life

Angela Mackie​

​Life was rough in the Foster system. I was taken from my mom at seven years of age and never returned. It was also at this time that we started 2nd grade. Because we had never been to school, there was concern we would be behind. The school set up remedial classes for us but by the end of the first month I was reading on a college level. This sparked my enthusiasm for education and information early on. When I graduated high school, I chose Southern University A&M in Baton Rouge. I started as a social work major for obvious reasons. I began experiencing delayed onset PTSD, Anxiety, and Depression from the trauma suffered in and of foster care. I began to drink and fell into abusive relationships with men. My beloved son was later born. He gave me the inspiration to pull myself together. I began self-healing after my daughter was born using yoga, herbs, and other natural healing methods. I realized that I majored in Medical Science since high school but I loss confidence. I, now, practice healing art forms to help others.  I am also a trained doula. I have been called to be a nurse-midwife and to help decrease the infant mortality rate in African American communities while giving black & impoverished mothers more holistic birthing experiences and educating aspiring midwives in indigent communities.  There is a local nursing program where I can complete my pre-nursing studies. Afterward, I will attend the Nurse-Midwifery program at Frontier University. As an orphan, I have had no family contribution as while in college so this scholarship is appreciated.

Focusing on Things You Can Control

Vanessa Porea

Learning to focus on things I can control has been one of the most difficult lessons I have had to learn in my life. From a young age, I was considered a perfectionist. I attempted to set up my life in a way that I thought would prove to be successful by the standards of what I saw around me. My parents are successful, my brother is successful, and I was not going to be the exception. I was determined to tell life what to do, not let life happen for me.
                The period of my life that I really attempted to gain control was right after graduating high school. I was determined to keep my high school relationship going because, after five years, I was convinced that this was going to be it. After all, how else would I be married in my early twenties and have a child by 25? I was determined to also be successful in business, earning at least one or two promotions by the time I had to take maternity leave for the child I thought I would have at this point. In order to accomplish this, I was working 30+ hours at Victoria’s Secret and working on my Bachelor’s full time. In addition to my job and school, I also took on yearlong internship with Taubman Centers working in the marketing department at Great Lakes Crossing Outlets. I was convinced that I was on the right path and had made all the right decisions. When I graduated in 2011 with a 3.6 GPA, internship experience, and a solid work history, I was sure that everything was going to fall into place. Then reality hit. As much as I had been focused on planning what life was going to be, I forgot that life had its own plans and these were plans I could not control.
                As perfect as my life looked on the outside, it was anything but perfect on the inside. All of the compliments and praise that people gave me and my parents could not fix the self-destruction that I was holding onto internally. While remaining successful, at least on paper, in all of the above mentioned areas, struggles my parents had tried to address when I was younger had taken control of my life. Although undiagnosed at this time, we would learn later that I was struggling with untreated Borderline Personality Disorder and Bipolar II. The relationship that I was convinced would end in marriage had instead ended in a messy break-up. I was self-medicating and using self-harm behaviors to function in the stressful and demanding life that I had built in order to be “successful.” I was utilizing eating disorder behaviors in order obtain that “perfect” image that I was trying to obtain. Everything behind the scenes was a mess, but the outside looked successful. In my mind, I was in control of my life and I would be successful.
                When I could not find a full-time job after graduation and was instead working two part-time jobs, I considered myself to be failing. This was not what I had envisioned my life to be and this certainly was not what I had planned for. The longer I was working two jobs, the more I lost control and the less I considered myself to be successful. By the time that I landed a full-time job, I felt so defeated that suicide truly seemed like my most logical option. If I could not control my life, I did not want any part of it. When I share my story publicly, I often get asked how I could go from being so successful to considering suicide in about a year. The answer is not a simple one and it can be really hard to explain without understanding how Borderline Personality Disorder can swing you from one extreme to the other with no middle ground. You are either successful or you are not. You are either in control or you are not. People are either good or bad. You do not see yourself as a person with good and bad qualities, but instead as a person who is either good or bad. In my mind, I was bad. I was failing at life and there was no point to it anymore. I felt that, no matter how hard I tried to make the right things happen, I was letting my family down.
                It was April of 2013 when I was first confronted with the idea of focusing only on the things that I could control and letting go of the things I could not. After everything in my life had seemingly fallen apart, I ended up checking into Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center in Lemont, IL. For the first couple of weeks, I still clung to the idea that I was in control. I was the perfect resident. I ate my meals, I went to group, I told my treatment team just enough to make it seem like I was trying (only to later find out they knew all along that it was not the whole truth), and I followed all the rules on lodge. But the more people pushed me, the more I started to realize I was not the one in control anymore. Things changed when I began to realize that I had signed the majority of my freedoms away and that my treatment team was truly in control at this moment. Sure, I was an adult and I could sign myself out, but the idea of going back to having to live life seemed equally unappealing. I finally “broke” one day when I was sick of being told what I was going to eat. You see, when you check in with an eating disorder, you get assigned an eating disorder specialist. Until you are deemed well enough to begin making the decisions with them, they make the decisions. I was done with having them control what I was eating and after fighting with a worker in the dining hall one morning, I threw my tray on the floor because at that point, that somehow seemed logical. I proceeded to refuse to eat breakfast and went to my next group where I sat in the corner and cried the entire time. After the group ended, the leader of the group, Meghan, sent the other girls back to lodge. She walked over to the corner I was sitting in and sat next to me on the floor. I internally rolled my eyes thinking to myself, “Here we go, another adult who is going to try to tell me how everything is going to be ok.” I had every intention of ignoring Meghan until she just sat there in silence with a box of tissues. When I finally started to calm down, mainly out of curiosity as to why she was not trying to make me talk, I looked up at her and she simply held out the tissues. As I took one, she gave me a small smile and said, “You have a case of the fuck-its. It’s going to be ok, you don’t have to do this alone.” It has been three years and I still remember that moment and those words as if it just happened this morning. It was in that moment that Meghan turned my attention to the fact that maybe I was not going to be able to stay in control and do this alone. More importantly, maybe I did not have to. Meghan, along with my eating disorder specialist, Amy, became my rocks during the time I was at Timberline Knolls. Although my treatment team also consisted of other members, including an individual therapist, Meghan and Amy had shown me repeatedly that I could let go of control and trust others to stand with me.
                In the three months I was at Timberline Knolls, I had to learn to surrender. I had to learn to give up that control. Like a child, I had to hand everything over to the “adults” and trust that they were going steer me in the right direction. As I progressed, I was slowly given more and more of my life back. It was in these moments that I had to learn what parts I could control and what parts I needed to accept and embrace as they were. To some people, something as simple as looking in a mirror or getting dressed may not evoke feelings of fear, but for someone who is used to attempting to control the world around her, even these things can be difficult. I had to let go of my eating disorder behaviors and learn that my body was my body – it was not something I could control. I could not control the actions or reactions of those around me, instead I had to learn to control my own actions and reactions. With the help of my treatment team and the staff at Timberline Knolls, I began to learn to take responsibility for what I was able to control and work to let go of the rest, no matter how difficult that may be.
                Learning to focus on what I can control has helped me to get to where I am today. Despite hitting rock bottom, something that was out of my control at that point, I have learned to embrace the fact that the only thing I can truly control is how I move forward. As I sit here writing this, I have almost four years in recovery. Addiction and mental illnesses are not cured like strep throat or eventually clear up like the common cold – this is something I will deal with my entire life. Knowing this, I choose to embrace the fact that there are aspects I can control. I can control the fact that I take my medications as prescribed. I can control the fact that I meet with my treatment team as needed. I can control the fact that despite the fact that I work a full time job and maintain a full time course load in grad school, I must carve out time to meet weekly with my therapist and attend boxing sessions with a trainer five or six times a week in order to maintain that sense of empowerment and physical health. I can control a schedule that allows me, in the majority of situations, to maintain the meal plan that Amy helped me build and to get enough sleep to allow my mind and body to function at their best. I can control the people that I am surrounded by, the people I let into my world on a regular basis. There are still a lot of situations that I cannot control – situations that are not a result of anything personal, rather a result of living a human life. If I gave over that power, I could be easily consumed by these situations and the uncertainties of life. Instead, I choose to focus on the areas I can control, both those listed above and various others.
As I was getting ready to leave Timberline Knolls, Amy told me that no matter what happened, all that mattered is that I chose to make the next right decision. Walking out into a world of unknowns, making the next right decision in the face of whatever was thrown at me is truly the only thing I am in control of

Personal Development

Jinha Chung

I have never done any sort of physical exercise whatsoever in the last four and a half years of my life. Sports became wearisome after realizing that I was not the most athletic kid among my peers. I also gave up school work because I learned that the less effort I put in, the easier my life became. However, I have been persistently working out three hours a day, despite how much I want to give up, and I have 4.15 GPA in Arizona State University’s well-known undergraduate Business program. I would love to share my story about the power of positive thinking that raised a weak-willed teenager into a patient adult.
I used to live in Kingston, Ontario where physical activities are much more encouraged to students than any school in my home country: South Korea. I was passionate and almost egoistic about swimming and basketball, which I performed most well at among the various sports activities I often enjoyed. Consequently, I had physical advantage over my peers when I came back to South Korea. They seemed like easy opponents to me until around eighth grade when their bodies started to outgrow mine due to puberty and some of their athletic talents started to reveal as they grew. I practiced everyday to regain my superiority but every time we played a game of basketball, they stood out instead of me. I was sorrowful by the fact that I could not overcome them no matter how much I put my heart and soul into; it was meaningless. Therefore, I eventually lost interest in physical activities.
Meanwhile, my school grades dropped along with my ambition in sports. Schools in South Korea has adopted ranking system instead of letter grades like the US and every school has two main exams every semester without an exception. I started middle school strong with the midterm ranking of eighth among nearly 240 people, making into the top three percent. On the finals of that same year, I received twelfth place with significantly less effort. Hence I realized that it takes unnecessarily excessive amount of stress to achieve a higher ranking, but it does not require much effort to receive a satisfactory one. My ranking gradually dropped exam by exam. To make matters worse, emotional wounds from my peers at school overlapped, so I completely lost interest in school life. I slept through classes more and more frequently. I have even received the lowest ranking in the entire school. My pride and self-esteem were at their lowest and I even had suicidal thoughts. I assumed there was no way out of that inferior life. As a result, I became extremely pessimistic and hated the world which trapped myself under the situation.
While I was drowning in despair, a life-changing opportunity merged that I did not recognize at the time. I thought it was just an emergency exit of my miserable life, a way to escape. With the financial support from my parents, I started a new life in the US, the land of opportunity. I started going to a high school in Tucson, Arizona as a junior. It was unspeakably tough at first. I had to live on the other side of the globe where the environment is completely different, with a couple of strangers whom I had never met before. I had no choice but to accept their household, including their rules on usage of electronic devices and mealtimes. Furthermore, I was forced to adapt to the exceedingly unfamiliar school system. The school was in the form of a campus, students moved around classrooms from period to period, and the majority of school work involved electronic media. Life there was the polar opposite of what I was used to.
My first host family was a couple in their 40’s. It was uncomfortable but peaceful for the first couple of weeks. All of sudden, we received a warning letter from my exchange program agency that supervised us, mostly me. The letter stated that I was failing some of my classes and I could no longer remain in the program if I do not maintain each of my grades above C. It was a shock for me because I thought I completed everything informed during the classes. It turned out that some assignments are posted online rather than being announced by teachers in their classes. My host family got mad and restrained my freedom. They limited my usage of electronic devices and forced me to write down my daily tasks in a notebook after asking around the school to ascertain how assignments were given and what they were. I suffocated due to the pressure from my hosts and the agency. I desperately wanted to run away exactly like how I came to the country. However, I could not let that happen for the second time, knowing how much hope my parents had for me to start a new life and the amount of money they spent on the program. It was our last hope and I needed to step up my game. I decided to change my behavior, attitude, way of thinking, and consequently, my life-style. Thereafter, I started deeming school work as nutrient for my future career instead of useless burden. I confirmed the assignments with my teachers at the end of the classes respectively and checked the assignment website daily. I studied for quizzes and exams and prepared for projects. As a result, my grades successfully improved to As. It was arduous but definitely satisfactory and worthy. I remembered what it was like to give something my best and to think positively.
I attended another year of high school in the US as a senior with a different agency, two years in total. Homestay still was not easy even after reconstructing my work ethics; I encountered conflicts outside of school regarding to the host families. Since I was the one living off them, it was unquestionable that I had to be the one to adjust. However, my first agency handled the documents poorly, so I had to change my host family three times, living in five different households over two years. I was to follow a few new overly strict rules, from my perspective, by the host families every time I moved into another household. For instance, one of them required me to stay in my room after a certain time at night and another expected me to watch television shows in the living room before going to bed; these are just the tip of the iceberg. Also, the host families and each of the members’ characteristics varied. I was left with no choice but to adjust myself to each personality, some of them too different from me and the others less. There were numerous times that I wanted to give up. I missed my family, friends, and culture. Nevertheless, I endured by opposing the weakening thoughts with positivity and persistently went on my way. In the end, I was able to put on my cap and gown and return home proudly with unforgettable memories.
Currently, I am attending W.P.Carey School of Business of Arizona State University, one of the most reputable business undergraduate program in the US. I do not give up easily anymore due to the worthwhile experience. I am steadily and incrementally working towards my dream of being in the field of business and living a happy life. This is the power of positive thinking that flipped my life from torment to aspiration.

Focusing On Things You Can Control

Quimirr Heyward
​​
         Now as hard as it to admit, this very important law to follow in life didn't come as easy to me. In fact, I'm still working on it. Throughout my childhood, I was constantly placed into these circumstances where there are multiple things that are just wrong, and things that a child should not have to go through. To name just a few, there were times when we had no place to live, the lights were cut off, and my mom lacked the financial means to properly take care of four kids on her own. I was the only male in the house, and I am the oldest of four siblings. Even though I was still a young child, for some reason I naturally felt like there were things that I, just a little boy at the time, had the responsibility to do. As unrealistic as it sounds, these “responsibilities” ranged from me wanting to help my mom out with bills, make sure we had a place to live, and helping to raise my little sisters. For obvious reasons I couldn't do these things, so when it came apparent to me, I used to feel helpless, and a false sense of guilt as if I failed my mother and sisters and let them down. This false feeling of guilt, shame, and pain carried all the way into my teenage years. Instead of putting all of my focus on school, athletics, and other activities that the average teenager should enjoy, I was always worried about problems I had no control over. Amongst my worries were things like my young sisters who didn't live with me anymore at the time, was my mom going to mess up and lose the house, and what were steps my mother was taking to ensure that the bills were paid, and other things of that nature. I was so worried about circumstances I had no control over, and the life of others, that I started to lose track of my own. Of course it's easy to say, “Hey! don't worry about that because you can't change it”, but when it's your immediate family it's very difficult to think like that at such a young age. Because of this, I oftentimes felt depressed and lonely because, I was constantly worrying about situations I completely had no control over. I was done with having this feeling of hopelessness, so I started to search for the answers of how to combat these issues in my life. Around my senior year when I started reading books like, “The 48 Laws of Power”, and started talking to very knowledgeable people, I learned about the power of concentrating one's forces on the direct things that are in front of you, and the things that are ultimately in your control. I learned that when you apply your energy to the problems that you can control, you have a tighter grip on life and the circumstances around you. At first, the idea of turning my back on my mother and sisters draped over me. This in itself was hard to deal with because, I know the feeling of being left behind, and the last people I would've wanted to transfer that feeling to was my loved ones. As tough as it was, I eventually realized I had to get over this thought, and constantly worked on concentrating on the circumstances I could control. I would immerse myself in the simple things like making sure my schoolwork was done, and maintaining a job to support my needs. I wasn't living with my mother at the time. There were times where I forcibly had to stop keeping communication with her because, I knew there was always bad news, and I didn't want to throw myself off track by getting too worried and emotional about things that were out of my grasp. After months and months of doing this, I noticed that my life started to make positive changes. My grades improved, I started making new friends, became happier, and got accepted into college. Applying the important principle of focusing on the problems that I could control was tremendously a factor in all of this. It taught me the important concept that although we can't control others, we have the power to control our own lives, and to live prosperous. Learning and applying this lesson continues to be very important to me because, there are still problems to this day that I just can't do too much about. Instead of risking losing my focus by trying to intervene with other people's problems, and leaving myself frustrated, I am still learning that it's best to simply just give my advice, and leave it up to God to do the rest. This keeps me focused on what I need to do, and the problems that I have to solve myself. Due to the fact that I am currently a college student, I have to be extremely focused on my schoolwork and the multitude of tasks at hand. I don't have much support to fall back on, so I work hard to strategically eliminate any distractions that have the potential to slow me down, and throw me off track, even if it's my own family. I learned that when I focus very hard on the situations that are in front of me and in my control, I feel more in control, because I am! The law of focusing on things that I can control literally saved my life. I went from feeling sorry about myself, to being one of the first people in my family to attend college, and be in the Honors Society! Although there are still situations within my family I would give anything to change, I know that I can't worry about them because I simply don't have the power to change them. This law of concentrating your forces,  and focusing on things you can control, is a vital law to follow, and I plan to apply and teach this as long as I live.

Positive Thinking & The Ability to Walk

Melissa Hunt

​It’s something people always say in bad situations: “Just think positively!” This isn’t always met with a positive response however, but there is truth behind it. I have witnessed first-hand how the power of positive thinking can have positive impact on myself and the lives of others. In order to accurately express the extent to which positive thinking can affect and individual, I will tell the story of how I learned to walk for the second time.
                Beginning with my early days as an infant waddling around the house, I always walked on my toes. At first it was cute, or so says my mother, but it grew old fast. Soon enough I was twelve years old and it was causing me some pain. I was put in casts for six weeks, but they were glow in the dark so I didn’t mind them. Those helped for years, but eventually the pain came back and quickly got worse. When I was 19 I saw a specialist who determined that my Achilles tendons were too short to walk normally. And as an added bonus, those short tendons had been rubbing on my heels for years and caused a Haglund deformity. Put simply, my x-ray looked like I had two huge spikes coming out the back of my heels.
                The pain that resulted from this is hard to explain, and I wouldn’t want anyone to understand how painful it was. After a day of work my ankles would be so swollen from the constant rubbing on the spikes that I could barely even take off my shoes without crying out in pain. In the weeks leading up to the surgery, it got so bad that I couldn’t put any weight on my feet at all and they were stuck in the pointed position. I couldn’t move my ankle even if I forced it. This forced me to resort to crawling on my hands and knees around my house on the days leading up to the surgery.
                As soon as school was out for the summer I went under the knife to correct the issue. And by “correct the issue,” I mean my doctor would use a bone saw to cut off the spikes on my heels, and he would make small cuts in my Achilles tendon to lengthen it. This was a difficult thing for me to wrap my head around. It is my intention to become a doctor one day, so I kept watching videos of the surgery to prepare myself. No matter how much I did to prepare myself, it didn’t help. When I woke up, I wouldn’t be able to walk for weeks. Weeks! When it came time for the surgery that was all I could think about. When I woke up I wouldn’t be able to walk.
                When I woke up, I was confused. For a moment I thought I was going to be late for school. When I could finally lift my eyelids, I saw my legs and my heart sank. I would’ve much rather have been late to school than wake up in the hospital. The next two weeks were something that I will never forget. I couldn’t do anything by myself. It’s hard to imagine life without the use of your legs until you actually lose that ability.
                Everyday tasks became a nightmare, especially because there were places my wheelchair couldn’t fit. This became my main motivating force to get my strength back, and to heal quickly. When my wheelchair wouldn’t fit into the pantry I wouldn’t let it get to me. All those times I needed help changing my clothes I would only think of the positives. The whole time I was struggling to do basic daily tasks I was thinking that it was only temporary. That soon enough my strength would come back and I’d be able to get dressed by myself and be able to put on shoes or whatever else I wanted to do!
                I know that this positive thinking helped, because at two weeks I got rid of my wheelchair and relied on the use of crutches, along with my heavy and protective walking boots. Every day I made improvements. My mother called them small improvements, but to me they were huge. One of the biggest accomplishments was to be able to walk to my dresser and change my clothes all by myself. After 6 weeks I could finally wear shoes again, and I felt I was able to go back to work doing three hour shifts. Now, six months after my life changing surgery, I can walk better than I ever was able to before and with no pain at all.
                I took my time healing and getting my strength back. I did everything I was told to do. I went to physical therapy two times a week for 4 months. I did my exercises and took it easy at work. I did everything like I was told to do. In my own opinion, keeping a positive attitude and injecting my thoughts with positivity was essential to my recovery. I know I never would’ve been able to learn how to walk again if I kept telling myself I wouldn’t be able to. The same could be said for anyone in whatever situation they may find themselves in. Thinking negatively will not ever accomplish anything. In order to accomplish your dreams and reach your goals, you need to believe that you can. Positive thinking is the first step in achieving this

A Brighter Future

Eulitta Langley

Becoming tearful for me these past few years has evolved into something normal. So to read the prompts for the essay submission for this scholarship, it was no exception to the feeling. Having so many emotions and reasons to be grateful made the choice of what to disclose to the organization a difficult one. But since I am only asked to discuss one topic, that topic will be my focus on positive thinking.
This past November marked the four year anniversary of the death of my mother. That same year, only three months prior to, I gave birth to my beautiful and happy baby girl. These two events met me with such bittersweet confusion. I was utterly negative and depressed mostly because I had spent all of my life taking care of my mother who was often not able to do for herself or for my brother and I. From the time I was able to pull up a stepping stool to the counter tops in the kitchen, I was washing dishes, cooking and cleaning and doing laundry. This was my place of normalcy and essentially all that I knew how to do. I was good at taking care of people and the homes that we had despite the fact that sometimes they were less than inhabitable by many standards. But I made it through all of my schooling while juggling all that life threw at me. However I did not always do this with a positive attitude. My predominant attitude was the question of why is this all happening to me. I could not rationalize why I couldn’t participate in any extracurricular activities or why I wasn’t able to attend sleepovers and parties. I was salty about having to miss school somedays because my Mom was in the hospital and I had to sit there with her all of the time because my Grandmother couldn’t afford the gas money to make multiple trips between the two separate cities in which we lived. Negative thoughts consumed me and this took a major toll on my mental and physical being.
Even after high school, after being accepted to several different colleges of which I only had to choose, I made the decision to stick around and take care of my family. This ultimately ended up being one of the most controversial decisions that I have made thus far. I say this because life would have probably taken a much more different turn had I completed my degree earlier. But instead, I enrolled in community college, took on a job and just a few months after that my Dad left us and divorced my Mom. This was basically the end of her. That year in 2006, I withdrew from school, took on two more jobs and became the sole caretakers and head of household for my Mom, brother and myself at 19 years old. This broke her heart because she knew my ambitions and thought with all of her heart and soul that I deserved everything that I sought and much more. But their wellbeing was a priority for me. In my mind everything else could and would have to wait.
Years went by and my attitude was still about the same, wondering why life for me had turned out the way that it had. I attempted to go back to school online in 2010 and wasn’t able to keep up with the demand of working two jobs and juggling the commitment of school work. At that time, I had just came to terms with the fact that I would have to market my skills and experience in the workforce in order to excel to the highest paying career that I could without a degree. Then in November 2011 I found out that I would soon become a Mom myself. There is no way to explain in written word how much of an impact that this had on my outlook for the future. Because at that one moment, it was no longer my future, but would be my unborn child’s as well. My pregnancy was a difficult one full of financial and personal stress, but in June of 2012 I welcomed my lifeline into the world and had decided that she will have the best that I can give her but it would have to start with me bettering myself. My every thought from the moment was not ‘why is this happening’, but in turn ‘what can I do to make this happen’? How can I make things better? What can I do now to set a solid foundation for a better future.
I researched schools when I was able, but being a new Mom was different than taking care of my brother and Mother so there was an adjustment period for me that took time. But in that time and by November 2012, I watched my Mom take her last breath. My daughter was only 4 months old and I had lost one of the biggest chunks of my heart. Had I not had my daughter, I don’t think that I would have continued on living. But I knew that my Mom would’ve wanted me to strive so that it what I did that following January when I enrolled to complete the degree that I had started. Motivated by the precious life of my daughter and by the memory of my Mother, I changed my negative into positive and completed an Associate’s degree in 18 months while working and being the best Mommy that I could be and I have no desire to slow down now.
It is for these reasons that I have written this short explanation of my life over the last few years in hopes that it will grant me the extra help that I need to continue on to complete the education necessary to pave the way for a brighter future. I want to be an inspiration to others while making my baby proud and feel beams from above from my Mother when I reach the goals that I set out to accomplish while jumping the many hurdles that life dealt.

The Power of a Wonderful Setback

Taylor Casey
​ASU

One component that shapes your identity is one’s past experiences, as I have been taught in my COM 191 course here at Arizona State University. Being 1 of 40,000 people diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes each year, according to JDRF, my life had to adjust to new changes. Being diabetic, I now have to watch the things that I chose to consume. Counting carbs and taking insulin was my new lifeline. Fortunately, learning the functions of nutrition granted me knowledge of not only diabetes, but other autoimmune diseases I possess such as Celiac and Lactose intolerance.
I am not in control of all of the things that happen to me in my life. It was certainly not my choice to inherit Celiac disease and soon contract Type 1 Diabetes while becoming lactose intolerant along the way, but, I certainly wouldn’t change it. Although they have not been the easiest obstacles to overcome, I accepted them because I cannot change it. The health issues I have received have shaped the person I am today. It has transformed my knowledge, my strength, my love for myself and other people in such an extraordinary course.
My conditions allow me to reach out and connect with people who are similar to myself. The knowledge that I have gained from taking care of my own body has found me in situations where I am teaching the community what these diseases are and creating awareness. I will always be grateful for those I’ve met who have shown me incredible insight to life and how to appreciate it to the fullest. Most importantly, I learned a great deal about myself through the process.
A rare side effect of Type 1 is hair loss. About a month into my new diagnosis, around 80% of my hair fled my head due to reintroduction of insulin, my junior year of high school. Being an adolescent with this symptom of hair loss soon took a toll on my self confidence. The pain I had felt lead me further away from myself, God, family and friends. A few months into this unexpected aftermath, I had enough of shaming myself for my appearance. I then had a realization that has altered the dreary mindset I was stuck in. I can not control the things that happen to me but I can control the way I handle it. I decided to enter a world that would make the life I live a happy one. I saw beauty just the way I was. I allowed my thoughts to bring upon positive notes about myself and it has changed everything. Not only did I learn to love how I was created, but I was also able to love others unconditionally, because my life is not all about me. It is about what I can do to serve others and love our neighbors with no strings attached.
Once I entered this new mindset, grace was brought upon me. I believe that when somebody begins to think positively on the things they cannot change in their life, the world becomes attracted to those ideas in one’s head, bringing forth delightful events. Only a few months later, hair clips were introduced to me. I was gifted with confidence boosters, and everything was falling into place. My world was drastically changing. The way I reestablished love in my life for myself reflects how I love other people. I was able to become a good friend. Now genuinely caring about others, and forgiving generously. Being diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes strengthened my soul. That then delivered a person whom was found in self appreciation and a reliable shoulder to cry on. I was portraying warmth and friendliness even to strangers. This event that happened to me in 2014, will forever shape me and who I am in the best way possible for the rest of my existence, and I couldn’t be more grateful. I will use what I have learned from my circumstances to better my outlook on the world everyday. My goals in life are to be genuinely happy, to love my neighbors with no strings attached, to do what is true, what is right, follow God and provide grace. I believe while trying to attain these goals, it will bring me to places I could not even dream of. I know it will take me exactly where I need to be in this world, and while doing so, also, spreading love every step of the way.

Personal Statement

Fu Danning

​My father, a graduate who has a keen interest in accounting, has made a profound effect on me, especially on my future career choice. Exactly, my great passion and love for accounting were inseparable from the painstaking cultivation and remorseless enlighten of my father from an early stage. Although he was gone a few years ago, my career goal-to be a competent accounting expert who will play an important role in making strategic decisions and booming the whole company was never wavered, instead, I strengthened my faith and have made up my mind to try my best to obtain this goal.
 
Having been fully aware that to fulfill my career plan surely requires decent academic knowledge and skills. So, I never waste any precious time during university. Now, I am a senior student majoring in Accounting at Nanjing Audit University, a well-known university in Jiangsu Province with an aim to foster comprehensive talents conforming to the requirement of era development. And there, I have been exposed systematically to concepts and theories of accounting. I obtained an overall GPA of 3.5, which not only on account of my sensitivity to figures and my talent at mathematics, but also in virtue of my diligence and endeavor.
 
It seems to me that Accounting and Finance are two closely related and cross subjects. Thus, although an accounting major, I have taken most of the courses in the Finance Department. I was also deeply aware that to be successful in a complicated economic environment required professional knowledge not only in finance, but also in accounting, economics, marketing, management, etc. So, in my spare time, I often read books in related to these subjects. Studying industriously, I earned such certificates as Accountant’s Practice Qualification Certificate, Securities Business Qualification Certificate and Fund Qualification Certificate.
 
What’s more, I managed to publish three academic essays while I was still an undergraduate student, something highly unusual in China. One paper titled “A research on cost management of enterprise resource planning” on Financial Community, one paper named “SWOT analysis of network loan” on China Journal of Commerce, and another paper, “Case study of the effects of audit committee on listed company” was adopted by Modern Business. Of course, resoundingly publishing these essays partly because I consulted a great deal of literature and datum and seek help from my professors, but also due to my solid knowledge accumulation. I like to delve into difficult questions and I am a person with strong views and unique ideas. Several of my professors once talked about how inspiring my ideas as well as questions proposed to their own researches. Now, I grasp the ability to do research independently and prudently, which I strongly believe will contribute to my future research. However, these are not enough for a girl who intends to make a difference in the field of accounting. I profoundly realize that I have to improve and progress a lot, moreover, I am of great necessity to obtain hands-on experience, rather than being content with just performing well in academic achievements.
 
Therefore, I did not hesitate in choosing to join in companies and thus put what have learned from books into practice on vacations. I once took a job in Jiangsu Taizhou RCB Co., Ltd as an account manager assistant, and worked as an audit assistant at Jiangsu Zhongxing Certificated Public Accountants. Also, being a financial assistant, I served in The People’s Insurance Company (Group) of China, Taizhou Branch. In addition, another internship in Taizhou Branch of Huatai Securities I must mention here, since I harvested a lot. During the period of one year, I worked here as a part-time stock broker, and I was mainly responsible for helping the manager handle big customer financial services work. I learned how to sale the financial products and guide customers to buy financial products as experience accumulated, more than that I enhanced team work ability and became acquainted with many talented friends. And it was precisely this internship that brought me great pleasure and thus strengthened my determination to pursue a graduate program.
 
In addition to the work and study, I think everyone should make full use of their time to do something valuable. Throwing myself into volunteer activities has always been my pursuit. In the hope of contributing my little efforts to the Global Community Development Program run by AIESEC Mainland of China, I gave up the plan for a trip to Yunnan, a famous historical city in China, with no regret. Our destination was to Adana, Turkey. During nearly one month, I mainly taught the local youth mathematics and Chinese culture. There, we volunteers from all over the world communicated with the local students and guided them to hold the culture exhibition. Even in this short time, I gained many friendships, reaped much joy, obtained a great feeling of satisfaction, raised the adaptive capacity and broadened the horizons that laid a basis on my further study in USA. Besides, an idea occurred to me that I hope to build a school in remote region some day, to help someone in need.
 
I am convinced that the academic foundation I have laid in both theoretical frameworks and practical skills will help make me a competent student in my proposed studies. I am very eager to further my study in your program, for your leading position in the field of accountancy. Under the guidance of your distinguished faculty and with the benefit of your remarkable research facilities, I firmly believe that I can give full play to my potential and realize my career goal.

Focusing on Things You Can Control

Nicky Stevens
​ASU

    I am currently an ASU West Graduate student; I appreciate the opportunity to share my story with you.
     My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was just 23 years old and was told at that time she only had less than 6 months to live.  At that time, I didn’t really believe she could be taken from us so fast; we had not gotten to do all the things we said we were going to do together. I felt it wasn’t fair, my son was still so young and didn’t have much time to spend with his grandma and what about his entire firsts that she would miss now? How could this happen to our family? So my mom and I started to make a to-do list aka a bucket list.  We said lets go to Disneyland, Las Vegas, etc. but we still felt there was still so much more things we wanted to do and not enough time.
       So we started focusing on the things we could control, like living in the here and now, what love could we show one another and those around us. We began with using the time we had to help others in our community; we started with the homeless which has now become my passion and my profession. My mom would go to McDonalds and buy sandwiches and coffee for those who were hungry and cold. She would buy discounted toys and drop them off at family shelters. We were just grateful for the time we had together and what we could do today to make a positive impact on someone’s life.  Because you may not be here tomorrow to see it but you can live in the here and now and enjoy the impact of making someone smile from a just small act of kindness. We learned to be grateful for the small moments we had together and not be angry for the little time we had left together. We found that the more we focused on the positive the more positive things started to happen. It was like what were on a journey of healing together, not only a healing of my mom’s body but a healing of our heartache. My mom would go through radiation treatment which made her extremely ill and she lost all of her teeth, then she lost some of her hair, then she would be in and out of the hospital with pneumonia where the doctors said she may not make it through the night but somehow she would make it out of the hospital and home with us again.  She would still be so grateful and positive and say, “God says I still have work to do!”  My mother would eventually have to get a feeding tube and I was her sole care giver and during the time it was difficult because my mom could no longer enjoy foods like she used to. Food was something we really enjoyed as family so this was a difficult for all of us. But I just remember my mom staying positive and joking “now I might be able to lose some weight”. In the following years my mother got progressively worse and on my sisters birthday she passed away. Doctors told us she would only have 6 months to live but I think her positive attitude and gratitude of her life kept her with us much longer. She was never angry or bitter; she said I am going to live in the here and now and enjoy every moment of her life. I don’t remember feeling extremely sad the day that she passed on. I felt I that I had done the grieving with her for so long and we had a wonderful time together on her journey. I knew that it was my turn to keep her traditions of positivity, generosity and gratitude going. This was a chance for me to share her teachings with the world and pass on all of her positivity and strength to my son and to all those who needed it around me.  One of the most powerful things said to me after my mom passed away was, “Nicky you would come to work every day with a smile on your face and positive attitude and I didn’t know you were going through all of this”. Those words have stuck with me all of these years and I always remember just because you are going through a lot of pain doesn’t mean you have to make everyone else go through it with you. That is what my mom taught me, strength and optimism in the face of death! What does it mean to truly live? What you put into others’ lives comes back to you in many ways. I wanted the world to know mom existed that her attitude of gratitude lived on not only in me but in my son. My son has definitely inherited my mother’s positive spirit, as a young man now who works with the homeless and I am overwhelmed by the words I hear about his grateful spirit and positive attitude, he is the true embodiment of the law of attraction. He puts out so much love to the people experiencing homelessness and it comes back to him in ways that words cannot express.  I know that is my mother still with us making a positive impact in this world through us by giving hope to so many souls who may have lost theirs. Families who sleep on our streets need to see the face of positivity and generosity so they don’t feel forgotten. This is one of the noblest jobs we can do, to bring hope to those who may have lost their way. Much like the hope my mother gave to me in the face of tragedy, my son is now giving this to so many others. 

Focusing on Things You Can Control

Joelle Dykstra

​​If you are alive, there are things that you will never be able to control. As a child, you are probably used to this fact to some degree. You are told when to go to sleep, when to wake up, when to play and when to clean and when to eat. As you get older, the desire to control the happenings in your life increases. You want to be able to say when it’s time to sleep, eat, and play. But, it seems the more you try to control everything, the more everything controls you instead. There will always be something that pops up unexpectedly, making you lose control over certain aspects of your life. For me and my family, this unexpected pop up was my older brother’s heroin addiction.
                My brother was a destructive force within our family. He severely disrupted any control we had over our daily lives. If I was home, I was constantly worried about the people my brother was bringing into my home. I was stressing over what he was doing in the room beside mine. He was constantly pestering me about giving him money or driving him to a friend or buying him something, and when I didn’t, I would be subjected to screaming in my face, accusations, and name-calling. I was reluctant to say much of anything around the other members of my family because I did not want to mention the agony that everyone knew was already there. If I was at school during this time, I was thinking about whether I would come home to a ransacked house, if all my possessions would still be where I had left them or if they were currently on their way to a pawn shop. I would worry about my mother more than anyone or anything else. Ultimately, I became an extremely reserved and nervous person. My grades in school and my well-being were suffering.
                My sophomore year in high school was the peak of all the problems, the things I could not control were controlling me. I had started to get sick more frequently, and I had come to realize that talking to people was as hard as quantum physics in my mind. I decided that I needed to focus on the things that I could control. I had to put all of my attention into what I needed to accomplish in order to better myself, instead of putting my attention on chains locking my feet in place. To do this, I made a simple list. First on my list was to get rid of my fear of speaking to other people, next on my list was to achieve a higher standing in my academic status, and third was to stand up for myself to my brother and ensure that he did not have any power over me. Once my list was made, I went straight to work.
                To become comfortable around others, I decided that I should become a leader on my campus and join the student council. I went out for a position where I did not have to make a speech to the whole campus, but rather just to the selection committee within the current student council. While I gave my speech to this small panel of peers, I was shaking almost uncontrollably, I was sweating like a pig, and I stammered on almost every other word. To my surprise, they selected me for the position. Throughout that year, I became more and more at ease with speaking to others. I eventually went on to become student body president my senior year, and I made the most speeches to a 3,500-student body than any other student on campus. My fear of speaking to others is still relevant in my daily life, but I took control of the fear and turned it into an adrenaline rush.
                The next thing I decided to focus on was the number of honors courses I was taking and pushing my grade point average higher than it had ever been before. In high school, I had a hard time maintaining a 3.5 grade point average because I was involved in so many extracurricular activities. I decided that I needed to control the amount of time I was dedicating to my studies. I started setting strict schedules for when and how long I would do each of my homework assignments, my planner became my best friend. By focusing on the time and effort I was putting into my studies, I successfully completed multiple honors courses, graduated high school with some college credit, and raised my grade point average. I ended up graduating with a grade point average that was .03 points away from a 3.5, but I could not have been more proud of the work I had done to get to that point.
                At home, I decided to focus on the one thing I could control in all the madness; my attitude towards facing my brother and the situation I was in. I would repeat positive mantras in my head each morning. I would look at my bed, at the food in my pantry, and I would remind myself how lucky I was. I would look to my mother and tell her how much I appreciated all she did for me. I told myself that even though I am going through a rough time with my brother, even though I can’t control his actions and his attitude, I can still choose to be happy. And so, I became happy. I stood up for myself in the face of his blaming and aggression. I found strategic ways to hide my possessions so that he may never have to chance to sell them. I refused to give him money, to assist him in any way that would harm him even if that meant being subjected to his mind games. I was in control of myself and he in no way could manipulate me.
                Through all this, I learned that it is vital to focus on what I can control as opposed to consistently worrying about the things that I will never have any influence over. My brother was set on a path that he had no plans of straying from, even if it harmed myself and my family. I was unable to control him and his actions, but I found I could control the way I reacted to them. Putting all of my attention on bettering myself instead of what was holding me back eventually allowed me to become the successful college student that I am today. I am a happier, healthier, and more comfortable in my own skin and with my own accomplishments because I decide each day to put my time and energy in what I can control. 

Having an Attitude of Gratitude

Ivan Barksdale

​I went through a lot of hardships all throughout my life. I either learned the easy way or the hard way. Life wasn't easy in certain periods of my life. However, I prevailed and overcame the challenges that came my way. My family suffered financially for a short period of time. Our lives were not in sync and nothing was together. At this point in time, it was only me, my mother, and my father. My brother wasn't born until a few years later. I was only about nine or ten years old at the time and I had absolutely no idea what was going on in my family. My mother always told me each and every day to focus on my school work and maintain good grades. I did just like she told me and It resulted in success. My mother and father had to find a temporary home for us to live in for the time being since we didn't have necessary funds to pay for our previous house. Years later, my brother was born and my mother and father had to make ends meet in order for him to fit in the family. Realistically, we were struggling and needed financial support, but we had each other and that was most important. Likewise, my point is that I endured a lot in my life. I always want what is best for my family and getting a college education is a goal for me in order to make my mother and father proud. I strive to make myself a better future and investing in my education will help me pave my way towards where I want to go.
            Currently, I am majoring in business management at Kennesaw State University. Some students will assume that college is a waste of time because you will be placed in debt before you even head out into the real world. I will admit that college does have its pros and cons. Assuming College to be a waste of time and money, is very prejudge mental. You can’t assume the worse about college if you haven’t experienced it firsthand.  Most colleges are very welcoming. The faculty and staff are there to comfort you. You may also use them to help further your future endeavors. It will get stressful at certain times during your college career. However, those days of struggles and adversities only make you stronger. Some students, in those times of adversity, will give up and decide to dropout. Only the strongest survive in college. You can consider that a waste of money if you decide to dropout. In my opinion, if you are so stressed in college and you decide to stoop so low that you decide to dropout. Then, you are in the wrong place. College is not for you if you allow it to get the best of you. Whatever it is that you hope to accomplish in life, it will be pushed back even further because you decided to waste your time in college. Besides that, college is a prime time to meet new peers and learn life lessons. In my opinion, the process is more important than the final product. The journey that you endure now, it is only the beginning when you start college. That being said, I highly recommend you to go to college. Any other alternative besides college is a long shot and will not come with significant benefits. Whatever is to be your destined path will be a foggy road at first, but keep persevering and sooner or later that road will become clear.
            I have plenty of short and long-term goals, but there are only a few that stand out from the rest. I am truly blessed to be given opportunities to achieve each and every goal. Most importantly, those goals are what drive me each and every day to become the best I can be. I strive to become an entrepreneur and play basketball professionally. On top of being an entrepreneur, one of my goals, I hope to construct my very own Fortune 500 Company. I am willing to learn from the best who are already successful in the business. One of those successors, Michael Jordan, one of the very best in the world of basketball and business, He built the Jordan brand from scratch, beginning when he came out of North Carolina University to the Chicago Bulls. He is a legend when it comes to branding and sneakers. One day I hope to become as great he was. Each and every day, I strive to become the best I can be through God's wisdom and guidance.
 
            I have many dreams and aspirations. These dreams and aspirations are my very being and define who I am. I consider my goals to be very broad. Others may consider my goals impossible to achieve. Despite, others not being able to comprehend my future the way I do, it doesn’t justify my purpose because they don’t understand where I vision myself in ten or twenty years. All that is important is that I realize my true potential and live out my future goals and aspirations. All throughout my lifetime, I constantly changed my goals. I could never seem to stick to one set of goals and I didn’t have a true passion at the time. Transitioning from high school up to college allowed me to discover what my true passion was. I was flying “blinded” for many years, unable to find my true path to greatness. Many words of wisdom from family, friends, and peers allowed me to come to a conscious decision. I’ve decided to pursue a career as an entrepreneur and have ownership of an NBA franchise.  In order for me to accomplish this milestone, I will gain enough profit from my shoe brand and clothing brand company and use that money towards purchasing an NBA franchise . I feel like this was more of a spiritual decision from the most high rather than my very own decision. I believe in God and I believe that he would want nothing but the best for me. I have total faith in this decision.

Focusing On What You Can Control

Abbey Schroeder

​The current attitude of the present is to focus on struggles and who to blame. Everyone is entitled to a happy life were hard work is rewarded and nothing bad happens to good people, right? For some people, the answer to this question is accompanied by a brief chuckle and a, “I wish,” or, “So you could hope.” That was my mindset for a period of my life, but now I can happily respond with a firm, “Yes.” It is hard to practice an optimistic mindset with without a definitive strategy. This strategy would have to be one worthy to stand against some of life’s greatest struggles. The mindset that prevails with the best strategy to combat this is focusing on what you can control.
            From a very young age I have been called upon to sidestep the common joys of childhood and rise to the occasion with a mature attitude. My first attempt at this was when I was 10 years old. My mother was diagnosed with Breast Cancer, following in suit with the past women of my family. This was a daunting reality none of us could hide from, but rather together we could help my mom fight. Throughout extensive radiation and chemo treatment, we each played our part in the constant fight. My father was always there to face the real world dilemmas of adult emotional support, to help keep a rational perspective on the matter, and to be the glue that held our family together. My sister was able to be the diligent helper in assisting me with picking up the extra work around the house while my parents dealt with other matters. I, picking up my fair share of work, also focused on keeping up the personnel of my family. Whether that was filling the room with laughter at my ridiculous jokes, offering an optimistic outlook, or distracting my family with humorous stories from school. Together, my family got through our first hurdle together.
            I would be lying if I didn’t say we had help from others, focusing on things that we couldn’t control. My mother acknowledged the fact that she couldn’t control how my sister and I, both being so young, would handle her sickness. During one of her trips to the hospital, she fell upon a flyer for Camp Kesem, a nonprofit organization run by college students that put on a summer camp to help children through and beyond their parent’s cancer. She immediately researched the program and signed us up. This seemed to me, at first, a scary overnight camp that would take me out of being able to help my mom at home for a whole week. In a world where cancer has a mind of its own, a whole lot can happen in a week, I worriedly thought to myself, and was extremely reluctant at first. Using my optimistic attitude though, I tried my best to be open to this new experience.
            Words cannot describe how much this seemingly foreign, scary camp has given me. I have since grown immensely from that first year of camp, having attended for nine years. Not only has it helped me to better face whatever life seems to threw my family’s way, but also it has helped me to assist my friends with whatever life throws their way. Throughout my life, I have been able to successfully help my friends get through depression, abusive relationships, eating disorders, self-harm, sexual assault, and more. Attending this camp, I was armed with what I needed to face all that life had to face me with, and know I could prevail the guidance of my new Kesem family. This was an essential in creating a much needed foundation in learning how to focus on what I could control, and what I couldn’t.
            My family fought very hard and together breathed a sigh of relief when finding out about my mother being a survivor in remission from the claws of cancer. This first hurdle was just a warm up for the future though as during my Freshman year of High School, my mom started to grow sick again. A new illness rapidly took hold of my mom, reducing a once strong cancer survivor to a fragile, weak woman. Similar to the attack of cancer cells, my mother’s white blood cells were destroying her muscles, reducing her to having to use a walker. This autoimmune disease was the first of many to cripple my mother over my High School career. Going through the basic struggles of High School is hard enough without adding the qualification of being the new adult at home to cook, clean, delegate, and keep up the family personnel. The most aggravating reality was that nothing I could do would directly heal the sickness my mother was, on some occasions, hospitalized for or cure her of ailments facing her. This reality was unacceptable for someone like me who is fundamentally pragmatic when facing issues.
            Learning the lesson of controlling what I could from my counselors at Camp Kesem, helped put my pragmatic mindset to good use. I became the backbone of my family, assisting in anything I could to take the load of my mother. As my mother got stronger, my family looked strong in rounding the curve of my mother’s diseases. Now being a Freshman in college, I am actively a part of the same Camp Kesem that has taught me so much in tackling life’s greatest challenges. I have been able to actively help teach the successful strategy of focusing on what you can control to people also facing seemingly unmanageable situations.

The Power of Positive Thinking

Maria Scott

​The year was 1963, that summer on August 16th my mother turned 12 years old and three weeks later on September 7th she gave birth to me. Just a child herself, my mother was in not prepared for motherhood. A few weeks before I was born my mother tried to commit suicide, fearing that my grandparents would rip me away from her at birth, and she was right. I was placed into foster care and my grandparents put my mother in a Catholic girl’s school for wayward girls. My father who was ten years my mother’s senior was charged with statutory rape. He was convicted and sent to Sing Sing, a maximum security prison in upstate New York.
            When I was five years old and my mother was seventeen she married and I was placed into her custody.  Although she was my mother, she was a stranger to me. I was ripped away from the only family I had ever known. Life with my mother was tough, by the time she was 19 my mother had a husband and three children. That was a lot to take on at such a young age and soon after my baby brother was born and she divorced my stepfather the effects of her life began to show. She never forgave my grandmother for sending us both away and when she was just five years old I found out that my mother was molested by a family member. My mother became an alcoholic and a drug user and life for me took a turn for the worst.
            I was abused physically and sexually on more than one occasion. My mother continued to party, drink and use drugs and make unhealthy choices in her life that always ended up affecting me and there was nothing I could do about it. I had never met my father and my mother was all I had. I survived my childhood and in the 12th grade I got pregnant with my first child. That changed everything. Although I had grown up without the proper love and guidance I knew that I wanted different for my child and I was determined to show my child love, understanding, patience and most of all protection.
            I never understood why my mother never faced her demons but what I did understand was that because she never faced them they continued to have power over her life. I was determined to live a positive healthy life and to raise my children in a positive healthy environment. As soon as I gave birth to my first child at the age of 19, I moved out of my mother’s house. I worked hard every day to instill morals into my children. I taught them about the power of education and hard work and I would always love and support them. I have had my share of challenges in this life but I have also seen some victories. I have raised five beautiful children and I am the proud grandmother of 8.
            In 2011 we buried my 5-month-old grandson who passed away from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome while at my home. A month later on Thanksgiving day I found out about my husband’s infidelity. My children were very worried about me but what they seemed to have forgotten was that I had faced many traumatic circumstances in my life. There is no pain in this world that God can not heal. In April 2013 three days after my divorce was final and at the age of 50, I decided to go back to school and finish my degree. I am currently a senior at the University of Central Florida. I have a GPA of 3.8. My major is Sociology and I have a minor in Non-Profit Management. My children are a constant encouragement to me not only with their words but by the mere fact that I want them to see that no matter what life throws your way you can always get up, brush yourself off and push forward in a positive way.
            My life’s dream is to help families and to share some of the wisdom and lessons I have learned on my journey. To give families like mine, who have faced challenges and circumstances beyond their control the support to grab a hold of each other and keep on moving forward. My plans are to graduate from UCF with my undergraduate degree in Sociology in December 2017. I will then apply to grad school and pursue a master’s degree in Non-Profit Management. I plan to start a non-profit 501C3 called The Family Center which will support families and the challenges they face in today’s society.
            I will first conduct an analysis of the community in which my organization will be serving using a GIS (Geographical Information System). I will then develop maps that will highlight the needs of the community. Then I will work with families, businesses, community leaders and educators in that community to develop programs that will assist and support the families in these communities. I will develop a marketing campaign that will focus on the importance of the entire community coming together to help its neighbors. It will focus on bringing back the idea of neighborhoods and community responsibilities. I want to instill the ideology that “I am my neighbor's keeper”, and help them understand the idea that no one is going to be more invested in your neighborhood than you, therefore the power to bring change must come from the community, not the government.
            There is nothing like the power of positive thinking. Ten percent of life is what happens to you and ninety percent is how you react to it. I raised my children to never give up, never give in and never complain. When they complain to me I say “What are you going differently today so that next year you won’t be complaining about the same situation”?
            On October 2nd 2016 at the age of 53, I heard my father’s voice for the very first time. On November 4th 2016 my children and I fly to Puerto Rico to meet him and the next morning my father ended up in the hospital. I flew back to Puerto Rico and visited with him for a week. Twenty-four days after meeting my father for the first time, on November 28th my father passed away. I could not have been more grateful for the opportunity to have looked into his eyes and hear from his own voice say “I love you”. If I had been bitter and angry I would have lost the opportunity that I been given. I was determined stay positive and not let my mother’s negative feelings toward him taint our relationship and I am so glad I did. Life is definitely what you make it and power of positive thinking can transform a life of struggle to a life of opportunity.

Resilient

Ariane Yumi Kreidl

​Resilience is the attribute that carried me throughout my life and will help me achieve all of my dreams. Born and raised in the working class suburbs of Brazil, my life was surrounded by the selfless characters of hard working people and by the violence and injustice of a nation led by corruption. Living alongside the extremes of the Brazilian society contributed to my passion for law and to help my community. In Brazil, I was accepted into law school but unfortunately was unable to afford it. After a great amount of financial hardships and relentless trials to stand on my own feet, I decided to start my life from zero, in a place that is known for having the greatest opportunities for those who work hard, a place of second chance, a place where dreams can become reality; the United States. For the next four years, life proved to be harder than I could ever have imagined- I was an undocumented worker and barely made enough to pay my rent. At that moment, I felt that my dream of going to law school was getting further away from me. Finally, after many years of struggling for better opportunities, for the right to seek my American dream, the right to pursue higher education, I received documentation to legally work and attend school. But my moment of joy and independence was short-lived. Financial burden was a like the great wall that separate me and the opportunity to go to school. I had to still support myself and school was still a faraway dream. Not too long after, I suffered an accident at work, requiring spinal surgery later that year. At that moment, my life changed dramatically, I was no longer able to work or carry on my daily life as any other young adult; I was mourning the death of a person that I used to be. After one year trying to find myself again, I came to the realization that this accident was a wake-up call that meant to put me back on the right track. Life was telling me to go back to school and pursue what I have always wanted; to go to law Kreidl 2 school. Despite all my fears of failure, I was determined to chase my dreams; and now back in school, excited about my future again, life feels complete and on the right track. College filled my life with opportunities and challenges that I am eager to overcome. Today, I am a full-time student at University of Southern California in the Marshall School of Business. I proudly represent the minorities, the students that not only struggle because of their background but also carriers the burden to support their family. I come from East Los Angeles College, a school that gives great opportunities for students where I was fortunate to work with amazing professors and tutor students at the Business Department. I also was part of the ELAC Speech Team, where developed my public speaking skills and competed against other colleges in regional tournaments, which I was blessed to win first-place in the 2016 tournament. Although I will never completely recover from my injury and despite having a great amount of financial hardships, my life feels greater than ever. The great wall between myself and my dreams of education still exists, but I have the strength and effort to climb through any difficulties to achieve my dream. My goals continues to be the same; get into law school. Obtaining my education would empower me to achieve my dream career, which would be working towards the improvement of the local community in public policy or as a human rights attorney. Throughout my life, I learned to never give up on my dreams, to be resilient. Against all the odds and despite all difficulties that I have encountered, I am still here fighting for my dreams, and I can say those difficulties only contributed to the person that I am today, and that I am very proud to be.

Mind Over Matter

Gianna Litrell

​The power of the mind is a vital yet neglected focus of living. We are aware that our attitudes shape ourselves and how people interact with us, yet many are unaware that our very ways of thinking and acting impact the very future of the world. Exaggerated? Maybe. But perhaps not. So bear with me as we explore the possibilities of life, and as they are contained within ourselves.
            It is not easy to be “happy” or “ready” for the adversities and obstacles life and reality throw at us. Some of us are raised in a nurturing environment that protects and encourages us to be open-minded and confident, while some of us struggle to get out of bed every morning with the overwhelming feeling of purposelessness. These ways of living are heavily impacted by our positionality in society (based on race, class, and gender) and modes of thinking. We hear inspirational quotes such as, “Your vibe attracts your tribe” and the concept of “karma”, but how seriously do we live by these principles? And is it that easy? How can a person be stronger and more positive if they see no light at the end of the tunnel? If they are responsible for being the only positive person, surrounded by darkness? Personal development is a lifestyle and one that demands upkeep and offers a “better” future.
            Personally, I believe personal development to be the very thing humans are on Earth for. Our very consciousness strives for “more”, “greater”, and “better.” We want the most from our fleeting lives in such an infinite universe, and this temporary feeling of being a small part of the world is what I believe brings the feelings of chaos and anxiety into our human realm. We complain to relieve ourselves of our everyday strains in hope that someone cares enough to listen and provide needed insight, yet the very things we complain about and discuss with others alters their view of the world, as it expands their perspective and grants them new intellectual space to cover. Opinions, prejudices, and feelings turn into facts, stereotypes, and ideologies that rewire society. And yet, positive thinking has also managed to uplift nations and oppressed peoples who perhaps just needed to know that there is still goodness in the world. A phrase I have always liked to remember, even in the midst of my own crises, is that a smile can change the world. While sometimes it is hard to force the corners of your mouth to turn upward, that small act can brighten some else’s day and encourage them to be strong for others. Can you imagine if we all had this miniscule consideration for each other? Such is why this essay topic speaks volumes to me and touches the very essence of my soul, as I have struggled many years with positive thinking and being strong for others, which has in certain respects, made me stronger and helped me develop a more positive outlook on this complex world.
            While positive thinking and living is easier said than done, especially with outside forces you cannot control always trying to change you, the first step is to try. I like to tell myself that if I want to be a better person I am already a step closer. This is all a game of placebo, perhaps. Are there written guidelines to be followed to achieve enlightenment and Nirvana? No, that is the subjectiveness life provides to accommodate the shifting molds of ourselves, but the end goal is usually development. From the birth of religion to industrialization, humankind strives for the sort of development that can liberate us and project us into a brighter, more promising future. So why are we so intolerant to developing ourselves mentally? For and by ourselves for the betterment of the world? We have the power to do so, there is no doubt about that.
            Though I could not (and like to tell myself such) control my father leaving when I was a child, I was and am in control of how I choose to feel about him not wanting to see me or pay child support, yet I still like to remain positive so that I may not hold disdain for my younger half-siblings. I cannot control how people view and choose to judge me, but I am in control of how I must remain strong and “be myself” so that these judgments do not undermine who I really am. People cannot always control the cancers that force themselves into their bodies via factory plants, polluted water and air, and poisonously chemical foods, but we are in control of how we deal with them. Unfortunately, chemotherapy is always accessible, but foundations and charities can be utilized to uplift those very spirits and bring the power of positivity into their lives.
            This world is no stranger to tragedy and chaos, but it always thrives beside hope and miracles. The hope for a better future for the entire world has kept the very air in my lungs and the blood rushing throughout my body. This scholarship provides me the opportunity to continue my studies and worry less about the systemic chaos of money and its grasp on society’s new reality, and focus on the possibilities my studies can provide while continuously developing myself. Our lives are not simply about us, for we live among and from people and must realize that we are all similarly confused and uncertain about what the future brings, so let us be grateful for the quickness of time and be inspired by the power of positive thinking. 

Personal Development

Alex Johnson

​The attitude an individual possesses during difficult challenges in life, plays a pivotal role in the individual’s personal development. In the wake of trouble, an attitude of gratitude can launch a person into a maturity that would have otherwise been impossible to obtain without the necessary trials of life. The personal development that occurs through these trials, proves to be invaluable in the future. My life is an example of such development and growth. For some individuals, the growth from trials may be due to the death of a loved one or a physical illness; for others, it could be financial insecurity or marital problems. For me however, it was a crippling addiction to drugs and alcohol. An addiction that nearly killed me daily, and toward the end I became disappointed when it failed to do so. An addiction that brought havoc amidst every single facet of my life.
The world I come from is rather different the many people might assume. Most people correlate drug addiction or alcoholism with broken homes; however, my story is radically different. I enjoyed an amazing childhood. My parents remain happily married after 30 years. My three older sisters always loved and cared about me. I never worried about food being on the table, the clothes on my back, or where the school supplies for the year came from. I played sports and participated socially through several outlets. I lived a quite seemingly happy life, but something was missing. I expended my childhood desperately searching for some form of purpose and belonging that I could never quite satisfy. The inability to quench my thirst for finding purpose in this life tormented me constantly. When a completed task left me unfulfilled, I casually moved on to the next, then the next; all the while feeling empty as if I accomplished nothing. The vanity of life began to grab its foothold on me and I struggled to fit in anywhere. I felt misunderstood by everyone around me in school, my friends and even my family. The constant fear of non-acceptance drove me.
At the early age of sixteen, I discovered alcohol and immediately fell in love. One fateful night I purchased a bottle of red wine, and a six-pack of beer. The drunken stupor I received became the sensation that I could not live without. From that moment on, alcohol held me in its death grip, yet I continued to live my life oblivious to the path of destruction I chose to embark on. I justified my behavior by convincing myself I was a “normal” teenager who simply enjoyed excessive drinking. My behavior created tension with my parents so, as a solution, I moved out three days after my 18th birthday thereby obtaining the freedom I desperately desired. Now I could party without restrictions. During the next eighteen months, I worked, drank, and abused pain-killers. That became my existence. During that time period, the lifestyle I lived did possess a certain amount of appeal. I had fun. Different women, different parties, different drugs; I lived within the delusion of achieving the “American Dream”.
I decided to further my education by attending school in a feeble attempt to discover the purpose I still searched for. I believed school might possess the solution to my trivial existence. I attended a semester at a local community college then transferred to Texas Tech University. Isolation began to dominate my life at Tech. At only 19 years old, I was drinking over two handles of whisky a week in addition to an excessive amount of beer, as well as marijuana consumption; all of which I consumed in solitude. Ironically, I took an “understanding alcoholics and addictive behaviors” course as a science elective. I convinced myself any problem remained non-existent because I wasn’t using the “hard stuff” such as heroin and cocaine. One night, after a terrible breakup with my girlfriend, I went out on the town to self-medicate. My drunken decisions placed me in a position where an older man sexually molested me. The hatred built up inside of me and I decided to go back home. I felt confused and abandoned as well as an enormous amount of hatred towards myself for allowing such a shameful thing to happen. I proceeded to get my old job back as a chef and continued to live the same life; drink, pop pills, smoke weed, work and sleep - nothing more. I despised being sober and constantly sought out better methods of intoxication. My search came to an end when an individual introduced me into heroin and cocaine. My life changed. I found it. I found the euphoria I had been desperately searching for with every fabric of my being. I found happiness; or so I thought. The happiness soon faded as any drug addict can attest to.
Throughout my journey, I always placed a significant importance on work. Even though I always showed up high, and/or drunk, I never got fired from a job. For lack of a better term, I was a “functioning addict” in regards to the professional workplace. Due to my work ethic, I received a promotion into kitchen management which meant a considerable increase in pay. This increase enabled me to purchase a significantly larger number of drugs on a regular basis. Slowly but surely, my problems began to grow. Soon, I realized I needed to slow down; however, once I attempted any form of control in regards to my substance consumption, the brutal truth surfaced. I couldn’t stop. Up to this point, I possessed zero interesting in quitting. I believed the delusion that I contained within myself the necessary will power to stop anytime I desired to. When I possessed the honest desire to quit, my lack of control became astonishingly evident. Thus, I began the arduous journey of sobriety. I failed constantly. Unfortunately, despite my valiant efforts, I couldn't stay sober. I attended AA meetings, I attempted therapy, I obtained a girlfriend and used the relationship as motivation, I made countless firm resolutions to stop. Every attempt ended in failure. I became suicidal. What started as the sensation I craved constantly, quickly became the feeling I detested yet couldn’t survive without. Alcohol, heroin, and cocaine owned me. I gave up. I arrived at one simple yet morbid conclusion; this pitiful existence would engulf my destiny. The grim reaper began his approach. I attempted suicide via drug overdose. Failed attempts only strengthened my resolve. I taunted death by driving down the highway, traveling 110mph, drunk and coked out of my mind. I screamed at God with all my might to kill me. Every day that I woke up breathing, I possessed an intense anger towards a God that I ironically didn’t even believe in. I despised life. I began cutting myself because self-mutilation became the only method of confirming my deplorable existence during massive drug binges. The grim reaper was on my doorstep. Substance abuse trapped me inside a living hell to which there seemed no escape.
I lived a double life. I continued to maintain my profession identity at work by ingesting only the necessary number of drugs to prevent withdraw sickness. I played the actor daily and somehow held everything together. During a hectic shift on a Friday night, several cooks walked to the restaurant parking lot and drank alcohol. Because of several witnesses, sending them home became my only option. The corporate office god wind of the situation and my hands were tied. The next day, I fired all three with a bag of drugs in my pocket and the smell of fresh coffee and cigarettes attempting to mask the whisky on my breath from that very morning. The guilt tormented me. I wish I could tell the narrative of what happened over the course of the next two months; however, I possess no recollection of the events that occurred. I needed a miracle. I was a hopeless case. My miserable life had caught up with me and I had nowhere to run.
The miracle I so desperately craved finally arrived on May 10th, 2014. The police apprehended me for drunk driving and while lying on that hard cement floor, I began to go into alcohol and heroin withdraws. In that moment, it dawned on me. I always attempted recovery on my terms. Who am I to dictate how to run my own life? I kept failing miserably. I finally reached out for help. After years of waiting, my parents breathed a sigh of relief when they finally received my phone call phone call crying for help. They immediately helped me check into a treatment center. Throughout my life, I viewed God through a religious lens, and therefore became trapped within the legalistic rules and regulations of religion. This viewpoint brewed hatred and inhibited me from fully understanding the simple relationship component. Though I still possessed a tremendous amount of resentment toward God because of this viewpoint; I finally gave my will over to him. I decided to participate in life on His terms and see what would become of it. I gave myself the ultimatum, if my decision didn’t work, then I would finally build up enough courage to put a bullet it my head. I attempted everything else under the sun to get sober and nothing worked so I might as well give the whole God thing a chance. Upon the simple cornerstone of the 3rd step in AA, I experienced breakthrough. Through the process of working a 12-step program, my selfishness exposed itself and I finally understood the behavioral pattern that blocked me from achieving any form of success in sobriety. I lived a self-seeking lifestyle driven by fear. I fell victim to the lie that I was too far gone to be loved by anyone, let alone a perfect God. This thinking process began to turn around through therapy I received in treatment; however, the suicidal thoughts still plagued me. I couldn’t see how I could be of any use to anyone. Everyone in treatment kept talking to me about being helpful and how my story could have an impact; however, I did not understand how that would be possible. I still fell short of finding my purpose in this world. As time went on, new guys came into treatment broken down and full of despair. Then it suddenly occurred to me, I travelled the exact same path this person traveled, I know exactly what that young man is experiencing right now. So, I simply started helping the new guys. That became the moment where I found the most amazing aspect of life. Service towards others.
Upon completing treatment, I moved into a sober living home in Denton, Texas. The structured environment gave me the amazing opportunity of practicing many recovery principles daily. Through continuous work with my sponsor and growing my relationship with God, I started realizing the full extent of how much my story of hope could help others.  I have been given opportunities to give back and be of service in ways I thought were impossible. During my time in Denton, I lead a recovery meeting at my old treatment center. When I moved out of sober living, I continued my involvement by sponsoring men in the house through the 12 steps as well as leading a step study meeting with my sponsor. These amazing experiences gave me countless opportunities to grow through the service of others. My entire life I believed a person might find purpose and happiness through material possessions, professional status, or even fame. However, in my experience nothing can be further from the truth. I found my purpose driven life through self-sacrifice and service to others. Upon that simple foundation, the freedom and joy I receive daily is unexplainable.
Every day I possess an attitude of gratefulness. I am grateful that I am alive. I am grateful that my family never gave up on me. I am grateful that I have been given the tools necessary to help others who are struggling with addiction and depression. My attitude is what gives me fuel to be of maximum service towards others. I took my life for granted and almost paid the ultimate price. I stared at death and laughed. I am lucky to have walked away. I want people to know they aren’t alone in their fight. I finally found my purpose that I had been searching for since I was a little boy. Helping others. Sometimes, people ask me if I had a chance go back and change everything if I would. Frankly, I wouldn’t trade my past for anything, I am grateful for it. My addiction put me in a position of desperation where I now possess a relationship with God that I could have never even dreamt of. I appreciate life so much more in hindsight of my trials. Even the mundane daily tasks of life are enjoyable to me simply because of how grateful I am to not be taking up residence in a grave. At its core, the ability to possess a grateful attitude is only a matter of perspective. Personal development can be very difficult, it can be painful, it can be downright revolting. However, with the right perspective, and the proper attitude of gratitude, an individual can turn the growth trail from the most negative event in their life, to the most positive event in their personal development. All it takes, is a little hope, and the proper attitude.

Dominant Thoughts

Vai Patri

​​I’ve always known that I possess many talents. Mentally, I have no shortage of intelligence. I’ve harnessed the strength to overcome many challenges through out life: my addictive eating disorder, constant bullying, abusive relationships, and family dysfunction. However, I was the one obstacle I had never overcome, and as a consequence, the challenge that had presented itself daily was none other than my mentality.
 Equilibrium was a difficulty, one that I faced outwardly and inwardly. Externally, I constantly struggled with the balance of being a musician, full time student and worker. Internally, I was in persistent psychological warfare: The painful, traumatizing influences and mistakes of the past were the offense, and my passion for music and thirst for diligence was the defense.  Is this the right decision? Is this who I am? Why would I do something like that? I want to be better. So why am I destroying myself? I was stuck in the negative existence of my past, while wanting to excel in my present so that I could cherish the future. I would take one step forward and three steps back. As someone with an intense cardinal personality, this all left me in a state of constant frustration, depression, and perplexity.
  I was impeded by this state of ruinous turmoil for years - until I had been introduced to a wonderful novel, “The Secret”. Rhonda Byrne, along with twenty-four gurus who had participated in the creation of novel had changed my life for the better, because they had changed the way I thought for the better. They helped me to realize something incredibly vital: I had a choice. I had already asked for forgiveness, forgiven myself, and learned from my mistakes. So why was I still living in the same anguish? The Law of Attraction answered me: “like attracts like”. If one were to think one bad thought, like bad thoughts would attract to that one bad thought, engendering a cluster of negativity. There was nothing wrong with me; there was simply something wrong with what I thought. This was a truth, and once I had become enlightened, I changed my life. 
  The Law of Attraction taught me that my dominant thoughts were the most powerful; what they were, I was. Previously, my dominant thoughts had not been of my music; they had been of my negative past. Therefore, I had been living in that negative past. I began to think more and more of my music. Every time I found myself thinking negative thoughts, I snapped. I was able to tell myself, this is not what matters. Music matters, your health matters. You matter. I had never really done this before. After seven years, I had finally begun to think positively and with clarity. I finally began to heal, and in doing so, left my past where it belonged: deceased, in the past. By changing the concentration of my dominant thoughts, I changed the course of my actions. I was elevated. I have something magnificent to offer this world, I thought, and so I took initiative to better myself in all aspects. I had always struggled in the gym and with my diet, so I began to focus on the proper nourishment my body desperately needed, and envisioned myself in the strong physique I had always longed for. As a result, I began to work out more efficiently in the gym, which lessened my compulsive emotional eating. Instead of lying in bed grieving, I thought fervently about my aptitude, and began to write new music. I even finished composing songs I had begun to write when I was fifteen, which for me, was colossal. Instead of being bitter about all that had gone wrong in my life, I bought books on music marketing and placed an emphasis on educating myself. I began to create set lists of songs for open mics, searching for a band to play with me during live performances, and putting together an album to share with fans. Instead of running away from my music, I began to play and immerse myself in it. As the stress from the lack of focus on my music began to diminish, my grades improved and I sincerely began to enjoy and appreciate school. In class, instead of thinking of what I would rather be doing, I began to think how as an artist, it is important to possess a well of knowledge; inspiration can come from anywhere, at anytime, from anyone. These were all simple tasks I had been avoiding for years, and by placing my energy and dominant thoughts on what I wanted most (to be a touring musician with a solid education and a healthy lifestyle), I began to gravitate toward becoming just that. 
  The Law of Attraction had permitted me one thing I had been yearning for: internal peace, which I found in perceiving what had happened had happened, I was young, and I could do whatever I thought I was capable of doing. I finally have started to become the human being I had always wanted to become: strong, independent, vigorous, hard working, balanced, and foremost, focused. I am ready this life, and I have made this my authoritative thought. As a result, my life has become ready for me.

Dreams

Leroy Parker

"Leroy, don't ask any questions. Just gather your stuff and get in the car." Those were the two sentences I never thought I would hear come out of my mother’s mouth. In 2008, my world was torn apart inside and out as my family was physically splitting at the seams. A family built on the values of honesty and purity had now been desolated at the hands of lust. We learned on the night of my 10th birthday, that our mother was having an affair. Despite the dark world my family was entering, enduring this struggle was gradually becoming a lifelong lesson that I needed. My family reached its breaking point once my parents separated. We had gradually fallen under the influence of alcoholism, drug abuse, and physical violence amongst my siblings and I. I knew I could not let this define who I am. My parents have always emphasized the importance of excelling in education; strongly under the influence that they themselves failed to attend college.
One night my siblings and I woke up to screaming and banging coming from our garage. All we could hear was our father and mother yelling at the top their lungs at one another. Occasionally my parents argued but not to this extent; where we heard objects being thrown around. The feeling of numbness flowed through my entire body. Terrified to the point that I could no longer move. The only thought occurring in my head was that this quite possibly could be our last night together as a family, so my immediate reaction was to hold my siblings as tears streamed down our faces.  Anger, sadness, and shock cannot equate to the emotions I was having at that moment. As my family started separating the essence of hate built up towards my mother. I’ll never forget the incident when I got in my mother’s face screaming and my older brother punched me. As I was laying on the ground blood began profusely coming out of my nose, everything was a blur. That was until I looked over and everything became clear. I saw my little brother and sister looking at me, crying, in utter shock. I could see the fear in their eyes and the breaking of their hearts. Our family was broken and I was breaking it even more.
Looking back on this situation, I would not be the person I am today without overcoming this daunting time. My strength and will were tested daily. I am not only proud of my academic achievements, but also my development as a person. Growing up I was always the quiet kid in the corner that many bullied. But with the pain that was consuming me, I learned that I must stand up for myself. With that being said, my maturity developed as I learned that I must not react on instinct. Rather make the responsible decision. The idea of “think first, act later” was once so foreign to me. As a 10-year-old becoming the primary source of guidance made me grow up much sooner than I should have. At first I thought “How could I take on the responsibility of guiding my siblings, since I had so much to learn myself?” But as time went on my education and drive for my future began to flourish. The perception of excelling in school previously being an “option;” now became a “must”. Attending Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University and being a first-generation college student will be my key to building a better future for not only myself, but also my family.
Academic excellence has always been a huge point of emphasis of mine. I am currently ranked number three in my class allowing me to attain prestigious awards such as Superintendent’s List, which requires a student to have above a 4.0 GPA throughout the course of high school. A vast involvement in extracurricular activities, such as varsity football, marching band, National Honors Society, and Student Government have instilled core values like responsibility, discipline, respect, and diligence. These values have made me the student I am today. It is apparent that many in family still place their hope in the greater good of my future. Although this serves as my motivation, I have come to the realization that I am the only one that can make this “hope” a reality. Nobody controls my path in life except for myself. Typically, people would dwell on the negative in their past, but the fact that I have only grown both academically and in maturity is what sets me apart from my peers. I am now stronger because if I could make it through that situation at only 10-years-old, I can overcome anything.  My dreams are in the palm of my hand and now it is time to grab them.

Being The Change

Shaelyn Waite

​Waking up at 6 in the morning is not pleasant. Waking up at 6 in the morning to go to a 14-hour shift is painful. Waking up at 6 in the morning to go to a 14-hour shift and work with a difficult boss is downright intolerable. Life became unlivable. I felt stuck. I was miserable at work and when I was not at work, I was stressing about going back to work. After a few months, I began to feel depressed.
I learned a valuable life lesson. If one is not happy with their life, change it. I took matters into my own hands. I began to look for a new job.
Could not Control: Needing money for life payments.
Could Control: Where I work
At first I had no success. Despite my rejections, I felt hope! I felt hope because I was taking charge and not waiting for life to change on its own. I was not blaming my boss for making my life miserable but instead focusing on my attitude toward the situation.
A few months later I found a job that I love more than all of my passed jobs. I currently am working at a funeral home where I am able to help families plan funerals for their deceased loved ones. I feel love and compassion for my clients who are suffering and hurting. I enjoy working and serving those that surround me. This job works around my school schedule, great work environment, and I get to speak Spanish.
I learned that I have more control over my life than I thought. I learned that if I am not happy with something, change it.

Anxiety

Olivia Napolitano​

All my life I have been riddled with a monster so many have faced: anxiety. I have been a worrier since I was a young child. When I was a kid it was little things like “Do they like me,” or “Am I weird,” because I did not want to be left out or forgotten. I wanted to fit in and be like all the “cool kids” since I knew those who were not a part, were made fun of and bullied. I felt like it was normal behavior at the time to be worried about stuff like that because I did not have much else to think about. Since then, it enveloped into something greater. As I grew, the more I participated in school, church, sports, and as I participated more, the more my stress grew with it.
In high school, people saw me from the outside as this bubbly, overachieving girl. That is not how I felt on the inside. I was dying inside. I wished to be a child again with less stress. I still worried about whether or not people liked me, but mostly I freaked about my grades. I had never gotten anything lower than an ‘A’ in any of my classes since grade school. I was challenging myself not only academically due to the International Baccalaureate classes and Honors classes, but also in extracurricular activities. I was an officer for FFA (Future Farmers of America), Treasurer for Student Council, member of National Honors Society, Culture Club, and also played varsity volleyball and varsity tennis. I had more than enough to balance on my plate. I cried every night. I was stressed beyond capacity. I had mountains of homework every night to add on to my practices or meetings. My grades were slowly going down because of the tough curriculum even though I was trying my best. I did all my homework for hours every night. I studied harder than I ever had for all the tests. However, I was not holding myself to a high enough standard.  For the first time I had gotten not only one B, but three. That was where I kind of gave up. I knew it was too late to fix my grades. I stopped caring about everything. I was begging my parents to let me drop the International Baccalaureate classes or let me do online school. I did not want to see my friends and I could still play sports through online. It seemed like a perfect solution. The only thing was, deep down I knew I would miss my clubs even if I kept saying I would not.
My extracurricular activities were what made going to school worth it. I loved being an officer in Future Farmers of America. Agriculture was a passion of mine. My brothers, dad, and Papa were a part of it. Then there was Student Council which was my favorite. I got to help make all the decisions for the school. Then there was National Honors Society which looked great on college applications. Lastly, there was the culture club. We were going on a trip to the Mediterranean coast. That trip meant the world to me. All of these clubs helped me escape the stress of school and my grades. It did not last though. I ended up dreading going to each meeting or function. My anxiety took over and I spent more time crying then with people.
However, one day my lovely mother sat down and had a talk with me. She asked me why I was so stressed over things that I could not fix.” I did not have an answer for her. She explained further stating how proud her and my dad were of me. She told me it was okay to drop the IB classes. My mom explained that if I was not personally able to fix something, that I should not be anxious over it. There is nothing I can do in those type of situations. I am powerless. It finally clicked: I could not control everything.
Once I had that mindset, I knew I needed to only focus on things in my power. Maybe I could not bring my grades up, but I could still try. I could try to give my all to my sports. I could try in all my extracurricular to be a leader. This changed gave so much freedom to my soul. I was truly happy again. I exceeded in the non-IB classes, and even in some International Baccalaureate classes. Giving it all to my sports also paid off. My team for volleyball made it to final four in state. Also in tennis my team did the same, and my doubles partner and I placed third in state. Those wins boosted my morale. I was even noticed for my leadership in my clubs. Kids would come to me how I did a good job. Overall, even though parts of the year were an awful time for me, to this day I will never forget to only “focus on the things that I can control.” I may have ended that year with keeping those three B’s, but also keeping my happiness because of eight simple words.

My Thoughts on The Power of Positive Thinking

Nicholas C. Guzy
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           Negative thinking is a plague that I have seen sweep over the people I’ve grown up with throughout my entire life. There have been a select few that taught me how to think positively even when you don’t believe in yourself. Magic happens when you give yourself the power of positive thinking and that is the magic of transformation. To understand the remedy of positive thinking we have to understand the sickness of doubt.
           Doubt is a sickness that has plagued the underdogs, the poor, and the middle class. It finds its way inside the brain of these people because they are told that they aren’t as good as the top tier that control all the rules, jobs, and hold public office. To become bigger than you were once before it takes believing in yourself and telling yourself that you are better than how people perceive you and to make them see that. Some people love seeing us succeed but many people feel threatened by the success of others and this is when the seed of doubt tries to be planted by others and it must be eradicated by the magic of positivity.
Growing up I’ve had many people tell me that I didn’t need to go to college or that I couldn’t go. I have struggled with hearing all my life that I’m not good enough or that I should change something about myself but it was when I met my friend Patrick Nelson that I learned what it meant to fake it until you make it. It wasn’t just trying to make others believe that you were just fine the way you were but it meant making yourself believe that you were already the perfect self you wanted to be. He taught me the way of the Buddha opening my eyes to chakras and energy and how they work in the world. The power of positivity loosely states that if you put good out you’ll get good in and that is something that I have witnessed firsthand. I have worked in the food service industry for the last 6 years of my life and I can’t even count on both of my hands how many times I’ve been positive towards a customer and at least one of three things would happen. They would go from looking sad to happy, they would infect other people around them with happiness because of our interaction, or they would even say thank you I’m actually going to have a good day now because of how you’ve treated me. This is just one way the power of being positive affects life; it can affect your own life in a much more direct way. Good things happen to you because of the collection of all your experiences throughout your entire life and you have a hand in making it so. I like to call this the snowball effect of smiles. If you start your day out with one good thing the chances of having another good thing happen increase and again after that and eventually you come to this tipping point where you have created this happy bubble so large around you that you’re going to make everything around you a good experience that the bad doesn’t even have a chance to find its way inside. Now this is a really simple way to have a good day but what that means is having more good days and having the opportunity to meet more people to help you on your journey to achieving the self-image you’ve already set in your mind. My point from before is that we already are as we view ourselves in our mind but maybe we just are unrefined and need to take more steps to fully be realized by our peers until we reach that point of evident success.
           During my life I’ve been riddled with self-doubt that I wasn’t good enough for a degree, have a better paying job, and wasn’t good enough to make a difference in the world but over the last four years I’ve learned to tell myself that I am good enough to do these things and in doing so I have been making steps in the right direction to make these things happen. I have held positions of power, became a manager at two jobs and am about to be a manager at a third, and have completed two full years of my degree even though it has taken me longer than two years to do it. People like me who face adversity on a daily basis need to hold themselves up high and show the world that they are better than bottom of the barrel. This is the power of positive thinking and it will take you to places you only read about.

5:00am

Matthew Dietz
​ASU

Waking up at 5:00am isn’t fun for a college sports prospect. You start with foggy vision that aches each time you start to blink. As you start to move out of bed your muscles throb with fury as the result of yesterday’s practice.  You move closer to the edge of the bed but begin to feel the smooth sheets and fluffy pillows pull you back. Some days it can seem impossible to leave the bed, but you the closer the clock gets to the start of your class or work day the less comfortable you begin to feel. Whether you are an adult going to work or a 210 lb. college linebacker prospect getting ready for the first workout of the day, the time you get up in the morning is the first decision made in the day. My mindset always has been the earlier you are up in the morning the more time you have to work hard throughout the day. In my case, the reward of being the best football player I could be outweighed the price of sleeping in.
            Unfortunately, I never had the power to adjust the time practices starts in the morning.  If I did have the power, practice wouldn’t be held that early! However, I knew there was an end goal to my sleep woes that would make it all worth it, becoming a college football player.
            It took 5 years of work. 5 years of my youth compressed with protein shakes, two-a-days (two workouts per day), recruiting camps, film study, highlight film manufacturing, less sleep, and personal development to get to where I was at the start of my senior year in high school. My body was in the best shape I had ever been in, my football knowledge was crisp, and I was a developed young man ready to take the stage in my final High School football season and lead the Pinnacle Pioneers to their first state title, and earn a scholarship doing it. 
            My goals weren’t fueled by pseudo-confidence by any means. We were a good team. As the year went on, the 2012 Pinnacle Pioneers gained tons of notoriety for being a frisky defensive team with an aggressive rushing offense that completed the regular season at 8 wins and 2 losses. Going into the post-season, we had the chance to host a playoff game against Westview high school and start our playoff run. However, my health wasn’t so sharp going into the game.
            Since the 2nd game of the 2012 season, I had been nursing a right knee injury that had kept me from playing at full potential. Throughout the season the the pain was manageable because it was intermittent, but what I felt during playoff game-on 11/02/2012-was different, worse. The cold November weather tightened up my muscles and joints more that day because each step taken shot even more pain through the anterior of my knee. I felt like a car driving with a broken suspension. My right knee hydraulic stopped working and every step felt as uncomfortable as a rusty nail screeching across a chalkboard.
            Then the worst happened. I went down and couldn’t get up. Not only did my right knee give out but my left knee was hit directly with another helmet. To this point in my athletic career there has been numerous moments of negativity in the company of adversity, but I have found prosperity in the chaos of doubt before.
            Adversity is never easy to overcome though. Mike Tyson once said, “Everyone has a plan ‘till they get punched in the mouth”, and in that moment its hard to not let negativity and fear overwhelm you. I was scared, I will admit that; I even cried because never has an injury held me back from playing in a game before. I thought my college football hopes were over as I was helped off the field. The Power of Positivity is a strong force though-in life and in football-and whatever the prognosis was, I would remain positive.
            The MRI results can back several days later and showed I had torn bilateral patellar tendons. I was shocked and could feel my college football stock slipping, but a glimpse of my positive core remained. I wasn’t ready to give up on my dream and wipe away 5 years of pounding protein shakes, hard work, getting up at 5:00am to train, and most importantly 5 years of thinking positive while working toward my goal.
            My favorite quote of all time is said by Confucius, “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” Needless to say, months later, I earned my scholarships I wanted and is still one of the most precious glories I have ever had and will always treasure. 

How I Find the Special Thing of My Life

Nguyen Nguyen

​Steve Jobs said, “Again, you can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.” Since I read this speech, I always believed, “There will be another chance after that crisis.” I try to maintain a positive attitude, I used it to conquer the biggest failure of my life.
            I was born in Vietnam and my family was very traditional. My father was a head son of a long-time family, so I was supposed to become the next head son in my family. Especially, I was the only son in my family. All my cousins were girls, so people counted on me very much. People said I would become the face of the family soon. With their expectation, I had to be the best in everything. Because I was still a young boy, my studying was the most priority thing with them. I woke up at 6 am and went home at 10 pm every day. After studying at school, I went to my teachers’ houses for more studying. People in my family wanted me to get ahead of all other kids my age.
            Truthfully, I did not disappoint them. I was very successful in school. My best subject in school was Math. In the high school entrance exam for my city, I had the highest score. I was chosen for a special program representing the math team in my city. My rank was 30/100 in that Math Team. I got into the second best high school in Ho Chi Minh city. People in my family were very proud of me. This was the best time of my life.
Like all stories in the world, I fell off that high mountain of achievement. I failed in the Olympic Math Contest of South Vietnam. It was designed to choose who could keep going on the Math Professional way. After failing that contest, everything closed to me. I could not attend any bigger Math Contests anymore. It was a shock with me. Imagine, you have learned only Math since you were 3rd grade. All things you have in your life - compliments, admiration, proud - came from Math. At that time, I lost everything. I could not see any hopes in my future.
Since that failure, I had more time in my life. I did not have to study as much as I used to do. I had more free time in my life. I used it in reading books. The first book I read was “Steve Jobs – The Power of Thinking Different” by a Vietnamese author. I also read Steve Jobs’s graduation speech. Since that time, my life turned a new page. I had choices, I could choose to live with my failure or rise up. Fortunately, I chose to rise up.
I began my new journey by finding another thing I could be passionate about. I wanted to find a thing that I could do the rest of my life. It was not easy to find that special thing, but I was not in a rush. I went slowly on my daily life and noticed things I never noticed before. I quit the mad race. I woke up every day and came to school with a question in my mind, “what do I love most in my life?” I rode my motorbike through the roads of my city. I came back to old places where I had a lot of memories. I tried my best to find that special thing.
One day, I realized what I loved most in my life were street foods of my country. Because I could not get home for lunch and dinner, I have eaten street foods since I was a young boy. I found out that I also love serving people too. I wanted to see their smiles and happiness after eating my foods. I wanted to give them the most valuable thing in this world – the warmth of love in my dishes.  I also knew all the ways to cook those street foods. Especially, I had a special and exotic culture to share with this world – Vietnamese Street Food.
I decided to come to the U.S. A lot of people prevented me and said, “U.S dreams die.” However, they did not know that this was not the first of my dreams to die. I stood up and was stronger than I was before. I set a plan for myself to achieve my dream. I wanted to open a chain of Vietnamese Street Foods restaurants in America. I worked very hard in high school and got into Johnson & Wales University with a scholarship. My   major was Hotel Management. I believed that these skills will help me to build a chain of restaurants.
Jack Ma said, “Never give up. Today is hard, tomorrow will be worse, but the day after tomorrow will be sunshine.” I know there will be more obstacles on my new way. I will fail again. Fortunately, I am not scared of failure anymore because I believe that there will be a bright future waiting for me after that. I always stay optimistic. I head up into a new race. There will be tears, and blood, but I will never fear anymore. I will go on my new road with faith in a bright future.

The Visions of a Scholar

De'Shounda Raymond

​On the first Thursday morning in September 1997, I was born. This was September 4th, 1997. I was not created purposely, but was the accident of a naive teenager and an irresponsible adult. When I was born, my mother was seventeen years old and my father was twenty-eight years of age. They are Nora and Frederick  My mother was not equipped to take care of a child at that age, so I ended up in the care of my loving grandparents. My grandmother’s name is Dorothy and my grandfather’s name was Jimmy. By the time my mother was pregnant with her last child, my sister Nyla, me and my brother Reginald were legally under the guardianship of my grandma and my grandpa had passed away in the year 1999. When my sister was born in 2002, my mom willingly gave her to my grandma. Later down the road, my grandma was also taking care of two of my other cousins.
It was hard growing up in a household with six people and only three bedrooms and one bathroom. It was hell. The older I grew, the more depressed I became. By the time that I turned twelve, I would barely sleep, I ate non-stop, I was bullied in school, and I was immersed in books. When I was old enough to realize that the situation that I was in was unlike others and that my family was worse than poor, I made a promise to myself. I would be successful. I wouldn’t let my situation depress to the point that I would think that there was no other way to get out. I knew that I wasn’t stuck in my position. I also knew that the only way out would be to continue my education. So, I continued to read everything and anything that I could get my hands on.
When I was eight, my sister, brother, my cousin Jimmy II, and myself were put into Foster Care. That wasn’t the first time for my brother and me. Our first time was when he was in an accident caused by our mom and his dad when he was a newborn. That was when my mom lost custody of us. We didn’t know that we were there that first time until recently. The second time, I remember perfectly. I was eight, my sister was three and my brother and cousin were both five. They split the boys and girls apart and I rarely got to see them or the rest of my family. We would have scheduled visits to see them every couple of weeks. I remember going even deeper into my depression until I wouldn’t speak anymore. Those six months were very hard for me.
 By the second grade, I was reading at an eighth grade level.  During those times, I found my love for numbers. I had somehow gotten ahold of a math textbook that was far past my levels of understanding. I disliked, and still dislike, not understanding something. To me, it shows incompetence, and I never want to feel inferior. So, I taught myself everything that was in that book. My passion for math is something I don’t understand still. Perhaps I like it because it's practical. Plus, there’s a straightforward answer for every equation. It’s simple and to the point, I take comfort in that.
I grew up in East Saint Louis. This community is drug ridden and poverty stricken. I didn’t want to live there. I hated to go places and tell people “I’m from East Saint Louis”. I was ashamed of my origins. I was ashamed of my household. I was ashamed of my family. Looking back at how I saw my family and household, I feel disappointed in myself. I knew then, just like I know now, that my grandmother is doing all that she can for us. She stopped going to school in the seventh grade and she can’t work because of an impairment. This, I knew, but I still put some of the blame on her about how we live. She loves us with her entire soul. I regret every single word that I said about our predicament. I’m just grateful that she cared enough to take care of my brother, sister, cousins and myself. She could have easily let us get lost in the system. I will make everything up to her, as I owe my future success to her care and nurturing.
Now, we live in Cahokia, Illinois. Yet, it's no better than East Saint Louis. I’m not as depressed as I was before. Or, perhaps I try to make myself believe that. I tell myself that if I force myself to smile and laugh, then one day it will become genuine. I believe that it’s getting closer and closer to the truth, because, I can see a bright future for myself. When I leave campus for breaks and weekends, it's like a reminder to myself. I can’t give up on myself. No matter how hard, or expensive college gets, I must prevail. It is a must because I never want to end up how my family did. I want to do all that I can to help them. I also try to get my younger cousins and siblings on campus as much as I can. I am the eldest grandchild, so they look up to me. I want to show them that there is a better way of living and they don’t have to continue with the lifestyle that they have. I strive to give them hope. That is my aspiration, this is my goal. I want to show them what success looks like. I will do everything in my power to do just that.
To achieve my goals, I will continue my education. If I run out of money and funds to pay for it, I will join the military and pay for it that way. I have studied hard my entire life. I have always forced myself to take the most rigorous courses and to push myself to my limit. I have felt great pain and guilt for even just getting a C on a midterm, or having too many B’s on a report card. My limit is two and even saddened to say that. I will not stop doing those things just because I am in college and have so called ‘freedom’. I never had it, because I disciplined myself. The only difference between now and then is that whenever I am finished with work and have nothing to worry about studying for, I reward myself. The first time I ever went to a party was here on campus. I went to my second ever football game here. I won’t let theses things distract me from my initial goal though. My family will always come first, even before myself. Also to achieve my goals, the first steps I will take are to maintain my gpa, build connections with my professors, and look for internships. I will keep my gpa afloat by studying harder and practically living in the library. I hope to build lasting connections with the professors who teach any of the business classes. These are some of the people that I need to connect with, because networking is a key to prosperity. I also hope to intern somewhere soon. My goal is to get not only experience within my field, but also to create strong ties with some of the leading individuals.
To sustain my visions for my future, I think of my family. I know that they deserve better. So, I will give them what they deserve. I don’t even think that they know that I think of them in the manner that I do. I know that they understand that I care for and love them. I’m sure though, that they don’t know that I look to them for mental support. They are the reason that I strive the way I do. Most of my attention is focused on the younger people in my family. I know that their minds can still be sculpted to follow in footsteps similar to mines. I don’t believe that college is right for everyone, but what I want for them is to dream of doing something with their lives. Then, I want them to follow those dreams. I want to make that type of impact on them.
 Sadly, I believe that I am losing my brother and cousin. They are both sixteen years old and I can tell that they are going down a path that is very similar to other African American youths in our community. This information scares me and makes me feel like somewhat of a failure. It scares me because they no longer see a bright future for themselves. They’ve given up on school and they’re always finding trouble. It makes me feel like a failure because I gave myself the job of trying to be a person that they could look up to. Honestly, I had very little control of that. They are very proud of me, but I am not an African American male. There is only so much that I can do. I hope to, somehow get them back on the right track. On the other hand, I think that I am doing quite well with my little sister and cousins Deanna and Ty’Shounda. Nyla, my sister, is so much like me. When I watch her, it's like I’m watching my past. She’s maintaining her grades, she is reading everything, and she draws just as much as I used to. I am not happy that she is like me, I am proud that she is looking up to me. The only thing that I have wanted was to be a positive influence and I am succeeding with her. Deanna is such a sweetheart. She is my grandmother’s third grandchild. I remember growing up, she followed me around everywhere. When we were small children, she called me ‘bebama’, because she couldn't pronounce ‘De’Shounda’. I am surprised that she thinks of me so highly. I am only two years older than she is. Ty’Shounda, the second grandchild surprises me the most. She is only eight months younger than me. Whenever they come to see me, Deanna and Ty’Shounda are the first ones out of the car and into my arms. We grew up so close to each other. We were raised like sisters rather than cousins. I know that I have influenced them. They had both decide to attend community college to stay close to their mother, my aunt La’Shounda. After seeing me go away for college, Ty’Shounda now wants to transfer and Deanna no longer wants to go to a community college after she graduates.
So, to sustain my vision, I look to my family, they are my inspiration. The love I have for them is what helps fuel my desire for success. They are the ones I look to when I’m sad, when I need support, when I’m happy and want to share good news, when things are going horrible for me, and whenever I just need someone to talk to. I know that they can’t do much for me financially, but everywhere else, they always come through. My family is my incentive to be a leader and follow my dreams and goals. 

The Law of Attraction

Zachery Berry
​ASU

The Law of Attraction states, that what you are seeking is also seeking you. It’s almost like a fluid, moving body of water, staying its course just long enough to make it to the ocean. That’s where they were destined to meet. Of course, it isn’t always easy. Tractive forces must be strong enough to get the body over each barrier. Whether it’s the dirt, or the barren landscape in front of its, eventually the river cuts through. Little by little, until the river meets the ocean. Going on its course, until it finds where it feels most at home, that’s attraction. Never open minded for a separate goal. Water doesn’t go up, it follows gravity, flowing down the path of least resistance until it ends up where it in fact needs to be. If I wanted to be a great musician I would simply need to start working my way towards playing music. Listening to it, feeling it and then when the timing is right, practice putting my fingers through the motions. Little by little, the notes make an ocean. Flowing like water, buoyant, but focused. If you put your mind into achieving the things you want, you’ll find them. Otherwise, you’d never have the urge to flow. Not unless acted by another force anyway, not unless called by a different goal. This is what steered be down into the wrong valley. I became divorced; afraid. Then right there, I felt something tug, it wasn’t a new romance, it was almost just a breeze. So, I followed it, because greater men than me had talked about listening to it. Then almost as if a dream, I woke up knowing full well that on the other end of chasing this dream, I’ll find what it is I’m looking for. The ocean, to my meandering stream.
            Collected thoughts of days old shoved in boxes and I moved to try and start again. When I began unpacking, I saw the pieces of what I could have been, what I told myself I’d be. As I pulled out each piece, a reminder flashed before my eyes. A history of every idea and every question I had never fully answered. To me, alone in that room, with only my failed dreams I saw one goal. To secure the opportunity for me to become the man that my son needs me to be. To display honor, courage and self-sacrifice. To find the love that I’d dreamed would lay down in the grass to classical music when all of this is said and done. I want to stare at the clouds knowing that if I die, I brought bliss to others. I want to walk the pavement, seeing memories of me collecting trash on the ground, or of the birds I had witnessed at that location. The truth is, I want great things for the world, like an endless beauty. What we seek is doing the same. It’s supposed to. If I dream of a huge accomplishment, like saving the world, eventually it would come to fruition, correct?
            So, I cherished it. Every moment, every lesson. Found my heart, and then was blessed. I walked up to that garden and asked some guy for a fishnet. Fast-forward a year and a half and I had planted more plants there and lured more birds than I think most people have in their whole life. There it was though. Right in front of everyone’s eyes. The code, as I saw it. The balance of the ecosystem, as I toiled away with. So many hours spent gardening, but all that I could do keep growing. Hardly with enough time to pass my classes and get a chance to take it all in, just like that, it was gone. I graduated from Chandler-Gilbert Community College with an Associates in Science, saying farewell to those I learned to love along the way. The seeds were sown, the stories and ideas where told. The next venture had to come soon. I hear the breeze quieting down now. I feel peaceful, knowing that from here on out I can trust that if I pursue this goal, it will do the same. For when I’m done and can without a shred of doubt declare myself a conservationist, in a humble tone, I’ll see her right there. As if I knew her all along. As if the feeling she gives will just radiate from meeting her. Sadly though, the obstacle exists in that, if distracted for too long from this goal, if I never complete it, if I never come close, will I meet her? For me, that’s something that I’ll anticipate never having the regret of knowing. If I die a lonely man, I’ll die chasing a dream. If I die chasing a dream, someone else will see it. Someone else may find their attraction in it and if I died a hero, the legacy remains.
            That’s the secret that no one ever wants to tell you. To follow the breeze, because it’s creepy to say it that way. It’s far too spiritual or religious. But be crazy, because it’s working for me. I’m finding out, little by little, that if I truly want a life of peace for everyone but myself, eventually, entropy will steer the energy my way. Without greed, I must embrace it. Without fear I must chase it. Because on the other side, is the serenity we are all truly after. On the other side of attraction. 

The Power of Positive Thinking

Bethany Harvey
​ASU

My mother sat my sisters and me down at the kitchen table to tell us that she was leaving our father.  She told us that she had met someone else, but we knew more than what she was telling.  Her deep depression left her longing for something more and her new love interest provided her with a numbing agent that helped her forget all of her life struggles and sorrows – cocaine.  Shortly after her departure, my father was so overcome by his grief that he only found solace in his alcohol.  I was only seven at the time of my parent’s separation, yet I was still able to understand the full ramifications of their inability to appreciate life enough to overcome their circumstances and see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Since that time, I moved countless times between Mississippi and Arkansas, ping-ponging from family member to family member and I never quite felt at home anywhere.  I remember so vividly the day I saw my homeless father walking down the street.  I was riding in a car with my Aunt, and I felt pure sadness from seeing him so destitute.  How had my father succumbed to his addiction?  He had no one or anything in his life that he felt was worth overcoming his circumstances and it broke my heart.  I screamed for my Aunt to turn around, to save my father from his loneliness and suffering, yet she stood fast, determined to let him ‘pay’ for the decisions he made in his life.  Now as an adult, I understand her reasoning and the old adage of having to ‘hit rock bottom’ before rising to the top again.
 When I was a senior in high school, I attempted to successfully live with my mother because I thought she had changed.  Upon moving in with my mother and stepfather, they dictated that I must get a job and start helping to pay my way in the household, which meant helping to pay the mortgage and purchasing my own groceries.  I obtained a part time job at a local grocery store, working nights but at $5.50 an hour, I still was not able to meet my mother’s expectations.  I felt so much pressure from my family to achieve financial stability that I quit high school and picked up a second job as a daycare assistant.  With the two jobs combined I worked from 6:00 in the morning to 10:00 at night.  I did not have any downtime and while other teenagers my age were going to the movies and borrowing money from their parents, I was giving money to mine.  I had to make sure my mother and my younger siblings continued to have the things they needed.
After roughly six months of working tirelessly, I caught my mother doing drugs again with my stepfather.  I was devastated and once again heart broken.  I had put my life and my future aside to help take care of them, while my mother did not have a job and merely wanted to use me for her own selfish reasons.  I moved out of her home and into the home of my best friend’s family and they resolved to take care of me from there on out.  What a wonderful family they were!  My new goal in life was to graduate high school, go to college, and make a productive life for myself.  I re-enrolled at my high school, but found out that I would be too behind on credits to graduate in 2006.  In order to graduate with my original class, the school recommended that I take make-up courses from Mississippi State University that would help me achieve the required state courses for graduation.  In addition, I had to pass the art requirement for all seniors, so one teacher allowed me to stay after school every day to make up all of the assignments I had missed.
                With hard work, persistence, and positive thinking, I was not only able to accomplish my goals and graduate high school with my peers, but I was also able to graduate with Honors.  Throughout my journey, I almost thought it would not have been reasonably possible to accomplish such a lofty goal, but I know that my ability to envision my future and what it would take to get there would require me to stay positive and stay on task.  I went on to receive additional awards as well as a few scholarships from the private college I wanted to attend and I was officially the first person within my immediate family to continue my education past high school.  In fact, I was the first person to graduate from high school!
                Today my life has continued to thrive because of the same positive thinking that got me through my childhood and young adulthood.  I started working for a top corporate company (DIRECTV, now AT&T) and I have now been employed with them for nine years.  I have accepted four promotional opportunities within the organization and one of those promotions enabled me to move out of Mississippi and continue my career growth in Phoenix, AZ.  My life was never easy, yet I have come to fully understand and realize that positive thinking has an overwhelming power to change life’s circumstances.    The time’s I have been negative and feeling down only created a spider web of discontent and failures, so every day I choose to remain positive and upbeat, even if things do not go my way.  Life will continue to offer its disappointments and struggles, but I will always remember that I have a choice in how I react and what I do with my energy.  When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!

The Power of Positive Thinking

Allison Cravens
ASU

            Despite all of the nerves and anxieties I felt on my first day walking into a lecture hall at Arizona State University, the one thing that kept me feeling okay was staying positive. To be honest, that is what completely got me through my first semester of college – and what has always gotten me through in life. I powerfully believe that having a positive mind brings positive events and actions to one’s life. If everyone in this world focused on exuding love, happiness, and positivity, it would be a much better place. On the contrary, I used to not always have this mind set – and sometimes I still stray away from it. It is not as relaxed as it sounds, especially when life can get really rigid sometimes; and today, I am going to share one of those really tough, personal times with you.
            In the year of 2011, my family and I packed our lives away into a moving truck and moved to the sticky, hot state of Arizona. I was very blue and nervous, for I was leaving my entire childhood in the state of Washington, along with all my friends and various memories. As a kid, I was one to never really complain. I was fortunate to have grown up in an amazing home, with loving parents and the kindest of friends. Because of the happiness I maintained in my youth, I wanted to continue that onto my next adventures in Arizona. Unfortunately, since the first day of walking into my new junior high, my life was about to change drastically.
I was a young and scared 13-year-old when I moved from the damp state of Washington to the barren state of Arizona. In the damp, I was friends with almost everyone that I passed in the school halls; but in the barren, I had no one. I was all on my own, and more terrified than ever. My first two months went well- I got myself a little “boyfriend”, and had made a couple of friends. I missed home, but was adjusting pretty well. Until one scorching summer day in September, this boy broke up with me and suddenly turned into a monster. Now this is not some typical sappy heartbreak story - this boy spent every breath of his on humiliating and harassing me. He would talk so cruelly about me to others- “She is so weird and gross! Do not be friends with her! She should move back home since no one likes her!”- And to my shock, people actually believed him. He found every chance he could to make my life a living nightmare; he knew exactly where to get me. This is all where the gruesome bullying began.
            It was not only him that started the fire, but the girls who I thought were my friends too. They tortured me, called me disgusting names, and spread awful rumors with false accusations. On top of all of the verbal harassment, one day on the school bus, they circled around me screaming at me and saying awful things. I was terrified out of my mind, I thought they were going to beat me up. To make it worse, they even video tapped the entire thing and sent it out to all of their friends. This occurred for about three months, it was unbearable to me; I felt like it would never end. I simply did not understand what I had done to deserve this type of treatment – this was the type of bullying I had only seen in movies. I spent these months in a deep depression, crying every day, and hiding out in the school bathrooms.  No one close to me recognized who I was anymore, not even my own parents. I went from this bubbly and positive girl to a depressed and muggy one. It got so bad to the point where one evening I took a bottle of my mom’s pills, and attempted to over dose on them because I could not handle the pain anymore. Thankfully, my parents caught me and were able stop me before anything happened. I believed this fire would never burn out, unless I did it myself. It was the lowest I have ever felt in my life.
            After six months of the cruel bullying, I finally made a couple of true friends. They took me in and made me feel special again. They stood up for me, and taught me to stand up for myself. Day by day, I grew strong again. My smile would get bigger and bigger by the minute. I started to feel alive, and I took action and burned the fire out. Gradually, the monsters went away, and I became lively again. I started to appreciate life more than ever, and for the people that saved me from my dark hole of anguish. I will never forget how amazing it felt to beat the depression and to beat the ones that put me into that state. The best revenge was for them to see that big smile on my face, laughing with my new friends, happy again. To see people not believe the atrocious things they said about me, and instead befriend me. I believe that this specific hardship is what has given me majority of my strength and has taught me to love life more than most, and that is what I have become to represent as a person.
            It has been five years now, and I feel more alive than ever. I am the individual I always strived to be- the bubbly, ecstatic, strong, positive girl that does not let anyone or anything tear her down. I am so in love with my life, and would not want it to have gone any other way. College has already been one of the best experiences for me, and has allowed me to meet some amazing people and really find myself. I truly believe that I would not hold the same values and traits if it were not for the monsters of my past. Whenever I am struggling, I always look back to this significant time and remind myself that I got through it, so I know I can get through anything. When things are tough, life is preparing you for the next thing- and in my case, life was preparing me to discover who I am and who I stand for. After all, it is usually just a couple of bad days, not a bad life - and today is a great day. 

Focusing on Things I Can Control

Chastity Roman

Success is not a common word in my family. I am from a family who constantly lives in a cycle of failure and who redrafts their mistakes. A family where it is not uncommon for someone to go to prison or for a cousin to get pregnant at a young age. I had to grow up around people who never had a taste of success and knew nothing more than the life they were living. They knew what was out there, but they just had no idea how to reach it.
I remember growing up and seeing my family go through hardship after hardship due to the ignorance of their own mistakes. Generation after generation the cycle kept repeating itself. My father, my biggest supporter and motivator, wanted more for me. He knew the life that his family lived was wrong, and he did not want me to make the same mistakes that he had made. The biggest problem was that he did not know how to give me more if he had nothing to give. He never finished high school and rarely went to school while growing up. He lacks a foundation and can barely read and write. Not having a high school diploma or even a GED made finding a job very difficult. This struggle has had a domino effect on his decisions. He had to provide for his family somehow, and he did it the only way he knew how, which was by making money illegally. It was not until my father went to prison that I knew I had to make a decision on how I wanted my life to turn out. My father would have talks with me and would always tell me that I should strive for a better life because the lifestyle that not only him but also his family led was not filled with success. He would say that the key to success was my education.
 This goal was hard to keep when I was constantly struggling with personal problems in my life. When I was in the eighth grade, my parents split. Before that, the only hardship that had happened to me was my dad going to jail. I never imagined that my parents would split. I constantly had to hear them arguing and fighting. I started feeling restless and was up all night trying to sleep in a house full of anger and violence. I had to stay strong for my brother and sister because I was the oldest. While carrying all this weight on my shoulders throughout middle school and into high school, I still managed to keep my grades and GPA up. Just when I thought the worst was over, my mother went off the deep end during my freshman year. She started hurting herself and has been continuously hospitalized for the past three and a half years. This setback has pushed me even harder to be successful.
I used my misfortune to push me through high school. I knew my only way out was school, so I strived to do the best that I could. I had to break this cycle that my family kept repeating. I did not want to live this life of failure and ignorance. I wanted to... No I needed to be better than the standards my family had set for themselves. I did not want to be okay with just "getting by." It led to misery and despair and to trials and tribulations. The success that I want so badly can only be reached by my success in school. The way I perform in my classes will determine my future and my hard work will be the key to my happiness. This mindset is why I continue to do well in school and why I will never stop until I can sit back and say that I made it. I want to be able to tell people my story and be satisfied with their look of surprise on how far I have come. I want to be able to say that I came from nothing and made something of myself.
 My whole life was full of ups and downs but not once did I give up or take the easy way out. The life I wanted to live was not easy to reach, but it could be reachable if I strive for it. Instead of focusing on the things I could not control, I chose to focus on what I could. This chain of events I call my life has shaped me to become the young lady I am today. Not once have I stopped fighting, and I will continue to fight till my last breath if that is what it takes. This fight will prove to not only myself but those who hold prejudice against the impoverished members of society that I am better than they say.

Achievements

Brendon Hersey

​I’m here to talk about one of the highest achievements I have accomplished. Throughout my whole child hood I was a very chubby.  I was no different than another other child, I didn’t care what I looked like because I loved food. I was the type of child then would sneak food upstairs and would keep going back for more. I was unhappy with what I looked like because I was always the big kid throughout middle school. No one ever said anything about my weight and I never got picked on. I wanted and need change for myself. I played sports my whole life growing up but I never stayed in shape because of the food I would eat when I got back. The weight never affected my performance on the field but something inside me said I need change. Going into my freshman year of high school I was weighing in at 190 lbs. That’s a big kid to only be 13. I joined the freshman football team at the high school I went to called Temecula Valley High School. My team was pretty good that year and I made a ton of new friends because I got declined a transfer to Great oak High school so I had to meet all new people. I played o-line on the team and I was the starting center. My team practiced every day 5 days a week. I knew I need and wanted change for myself so I always put 120% into every drill we did. I wanted to prove that I can do anything I put my mind to. I ended up losing 50 pounds by the end of football season because I started to put all my might into football. I weighed 140 lbs. once I lost all the weight, I have now gained 30 pounds of muscle and weigh in at 170 lbs. I go to the gym 5 days a week and have lacrosse practice 4 days a week but soon 5. The gym to me is like a playground it’s like looking around and decided what you should play today. I love the gym and never gets boring there is always something new to improve on every day. Thank you for your time and concideration.

The Power of Positive Thinking

Brooke Buckland
​ASU​

The power of positive thinking is something I really took for granted until recently. It becomes so easy to get caught up in the world of chaos and negativity, and sometimes you seem to lose yourself in the process of living life. When I was younger and would have a bad day, my mother would make me say three positive things that happened to me that day. At the time it seemed silly and unnecessary, but years later I would come to learn the importance of addressing the positive aspects of the day.
This year was the year that everything seemed to go wrong. Every plan that was put into motion fell through, and difficult obstacles kept popping up on my path. It seemed that my life this year was a constant cycle of everything falling apart and trying to adjust to the unexpected circumstances life was constantly throwing at me. Typically, it is easy for me to handle the curveballs that life throws, but this year seemed to constantly wear me down. This year I had changed schools, had moved across the country and back, and was about to start a rigorous school schedule that I was not as prepared for as I thought. As the year dragged on I could feel myself feeling worse and worse, and it was starting to show in the everyday activities of my life. I began to get frustrated more easily at my friends and family, I would get upset at things that normally would not upset me, and I began to dread activities that I usually love, such as my customer service position at my job. I would wear out more easily than normal and I was constantly exhausted from fixating on all the things that were going wrong in my life. Finally, I realized that I was not happy with the way I was acting and decided that enough is enough. In order for me to return to the happy and energized person I once was, I needed to make a dynamic change in my life. The best thing I ever did was reach out for advice from people I loved and trusted. I began talking to my mom and dad about what was bothering me and how to cope with difficulties. Their advice was helpful, but there is one thing in mind that really changed the way I view life, and that thing was a video.
People like to talk about the moment that they decided to make an active change, and I can pinpoint my moment to a TED talk video about positivity. After a conversation about overcoming obstacles with my mother, she sent me a video to watch on the power of positivity. In this video the speaker spoke about how fixating on positive aspects of day to day life will help shift your entire focus on life to a more positive one. His advice was to retrain your brain to automatically think of the good rather than the bad; his advice was to write down three things you are thankful for at the end of each night for a month. It seemed easy enough so I decided to try it. Just like when my mother used to make me state three positive things on bad days, I began to write them down regardless of the day I had. The funny thing: after a couple weeks I began to notice that throughout the day I would automatically pinpoint positive parts of my day. By the end of the night, I had well more than three moments to write down. It began to impact my attitude as well. Difficult obstacles that seemed impossible to overcome seemed that much easier, angry customers were more manageable, and life itself seemed happier again. I was excited to work again, I did better in school, and I didn’t get discouraged as often when things wouldn’t go my way. People would confide in me their troubles and I would start to point out all the good things that are going on in their lives and why everything is going to be ok. No this wasn’t the perfect cure to cope with difficulties in life, but it made a visible difference in my life. In fact, it has been three months now and I continue to write down three things I am thankful for each day because it makes me more thankful for each day and helps me get through the more difficult days. I am a happier person overall, and am a better influence on myself and the people around me. Life is never going to be perfect and there are always going to be problems, but with my newfound respect for gratitude and positive thinking, I am confident that I can overcome any obstacle that is placed in my way. 

Gautam

Nathan Chiu
University of Pennsylvania

“Hey, it’s awesome to finally meet you in person! Let me introduce you to the students and the rest of the co-founders,” my colleague Gautam said with a smile and extended arm. I shook his hand firmly.
 
“Likewise. It’s pleasure to talk to you in person,” I responded, slightly worn out by the three hour flight from Boston to Dallas. For a few moments, I looked at Gautam again. I recognized his face and voice from the hours of conference calls spent working, but for the first time, I could see his warm personality and the intensity in his eyes.
 
Gautam and I could not be more different from one another, which made working on SATUS an interesting and invaluable learning experience. Conveniently, our respective home regions matched our personalities. Like the cold Northeast, I was analytical and methodical in decision making, patient and reserved in dealing with others, and focused on my work. Like the hot South, Gautam followed his instincts without a second thought, chatted incessantly when interacting with others, and passionately chased any activity that caught his attention. I was a conservative. Gautam was a liberal. I was disciplined. Gautam was relaxed. Yet, even with these ideological and personal differences, we managed to run a successful accelerator program.
 
SATUS was an accelerator for teenage entrepreneurs that Gautam and I had worked on during the year prior. I had written the curriculum and organized the classes based off of the lean startup methodology and the business model canvas. Gautam had convinced fifteen high school students to attend SATUS over the summer and had secured a co-working space for us to hold the program. While planning for SATUS, I often grew irritated at Gautam’s laidback work ethic. It annoyed me whenever I would schedule a video call with him and he would show up 30 minutes or even an hour late. “Chill,” he would say, laughing off my complaints of his chronic tardiness. After a while, I realized that forcing Gautam to be punctual was a futile endeavor. Instead, I adjusted my schedule to accommodate his lateness. Whenever I had a conference call with Gautam at 8 pm, I would research and write another part of the SATUS curriculum until 8:30 pm, which was when Gautam usually showed up. As a result of working with Gautam, I grew more flexible and patient. To this day, rather than trying to correct someone’s habits and complaining, I choose to focus on the work and adjust to the person’s behavior.
 
During the SATUS classes themselves, our teaching styles deviated drastically as well. After the speaker delivered his or her lesson, I would walk around to the different teams, sit down for 30 minutes, and listen to them brainstorm ideas. I rarely spoke during the planning sessions, only interrupting if the students strayed too far from the task at hand or if they asked me a question. Since I saw myself more as a mentor, rather than a teacher, I tried to show students the path to creating a successful startup rather than tell them the answer.
 
“Should we offer free tutoring sessions to attract new customers?” one student would ask me.
 
“Well, how would that affect the perceived value? Would you continue using the service after using the free tutoring sessions?” I would respond.
 
“Offering the free tutoring would make it seem like we’re offering low quality tutoring. I wouldn’t use the service after the free sessions. We’ll charge a lower price instead. Thanks!”
 
Through such guidance, I helped this team win a pitch competition at a startup weekend. On the other hand, Gautam certainly had his opinions heard. He would offer his honest critiques of a team’s logo or app design. “Change the font for that logo. It look outdated,” he would say. Initially, I thought that Gautam focused too much on the aesthetics rather than the core operations of the ventures. Over time, I grew to appreciate the effort Gautam placed in improving the look and branding of the ventures. After SATUS, I was shocked to see the modern, sleek designs of all the companies’ logos and websites. I realized, in that moment, that a great product or service by itself will not sell; a venture needs both great products and branding. Prior to SATUS, I would always dismiss logos and designs as secondary to figuring out how the business worked. However, through experiencing Gautam’s creativity, I can appreciate the value of a business’s image.
 
Through changing my mentality towards working with others, I manage to reconcile different working habits and bring out the best in my colleagues. Therefore, expressing positivity and gratitude towards others is essential in achieving great feats just as we did in SATUS.
 
While, I can’t say that I changed as a person because of SATUS and Gautam, I can say that I have become more open-minded to working with enthusiastic and creative people. Regardless of who I work with, I am confident that in college, I will be able to collaborate with a team to create something amazing through conveying positivity and gratitude.

Written Voice Thread

Megan Zimbelman
​
When I was in 6th grade my family moved to Florida and we reconnected with my grandpa and met his wife who we called Nana. Things were going well until a tragic event happened. Basically my grandpa shot my nana in the stomach. I wrote a poem about it that I would like to read to you.
Cop approaching
Mother’s worried.
What is going on?
Sirens blaring, helicopter hovering.
10 or more cop cars parking.
Dogs go crazy,
Mom is crying.
Nana pulled on stretcher,
We run over.
Questioned by cops,
All very nice.
Nana put into chopper,
Air vacced to hospital.
Go back inside,
A cop stays with us.
Why?
All over the news,
Small town.
Everyone at school knows.
“It had nothing to do with you, hold your head high.”
Everyone knows
That’s my grandpa.
The media exploited me. Small town. Small school. My life broadcasted.
He is still my grandpa. I can’t change that.
People know without my consent. No say in the matter, thanks to the news. That’s what you get for living in a small town.
That is a representation of what went through my mind during the time of the shooting.
While there are many details I could go into that might make the situation clearer, that is not the point of this story. The important thing is to explain what I learned through this. With everyone knowing and living in a small town, it really stressed me out. It stressed me out that people associated me with someone who could do something like that to their wife. There were whispers in students. I am sure teachers were talking about it. The neighbors definitely knew about and had things to say. This made me anxious. I did not want to be known as someone who could do something even remotely like that, which didn’t even make sense. I had nothing to do with this. But that is what I came to terms with. I had no control over what happened. Let the kids in class talk about me, let the neighbors whisper… The truth is that I am completely separate from my grandpa and his actions do not define me. Once I accepted this truth it really freed me. I didn’t need to be ashamed of what my grandpa had done because it had no reflection on me. I focused from then on, on what I could control and what I could do with the situation. I decided to make the situation grow me. I could control how I reacted to the situation and how I wanted to carry the story with me. Now when I start stressing about things, I think back to this. I now know that there is no point in worrying over things you cannot control. In regards to my grandpa, I knew the main thing I had power over was forgiving him or not. It was difficult and even awkward to face him after about a month and tell him I still love him, but I knew it was the one thing I had control over. Our relationship began to mend and my grandpa’s name and my family’s fell out of the town’s drama almost as soon as it had arrived.

Selective Mutism

Michael Jones
​ASU

My story began when I was 3. My parents noticed that I did not have verbal skills that most children my age did.  My pediatrician assured my parents that I was probably just shy and to give me time to come out of my shell.  I only spoke to my nucleus family consisting of my parents, sister, grandma and my cousin who was just a year older than myself.  I never enjoyed leaving my home to go on outings.  I preferred the comfort and solitude of my house.   When I started preschool, my teachers noticed that I would never engage with my peers nor make eye contact with anyone.  The teachers suggested I be seen by a speech therapist to be evaluated.  Being nonverbal, the therapist had difficulty in properly diagnosing me.  After seeking other professional evaluations, it was discovered that I suffered from a condition called “Selective Mutism”.  Selective mutism (SM) is an anxiety disorder in which a person who is normally capable of speech does not speak in specific situations or to specific people.
At the age of 5 and in Kindergarten, so began my journey to overcome my condition.  Along with my parents, I saw a therapist, speech therapist and had compassionate and understanding teachers. 
I did not fully understand why I could not speak to others.  I just knew that the words would not come out of my mouth even when I wanted them to.   In school, I chose one boy that I could speak to by whispering.  He became my best friend.  The school and his Mom allowed him to be in my classes with me so that he could be my voice.  The next few years were not so easy at times.  On one hand, I was a teacher’s dream.  Never disruptive nor a problem.  I was also an easy target, as I wouldn’t or couldn’t tell when others were not treating me as they should. During this time that I was silent to most of the world, I was never made aware that my life would always be in silence.  Thankfully both of my parents are optimistic people who always instilled in me that our minds are very powerful and that we can achieve anything that we set out to do, if we have the right positive attitude and see ourselves as who or what we wish to be.  I was told that one day, I would find my voice and that I too would be able to communicate as freely as everyone else.  That day finally came in the winter of 5th grade.  I soon began to openly communicate in my classroom and eventually on the playground.  I continued to make great strides in new found ability.  What comes so easily to others very early in life, was just beginning to flourish with in my pre-teen years.  I not only gained confidence in myself, but soon discovered that I can change just about any situation by believing in myself and seeing my life with this goals accomplished. 
When I was 16, I became interested in a program offered the city that I live.  It was called the Huntington Beach Search and Rescue Explorer Program. It is a program that enlists youth to go through a rigorous 12-week training regime that involves not only physical agility, but written and a lengthy in depth interview process.  You are placed in front of a three to five-person panel ranging from Police, Fire and Search and Rescue officers to openly address any questions the officers want to interrogate you on.  Out of about thirty applicants to begin, they only graduate about 6.  During the process, there were times when it seemed a difficult feat to obtain. Along with my regular studies in high school, I needed to study learn and attend classes at night and weekends to fulfill the requirement of the program.   Many of my friends that had joined with me were soon dropping off. It could have been easy for me to have an excuse as to why I shouldn’t continue, but I knew it was something that I wanted to do and more importantly prove to myself that I could do.   I saw myself in the uniform that I so desired to be a part of, and my hard work, dedication and positive thinking paid off.  I was accepted into the program and served my community for over a year and half. 
These experiences in my life has taught me that no goal is out of reach if you have the drive, determination and think positive that you can and will accomplish whatever it is you set your mind to.  

The Power of Positive Thinking

Jose Suarez

​In life, everyone goes through hard times and it’s not easy to conquer and get by. Some ways we think is the best way to get through things to lock ourselves in our rooms and just think about how we got knocked down. Others will lose themselves in their world, listening to music even. Having a bad day, well it’s just bad. We lose our way of thinking happy. With our happy thoughts gone, we drive closer to despair and depression. Times like those, there’s no arguing that people will think that thinking positive would be a waste of time. But if people give it a chance and give it patience, at the end they could be filled with gratitude. I would know, although my story is a little different.
    They say that high school changes you into a different person, you’re not the same innocent kid you once were in middle school or elementary. Entering high school, you see things differently, including your way of thinking. High school also tends to be the place where you’re most likely to get your first heartbreak. After my first heartbreak I thought my world was done, typical. I did lose myself to depressing music and my room. My friends told me to think positive, that soon I’ll find someone better. Of course at the time I didn’t believe it, but then you meet new people, new people that you care deeply about. That has taught me that my friends were right, and how you just have to wait for the bright light to shine, because even if it seems like it’s burning out, it’ll always bright up again.
    It’s not always easy to think up, like I mentioned before. We all have our bad days yes. Thinking positive won’t just help you out, but it could someone else that you weren’t expecting. You may not see it, but just by thinking positive, you start to give off an aura of happiness and brightness. The happiness spreads to other people and with just that, it can turn a frown upside-down. I remember on a car ride after getting pizza from Little Caesar's, my friend had told me that at one point he was feeling down. After a few minutes into the conversation, he mentioned that because of me, because of my excitement and upbeat way of being, I’m one of the people that keeps on reminding him why he is still part of our church group. In our group there, some of us stop going for different reason ranging from they have a job now, to them just not feeling the group no more. After being told that, I did feel a strong feeling of gratitude. All day I was reminding myself how with positive thoughts, I help a friend stay close to us. So you can also say the with positive thinking, you get a sense of gratitude at the end.
    These two incidents have helped me get a more positive look on life, but there are actually two people that have helped me see things better. When I mentioned before that I found people I care about deeply, I was referring to my friends Azsalia and Verania, who I like to call my sisters, because that’s who they are to me now. One of the basic stories of them helping me think better is where they convinced me to join the church group choir, which I’m referring to the same church group I mentioned before. All my life, I’ve always told myself I can’t sing, even if it was life or death. The only times I would sing would be when my jam was on or just messing around. Still, I would think I sounded horribly terrible. Then these two girls came into my life and just like me, they had this aura of positive thinking and happiness which got a hold of me. They told me to stop thinking like that, and told me they knew and believed I had a great voice, so they convinced me to join the choir. Once again, I felt a great sense of gratitude.
    Looking back, I learned that in my days of being a negative thinker, I was sad most of the time, telling myself I can’t, I stink, I’m not a good friend and I fail in many things. I was getting nowhere with that attitude. After meeting my sisters, I noticed that most of the time I’m with them, when I’m with my group and in other places, my smile grew. Because my smile grew, I saw more smiles around me I haven’t. Once in awhile, I would get a thought saying it’s too much and I can’t maybe. After having such a thought, I seem to find one that says that there is hope and I can. That’s how it’s been for some time now, instead of just letting myself be a pessimist.
There is a saying that goes, “Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.”  I think that’s a saying a lot of us can live up to. Thinking positive also means having hope and faith. Having faith in the things you do or will do and in your dreams. It’s about believing that the bad will go away soon, if you believe it will and think in a positive way. I also positively think that by spreading our positive thoughts, we can sure make someone’s day, and it’s important to do so because you never know when they need that one positive thought saying yes they can and we believe in them.

Dreams

Sonja Cipos
​ASU

I have always been a dreamer. Since I was very young, I wanted to be a fashion designer, an interior designer, I wanted to travel the world, be an artist, and provide everything for my family, but also visit outer space. I wanted to be an actress, and a singer, even though I couldn’t sing. I had all these aspirations, but there was one thing that stood in the way: my anxiety disorder. I could flourish in the background, but never be the one on stage. After my house burned down when I was in high school, I started separating myself from everyone around me and my anxiety started taking over my life. I will explain to you what living with an anxiety disorder feels like. You have a simple task to overcome, or even a friend asks you to go out. You think about it constantly. All of the bad things that could happen. Your body starts shaking, your heart rate speeds up, you sweat, and your mind races. I got to the point where I couldn’t even practice driving for my license test, I couldn’t see friends, and I couldn’t go to class. But the thing that differentiates me from many other suffering from mental illness was that I wanted to help myself and I knew that I could get better if I stayed positive. I had these dreams that I had carried with me since I was very little and I continued to want to pursue them. I had so many days that I couldn’t imagine ever being “okay” again, but I wouldn’t let my worries destroy my dreams. After a year of being displaced, my family purchased a beautiful, little colonial-looking home from the 1920s. And the room I was given was magnificent. With this new space of mine and my one dream of going into interior design, I decorated and painted my room with my friends, and decided to submit a video of my room and an essay to Pottery Barn Teen, where I was selected to be their new student stylist. I worked with them during my senior year and was given a sense of purpose. I was given a desk that had been my great-great-grandmother’s and I decided that I was much more than my anxiety. I sat at that desk each and every day of my senior year of high school and searched and applied for colleges all around the United States. I had been too afraid to go into the room of people to take the SAT/ACT, so I applied without that important piece. Of course, I was afraid that I wouldn’t be going to college because of how my anxiety had affected me, but I refused to let it overcome my positive thinking. I received letters from all the colleges I had applied to, and I was accepted into each one. I ended up deciding on Columbia College Chicago, my dream school. I waited a year and a half to go to it, but I did it in the end. And I stayed there for an amount that was perfect for me. I stayed a semester, made so many incredible, uplifting people, and found my creative integrity once again. I made sculptures and paintings, took writing courses, and spoke fluidly in front of my peers, all while being in one of the most wonderful cities in the United States. Because I want to travel, I decided to transfer to a university that offered fully online classes, and I found Arizona State University. Within this school, I am able to get an education and do it anywhere in the world. I must say, the power of positive thinking is remarkable. I am pursuing my passions, slowly, but I am doing it because I didn’t let my anxiety stop me and I chose to power through my fears. 

The Power of Gratitude and Positive Thinking

Corinne Creighton

As an incoming freshman, the principals of positive thinking, gratitude, and focusing on things I can control have all had a positive impact on my life.   As an incoming freshman going to Arizona State University, I experienced a crisis of identity in figuring out what I want to do for the rest of my life.  I went into a downward spiral of anxiety and depression overthinking every possible outcome of my life.  I was in the crisis that I believed being a psychology major was a waste of time, or the fact that if I switched to a business major that I would not be able to pass the classes, and the fact that I did not have the grades to get into competitive nursing programs.  Every night and day my thoughts were negatively flooded with the fact that I would never amount to anything due to my major of psychology.  I failed to see that I had already accomplished so much in my first semester of freshmen year.  Constantly running through my head were the thoughts that I would be living with my parents forever, that I would never land a fulfilling job, and that after college I would just live a depressing life.  I cried to my parents every day on the phone explaining that I was so confused on what I should do.  I went to counseling sessions just to speak my mind even though I knew that the counselors did not hold the answers to my life.  I called and questioned each one of my family members on their life and career choices.  I also spent countless hours researching job outlooks in the future and salaries.  I also spent a lot of time researching what you can do with all different types of majors.  This only had a negative effect on my mind and body.  Having these constant negative thoughts made it hard for me to focus on the tasks at hand like my schoolwork.  I also lost all motivation to get up in the morning, I also had no motivation to start my day.  I suffered from panic attacks in my dorm room and in class.
Since the start of the semester I have grown and improved so much.  I still have obsessive and negative thoughts about my life and my future but I have learned to take it a day at a time.  I am learning to find the positive in every situation.  I was influenced so much in finding my “passion” and turning it into work or following my unfeasible dreams because that was what the media was telling me to do.  I was tricked by the media by believing that if I don’t find work that I am passionate about that I will have a depressing life.  In reality for most people at least, work is work and that is ok.  Day by day I am learning to think as work as only a part of my life.  I can have a life outside of my career.  It is amazing how much better you can feel when you shift into a positive attitude.  Now, I have taken it upon myself to exercise regularly which has done wonders on my self-confidence.  Whenever I feel worried about my future I think about all the stuff I have already accomplished.  I moved across the country from my parents, made great friends in college, volunteer at our college radio, tried out for my colleges equestrian team and earned a varsity spot!  I also was lucky enough to even get picked to show in California and earn the team a third-place ribbon in my division.  To top it all off I earned amazing grades this semester even with all of the anxiety happening!
Another thing that I do when I start feeling down or anxious, is that I take the time to think about all the things I am grateful for in my life.  I write down that I am grateful to have two parents that love in support me, that I have a loving and supporting group of family and friends around me, that I have access to food, warmth, and a comfy bed when I need to sleep, and I also think about how grateful I am to be blessed with good health.  I realize that half of the negative stuff I imagine in my head are just made up scenarios that are most likely not going to happen.  I also came to the realization that it is silly to plan your life so far in advanced because life can change on a dime.  Also, that it is a fact that no one can predict where and what they will be doing years in the future.
The first semester of college proved to be a great challenge for me that I overcame!  With the help of positive thinking, I changed my mindset which has benefitted me in so many ways.  I became the happy person I was before entering college.  Practicing gratitude helped me slow down my obsessive thinking about made up life scenarios in my head.  I now can faithfully say that I will graduate college with my bachelor’s degree and live a successful life even though I do not have every detail planned out.

Keep Runnin'

Javon Freeman










The air surrounding me was tense and electrifying at the same time. BOOM! The gun had gone off and the race had started. My heart was pacing with every step I had taken. Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale were the only thoughts that my mind had allowed to go through my head. I had gone deaf. The crowd had lost their voice, the air seemed to stand still, but the only recognizable sound I had noticed was my own heart thumping as I flexed every and any muscle. As I emerged into the last stages of the race my hearing had returned and the roaring crowd had regained their voice. My only competition was myself as I hit the last stretch with 100 meters to go and a quite noticeable lead. I remember hearing chants from teammates yelling, “Let’s go Peoria!” to my own mom yelling “Run Fat boy run!”, right as my body had given out I passed the baton to my cousin and the race had continued. Somehow I had managed to muster the little amount of energy I had to lift my face off of the dirty track and watch the remainder of the race.
I have never experienced so many emotions in my life in only 3 minutes and 25 seconds. My cousin had taken the lead down from first to a very close second. He was thrown into this event just 2 weeks prior so I had already expected this in my mind. Getting the baton next was one of my closest friends. I had been running with this guy for 4 years so expectations were through the roof. He had taken the baton with the aggressiveness I had grown accustomed to the past 4 years and he ran with his heart on his sleeve. No words could even be said at this moment in time because my run had taken such a toll on my body so, I felt that opening my mouth would just add insult to injury. Behind my dead eyes was the most excited human being that had ever walked the Earth. I was proud of my team already, but anxious at the same time because the most crucial part of the race was approaching quickly as the last exchange had initiated the end of the race. 
As the race was finishing up with the last runner, my heart had been jumping out of my chest and onto the track. “COME ON, RUN, RUN, RUN, RUN “were the only words that my fatigued mind could come up with and my weakened body could communicate. “RUN PEORIA HIGH RUN” was every other person in the stands so I didn’t feel that different. My team crossed the finish line in third place. This accomplishment was bigger than life itself, the moment I had been waiting for since my freshman year of high school. My team was able to do what my school hadn’t been able to do in 4 years. We had medaled in the 4 by 400-meter relay at the Arizona State Track and Field State Championship.
On the podium we  felt like superstars with cameras in our faces and fans talking about our amazing race. What elevated this moment into a category of its own was the fact that 85% of my family had seen this race. Coming from Palo Alto, Los Angeles, San Diego, and even Chicago, this concentration of my family had never been together in my entire eighteen years of living. They had seen my cousin, basically my brother, and myself run our hearts out in this race and it had paid off. This moment in my life quickly claimed the number one spot of my all-time top memories playlist.  
But, how ironic is it that the highest point of my life came from me being at my lowest.
            I remember the night as clear as day. I had come home from a track practice, and had the best nap of my life. When I woke it was about 11’oclock at night and I hear my mom’s phone ring. Of course just another phone call. A few minutes had gone by until my mom had broken down in tears. What the hell is going on? I couldn’t understand any word she was saying. “Ma what’s wrong?! What’s wrong?!”
“Your Uncle passed away tonight”
            My uncle, Michael Freeman, had been one of the funniest people I had known. No one would ever be safe from his jokes. Not their friends, cousins, mom, dad, grandma, or even their first girlfriend. No one was safe.  He was one of the only male figures in my life, and behind all of his jokes, months leading up to his death he always talked about how proud he was of me and everything I had done almost every day I had seen him.
            We arrive at my aunts and uncles house with 2 police cars sitting out front. We enter through the front door and all I hear is my aunt crying so ferociously. One of the officers then explained what had happened. “Michael had been killed tonight when a vehicle exiting a private drive pulled directly into the path of his motorcycle”. That was it? My uncle’s years of life ended just because of some idiot couldn’t wait until an intersection was clear? Even within a room full of sadness with my aunt’s family there trying to mainly console her I couldn’t bring myself to cry. I had been preoccupied with my mom telling every family member we had that my uncle had passed, because who else was going to do it. I had seen her go through the same exact method over the course of 15+ phone calls with the same ending of “the funeral hasn’t been planned yet, but I’ll keep you updated”. I had to be strong, my older brother had already broken down, and everyone had been looking for my mom to console them, so I had to console her.
           
The schedule for next week was as follows: school all week, family flying out on Wednesday, viewing of the body on Friday, funeral on Saturday, and the State Championship Finals for track and field on Sunday. Fun week.
I was so emotionless that week of school. I couldn’t show my emotions to all my friends because that’s just not me, but I wanted too. Now that think back, I realized so many people tried to reach out to me because of what had happened, but my stubborn self couldn’t swallow my own pride and let them reach out to me. Graduations coming up, State Championship is this week, and I am about to graduate high school and finally go to a university! Happiest time of my life right. Everyday something reminded me of him and I still haven’t shed a tear for him.
Friday had come and it was time to view his body.
My tear ducts had felt as if they had exploded.
It had finally happened; everything had hit me at once. My own Uncle is gone, and there was no I way I would be able to hear his contagious laugh or see his smile in this lifetime. Why would this have happened at time like this to my family, I needed you at a time like this My selfish thoughts flushed through my head again. How am I going to run at the state finals? My teams counting on me I can’t run in this state of mind. I can’t run tomorrow, I can’t I ca…
My grandpa, mom, brother, and nana all interrupted my thought without even noticing. “Do it for him on Sunday Jay, you know he’s already excited to see you run”, my mom said with all of their hands simultaneously touching me like he had it planned.
Saturday had come around and the funeral was a celebration of life for Michael Freeman. No more tears, no more sadness, no more sobbing uncontrollably. Why were we crying in the first place? He would’ve so mad at us wasting all those tears and probably would’ve turned it into some sort of joke. Sunday morning had come and I was ready.
My coach had taken my friend and I to the finals in a van, in that 40-minute drive full of singing terrible songs, jokes, the race coming up and just life, both of them made me realize that this is what life is about. Love, not sadness.
MY ENTIRE FAMILY IS OUT HERE FOR MY UNCLES FUNERAL AND NOW THEY’RE ABOUT TO WATCH ME RUN MY LAST RACE EVER, THANKS FOR BRINGING THE CROWD WITH YOU UNCLE.
The air surrounding his was tense and electrifying at the same time. BOOM! The gun had gone off and the race had started. My heart was pacing with every step he had taken.” Run Fatboy! Come on Fatboy! You got this Jay!” my Mom had been screaming for herself and my Uncle. I knew my entire family was watching this race. I was on the podium with my team and my family had to take 1,000 pictures alone in that one sitting. I knew they were all there, saw all their faces and heard every one of their voices in the crowd of hundreds.
What if the same events occurred and my family couldn’t watch my last race? I don’t think I would have been able to run. They were the only ones who kept me afloat when I was nearly drowning. I wouldn’t have been able to keep going if it wasn’t for them being there at that pivotal moment in my life.
How could the lowest point in your life quickly bounce back to becoming your highest point so easily?
Mindset. 
These past few months have been so hard on me and sometimes I think I’ll never be able to go back to being me. Things that pull you down to your all-time low might just be the point the catapults you to your all-time high. No matter what happens you always have to have one thought in mind.
Keep on runnin’

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Diversity

Martin Barta
​ASU

Coming from such a diverse location like the Bay Area, I was constantly around all different types of people. California, specifically, the Bay Area, is prideful in being so diverse and interfusing cultures and creating new waves of change and diversity. In San Francisco alone, you will find areas such as The Castro, the largest gay community in California, or The Mission, which gives you a taste of every Latin country you could think of from Central American down to South America and even Spain! However, one common theme that occurs many times in California is most Hispanics are generalized as being Mexican or of Mexican decent. Media outlets and even other Latinos, speak mostly towards the Mexican community or make assumptions that someone is Mexican. One would believe this would the norm, considering a large population of Mexican decent, however, for other nationalities of Latinos, they tend to be forgotten many times.
Being of Nicaraguan decent, we are among that group that tends to be forgotten, but no matter what, I am proud of being Nicaraguan and will always show off my pride. At a young age, I was taken to Nicaragua and was immediately engulfed into my Nicaraguan heritage and what it means to be Nicaragüense, the proper Spanish term Nicaraguans identify as. Everything in my family has some Nicaraguan influence from our food, our diction, and even the way we dress or behave. Personally, I embrace being Nicaraguan at every chance and carry my heritage in the way I live my life. Even in my dorm, I have the Nicaraguan flag on my wall, a common theme for Nicaraguans. To have my flag hang in my dorm room and to understand what that means is an extraordinary feeling and incredible journey to say, “I’m here, I made it to college”.
Most children and adults of Nicaraguan decent, including my parents, siblings, and other family members, have had troubles academically. My dad had told me stories of how he was a great student during his childhood, but lost his way sometime in high school, forcing his father’s hand. His father shipped him away to Nicaragua and when he returned to the United States, he still did not finish high school until later into his adult life. No one in my family had any higher-level education, and although my sisters and brother made attempts, they succumbed to the pressures of work and other factors. It became a personal goal to become the first family member and of the few Nicaraguans that make it to college. Especially for my intended major, it is something of a rarity to make it to my desired career job.
Nicaraguan’s have never been particularly well known for sports or many sports figure, although there are few. Most Nicaraguans turn to playing sports to keep away from trouble and for fun and to past time. Growing up, I was active in playing sports such as football, basketball, and baseball, and enjoyed watching them. However, one sport I always loved watching and our family would hold gatherings for is boxing. Watching the fights, odds would always be against the Nicaraguan fighter and the broadcasters spoke highly about whomever the opponent was, despite the latter’s reputation. I always asked my dad, why aren’t there many Nicaraguans in sports or the sports industry, and he simply told me, “we aren’t good in anything,” and that opinion to me was always based off others criticism and the lack of recognition we garnered. I refused to believe that and in a way, has led me to here today.
Writing and broadcasting to me is a way of art and communicating to readers and viewers a new thinking within a sports topic or issue. In high school, I was a writer for the school newspaper and displayed my joy and passion for writing and voicing a story or topic that could allow the readers to ask questions and shed a new light. Writing came easy to me as I wrote with rhythm and success, due to my ability to be social and discover what others opinions are on matters and seeking new light others have not thought of or observed.
It’s difficult to foresee exactly how the future may play out with so many factors and changing in society, however I hope to change the minds of those who may simply assume I’m just another Mexican or Latino reporter. Beginning with internships and opportunities I gain, I plan on showing them my intentions to put Nicaragua on the map and to show everyone, we can make it. With the recent election of Trump, and several other factors that may be a challenge in the future, I will welcome them with open arms as I have all my life. I come from an area that as truly diverse as it could be, fails at times to capture that diversity within ethnic groups and often time generalizes, and that idea needs to change. For all Latinos, we each love our country respectively and are different in our own ways, and I hope to show the world the beauty of the Latino culture and more specifically, what it means to represent and to be a proud Nicaragüense.

I Almost Died

Corey Crossen
​ASU

Two years ago, I almost died. Despite being 6’1’, I weighed 118 pounds. My eyes were going bad, I could not sleep through the night, I had daily depressive episodes and was days away from falling into a coma when I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes mellitus.
            At that time, I kept waiting for someone to help me. Hoping that maybe someone would come along and tell me what I was doing wrong and show me how to turn my life around. With my diagnosis, I realized that my life was my responsibility. I had been given a second chance and was not going to squander it.
            I now had the opportunity to take agency. I had to measure my blood sugar regularly, eat properly, exercise, and inject insulin. Only I could do those things, and that gave me control over my physiology. I didn’t have much appreciation for the complexity of the human body until I learned about the pancreas. I ride on an extremely complicated set of ongoing chemical reactions which is quite sensitive to external and internal stimuli. Many of its functions were broken, some due to poor fortune and others due to neglect. The medicine would fix some of them but I would have to work to fix the rest.
            I made a habit of running. It was difficult. At first I could only make it about a quarter of a mile before suffering a coughing fit. Every day, I tried to eat a little more so that I could build back up my atrophied muscle. Over weeks, I steadily moved up to a three-mile route.
            Running alone in the dark, it was easy to get lost in my thoughts. At first I was trapped revisiting old pains, but gradually I was able to focus on improving my present. In an emotional moment, it’s easy to make a promise that you can’t really keep; easy to say that tomorrow you would work hard to turn it all around. In reality, I only found success improving myself incrementally.
            Only by focusing on real, tangible actions that I could perform, goals that I could set and then accomplish, was I able to improve my body, and therefore, my life. One of the first goals that I accomplished after getting sick was this: I ran a 7-minute mile. I had never done this, even before I got sick. I believed that it would really demonstrate the extent of my recovery by pushing myself beyond my previous limits.
            It would be difficult. I made a playlist of two songs, perfect for running to. Each lasted about three minutes, thirty seconds, so when the first song ended I would know my pace based on how close I was to the halfway mark on my mile route. This worked perfectly and I finished my mile with about ten seconds left. I coughed up a lung and walked home in triumph.
            Though real life is a continuum, I believe that this moment punctuates my transition from sickness to health. After this, I was able to move beyond my depression and make lasting changes to my lifestyle, to feel and be better than I was before.
 
            I went back to school to pursue Aerospace Engineering again. With my newfound perspective on agency, I was able to recognize my limitations from before I got sick and move past them. Where before I was passive, I instead strove to act. I collaborated with others when otherwise I may have worked alone. This approach allowed me to perform better in my classes and make new friends at the same time.
            My pursuit of physical exercise led me to a group of people playing a game called Jugger. In this game, ten players fight with foam weapons to control a ball shaped like a skull, and plant it in a goal on opposite sides of a field. I can run fast and fight well, so I found that I was pretty good at Jugger. A team called the Desert Wolves asked me to join them, and last summer, they invited me to travel with them to Europe to play in a Swedish tournament.
            Later, I found a group of people that were as excited about the future as I was: I joined a team called Luna-H Map, led by Ph.D. Craig Hardgrove, to work on a shoebox-sized satellite that is scheduled enter polar orbit around the Moon in 2018.
            I saw an event at ASU where Orbital ATK spoke about their internship opportunities. There, students had the chance to work with real rocket scientists, building flight parts and designing components for practical applications. I applied immediately.
            A few months later, I got a call from Mike Groenwald and Matt Derr at Orbital. They interviewed me over the phone, and invited me to the facility to meet them in-person. I told them my story, talked about my skills, and said how excited I was to be there. A week later I got the call and after returning from Sweden, I started my internship as an engineer.
            Today, I weigh 180 pounds, I’m in the best shape of my life, my health is totally under my control, and I was recently invited to stay beyond my six-month internship at Orbital ATK due to my performance there as an engineer. I am returning full-time to ASU to continue Aerospace Engineering classes in the Spring, and though I am taking on student loans to pay for classes, I hope to seek financial help from you as well.
            My life is extremely positive and I have more opportunities now than I ever dreamed before I got sick. I owe almost all of my success to the change in perspective that my illness granted me. Only I had the power to improve my own life, and that is an incredible blessing that I am happy to share with you today. 

The Power of Positive Thinking

Jake Disarufino
ASU

The power of positive thinking is the single most important thing in my life. Positive thinking is what keeps me going every single day. When I was a kid I had a lot of knee pain but I did not like to complain so I never said anything to my parents. I lived with my knee pain until my junior year of high school when in a soccer game I tore the cartilage in my right knee. I went to my doctor and he told me that I had been walking around the last ten years with almost zero cartilage in my knees. From that year the next two years were the most painful for me both physically and mentally and it was the power of positive thinking that kept me going and kept me happy. I first want to explain why I need positive thinking so much in my life and then I will explain how it was the most important thing to me these last two years. When I was a young kid I had extreme mood swings whether it was into happiness or sadness or anger. I hated these mood swings and because I was young I did not know how to deal with my emotions. I rarely thought positively because I often was either sad or angry and rarely happy. Than at the age ten I heard the phrase “the power of positive thinking” and being a fairly thoughtful child I decided to try and figure out what the power of positive thinking was. I came to the conclusion that I could control my emotions that I did not need to be sad or angry as much. If I focused on what was good in a situation, no matter how small, than I could be happy in every situation. If I thought positively in every situation I could make it through anything. It was with this mindset that I went through the hardest situation in my life. These past two years I have had three knee surgeries gone to two different universities and lost a three year full ride scholarship because of the afore mentioned surgeries. When I had my first surgery on my right knee; my doctor told me that I would never need another one. Despite the immense pain and the long recovery time I focused on the positive, I focused on getting stronger and recovering. Every day I felt a little better and I focused on that until one day it was not my right knee that was hurting it was my left. I assumed it was nothing I wanted to be positive. As it turns out my left knee’s cartilage was even worse than my rights so much to my doctor’s surprise I had my second knee surgery. I was also told that I would never get an army ROTC scholarship which meant my chances of going to the college I thought I wanted to go to was essentially impossible. I refused to think about that however, I decided to think positively, and out of sheer force of will I worked harder than I had ever worked. To get and ROTC scholarship I needed to get a lot stronger in a very short amount of time, so I worked through the pain and got stronger. Even though I was told it was impossible I got a three year full ride scholarship because of the power of positive thinking, I got into the school I wanted to and I had it payed for. That is where the story should have ended. However my second week of school all my hopes were shattered; I got a call saying I had been medically discharged from the army. This meant that I had lost my scholarship which meant that I could not pay for the rest of school and I would have to transfer to Arizona State University. I focused on the positive again and thought at least I get the year and when I transfer home I would be with my friends. It turned out though that I hated my major and my school and on top of that the surgery that was on my left knee began to deteriorate and I learned that I would have to have a third more invasive surgery. Unfortunately I could not have the surgery until summer so I was in constant pain and miserable. I will not lie that I did not think positively during that time I fell into a deep depression for a very long time. I was sad for a very long time and I got to the point where I did not know if life was worth living anymore. But one particularly hard day I was sitting alone and I noticed how quiet it was and how peaceful everything was and I was happy. I thought positively for the first time in months and I remembered how it felt to be truly happy and I did not want to lose that feeling. So every day after that I decided to think positively and I am once again my happy self. I hope I got across how important the power of positive thinking is, it can literally change your life because nothing in life is ever as bad as it seems. If you just think positively you can do whatever you strive to do in life. 

What If?

​Jiaqi Li
ASU

If your grade was the last 10 percent of your school, do you still have the courage to apply for one of the top colleges in your country? If no one supported you or you’ve never been abroad before, are you still brave enough to go to a different country for graduate school? I do and I made it! I can’t achieve all the accomplishments without the power of positive thinking. If you have a dream then go for it, work extremely hard and never give up! My grade was the last 10 percent in my high school but I always want to apply for college in Beijing where there’s a better education environment and more cultural/international resources. I told myself it’s great chance to challenge myself. After two years’ hard work, my grade was the top 1 percent in my province and I successfully attended the Communication University of China (the top university in media/journalism area in China). I was lucky in the fact that I picked advertising as my major in my undergraduate period which provided me opportunities to have access to many wonderful ideas and different cultures. What’s more, my experience during my undergraduate education allowed me to find my real interest, improve my ability in many aspects and determine my career goal. My first semester at college was a rude shock - being away from home for the first time, being in a brand new environment with different living and study style from high school. At the end of the first semester, I ranked the last second, which made me frustrated but didn’t defeat me since I never gave up even when faced with big difficulties. My hard work got paid. In the third year, I ranked in the top ten and my GPA improved to 3.5 from 3.0. This experience taught me that I can make it as long as I tried my best, think positively and never give up. And I know that I have the ability to be the best which also allow me to pursue further study. I saw a documentary about hospital volunteering which touched me so much, so since September 2014, I worked in Beijing Children’s Hospital as a volunteer to guide patients giving them instructions and help. One of my jobs was to accompany children when they were having kidney dialysis. I also teach children with leukemia to paint and make the handwork. I have got along well with the children and really enjoyed the process since I can help to relief their pain from diseases. That’s why I changed my major to public administration/nonprofit management when I came to the U.S. for graduate school. At first none of my family or friends supported my choice. They thought I was insane to spend so much money and go to a new country where I know nobody. But I determined to fulfill my dream of perusing a higher education and experience a different culture in the U.S. I’m very lucky and grateful to join one the top 10 MPA programs in the U.S. at ASU. When I just came to Phoenix which was my first time to go abroad, everything was new and scary considering I was all on my own here. But I know what my goal is -helping people explore their interests and potential as much as I can. This summer I helped teens and adults learn how to go to college and get more education as an intern with the College Depot at the Phoenix Public Library. My current intern is at the Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS in Phoenix, where I support fundraising and community outreach activities to help people know more and prevent the disease. I also work at the University Help Center as a customer service specialist helping people with all different kinds of questions. What’s more I am a volunteer at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, serving as the point of contact for patient families and visitors in the Surgery Waiting areas, ensuring the comfort of family and children. I did all of these in a new environment with a new language and there’ve been many hard times for me but I successfully made it. My friends are always amazed by how many things I’ve done considering I’m still a full-time student. It takes a lot of hard work and I need to be multitasking all the time. My secrets are that knowing your goals, being positive to make the most of what you have and never give up. I hope in the future I can help more people in a nonprofit or public service area. That’s why I want to apply for Achieve today scholarship which encourages students to explore their potential and change our lives in a positive way. Life is a journey: I’m ready to experience and enjoy whatever life will give me.

Overcoming Challenges

Natalia Kupiec
ASU

My name is Natalia Kupiec, I attend McHenry County College, and I will be transferring to Arizona State University in Fall 2017. I’ve been through many challenges in my life, but there was one time where it was hard for me to function normally for a long period of time. In 2014, I injured my back, I couldn't walk. Everytime I tried walking, I would get shooting pain up and down my body. I would have to leave school early and miss classes because I was in so much pain. I kept losing hope of me being able to be active again. I had to see a physical therapist for six months. I met my physical therapist that day and I saw the love in her eyes for helping. Her goal was to get me walking again and to rekindle my happiness. Her name was Claudia. She did everything to help me when it came down to my physical therapy sessions. Not only did I get better, I also had a bond with her. She helped me walk again, and when it was my last time seeing her, she gave me a very special necklace. This necklace was no ordinary necklace-it was the pope's face on it. She said every time she had it with her, it brought her luck. This meant a lot to me. Claudia inspired me to become the person she is. I stayed positive on this whole journey, I had hope and every day I woke up with a goal to let go of negative thoughts. Ever since, I’ve become a positive person- I feel as in my heart is in peace. My goal is to finish school with a Doctorate Degree and work with people that need help. I want to be able to inspire people and help them. With a positive outlook on life, I can change lives and turn people’s days around. I don't want to be an regular Physical Therapist-where I see patients and don't know anything about them. I want to be able to connect with my patients, and get to know them as people, and see them grow and get better along the journey. I have a passion for helping others, because when I do, I feel complete.
       At Arizona, I will work hard towards my goals and show everyone I can get through any obstacle that will be in my way. I believe health and wellness are the most important aspects to our life. After I was able to walk again, I got inspired to work at a wellness center. I had no experience with any medical field jobs at the age of 18, so I saw a job opening for a Physical Therapist Technician. I applied, and kept coming into the clinic to show everyone how passionate I was about getting this job. One day, I came home from school and I got  a call that I got the job. I was a Physical Therapist Technician at the age of 18. I learned so much about health, body movements, and how therapy is beneficial. I also learned how to work with machines, and patients. On a fine afternoon when I got to work, I found out today was a big day for our long term patient Dan. Dan was 22 and he got diagnosed with a disease that one day he couldn't walk. He didn't walk for three years, and that day was the day we were going to help him walk again. When Dan arrived, I saw the fear in his eyes. He told me he doesn't think he can walk again. I told him to trust all of us, because we would get him through anything. I talked with him to calm him down, and when the doctor came into the room, it was time. When Dan stood up, I already knew he was going to succeed- slowly but surely, he started walking. His face lit up like the sun, and it was the most amazing feeling for all of us. I love seeing people get better, and know that this is just the beginning. Progress takes time, but with patience and a positive attitude, anything is possible.

Focusing On Things You Can Control

Eric Huerta
ASU

In this essay I will explain how following a simple personal development principle has helped me get where I am today. Living by the principle of “Focusing on Things You Can Control” has definitely made a positive impact in my life in many ways. There have been events in my life that have been challenging but having the right mindset has really allowed me to overcome these challenges and come out even stronger as a person.         
            An early example of this is when I graduated high school back in 2002. I went to high school in a poor area and just graduating high school was a big accomplishment. There wasn’t much talk or guidance from counselors about college because most of the kids I went to school with never went to college. After a year of doing pretty much nothing I remember being frustrated and upset because I felt my life wasn’t going anywhere. I knew I didn’t want to be like my friends, who were out partying, drinking, doing drugs almost every weekend. Even though I love and respect my parents, I also knew I didn’t want to grow up poor and living paycheck to paycheck. I decided that I was going to live my life by principle of “Focusing on Things You Can Control” and start living the life I felt I was meant to live.
The first task I focused on was getting myself into college, which was difficult because I had no one to ask for advice. Neither my parents nor my three brothers went to college. Two of my brothers actually decided to join the military right out of high school because they felt they had no other choice. Where we grew up it was get a job, have kids, or end up in jail. There wasn’t much of anything else going on around us that we could use as a positive example. I didn’t want to follow in my brother’s footstep because the military lifestyle just wasn’t for me. I focused on what I could control and since I didn’t have anyone I knew that could help me get into college, I decided to just walk to the local community college and ask for help from the employees that worked there. I can remember being so clueless and going almost every day for over a week. I did everything they asked me to do, step-by-step, to get enrolled. It was extremely frustrating because I had no idea what to do but I knew if I just focused on what I needed to do, I would take back control of my life and get where I wanted to be. I stuck with the process and was finally a college kid. Even though I have yet to finish my degree, this experience gave me the confidence I needed to take on any difficult situation.
            Another event that happened to me was when I had my first child. I was working as a banker, not making a lot of money, and my wife was not working at the time because we could not afford daycare. It was a very challenging time in our lives because I wasn’t making the money needed to live a comfortable lifestyle. We were down to our last penny every paycheck and I felt like I was just getting myself into a bigger hole with no end in sight. On top of that I was waiting to get promoted to a branch manager but there was no timetable on when it was going to happen. It could have been a month or six; it was all depended on when there was a new opening. I remember feeling very defeated and I wanted to just give up on becoming a manger and leave the company because I felt it was unfair that I had to wait when I was struggling financially. The pressure of supporting my wife and son was overwhelming at times and I didn’t know what to do. I then decided to go back to the principle of “Focusing on Things You Can Control” and that really turned things around for me. I started going to work with a better attitude, being the best employee I could be and really trying to set the right example for my team. I would behave as if I was the manager even though I wasn’t because that was something I could control. I also kept a better attitude at home and didn’t take my frustration out on my family. It wasn’t their fault we were in this situation, so why take it out on them? Applying the principle of focusing on what I can control allowed me to turn things around and start living in the moment. I wasn’t worried about when I would get my promotion because that was going to happen soon or later, I just needed keep working hard and be patient. Soon after that moment and staying focused on what I needed to do, I was soon promoted and we are in a far better place.
            In conclusion, this personal development principle is what has helped me become the person I am today. Life can be very frustrating if you are constantly focused on things not going your way. I found my peace on focusing on what I can control in my personal and professional life and it has allowed me to become the man I am today. I am currently a husband, father, branch manager, and a college graduate (expected in May). None of which would have been possible if I didn’t focus on what I can control. A lesson I plan to teach my little boys as soon as they are old enough. Life is so much more enjoyable when you know you’re in control. Thank you. 

Overcoming Struggles

Mindi Stone
​
Overcoming struggles can help someone become a better person.  Like forging metal in a fire, the difficulties in life can reinforce a person, making them stronger through introspection and perseverance.  I have gone through those fires numerous times in my life, and each time I have learned more about myself and what is important in life than I knew before.  I was born with Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber Syndrome, which prevented me from walking properly and eventually causing me to have several surgeries.  In order to prevail over my surgeries and syndrome, I learned how to keep my eyes on what I can control, and recognize what I cannot.
                The syndrome itself was a struggle in my life, but it only played a part in the major crisis of my life.  However it is important to mention, my syndrome caused my left leg to grow at a faster rate than the right, and eventually I had an inch difference in length between my legs.  This caused me to have my first surgery, with intention to slow the growth of my left leg so my right could catch up.  Roughly two years after my surgery, my family and I went to a place like Jumpstreet.  Somehow my leg bent ninety degrees to the right rather than forward and back like it was supposed to, and that was the beginning of another six major surgeries in my life.  From wheelchair, to crutches, to cane, my junior high and high school years were spent between physical therapy and my school desk.  After the second or third surgery, I had lost hope that I would get better and no longer believed I could walk without assistance again.  Yet despite that, I still did several more surgeries in hopes to repair my leg.  One of the most profound lessons I learned was that working at getting better and feeling I could get better are two different things.  It is not that I did not need hope, but stopping then would guarantee me not walking again.  Continuing to try gave a chance of improvement, no matter how small.
                Education took great precedence in my life, which still does, so I continued to strive for high grades despite the surgeries and long physical therapy sessions.  The pain medications made it difficult to focus, but my mother was very supportive and helped me with flash cards and other ways to study.  With her and my family’s support, I kept steadfast in my schoolwork and never made any less than a “B”.  Other than study, I always did my best at physical therapy to get the muscles back that had atrophied from my recovery time.  I even ended up having a healthy level of muscle.  When I could not exercise, I studied.  When I could not study, I drew.  Although my leg prevented me from walking right, my hands were in perfect order.  Art allowed me to focus on my creative side and have a break from the exercising and studying I had to do.  I may not have been able to change the fact I could not walk or I kept needing to have surgeries, but being able to focus on something I could proactively do helped me through that troubling time.
                At first life looked a little bleak, after my last surgery the doctors could not do any more for me.  My physical therapist suggested my family and I keep trying, so we ended up with a chiropractic nutritionist.  Through him, I learned the importance of healthy eating and a balanced lifestyle.  It sounded strange to me that my eating habits could make such a difference, but I decided to change my diet to see just in case.  I could not easily change my leg from being that way but I could change what I ate.  It turned out that my intestines were damaged from all the pain medications, and through a change in my diet, exercise, and a little chiropractic treatment, my leg finally healed the best it could.  I was able to stop the physical therapy, but I still maintained exercise along with my new eating habits.  I ended up even losing weight, and became a happier person knowing I could walk again and that I never gave up.  Now I am healthy, active, and even my studies have paid off.  I still have never made less than a “B”, and I am a proud honors student as well. 
Sometimes are most difficult times are our most significant moments in our lives.  Even in a bleak situation, always find something you can change, no matter how small.  Focus on that, and what seemed so insignificant before can be a game changer in due time.  Always find something to keep you moving forward, no matter what it may be.

Focusing on Things You Can Control

Linsey Thibault
​
My goal in life has always been to obtain my PhD. I graduated in high school in 2003. I went to a Junior College where I received my Associate of Arts in 2 short years. Right after receiving my AA I went to a University and received my Bachelors of Science. That took a little bit longer to get. A lot of different events happened and it prolonged me on obtaining this degree, but nonetheless in December of 2009 I did just that. Now fast forward quite a few years. I applied to a graduate program. After my application was completely submitted the waiting begun. I told my husband every day that I was so nervous. What if they didn’t like what I had to say in my personal statement? What if they didn’t like what my recommenders had to say about me? All these questions were going through my head.
Friday November 18, 2016 I received an email that I had been waiting on. I was accepted in to the master’s program I had applied for! I am one step closer than what I was to the PhD. The first person I wanted to tell was my husband. The only problem with that is he is 9.5 hours ahead of me in time. He is currently stationed overseas. So I called my Mom and my Mother-In-Law, my Great Aunt, and best friend. I let them all know. I waited up until 1 am and finally my husband got the message to call home. I have to say there is no greater feeling then when you have so many people backing you. My husband told me, “See I told you that you could do it. I knew you would get in. Sometimes you need to have more faith in yourself and it will all work out.” He was right.
Throughout my life I have had a difficult time staying positive because it seemed like I was getting hit left and right with bad. At 15 I was in and out of the hospital. By the time I had turned 17 I had already underwent 5 surgeries. At the age of 25 I was almost homeless because my then partner in life had left me and took everything I had. I got home from work to find that I couldn’t get in the house that we had bought together because he had a new significant other. A week later I was let go from my job because they didn’t need my anymore. At the age of 27 I was at the mercy of nature. I had built myself back up from everything that happened just 2 years prior, to have the river that was close to my house flood and destroy everything I owned.
I knew something needed to change. I knew that the place that I was in was no place for anyone. I was full of self-doubt and was a having a pity party. I said enough was enough. I started looking at life in a new way.
Instead of saying what did I do to deserve this? This is so awful. Why does all these bad things keep happening to me? I want to runway to a remote island where no one can find me. I started saying ok this happened, what do I do to build from it? How can I better myself? What can I do to make the situation that I am in better.
I could not control what my body was doing at such a young age. I could not control what former people in my life did. I could not control the economy. I could not control nature. What I could control was how I reacted to the situations that were handed to me.
I took a deep breath and started writing down everything. I wrote what happened, what lead to each event, and ways to resolve the problem at hand. At the time I finally realized that I needed to get out of the place that I was in, many of the problems had already been resolved. I was hanging onto that grief and wouldn’t let it go. This was another thing that I wrote down. I put everything I could onto that paper. At that point I knew everything would be alright. I stopped letting bad situations and bad people control my life. I looked at everything in my life with a find tooth comb. I ended some friendships that we very negative, that brought me down. I got rid of the clutter that I once thought was important. There was a whole new prospective on life.
I could not control anything that had happened and that is what I was trying to do, grad school included. I am truly blessed with having an amazing husband, an extraordinary support system, 4 cuddly dogs, and a wonderful life. It may not be the most graceful 31 years or the most fascinating 31 years, but they are my 31 years. I may not life how some of the events in my life have happened, but I wouldn’t change any of it. I have learned so much from everything that has happened and I know that with everything I have learned I am that much stronger. With any bad circumstance comes a learning situation. It’s not what has happened to you, but how you react to what has happened.
 
Thank you for taking the time to read my words. I hope your day is filled with joy.

Positive Thought

Ray Didier
​Arizona State University

Henry Ford, founder of America's proudest line of automobiles, famously said “Whether you think you can, or think you can't---you are right.” In this year, I have discovered how profoundly right Ford was, how opening a locked door is sometimes as simple as reaching for it with the key that was in your hand all along. That key is your own voice: your own positive affirmation.
            For the first 25 years of my life I believed that I couldn't ( and so I didn't), do what it took to become what I knew I was meant to be. Then my grandmother, with whom I was very close, passed away and left me with a newfound resolve that life was too short to be ruled by fear. Positive thought began to take over and as much of an upward struggle as it has been, I have found that is more than powerful. It is the very fuel that sparks the ignition of our hearts and drives us forward; it is the catalyst that miraculously transforms a bleak, miserable, and thankfully short lived shadow, into a thriving, vibrant, and fulfilling existence worthy of what we here on Earth call life. Positive thought has altered my identity, changed my future, and transformed my most intimate relationships.
            The closet is a gloomy place: a place full of fear, shame, and self doubt. When I came out as a transgender man it took more courage than I thought I possessed. I had struggled my whole life with the contrast of who I was expected to be in society versus who I felt I was inside, and this manifested at times in social recluse, in feeling sick in many romantic and familial situations where I was expected to play a womanly role, in blocking out whole chunks of painful childhood memories filled with dysphoria, in bouts of depression, anxiety, panic disorders, and a whole string of eating disorders that required medical intervention for multiple infections, metabolic disorders, and a few serious intestinal dysfunctions. All of these problems were not the problem. All of these dilemmas were symptoms of the real problem: that I believed I couldn’t fully be myself and that the fulfillment of living my life as my true self was impossible. I was told I couldn’t and believed it.
            People can tell you whatever they want; it only matters what you tell yourself, because you will only believe yourself. Every other voice out there is just a suggestion, an application for you to choose to accept or reject—if you accept it and repeat it to yourself, then it has the power to imprison you. So I stopped accepting the voices around me that had pressured my since birth to present as a woman, and began listening to the voice inside that told me who I really was. I began to believe I could. I spoke to myself positively, and it changed who I was.
            “Anyone who stops learning is old,” is another saying from Ford, “and anyone who keeps learning stays young.” Positive thought is contagious. Once you tell yourself you can, there is no stopping you. Coming out was impossible, but I did it. When that happened, I looked around and thought, “What else can I do that is impossible?” The answer was readily there: school. I have always wanted to finish my bachelor’s degree, but the staggering price of higher education told me I couldn’t. It crippled me before I even  started crawling. I come from a poor family with nine children. I was lucky to find a job that would give me full time work a dollar or two above minimum wage and three sick days a year. But I have started down a road of doing the impossible, and I am not about to go back to limiting myself. I have always been obsessed with nutrition, taking free classes online wherever I could. I early learned about the changing food industry and the epidemic of the overfed and undernourished giving rise to disease across the globe. I’ve avidly watched documentaries on agriculture and dieting effects on populations, studied the chemical reactions in the human body as it broke apart nutrients and how it utilized them, and wanted more. So here I am—making the impossible possible. Making my dreams come true: going back to school to learn and then better the world around me with my knowledge. All because I believe in yes; all because I am telling myself that I can and I will.
            Positive thought is doing something else, too. It’s transforming my marriage. You might even say it has saved my marriage.  I don’t put a lot of stock in marriage as an institution, but I believe that my partner and I have something extraordinary and worth holding onto, and I nearly lost it all because I couldn’t stop the vicious cycle of negative, self-depreciating thoughts I found myself drowning in. “Don’t find fault, find a remedy,” said  Ford, and I was busy finding fault in myself. When you are only looking down, you can’t see the sun shining above. I made it my partner’s responsibility to feed my self-esteem, to give me confidence and believe in me enough to make me happy and keep me going. My partner gave me love, but it wasn’t enough to save me; I had to tell it to myself, and I wasn’t. It nearly crushed us as I became more and more self-conscious, not owning my own thoughts and neglecting to love myself or positively affirm myself. It took couple’s therapy to wake me up, to realize that nobody’s love can reach me if I am not loving myself, and that I must stand up and take ownership for my own happiness. There is no better, no other way than to affirm yourself through positive thinking.
            So it may seem silly to some, but I look in the mirror and tell myself the positive, self affirming things I need to hear. Often I put a hand over my chest and speak to my body, and feel the stress physically drain out of me. This ritual has changed my identity, my future, and my most intimate relationships. It’s transformed my life. When I read about this scholarship, I knew this opportunity was for me. This is my theme. I like to think Ford would be proud of my drive. I can’t wait to go back to school and earn my degree. I can’t wait to live the impossible life that positive thought has empowered me to finally live. 

Why I am Pursuing a Career in the Healthcare Field

McKenzie Bingham

My parents got divorced when I was young. This was a difficult time for me; but with the strong support of my mother, I was able to accept this reality and get myself focused in school. My mother, who is a Nurse, encouraged me to study hard and do well in school. I followed her advice and set my goals to take my schooling seriously and set a goal to get all As in my classes. I knew that if I wanted to go to a competitive college program that I would need to get excellent grades.  I also knew that I would have to apply for scholarships. I appreciate school and realize the importance of getting a good education in order to become an educated and productive adult member of society.
 
    My career interest since grammar school has always been to work in the medical field. My mother is a Nurse with a Pediatric specialty. I have always admired her and the work that she does. I would go to her office frequently and watch her work. I am proud of my mother and impressed by her skills.  She knew that I wanted to work in the medical field and she encouraged me to seek out my own specific interests. I have done 20 hours of shadowing at both Sumner Pediatrics and Family Care Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts. I found both of these experiences to be educational and rewarding. I decided that I wanted to be a Physician Assistant. My mother supported me to come to my own decision on what career field I wanted to pursue. Although I chose a Physician Assistant field I was greatly motivated by my mother’s own career field as a Nurse.
 
    Using Positive Thinking, I set my goal to be a Physician Assistant. I made a plan to maintain a GPA of 4.0 and become a member of the National Honors Society. I knew that I would need to study hard and take courses that would put me in a good position to be accepted into a six-year Physician Assistant program.
 
  I have always enjoyed school and take my studies seriously. My favorite subjects are math and biology. I was selected as a member of the National Honors Society and also received the Wellesley College Book Award in 2014.  I graduated from Ludlow Senior High School on June 4, 2015 with a weighted grade point average of 4.24. I was ranked 7th in a class of 198. I focused on my high school goals and with my hard work I reached my high school goals. This placed me in good standing for the next step; to get accepted into a Physician Assistant program.
 
    I have worked at an elderly Assisted Living Facility where I enjoy working with and caring for the residents. It reinforced my choice to work in the medical field where I am able to care for others. I have also learned that I enjoy working with a diverse group of people. I believe that providing quality medical care for people young and old is not only a rewarding field but also good service to your patients. I believe in being professional and caring towards each person. Treating them as a human being and giving them quality care is a worthy occupation in life.  I was pleased to see many people appreciate my efforts. It brought some positive energy into their daily lives. I made a special effort to talk each time with an elderly woman with Alzheimer Disease. I would always give her a positive comment on her clothes or appearance. She surprised me by remembering my name all the time. This experience had a significant impact on me in developing my maturity and insight on human behavior. I feel that I am a mature and responsible young adult with well thought out plans for my future.   
 
    I was accepted by Springfield College in Massachusetts for their six- year Physician Assistant Program. When I graduate I will have a Masters of Health Science Physician Assistant Degree.  One of my concerns is whether my family will be able to afford the costs because of the expense. My family does not have the money for me to go to college and I will have to take out significant loans. I have one younger sister and my mother is a single mother who works very hard to give us what we need. I have learned that costs for higher education are very expensive and this is why I am applying for scholarships; reaching out in hopes to get some help for my future college needs. If I win this scholarship it will reduce the loans I will have to take to pay my bills.
 
   I am excited, very motivated, and enjoy going to college. I finished my first semester with a GPA of 3.76. I will become a licensed Physician’s Assistant. My degree is in a field that I have great interest and will also allow me to provide quality medical care to people in my community with human dignity and compassion. When I graduate as a Licensed Physician Assistant in 2021. I plan to work at Bay State Medical Center in Springfield. I want to begin there to get a broad exposure to medical issues and concerns. I will be a great Physician Assistant.
 
Community Service
 
   I believe that a human being should make a meaningful contribution to society. I was raised by my family to appreciate people of the world who are less fortunate. Each year we would contribute to different community service projects. We have bought a goat, helped build a water well, paid for a child to have surgery for a Cleft Palate and sent money to a family to India. I have sponsored a Christmas party for the past three years for children at a local women’s shelter.  I believe that being a respectful person each day is important both for my own Life Journey but also towards others.
 
AWARDS
 
1. National Honor Society
2. Make a Difference Award: I was one of a hundred students in the state that received The Make a Difference award at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston.
3. Abigail Adams Scholarship in recognition of outstanding MCAS scores.
4. Wellesley College Book Award a counselor selected outstanding student award.
5. Center for Human Development Certificate for sponsoring Christmas parties for children in local shelter for the past 3 years.

Opportunity Thinker

Angela Truong
Arizona State University

Opportunity Thinker Hello my name is Angela Truong. I am a Vietnamese American and I am currently an undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Business Human Resources. A dream goal or professional goal of mine is to become a Human Resources Manager for a well-known company such as Google. However, my personal goal is to become wealthy enough to take care of my parents in the near future.

Here is a little introduction; my parents are immigrants from Vietnam. They decided to move to America because they wanted my brother and I to have a better life in America since Vietnam did not have many opportunities and it was a poor country. My family of three and I started out with nothing in America. We didn’t have two dollars, nor one dollar, but zero dollars. We originally lived in Westminster, California. My parents did not speak any English therefore it was extremely difficult for them to find jobs. I remember my father would travel 3 hours away from home to do some odd job and my mother would cut pieces of fabric for a couple cents per garbage bag. The language barrier made it extremely difficult for them to find well paying jobs. They tried to learn the English language but they could not because their mentality was to always work to provide for us. There were times where we could not have dinner together. My parents would feed me and they would eat nothing. They wanted to make sure I was fine before anything else. This was not the life for my family.

We all moved to Arizona when I was about 4 years old. My parents opened up a nail salon here. My dad did not want my mom to work for anyone else because he was afraid that someone would take advantage of her since she did not speak any English at all. After they had the nail salon, their English progressively got better. I used to resent my parents for not speaking any English and not buying America snacks because they were too expensive and we could not afford them. At lunch, I was ashamed of opening up my smelly lunch box because I did not want the other children to make fun of me. I wanted a normal American life. I was ashamed of being a daughter of parents that knew nothing about the American culture.

I finally understood their struggles, sacrifices, and pain when I grew up. My shame turned into my pride. I cannot fathom the thought of my parents struggling as immigrants. Today, my parents are in their 60’s, still painting nails, catering to customers every whim, rubbing people’s hands and feet just to provide food on the table. They work 7 days a week more than 12 hours a day. They are getting older and will no longer be able to use their hands anymore. Their obstacles and struggles have been tough, but they sacrificed a lot to provide an education for my brother and I. One day, I want to be successful enough to make sure they never have to work again.

I started off my sophomore year of college being diagnosed with thyroid cancer. I was always fatigued and exhausted to the point that I could not finish an assignment. This experience was rough and I wanted to take time off school. My parents always pushed me to continue with school. Just because I thought that quitting was an easier way out. My parents inspired me to continue with school. I know that everyone has struggles, but knowing about my parent’s struggles made me want to persevere even more. This experience has taught me to work hard even when life hits you hard.

There are two types of thinkers. There is the opportunity thinker and there is the obstacle thinker. An opportunity thinker sees obstacles as challenges and has a positive attitude while overcoming them. They persist longer and exert more energy. They are usually more successful. The obstacle thinkers are the ones that give up on their goals easily. Having cancer has made me became an optimist person and a strong motivator. I did not let a struggle define my success. I learned to time managed, prioritize tasks, and I became an opportunity thinker instead of an obstacle thinker. I always encourage everyone to always try and never give up. Even when school gets stressful sometimes, always think of positives to help you overcome your obstacles. I also share my parent’s story because I want to encourage everyone even when times get tough, never give up. Always aim for your goals because it will be worth it in the end even if it feels like it takes forever.

​By telling these stories, my goal is to spread positivity and compassion in others. This is the power of positive thinking. The reason why I go to school is to take care of my parents in the future. My parents have sacrificed everything for me. I appreciate every little thing, but I appreciate my parents more than anything. I am extremely grateful and I want to show gratuity to them when I can. They gave me everything and spent nothing on themselves. They always made sure I was healthy and needed everything before they worried about themselves. I want to make my parents journey to America worth it. I want to make them proud. 

Worrying Less, Living More

Beau Salazar
Arizona State University
​
​            Every person has been told by someone else they need to get a good job if you want to live a successful live.  Young adults today know that a college education will get them towards a good job.  If they want a great job, then post-graduate schools are a must, and the requirements getting into those schools are a demanding workload and a stressful few years.  Everybody gets caught up with how much effort the classes require a student to put into it, in order for them to pass the classes with good grades.  Also, that student might have a job and spends on average twenty five hours working in order to survive while going to school.  Don’t forget if they couldn’t afford to meet the tuition from scholarships or savings and have to take loans out, and know the burden of all the debt that adds up over the years.  Most of these people are in their early twenties and have a lot on their plate. 
            The stress piles up on a student with all the demands life puts on them, and they panic and become overwhelm with everything going on in their life.  Their heads are constantly spinning twenty four hours a day, seven days a week.  They don’t put 100% of their effort in school because they are constantly thinking what else needs to be done, or don’t have enough time as they would like to put towards their studies and cause stress to build up.  If there isn’t enough time, they can’t cover all the material and can’t perform to their potential in the class.  This is a repeated cycle that most students get caught up in and half of them struggle to get out of this cycle.   They bring all this negative energy through the law of attraction.
            The law of attraction reflects that every positive or negative event that has ever happened to a person was attracted to them.  They brought the positive energy that resulted in a positive result or vice versa have a negative result brought to them by negative energy.  The law of attraction differs from the saying “hardwork pays off” because people can work as hard as they want but still bring negativity with them and they don’t see the results they want to and will bring more negativity around.  Most people will try to not associate with those people because they feel like their negative energy will rub off on them.  Now a person being positive all the time will bring a great sense of energy for everyone they are around.  Students who have a positive law of attraction bring out confidence in not only themselves but other people as well.  They believe they will accomplish their goals and don’t let their minds second-guess themselves.  They are the people who are the most driven and accomplish their goals, especially working hard, because they envision on their success and always stay positive. 
            Students stress on the slightest things when stuff goes wrong and get lost, instead of taking a step back and recovering their mind off of their task, and being able to go at it again with a positive mind at it.  They are many different coaching methods for students to learn from, so they are able to not make the same mistakes again bringing that negative energy with them.  Using the coaching methods for the law of attraction will have them ask what they want, make them believe that they can do or have it, and receive what they rightfully deserve in return.  The biggest factor for young adults is having a stable clear mind, and using the law of attraction will guide them to what they deserve to have.

Black Is Not Just a Colour But a Culture

Hassan Arekemsse

Black is not just a colour but a culture.Born in Africa specifically Nigeria on the midday of February 7 , 1991. I grew up in a big family knowing education as the biggest legacy and path towards everlasting poverty alleviation and sustainable development.
     My parent worked so hard and succeeded in paying my tuition through primary school, high school and medical school. I graduated as a physician in March 2013. Woah !!! everyone was proud of me but I knew this was just the beginning of my strive to being a leader.
      I worked as a physician for 3 years in a struggling federal government hospital with limited equipment and manpower . However, i decided to further my education. I was successful admitted into the prestigious University of Evansville for a masters in health Service Administration August 15 ,2016.
      It's called a struggle to finish because after my masters I will go in for residency in internal medicine and then my PhD in health service administration.Through all this struggle towards emancipation and self sufficiency, it's always being my parent sponsoring me.
      At this point, I need help and support from individuals who can foresee where am going and how big the picture his. I wish one day, I will be the position to give scholarships to people who are eager to succeed but aren't privileged to.
       Conclusively, I believe givers never lack and Africa will one day be great again.

The power of positive thinking

Alexus Williams
Grinnell College

Recently my career path shifted from entertainer to historian. The credit for this change goes to the amount of knowledge I acquired this past year. Last spring, I took an African American literature and an African American History course. In addition, this summer I completed a 30 page research paper under a historian and Urban and Regional Planning professor at the University of Iowa on the experience of African Americans in Iowa. I won’t say that police brutality in the news and the Black Lives Matter Movement did not have any influence on my decision. But the number one reason for my change in career plans is due to learning about the history of African people in America.

I did not read a lot growing up. Most low-income Black children in Chicago don’t because it is rarely emphasized in the home and there are only a handful of Chicago Public Schools producing students that go off to college. As a result, reading smacked me dead in the face as I stumbled over words reading aloud in class after I was accepted to transfer to a magnet high school and then again even harder when I decided to attend a prestigious liberal arts institution in Iowa.

History and I met in Iowa in the spring of 2015. Prior to our meeting, dance and creative writing were in the spotlight of my life. Creating short fiction stories and showcasing my ability to choreograph and freestyle Hip Hop dance, which had been cultivated in my neighborhood on the south side of Chicago, were priority. But History and I fell in love within the first assignment. He told me stories similar to the ones I liked to write except they were real. He took me places like Mississippi and New Orleans and taught me lessons and skills that were familiar. Although I struggled with reading, I read continuously to become more efficient and because the new information made me question everything around me.

I am drawn to History because it puts a lot into perspective. I learned why many of my aunts and uncles spent a portion of their lives in prison at some point, and why my uncle who was rumored to be a crackhead stole money out of my pocket while I was asleep once. We lived in an oppressive system which forced us into public housing projects and prison was just another way to strip African people of their right to vote, own property, and make a decent living. Since we had virtually no money, my family members began selling drugs to make a living and some of them used their own supply. While it was devastating to face the plight of African Americans every day when I came home from college, I was forced to because I lived in it. I watched the drugs dealers and crackheads out of our car window wondering how we had gotten to this point and how to reverse it.

Learning this history made me very skeptical of the White people I interacted with at school because History taught me that African people in America were suppressed while others had access to fresh foods, better jobs, better schools and therefore a longer, more prosperous life. I channeled this new reality by studying the contributions African Americans made to society including food, appliances and music. I began to appreciate Black culture a bit more because it has evolved from a lack of resources and a collective struggle. I decided to invest my time into books about African American history hoping to improve current communities in the process. I plan to pursue graduate school to focus on African American History because becoming an expert on the history of African people in America is important if I would like to change our communities. Marginalized communities are immensely affected by unequal access to health and dental care and the quality of public schooling in the U.S. I recognize that I have the opportunity to change these aspects that I am not happy with if I want to take on that responsibility.

Though my dreams of improving African American communities are enormous, the youth I encounter in these communities are the reason I have shifted my focus to maintaining my undergraduate GPA in order to be admitted into graduate school to give back to them. My goals to implement youth summer programs with mentoring, tutoring and guidance on topics of nutrition, dental hygiene, finance, etc. will be attainable with patience and positivity. Regardless of minor setbacks in school, I believe everyone should have an equal opportunity to live a fulfilling and prosperous life. The past year has shown me that there are people that need me more than I need to dance.

The power of positive thinking

Letitia Tajuba

When I became a teacher a few years ago.  I would say to myself that no matter the circumstances that the year would wonderful.  In 2010, I was not in that situation.  I was working with a not so great company and I was struggling to make my ends meet.  I remember telling myself while I would walk into work every day, that this is not my last place and that by the end of the month I would be at a better position by the end of the month.  My boss would curse at me, and tell me how horrible I was.  I was depressed and nothing was going the way that I had plan. 

So, I made a plan.  Every day when I walk in to work from my birthday and on.  I would be nice to everyone.  I am going smile to my boss who is not so nice, and I was going to put my best foot forward.  All while I was constantly praying, and saying to myself that no matter what that by the end of February I would have a new career.  Low and behold there was a crazy winter storm heading towards where I was living at the time.  I was thrilled and scared at the same time because that meant that I could possibly get some time off.  My roommate and I planned a way for us to make it safely to her parents’ house in a nearby town.  However, my boss was adamant that I was going to be safe walking in this storm that knocked out power in the US Government for nearly 9 days.  I am from the land where snow falls, and I have seen it all.  I knew that this storm was going to be dangerous because people who lived in this area were not used to these snowstorms.   I was upset and nervous because within two hours of the snow falling.  There was nearly 4 inches on the ground. I got off work, and headed straight to get to my roommates’ parents’ house. I get there, and sit in a corner to just decompress and watch the snow fall.  During that time, I was interrupted by phone calls from my boss, and emails as well.  He kept asking for a video that was in his VCR, and I kept my phone shut off.

Throughout those days cooped up in a house with about 12 people.  All I did was think about what I can do and where can I apply.  So for about 4 days.  I applied to different positions throughout the DC area and beyond.  What I did was contact people who I knew. With the thought that no matter what by the end of February I would have new career.  After taking a break and enjoying the rest of days off.  I went back to my toxic office situation.  On the very first day, my colleague and I were yelled at for not going in during the storm.  Where I was staying there was nearly 14 inches of snow and no public transportation was running.  I could not afford a Taxi, and my roommate’s mother was adamant that she was not going to let me go to work.  Needless to say, he wanted one of us to shovel his sidewalks. Right after that meeting, I got a phone call it was from a school that I used to volunteer for.  The principal was so excited  to hear my voice, and first thing she said was “How soon can you start?” I told her that I could come in the next day.  That day, I came in did my sample lesson, and met some of my now closest friends.  At the end of the day, I was hired.  I became a teacher. 

I was skeptical about becoming a teacher.  I was impatient, moody, pushy, ambitious, and so many more things that I felt made me not qualify to be a teacher.  My family scratch their heads because they were nervous about me becoming a teacher.  It was not until I learned how I was doing until my 7th graders begin to protect me from the shenanigans that other students were doing.  I began to gain confidence in my teaching.  I began to fall in love with every aspect of teaching.   Until, I started to noticed what my purspose as an educator was to my students.  I noticed that they were failing out of college, and that many of them lack the skillsets that most college students needed.  I began to become miserable at my job because I was beating myself up, because I did not know the answers to helping my students succeed.  So I decided to go to Grad School so that I can able to work with as many students in their collegiate careers so that they can graduate from college.  This scholarship will help with many expenses so that I can continue with my classes and complete my Masters.

Hard work will take you far

Bianca Anuforo

Most people look forward to that “college experience.” Being able to not only make new friends, but to make connections and embark on the journey to the rest of their lives. Some people are fortunate enough to have someone invest in their education, while others are privileged enough to afford an education. Many students like myself have to work our way through college, literally and figuratively. Statistics shows that students, who work, often have lower GPAs than their non-working counterparts. Sometimes it’s frustrating to know that you have to work overtime for an education, while your peers get to enjoy and embark in the true college experience.

            I realized very early that I needed to work hard to pay for school. Although I was a high achieving high school student, it didn’t really show when it came to merit scholarships for a lot of schools. I didn’t qualify for work-study, so I had to settle for the less appeasing jobs, but hey at least it made me some money. It sucked having to sacrifice, freshman events and having the chance to meet new people, all in the name of working for tuition money, but hey, its life.

I was always a hard working girl, so after awhile, working everyday didn’t bother me, until I was diagnosed with a chronic illness. Determined as I ever was, taking a leave or quitting was out of the question. Due to a great support system and motivation from family, I was able to continue my studies. Even though I had to work less, it ignited me, knowing that I had the resilience to keep going all in the name of education.

In 3 years, I was able to accomplish what some adults still don’t have and that’s financial literacy and responsibility. Having to buy my own groceries, books, pay my bills and tuition has taught me the art of budgeting, smart spending and management of available resources. I know to not spend what I don’t have, leaving me with no outstanding credit card bills, buying groceries in bulk, so I don’t have to budget for food every paycheck and to pry myself away from the technology addiction. Being able to save money on my phone, by reducing my monthly data and forcing myself to use my phone only under Wi-Fi, or unless it was a dire need. Not being afraid to clip coupons and taking advantage of the free stuff that universities love to hand out to students during the on campus festivities. Over time, I’ve never appreciated money as much as I do now.

            Over the past 3 years, no matter how hard, emotionally, financially or even spiritually it got, I always kept my eye on the prize, the prize being my degree. My primary goal for going to school and obtaining my exercise physiology degree has always been to become a doctor. Not only do I want to be a doctor, I want to be that doctor that gets their patients to adopt healthy lifestyles, but to improve healthcare for minorities. Minorities have been prone to many chronic illnesses, majority of which are highly preventable through diet and exercise. As a student and social justice advocate I know how socioeconomic status affects health and access to healthcare. Sometimes if my patients aren’t able to, I hope to use my privilege of having a big salary to help get them started on picking healthier groceries. Furthermore, I will have a plan to create local cost effective and time friendly diet and exercise regimens that not only reduce the occurrence of chronic illness, but also prevents them. I want to be that doctor that my patients can relate to. The one that knows what it means to count coins for survival, the one that had to work twice as hard as everyone else to get the basic needs. I want to be a friend to them and in return give them what I struggled to obtain while I was in college. That alone is enough to always leave me thinking positively.

I’ve come to appreciate the many people that use their finances to invest in the education of students like myself. Even though I may not be a recipient of those funds, just knowing that somewhere in the world, there are many people that still think of the working students and struggling students is humbling to me. I still struggle to accept that I’m still going to be in debt as a result of chasing my dreams, but its satisfying to know that when its all said and done, the cliché graduation phrase, “I did it” will mean so much more. If there are any lessons that I will hold dear to me that college has taught me, it is to remain positive, hard work may not get you exactly what you wanted, but it will take you far.

The powers of thinking positively

Emma Roach

Growing up in the Caribbean island state of Trinidad and Tobago I was immersed in cultural traditions. Those dear to my heart include: dancing in Carnival day parades; lighting deyas for Divali, the festival of lights and; participating in re-enactments on our Emancipation Day holiday. It sparked my awareness in culture and people and as I grew older, I developed a keen interest in tourism. 

I was accepted to study Tourism Management at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus, Barbados. Upon my acceptance, I became aware that I would receive no financial support from my family. Heartbroken, I fell into a state of depression as I imagined what life would be like without a college education. As upset as I was about my parents not contributing financially to my education, it was not their fault. They themselves never went to college and although middle class, their finances did not allow for their child’s tertiary education. Set to embark on, what I imagined a mundane life, I began to retreat into my bedroom daily. I was mad at the world because I thought I would not achieve my dream. 

My faltering attitude led to my aunt Joycelyn inviting me to her home for a weekend. I was not keen on the invitation initially. Aunt Joycelyn garnered a reputation for inviting her nieces over to assist with housework. I was unaware of her intention behind this particular visit. Rather than the usual assigning of chores, we spoke for hours. It was unusual to say the least. Though I knew my aunt loved me and we would sometimes speak on general issues in our lives like community gossip or an upcoming event; we never once had a conversation at length revolving solely around me. She began to ask of my dreams and my aspirations. I told her about the disappointment I felt from not having the finances to begin university and how depressed I was by my friends leaving for school to pursue their own dreams. Rather than encourage me to continue working and save money towards attaining my dream in the future, she told me to “Wake up and attack the day!” I was told that I am no longer to retreat to my room and surround myself in self-pity. I needed to think positively. Positive thinking is described as ‘the process of creating thoughts that create and transform energy into reality.’ Thinking positively can therefore bring ideas and dreams into fruition. If I wanted to go to school, I needed to think positively and do what was necessary to fulfil my own dream. I could not expect anyone to hand my dream to me. After my conversation with aunt Joycelyn, I was renewed. 

So, at eighteen years of age I had to figure out how I was going to independently fund my tertiary education in a foreign country. In addition to savings from my work at that time, I researched funding opportunities from various agencies and was able to secure grants that financed the entire program. I studied in Barbados for one year before being transferred to the Bahamas for the final two years of study. I was able to complete the program with first class honors and was the first member of my family to graduate with a university degree. The experiences learned from living in other Caribbean islands enhanced my perspective of different cultures. I was able to interface with persons of various backgrounds as campus living afforded me the opportunity to reside with persons not only from the Caribbean but from all across the world. 

After the completion of my studies I worked for the Tobago House of Assembly within the Division of Tourism and Transportation. There, I was provided with the practical skills and experience which subsequently led to me being hired at our country's leading tourism developmental agency the Tourism Development Company Limited (TDC). Since the beginning of my undergraduate studies positive thinking guided me on the course to employment at TDC and from 2010 to 2014 I held two supervisory portfolios at the company. 

Working in the administration of the industry afforded me the opportunity to interact with persons from various backgrounds from all across the globe. I delighted in the fact that each day I got to experience another side the world. However, to effectively function in my chosen industry I realized that I needed to enhance my proficiency in international business and technology. Though I did not possess a wealth of resources, my aspiration was to pursue higher level education in the United States of America (USA) as I wanted the chance to learn about cultures outside of Caribbean waters and the USA is one of, if not the, most diverse country in the world. I applied and was accepted to Georgia State University to complete a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in International Business and Information Technology. As a result of positive thinking, I am currently pursuing my dream. 

As a tourism professional, I hope to utilize my experience, talents and education towards economic development via business and technology strategies for the tourism industry. My dream is in motion and it was ignited by the introduction of positive thinking in my life. I am grateful to my aunt for teaching me the powers of thinking positively and I now spread this message to others and testify to its ability to revolutionize one’s life. My advice to anyone now, whether old, young, student, employed, single or married is to first, think positive thoughts!

The law of attraction

Christian A. Bogans
Valley Forge Military College

Although I am still pretty young and thank GOD have not had an overwhelming number of bad experiences. As a young man I automatically associate the law of attraction with financial reward, but I have also learned that it's more then just attracting financial gain.  In 9th grade I began playing football I was angry with my Mother for not allowing me to play as a young time.  She allowed me to take gymnastics and ballet lesson but she refused to let me play football because she feared I would get hurt. So, when I began to play football in high school the expectation to be a high performing athlete was real.  I had never worked so hard to trying to be the best in all my days.  Although I have tried positive thinking  to help me pass test or to achieve something but I realized it never worked.  So, mother is a religious woman and she instilled an understanding of GOD and the Law of Attraction.  She taught me how the law of attraction will play a part in my future successes, my friends and financial gain.  When my mother was diagnosed with cancer I was in my fourth year of attending sleep away summer camp.  My father suddenly left after my mother was diagnosed.  After his sudden departure he began financially abusing us, slowly cutting off all sources of financial support.  My mother was fighting cancer and trying to maintain a normal life for me without any distractions.  So, during this time it was very important for her to keep me grounded because of the instability in our lives.  I really didn't know how my mother managed to send me to camp.  I knew, I had to think positive and good thoughts in order for me to receive anything good or wonderful in my life. Even when we didn't have enough food or money to buy food or gas my mother somehow made sure it never affected our daily lives.  I would often see my mother praying in the morning and at night, I did not understand who or what she was praying for while on her knees.  So, as I was sleeping she was praying and attracting good things into our lives.  Watching my mother apply the principals of the law of attraction into our lives helped me develop my own understanding and ability when I needed to apply the laws.  The laws of attraction do not work when you plan poorly.  For example, if you don't study and don't practice hard then it's likely no matter how you attract the law into your situation it will never happen.  You will be left with a feeling of disappointment and anger.  The ability to learn to use the laws of attraction to reach the minor goals set for myself has served me well.  In relation to my football playing goals and the law of attraction I was never recruited by the top colleges or offered large football scholarships.  My mother reminded apply to all the colleges I had an interest and make them aware of my interested in playing football.  She had encouraged me to apply to eight to ten colleges.  I only applied to four, I limited myself for fear of rejection.  The law of attraction does not work when you have fear or doubt present.  After I followed through with applying to the colleges that were of interest to me including expressing an interest in playing football for their teams.  I was accepted into each and every college I applied, the offer to play football.  I really couldn't believe it but I was accepted into each and every college I had applied and even the offer to play football.  I think youth have to understand the law of attraction and how to use it to attract positive and wonderful things into their lives.  Using the law of attraction takes practice but once you master or perfect the ability to attract people and things into your life, you will develop a peace.  This peace will surround you when your presented with stressful or confusing situations.  The laws of attraction will flow through every aspect of my life if I am open and receptive.  My mother used the laws of attraction to bring healing during her sickness, to help find the finances to send me to college, to help us meet our daily financial needs when my father left and to keep us from becoming homeless throughout the school year.  Then I learned to use the laws of attraction to help me get to were I am at this moment.  I am now in College playing football. I will be faced with many more challenges and situations that will require me to overcome.  And I will first call on GOD and then I will draw on what my mother taught me about the law of attraction.              

Focusing on things you can control

Javid Rzaguliyev

Life isn’t always what it seems and my life is no exception to this. Growing up in Azerbaijan, being torn from my ancestral homeland and becoming a refugee all by the age of five years isn’t the life any parent wishes for their child. It wasn’t a life I wished for my family and I was only a child but understood that this was something that was out of my control no matter how much I wanted just to be a normal kid with normal friends and normal home life. What I did realize from a very young age is that I could control what I became in my future. I could become someone, anyone I wanted to be if I applied myself and didn’t squander my gift of learning, as my father would say. Accepting that I am in control of my mindset and attitude, was the beginning of accepting myself for who I truly was.

Like all things war comes to an end or an agreement or truce in our case, and family relocated to another city in our home country and life began to return to some sort of normalcy. I could focus all my energy on my studies and this is exactly what I did. The education system in Azerbaijan caters to the best and the best only, second best is not an option. To get into the best schools in the country, the Presidents Academy of Azerbaijan, you cannot afford to come in second in your class. I always had this in the back of my mind as I studied harder, slept less, and completed isolated myself from a social life. Some may take pity on me but this is what I knew I could control, and I knew it was what I needed to be the best me I could be. Sacrifice a little fun now for an exceptional future later. 

When I got accepted into the prestigious Presidents Academy of Azerbaijan, the celebrations were wonderful. My family had come together, from all over the country side and surrounding cities to celebrate my top marks that placed me on a full scholarship to the Presidents Academy. As I looked at cousins aunts uncles family friends and neighbors that I hadn’t seen since before the war came, I couldn’t help but be drunk with joy that my decision to be the best me, focusing on what I knew I could do and setting my mind to it, had brought me the greatness that I had hungered for, the love that I loved being in the midst of, nothing could be more perfect at that exact moment for me… except to graduate from the academy with top honors and then the sky had no more limits, this I was sure of.

Needless to say I did graduate with top honors and planned to spend the summer soaking in all that I had accomplished, but as the journey of life would show me I wasn’t allowed to be content yet. My father and uncle approached me no sooner than my foot had hit the ground, as I got off the train, their smiles beaming to tell me the great news that I had been given the privilege to study abroad in America! I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, I had just conquered my dream and here I was about to embark on a dream I had dare not dream, for I thought it was too great a stretch at that particular time in our lives. Even more shocking and quite honeslty scary, was that I would be leaving in only a weeks time, and I would be making the trip alone, nothing but a few pieces of luggage and well wishes, to start fresh in a whole new country on a whole new continent, with a totally different culture and way of life, and I would be alone as I began studying for a new degree, an American degree in Atlanta Georgia.

This was the dream of all dreams and I couldn’t believe my luck. I buried my fear deep inside of me and again I told myself this is something you can control. You can go to America, and be the best you can be and great things will surely be the result! As I said goodbye to my family and way of life a week and two days later at the airport, I was determined to be as confident and joyful, for my parents sake, as I boarded a plane for Russia, that would take me to new York city, where I would stay with family friends for a couple of weeks to get a crash course in American culture, before being shipped off to Georgia to go at my new life alone.

After getting settled in Georgia I realized the English I spoke was not the English spoken in America, everyone and every word sounded different, no one spoke the “proper English” we are taught back home and to my horror I realized I wouldn’t do to well in school if I couldn’t even keep up with the American English that was so foreign to my ears. This new problem wasn’t going to stop me, I knew I had the ability to overcome this obstacle and that is exactly what I did. I studied English first and although it prolonged me actually getting to start my true degree, I knew this foundation would only help me build on my ultimate goal to be successful and graduate with honors from an American university.

Fast forward to 2015 and here I am, a senior at Georgia State University, double majoring in Accounting and Finance, and a GPA of 3.87. It has not been without a difficult yet rewarding journey that I have made it this far. I am so close to accomplishing not just my dream, but the dream of my family, so far away yet always managing to send encouraging words and letters and phone calls.  This scholarship will help me to complete this dream, my dream, my family dream my American dream.  To be able to study and focus on the things I can control have gotten me this far. As I finish my last year of study a scholarship to help offset the rising cost of education will do me tremendous wonders and allow me to focus on what really matters, graduating with honors.

The law of attraction gave me the wake up call I needed

Braylon Lee

I believe that the law of attraction is one of the most powerful rules of life. I use it everyday to reach my goals and ultimately my dream. In the 2013-2014 school year I fell down from a 3.0 Cumulative GPA to a 1.0 Cumulative GPA. Now in all of the years of my student career that affected me tremendously. But I had to change my thinking because whatever you think that is what you will become. The key to making my comeback to my 3.0 was time management. From where I was spending time at to what I was talking about, I had to create good but not only that I had to believe that I was creating good. One of the biggest things I had to learn is in order to receive good, you must make yourself present and available to give good. I remember everyday that I was on campus I would always talk about success and how to get it, the more I gave the more was given to me. One of the opportunities that was presented to me was to be a Senator to represent undergraduate studies and talk with students, make changes to improve their experience in college while getting a chance to teach success was a amazing opportunity because I attracted the opportunity because I created good.    

Now I believe that everyone has strengths and that when used correctly can make a effective change toward the vision that a group, organization or a person is trying to fulfill. My biggest strengths are being conversational, strategic and on purpose. Being positive is a huge strength because in order to attract good  you must understand the benefits of creating good . Understanding the good instead complaining about the bad,  you have the opportunity to not only become grateful but have information to understand why you should be grateful. Being strategic is another strength. In order to complete a assignment or a task, you must have a plan to get to that result by understanding what you are dealing with, you will have a clear focus on what decisions to make to get the job done. Finally being on purpose is my biggest strength. When you are on purpose you are connected with what you are supposed to be doing, for example if someone wants to be a good student they must do things that align with them being a good student from tutoring to networking. So in order to attract good you must do things to align yourself to receive good,  everything that you do must align with what you are supposed to do. 

Your purpose is a big part of the law of attraction. I have learned that my purpose is connected to foundation, mindset and business. What my foundation symbolizes is from Little Rock, Arkansas where I learned hard work and discipline. The hard work is from studying to tutoring in order to complete the work you must understand what you are working on and the discipline is from the fact that I am doing something that matters with not knowing what the outcome will be. In order to have a strong foundation you must think about things that will create a strong foundation from the people you spend your time with to what you are watching. Everyday I wake up on purpose because when I wake up on purpose I must to everything in my power in order to carry out and fulfill my goals in order to complete my purpose. I learned that my mindset can produce thoughts that can affect what I do, when I create good I can attract good. The more positive I think on the better my results will be. Lastly how I conduct business effects how much I am able to do. I use this rule of profit/deficit is every meeting that I go to, are the people I am surrounding myself with and are the events I am going to, are they going to create a profit or deficit. The profit is learning, growing and more while deficit is pain, suffering and more.  

The law of attraction gave me the wake up call that I need and thanks to tutoring, study strategies and the emotional support of my parents, mentors and GOD plus me using my self-discipline and work ethic I am now at a 2.78 Cumulative GPA on the verge of being back at a 3.0 Cumulative GPA. I believe receiving this scholarship will help my passion for success will grow because of the opportunity to achieve today and the future. In the words of Steve Harvey, "The Dream Will Propel To Get An education." I believe, "In order to know where you are going, you first must know where you have been." I have learned that by projecting what I want to attract along with the power of dreaming and knowing my foundation, there is no doubt that I can be anything that I want to be.

Born too soon and defeating the odds with positive thinking

Jared Matthew Brown
University of Central Florida

Being born a premature infant was a true testament for me and my parents based upon how we faced the challenge of the “unexpected.” My mom often talks about my premature birth and reflects upon the many blessings that occurred at that time. I was born on November, 4, 1996, weighing one pound and 13 ounces. Of course my mom tells the vivid story as if it just happened yesterday. She arose early on that cool Monday morning at 6:00 am preparing to head out to work; however, an extremely nagging cramp prompted her otherwise. So she made the decision to contact her doctor’s office to ask if she could see the doctor because something didn’t feel quite right. Unfortunately, the doctor’s office wasn’t open yet and the answering service attendant suggested that she head to the emergency room. And she did, but little did she know that November 4, 1996 would be the day that she gave birth to a one pound, 13 ounce baby boy.

After checking in at the ER desk, my mom explained that she had no intention of being admitted. However, following the nurse practitioner’s brief examination, it became very clear that she would be admitted and moved to the labor and delivery floor. The nurse practitioner explained to my mom that the next step would be to page the obstetrician to request that he report to the hospital. As one can imagine, my mom then became very nervous and frightened, as any mom would. Of course, her mind began racing with thoughts of “will this baby live” or “will he succumb various medical issues?” Medical history proves that normal birth weight babies remain in the womb for at least 36 weeks, and babies born less than 28 weeks usually have a dismal chance of survival. My mom told me that I was delivered exactly at 26 weeks (six and half months), which was by far, way too soon. Per my mom, my original arrival date was February 14th, 1996, so needless to say my parents were really in fear of my extremely early arrival. My mom says that it appeared to take forever for the doctor to arrive after the nurse paged him, but once he did, he responded with somewhat of a doom and gloom prognosis. The doctor informed my parents, “It would be best if you all contact your clergy, the baby is breech (not in the head down position) and we’re going to have to deliver the baby immediately.” Even today, my mom often reflects upon the doctor’s initial prognosis and she feels absolutely certain that her positive thinking and God made up the difference and made all things possible.  She explained that hearing the doctor’s prognosis made her stomach curdle, however she wouldn’t take the doctor’s word as the “only” prognosis. My mother recalls hearing my faint little cry right as the doctor cut the umbilical cord. It was then that she breathed a sigh of relief. Her next fear was to check to see if I had ten toes, and ten fingers like that of a normal baby. So after a quick baby scan she breathed a second sigh of relief – all my parts were intact. She described her fear of holding me when the NICU nurse bundled me up and handed me to my mom. My mom mentioned that I was so fragile and tiny, but she soon got over her fear and began the skin-to-skin contact which is so therapeutic for preemies.

Following my premature infant research, I learned that less than one percent of babies in this country are born this early, and sadly enough, these babies have the most medical complications.  Extremely low birth weight (less than 2 pounds, 3 ounces) babies require special care. Almost all require treatment with oxygen, surfactant, and mechanical assistance to help them breathe. They’re also too immature to suck, swallow, and breathe at the same time, so they must be fed through a vein (intravenously) until they develop these skills. They often can't yet cry (or you can't hear them due to the tube in their throat), and they sleep most of the day. These tiny babies have little muscle tone, and most move very little.

Compared to full term babies, babies born at this time look very different. Their skin is wrinkled and reddish-purple in color and is so thin that you can see the blood vessels underneath. Their face and body are covered in soft hair called lanugo. Because these babies haven't had time to put on fat, they appear very thin and fragile. Most likely, their eyes are closed and they have no eyelashes.

Premature babies have a higher risk for one or more medical complications. However, most babies born after about 26 weeks' gestation do survive to one year (about 80 percent of those born at 26 weeks and about 90 percent of those born at 27 weeks), although they may face an extended stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).  Unfortunately, about 25 percent of these very premature babies develop serious lasting disabilities, and up to half may have milder problems, such as learning and behavioral problems. But I’m a true testament that I most definitely beat the odds. I’ve had zero setbacks other than a little minor issue with childhood asthma, which I’ve outgrown (over time).

I truly know that I’ve been blessed beyond measure and I’m proud to say that I have no disabilities. With much love and care I soon progressed from a one pound 13 ounce baby boy to a whopping four pounds and was able to be released to go home. That date was January 24, 1997, and my parents could not have been happier. Of course my parents continued their vigilant watch as care takers; for the first year of my birth, especially due to my low tolerance and fragile immune system. Because of my extreme prematurity, I knew that I had to work harder than most of my peers in order to excel in academics to beat the odds. My mom recalls that I was a bit slow to begin walking (13 months old), but she says once I did I was off to the races. My parents were eager to teach me phonics as a toddler and I soon began reading (the one or two liner books) at the age of five. In our household, my parents always highlighted the importance of education, education, education. So there was no doubt that I would excel in elementary and high school and attend college.

The lessons learned throughout my “pre-mature”  journey have really benefitted me in every area of my life. My early childhood dream was to become a professional football player. However, over time I’ve since changed my dream and have decided to work in the healthcare field to help serve others.  I’m currently enrolled as a freshman at the University of Central Florida. If my inspirational story is chosen as a top contender, I will apply the scholarship funds to help further my college education to obtain a position in the Healthcare Field impacting others through health and fitness of the mind, body and soul. It is my goal to utilize my past life experience at beating the “premature infant” odds to inspire the many families and individuals within my community. I have no doubt that my testimony can and will motivate others who face disadvantages in life, to continue striving to “beat the odds.” 

Positive thoughts about brain cancer

Karen Barragan

In Mexico City, I lived a life that most people would have never considered ideal. My family of five and I lived in a one sized car garage, surviving off of my parents’ fruit stand. To me, my life was more than enough because I was blessed with one thing a united family. Although we weren’t the my wealthiest, I never had to worry about anything because my parents never failed to provide. At the age of seven, I would’ve never anticipated my parents urging me to pack all of my belongings and head out. “¿Papa adonde vamos a ir?” (Dad where are we going?) I asked as we walked to a worn out bench on the side of the road. The look on my father’s face said it all. We were on the outskirts of San Diego, in Escondido, with one suitcase, fifty dollars, and no where to go. I didn’t understand it at the time, but my family and I migrated to California without any form of stability. My parents had no plan, they had left Mexico on pure faith that we would arrive and God would provide. We spent the next couple of months without a roof over our heads surviving in community parks. Summer days became shorter and nights became longer as my father, an immigrant with a middle school education, took on the futile challenge of finding a job. As a seven year old, all I wanted was to be with my family, together, even if it were homeless in a community park. My parents were the only thing that were keeping me strong, and the nights I needed them the most, they were not there. They were in a different city looking for a job and could not afford a cab. Days would go by and I wouldn’t hear from my parents because there was no way of communicating with them. Some days, I wasn’t sure if they were going to return and I had to care for my two siblings. While my brothers slept, I stayed awake making sure they were safe, and began to figure out how I was going to feed them the next day. There were days that I would go without eating because my brothers were my priority. Regardless of how difficult times got, I never failed to provide food for them, if it were the most minimal piece of food. It was difficult keeping my family strong when I could barely pull myself together. After eight months, my father found work as a mechanic. Just when my life was slowly coming together, my mother became very ill, she was taken to a hospital in San Diego, where she stayed for four months. During that time, I took on the role of the mother in my household. Every day, I walked my brothers to school, made sure they were fed, and maintained the house. Rather than looking at my duties as a burden, I did everything I could in order for my mother to have peace in mind at the hospital. Even when my mother returned, she was in a state of depression for a year, and I continued my duties at home. In a way, I sacrificed my childhood so that my brothers could have one; it was worth it. I never grew tired of the duties that I upheld, it was an honor to assist my family. I am grateful for the things that I have been through because they have shaped me into the ambitious and empathetic person that I am today. My ambition comes from attaining a higher education in order to one day give back to the less fortunate communities. As an immigrant in the United States, I have strived to take advantage of all of the opportunities given to me in this country in order to set an example for underrepresented minorities. Ever since my arrival to the United States, I have learned that this country is a place filled with opportunities, it is just a matter of taking them. There isn’t necessarily one path towards success, every individual is different, however, I have learned that attaining a higher education is my way to success. Every difficulty that I have encountered in life has taught me to work for what I want. I have worked hard my entire life and will continue to work harder at the University of California, Santa Cruz in order to one day realize my life long goal of becoming a Pediatric Oncologist. I am a dreamer whose ambitious attitude comes from setting goals and taking every opportunity to achieve them. To me, a dream is much more than an idea or a thought. A dream is a goal I plan to achieve through dedication and hard work. Making a dream “possible” doesn’t mean that the dream will be any less more difficult to achieve. I know that I will constantly fail in life, but I will never let those failures get in the way of my goals. Even the most successful leaders have once failed, but my experiences have taught me to improve myself through certain failures.

Positive thoughts about brain cancer

Angelyn Dodson

My baby nephew was diagnosed with brain cancer in April. No brain tumor is good, but this one was particularly bad. It was one of the rarest, most aggressive and least treatable of all the tumors found in children. So my summer was spent in a children’s hospital. And I have to say, there’s nothing quite like spending weeks on end in a children’s hospital staring death in the face to change a person’s perspective. We heard a lot about positivity in there. Somewhere in between the radiation and music therapy, there was always a speech about continuing to think positively. At first, that frustrated me. What was positive about a life threatening brain tumor? What was positive about a brain tumor that was so rare that the doctors hardly knew how to treat it?  What was positive about chemotherapy that made my baby nephew so nauseous that he threw up any bit of food he ate or harsh antibiotics that made his face and mouth so itchy that he scratched until his lips flaked off? What was positive about a little boy facing death before he had even turned two years old? It was so hard to see the positivity in any of that. But at some point, that changed. It had to change.

Sometime around the third round of chemotherapy, the anger and negativity started getting to be too much. It was sucking the energy right out of me, it was stressing me out, it was depressing me, and ultimately, it was making the entire situation even more awful. I couldn’t change it, though. I couldn’t magically make the tumor disappear. I couldn’t make the chemotherapy more comfortable for him. I couldn’t rescue him from the confines of those gray hospital walls and bring him outside to sniff the air and feel the sun on his hairless head. I couldn’t make him better; I couldn’t save him. I felt helpless and at times, hopeless. I had no control over the situation. And that’s the worst - when things are out of your reach. I didn’t realize it at the time, but there is always one thing that is within your reach. Every person possesses a perspective and the ability to change that perspective. I didn’t change mine for a very long time, but when I did, things started looking up. That’s what’s powerful about positive thinking - not that it can change actual circumstances, but that it can change the way we perceive and react to our circumstances. It shapes our realities because our reality is the way we think about something. The world around us is nothing but the world around us if we do not think about it. But when we attach our ideas and thoughts to it, it becomes our world. So I had to choose - did I want to think positively or negatively? Would I fill my world with darkness or with light? I could choose to think that the cancer would prevail and I would lose my baby nephew. Or, I could choose to believe that my nephew would be victorious - that he would beat this thing and come out on the other side even stronger. I could choose to think that if I did lose him, I would fall apart; I would lose my light and hope and life would no longer be worth living. Or, I could choose to believe that if I lost him, I would be grateful for the beautiful months I had with him and I would use the story of his strength to inspire others in similar circumstances. Of course I knew that simply by thinking positively about it, I couldn’t make the cancer disappear. But I could make those horrible feelings of hopelessness and helplessness disappear. No, I didn’t begin to think positively because I thought it would heal him. I began to think positively because I knew it would heal me. 

My nephew is home now. Against tremendous odds, the cancer has not come back. Each and every day, he becomes a little bit stronger and a little bit healthier. And each day, I become a little more grateful and a little more hopeful. Grateful that I’ve been given so much time with him and hopeful that my time with him will be so much longer than I initially thought. Of course, the fight is not over. When it comes to cancer, it’s never really over - not in this lifetime, at least. If that awful beast ever strikes again, I know where I’ll be. I’ll be right at his bedside reading him a book, brushing those few remaining wisps of hair out of his eyes when the vomit comes, throwing a ball to him when he feels a little better and never letting my strength or faith waver. I know now that my positive thoughts won’t heal his body. But they’ll heal my soul and his, too, in the process. I don’t know what will happen to him. Of course I hope that he lives a long and wonderful life. But I know that no matter what, I’ll be able to carry on a purposeful life full of meaning and love, even if I need to live that life without him.

The power of positive thinking

Melody Moua

A proton according to science is an atom with a positive charge but in reality, I define it as a way of thinking where you can only find happiness when you are able to block out any negativity from your life. When I was younger I was an electron, I seem to always gravitate towards the negativities in my life; I cared too much about disregarding my feelings, trying to make everyone happy and always looked down upon my self.

I am the fourth child out of sixth, having three older sisters and two younger brothers; making me the middle child who can neither relate to her older sisters or younger brothers because of the age gap. Because of this, I didn’t have a leader or a follower, making me a lone ranger. Of course because I was a lone ranger, who had low self-esteem, when someone makes fun of me or gets upset because of me used to make me have a mental disturbance. Everything people say or do closes my heart and mind each time; I became a bitter person who can no longer reach out to anyone.

Let’s just say that during those puberty years, I wasn’t so proud of it. I closed everyone off, even praises from others eventually made me second-guess myself. The more I closed others from my life, the more hatred I developed, the more negativity I drew in; becoming an unhappy person. Our human mind is stronger than any other species on this planet Earth, we can control ourselves and train ourselves overtime to act a certain way, be a certain way, and become a person according to our emotions.

It wasn’t until the last few years of my high school year where I had met my music teacher that I began to see life in a different perspective. Every morning she always says to every student “Remember to be a positive person, think positively, block out any negativities and be happy because we only live once. Life is short so appreciate, love, and live every moment as if it is your last.” It was because of her words and actions that I began to change the way I view life. Of course this didn’t happen over night but it is something that gradually grew in me. When I finally realized that I had changed for the better, it really amazed me how much a person can appreciate life and find the connection with others.

It was because of her enthusiasm, her ability to see greatness and beauty in every person and thing that made me realize that I want to pursue in a career in teaching. When you think positively, you unknowingly give off a positive vibe, thus drawing only in positive people, even giving influence to those who are not happy. Now that it has been about five years, I feel great about myself. I now have great relations with my family and have discovered who I am and know what I want to become in life. I’ve learned not to stress but instead see it as a challenge. I’ve learned the importance of having hope, having faith, and seeing the greatness in others.

I have gained acceptance to Georgia State University’s Early Childhood Education program and am currently working my way to landing my dream job. Through this program, I am able to find joy when teaching in my field placement classroom at an elementary school. I have developed the talent of being able to relate and talk to my students effectively while also getting them to see all of the great things in life. I love seeing the face expressions that my students make when they finally grasp a concept or idea. I love the challenge of finding new methods and ideas to help each student improve in their weak subjects. I enjoy making lesson plans that cater to every student’s needs and best of all, I especially enjoy passing on my knowledge to the future generations. I am only now faced with the obstacle of financing my education. Just like my formal music teacher, I want to become an influential teacher and mentor to my future students; with a philosophy of always bringing positivity to their lives.  

“The way to happiness: Keep your heart free from hate, your mind from worry. Live simply, expect little, and give much. Scatter sunshine, forget self, and think of others. Try this for a week and you will be surprised.” 

― Norman Vincent Peale, The Power of Positive Thinking

Personal growth

 Chelsea Walters

 “It’s a world of laughter, a world of tears. It’s a world of hopes and a world of fears. There’s so much that we share that it’s time we’re aware. It’s a small world after all…”  

The profound eloquence of this “simple” children’s song summarizes the best part about my study abroad. Before departing, I believed this once in a lifetime trip to places which I had only previously seen on postcards, would be the great adventure I longed for. My romanticized, preconceived notions did not come close to the lifelong lessons I learned by engaging in daily conversations with people who have never travelled outside of their homeland.  

The people I met had drive, perseverance, passion and a strong desire to make something of their lives in spite of the many obstacles they faced. This inspired me so that when I awoke each morning. I chose to focus on these positive thoughts throughout my trip. I approached the day as an opportunity to learn from someone new, from someone whose experience was different from mine. Therefore, I gained an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and wanted to learn more about their lives because the experiences they shared, I could not learn in a textbook. I truly believe that my focusing on this positive attitude brought more positive experiences into my life. I was able to take each day as a learning experience for the next. But more importantly, I was able to take my entire study abroad experience, and use it to shape my life into what it is today because I believed that it could.  

In New Orleans, Louisiana, on the city bus on my way to class, I spoke with a New Orleanian man who weathered Hurricane Katrina in 2005. In Chennai, India, in a rickshaw on my way to an artist's market, I spoke with the driver about his childhood in rural Tamil Nadu. In Buenos Aires, Argentina, I chatted with the cashier of a local convenience store about his daughter's upcoming wedding in Mexico. In Cape Town, South Africa, with a local shop owner, I discussed dreams of future vacation destinations in the United States.  

These conversations and many others like it allowed me to have a deeper understanding about the culture in which I was immersed and through them, I learned about myself. It was in those moments that I began to analyze and critique my previously limited view of the world. I have come to understand that diversity is not merely having an understanding of the existence of different cultures, socioeconomic backgrounds, or gender. It is a deeper appreciation that enlightens you and helps you realize that acceptance of others, unlike yourself, does not take away from who you are or who you may become. Unique and varied experiences create diversity, discovered when we share our goals and desires. These experiences bring us closer together creating a community in which people can thrive; hence, my full understanding “it’s a small world after all”.  

A simple smile indicates a willingness and openness of acceptance of one another and thereby creates the foundation for community. It is a way to express positive thinking to others and it is almost contagious. A smile may seem small and inconsequential and many take for granted, but it can have a powerful impact on a human being. Furthermore, it is a way for people to feel like they are not alone in the world. It gives babies, children, and adults a feeling of comfort and safety. It is often accompanied by laughter and kindness, which also strengthens the interaction between people. I believe that one of the most important things that a smile can bring is a feeling of trust in others. It is the basis of many of the interactions we have with each other and how we move around in the world.  

I strongly value this idea of community and I believe that by incorporating positive thinking within the conscious of the community can have positive results. It could be used to strengthen the relationship amongst students, educators, dentists, and patients. It is very important to include all members in the community because we can all combine our own strengths and work collectively for the greater good. I believe that education sets the foundation and gives students the tools to contribute to the community in which we chose to be immersed in. It is here during our time in school, that we will be able to share our goals and desires in order to thrive.  

In the end, the true adventure was my trip of personal growth. It is now my goal to leverage these shared experiences into my chosen career. I believe that I have the potential and drive to do this by fixing one smile at a time. I flourish when I set concrete goals for myself. A career in dentistry will allow me to do all of these things. My approachability will bring patients to my dental chair, but it is my honesty, compassion for people, and genuine interest in the well-being of others that will get them to come back again and again. I believe this separates good professionals from great ones.  

Throughout my travels, I made it a point to have conversations with as many people as I could. I have seen with my own eyes that the core of humanity is the same no matter where you travel in the world, or what language you speak or how much money you make. My approach towards a dental career will be the same as the manner in which I conduct my personal life. To begin with a bright smile and ask people how their day is going so far. I am confident that the life lessons learned during my travel abroad will be an integral part of my dental career as I develop professional relationships with patients and hopefully, bring a new smile to their days and they’ll be able to pass that positivity onto others.

The principle of personal development

Kimberly Cross

“All the tests confirmed it- You have Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy”. I know a girl who had to hear these words from a doctor she barely knew. Not even the colorful rooms of Seattle Children’s Hospital could cover up how those words cut through her like several knives. She was nine years old. All she had ever known was the torment of bullies and the empty feeling of playing alone at recess. When she would go home, she would not think of the heartbreak that was being caused. She knew she was different, but she refused to let anything stop her from being happy. She didn’t know a thing about adversity, but she overcame it. She was nine years old, and there she was being told that in six years or less she would likely be confined to a wheelchair and barely able to breathe on her own. No girl deserves this, not because genetics say that females aren’t supposed to get this form of Muscular Dystrophy, but because no one should have to face this. She refused to give up hope, even though she had a degenerative and potentially deadly disease that was incurable. What could she have done about it? It was all beyond her control, but she figured her attitude was within her control. Being happy is way better than being depressed, so she chose her own happiness. Nine years later, here she is, still walking, against most odds. She is still living her life. Here in a couple of weeks, she will start college at the University of Washington- Bothell, all because she never gave up. This girl focused on what was within her control, and never let go of those things that were within reach and meant the most to her. She still focuses on what she can control, and everything else is what she leaves for fate to decide.
            If you’re wondering who that girl mentioned above is, I am that girl, and I am proud to be. I am Kimberley Cross, and I love my life at this very moment, because I accepted what I cannot change. I am the one that sat in that room and was told about all of the “can’ts” there would be in my life. Was I and am I still terrified of them? Yes, definitely. Are they in my control? No, absolutely not. If I can’t control these things, by default, what I have left is what I CAN control. The “cans” will always be up to me. I am in control of those. In general, no matter what a person’s struggle is, aspects of live can be placed into two categories- what we can control, and what we cannot control. I have a choice to make every day, and it’s between feeling sorry for myself, or finding happiness. I always choose happiness, even when I am having a bad day. I give myself a few minutes a day to feel sorry for myself, but that few minutes is enough to remind me why I am so optimistic. That, my friend is why I find happiness. It’s always better to be happy and surround myself with the people I love, and do the things I love doing. Love and happiness are my favorite parts of life. They are not always easy to have as a constant in life, so of course they require some work. Everything that is truly worthwhile takes work, and I do not mean working to make money so you can buy those awesome shoes. I mean you have to put in effort to get what you want in life. We must take a stand when our values are being challenged, and show that we believe in what we claim to believe in. Focusing on things we can control is a principle of personal development that applies here. Our values, beliefs, goals, dreams, and accomplishments are all in our control. These are important. We are not able to control the obstacles that stand in our way, but what we can control is what we do to get around them. I have learned that the way my life turns out is mostly up to me, and that I need to focus on what matters the most to me, or I will lose my sanity trying to focus on what is beyond my control.
            When I ran for ASB secretary at the end of my sophomore year of high school, I did not realize I would get the position. I had just started at Marysville Pilchuck High School eight months earlier. That was when I realized that I really wanted to serve others to the best of my ability. Being elected ASB secretary was a turning point in my life. Being an ASB officer was a goal I had, and something I could control. This really proved to me that focusing on what I can control truly pays off. The next school year, I walked in as a junior and the ASB secretary of MPHS. I felt super excited and grateful that I was finally an ASB officer. I was ready for whatever life decided to throw at me (Except AP U.S. History. I switched out of that class after the first day due to intimidation. Believe me, that was a BIG mistake). I conquered AP literature, College Algebra and Chemistry. They don’t lie when they say junior year is the most rigorous. I was okay though, because I knew that getting good grades was something I had control of. The 3.95 I got was better than most of my previous GPA’s, but not quite good enough for me, because I knew I could do better. I had three goals set for the end of my junior year. Number one was to finally get a 4.0, which I did do, and my second one was to make nationals for DECA. Goal number three was to be elected ASB president. In March, elections applications were finally released, and I turned in my completed application the day before the state DECA competition. As for what I was in control of, I was fully in control of the DECA competition, and as for the election, I had to perfect my speech and campaign, and the rest was up to my fellow classmates. At the DECA conference, I only placed 35th, and  I needed to be in the top seven to move on to Nationals. At first I was upset, but then I realized I still did pretty well for a first time competitor. I knew that I just had to put in more work the following year. It was a learning experience for me. A couple of weeks later, it was time for me to give my speech, and elections followed a few days later. The Friday after elections, our Elections chair and president at the time counted ballots. I awaited a text message for about an hour. When I finally received and opened that message, the first thing I saw was a name that was not mine next to president. I said some profanity, and cried for quite a while. That was all I had dreamt of since I started at MPHS. Just like that, my dream was crushed. I felt like the biggest failure in the world. A week or so later, I had a wakeup call. That was not the Kimberley Cross I knew and loved. I might not have been ASB president, but I was appointed as PR Manager. I did everything right, I campaigned and practiced my speech. It was not my fault that I did not get elected president. What I could control was what I was going to do next. I set goals for my senior year, and I continued with one of my passions, which was being a servant leader.
            When I started my senior year, I thought it would be the perfect year. I had just gotten a power chair, so I was excited to actually be on time to my classes and not have to walk everywhere. The truth was that my body could not handle that much walking anymore, and knowing that was kind of painful, but I learned quickly that I felt much more independent than when I was walking around. The progression of my disease was out of my control, and it was not something to worry about too much, but having a great year was. That year was going well until October 24, 2014. I was the senior homecoming princess, in the leadership class, I was on the yearbook staff, and I had just started applying for colleges. October 24th seemed like a normal Friday, until a fire alarm went off in my fifth period class. When we headed out toward the football field, there were teachers yelling at students to get inside a classroom, and a student yelling “Someone has a gun!” It turned out someone pulled the alarm to get everyone out of the cafeteria. When I made it into a classroom, my friends were looking at the news on their phones. That was when it really hit me that a shooting just happened at my school. The shooter and two others were dead at the scene. When they evacuated everyone, and I finally got back home, I found out that my friend Zoe was one of the students that died at the scene. I was shocked, confused, and I was just numb. It wasn’t until way later at a candlelight vigil that I was able to actually show emotion. That was the worst day of my life. There is not a day that I don’t think about what happened, but I don’t let it bring me down, and I didn’t dwell on it. Instead, I thought about what I needed to do as a servant leader when we returned to school. I did what I did best, and I made sure that everyone knew they can talk to me about anything. I offered hugs and I helped some people who were having a harder time coping with everything. The principle of focusing on things I could control really helped me. I knew I couldn’t change what happened, or that five members of our student body were gone. I did know that I could help people just by being a good friend to those around me, so that is what I did. Miracles happened after the tragedy, which helped our student body, faculty, and community recover. Our community became more united than it was before. People across our country and the world were supporting us. Our sports, band and DECA chapter did better than ever before. We had a few bomb threats, but our school and community got through it together. I found out that I had been accepted into the University of Washington- Bothell, I was a finalist in the state competition for DECA, and I helped create an amazing yearbook with my fellow yearbook staff members. Sure, the beginning of my senior year had some obstacles, but it ended on a pretty positive note.  I am so proud to have graduated from Marysville Pilchuck.
            This principle of personal development has absolutely made a positive influence on my life. I have always strongly believed that focusing on what I can’t change is a waste of time. It is more important to focus my time and effort on what I can control, because those things will affect my future more adversely. I have overcome so much in eighteen years of life, and if I focused on aspects of life that were unchangeable, I would have used up the time that I needed to reach my goals. By living by this principle, I was able to choose happiness instead of anger and depression. Focusing on things within my control has helped me fight Muscular Dystrophy, come to terms with my diagnosis, and deal with other challenges. It also allows me to not constantly think about the obstacles I face every day. I have overcome adversity in the many forms in which it presented itself, and I will have more to overcome. I will continue to do what makes me happy, and if I ever get to a point where I am not, I know I have the power to change what I have control of, and I will find my happiness again. For now, I need to focus on the new chapter of my life that starts in a couple of weeks, and of course the controllable things in my life. I have grown so much as a person over the past nine years, and I can’t wait to see what my future holds.

The Human Brain

Janet Campos

Awakening from sleep only to repeat the same thing as before; a norm adapted because the stretch to happiness is out of hindsight. Work is the only objective to true happiness because it leads to money. But who has the time to spend and enjoy it, when you are working twelve hours a day from two in the afternoon to two in the morning, five days a week and, too tired to go out on the weekend because sleep is being lost. Whether it is physically or mentally, many people live this type of life because they don't comprehend the capacity of the human brain. Perhaps not everyone feels little significance towards life because of the overload of work. They suffer from loss, love, depression, identity, society, pressure, family, education, etc. But one this is certain. We pain from so much, yet it feels inevitable. So we begin to panic, and next thing you know we are thousands of feet above ground, standing on the edge of the tallest building in the city; one push can end it all.

The human brain is the superpowers we saw on the television that we wished we desperately had. Sure, flying can take us places, super strength can destroy our enemies, and we will be gazed at as heroes by society. However, we have much more than that, much electrifying energy brawling within us since the day we were born. We attract things into our life with every single thought illustrated in our minds, every feeling that makes a shiver run down our spine. Just like the laws of nature and gravity are inevitable, so is this. The Law of Attraction. To explain this amazing phenomenon, I would like to reach out to my audience in hopes that you can relate.
I'll begin with rock bottom and the pebbles, although they seem small and harmless, gashed into my knees from climbing to the top. The Law of Attraction is there to serve us, in the good and in the bad. Entering my junior year in high school, I had many high expectations for myself because my immigrant parents didn't have the slightest clue why they signed the blue paper. That blue paper was an Advanced Placement (AP) contract. I signed up for AP United States History (APUSH), AP Spanish Language, and AP English and Composition. My claim behind taking three AP classes was the lack of importance my school had on education. I felt I had not earned those A's and B's my sophomore year by still obtaining credit when turning in late work or even having open notes exams. I wanted to learn something for a change while knowing I earned that letter grade. I wanted to avoid ignorance from hovering over me, and I end up living a miserable life. Now I know I wasn't ignorant for taking the classes. Rather I was blindly ignorant for not looking at the broader overview of taking three college level classes. 

I didn't know I would be outside the party for honor roll. I didn't know that APUSH was a genuinely complex than expected. I didn't know that by just opening up one flaw I found in APUSH, I opened a closet full of flaws that haunted me for the longest time ever. The speed of these classes was overbearing, I couldn't keep up without falling behind. As I tried to fix my grade in APUSH, another leak would spill on AP English. I didn't know that staying too long patching up one leak, that all "patched" up holes began to leak. I didn't know that I was actually a failure at picking up the slack. I never thought I would cry on the walk home from school after meeting with my APUSH teacher telling me herself, that I am failing. These small nervous breakdown mean nothing as I write them out, but the feeling was that of a hammer cracking my chest open.
Many other aspects of my life unraveled, and not the good ones. I lost a friend over a stupid fight, I gained more weight, I was alone, my self esteem dropped further down. I felt less human as the leaks continued to pour out. Insecurities made me come home to eat away my feelings, which just carved a bigger hole inside myself. It came to the point where I was literally drowning from the leaks because thoughts of ending my life permanently crossed my mind, and never left the other end of my brain. I would grab an sharp object attainable to slither it's tusk onto my skin. The pink marks and oozing blood became my new art show. I never told my family because I love them dearly, but they did know I was depressed since I began to see a psychiatrist and a depression group. I felt ashamed in attending these new types of "treatment" because my family discovered that something was wrong with me. I never wanted them to figure me out, I felt like I failed once again to keep my pain at bay from my family. 

During my senior year, I managed to stop the leaks, but I was still able to see the holes that remained. The hollow feeling developed inside my heart. Salt water stopped igniting a tsunami from my wet rainy eyes. This wasn't a good thing because my brain switched gears. I was no longer afraid of slicing my wrists open, or overdosing until I'm out of it. I didn't just want death, I wanted to erase my existence. A reason was no longer needed to understand why I was suicidal, just that I no longer wanted life. This is how far I brought myself, and I despised myself. My big thighs, circular stomach, saggy arms, geeky glasses, overblown face. I could have lived with that, but the main issue came from my neck. I didn't have one, or as society labels it, a double chin. I didn't have a neck. I wanted to stand tall, see all the things I can't see. How I would gaze at other girls who had the perfect jaw line, no extra fat residing on their beautiful faces. I stopped wearing bangs, allowing my dry curly hair to hide my shame. 

Eventually, I spotted The Secret. The book that explains the Law of Attraction. I knew it in my sleep, yet here I was, sad and miserable. I did it without thinking and just picked it up from the bookshelf and began to read it. I would read it in school, during passing periods, at lunch, after school as I would wait for the bus, the small walk from the bus station to my house. Throughout the time I read, all I could think about is the life that I am missing out on. My environment was intoxicating, I wasn't happy. I began with something small to make me happy. AP English Literature. It was the only class in which I had an A. The A that I had not seen on my report card for a year! I still cry when I look back at them on my transcripts. As I'm entering the college life, I see the major difference that class has helped me with. It's not just about being able develop an essay so easily. It's the passion I have found in writing, because it makes me happy. 

Something so small and simple turned my life around, made my life a little less miserable throughout my high school career. I used this new found joy to make it throughout high school. When I was handed my diploma, I was set free. I was no longer binging on food, I was not depressed. It was slowly coming off. Now, I had the chance of either helping myself to a better life or continue a life of misery as before. 

I'm currently attending a community college. I will transfer to California Polytechnic State University Pomona in 2017, and moving out there in the summer of the same year. By 2020, I will be a licensed Nutritionist in Dietetics, a Bachelors in Science, a Bachelors in Creative Writing, a Minor in English Literature, and a Minor in Business. Blending all of these achievements together, and the world has themselves a famous author who dedicates her time serving aid and information to malnutritioned children, teens, and adults. Aiming to help them to a healthy, diet life, just like she used to struggle with. 

I don't care if I'm undocumented, I will make it. I don't care if the United States Government or Donald Trump becomes president and every Republican against immigrants tells me I'm not an American citizen, because I know I am. I don't care if my family disbeliefs in my effort to achieve my goals, because I want to be the first to witness their dumbfounded expressions as I rejoice with love and joy as I fling around my bachelor degrees on their faces. This is the power of the human brain. From wailing because of inner pain, to feeling comfort and love within me and the world at large. It may seem like I haven't accomplished much yet, but that's because it is still being written. 

It may sound cheesy, but we must believe in ourselves because not only are we receiving the nutrients needed to discover our inner beauty, but will also be rearranging our life to the way we want it. The one in which we awaken with a new adventure waiting to be discovered. The only thing that repeats itself is the continued, everlasting, happiness.

Focusing on things you can control

Mary Giambrone

I was six when I found out that my mom’s cousin had cancer. 

This was the first time I’d ever heard of cancer. I was shocked. I asked my mom if there was something I could do to help. She told me about a program called Locks of Love, where people donated hair to be made into wigs for children undergoing chemotherapy. Because I was so young, I knew that this was the only way I could help. I was proud to donate 10 inches of my hair to help kids who, other than the fact that they had cancer, were just like me. 

Cousin Jenni was always one person I could count on to encourage my artistic side. When I was a kid, she would always give me arts and craft kits, like wood painting or beading kits. She organized the crafts at our family’s annual holiday parties. She crocheted, and she greatly influenced my decision to learn how to knit, crochet, and sew. Most of my life centered on school, and she would always show concern that I was being pushed or pressured too much academically. She wanted me to balance out my studies with something creative, and always asked about the progress of my sewing and knitting projects. As she got sicker and stopped being able to crochet herself, she gave me several of her crochet hooks and skeins of yarn. 

For the entire time that she was sick, all I could do was keep donating hair. I would cut off ten inches about every year and a half. It upset me to see girls place so much emphasis on their hair, while other children couldn’t afford real hair wigs and had to go bald. There’s not much that the average person can do in their everyday lives to help fight cancer, but even a child like me could cut her hair. 

As I got older, I could do more than just cut my hair. Helping people became a priority for me. Jenni had inspired me to give just as sincerely as she had given me her support and encouragement. I started to do things to help the community, like volunteering at my local library and at my little brother’s elementary school. I started a knitting club at my high school and we did a project to knit chemo caps and donate them. Last year, I cut my hair again for the sixth time. So, to date, I’ve donated around 60 inches of hair - only about half a foot less than my height. 

Although she fought cancer for almost 15 years, Jenni died in 2012. I distinctly remember the day that she went into hospice. It was devastating. She had lasted for so long that it seemed like the cancer would never beat her. That day made me realize for the first time the finality of it all. I just couldn’t understand it. How could someone know that they had only a few days to live? How did she wake up every morning and think, this could be my last day? How could she not be so terrified? She lasted a week in hospice. In a way, the day that she went into hospice was worse than the day she actually died. At that point, I was just numb. 

What scared me the most about hearing her going into hospice was the utter lack of control anyone had over the situation. It meant that the end was nearly here, and there was nothing anyone could do about it. I didn’t know how anyone could stand that. 

Now, when I think of cancer, I think of things I can do to help. I can donate my hair. I can knit and crochet chemo caps. I’m not going to be the person to cure cancer, but I can help the people suffering from it in my own small way. I’ve come to this conclusion over the past several years. 

Focusing too much on a problem you can’t control just makes everything seem futile and worthless. When I heard that Jenni was going into hospice, I got trapped in a mindset of thinking “What’s the point? We are all going to die anyway, and there’s nothing we can do about it.” Since then, I’ve realized that we can focus on the things that can be controlled; and that’s what I’ve been doing. At the time, donating my hair was the one thing I could do to help, the one thing I could control about the awful situation of cancer - so I did it. 

I’m still sad Jenni is no longer here, but I know that she’d be happy that she continues to influence my life. She taught me not only to embrace creativity, but to give and to help others. Kindness isn’t futile. Helping is not wasted time. There’s always something that can be done to help a situation: tutoring, volunteering, even holding the door for someone. It doesn’t have to be drastic; it can be as simple as cutting your hair.

Focusing on things you can control

Cassandra Fulfer
Monmouth College

When I was a Junior in high school, my step mom took me to some college visits to four different colleges. I fell in love with Monmouth. A college that is 40k a year. The whole universe was against me. Throughout my whole first semester at the college I knew I wouldn't be able to afford the second semester. No matter how hard I worked that summer, I was 1k short in funds. I fought hard. I studied hard. I asked for help. Professors let me do side jobs, cat sit, what have you, it still wasn't enough. 

One prof made a case with financial aid in the end and they gave me another $1,000 in loans. I could afford the semester. Then it was summer again. I had my field job but I knew I needed another job to afford the year ahead. 

In the middle of June I finally got a second job. I worked 70 hours a week just to barely scrape by and afford the year's expenses. 

The end of the spring semester rolled around. I was feeling good, I would have my field job and my job in the deli and I would be able to afford the trip to Ireland that my band was planning to take nest spring break. I was excited.

My brother called me before the end of the semester and told me the fields we work in shut down, the company owed China billions of dollars. I was out of a job that was going to pay me $11 an hour. Three-thousand dollars just washed down the drain in mere seconds. 

Now I just had Meijer. I was working hard to get a second job but everyone wanted someone who could work longer than three months. There was no way I would be able to drive back and forth from Monmouth to Bloomington to work and somehow get my homework done. 

I was stuck with Meijer and my small church cleaning job. I figured my expenses and with the RA job I would be able to afford both semesters, barely.  

And then I realized I was trans. I was a trans man placed in an all girl's dorm who couldn't afford to be in a co-ed dorm and without the RA job. What was I going to do? I needed to come out as myself, my depression was crashing down on me more and more each day, and I wasn’t willing to lose my income to afford school at the same time as becoming myself. Back to square one, much like the first semester of my freshman year. I had to delay becoming myself to be able to still go to my college. Did I let that thought stop me from doing anything? No. The whole world felt like it was against me but I fought for what I believed I deserved because I know no one else would do it for me. 

I could have given up and taken a year off and came back next year with the funds and it would be easier, and I could be myself. But I was not going to do that, because in my eyes, even coming back like that is me giving up. You’ve got to fight for the things you want and believe in. It's tough, everything might feel like it is against you, but you slap it out of the way and you fight for what you want. 

So, then came the time for me to come out to everyone. My RA job was up in the air but I needed to focus on myself, to be myself. I had compiled legal documents and laws in a word document, proof that they couldn’t fire me for being transgender. I was ready to fight. 

A friend and I then started to spread a survey around our college about gender equality to help let the student body speak for the equality the school needs. The responses were overwhelming and over 90% of the people who took the survey answered that they would be comfortable having a transgender RA and also agreed that the college needed gender-inclusive bathrooms and housing. 

A few weeks after that, while still contacting the Resident Life staff at my college, I finally was told for sure that my job was secure. So, a few days later I came out to everyone with a poem that I wrote and recorded myself saying out loud. The positive responses and encouragement that all of my friends and family showed was incredible. My grandma hasn’t spoken to me since I came out but I try not to focus on that. I can’t control how her religious beliefs tell her that what I am doing is wrong, so the decision to continue to be in my life is a choice she has to make on her own. 

I can’t control that my mom and step dad are alcoholics. I can’t control that employers won’t hire me for a few months in the summer so that I can better afford tuition. But I can control what I do and say. I can control whether or not I fight for my rights as a trans man. I can control who I am, and that’s exactly what I plan to do. I have fully decided to focus on myself and I know that everything else will come after. Now that I have been out to everyone for a little over a month, I can proudly share the articles about my transition that I have published on the blog Hello Giggles. I no longer have to be so afraid that no one will accept me. I entered my Junior year at college with everyone calling me Hayden and using he/his/him pronouns. I have made more friends in the last two weeks than I did all of last year. My battle is long from over. My next obstacles are waiting for my gender therapist to finally prescribe me testosterone, so my body and voice can finally feel like my own. Another battle is trying to graduate with Honors next year when one single class stands in my way of having to drop the entire program. So, the control I take now, is I have made this video, this scholarship submission to help me afford this semester which leaks into helping me afford next semester, making it more likely that I can afford a summer class in order to graduate with honors in the spring of 2017.  

While life seems to like to throw everything it can in the way of my happiness, I have no intentions of giving up. I will graduate with honors. I will become the man I have always been on the inside. I will fight for what I want and what I believe because no one else will, I’ll be my own knight in shining armor.

Attracting our desires into a reality

Perla v. Huerta May

“Watch your thoughts. They become words. Watch your words. They become actions. Watch your actions. They become habits. Watch your habits. They are your destiny,” said Lao Tzu. My mother used to preach these words of Lao quite often to me as a child. At the time I never had a clear understanding of what she was referring to, or what it even meant. Being a child I followed my mothers influence on these idea. However, as an adult I cleared any doubts that I had regarding the law of attraction. Over the years, my beliefs, understanding, and interests over the law of attraction have immeasurably grown. Now I understand there is no tree without a seed, I will cultivate that which I plant. This is why I give my thoughts the importance they deserve. After all, they are the defining point of my future.

Dr. Camilo Cruz once said “Change your inner dialogue and create a new kind of image in your subconscious mind of the way you hope and want things to happen”. In this very short statement I can target more than six empowered words. One of them being “Change” which I consider crucial because without change, we cannot grow as a person. We can grow only with change if we modify our old inefficient habits for good new ones and develop the appropriate skills. “Inner Dialogue” is another great pair of words, being that in order to achieve our dreams and goals we need to start with ourselves. The motivation that will guide us to success has to come within us, and the only way to gather this type of motivation is by paying close attention to our mindset. Observe our thought patterns and check if we have established in our minds any type of limitations that prevents us from going that extra mile that will bring us closer to our goals. If we understand that nothing can prevent us from achieving our goals, and trust in our capabilities in the same way that a person who loves us dearly does, we would achieve anything without having any second thoughts. Although, believing in our capabilities is not the only mindset we must maintain, we need to become more disciplined and use this discipline in the form of acting. In order to act first we need to “Create”, which is the third empowered word on Cruz’s statement. As a twenty one year old, I have understood that if I want to live the life I have dreamed of, first I need to know exactly what I want. I have had to dedicate time just to think of what it specifically is that I’m striving for, how do I want my future to look like, and how can I attain it. Which leads me to the fourth empowered word “Images”. To be able to relate images to my goals, I have had to dream, imagine myself proud of my occupation, see myself contempt at the place I will live, and imagine myself already possessing happiness for me and the people in my life. For the law of attraction demands that words are not enough, we need to relate the words with images. In short, I need to know what I want which will allow me to begin acting upon the future that I would be creating for myself. “Subconscious” is the fifth key word. The subconscious mind is one of the greatest gifts we posses as humans. Unlike the conscious mind, the subconscious never sleeps. We can take advantage of that simply by reading books and listening to audiotapes that cover specific areas of our lives. Even listening to motivational speakers will leave an impact on our subconscious mind. Also, if we truly believe in the power of the subconscious mind, we know that we can lie to ourselves. Not in a negative way, although we can make statements of how good we are at something that we desire to excel at, and eventually we will believe it ourselves and therefore become it. We can make our mind believe anything we conceive to be the truth. Last but not least “Happen”, the fact that our most valued dreams actually end up happening, is the entire point of the law of attraction. Every individual has the option and responsibility to work with positive thinking and action towards their dreams. For “The Universe only awards consistent effort” said Cruz.

In conclusion, we can have great ideas for our future, and possess the right mindset. However, our thoughts must be followed by consistent action. Thoughts alone will not make our dreams happen. We must stop for a moment and think for ourselves what it is what our hearts truly desire and make it a priority to attract our desires into a reality. For only we can chase our dreams and since life does not wait for anyone, I will not wait for life either, because life is now.

It's Not Your Fault

Zhané Washington

There is no right way, or easy way to cope with a parental separation. It isn’t wrong to cry, or feel confused, scared, and completely thrown off. No matter what age you are or who you are, it is difficult to comprehend that your family is being torn apart. I know I had trouble understanding it back in 2008.
            I had a typical blissful family complete with yearly trips, timeshares, and amusement park passes. My brother and I participated in several extracurricular activities and our parents were sure to attend as many as they could. Together, as a loving married couple. So the fact that these moments ended so abruptly and cruelly was a hard pill to swallow.
            Were all of our family memories a lie? Were my parents just faking happiness for the sake of their children? I had no idea, and it hurt to think about it. It hurt to know that I wouldn’t be able to see them in the same household and it terrified me that I would have to choose between them.
            I ran away from the idea for as long as I could, but reality was quicker than me. It caught up to me the day we sold our house. I remember when we first moved into our bare household. My father spent months decorating the place to make it feel more welcoming and even added drywall to certain areas to make them bigger. My mother took care of interior designing. They worked so hard to build us a place to make memories and to love one another. Then, in a flash, their hard work was being sold to the highest bidder.
            As we slowly began to prepare our house for sale, I knew the choice was imminent. My mother stayed with a friend until the court date, so my brother and I rode with my father to the building. Before they went in, my parents sat on opposite sides of the room. Quiet, no eye contact, with so much tension between them that it was almost palpable.
            A court official stepped out from the court room the case would be held in and told us we could come in. My mother went in first, then her attorney who was followed by my father, his attorney, my brother, and then me. I was halted at the door however and instructed to wait outside with the official who had motioned us in. I was too young to take part in the proceedings.
            The session felt longer than years, maybe even light years, and I was getting anxious. I tapped my heels together and played with my hair that my aunt straightened specifically for the occasion. When the door finally opened I looked at my mother’s face and my heart sank. She was crying and barely holding herself together. She saw me, bent down, and gave me a big hug before leaving. It took me a moment, but then it was clear that I was now in legal custody of my father.
            I was aware that the court made the decision and it had little to do with me personally but it felt as if I was the one who hurt my mother. I thought she would resent me for abandoning her and the thought was mentally corrosive. It is this kind of thinking that is “incorrect” when experiencing a parental separation. Or rather it is an unhealthy way to think. It is not your fault and you cannot feel down for something that happened between two adults. I know firsthand this is easier said than done but it is important to keep that in mind.
            Instead of wallowing in guilt and pitying my mother, I doubled my efforts to talk to her from that day forward. I focused on reinforcing our bond and making sure that she knew I loved her no matter what. I also understood that she was not the only one going through hard times as a result of the divorce. My father now had to support two children mainly by himself.
            Therefore I focused on achieving the best marks possible in class and staying out of trouble. I couldn’t control or fix what transpired between my parents, but I could control how I reacted. I could control myself and my behavior. Instead of acting out or going down the wrong path, I focused on being one less thing for them to worry about. This mentality is one that I still hold today.
            I focus on being the best that I can be so that my parents can have at least one thing they agree on. That they raised a good kid. I strive to be a stable common ground between them. So if your parents are like mine, try this method of motivation. Turn the negative into something positive.   

Perseverance and vision

Luz Nunez
University of California Riverside

Each person has a different sense of style and living because we are all unique in our own way. Our choices develop the personality and background we have. Though society expects us to behave a certain manner, it does not necessarily mean that all will benefit from following the same path. Major factors that define us are the education, the workforce, and self-confidence one obtains.
            My family offered me limited educational resources and we reside within a deprived community. Neither of my parents had the opportunities like me to be able to attend college. They both are regulated to work in the manual labor work force to earn a living. My father must wake up at five in the morning to work at a glass company, while my mother works in a restaurant washing dishes, cleaning tables, and mopping floors.

My family continually faces financial challenges in paying bills and household expenses. Since both of my parents still have family members residing in another country, they regularly send money to their families.  Particularly, my mother has an elderly father and two mentally ill siblings, who rely on her for their financial well-being.  Witnessing how hard my parents must work to provide for my family and those in a foreign nation, I have applied for part-time work to assist with my family’s income.

I reside in a small community that is heavily populated by Latinos, where academic achievements tend to be low and college attendance is a privilege. I am aware that those of my generation are children of undocumented parents, which poses difficulties for our families to secure stable employment and provide a good living. My parents and those of my community strive their best to work diligently to support their families since the majority of us are uneducated, with many never having higher than a middle school education.  Without the educational support of our parents and community, I have learned that I have needed to be self-reliant and seek resources for my own academic success.

The most significant experience that prepared me for the rigors of college was my acceptance into the Upward Bound Program (UBP). The UBP provided opportunities for me to succeed in my precollege performance and ultimately to be admitted to a four-year university of my choice. While in the UBP, I have increased and maintained excellent scores, as well as being motivated to pursue and engage in higher-level courses. I realized how misinformed and directionless I was in preparing for college.

            The UBP has offered me services more valuable than knowing how to fill out an application or conduct an interview. During the summer of 2012, I was provided the opportunity to take a Geometry course during the summer residential program at Chapman University. I learned to expand my network capital with other staff, students, and mentors. Additionally, I was selected as a participant of the 2013 Northern California Campus Tour. During the four-day trip, I visited eight universities and was tasked to create a power point about Dominican University, a private college in San Rafael, California.  This presentation, along with many others required by UBP, helped me develop public speaking skills, which as increased my self-confidence. Having self-confidence allows me to step outside of my comfort zone and challenge myself to pursue more ambitious goals, new experiences, and access knowledge beyond my own frame of reference.

Upward Bound encourages students to pursue their higher educational goals. The staff motivated me to remain focused on my academics. They provided continual academic monitoring and gave me the skills to become a more effective student. The students in the program have reinforced and strengthened my social skills, being surrounded by students who have similar goals to mine reinforced my desire to be academically competitive and ahead of the game.

Throughout my high school years, I have also been a member of another organization entitled Youth Speak Collective (YSC). YSC became a second home that provided an academic setting with knowledgeable tutors and staff who have assisted me to learn both inside and outside of the classroom. With the supportive individualized attention I received in counseling and mentoring services, I was able to improve my role in society. YSC offers various programs for youth to be educated, healthy, and safe. Visual Arts is the program that makes available canvases, acrylic paints, and other art supplies so that the youth can express their minds on paper which avoids graffiti on the streets. Women’s Circle is a program that empowers the voice of young women and informs them of resources available. In addition, YSC has provided community service hours to youth by beautifying local recreational areas.  YSC has provided me with my first internship at the headquarter office as a Youth Advocate. I have become an inquisitive learner and continue to seek further opportunities for personal growth and development. Youth Speak has offered me the preparation and confidence necessary to take with me to future endeavors. I have confidence in being able to tackle the challenges of being an upright citizen.

Being a product of a low-income family and living in a community where education is secondary to making a living, I have become more determined to attend college, earn my degree and having a meaningful career in helping others. Being a Latina has been quite a struggle since I have been imposed with negative stereotypes such as teen pregnancy, lack of education, and “welfare queens”. I want to challenge these perceptions by continuing with my education and making a difference in my community.

Focusing on the things I can control have provided me with the fuel and passion to overcome both the negative stereotypes and change the demographics of my community by attending college and earning a Bachelor’s degree. Furthermore, I plan in pursuing a Graduate degree in Psychology.  With both degrees, I intend to return to my community to assist other youths in programs like Upward Bound and Youth Speak Collective to motivate and educate them in seeking higher education as means to increase their economic and social status.

Therefore, completing my education at University of California, Riverside is extremely important to me.  My desire is to further my educational pursuits beyond the Bachelorette experience, while being exposed to the “real world”. These experiences definitely will mold and shape me in becoming an independent, self-confident individual, who is committed to social justice and service to the community. The world has much to offer me and I am eagerly willing to learn from each encounter I have while attending college.

Thanking my magnificent mentors

Levi Sweeney

I have heard that the key to success is to have many mentors. Whether they are teachers, youth pastors, parents, other relatives, or even older friends, mentors are essential to learning and personal development. I am blessed to have had several mentors this far in life, having learned much from their diligent instruction and their sharing of wisdom and knowledge. Three of them are especially  notable, and it is thanks to them and others like them that I am who I am today. I am grateful for the many people who have supported and guided me over the years, and I look forward to meeting and thanking more such people in the future. 

Of the many mentors I've had in life, I am especially indebted to three in particular. Don Joss is true man of God, devoted to the Lord and to his family. He helped me to get started on serious study of the Bible and Christian apologetics. Jenny Holmes was my high school academic writing teacher, and the mother of one of my closest friends. She taught me everything I know about writing well. Finally, David Boze, a local radio broadcaster and pundit, taught my U.S. History class in high school. It was under his tutelage that my love of history was reignited.

Without the help of my mentors, a sizable portion of my present knowledge would be gone. Take Don Joss for instance. Mr. Joss loves God and children, and every aspect of his life is evidence of his dedication to the Lord and to his family. I first met him when he was my fifth grade Sunday School teacher. Thanks to him, I read my first book on Christian apologetics, a kid's version of The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel. This in turn lead to the regular version of The Case for Christ. Ever since then, I've voraciously devoured every such book I can find. Due to his teaching, and that of my parents, I remain a firm student of the scriptures to this day. 

Jenny Holmes taught me the finer points of academic writing, including the general format I am currently using to write this essay. This helped to bring my writing skills to the point where they are now. Thanks to her, my other English teachers over the years, and my own incessant practice, I stand tall as a titan in English. What's more, I believe that I can safely say that Mrs. Holmes is the smartest woman I know. She has homeschooled three of her four kids all through high school, taught English at my co-op, and has served in a leadership position in several church programs. Like Mr. Joss, she is a dedicated parent who helped raise a wonderful family.

David Boze was my U.S. History teacher during my junior year of high school. His classes at my co-op are frequently quite large, being very popular among students and parents alike. He and his colleague Kirby Wilbur have both taught history at my co-op, and are both from a radio broadcasting background. Mr. Boze made history come alive for me again, and he patiently, tirelessly answered my many questions. His amiable enthusiasm for his subject was nothing short of infectious. It was partly because of his instruction that I am now compelled to go into the field of teaching. I intend to study American history. 

I couldn't praise my mentors without mentioning my mom and dad. My mom, like Mrs. Holmes, has homeschooled her children for our entire lives. She taught me how to read and write, took me to church and other events, introduced to me to most of my other mentors, and suffered through every bad day. I love her for that, and I will be forever grateful. 

My dad taught me the value of hard work and responsibility. I've worked with him part time at the family print shop for a little over four years, and I've learned a lot. I've also come to realize that my father's favored pastime of watching World War II documentaries probably influenced my own enthusiasm for history. I now see that in many ways, I'm indebted to my parents more than all of my other mentors put together! 

Because of the many mentors I've had over the years, I am more than prepared for the journey that lies ahead. For all they have done for me, I am exceedingly grateful. But I can't express thanks to my mentors without acknowledging the One who guaranteed it all: The Lord Jesus Christ. Without Him, nothing would have been possible. His guiding hand is evident throughout my life, guiding me through life's trials and tribulations. He is the ultimate mentor, the ultimate example, the ultimate leader. Above all else, I thank Him for everything. 

Though I am currently on the road to becoming a history teacher, my plans involve many other things as well. In addition to teaching history, I wish to pursue a writing career, with hopes of becoming a published author and webcomic writer. I've been writing since I was a kid, but I am more determined than ever to make it big. I also wish to make a difference back home, to help make my neighborhood a safe and good place to live. Thanks to my mentors, I've acquired many useful skills necessary to fulfill these dreams. But I hope to meet even more mentors along the way to fulfilling these goals, as I go on with college, jobs, volunteer work, new relationships, and more. 

I am grateful to the many mentors I've had over the years, and I pray that I will not forget them as times goes by. My gratitude for them remains unwavering, and I have no doubt that I will gain new mentors and guides as I continue my journey. Wherever I end up in life, I know that I can only get there thanks to the skills and abilities passed on to me by those who have gone before me. I have no doubt that the hand of God was upon me when I was steered toward Messrs. Joss and Boze and Mrs. Holmes. It was thanks to them, and others like them, that I have succeeded in the past and will succeed in the future.

Living a life with a positive attitude

Jerry Thomas

This is one curveball that can’t simply be hit out of the park and never be seen again. It is a perpetual challenge that every living being is faced with once they twinkle into existence. It is wonderful, unfathomable, difficult, and impossible to solve. Although I have not been able to solve this enigma, through the power of positive thinking, I’ve come up with new ways to come at the curveball I like to call life.

Negativity begets more negativity; what you put out into the universe is what you get. That’s what I was told anyway, if I project a negative image, then I will get exactly that back.  Teachings of a positive, optimistic attitude are things I was taught or learned being a Christian and Buddhist. No matter what life throws at you, turn the other cheek, forgive, and kill your enemies with kindness. I don’t think one can ever conquer life, ever overcome it, but there are ways to enjoy it and make the most of everything. Keeping a positive attitude isn’t always easy when life constantly throws hardships at almost every turn.

It hit me like a freight train, seventh grade, also referred to my first test in life. Moving to Texas, I had no friends, was bullied, my brother ran away, and parents were arguing. Saying I went to a dark place at this is an extreme understatement. I was just considering to give it all up, quit in life, and throw in the towel. I couldn’t see any positive sides to life at that point, I did some irrational things.  It was serendipitous that I met a high school girl, named Tiffany, who was actually planning on becoming a counselor for kids. Her positive words of encouragement and great outlook on life partly saved my life, literally. From then on, I’ve always sworn to help others when they are having problems and look on the Brightside of all my situations. Due to my passion of helping people and positive attitude, I got very involved in volunteer organizations such as: Key Club, Circle K, NHS, Goodwill and many more. Being able to help someone through acts of kindness or even just a smile brings me joy on a whole other level. I love being an active leader in my community and school and spreading the knowledge and happiness that I have learned from others in hopes that they will spread it too.

“I feel good, oh I feel so good, I feel fine, all of the time!” It’s something we used to chant in Key Club to keep our spirits high, enabling us to press on through whatever endeavor we faced. Having a positive attitude though doesn’t and shouldn’t mean that you are optimistically naïve to the world. No matter how much I wish it, there will be times when I don’t feel so good or when I don’t feel fine all of the time. The thing about positive thinking though, is how you utilize it; it isn’t meant as a tool to shield you from the bad things in life, but to come to realization with it and deal with it in an effective manner. My positive outlook on life actually pushed me to grow up and think more rationally. It seems weird, but having a positive attitude to situations really opened my eyes and mind. Everything becomes so much clearer when I’m thinking about how I could improve my situation or how it could be worse and I count myself lucky. Even though I may not always feel good or fine, positive thinking ensures me that I will always return to that state of being good or fine.

Living a life with a positive attitude changes everything around you; cliché, but the world has so much more color and vibrancy to it, life is just enjoyable. Now, of course I’ve had other hardships, that’s life after all, but tackling things with a positive thinking allows me to see new avenues that I wasn’t able to before. Overall, it has just made me a better person, someone people want to be around or look up to, someone I actually like. Being a positive, optimistic man has greatly humbled me and helped me live a healthier live. It’s proven that a smile and laughing do make you healthier and less prone to sickness, so I owe my happiness to positive thinking in life. I apply positive thinking in whatever I engage in, whether it be science, school, life, or games. Anything is possible when I put my mind to it, there’s nothing I can’t achieve. Yes, I will run into bumps and hicks, but I know if I keep my head up that everything will work out. I don’t honestly know where I’d be without the power of positive thought, I believe that my energy is sent out into the universe somewhere and then sent back to me.  I will keep going through life with this philosophy in mind and I will conquer anything that dares to stand in my way. I’m grateful that positive thinking has had a positive impact on my life.

Focusing on things you can control

Alanna Heraghty

Growing up Irish, we are taught to believe that for all the bad luck that comes your way, you’ll get just as much good luck, if not more. I have a lifetime of good luck coming my way. 

My most recent string of bad luck started the beginning of July, when my boyfriend got a job in Parsippany, NJ. His only complaint was the commute. So we packed up and moved to West Orange, NJ to an apartment that was run-down but unique. Sure, the windows were rotten and the whole house was falling apart but it was our little home and I’m very creative when it comes to decorating. A week after we moved in, my boyfriend and I drove my mini cooper up to Connecticut to visit some friends. I slaved away saving up for that car and little road trips like these fill my heart with joy. When we were about 20 minutes away from our destination, we hit some traffic. So we stopped. The girl behind us, preoccupied with her cell phone, did not. 

Thankfully, everyone survived and I received the brunt of the injuries. I couldn’t open a door without excruciating pain in my chest and shoulders, nevermind return to work. I’m the type who likes to stay busy so being relegated to couch potato duty was a form of slow torture. I spent my days listening to insurance hold music and making doctor appointments. 

Our landlord, who has a criminal history though we didn’t know it at the time, started sending harassing texts around this time. He was always a little rough around the edges but we thought it was harmless. We were wrong. About two weeks after the accident, he was drunk and upset and knocked on our door at 12:30am. We called the police once he started yelling. Long story short, we left the apartment that night. When we returned, with a police escort of course, our door had been broken down and he had left nasty notes for us on my dry erase board. This was all extremely overwhelming and emotionally draining on top of the car accident. Not to mention, I have PTSD from a similar abusive incident. 

I found myself sleeping on a friend’s couch. Everyone was safe but I was mentally floating and falling. Between doctor appointments, car insurance calls, police reports, and paperwork, I lost myself. Before we moved, I was thinking of going to school to earn a bachelors. I always wanted one but could never afford to attend school. I couldn’t control how long it took for the insurance paperwork to process. I couldn’t control my lunatic landlord and his actions. I couldn’t control my pain or how upset I felt. But I can write and I can write well. So I started researching schools and applying for scholarships. This very essay is something I can control. I can focus on the larger picture that all this work will get me closer to earning a bachelors. And through that focus, I have regained myself a bit and am finding peace.

Every week I write down goals. I’ve learned that, although I am ambitious, I need to keep my goals bite sized. When something comes up that doesn’t help accomplish my week’s goals, I simply say, “That is not my goal this week.” Of course, some things push ahead. If more paperwork needs filling out or I get a call from the insurance, I take it. But then I breathe and collect myself and get back to the list at hand. With a singular focus, I am able to accomplish full bubbles of tasks instead of just playing at the surface. 

Riding the pride of accomplishment leads to more accomplishment. Crossing off a small task gives me momentum to tackle the next one. I have to be careful to assign tasks that I can control. Sometimes I get big ideas and, in my eagerness, I overwhelm my nerves and mind. I’m still healing, physically, emotionally, and mentally. I had to learn how to be kind to myself and let go what I cannot do. I find it so easy to be kind to others. I must remember to be kind to myself. 

Many people like to recite the serenity prayer during times of struggle. The last few weeks have been an exercise in gaining the “wisdom to know the difference.” I’m starting to see how little humans have control over. I thought that idea would upset or terrify me. I find it extremely liberating. The only thing I can control are my choices. Rather than limiting, I find that my eyes have opened up to the vast amount of choices I have. I have no control of the outcome; that’s the luck. But I have all the choices in the world. As long as I keep making good choices, focusing on what I can control, and then leaving the rest up to the universe, I’ll be great.

My choices

Alanna Heraghty

Growing up Irish, we are taught to believe that for all the bad luck that comes your way, you’ll get just as much good luck, if not more. I have a lifetime of good luck coming my way. 

My most recent string of bad luck started the beginning of July, when my boyfriend got a job in Parsippany, NJ. His only complaint was the commute. So we packed up and moved to West Orange, NJ to an apartment that was run-down but unique. Sure, the windows were rotten and the whole house was falling apart but it was our little home and I’m very creative when it comes to decorating. A week after we moved in, my boyfriend and I drove my mini cooper up to Connecticut to visit some friends. I slaved away saving up for that car and little road trips like these fill my heart with joy. When we were about 20 minutes away from our destination, we hit some traffic. So we stopped. The girl behind us, preoccupied with her cell phone, did not. 

Thankfully, everyone survived and I received the brunt of the injuries. I couldn’t open a door without excruciating pain in my chest and shoulders, nevermind return to work. I’m the type who likes to stay busy so being relegated to couch potato duty was a form of slow torture. I spent my days listening to insurance hold music and making doctor appointments. 

Our landlord, who has a criminal history though we didn’t know it at the time, started sending harassing texts around this time. He was always a little rough around the edges but we thought it was harmless. We were wrong. About two weeks after the accident, he was drunk and upset and knocked on our door at 12:30am. We called the police once he started yelling. Long story short, we left the apartment that night. When we returned, with a police escort of course, our door had been broken down and he had left nasty notes for us on my dry erase board. This was all extremely overwhelming and emotionally draining on top of the car accident. Not to mention, I have PTSD from a similar abusive incident. 

I found myself sleeping on a friend’s couch. Everyone was safe but I was mentally floating and falling. Between doctor appointments, car insurance calls, police reports, and paperwork, I lost myself. Before we moved, I was thinking of going to school to earn a bachelors. I always wanted one but could never afford to attend school. I couldn’t control how long it took for the insurance paperwork to process. I couldn’t control my lunatic landlord and his actions. I couldn’t control my pain or how upset I felt. But I can write and I can write well. So I started researching schools and applying for scholarships. This very essay is something I can control. I can focus on the larger picture that all this work will get me closer to earning a bachelors. And through that focus, I have regained myself a bit and am finding peace.

Every week I write down goals. I’ve learned that, although I am ambitious, I need to keep my goals bite sized. When something comes up that doesn’t help accomplish my week’s goals, I simply say, “That is not my goal this week.” Of course, some things push ahead. If more paperwork needs filling out or I get a call from the insurance, I take it. But then I breathe and collect myself and get back to the list at hand. With a singular focus, I am able to accomplish full bubbles of tasks instead of just playing at the surface. 

Riding the pride of accomplishment leads to more accomplishment. Crossing off a small task gives me momentum to tackle the next one. I have to be careful to assign tasks that I can control. Sometimes I get big ideas and, in my eagerness, I overwhelm my nerves and mind. I’m still healing, physically, emotionally, and mentally. I had to learn how to be kind to myself and let go what I cannot do. I find it so easy to be kind to others. I must remember to be kind to myself. 

Many people like to recite the serenity prayer during times of struggle. The last few weeks have been an exercise in gaining the “wisdom to know the difference.” I’m starting to see how little humans have control over. I thought that idea would upset or terrify me. I find it extremely liberating. The only thing I can control are my choices. Rather than limiting, I find that my eyes have opened up to the vast amount of choices I have. I have no control of the outcome; that’s the luck. But I have all the choices in the world. As long as I keep making good choices, focusing on what I can control, and then leaving the rest up to the universe, I’ll be great.

3 truths and a story

Three Truths and a Story

NOSTALGIA
The particular area in which I lived would have been called the "nicer" part of the slums; however, that statement in and of itself is an oxymoron. Living in such a state, one would think I would need some escape from it all, a refuge, or a haven. But no, I never wanted such a thing. I felt I no reason to escape. This is home. My home. My origin. My origin. My inception. These are the slums.

THE GENTLEMAN
A man, tattered, distraught and painfully worn out by his years would step out from the rusty door that imprisoned him in the night. In doing so, he would find nothing salvageable on the outside. Each morning, he would rise with a smile; however, when he opened the door, the smile would wince and disappear at the site of his destitution. Assenting to this ever-present truth, he would continue, down the one step he built from uneven rocks and feeble sticks to sit on a grey, withered boulder of sorts. He would glare. What seemed like minutes were actually endless hours, not too dissimilar from the warping of time that occurs in hell. He then would stare at the ground, whose mud was always wet because of the narrow space between each mal-established edifice. Picking at each ounce of feces-ridden-mud with his bloodshot eyes, he would search, in some vain hope that perhaps, that day would be the day he would find some base meal in the mud.

THE MADAM
A woman, empty, distraught and anguished by her days spent seeking for food not only for herself, but for her offspring, stood at her shanty's excuse for a threshold. Glaringat the child who sat in a puddle of stagnant grey water, she would occasionally blink as to remind herself where she was, When she finally managed to pull her eyes away from this image that she new to be abject poverty, she re-entered her withered shack and came out holding bread riddled with darkened cultures of mold. Blackened by disappointment, she would then continue and kneel towards the child who, as a reflex, would jerk her head to the left. The mother and the child would continue this back and forth for a few more moments before the child reluctantly assented and bit into the cultures, and chewed and chewed.

THE BABE
A baby, yet to become empty, distraught tattered and anguished by its surroundings, sat in its puddle of stagnant waters plashing around, lifting all types of bacterium and cultures of its own. The colors that came from that puddle made it smile. It seldom cried, and even then, it was of a reasonable cause. Hunger. The child would often try to stand up, for it owed it to its very own instincts to at least try to continue its existence. Of course, it would fall, and try to stand up again, and again and again.

NOSTALGIA PART Il
Often venturing into the worse part of the slums, at age six, all our destitution was equivalent. This area with which I was most familiar was the circle of houses at the end of the dirt road that faced towards each other. I never actually spoke to any of these people. I would just venture, sit, and observe. I knew I had disrupted a flow, but, all I wanted to be was an observer; however, in doing so, I had become an aspect that had conformed into their daily routine and for that, it was no surprise that I was finally included.

THE OBSERVER
The Madam was the first to approach me. I introduced myself and as a custom 1 told her where I lived and her me. After getting the customaries out of the way, 1 learned that the Madam was a funny lady with an equally funny daughter to boot. The Babe was of one year and had developed a certain genial presence around me. It was only a matter of time before the Gentleman came to talk to me as well. At first sight, he would not have seemed the most intelligent of men, but, growing up in such an area, no one was they appeared.

He asked me, "Why do you come here?”

 I replied, "Because I feel more at home here than 1 do in my own home''

“Why is that?”  he continued.

"No reason,” I answered fleetingly. I quickly changed the subject by letting him know that I may get to leave for America in a few years.

"I see. Well I think that the fact that you think this wasteland home says something about you, wouldn't you say?"

 My response was my quizzical face.

He then knelt to the ground, looked me in the eyes and said, "we need you to leave, and enjoy our life, be happy, meet a nice person, continue this world for us.” He paused. “It has become more clear to me each year that I will never leave, neither shall she. I see you with a future, one that I could never dream for myself for it is too damn far from me, but for you, I need you to move on from this life, you are not deserving of this, none of us are, but now that you have an out, you must take it."

The day he spoke to me, that night, I called my own mother on the phone to talk about the day. She had been living in the United States for three years and would often call to see how we were faring. She was not even a bit angered that 1 had been going on my little ventures, but, instead, her voice became firm and true, more so than usual, and she promised me, "I will get you out of this hell hole."

I returned to the Madam, the Gentleman and the Babe after a week. The topic was never brought up again, not for another two years. My visits were consistent once every week, on Saturday twilight. his continued each Saturday until I stopped going for three months. The day before we were to leave, I was twelve at this point, I ran to my favored area to tell my friends about the great news. 1 immediately went to the Gentleman and told him, he smiled so deeply that I felt it absorb into me and convert into a new type of motivation; I would work my hardest for his sake. I then ran to the Madam and told her, she too smiled, not  at me, however, but through me. 1 asked the matter, and she told me, sternly and without emotion that the Babe had died. Tears welled up from the bottom of my eyes and poured over as I tried to console her, but it seemed that my words could not reach her because she was too far gone. Too far for me to reach, and soon, to her, I will be as well.

It was not until I was in this country that I realized it was pneumonia. With the water the Babe played in every day, and the lack of, nourishment, it was almost inevitable. These facts hit me when 1 was in my sixth grade English class. It began as one tear. It rolled down my cheeks and off my face. Then as though the first tear was as a commander, an army of tears followed strongly afterward. I wept and wept endlessly. It was not fair, not one aspect of this entire situation, of their lives, of my own, was fair. Why was 1 here and them there, cursed to cry every night, to scour night and day for one bite of anything that would temporarily hold off the truth that was all too inevitable for them, but not for me. Why? Why? Why!? 1 wept for Honour for that was the Babe's name, I wept for Patricia, for that was the Madam's name, I wept for Ambrose for that was the Gentleman's name. They had names. They all have names. All who lived there, around me, far from me, and even those whom were not mentioned. They all have names. They are not some obscure beings in the back of every UNICEF commercial. They exist.

I wanted to stop it: I wanted the best for them. I wanted Honour, to be a proud healthy 13 year-old girl today. I wanted Patricia to be a proud mother. I wanted Ambrose to be happy. The slums and all the like cannot have it all. They can't even have the least. So today, sit here in this air conditioned edifice called a school to uphold and represent where I come from because this is what I can control. I could not stop what happened to Honour but I can control the work that I put in to construct a future that they would have wanted not only for themselves but for me as well. My personality, my movements, my smiles, my words. These are the people who molded me. They are embedded in my past and reflect my future. They will always represent who 1 am. My home. My origin. My inception. My Uganda.

Honoring the dead

Arena Ali

Frozen with shock, feet nailed to the dirt road and a trembling heart pumping blood  rapidly that fear nearly convulses into tangibility.but even a rush of adrenaline couldn’t help him I can imagine him standing with wide eyes feeling despair and loneliness, just him and his killer. His fear tangible, I envision him whispering a prayer for forgiveness and thanks as life passes through his eyes like a child going through a flipbook. He feels the impact.The first bullet drops him to his knees. He squeezes his eyes shut and whimpers due to the sudden pain. The second bullet pierces through his chest and gracefully enters his heart. The bullets penetrateinfiltrate his body eating away the years of his life within seconds of contact. The killer leaves untouched, stealing theyears from a father, husband, brother and beloved family member.

Four years later, I would fly across the ocean with my parents to visit my uncle’s burial site. I’d stand arms across my chest to feel some warmth. I’d shut my eyes and recollect the memories of his palpable intense passionate anger, his stomach-clenching humor, his charisma and his beautiful heart. I’d shed my grief in tears glancing at a young boy and two teenage girls kneeling in the dirt, eyes shut to hold in their own grief squeezing each others hands with their eyes shut, tear stained, whispering to their dad about their day, their stresses, and their joys. They’d tell him they missed him. The boy would ask if he met God and when he was coming homeback. Their mother would look away to retain her strength. The oldest daughter would join me and hold my hand.; she’d say, “Sometimes, I can’t help but feel like a charity case. that you probably wouldn’t even care to come here if it wasn’t for my dad., that Iif you had the choice you’d be elsewhere. I know he was like your dad, but he was my dad. He was our everything.” I would argue because I’d glance over to my dad and recall the ridiculous argument about wanting to go on vacation with friends instead.words would only add to the guilt from the ridiculous argument about wanting to go on a vacation with my friends instead. Dumbfounded by her honesty, I’d ask her how her life was going and she’d give me a sad smile, the kind that never reached her eyes, and respond, “It gets harder everyday. We have a whole family to support us, but sometimes you can’t help but feel alone. You know I failed and will be repeating tenth grade I failed tenth grade because sometimes I can’t bare bear it. All my friends will be juniors, so now I’m alone in school too. It’s embarrassing. I feel like my future is at a loss, like the structure of my life lies here in the ground.” She would sigh and I would embrace her wishing to take her distressagony away. I’d take them back home with us if it were at my command. I’d always know that their battles would be rougher than mine, sorrow much richer than mine, and burden much heavier than mine.

The endless arguments with my parents, the time thrown away, the ingratitude towards my opportunities all comes into prospect. The setting of my life’s Cannon finally refocuses. Meeting my family half way across the world, a place with different beliefs, where the father of the family is most prominent, where the troubles heighten if this source of structure is snatched away, enriches me with gratitude for the blessing of opportunities, family, and life I live. Only to imagine that if I was born in the country my cousin lives in, it could have been my parents. Just the thought fills my heart with gratitude and inspires me to work harder to so that someday I can help them, support them, and give them with the chance to live the life I do.

I have witnessed that life and death are out of our control, therefore instead of pondering on the inevitable we should focus on the tangible aspects of life. Changing this mentality will not make death seem petty but it is important to keep the good memories alive. It is vital to keep in mind the positive aspects of their life. I like to believe my Uncle made the world a better place. Even though he was a small town shop owner, he impacted many lives unknowingly; he surely changed my life. My Uncle accomplished many great things in his life; I chose to remember all those instead of the way his life terribly ended. He taught me to be thankful for the privileged life I lead. I am appreciative for all the things I have been provided in my life. For example, I am so grateful to be living in the United States of America. This is a freedom I took for granted for most of my life. My parents told me stories of their lives and how they grew up in run down sheds in the ghetto of India. I was never fully able to understand the efforts, hardships, and sacrifices they encountered to make it to America. I never took into account they left their homes and entered an unknown country with no help or support. I now comprehend the privilege I had of being born in such a country. I did not face any adversities in my life all thanks to my parents. They took all the difficulties onto themselves to provide me with the opportunity at a better future. Having my relatives experience such a heart wrenching tragedy has molded me into an appreciative human being. I am thankful to be given the opportunity to live in a better environment, have access to top education, and live in the land of opportunity, freedom, and diversity. I want to honor my Uncle’s life and memory by helping underprovided individuals and children suffering in third world countries. Everyone deserves the opportunity to live better and experience the simple luxuries of life.

My adventure called life - focusing on things you can control

Kate Suazo

We humans as are born into a world that we ourselves cannot change, control, or modify, instead we learn, grow, and do what we can to make this world better. In my own life I have faced trials and tribulations that created a mind full of anxiety and worry. Why can’t I change the world, I would ask myself, why can’t I change the past? For a long time it felt like nothing could be changed, that I would need to accept the world as it was and never ask for more. I believed in my heart that one woman could never make a difference, and up until my Nana died that is how I lived my life.
I have lost a lot of people in my 20 years on this beautiful planet. 8 close family members and friends to be exact. To say that I am familiar with loss would be an understatement. I was an angry child and my mental illness grew inside of me like a weed. I hated loving people out of fear of losing them. I pushed people away, I grew distant. I began to believe that this was the way life was, this was the way MY life was. Letting people love me was something I began to give up on. Why would I let others love me and I love them if it just ended in pain and loneliness. I was suicidal and disappointed in the world. Then the worst thing happened, my Nana died.
My Nana was my best friend. She raised me for a few years of my life due to financial struggles, she taught me how to sing and dance, she made the best food in the world, and she dedicated her life to helping others. My Nana was my best friend. She had been sick for quite some time and we had all said our goodbyes. I was sitting in math class when I felt a piece of my soul rip out of my chest, I knew she was gone. My parents picked me up from school that day and I was silent as they confirmed her passing. My best friend, my motivation, my light was gone.
For about a week afterwards I lived in a fog. My world had been torn apart and my depression was taking over. I had worked so hard to not let my anxiety and depression rule my life but at this point I didn’t care. My Dad told me about a “Life Ceremony” we were going to have for her and I was indifferent. I didn’t want to be surrounded by people crying and suffering because nothing could change the way any of us felt. We had no control over the pain, at least that’s what I thought then.
We walked into the “Life Ceremony” and sat down at a table. People kept coming over and apologizing for something they had no control over, it made me angry. I didn’t know most of the people saying sorry and I couldn’t sit there and continue to say “Thank you”. I walked away to go cool off. As I was pouring my lemonade an old man walked up to me and said, “You must be Carols Granddaughter.” I gave him a look as if to say, “Yeah, so?” He looked me deep in the eyes and said, “Do you know what kind of woman your Nana was?” We talked for the next hour about all the things she had done to help people around her. Her volunteer work at the food bank, the time she made meals for a month for the neighbors who just lost their jobs, the time she literally took the coat off her back for a small child who didn’t have one, my Nana was a hero.
I knew all of these things, I had heard all of these stories, but listening to this man talk about my Nana, it was like she was with us in the room. I felt my soul come back and I felt the smile on my face which had been a miss of quite some time. I felt the warmth of her love wrap me in a safety blanket. This woman, my Nana, who had lived through rough times of her own, loved and gave and shared her kindness with everyone. I began to realize something, my Nana continued living on through the light she shared with the world and with that light she made a difference.
I began to work out of my depression. I started doing theater to make people laugh. I began traveling so I could learn about what other people live like. I focused on college and my education. I began to love again as my Nana loved me. It was scary and I was nervous to begin opening myself up, but it was a release. I now work with a non-profit organization helping underprivileged youth prepare for college, I lead workshops on celebrating our differences, I teach groups of people about loving themselves for who they are, and I share my light as often as I can.
You see, every time I do something good, every time I share a smile or kind word, every time I step out of my comfort zone to help someone, those 8 people live on through me. I miss my Nana every day and I still get sad from time to time, but I know that by letting myself love again, I am doing more good than I ever have. Losing so many loved ones, dealing with the pain, and learning from my heartbreak as helped me learn how to celebrate everyone. I love deeply, I never let go, and I work hard every day to make myself better for those who love me. I know that I cannot change the cycle of death, and I know I cannot bring back my loved ones, but by sharing my light and by being kind, I can make this world a better place one smile at a time.

Focusing on what you can control

Sylvia Richardson
College: North Carolina Central University

My name is Sylvia Richardson and I just completed my freshman year in the Honors Program at North Carolina Central University, with a double major in accounting and hospitality/tourism. Following my freshman year, I currently have a 3.9 GPA. My career goal is to obtain a management position in the finance department of a major hotel chain or international firm within the tourism industry.
          I have recently made a giant leap towards focusing on things that I can control by co-authoring a book with my mother. The book is titled, You Are Wonderfully Made: 12 Life-Changing Principles for Teen Girls to Embrace. This book, which will be released in late September of this year, can be used as a tool for others to also focus on the things they can control.
          As a result of my success in high school, college, church and community, other parents and teenagers have often asked me about the secret of my success. My response has always been that my success is not a secret but that, with the assistance of my parents, I have developed principles that I try to live by on a regular basis. The principles are not complex; in fact, they are simple. Perhaps they are so simple that many teenagers overlook them entirely or discount their importance.
          My mother and I decided to reflect on my upbringing, especially during my teen years, and develop twelve of the principles in detail, so we could share them with other teenage girls. Black teen girls, in particular, experience common challenges and there are few resources which directly address them.
           The teen years are challenging ones in an individual’s development, particularly for girls. Yet black teen girls often experience even greater challenges because of the negative messages, labels and images perpetuated by media, music videos, and popular culture.
             Rather than boost the confidence of black teen girls, these negative messages can adversely affect their self-esteem and their concepts of self-worth. Low self-esteem can ultimately lead them to internalize these negative labels and make a series of bad choices. By embracing these labels, negative outcomes become a self-fulfilling prophecy for far too many black teen girls. But, black teen girls have the power to reject these negative labels and embrace positive ones.
             You Are Wonderfully Made: 12 Life-Changing Principles For Teen Girls To Embrace empowers black teen girls with the tools they need to successfully navigate their teen years and avoid the pitfalls that can derail their futures. The book’s title is based loosely on the Biblical scripture in Psalms 139:14, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
          However, the twelve universal principles in the book are not exclusive to those of the Christian faith. They can be adopted by any teen girl, regardless of her family background, economic status or educational achievement level.
The first principle explored in the book – and the most important – revolves around teenage girls appreciating their uniqueness and knowing their worth. One of the easiest things for us to control as individuals is our sense of self, knowing and appreciating who we are.
           There are no two people in the world who are alike. Each person is a one-of-a-kind individual, unique in every way, and there is no other human being on Earth, in the past, present or future, who has been, is or will be exactly like another.
            Teenagers have a tendency to want to blend in, to be like other teenagers, and to not stand out. It is often easier to go along with the trend set by the so-called “popular” or well-liked girls than to potentially be targeted for being different.
            But to get through the teen years successfully, girls will need to appreciate their uniqueness and be comfortable with the fact that they are different from any other teenager on Earth. They should celebrate themselves as one-of-a-kind teenagers who have intrinsic value that no one else can duplicate.
            Seeking validation from others not only lowers one’s self-esteem, but it also gives others power over them – over their thoughts, their opinions and their ideas about themselves. It also puts teenagers in a position where they do not feel worthy or know their worth, unless someone else validates it. Why give others that sort of power over their lives?
            When teenagers embrace their uniqueness, their confidence is bolstered. Once they accept the reality that they are exclusively unique, wonderfully made, they will begin to approach others with boldness and courage.
            Working on this book project with my mother was a meaningful experience. It helped me to improve my writing skills, and learn more about conducting research regarding topics of importance to me. It also expanded my knowledge about book covers and how essential they are in making a book attractive to potential readers. Finally, it allowed me to share my thoughts with other teens regarding focusing on things they can control.

The power of positive thinking

Alicia Morales

On September 2, 2010, I lost one of the most important human beings in my life. This human being was my uncle. He was a brother to eight women, a father of two children, and an uncle to me and 10 of my cousins, but it felt as if he were my second father. He helped raise each and every one of us. He was extremely affectionate, even on his bad days, and always managed to keep a smile on my face. Ever since I began attending school in kindergarten, my uncle would tell my mother that I was a gifted child. As I grew older, his expectations of my education continued to escalate. I have always excelled in a school setting, and because he believed in me, I continued to be confident and always aimed for success. His encouraging words motivated me not only academically, but with life in general.  He helped me understand that one’s dream can be limitless, which is something I still highly value.  Growing up, I spent weekends with him listening to his dreams for my future education. He always told me I had an infinite amount of potential to do great things in this world. When I turned 11 years old, he accomplished his goal of opening up his own restaurant, and even though he suffered economically, which forced him to shut down the business, he managed to open up a new one soon after. He began to tell me about his long term goal of expanding his restaurant into a chain of food services, and hoped to have me in charge of administrating it someday.
        Unfortunately, his life, hopes, and dreams were taken away by another human being. Sorrow and denial filled the lives of my family. I was unable to concentrate on anything that was unrelated to my uncle's murder and my family's pain. When my relatives left to Mexico to hold his funeral, I stayed in Chicago because my mother advised me to do so. She believed my pain would be even greater if I attended, and it would do me no good. I gave my final goodbye to my beloved uncle here in Chicago right during the same time the summer season gave its own goodbye to us all. My eighth grade year began a couple days later, and my mind was nowhere near focused. All I was sure of was that I wanted to see my uncle again, and I wanted to attend his funeral with the rest of my family. My disconnection from the world quickly brought consequences. My academic work began to roll downhill. I was too distracted by the tragedy that I forgot my life was moving on. My goals began to fade and I had no motivation whatsoever. I became depressed and it seemed to me as if every problem in my life had no solution. I did not complete my daily tasks, both at school and at home. Instead of finishing them, I would feel anxious and scared of what the consequences of ignoring my responsibilities would be.
        After seeking for help from my family, friends, and mentors, I finally came back to my senses and realized that the last thing my uncle would want would be for me to ignore my academic responsibilities. I decided to try my hardest to better myself. To this day, I am still trying to excel not only in school, but in every aspect of my life. I know I can succeed, and I want to make my uncle proud. He has always been my motivation for academic success, but after he passed away I realized that no matter how big a problem is, I can always get past it. Things will always get better. This new mindset has helped me grow as person, and I am now a more motivated and optimistic individual. I am excited for my future endeavors rather than fearing them. One day after I graduate college, I will become a successful social worker, specialized in children’s welfare and will hopefully work with foster children. My goal is to help as many children as I possibly can, and even though this career choice can bring many heartaches, I am positive it will be worth it. With the power of positive thinking, I became an optimist: a person who searches for the best in any given situation. Regardless of the hardships in life, I am responsible for my own happiness. The universe may send negativity my way, but I should not feel defeated. There are certain factors in life which one cannot control, often leaving one frustrated, powerless, and even depressed, but one must stay positive. These hardships are not permanent, they are only temporary. Happiness will be in abundance in the near future, but only if one values the Power of Positive Thinking!

Emphasize what you can control

 Dylan Lizarraga

When I have brought up the subjects of Boy Scouts around others, I am received with a either admiration from those who have participated in it as well or antipathy for many acts of social injustice that BSA has endorsed through the years. I cannot fully agree nor disagree with any of their beliefs; all of which (in my eyes) are equally justifiable. My experiences in scouting are my own and have come with their own levels of hardship and success. I joined at the age of twelve and have been are part of my troop ever since. The memorable occasions for me, and for many other scouts, were summer camp trips. For an entire week, my troop and I would stay at a camp, isolated in nature, bombarded with weird songs, goofy skits, merit badge classes on any matter of skill, and more exercise than I thought a twelve year old could handle. Camp is truly a strange place to describe in full detail, but it’s a world away from where I lived. Each summer camp was either spent at a new camp or one we hadn’t been in several years, as to not make things stale. Of those, my favorite had always been Camp Cherry Valley. Located on Catalina Island, Cherry Cove is approximately 23 miles from San Pedro Harbor and about 1.5 miles from the isthmus. Although it boasts its aquatic activities, I always had the greatest appreciation for the incredibly friendly counselors. I have come to learn about myself while at this camp, however none more so than the first week I spent there.
                Every BSA camp has the rule that if one wishes to participate in any waterfront activities, that person must demonstrate their swimming ability by passing a “swim check”. I remember my first swim check and every vivid detail. It began even before I reached the beach. The troop had been assigned a swim check time that was right after breakfast that Monday morning. The mess hall/parade grounds has a trail that lead directly to the waterfront. Placed at different stations along the trail were members of staff that would explain the rules as well as first aid procedures that could occur at the beach. I distinctly remember how excited I was to go into ocean and eventually take out kayaks. Each station moved us closer to the beach until, eventually, we stood on the dock. The morning clouds were burned away by the sun. The ocean was a clear blue with a tint of green. And some funky looking orange fish swam about three feet from the edge of the dock. All set to go, I listened to the lifeguard as she broke down the swim check. From the dock, we had to jump in, feet first, and swim, between the dock and the ropes in the distance, four lengths. Ten of us lined along the edge of the dock and waited for the lifeguard to count us down. “3” I looked left and right towards the other boys. “2” I looked down at my feet to push my toes over the edge. “1” I looked down at the water beneath me. “GO!” I froze.
                The shaking of the dock made me take a step back to catch myself from falling over. I heard a lifeguard say, “Jump”, but I stood there and shook my head. At the time I could fully comprehend the reason why I resisted jumping in. The ocean water grew darker the deeper I looked. The abyss was now a real concept in my mind. It was the unknown; the monster in the closet I could disprove time and time again but I could feel it there every night. It was creature that drooled under my bed waiting for me to fall asleep. It was fear; the purest I may have ever felt it. I understood the reality of the situation. I didn’t believe in or even imagine for a moment some imaginary monster or fictitious Hollywood shark. I had already learned how to swim. Everyone else, swimming in water was enough proof that everything should be fine. Regardless, another part of my brain couldn’t muster the strength to take this leap of faith. It told me something was going happen; something I couldn’t expect or prepare for. I don’t know how long I stood there before the one of the lifeguards snapped me out of my trance. He asked me my name and wondered why I didn’t want to jump in. I told him I was scared of the water so he asked me what I saw that scared me. I told him I didn’t see anything and that’s what scared me. He wanted to know if I thought there were sea monsters, but I told I didn’t think there were any. We stood there and talked for a while. I tried few times to jump, but to no avail. Most of the boys in my troop had already finished their swim check and were on the beach. The lifeguard stayed with me, trying to convince me to swim. By the third group of swimmers to pass through, he finally convinced me with his words. I know that I can swim, I know I’ve swum in a pool deeper than the water in front of me, and I know that no one is going to get hurt. I also know that anything could happen. The only thing keeping me from a week of fun and adventure was my inhibitions. Everything came back to me and my own head. I have control over what I do. Sure, things can happen beyond my control, but I can find a way to work through it instead of giving up before I have a go. I am the only one in charge of the actions I take and the thoughts I let take control. After taking the plunge, I held firm to that believe. One’s locus of control needs to stay within oneself.
                I went back to Cherry Valley two during separate summers. The summer after I turned 18, I even decided to work there as counselor. On my first summer I worked with the waterfront staff as a lifeguard and merit badge teacher. One Tuesday afternoon, I had a little boy on the dock with me who didn’t take his swim check the day before. He mustered the courage to come back during Free Time and, just like me, his courage drained while standing at the edge of the dock. I spent the majority of those three hours working with him, reminding him about all the cool things he wanted to do once he passed his swim check. I had jumped in the water to show him the water was fine and even swam alongside him when he finally jumped in. From then on, that moment has stood as a highlight of my experiences. If I didn’t believe in the power of my own mind and body, I would never have discovered my own capabilities. Never would I assume that I made the most dramatic impact on another boy’s life, although I so believe that I helped any number of scouts achieve a goal they wished to reach and opened a new door of possibility. Every time I ran a swim check, I watched numerous scouts from different walks of life take the same test week after week. Some of them have never done a swim, some have never swam outside a pool, and some have never even seen the ocean. Teaching others to emphasize what they can control has held a great deal of meaning to me. In the end, I’m no longer the one taking their swim check for the first time, nor am I spending my first full week away from home. I spend my days giving kids the opportunity to explore a new world and write their own story.

Focusing on things you can control

Amanda Christenhusz
Truckee Meadows Community College

“I feel infinite. It's moments like this that I live for, moments I can find humor in the dire straights, to pick myself back up and realize that I don't have control over anything but myself. I am my own god. Whether other people laugh with me or not, it is my enjoyment that I am allowed to have, and I don't need anyone else's approval for that. And the more I realize that, the more likable I seem to become to my friends, because I'm no longer seeking their approval and being disappointed when they don't approve. I am myself, and people seem to accept that now more than ever before. I am still learning. I am not perfect. I make mistakes. I slip up. I hurt people. I still have a long way to go before I can say that I am okay, but I know I will get there, because I believe in myself and what I can do.”
            These are the words I told the Facebook universe just two weeks ago. Five years ago, I was unrecognizable as the person I am today, not in physical features (because let’s face it, I’m still every bit as beautiful as I was back then), but in my mentality, in my approach to life and how I live it. Five years ago, I was a person who felt the need to control every last detail of my life, including the people in it.
            I lost a lot of friends to my need to control everything. I always had to prove my point, I always needed people to do the things I wanted them to do, and if they didn’t do exactly as I expected of them, well, I acted like a five-year-old. I’m not proud of the person I used to be, but I’m certainly proud of the person I am today, the person who’s learned how to let go and not feel the need to control everything.
            See, I have Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). A lot of people ask me what BPD is, and my shortest explanation would be ‘fear of abandonment’. Fear of abandonment can come in the most unexpected shapes and sizes, including (but not limited to): someone walking away from a fight, someone snapping at me for something little, a friend canceling plans for the afternoon, and even someone disagreeing with me on something! Yes, I acted like a child anytime anyone disagreed with me, because I was afraid that if they didn’t see it my way, they would “abandon” me.
            When I was nineteen, I married a guy who was completely wrong for me. I spent my life working a thankless job that barely paid the bills while wasting the rest of it sitting on the computer playing meaningless games, frying my brain on tons of television, and doing absolutely nothing productive. Oh, and I became an animal hoarder, trying to fill the emptiness I felt in my heart with tons of little furries to cuddle and love. I didn’t listen to anyone about how deplorable my home was or how I was wasting my life on the computer. In fact, I got quite combative anytime anyone tried to give me better direction in my life, because I felt like I had control over my life–after all, I was the one that had made all those decisions. In retrospect, in trying to have control over everything, I really had no control over myself.
            When my husband finally left me (can’t say it was soon enough), it was a huge blow at first. I couldn’t control him anymore and keep him there, no matter how hard I tried.
For three days and three nights, I cried my eyes out and begged him to stay. I was angry with him, because he was supposed to love me. Didn’t he love me? Then I did the math. I realized that I could pay all of my own bills, and suddenly, I didn’t need him. Suddenly, I was completely over him. How could I be completely over him if I had been in love with him? I’ll tell you why, because I was in love with the idea of him, and that’s when I came to terms with the fact that I couldn’t just be with someone because I felt like I needed someone and vice versa, I had to be with someone because I wanted to be with them and they wanted to be with me. It was the first experience, among many, that taught me a very valuable lesson in life: I can’t control my love life.
            That was only one component of my life at the time, however. Another big component was the animals. I had way too many, so many that many of them were dying in my care because I couldn’t actually care for them. My house was absolutely disgusting, with ferrets pooping in every corner, cats peeing down heater vents, maggots growing in my sink, and so cluttered that it was all I could do to walk from one end to the other and sit in one spot. I was neglectful to the point where animals were dying in their cages left and right. It broke my heart.
            One day, an old friend from middle school came to visit me on her way through town, and since I was working when she arrived, I had to give her the keys to my house. When I got home, she and her boyfriend were cleaning. They gave me a big earful about how deplorable my home was. I was mortified. I realized that I couldn’t control the pain in my heart by trying to fill the emptiness there with animals that I couldn’t take care of. It took some time, but I got myself down to just the cats and dogs and began to really work on keeping a cleaner house.
            I was an angry person back then, too. My animals feared me, because when they didn’t listen–when I couldn’t control them, I got aggressive. My dogs saw the worst of it, especially Amaya, who was often in her own little world and couldn’t be bothered to listen. My anger only made her want to listen less, which only made me even angrier! I became abusive. One day, after beating Amaya because she wouldn’t come to me (I wonder why?), I looked down into her eyes, eyes that showed pain and distrust and confusion. It broke my heart. It wasn’t her fault that she wouldn’t listen to me. I had done my research on Siberian huskies before getting them, they have selective hearing, and it’s not like I’d made her want to listen to me with how angry I was being. It took a long time, but I slowly worked with her, worked on controlling my anger, and built up my patience levels.
            The more I learned to let go of the things I couldn’t control and shouldn’t be trying to control, the more I began to discover myself, and the more I discovered myself, the more I realized that I couldn’t control everything in my life. That the only thing I really can control is my own attitude and my own actions. People (and animals) are going to be who they are and do what they do, and I don’t need everyone to like or love me, I just need to love myself. I still have a long way to go, but I am doing better each and every day, and I feel like I’ve lived more in the past five years than I did in the twenty-three years before that.
            I have always loved helping people, and in the last few years, I’ve discovered a deep passion for psychology. Since I couldn’t find a better way to help people while still being myself if I tried, I am looking forward to going back to school to become a Psychologist in the future and putting all of my effort towards that future and not one that someone else sees for me. I may not be perfect, and I never expect to be, but one day I will be exactly where I want to be, because I realize now who I am and what I want to do with my life.

Focusing on things you can control

Allison Bruner

For a lot of people, obsessing over things out of their control can overrun their life and turn daily activities into drama-filled escapades. Stress can take an emotional and physical toll on people that is often overlooked, but can have a profound impact. That is what happened to me during my freshman year of college. With looming student debt, overloading in units, a demanding on-campus job and leadership positions and endless group projects, trying to navigate a new school with new friend groups became a daunting task. Over the course of the first quarter, I had turned into a stress-filled lunatic. My boyfriend felt the brunt of it, but he was the reason I decided I needed to turn my attitude around.
            When fights about my anxieties were happening four and five times a week, he finally told me after a tearful—on my part—argument that I had changed since the start of school. In that instant I had a moment of clarity, realizing that it was not fair to him nor to myself that I was spending every waking second worrying about things that I had no control over: I did have daunting loans, but also a plan to pay it back and incredible opportunities. I was overloading in units, but it was nothing compared to the course load I shouldered in high school with ease. My job and leadership roles on campus required substantial amounts of time, but I had a fantastic boss and peers and invaluable experience. And while one is generally found between a rock and a hard place to find an upside to group projects, I had to learn to open my eyes to see that I was in a place in my life where I was being presented with incredible, once in a lifetime opportunities. I spent many nights tossing and turning, mind running a million miles an hour and by the time the dawn broke I had no energy left for my daily life.
            The next day, I sat down and made a list of things that I could change and could productively channel my energy into. Number one on that list was my health; in the following months, exercise not only became an outlet for my stress, but I also focused more on eating healthy foods. This led to renewed health and redoubled amounts of energy, but I also found that I was sleeping easier at night and more relaxed during the day. The second item on my list was my relationship that I had been poorly neglecting. Having already been together for over a year before starting college, it became easy to take my boyfriend for granted; I had become needy in our relationship and it was clearly taking its toll on both of us. I made a conscious effort to be more appreciative of the little things and the time that we spent together, and though the benefits of these changes were not as instant as my health kick, the long term effects led to a stronger, more stable relationship.
            The third thing I chose to focus my energy on were my classes. It was easy to see the positive correlation between time and energy spent and my success in the classes. Buckling down and putting two hundred and ten percent into my courses was a difficult adjustment at first, but after seeing my grades on the first round of midterms following my new routines it was easy to follow through. This tactic additionally improved my experiences with group projects; I learned that when I stepped up and delegated work, people were willing to do their part ninety percent of the time. I also found that being actively engaged at work created a more productive environment for myself so it was easier to transition back into normal life after my shift ended.
            Rather than concentrating on the long term ideas I had about my future, I learned to instead plan out attainable, concrete and short term goals: I was worried about getting a good GPA so that my resume stood out to potential employers and I could negotiate a competitive salary, but focused my energy on doing my homework and studying hard for tests to get a good grade in each individual class that would lead to that elusive, intangible GPA. By focusing on things I could control, I took control back over my life. I became more energized, more confident, and more capable in the tasks I approached. Simple steps can have an incredibly profound impact on the overall quality of life that a person has; the most important aspect of that though is that those steps are attainable for everyone. Overcoming my anxieties about what the future holds is an ongoing adjustment, but by far one of the most worthwhile achievements I’ve worked towards in my life.

The power of positive thinking

John Bavol
California State University-San Marcos

“The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible”.

        - Winston Churchill
 I am not going to get into the harsh details of my childhood and upbringing. I don’t want to focus on the negative, but show the power of being a positive thinker. And before I get into my story, I would like to encourage anyone who reads this to do the same in their own lives. Don’t focus on the negative. When it rears its ugly little head, focus on ways to alter it into something positive. Easier said than done, I know, but hopefully my story can give some insight on how it can be done.

                So without further ado, let me start by saying childhood was rough. Now let us skip ahead to the part where my eldest sister felt the need to help my father out by taking his rebellious son off his hands for the summer while likewise helping me by getting me away from the people I surrounded myself with. She proposed I come live with her and learn to surf. I had always loved the beach and immediately agreed. Along with the offer came specific guidelines I would have to follow, and should I fail to abide, I would be sent back to the city where no good could happen.

                The guidelines stated: I must enroll in summer school and achieve no lower than a letter grade of “A” on every assignment. Any lower of a letter grade would result in no surfing. I must stay out of trouble. The result of being brought home by the authorities, being suspended from school, being caught shoplifting, doing drugs, or drinking would result in being sent back to live with my father. My sister and her husband were a no nonsense couple and were not about to let me get away with the shenanigans I was used to getting away with.

                As the summer began to come to an end, my brother-in-law felt impressed that the summer worked out. I had made up two of my failed classes and managed to stay out of trouble the entire summer. Having been an adopted child, my brother-in-law saw an opportunity to do the same good for me as his adoptive parents had done for him. He and my sister sat me down after an afternoon of surfing and made me a second offer. Their offer was much like the first but involved coming to live with them permanently. The guidelines were also much the same, the only difference being I would have to get a job as well as make up every failed class while simultaneously keeping up with all my regular classes.

                After much thought and my father’s blessing, I accepted. Shortly after moving in my belongings, my sister took me with her to the high school I would be attending. We had set a meeting with the school counselor to go over my admittance and to form a game plan on how to make up nearly an entire year’s worth of classes. The counselor looked over my transcript and chuckled. Immediately having given up on me, she suggested we consider a continuation school. Suddenly I felt like this had been a waste of time. My sister, convinced that a continuation school would put me right back with the crowd she was trying to get me away from, pleaded for the counselor to give me a chance. But all the counselor would say was that it was impossible for me to make up all the classes and that it would affect the school’s standing. An hour went by and finally the counselor folded. She reiterated that she did not believe I could do it, and that I would be on probation throughout my stay there. Any class failed, any nonsense, and I would be out.

                Throughout my junior and senior years of high school, I managed to maintain a job at the local grocery store across the street from the school, make up every class failed with a letter grade no lower than a “B”, and maintain a letter grade of no lower than a “B” in every other class. Oh, and I also graduated on time, the class year I was meant to graduate with. It always seemed odd to me that I was able to do what the school counselor deemed impossible, but there were three things that ultimately got me through it. Number one was the support and stability of my sister and brother-in-law. Number two was the impulse to prove my counselor wrong. And number three was simply surfing.

                I understand this story skipped through many of the details for which make a story interesting, but the point is I took the good and the bad into a positive form of thinking so that I could do something not thought to be possible. I took the support of my family and used it to fuel my positive goal. I used surfing to give me a clearer aspect on life. I didn’t get into that much but surfing actually gives you a sense of clarity. Through it you learn patience and you are given a chance to reflect out in the water. I also took the negative response from my counselor to urge myself forward because I did not want to let her win. All in all, positive thinking makes it possible to achieve heights you never thought possible.

Having an attitude of gratitude

Darryan Robers
Tennessee State University

“Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful.” 
~Buddha

This quote demonstrates the highest level of an attitude of gratitude.  As an incoming junior at Tennessee State University, I have chosen to make every opportunity to be a learning experience.  This will prevent any situation from being a hindrance.  I have had some academic as well as extracurricular events that ended up less than favorably.  I chose to reevaluate the given situation and if there was an outside assessment given, to truly seek to understand how others may have perceived my intentions.  This affords me an opportunity to make necessary changes. 

I am then able to grow as opposed to missing out on broadening my exposure to new things as well as learning a better way to accomplish my goals.  I choose not to take anything for granted.  For me to be as healthy as I am and yet there are students who for all purposes, are healthy but ambulate by a wheelchair acknowledge that my life can change in an instant.  The most important task is to remember that anything that allows for a second chance can be yours.  

This year’s task is for me to make choices that will propel me into my future.  I am majoring in Psychology but I desire to obtain a Graduate Degree and Board Certification in Behavior Analysis.  If awarded this scholarship, it will help to immediately offset accrual of educational loans and expenses that will better prepare me to be able to further my education.  I am grateful for the financial support and assistance granted that has afforded me the opportunity to reach this level in my collegiate career but I realize I will have to receive additional education to even begin my career.  

I have chosen a career as a Behavior Analyst.  I chose this career due to my high school volunteer assignment as a Peer Facilitator.  I worked with peers who had a diagnosis of Autism and or other Developmental Disabilities by demonstrating appropriate social skills in everyday situations.  It was apparent to me as a child of 6 other siblings that perhaps I too take menial tasks such as going to the grocery store for granted.  I worked with other “typical developing” peers whose siblings and friends had these diagnosis’s. It became apparent that we never know how a person feels unless you have truly walked in their shoes.   The embarrassment from a child demonstrating inappropriate or unusual body movements because maybe they cannot express verbally that “I am nervous” or “I need a break”.  Working with these peers be it with or without a known disability, it was apparent that there is so much more awareness needed.   

I thought it very interesting to observe the Behavior Analyst help these individuals demonstrate more appropriate social interactions by usually giving them a reason to do so.  This began to shape my thinking to choose to be grateful.  If for no other reason than I want to be.  

Life is constantly changing.  However, my personal goal in life is to always learn in order to be positioned to grow while maintaining a content and grateful attitude.   This means to embrace knowledge while seeking to understand each life cycle as not a happen chance but opportunity.  This understanding I hope will be a key asset in my leadership skills as well as success.   

Daily I practice an attitude of gratitude through my academic matriculation as well as in my civil and social living.  I hope to receive this scholar ship from Achieve Today.  I look forward to being in a position to give back to other young ladies one day to help them to accomplish their goals.  I will encourage each young lady and or applicant to implement strong leadership principles that demonstrate innovative applied learning to every aspect of their lives.  They too must be able to establish a strong network of support and professional skillset from others who have accomplished what they hope to one day succeed at.  Balance school, work life responsibility by maintaining the attitude of gratitude.  This means as much as we can, we will make wise choices.  My mother frequently tells me that it is imperative to allow for an exit plan because things don’t always go as we plan and once we acknowledge our knowledge; do over or differently.  But in all things give thanks.  Again, I so agree with Buddha‘s view of my Attitude of Gratitude because nothing just happens.   Zig Ziegler sums it up best for me “Of all the "attitudes" we can acquire, surely the attitude of gratitude is the most important and by far the most life-changing. Adopt that attitude and I really will SEE YOU AT THE TOP!”

Having an attitude of gratitude

Chloe Myers
University of Central Florida

I am my mother’s last and, technically, fourth child, but two of them died before me; I sometimes wonder if that helps that my sister Kiara and I are close. I am a stubborn, inquisitive, passionate, ethereal human wrapped around the soul of a woman. I am the child that parents
want their kids to be around, because ever since I was in elementary school, I have gotten numerous academic praises and trophies. I was supposed to have been a stillborn, though, and my story wasn’t supposed to be announced, 21 years ago. We are always told to be grateful for every moment that we have, on this epicenter of a planet that we abide in, called Earth. We thank God whenever something good happens, but never seem to praise Him when we are going through our next storm as well. Think about what I have to say, because I am living proof that God is real and that I am a miracle. Breathing, is a luxury. It maps out the plan for the body, and eases us into life. It coaxes us into thinking that everything is going to be okay. It is the memory I have of being hooked up to a machine, fighting for breath, with my mother sobbing in the next room. It is my grandmother
reaching her hand out to me and holding on, praying all day and night for my health, even to this day. It is a compass, navigating to our lungs and protruding from our ribcages, giving us a chance to say our messages. A simple ‘hello’ is someone else’s gratitude, because maybe
yesterday they had been in a coma. It is a vital thing needed for the epitome of survival, strength, and dedication. My name is Chloe Myers, and I was born on the day before a leap year, February 28th, 1994. I came into the world resembling how a kid usually looks jumping into a pool: feet first, and ready for action. I weighed one pound, and twelve ounces; since I was born prematurely, at six months, I had to stay in the ICU for three months. My weight then decreased to one pound and eight ounces.
The doctors told my family that I would have cerebral palsy and mental retardation. I never developed those things, and I would like to think of myself a happy and healthy 21 year old college student. However, because there was a lack of oxygen coming to my brain when I
was born, I was eventually diagnosed with a retinal tear in my right eye. I had to take daily breathing treatments when I came home from the hospital for the next couple of years. The tear impacts my vision, especially at night, and some doctors have told me that it could one day be
severe enough to the point where I could develop glaucoma when I am a lot older. A healthy retina shouldn’t have any fluid coming through a retinal hole or tear; mine
does, and some of the symptoms of a tear or a  etachment can include floaters, which are similar to small circles that some people with the tear can see. nevertheless, I am always grateful. I was bullied in middle and high school because of my high prescription for my glasses. They are very thick, but at least I can see. I have my vision; it’s just not as strong as some people would like to think. When I was 16, I also lost fifty pounds, and suddenly all the people who picked on me because of my vision wanted to be my friend. I cried countless times
because I wanted to be just like everyone else. I wanted to have glasses with a regular, barely there prescription and perfect vision. I didn’t want to be the ‘freak’ of the classroom who was also a nerd. Whenever I got upset about this, my mom would always tell me to get up and thank God for the fact that at least, I can see. At least, I can breathe without being tied up to a machine. At least I’m not dead. I am her last child, her little model, her scholar, and I am always going to be her fighter. I can’t play the victim, I have to keep moving forward, because there is someone out there who has it much worse and is living in the realm of sunshine, as my grandmother says
about happiness. Which, is true. I am humbled by God’s wisdom and mercy. I thank Him everyday that I can drive my car, walk, talk, eat, chew, and do the things the doctors told me I could never do. I can do all of this
without an aid, a service animal, a nurse. I have an attitude of gratitude because I am able to share my story. I have a name, an actual birth date, and I am here. A force of willpower and courage to be reckoned with, willing to bestow my story to anyone that will listen, always looking at the stars and knowing I have at least two angels watching me, every day. Breathing, is a luxury, wrapped up in the love of God’s plan for all of us. A simple ‘hello’ is someone else’s gratitude, because maybe yesterday they had been in a coma. That’s the thing about people; you never know their story, until you ask.

Going confidently for the results that I desire

Robert T. Lee
North Carolina A&T State University

As a recent high school graduate, feeling almost like an alien standing at the verge of a brand new world, I realize how important it is to successfully deal with potential
challenges and obstacles in my life. I am about to step into college and I’m being told by my family and my friends to expect the unexpected, and be ready to go through things I have never experienced before. The whole thing is a bit much for an eighteen year old to handle, but then I feel better once I think about something I have been through many times already that required me to use confidence and the Power of Positive Thinking to get the results I wanted from what I was involved in. An important moment from my childhood that showed me how to use positive thinking to achieve in my life is the first time I auditioned to be in my school band. I was in the 6th grade and I have to admit, it was majorly intimidating. I could feel the eyes of all the other students who were trying out, even though they had their eyes on their own instruments. I knew they were looking at me anyway. On top of that, my Mom was looking, and of course I wanted to look good in front of her. I also really wanted to impress the director, and his team of instructors. I had imagined how the whole thing would play out when I was rehearsing at home, in my room the week before. I was going to drum my heart out, and everybody was going jump up and give me a standing
ovation, and I’d have my place in the band. Easy. But here I was at my audition, standing there shaking and sweating, and trying to hide it. All of these scary thoughts started flooding into my mind. They were almost like
voices, and they were telling me all of the reasons why I could fail. All sorts of fears started creeping in, including how talented the other students trying out were, and how
they would take up all of the slots in the band before I could get picked. I wondered if I could actually impress the instructors judging my performance, and if I really had the special qualities that they were looking for. I went over my routine, becoming anxious that I would forget something and not even make it all the way through. I stood there watching the other students play, and every time one of their names was called, I got more and more nervous, with beads of sweat forming on my forehead.
And then the moment came, when they called my name: “Robert Lee”. I thought about what I wanted, and what would happen if I messed up. I could not let that happen,
so I did the best thing that I could think to do. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and pulled out all of the courage that I had inside of me. I used the Power of Positive
Thinking to recall the training Iʼd had up to that point, and how much I loved drumming, even at that young age. Once I changed my thinking, my entire routine came back to my mind, from start to finish. I clenched my teeth, took another deep breath, and started my performance. I raised my chest up high, and charged into my routine as confidently as I could. Before I knew it, I was finished, I couldn’t wait to see what everybody thought. Once the instructors judged how I did, I was picked for the band and given my place on the drum line, and I was as happy as I could be. I’ve auditioned for band more than ten times since then, and every time I can’t help but have a quick moment when that same fear and intimidation pops up, they way it did in my very first audition. But whenever it tries to happen, I pull from that same stability and confidence that I discovered within me during those tryouts back in the sixth grade. I am able to pull from positive thoughts to put keep myself on track, and put myself in line with what I want, whether itʼs in school, dealing with my family at home, or socially when Iʼm out by myself or with my friends. The Power of Positive Thinking is a big part of how I approached applying for North Carolina A&T State University, and auditioning
for a place in the schoolʼs band. I am able to make negative thoughts go away, instead of chickening out and hesitating to go after what I want, I take a breath, imagine the best outcome that I can, and go confidently for the results that I desire. Knowing how to do this makes me better at going after what I want and continuing to become the person that I want to be.

What you fear you can't always control

Shaya Crabtree

This isn’t going to be one of those essays about conquering your fears. This is an essay about embracing them.

My sophomore year of college I finally caved. Forced by academic standards and core curriculum, I could no longer put off taking the class I had been avoiding since my sophomore year of high school: Speech. The course was disguised as “Fundamentals of Communication” with a syllabus placing emphasis on computer-based testing, outlining by hand, and writing speeches. But I wasn’t fooled. This was a class about giving speeches.

I’m a writer by trade, meaning it’s what I’m studying in college and what I’ve always wanted to be. Writing speeches isn’t a big deal to me. Communicating my thoughts through written word is not a big deal to me. Unfortunately, this class was titled wrong. It should have been named “Fundamentals of Oral Communication.” Nobody cared about what I had written. Nobody cared that I had perfect outlines, fleshed out with perfect introductions, body paragraphs, conclusions, and catchy hook words to draw the audience in. My written speeches were textbook, exactly what my teachers were looking for. Except it didn’t matter. All that mattered was what I said at the podium and we weren’t allowed to bring the speeches we’d written with us, only notecards that could hold no more than a couple of lines of key words that would help us remember what we were trying to say.

My first speech I memorized. I practiced it well over fifty times, confident that if I tried hard enough I could replicate the exact eloquence of the words I’d written down orally when I voiced them. I was nervous, but I was prepared. I signed myself up as the last student to give their speech in order to give myself more time to practice and time to observe what everyone else did wrong or did right and learn from my classmates’ mistakes and successes. I couldn’t have prepared more if I tried. Then it came time to give the speech.

It was awful.

It wasn’t a case of blanking on the spot. I retained every word of my speech. It was engrained into the gray matter of my brain. I recited it in my dreams for nights on end. I knew everything I was supposed to say, except I couldn’t say it. My heart was pounding, my palms were sweaty, and the only thing shakier than my hands was my voice. I fumbled through the entire speech, fully aware that I sounded like I was seconds away from crying. I just wanted out of that room, out of the spot light. I chopped my speech in half on the spot, cutting out everything important that I was supposed to say just to be done with it all.

I got a C on the speech. I’d never gotten a C in my life. I was a straight A student with a 4.0 GPA that graduated high school with an honors diploma and a 4.4 GPA. I’m the kind of person who freaks out if they get an A-. Only this time I was too traumatized by the entire experience to care that I’d gotten the lowest grade of my life. I was actually relieved. My performance didn’t deserve a grade considered “average.”

Devastated, for my second speech I no longer cared about the rules. I changed my speech to 9pt. font, printed the entire thing out, and glued it onto the fronts and backs of my notecards. I knew I’d be docked points for it, but I didn’t care. I just wanted to survive. I thought maybe if I gave the audience no eye contact and focused solely on reading aloud the words on my notecards in front of me, I wouldn’t be so nervous. Yes, it would be an awful, uninteresting performance, but I didn’t care. Still, I had hope that maybe this speech wouldn’t be as bad as the last. I practiced diligently, memorizing the speech in its entirety even though it wasn’t required this time. Again I went last. Again I watched as others struggled and glided through their presentations with ease. Then it was my turn.

This time it went even worse.

The second speech was no different than the first, really. Shaky hands, shaky voice. Only this time the speech was longer, required by the syllabus to be more of a challenge than the original. It was so awful I barely remember it. My mind has blocked it out, or maybe my blood pressure was so high that day I was nearly blacked-out on stage. I’m almost grateful that I have no recollection of it. My hands shake just thinking about it even as I type out this essay.

I was grateful to sit back down at my desk after that speech. It had been awful, but this time I hadn’t skipped any lines. I’d said each and every word and I got the information I needed to out there, even if I was a trembling mess as I said it. Maybe I’d actually deserve the C this time.

Then my teacher asked me to stay after class. I was smart enough to know what for.

She told me the speech was good, said it had all the information it was supposed to, and that I shouldn’t be so nervous, but I was so high-strung and exhausted that I broke down in front of her. I sobbed. My professor hugged me. I didn’t even care that everyone saw. I went on a ten minute walk outside in the Midwestern winter cold, still crying, just to calm myself down. It didn’t work. There wasn’t a moment I was calm that entire semester.

The third speech was a group speech. Once again, I tried to be optimistic. I’m an optimistic person by nature. I’m the person my friends go to for advice when they’re feeling sad. I’m the one who sees silver linings even when the sky is so completely eclipsed by clouds that it’s impossible to see their edges.  I thought I could do the speech this time, especially since I was in a group. All eyes weren’t on me. I only played a small role wedged into the middle of the performance when audience attention was at its lowest. It helped that I was motivated not to drag down my group partners. The groups had been chosen randomly and their grades didn’t deserve to suffer just because they’d had the misfortune of getting stuck with the most anxious person in class.

We practiced the speech together and it was great. Everything was fine. For once I was calm when we approached the front of the room. I was even calm when the members before me gave their portion of the speech. But then it was my turn and the eye of the storm had passed. I was back in the heavy rains and turbulent wind and not a single thing about my performance had improved. It was awful. I didn’t cry this time, but only because I raced out of the room as soon as I could. My professor didn’t stop me to give me pointers. It hadn’t made a difference before and it wasn’t going to make a difference now.

There was only one speech left in the semester, and something had to change. It felt like I had tried everything to get over my fear and excel in the course, but I hadn’t. There was one last thing left I could do: Focus on the things I could control.

I can’t control the state of shock my body goes into when I give a speech. No matter how hard I try, no matter how calm I am, no matter how good of a headspace I’m in, my own confidence and preparedness just doesn’t matter when I’m in front of a room. My body shuts down, and I can’t control that.

What I could control was my performance in other aspects of the class. I’d gotten great grades on all of my small homework assignments, my written outlines, and my mid-term, and I knew if I could get an excellent grade on my final, it wouldn’t matter how poorly I did on my last speech.

From that point on, I focused my energy into studying, something I was good at, a habit I knew I could control. I read the textbook, then reread it. I looked at my notes, then high-lighted them, then read them over and over again. I filled out study guides for the course. I got advice from older students who had already taken the class. I put all of my energy into a single test, and I aced it. I scored 148 points out of 150.

I didn’t have to give my last speech.

The anxiety I’d felt every day for the last four months was instantly relieved. I never had to give another speech in my life. On my last speech day, I didn’t show up to class.

It tanked my grade. No matter how good my tests were, the speeches comprised most of the available points in the class, and with my first ever F on that last speech, I barely passed.

But I did pass. And that’s all that matters to me.

I said goodbye to my 4.0 GPA and the straight A streak I’d kept up since kindergarten. It hurt to see the measure of my academic success drop like that, but I learned a valuable lesson in the process: you can’t be good at everything. Sometimes practice doesn’t make perfect. Sometimes there are things you can’t learn no matter how hard you try. For me, giving speeches was like trying to dunk a basketball at only five feet tall. You can do it with a boost, but trampolines aren’t allowed on the court. If you’re short, you’ll never be a good professional basketball player. If you have stage fright, you’ll never be a good public speaker. And I’m really, really okay with that.

Do what you’re good at, not what other people want you to do. Struggling to do something you don’t enjoy will never compare to the feeling of achieving your dreams. And if you’re afraid of something, that’s okay. Fear is a natural instinct. You don’t always have to conquer it. Learn from it. Grow from knowing and accepting your capabilities and your incapabilities. Let fear be the guide that leads you down a path you aren’t afraid of.  You may just find something that excites you instead.

Happiness is knowing ourselves and going from there

Sarah Richards

 Comparison to others is the thief of happiness; controlling what you do, instead of worrying about what other people are doing, is a principle for peace.  I can attest that focusing on what I can control (rather than focusing on what I cannot) helps me achieve more.  When I worked for a drugstore company, I found myself getting upset at the people who were getting promoted and not doing the work I did; it wasn’t till the end of my time there I realized that though I couldn’t control what my boss saw, I could control my attitude (which wasn’t one of gratitude at the time) towards the unfairness.  I asked myself, “Do I really want to continue working for this company?”, and the answer was no.  I didn’t like the company culture, and so, instead of fighting a battle I wasn’t committed to, I left.  I got a much better job, went back to school, and the quality of my life has improved immeasurably. 
            I went back to school at the age of thirty-two, after an almost thirteen year hiatus.  I’d allowed my fear of failure, of not being able to pass College Algebra, keep me from finishing.  Now, with a major I am happy with, I am finishing all the classes I can do, not focusing on what I can’t do, or only believe I can’t do…at least for now.  With my main classes behind me in a year or so, I can focus on the math.  Part of being successful is focusing on the important things first, or the things you can do first. 
            I don’t believe that passing College Algebra is wishful thinking, but the power of positive thinking.  I can’t control having to take the class, but I can control how I will approach it when I do.  Currently, I am being tested for a learning disability; whether I have one or not will not deter me.  At least I will know how to approach it.  My life, so far, has been one of only doing things that come easy to me; I’ve done myself a disservice, because I am not trying to be something I’m not by finishing college, I am trying to become something I am.  For too long, I allowed fear to control my destiny, rather than faith.
            Though we should live our lives as if we’re in complete control of our own destiny (as someone like Robert Herjavec or Mark Cuban would say), it is also important to acknowledge those things we cannot control in the different areas of our lives.
·         Home and family:  I can’t always control the way my husband or daughter acts, but I can control how I react.  Be proactive, not reactive; it is far more effective.  Communication is one of the most important aspects of any relationship. 
·         Work:  There will be times when you have to pick up the slack.  I’ve learned to be grateful that I’m capable enough of not only doing my job, but having time enough to help others.  (Good bosses will know who the good workers are and aren’t.)
·         School:  When you’re working on a group project, if you end up doing most of the work, the work itself and the grade is the reward.  Don’t worry about the one who got it and didn’t deserve it.  If we were completely truthful with ourselves, we would admit that we all get more than we deserve sometimes.  This does not mean be a doormat, but it does mean that our work ethic shouldn’t be dictated by someone else’s, or lack thereof.
·         Life in general:  It’s maddening to watch the news at times, but I can rest, knowing I have done all I can do, or all I want to do, to get the results from others I want.  Few of us get everything we want out of life, and probably even fewer get everything they want out of their leaders.  There will be times you have to pick your battles, and fight for what you want, but choose your battles wisely.  Though I’m not the type to organize a protest, or even participate in one (at least for the present time), I will support those that do fight for the causes I care about.
            When I was a teenager, I was focused on what I wanted, but not how to get what I wanted.  I wanted to marry at 22; I married at 31.  Had I married at 22, my husband wouldn’t have been the same, unchanged man.  I married the changed man; I married the right person, at the right time.  I didn’t fall in love when I wanted to, but that’s the kind of destiny that takes another person to achieve.  I didn’t have a child as young as I had wanted, but that takes two (and biology), also had I chosen to pursue my passion the first time, and gotten an English degree, I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing now:  pursuing my passion while pursuing the degree that will get me the income I want while doing what I want.  Sometimes, you can have your cake and eat it, too.
            I made choices, and each choice leads to other choices.  Wrong choices sometimes lead to right ones.  (I’ve often heard we’re all one person away from our destiny.)  Life, such as illness or accidents, can get in the way, and so even though we can’t always control what happens to us, we can control how we react to it. 
            Focusing on myself and not others has helped me become a better person.  Without comparing ourselves to others, we can’t look down on others, or get jealous of those we look up to.  Always try to beat your best, not someone else’s, because goals like that are attainable.  Though I sometimes float wherever the wind takes me, it isn’t before I’ve given the wind directions; besides, I can always take a detour.  There are many paths to reaching one’s destiny, and it is never in a straight line.  Focus on what you want, and you will find a way to reach it.

Remaining strong in achieving my goals

Sadie Red Wing (Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe)
North Carolina State University

My name is Sadie Red Wing, and I am attending North Carolina State University (NCSU) in Raleigh, North Carolina to pursue a Master of Graphic Design degree. Previously, I graduated from the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, NM, where I earned my Bachelor of Fine Arts in New Media Arts. I am an enrolled member of the Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe in Fort Totten, North Dakota, but my home relies on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. It has been a new adjustment creating a living along the Atlantic Coast in North Carolina. During my higher education attendance, my journey across the country remains adventurous, which I relate to my venturesome personality. My family and peers honor my hard work and bravery in pursuing my education, for my opportunities have been more fortunate than most in my community. As I accept this role model acknowledgment, I strive to remain strong in achieving my goals, as well as lead encouragement to other tribal students who share the same higher education enthusiasm as me.
         While studying at IAIA, I realized the importance of reciprocity to the Native American communities. Growing up, I witnessed the struggle and hardship among the Sioux reservations in South Dakota. I believe the lack of educators in the American Indian communities impacts the race dramatically which continues the reservations' inferiority to historical trauma. It had come to my attention that many reservations struggle with a tremendous amount of health issues, especially in the Native American youth demographic. A future goal of mine is to start a project within an organization that will improve the health among students in American Indian boarding schools. During the four years of my undergraduate studies, I have researched the assimilation processes used on Native Americans through boarding schools. For possible research in the future, I would like to conduct activities schools can use to teach the development of a healthier living by switching to an organic lifestyle.
         Before my graduate admission, I was living with my grandmother in Pierre, South Dakota, where I worked as a graphic designer at a local print shop. During the transition between undergraduate and graduate school, I struggled to find stability in my plans of achieving the goals I set, for my living conditions were poor at the time. I had no computer or internet in my household, and my higher education connections remained in the Southwest—a near thousand miles from South Dakota. My ambitions were too high to settle as a small town designer who made minimum wage, so I put my focus into gathering resources to develop myself as an artist by improving a portfolio and maturing personal statements to suit reputable requirements. With discipline and hard work put into my admission effort, a miracle blessed me with an acceptance to North Carolina State University. My next challenges included moving to North Carolina, obtaining a computer with the required programs needed for a graphic designer, paying the university’s tuition, and executing all of these responsibilities by myself with a very low income. As the ball started rolling on the beginnings of my graduate school dream, I applied to all the means of acquiring financial assistance towards my school funding. With extreme fortune, I received the following scholarships that made my first year at graduate school possible: AIGA Worldstudios "Coyne Family Foundation” Award, American Indian Graduate Center Fellowship, and American Indian Education Foundation Graduate Scholarship. I started the beginning of my graduate program as the underdog, but I am striving to exert my fullest efforts into school in order to excel in my department.
         I introduced the proposal of establishing healthier living in Native American youth as a possible research thesis during my graduate studies. Inclusions of this researched suggested improvements of healthier eating among students in American Indian boarding schools. In order to raise awareness of the possible project, I advocated my ideas to youth groups on reservations in South Dakota. Unfortunately, I was not receiving feedback from the groups, and they seemed uninterested in the important information I had to offer. I discovered that my new challenge was to learn multiple methods of how to properly approach my intended audience. Instead of pursuing the formality of the advocating organic living to Indigenous children as a graduate thesis, I had to take a step back and form the question of how am I going to target my community members in a way that they will accept my ideas and hold trust in me—as an artist.
            As a graphic designer, visual communication is an important aesthetic in the profession of design. During my first year of graduate school, I gained interest in the study of visual rhetoric. I believe understanding rhetorical methods for communicating appropriately to audiences are crucial factors when displaying culture-related topics. As a Lakota designer, I have a unique advantage in apprehending cultural significance compared to others in the NCSU design program. I shifted my thesis from producing an organization that will improve health issues to the study of ethnic communication in design and how my artifacts will represent my culture appropriately. I feel recognizing these communication methods through my graduate studies will prepare me for future advocacy and leadership positions. I aim to be relevant in future trends and profound in a profession that is less excelled in the Native American community. 

Focusing on things you can control

Julie Slama
Yale University

It’s 5:30 a.m. on a Friday. Some of my friends are just getting home from their night out, but my day is already beginning. I throw on my uniform and head to work for my five-hour shift lifeguarding at the pool, then head straight to my 11:30 a.m. Chinese class. After Chinese, I have a thirty minute lunch break before my macroeconomics class begins, followed by my international relations class, a tutoring lesson for Chinese, and a section discussion for my European Union class, which had classes earlier in the week. I look to the clock to find that it’s already 4:45 p.m.; I only have fifteen minutes to get to my shift at the fitness center as an attendant. When that shift wraps up at eight, I eat my pre-packed dinner and head back to the dorm to fulfill my duties as social media coordinator for a start-up. Suddenly, it’s 10:15 p.m. and there’s a text on my phone from a classmate, inviting me to a party. Climbing into bed, I’m awake just long enough to type a polite rejection before it all starts again on Saturday.  

My place at one of the most prestigious universities in the world can be credited to focusing on the things I can control. From overcoming bullying in middle school to toppling academic obstacles in the transition from a rural high school to an elite university, my uphill battles have been fought by focusing on what I can control.

On a chilly day in December 2013, my acceptance letter to Yale arrived, making me the first student in my high school’s 126-year history to be accepted into the Ivy League. Coming with this dream, even after my need-based scholarships are applied, is a $25,000 per year bill. This amount is something that my parents are unable to assist me with; providing for my education falls on my shoulders. As a result, I work 40+ hours per week, split between three part-time jobs. My studies come during slow periods during my jobs and during breaks, with larger assignments typically requiring a few all-nighters to complete.

            Incredibly enough, by focusing on the things I can control has given me a better focus on my studies. My work schedule offers gaps in the day centers around my professors’ office hours, which gives me a chance to build relationships with my professors and to better understand material when compared to my classmates. Avoiding the party scene for the sake of my work schedule also gives me better clarity of thought when study breaks do arise, helping me study more efficiently over a shorter amount of time. Of course, the fact that this extra work is put in for the sole purpose of my education is the main source of my motivation. Receiving my paychecks each month is a weight off my shoulders, knowing that I’m slowly chipping away at my tuition bills while working towards my dreams.

            So each morning I get up at 5:30 a.m., work, go to class, work some more, and then study. It’s not glamorous or all that fun, but each day I go to bed with the knowledge that I’m doing something that everybody in my hometown is proud of. Someday I’ll return to Nebraska and give back to the community that gave me the educational opportunities I have today, but for now, I’m working and remaining focused on what I can control each day to achieve my dreams.

Focusing on things you can control

Anea Gaskin

In life decisions such as making purchases, locating destinations via GPS, choosing insurance or health plans, estate planning or organizing a vacation, all require mathematical competence. Business and industries need workers who can solve real-world problems, explain their thinking to others, identify and analyze trends in data, and use modern technology. I’ve always found that life does not allow for redo; however, redundancy on a consistent basis provides the opportunity to change variables in between attempts. The subjects that I excel in are math and science because of the logical and critical thinking that is required to refine a solution. Math was never my favorite but I knew that I could not escape it, so I buckled down and really had to understand the various components of it. It’s next to impossible to live an independent life without basic math skills. In 7th grade at Hoech Middle School in St. Ann, Missouri, my Algebra teacher challenged us vigorously. I refused to merely accept the B, I was given therefore I pushed to be added to the advanced class which was 1st hour. Not only did I receive A’s in the class but also maintained the highest percentages from all the math classes.
My love of science stems from Jackson Park’s after school program called environmental detectives. I participated in the activity from 4th through 6th grade. The program’s basis is similar to what Carl Sagan stated, “Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.” I was able to become aware of all the links in the natural world of environmental problems. Science always made me question what/ how I can change the environment to become more sustainable for the growing capacity of the people on this planet. Science allows me to deepen my understanding of the complexities in our resources, environmental problems and recognize opportunities to improve solutions for Co2 levels and water depletion. If we don't take better care of what we have and we aren't caution in what we let into the atmosphere. Being able to solve an environmental concern logically as well as factually is essential for becoming an Environmental Engineer, which is my field of study at Arizona State University in fall 2015. Both curriculums absorb, sort, organize, and used to data to make decisions. As science attributes to my success as an engineer because dealing with the quality water, I must have take samples and test then as well as closely examining the specimen that I collect. Also, there is much research that is going to affect how I will be able to clean and change the quality and supply of water that we are able to use in the world. While researching this major, several things became imperative – One that I needed to have a stable background in math and science; Secondly, that STEM professions would make up 40% of new jobs, per the Department of Labor listing in 2013. Not only did I need to have a sound understanding but use the principles of engineering, soil science, math, biology, and chemistry to develop solutions to environmental problems. Throughout my high school career I have made sure that courses were on par to the universities in which I was seeking an education. For the 2014-2015 school years, I had AP Calculus, AP and Ecology among other honors and AP subjects.
As Malcolm X once said, “Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.” I was never a kid that sat around and let the days run together. I always wanted to do something to better myself. Education doesn’t set limits, but open doors that were once closed, provide answers to questions and expand curiosity to new things. From a young age, I began reading and questioning everything that I saw. When I was in second grade, due to my questioning, I was put in the G.A.T.E -Gifted and Talented Education program a precept to a college ready culture. Since then, I’ve been in accelerated and honors courses in middle and on the high school level. I attribute my success to many factors; the biggest is the educational foundation that was set by my parents and grandparents. My maternal grandmother was an educator for 35 years; our vacations coincided with her NEA and MEA conventions. She explained that we are not in this world alone, it’s imperative that I familiarize myself with various people, circumstances and demographics that I will be able to have a better understanding of the world around me. It came as quite a shock to learn in my 8th grade history class at Hoech Middle School in St. Ann, Missouri, that some countries do not allow or limit the amount of education a woman can have. I’m not sure if knowing that tidbit of information coupled with my ancestors being denied the opportunity, to which many of us take advantage helped shape my views on education. Nowadays, there are seldom limitations with education and to know that I can accomplish things that are have yet to be discovered, or improve on the quality of life, will keep me excited about what’s to come.

You cannot give up on your dreams

Nyasia Cooper 
Kutztown University

When my current mother found me, I was wrapped in a thin blanket in the arms of my birth mother, my face blue from the cold. My current mother then took my birth mother to court to get legal guardianship of me. Her next stop was Saint Christopher’s hospital, where the doctors said I wouldn’t make it even a year. My mother took me and told the doctors, “Don’t ever tell me a black child isn’t going to make it”. During the first two years of my life I had sleep apnea which means I forgot to breathe. My mom would stay up at night to watch over me. On top of this condition, I also needed open heart surgery and suffered from asthma along with cataracts.  

I am thankful that my mother has helped me overcome most of my health issues, but I still struggle with the cataracts. In middle school, I woke up one day, I looked at the usually colorful cartoon characters on my walls and asked my mom, “why are they black and white today?” She agreed with me saying that they looked a bit dull then sent me off to school, when I came home that day the colors of the characters were back. The cataracts also made it very difficult to read. The doctors suggested laser eye surgery but my mom was too afraid that something would go wrong and my sight would be taken away forever. Because surgery is still not an option, at times I complain about my eyes hurting so my mother gave me glasses to wear for a while. My glasses allow me to overcome this difficulty so I can continue my passion for reading. I used to read a lot in middle school, but no book struck such a chord with me as The Percy Jackson Series did.  The series follows the main character Percy and his struggles with ADHD, dyslexia, as well as finding out he is a half-blood. The way he handles his problems and his loyalty to his friends inspired me to tackle troubles with reading during middle school because of my cataracts. It would be very difficult to read in class or just for fun at times, which would frustrate and embarrass me in class. Whenever I wanted to quit, I would try and read Percy Jackson and become empowered by his struggles and want to read more and more.

I am particularly proud of  my stories on Wattpad.com. I started writing in middle school a short while after I finished the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. I love to write stories about werewolves and vampires and even fan fictions of Percy Jackson. I love to write stories of fiction because I hope that my readers will get the same feeling or similar feeling I got from reading stories like the Percy Jackson series. I read and write fiction because it is an escape from the (more often than not) harsh truth that is reality. No matter the situation you could always read a book of fiction and relax and forget for a few hours as you get lost in a story.  On Wattpad I have written 7 stories, 4 of them are complete. The length of the stories depend on my inspiration on them, how my readers respond to them, and the time I have available to write. As of now I have 3,181 followers, two of my top stories have over 660,000 reads. I have worked on each of my stories for half a year at the least. I feel as though I will never get bored with writing, because there are always ideas popping in my head that beg to be put on paper for others to read.    

When someone on Wattpad comments on one of the chapters of my stories, it always fills me with joy and gives me the drive to write more and more no matter what my day was like. I hope that one day I’ll get a comment from one of my readers telling me how one of my books has helped them in a small or life changing way. Even if the comment points out a grammar or spelling mistake, it only makes me want to become a better writer, so I immediately fix the problem and go on writing. I hold pride in my stories because I love my stories and am overjoyed to find others love them as well. I want to write fiction professionally because it comes from a person’s mind and can spring from any person, place, or thing. Fiction is an escape from the sometimes harsh blow of reality. A book of fiction can have it’s reader, crying, laughing, fearful, hopeful, and wanting to strangle certain characters, kiss others, and yell ‘kiss already’ to the two characters that they want together. I know this because I have experienced it while reading many times over the years. It is true that you can learn a lot from school and everyday experience it is the same for reading fiction novels.

My major is English, more specifically Creative Writing, because I want to gain as much experience as I can in writing so that I become better for my readers. A English course I took in my first semester opened up my eyes to many things that I really would've learned on my own. What is the reason why humans are at the top of the food chain? We have the ability to write things down. My Honors English teacher in high school told me that, we wouldn't have history or any kind of books without that one thing that puts us on the top. Writing and reading is important, it helps people, changes people little by little or in a big way. Reading and writing has changed me, made me better, more accepting of my weakness and made me stronger. I hope reading this has changed you.

You cannot give up on your dreams

Krishma Patel

Having an attitude of gratitude impact in overcoming a life challenge

Today, we live in an era where opportunities for success and personal achievement are endless. Boundaries that used to set minorities and women back from pursuing their dreams have slowly disappeared. There is no denying the world in modern times has become open and welcoming to all people in light of their dreams and futures they desire.

Born and raised in Georgia, my family and I love it here. My parents immigrated to the United States and became citizens of this melting pot of a country in light of discovering better opportunities for themselves. They started from the bottom and worked hard to give my brother and I an opportunity to become educated and find a better life for us. In order to support my parents and help them out I decided to apply to in state colleges and universities. My list included of the usual public state schools except for Emory University. This college was quite a reach for me, but I decided to apply anyhow. I am delighted to say that a couple of months after I applied I was accepted at Emory University. My family including myself was and is so proud of this achievement. Being a first generation college student, it is a learning experience for all of us, including the tuition aspect. There was no way we would be able to pay such a hefty tuition of 64,000 dollars a year. Therefore we asked for financial aid repeatedly and they came back with money but not enough to cut it. As a full time student, I also decided to take on a job during the year to alleviate some of the payments from my parents.

Our struggles have only continued along with this there are the usual college struggles of finding yourself and what you love. College is a time for growing and learning independently and together. This is not an easy task alone, and it is easy for college students to be swallowed up in this mindset. In order to strive for your dreams you have to take a step back and look at the big picture of the opportunities given to us everyday. Emory University, my work-study job, my support system including family and friends are my greatest blessings in life. I am lucky and grateful for these aspects of my life. Even though struggles come to all of us in different, we are able to move forward. These strengths that keep us moving forward are our greatest joys and keep us on the right track towards our aspirations. Instead of worrying and sulking about the struggles, we should hold are heads up for the opportunities we have to get through these struggles.

Along with financial troubles, I was also going through struggles with finding what I love and what I wanted to pursue in life. This past year I bounced around from researching and finding different majors endlessly until I decided on pursuing Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology as well as decided to continue my education in Optometry after my next two years at Emory for that I am beyond thankful for education I am gaining at Emory University. 

Even though life throws curveballs, you cannot give up on your dreams, you have to bounce back from these pitfalls and get back up. This mindset in pursuing my dreams and aspirations is what I am most grateful for throughout my education thus far.

Focusing on things you can control

Jessica Kolbe 

Invictus - By William Ernest Henley 
   
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul. 

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed. 

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid. 

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.
 

“I am the master of my fate, / I am the captain of my soul” (Henley 15-16). These words, written by William Ernest Henley in his poem Invictus, appeal to a control freak like me. In an ideal world, I would be capable of regulating and planning out every detail of my future. Unfortunately, Henley’s poetic and idyllic words cannot be taken out of context. Life is filled with variables that are far beyond human control, despite how hard we may fight against them. There are times in life when even our best fails to get us where we want to go. In those moments, all we can do is persevere in the areas that we can control. Throughout my life, school has always been a place where I have been capable of controlling the outcome. As I have aged, however, I have learned that greater, more volatile forces can overcome even the parts of our lives that seem to be controllable. In the face of this harsh reality, a person is faced with two options. One, a person can accept that they have no ultimate responsibility over the outcome of things and become passive, simply moving wherever the current of life takes them. Or two, a person can accept that they have no ultimate responsibility over the outcome of things and, despite this, keep fighting. This kind of individual looks at a situation and does everything within their power to keep moving forward and working in the areas that they do have control over, no matter how futile it may seem. The first individual is characterized by resignation; the second, determination. I strive to be that second person.

I have always loved school. There is something very satisfactory about achieving success as a direct result of my own efforts. During high school, I was surrounded by the message that by dedicating myself to my academic performance, I would be able to achieve my goals. For me, my ultimate goal was attending a four-year university. So I did what I was told would lead to success. I pointedly pursued good grades in all of my classes and I challenged myself by taking advanced programs. In a way, my hard work paid off. My focus in school resulted in my acceptance into several great colleges. Unfortunately, for the first time in my life, school relied on more than my own dedication. It relied on money, something that was outside my realm of control. In my limited teenage view of the world, money was an afterthought, the thing the counselors would mention in passing at the end of their “path to success” presentations. For me, this little glossed over detail was the difference between a four-year college and community college. My parents had brought up the dreaded words, “community college,” as I neared the time of college acceptance letters. In my youthful mind, that was not an option. After all, I had controlled my world so perfectly. I knew that money was crucial, but in my ideal world I believed that doors would open simply because of my academic success. Although receiving my acceptance letters was exciting, it was tinged by the nervousness of what my financial aid and scholarship offers would look like. Finally, my parents and I sat at the kitchen table on a Saturday morning and I reached the conclusion that they feared all along – we could not afford a four-year school without taking out student loans. My heart broke as my parents, with tears in their eyes, apologized for not having the money. Still, they told me it was my decision. If necessary, I could take out the loans. I understood and shared their concerns about my graduating college with debt, so I made the only decision that I could. I would be attending community college.

Thus resolved, I wasted no time being idle. I began to research the community college, submitted my application, and looked into the programs that they offered. When friends and classmates asked me where I was going to school, their reaction was often a mixture of shock and pity. If asked why I would be going to the community college, I simply told them that it was what my parents could afford. Through this time, I successfully controlled my behavior; however, my attitude was a little harder to conquer. Many times I fought to stave off jealousy of my friends who were going to their dream schools, disappointment at where I was going, and anger at no one in particular that my life did not look like I had so meticulously planned. I would be lying if I said I did not still struggle with some of these emotions today, but I keep moving forward. I have maintained a 4.0 GPA at the community college and have plans to transfer to an excellent university after earning my Associate’s degree. I am employed at a great office, working with wonderful people and gaining experience.  Even this essay is an act of assertion over my future. Although I do not control the outcome, I am working as hard as I can to make progress.

My life does not look like I thought and planned it would because of circumstances outside my control, but that does not mean I have given up. Every day, I continue to work toward my goals, even though I do not know what my future will look like or where I will be. I am not the master of my fate, but I can control my attitude. I am not the captain of my soul, but I can act to keep moving forward. Perhaps that is what it means to have an “unconquerable soul” (Henley 4). Living in this unpredictable, untamable world, the best we can do is focus on the parts of our lives we can control. Our actions and attitudes are none other than our own.

Looking on the bright side

Ashley Wilkerson
University of South Florida

I currently am a nursing student at the University of South Florida and will earn a BSN as well as a minor in public health at that institution.  I plan to further my education and obtaining a Masters in nursing in order to not only better my career but also myself.  I never want to stop shy of my best.  My goal is to become a Nurse Practitioner in Florida and have a partnership in an established practice.  I will complete my two years of graduate school mainly online so I am able to continue working and gaining experience with my Bachelors in Nursing.  I deserve to be awarded this scholarship because I have always worked hard and strived to do my best in school, but sometimes no matter how hard a person works they still need outside help.  For example, I have worked part time during the school year and added a full time job in the summer in order to put myself through school.  Nursing school is my dream and I will do everything it takes to aid in my success.  I am also married to a man who is training to deploy in the next couple months, so with this I have to be extremely dedicated to focusing on my studies even with a piece of my heart on the other side of the world.  My husband is Active Duty Marine Corps.   It is difficult to manage everything on my own while he is gone such as finances and time among other things, but it is all well worth the extra effort.  Nursing school is extremely expensive because there are many added expenses that are tacked onto the regular tuition and class prices, such as uniforms, extra books and handbooks as well as medical supplies used in clinical settings.  My husband and I have quickly realized that all of these expenses are becoming a financial burden and causing us to struggle in an area that we did not foresee.  To save on expenses I am attempting to work nights, and living farther from campus but do not want to continue making sacrifices in these areas as I do not want them to affect my academic success.
            With my husband being in the military, I have learned to focus on things that I can control and remain positive while being grateful for the experiences in my life.  With the schedules that my husband is accustomed to, I am just as prone to having my life turned upside down at the drop of a hat.  For example, after our engagement in December we began planning a wedding for the next November only to have it turned upside down when he received last minute orders to be stationed two thousand miles away.  I was accepted to school in Florida, and with his orders in California we have to manage being newlyweds across country.  It has become financially difficult for us to manage as he is training for a deployment and I have to manage the finances for two people.  Everything happens so quickly and without warning in the military community, so I have to learn to focus on the things that I can control. I have to be extremely organized in every aspect of my life and make a detailed to do list in my planner in order to remain calm throughout my hectic lifestyle.  I also have learned the power of gratitude, and feel that it is one of the most important aspects of my life because we spend so much time apart and are accustomed to serious last minute changes so I have to be grateful for all of the positives in my life.  There are times when we have been apart for upwards of six months during his deployment, so even the couple days we get to spend together every two or three months are like a dream come true.  I also have to be grateful for the opportunity of being accepted into nursing school.  I understand that I am finishing my schooling and bettering myself while across the country my significant other is doing the same thing.  I have to keep my head up and remain positive during this period of my life; otherwise it would be an impossible task.  I have to always look on the bright side and understand that things could always be worse than what they are today.  I am thankful for the opportunity that I was given in even being able to attend college because not everyone has that luxury.  Although, it has become a financial burden to pay the expenses of the nursing school, I have to be grateful that I even had a place in the program.  Going to nursing school has always been a dream of mine and no matter the challenges in my life I will stop at nothing to complete this level of schooling.

Make the most out of controlling the things you can.

Yang Song

When you’re young, it’s easy to forget that while the earth spins on a single axis, that that axis is not you. From our births, we’re spoiled with the idea that it stops when we stop and goes when we go. On our first birthdays, although we weren’t aware of it, we fawned when what seemed like a million people, at the time, gathered around us to sing happy birthday and inadvertently pouted when they would draw their attention away for just a second. Although dulled, this illusion didn’t end as we grew up. Without a doubt, we could stop the world with the mere whistle of importance. We’d throw handfuls of markers and folders in the shopping cart ever August, not worrying once about how much it all cost, but about how cute that pink would look with our new back to school outfits. We’d tossed on clothes to go to the movies with our friends, not even questioning our parent’s exhaustion after a long days work, as we waited at the door for them to hand us a fresh ten for popcorn and drive us off into the sunset. We didn’t always get what we wanted, but we were lucky enough to have people who did their best to give it to us. They did it because they loved us, and although we thanked them endlessly for it, we couldn’t help but develop this idea that we were entitled to some part of the world that would always be there for us. No matter what we were sure that we would always have our friends, our family, and our life.

I was no different. I was always categorized as a pretty selfless, caring person, but that didn’t stop me from throwing the biggest hissy fit of my life when my parents decided to move us 1,200 miles away from everything I loved the eve of my sophomore year. It’s not like it snuck up on me, I mean they had been talking about it for months, and it’s not like we hadn’t moved before, because we had; five times to be exact. It was the fact that the only thing I had asked for was to be able to spend one last summer with my friends and I didn’t even get that. Just a few weeks in, my dad decided to take me to China for the rest of the summer, giving me only 48 hours before flying me off to a place where I had no means to communicate with anyone back in the States. Back then I felt like they had robbed me of the closure I deserved with the people I loved the most, and with that came the anger that they had no right to take everything away from me.

A month and a half later, after the worst trip of my life, that anger hadn’t left my side. In fact, it didn’t leave my side for another 6 months, which was roughly the time it took me to hit rock bottom. For months, I went to school hating absolutely everything about my new life just because it was new. I hated the name of my new school mascot, I hated how I had to walk up stairs between every class, I hated how I was the only sophomore in mostly senior classes, and most of all, I hated that no matter how hard I wanted it to be, that that place would never be home to me.

It’s safe to say that I was pretty miserable and at the peak of my misery, the anger that I had been holding onto for months had finally caused enough pressure for me to crack into a million pieces. I was devastated, and I was done, and then I realized, that maybe all this wasn’t worth it. That no matter how tightly I held on to the past, that it would never come back to me. I couldn’t make the world spin backwards and give me back the time I so desperately wanted back, because whether I liked it or not, the world kept going whether I was or not.

I learned that you can’t always control everything, but you can make the most out of controlling the things that you can. After all, life isn’t made up of the big moments, but of the culmination of a bunch of little moments. Sometimes the big things in life aren’t always in your control, but the little ones certainly are, because no matter how little, it can still make a difference. That’s when I stopped focusing on the fact that my mom’s company had relocated her, and started focusing more on the place we were now. Instead of saying no to everything, I finally starting saying yes even if I wasn’t completely convinced; One of which, included joining the track team because a few girls from my English class wanted me to, even though I had no interest in sports. Sure, I hated running around the track, but it was all kind of worth it for the gossip sessions in the locker room afterwards. It wasn’t exactly home, but it was starting to feel like I was building a second one. That year, I learned that although you can’t always stop the world from spinning, you can always add your own twist to it

Never give up on your goals

Minerva Mejia

My life before America was much different in the Dominican Republic.  I moved to Florida when I was 13 years old.  I was born in the United States, however, I was raised in the Dominican Republic and lived there for 10 years with my mother, grandmother and my siblings.
You might wonder why I stayed in the Dominican Republic so long.  The answer is quite simple.  I didn’t have any family to take care of me in America when I was younger.  Years ago my passport expired while I was in the Dominican Republic and it would take a lot of time and money before I would be able to travel again. Everything was different there; the schools, shopping centers.  Luckily, I still remembered things about America to help me transition.
           I was so happy in the Dominican Republic because my beautiful family and I were together.  One day a few years ago, my grandfather  who lived in Florida called. He said to my mother, “We have to fix Minerva’s passport so she can travel again.”  My mother agreed but at the same time she was sorrowful.  She exclaimed upon hanging up, “Hay mi linda princesa, pronto te iras y me dejaras sola.”  In English she was saying that her pretty princess has to leave the country without her.  I put my head down and stared at the floor, thinking about being far apart from my family and how it wouldn’t be easy.  Nonetheless, I knew leaving was for my well-being and a bright future.
           The days passed, and finally it was the day I would venture out to live with my grandfather.  I went with my mother and my father to the American Consul to renew my passport as soon as possible. The Consul had accepted our request and renewed my passport!  I was very excited but all my family was very sad because I would no longer be with them every day. Two weeks later my ticket was booked.  I was finally going to America!  
           It was September 17th 2011, the day I was waiting for!  My family and I were in the car ready to go to the airport.  Heartache filled their spirits, but I was focused only on getting the best education and achieving my goals.
           They called my flight number, and I said goodbye to everyone. All of them were crying and I began to cry too.  I walked toward the airplane doors, and I could hear my grandmother’s voice shouting, “Adios, Adios.”  In the airplane I felt gloomy traveling by myself.  I just wanted my brothers and sisters at that very moment to be with me.
           Two years passed and I found that living in Florida was not what I expected it to be.  I liked my new school, my teachers and friends.  But, my grandfather had a drinking problem.  I didn’t understand.  I asked myself, why help someone and be nice to them for a couple of days and then make the rest of their stay miserable?  I prayed to God for strength but I could not take it any more.  I just wanted to go back to Dominican Republic and be happy with my immediate family.  I took my grandfather’s phone and hid under the bed to call my mother.  I told her what was happening and she said she would send for me soon.  
           On December 22nd 2013, a couple of months after arriving back to Dominican Republic, my sister got a call at 2:00 am.  She was given gut-wrenching news.  Our father had a motorcycle accident and passed away.  It felt like my whole world was paralyzed in seconds.  I couldn’t believe it.  He was my hero, my everything.  Days before Christmas, he passed away.  It was the worst experience, ever.  My daddy was gone.  The man who taught me how to be brave and strong.  My father’s death was what really changed my life.  The suffering that I felt when I used to live with my grandfather, was nothing compared to this immense pain that will always be present now in my life.
           The last memory that I have of him was the last time I saw him in 2012.  He hugged me and said, “I will always love you, mi Hija.”
           “What are you doing, Bubu?” my mother asked.  (I didn’t like my nickname, it sounded so funny but I was used to it.)  “I’m on the computer, don’t you see?”  She walked over and continued, “Yes, but are you looking for flights again?”  I nodded.  “Si mami, I want to go back.” “Back where?” she wondered.  “I want to go back to America.  I can’t give up mami.  I have to become someone in life. It has been 4 months since Papi died I am sure he would like me to have a better life, a better future and Dominican Republic is not the place for me.”
           July 20th 2014 I came back, but this time to Boston.  I would be living with my father’s aunt.  She is amazing and the best example for me to become my best self.  She helps me, she understands me and she supports me with good advice.  And the best part is she is nothing like my grandfather.
           Different places, different schools and friends have always been a constant since I was born.  I’ve moved a lot, but that will never stop me from following my dreams.  I am a junior now at West Roxbury Academy.  I’m sure I’ll be able to graduate, if I don’t move any where else. I was afraid at first to go to this new school. But when I was named a High Honor Roll student my first semester, I thought that was crazy and amazing!
           This story is not all about my life before and after coming to America.  It’s just the half!  My focus now is to encourage all my peers with the idea that, “No matter where you come from, or what has happened to you before in life, never give up on your goals.  Always keep trying because it is better to fail a thousand times and fulfill your dreams, than to never try at all.”

Importantce of keeping positive

James Luce

·         Helps you move forward

·         See things in new way

·         Results in less stress

·         Gives you a sense of control

·         Can lead to self-motivation

·         Results in better choices

It is how we act when the world seems against us that truly defines how we are as a person. I would like to say I’m quite positive in this aspect. It is positivity that helps move you forward, the ability to see something to walk towards. The ability to keep up a positive way of being allows you to move forward, view things in new ways, and gives you control over events.
                The reality is that life doesn’t always throw you a bone and we have to have the ability to move forward. In those times you can very well have your nerves pushed in. Still it is when we linger on the bad aspects of what is occurring in those moments that inseminates the concept that everything is horrid, we become blind to what is good about that event. The ability to keep positive in those situations is indicative to moving forward. Once not so long ago I forgot an important item for my lab class, my goggles. The end result is that I was told I couldn’t join in the experiment and thusly earned a zero for that day. Prior to coming to class I was already bogged down from events in my home. Certainly I was ticked, but if I stayed in that train of thought I would have missed out the rest of that day. Through trying to find the positives of the situation I was able to use the extra time I had to complete my studying early thus opening the rest of the day for other activities. If I had stayed in a negative train of thought I would have failed to study and started the following day on a negative note with more work. Negativity really only breeds more negativity as you can see. Keeping positive in turn opens the doors for more positive events. The trick I find is to keep that train moving forward.
                It is our emotions that lead to how we view the things and people around us. There is no middle ground as being happy or mad will distort how you perceive something. An example being whether that pencil sitting on the table is just a stick of wood or a tool in which we express our creativity. It all depends on how you are feeling and simple think about things. Through trying to keep up your good mood it is highly likely you’ll look for the good in other things. Really this is a virtue that you have to maintain every day. When you awaken that day you need to keep a positive look on what is to come ahead rather than sulk over the fact that you had to wake up. That type of sulking simple shows that you rather sleep then move forward and be productive with your time. Thus, I say waking up positive is just as important as getting breakfast. That cooked bacon won’t look as good if you are negative about the coming day. Taking that first step allows you to maintain a positive hold on things for the rest of the day rather than waste a part it trying to get into a positive mood.
                A major dimension of keeping positive is that it provides you with a sense of undeniable control. You can have everything taken from you, but they cannot take away how you think unless you allow them too. As a matter fact losing everything simple means you stand to gain everything. If there is one thing I can say every human desires it is some type of control. Looking at my Mother and Father you can see it in how they exert control by providing chores for their children. I know that sounds bad but it can be noted that once you try to resist it results in their agitation. This agitation stems from trying to break apart from their exerted control; otherwise they would lack much motivation to get angry. Naturally there are a lot more dimensions to that, but that is certainly a factor. Keeping positive thoughts is my way to control things as it always me to not stress out and results in me making better choices. In that sense controlling my view on things rather than allowing others to decide it for me gives me the ability to control the outcome of events in a big. Thus, keeping positive gives you a power that many rightfully think they don’t. At the end of the day things never go according to plan, but I know full well I can influence the outcome of events in some fashion. In that sense I have power.
                To conclude keeping positive encompasses many things in life such as your ability to move forward, look at things in a new way, and provide you with a sense of control.  Positivity is certainly a major aspect of my life as it allows me to work through anything. There is in rock and hard place unless I think there is. Positivity is thusly tied with optimism, but keep in mind being positive is more of an action you take. Keeping positive is the key to opening the door to unlimited possibilities.

The power of positive thinking

Michele Phillips 
University of Texas

Every one of us has the power to influence our lives. Even though we can’t control all aspects of our lives we have the ability as thinking people to decide how we want to live our lives.  Do we want to be miserable or be happy, do we want to get angry because we did not achieve something we wanted or do we want to let it go? I believe that I can choose how I want to live my life and that even though I will have bumps and bruises along the way I can have the life that I want.

From an early age my parents let me try new things, I didn’t have to be good at them but I did have to follow through until the end. For example, I tried soccer by signing up for a team while I was only five. I did it for a few years but realized that I was a bit afraid of the ball when it came flying at me. Still my parents let me try it. I also was a dancer while in middle school and high school. It was something that I knew I was good at but I also knew and my parents knew I was never going to be a professional dancer someday. Why? I didn’t want it enough. I enjoyed dancing at the football and basketball games, marching in parades and being on a team with girls who became my friends, but I did not have the “drive” to succeed at the next level.

One thing I did have the drive for was academics. Great grades did not come naturally to me, but I knew with hard work that I would get good grades. And, why did I care so much about good grades, especially in high school?  I had set my sights on The University of Texas at Austin and more specifically on the Red McCombs School of Business. I really never doubted that I would attend UT. I “saw” myself there, I imagined myself on the campus. I knew it was a long shot for me to get it but I didn’t care. Even my high school counselor told me I had a slim chance of being accepted, I believed I could to do whatever it would take to be a student who UT would accept. I did four years of sports and worked a part-time job because I knew the more diverse I looked on paper the better my chance of getting in to the school I wanted: The University of Texas.

The UT application asked for essays, up to three if you wanted. I did all three and I believe I wrote the best essays I could. I had the GPA and I had a good ACT score.  What was holding me back from being a shoo-in was that McCombs only accepts 6 percent out of state students and I lived in Illinois. Had I been living in Texas I would have automatic admission (and probably a scholarship or two) but I was now competing with the best and the brightest students from out of state who wanted to attend The University of Texas. I never let that deter me.  I finished my application with the utmost care, did everything they asked for and then sent it out. Then I imagined myself on the campus. I would follow the University’s website almost every day because I wanted to feel a part of the University I would attend.

Sure I humored my parents. I sent applications to other schools as a fall back and even attended an automatic admission weekend at Indiana University for the Kelley School of Business. I didn’t really want to go but my parents said I needed to have a Plan B. I didn’t want a Plan B because I just wanted UT. I looked at my high school’s Naviance program and knew that acceptance into UT from my high school was not promising. I listened to what my counselor told me, but I also knew and felt that anything was possible. I told myself everyone needs a reach school and UT was my reach school and I would never quit reaching for it.

I also knew that if I got accepted into the University there was a chance that I would not get into the business school. I knew I wanted to study accounting and UT is the number one school, so I needed to get into the business school. I wasn’t going to risk getting in and then having to transfer into the business school since I knew that was an even longer shot.

They say Michael Jordan, formally of the Chicago Bulls, use to envision the ball going into the basket.  I envisioned my acceptance letter. That day I did get my acceptance email into the business school at UT I cried. Not because I never believed it would happen, but because all the time and energy I spent envisioning myself at UT was now a reality. I have not regretted for a moment the positive energy or the time I spent willing myself to be accepted in to UT. It is where I belong and where I always envisioned myself.

My journey

Angeline Miller

“I'm about to die,” were the words that kept on repeating in my head as I laid among dead bodies, pretending to be dead. I was born in Liberia, Africa. I was eight years old when my country was going through a civil war, a genocide against my tribe. It was agonizing to hear that my cousin and her family were murdered in close proximity to my home. The following night, my family and I had to flee to my aunt’s house on the other side of
Liberia, going east. The plight of the journey was that we had to travel across the country by foot. We hid during the day and maneuvered by night. The most abhorrent thing my family and I had to do on this journey was to lay among dead bodies on the street, pretending to be dead, when soldiers came our way. Some of the soldiers we encountered were younger than ten, but because they were armed it was our only choice. As the soldiers approached one of the men kicked my leg to the side, and without thinking I put my leg back facing up. After realizing what I did, my thoughts felt like a scratched CD that kept repeating “I'm about to die” over and over. My body felt as if it had been hollowed out and filled with an
unbearable fear. I felt the man’s shoulder over me. It felt like a herd of elephants, pushing me, stomping me into the ground. My fear paralyzed me. After a while, I felt an arm pulling me off the ground. It was my father, telling me to run. I heeded his words and ran, feeling faster than Olympic champion Usain Bolt. This is a moment in my life I will never disregard. After a year or two I came to the United States and my view on life changed. Liberia is a place where women are viewed as no more than housewives. Girls as young as fourteen are processed
into womanhood by being circumcised, a traditional ritual that is performed preparing them to become the third, fourth, or even eighth wife of a man well over double her age. A place where school fees are due at the end of the week, and everyday supplies of water must be extracted from a well. I pride myself for being blessed to experience the two different styles of living. Living in America has
shown me that it is truly the land of opportunity. After coming close to death, I now realize that life is a very valuable thing. It’s not about the materialistic things that will fade away, but things that will build my future. In life, we all need a platform, as a strong house is built on a firm
foundation. I am built on my heritage and culture. My mother always used to tell me it’s not how you start the race, but how you finish it. My race didn’t start off so
great, but I sure will make myself memorable, and hopefully someday be an inspiration to someone.

The Law of Attraction

Robin Collier
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis

I plan to be a Computer Engineer, because I excel in math and science, and enjoy applying that knowledge in different ways. My goal is to obtain a Purdue University Master’s Degree from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) and work in the Computer Engineering field, preferably writing and programming codes in the area of Automotive Technologies or at an electric/hybrid automotive company. During my years at IUPUI, in addition to doing undergraduate research, I plan to study abroad, and do internships as well as participate in advanced vehicle technology competitions. I am currently a member of the IUPUI Honors College, the IUPUI Brown Leadership Scholars Program, and a student member of the National Society of Professional Engineers and the National Society of Black Engineers. I was also honored as a 2015 Senator Richard Lugar Minority Scholar finalist. I am very techsavvy, and started my own business fixing various types of electronics and cell phones as well as installing audio equipment, which enabled me to have the funds to buy my own car with cash. In June 2015, I graduated from Floyd Central High School with a 4.26 / 4.0 GPA and was ranked in the top 15% of my class. In high school, I participated in the “Project Lead the Way” (PLTW) STEM program where I took 4 college level engineering classes and discovered that computer engineering will be my chosen career. In each PLTW class, we worked as teams to engineer a variety of projects and learned from each other in the design process. Our Senior team design project involved engineering a more efficient way of filling water bottles from a water fountain.We also worked with local engineer mentors to design, patent and market our new product. My work with PLTW has taught me that effective leaders do not act solely as individuals, but rather work with others to find solutions that work best collectively for the group. As long as I can remember, I have played on a variety of sports teams ranging from soccer, baseball, basketball, track, diving, and football to now my sport of choice, tennis. Throughout these years, the lesson I found most valuable is the importance of being a team player. Acting as a part of a team teaches commitment and leadership, builds character, shows one how to deal with responsibility and how to bring people together and ultimately help you achieve personal goals. During this Fall 2014 Varsity tennis season, I was the Team Captain, and was looking forward to facing tough opponents from the state’s best high school teams with my longtime doubles partner. As my coach was deciding the best pairings for the doubles teams, he put me in the lineup with 6 different team members throughout the season. Although this inconsistency during match play was personally daunting, I realized each time I was given yet another new doubles partner in a team competition, this was an opportunity to share my experience and leadership on the court by teaching my younger teammates how to deal with pressure and become a better player, and thus leaving my legacy for the team. At the end of season, I was awarded “Best Team Player” along with being named to the IHSTCA Indiana Boys Academic AllState Tennis Team. I learned that acting as a part of a team teaches commitment and leadership, builds character, shows one how to deal with responsibility and how to bring people together and ultimately helps achieve personal goals. To be an effective leader, I feel one must have initiative, confidence, flexibility, adaptability, and good communication. One must also be respectful,
prepared, educated, and organized to be a team player and a mentor to those under your leadership.
In my volunteer roles, I strived to exhibit all those leadership characteristics. I have applied this “team player” approach in other areas of my high school career. B y juggling my academic coursework, paid jobs at area restaurants and stores, my volunteer roles as Sound
Manager of the Floyd Central Theatre Department, Captain of the Floyd Central Varsity Tennis Team, peer tutor for the school’s Math Lab and participant with my church Youth Group ministries, I gained valuable time management and study skills that will be needed in college, as well as technical expertise that will help me with my engineering courses. I also gained knowledge by completing the summer engineering programs at the 2013 Purdue Research Park Entrepreneurship Academy, and
the 2012 University of Louisville Speed Engineering School Brown Forman INSPIRE program. Since
I am already able to troubleshoot problems and lead a team effectively, I think I will excel in my chosen field of Computer Engineering, since it is a team oriented
occupation. I feel that the lessons learned through my leadership opportunities in high school will benefit me in college, as a computer engineer and a future leader.
Thank you for consideration of my application and for your commitment to our nation’s college students.

The Law of Attraction

Rainey Boateng

It all started with a sorority my freshman year of college. We were supposed to be going to a party. I’ll add a little disclaimer sorority parties are nothing like the Greek fraternal gatherings of the opposite sex, they are usually somewhat more socially acceptable and cause much fewer problems with the neighbors. The ‘party’ that night was different from any of the others I had attended in the past. One of my sorority sisters had insisted that we all attend. She was beaming. “You guys have to hear this! It is amazing.” She said happily literally pulling us inside. We all kind of thought she was just being a little bit over zealous. “Okay, okay it can’t be all that good.” I remember saying as we entered the home of the girl hosting the get together. I was hoping it wouldn’t involve any game playing or moving around vigorously. I was in luck. The hostess had planned to have us all watch The Secret. I remember thinking oh, no I hope this isn’t one of those multi-level marketing schemes, luckily it was not. It was more like a lesson I had learned in Physics applied in a way I never thought possible.

I remember the moment the video ended and feeling elated. I wanted to take on the world and for all that I knew I could. I couldn’t wait to rush home and start my vision board. I am certain that what I experienced was an awakening. It felt as if my soul was reintroduced to the principles and truths of life that it had once known to be true, but had forgotten somewhere along the way. I felt free knowing that I could manifest the life I wanted to create.

In the years since watching The Secret I have found that the Law of Attraction has had a very meaningful impact upon my life. I have been craving adventure and found myself training for the bobsled and skeleton development teams at the Olympic Training Center in upstate New York. I always dreamed of travelling and ended up spending four years working abroad in the United Kingdom. I have visualized abundance and have found new better paying jobs and opportunities.

I recently had a resurgence of interest in the Law of Attraction after going through a challenging few months. My cousin was experiencing some of the same challenges I was and so we made a decision to visit a psychic together. I think we were both hoping that someone might be able to tell us that everything is going to be okay. It’s okay if you are single, or not where you want to be in your career everything is going to be okay.  You are in control. Sadly, that is not exactly what happened, and so I went to another psychic after my cousin left and heard some of what I wanted to hear but not exactly what I was looking for. I was frustrated to say the least that things weren’t going exactly as planned. I desperately wanted the reassurance that everything was going to go as I wanted and with little or no effort from myself. And of course that isn’t what happened either. What did happen was that when I listened to the recordings a few days later I heard in verbatim. “You are a powerful manifestor. What you want I am not currently seeing, but you have the power to create what you want in life.” And then it finally clicked. I had forgotten my own power. I and no one else control my future. I am the manifestor of my own destiny.

Suddenly I remembered the secret I had learned that day at the party, and I started looking into other resources around the topic of the Law of Attraction. One of the books the psychic suggested was, “The Work” by Byron Katie. I also came across other books such as, “The Spiritual Guide to Attracting Love,” “As a Man Thinketh,” by James Allen, and “The Power,” Rhonda Byrne among others. It has become an incredible journey. I have found that The Law of Attraction is more than just a one-time thing. It may seem obvious but like most human beings I have found that I need to be reminded and often of the power we all possess to create the life we want. It’s not enough to just read one book or watch one movie at a sorority and find a lifetime of inspiration. It takes constant vigilance and building the bridge of understanding one stone at a time, but I have also found that it is fun and it is magical and I love learning and doing, and as many times as I have seen The Secret that there is something new every time. I love that it is not exclusive and that it works for people of every faith, culture, background, and lifestyle.

There have been countless ways this work has changed my life, but in the past few months I have found that the most challenging, powerful, and beneficial way has been in challenging the positivity of my thoughts. It has been in truly understanding that thoughts become things, and that I can with reasonable amounts of intelligence and hard work, become a doctor, or live in the home of my dreams, or find the partner that I have always craved to find. I am the commander of my own ship, the leader of my own life, and the manifestor and creator of what the Universe provides me. Newton’s third law is true, “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” For every thought we send to the universe for every positive action it can be returned to us and manifested, and for that I am ever so grateful.

Focusing on things you can control

Charlene Nensala
Bowie State University

Upon completing my under graduate degree in Elementary Education from Bowie State University; a defining moment occurred; hence, directing my occupational path in relation to the field of education. During the 2003-2004 school year, I obtained my first teaching position within a Title One Elementary School setting. Although my student’s chronological age indicated they belonged within the Second grade, their academic age equivalence stated otherwise. Over 60 % of my students read 1-2 years below grade level. I struggled as an educator to effectively teach the grade level language arts curriculum and provide students with accommodations commensurate with student’s dire instructional needs. At that juncture, I enrolled within a one month professional development course in literacy development and formative assessment training.  I was enamored with learning more extensively about customized instructional options for my underprivileged learners who were deficient particularly in the area of word recall, vocabulary development, sight word knowledge, and the application of comprehension strategies. Upon completion of the course, I immediately began implementing the knowledge received with my students. Consequently, their year-end quarterly assessment scores in reading improved remarkably by 70 percent. It was during that defining period I committed myself to further pursue the highest advanced degreed level training in relation to literacy education.

Academically, I aspire to become a Doctor of Education with a concentration in Reading Education.

Positive thinking

Elsa Arzu

Graduating from high school is considered a basic achievement, it is expected for everyone to make it out of high school. But what do they mean by everyone? With the lack of resources, money, transportation, daily survival struggle and time among minorities, high school is the least of our worries. Waking up each day thinking it is our last is the hardest part of all. Over the past six years, I’ve improved not only my life but also the life of others. I started off as a student without an opportunity who only engaged in petty activities to a community involved cofounder of a teenage enrich program and a three year high school graduate. It took a traumatizing change for me to turn my life around, it almost seemed as if it was too late. After a fight with an older girl, a gun was faced in my direction. I never knew that anything in my life could ever lead to this, I would watch the news and say that I was never going to get shot.  Luckily, I didn’t. But why did it matter at that time? My teachers told me that I wasn’t going to make it anyways.
      Not making it is not a surprise, however, everyone was indeed shocked to see me even make it as far as going to high school. My transition to high school allowed me to upscale my decisions and become more mature. My sister was the first black student to attend Harvard in our school and everyone expected better from me. Crazy enough that I did not know what better was. My sophomore year, my friend and I managed to make a teen outreach program called “Miami Youth Coalition” for troubled teens and help them with their personal problems, as well as give them a distraction from the “streets”. It made me grow as a person to see all of the hard work and improvement in others, I saw potential in everyone. I thought to myself, “If there’s still potential in them, there must be some in me.” My grades finally improved incredibly and I was granted with the chance of being promoted and eventually graduated with Summa Cum Laude (top 5%).
      My mother’s smile could not fit on her face and the tears did not stop rolling down as I walked across stage. She knew that there was something special about me that no one ever recognized, even I failed to see it. As a single parent, she encouraged me each day to do my best. For seventeen years, my mother was all I had. The transition to college hasn’t been easy (I left for the summer term). The first thing they warned us about was the loans, unfortunately, just to help my mother and beg my father to pay for my Summer and some of my Fall rent, I’ve had to take out two which amounted to $3,500. I find it unfortunate that the majority of money goes to athletes and not students that are very community involved, as well as fulfilling in academics. But, I tend to not focus on the negatives, I have managed to find the positive in every situation.
      What led to such great improvement in me was the idea of “Positive Thinking”. Growing up with so much negativity around you makes it tough to break out of the cycle. I continuously told myself that there is someone whose problem is bigger than mine. I refused to walk around each day like the world owed me life and began to live of what I had left. I knew that change started with no one else but me. There would be days that it will rain and instead of getting upset that my plans got cancelled, I smiled because rain is a natural beauty just like the sun. Stress, anger and depression began to disappear from my life, I started to enjoy helping others, it made me feel better about myself and the teenagers I worked with began to feel better about themselves as well. I began to attract the type of people that I wanted in my life, joyful and positive friends instead of the angry girls I spent my energy on.
       As a college student, I will continue to personally develop and have the best attitude when approaching any challenge. Positivity led me to where I am and the support of others has made me more appreciative of myself and the path I chose. As a current Criminology major, I plan on continuing the teen outreach program to help teenagers avoid the dangerous path that I took and give them the opportunities that I was detained from. I deserve this scholarship because I am successful, I was successful to make my way out of the ghetto and create uneasy goals for myself. I refused to be afraid of failure, it is indeed proven that only those that do not try fail.

The power of positive thinking

Kavita Singh

When my sister came home from college for the first time, it was right before Thanksgiving. The day before Thanksgiving, my sister joined us for one of our elaborate breakfasts. While she was talking about her classes, I was turned around looking at the TV watching The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. I whirled around to take a bite from my bagel when I glanced at my sister. She looked visibly upset. “I’m not going to be a doctor,” she told my parents. They also looked visibly upset.
                They were quiet for a while, and I wasn’t old enough to comprehend that my parents weren’t upset at her. They were simply disappointed. Disappointment is something that I fear in life. I definitely fear failure, but disappointment is an aspect of life that terrifies me. 

I grew up in a very critical family.  When I was in 7th grade, my dad said I couldn’t make writing into a career. He tried making some football analogy, but I kind of got the message. My parents were disappointed when my sister went from wanting to be a doctor to pursuing physical therapy. They were also disappointed when my brother went from wanting to be a lawyer to mechanical engineering. So imagine how pleased my parents were when I told them I wanted to be a journalist.
                I have so many wild dreams. I want to create, produce, write and travel in my life. I’m constantly adding goals on my bucket list such as volunteering in another country, or writing a screenplay. My family is very conventional so I rarely express these goals. There’s a little part of me that doesn’t want to build up all these expectations just for them to be disappointed. 
                This fear of disappointment consumed me for a while. I doubted myself for most of my senior year where I was busy with random activities such as sports, volunteer work, and student council. Yes, I like being busy, but it wasn’t until college that I started learning some lessons of my own.
                First off, college was the first time that I was lonely. I’m used to being alone, but it was the first time that I was both alone and lonely. I had an established group of friends, but when they weren’t around there was something missing. I remember seeing a small poster about an on campus radio club that was having a meeting. I was scared as I walked into a room with no one that I knew. I kept telling myself that if it didn’t work out, I could simply leave the meeting. So as I nervously sat by myself, I saw from the corner of my eyes a girl walk in. She was by herself, but she had a confidence that I didn’t exhibit when I walked in. I smiled at her, and she immediately made eye contact and smiled back. To my sheer surprise, she plopped right down next to me and we started talking. Our conversation was so fluid and we both had risky majors and big dreams. When we finished training as a DJ, we walked back to our buildings, and I asked for her number. She texted me the next day, and we decided to do a show together. It was the first big risk I took in college and it paid off.
                There were so many things that I learned from this experience. First, this was my first real decision. While I kept myself busy in high school, I wasn’t doing anything that I was passionate about. I was just doing what felt like the right thing to do to make my parents happy. But as the radio meeting continued, I started planning topics that I wanted to discuss for my own show. For once, I was doing something that genuinely made me happy.
Second, confidence is essential in life. If I can’t make it, at least I can fake it. My friend told me later that she was so scared, but she wanted to be as open-minded as possible. That was something I needed. I needed to stop doubting myself all the time. That also meant the simple act of believing in myself. I think it was hard for me to believe in myself, when my parents didn’t.  It’s still really freaking hard to believe in myself when the general consensus doesn’t.
                However, it all comes down to positive thinking. Here I am with the potential to express myself in college through this amazing media outlet, but my fear almost took over and prevented me from doing it. So instead, I made an active choice to be positive. I could dwell on so many things about how my family doesn’t support my dreams.

Or I could prove them wrong. Yes, that is my silver lining. That’s what gets me through each day of college.

So, when I did do my radio show with my new friend, we had our friends and her family tune in and listen. Some people from my floor said they had listened, and that they loved our conversations. For once, I wasn’t really concerned of what people thought of me. I just went in with a positive mindset, and said what I wanted to on air. I cared less about pleasing people, and just voiced my own opinions. And I felt alive. It was the push I needed to be more confident with myself.  That is the power of positive thinking. Positive things will happen to positive people.

The power of positive thinking

Katherine Jeffcoat

The moment oxygen fills your lungs and you are forced to release the carbon dioxide from within you, you have entered this world we know as Earth. All these smiling faces looking down upon you with joy and wonder of what the future will hold. You have many moments like this being cared for by loving smiles and white luscious liquid. You enter a room and you create an atmosphere of love and beauty. What a beautiful world of smiles and caring eyes we live in. This is how we enter the world oblivious to the future that is in store for us. It is not as easy as one might seem or hope.
            From a young age I was bullied every day at school because of my weight. Comments shot like bullets through my chest every day. You would think after the millionth hit my body would be numb, but it wasn’t. Tears still fell like water falls from my eyes and depression consumed my world. What happened to the loving smiles and caring eyes and voices I once knew? After numerous years went by with constant fear of waking up to another day, I decided to finish this (well I thought).
             I came back from summer break that began my eighth grade year. That summer was different in a way than the rest. My summers were usually filled with tears and hopelessness but this one had something extra packed into it, Anorexia. I was unrecognizable and some looked astonished and some stood silent. Now the things they use to say to me cannot be said any longer. I was no longer obese. I thought this was the end to the sadness, but unfortunately the sadness morphed into other aspects of my life.
            My health was failing, my mental health. I was sent to treatment center after treatment center. My depression was bad, my anxiety swarm like angry bees, paranoia crept nearby, suicidal thoughts pounded in my head, binging kept me craving for more, and happiness, the thing I so desired was nowhere to be found, still.
            I missed out on my childhood, my middle school years, and most of my high school years fighting these monsters. My family lost their daughter. My parents saved my physical life and tried to save my mental life but that one is still being helped.
            Through my treatments I learned that recovery must come from within. You have to want recovery. It is very easy to let the monsters take over with their powerful voices and abilities but there came a time in my life, just recently actually, that I was tired of not living. I was tired of not having one happy memory to look back on. So my time came to take a stand.
            The mind is one powerful and complicated thing. My past is very much more in depth than that, but just think of the grudge and that was the thing inside me. Mental illnesses are more complicated than what is put out there as there definitions. Going back to the mind, if these illnesses can take over and control me so quickly and strongly what could I do to fight back so that I could find myself.
            At first I thought of this idea as insane, crazy, a lie to myself just to make myself feel better but it worked: using post it notes to write positive thoughts like, “you are beautiful,” “everything happens for a reason,” “you only have one life to live,” “you can be a voice to those that don’t have one,” “everyone is different so comparisons are not accurate or fair,” “my dog loves me and needs me,” “one bad thing does not make it a bad day or life.” After that I started saying them to myself and saying them out load. My mind started to turn and the mean voices weren’t so loud. It was weird at first but positive thinking has opened a new door that has never been opened before. I can see with my own eyes and know that life is going to have some downsides but the positive thinking on that issue can affect the way you respond and result in a better outcome.
            I am not here to say that it is easy. Some days are easier than others to keep up the positive thinking but with a smile, a sword, a shield and those positive thoughts, life blossoms into a pleasing reality. But I am here to say I am a much happier person with the positive thoughts that I have come up with (with my parents and therapists help). Say them, sing them, dance them, write them, and be them. The more you say them, the more you believe them and the more you will benefit from positive thinking just like I did.

Recovery, life, love, adventure, dream and live
Katherine Jeffcoat 

Neurons
A short poem by Katherine Jeffcoat:
A thought comes from the brain,
Where everything begins.
Make those thoughts be the positive thinking I mentioned. And from there it will begin.
Katherine Jeffcoat

My lifetime goal

Justin Causey
University of Texas

My lifetime goal has always been to become a physician, and I believe the choices I’ve made in the classroom, on the field, and in my community have brought me closer to that goal. Those choices have been based on a solid work ethic, a true enthusiasm and gratitude for the life I have been given, and a determination to succeed.  They have played a major role in shaping who I am today and have given me the skills to define who I will be tomorrow.

Choosing to participate in football is a commitment in and of itself.  Texas football is not like any other sport anywhere else in the country.  It is one of the most physically and mentally demanding sports, especially at my alma mater, Smithson Valley HS. Pre-season training or “Boot Camp,” is a tremendously challenging few weeks geared toward teambuilding and mental tenacity.  During this time, our coaches pushed us to our mental and physical limits. The many exercises involve leadership, attention to detail, perseverance and teamwork – all of which I have learned well over the years and will capitalize on to help me achieve my future goals.   

Along with meeting the rigorous schedule of extracurricular activities, I began taking advanced courses as soon as they were available to me as Pre-AP classes in middle school, which taught me early on how not just to survive, but to thrive in a high-pressure stressful environment. I am proud that I was able to pass all my AP tests, achieving the status of “AP Scholar” from The College Board.  These accelerated classes have taught me that if you want to succeed in life, you cannot just take the path everyone goes down; you must reach higher and work harder in order to achieve your goals. I continued this path of academic success in my college career, earing a perfect 4.0 GPA and a spot on the prestigious Presidents’ List this past spring semester.

Participating in community service, allowed me to realize my desire to help people.  Involvement in clubs and organizations is a great way to hone one’s leadership skills, while most importantly, staying connected in your community and helping those in need.  Through my church’s Life Teen organization, I have been able to volunteer with the local senior center and assist with events such as many food drives and multiple Valentines Day dances. During my time assisting at the senior center, and recognizing their desire to stay healthy, I realized the needs of the elderly.  Helping people has always been something I wanted to do, and being involved in these organizations has led me to do that on a scale I could never have done on my own.  As I move forward in life, I want to continue to help others by becoming a doctor.

Following my dream and true passion of becoming a doctor is something that I plan to see through until this accomplishment is fulfilled.  I have wanted to be a doctor since I was four years old and had to undergo surgery for complications following a premature birth.  I survived due to the excellent care of my physicians, my parents’ dedication, and my own determination.  I know I can accomplish this goal too, as I have always completed and succeed in everything I have done.  Having the opportunity to attend The University of Texas at Austin is the ultimate to reach this goal and proceed onto Medical School.

I can accomplish anything

Veronica Salazar
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center 

The Law of Attraction has helped me to achieve finance, happiness, and personal development. I used to believe that things happened to you just by chance; well unfortunately I was never that “lucky” person. Throughout my life, I achieved personal gain by going to college and obtaining my bachelor’s degree while working in a full time job. Not only did I have to sacrifice family life but I had to work really hard in order to put food on table and a roof over our heads. This mentality of working hard led me to believe that I deserved only the best! I started to notice a pattern in my life that even though I had accomplished my goals, I was not happy with myself. That is when things started to fall apart for me. I began doubting myself in my quality of work and felt that I lacked in my professional skills. No matter how hard I worked at being the best, I kept getting pulled down by others’. What was happening to me? Was I a failure? How did it get to this point that I felt worthless? I started reading books on positive thinking and Law of Attraction. At first, I was not enticed at all by the subject; how can one be successful by just thinking it? Well desperate times called for desperate measures and there I was in my living room just reading about this Law of Attraction and how it could have a positive impact in my life. I also saw videos, one of them named, The Secret. It was a huge success all across the world, and even now from time to time I will watch the video; I love to hear stories about other people’s successes. 

In 2004, I began applying positive attraction in my daily life; as a single parent working full time and attending school full time, I needed some type of motivation. I gradually began shifting my thoughts to a positive one. Though I was not making the “desired” salary I had wanted, I still felt a self-accomplishment in my career. I was beginning to think positive, applying the Law of Attraction. So what exactly was Law of Attraction? It is meant to bring self-attraction of purely positive energy creating desired outcomes. I knew that it was just a matter of time before my desires would manifest and I would see a brighter future ahead. I would go into my room as it is my domain from a long day’s work, and sit there quietly with no interruptions; I would close my eyes and daydream of positive thoughts of successes, financial freedom, happiness, and all that is good. After about 30 minutes, I would feel a sense of positive vibes running through my whole body; I felt really good about myself. I would follow the same routine day after day: sit, relax, and daydream. I began noticing my life change, little by little, and started noticing the difference in my work, and even my self-worth as I built a self-confident attitude. My work began to improve in the quality as well as efficient workflow. I was able to manage without asking for guidance. How you are wondering? Because I applied the Law of Attraction, purely positive: in with the good and out with the bad.

I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 2005 and I knew that it was not just my hard work that I put into it, but the Law of Attraction which embodied me to be the person I was meant to be: strong, independent, hard-working, and successful. Now that I have my career at the pace that I want, I am ready for another milestone in my life, to obtain my MBA. I was beginning to feel that I could not do it because I am “too busy” for myself, but I was reminded by a fellow peer who also applies the Law of Attraction that I can do anything I set out to do. I have embedded this principle in my head so when I feel the urge to quit I can get back into gear and start working towards my goals and dreams. Even though I face obstacles in my life, I can quickly shift my thoughts into positive ones and apply what I have learned: The Law of Attraction.  There is no task too big or too small with this principle; I can accomplish anything. I can live out my dreams and pick the ones I want to keep and get rid of the ones I do not want.

Living by this principle has taught me the good in life and the good in people. I have helped others by educating them on the Law of Attraction and how it can work for them if they put their minds to it. Many have told me how it has helped them achieve success and they too have passed it on to others.

Focusing on what I can control

Tyler Ham

The world that I live in today is full of people pushing their agenda; they are filled with a vicious animosity towards others opinions and greater still, World Powers battle for control. Like any human being I too have my agenda, and there are times when standing for what I believe is right. In other situations, listening and being able to assess the situation before giving input are more important. Focusing on things I can control has been central in my life, especially as I’ve gotten through my first two years of college.

      The idea of focusing on things that I can control has a great deal of impact on my overall attitude towards life and the challenges that I face. First and foremost this principle reminds me that I do not have all the answers to life’s questions and I will not be able to solve every persons problems. I have a compassionate heart and when I hear of people suffering, whether it be those close to me, or children in another country, I want to get my hands dirty and solve problems immediately. In my own life I cannot get enough of being organized and addressing problems face to face. I thrive off of problem solving and making things right. If I don’t focus on things that only I can control I become a major nuisance to those around me. Focusing on other people’s problems can be seen as judgment from another’s point of view and this can really upset the people around me. Another big part of focusing on things I can control is keeping myself on task to do the things I want for myself. I am the last person I think about because I love giving my time to others and making sure that they are not in pain. I have big dreams, and if I ever hope to achieve the things I want I have to focus on controlling the things I can control.

My dad and his brothers grew up learning all about cars in my grandfather’s body shop. They knew all about the inner-workings of classic cars and repaired many cars in their young adult lives. They each had cars that would be worth tens of thousands of dollars today. As soon I was old enough to appreciate classic cars I developed an interest in old cars, specifically old, fast cars. Two years ago I bought my first classic car, a 1968 Cutlass Supreme, all original with a 350 Rocket engine. There was work to be done, but I was infatuated with the idea of rebuilding something with the help of my dad and my uncles. In the first few months of having the car I worked hard to scrape off the old paint and get my car ready to be repainted the original color, an aquamarine blue. I did various repairs here and there; I bought new wheels and tires, installed new shocks, and cleaned up the car really well. Three months in to my purchase the car was ready for the new paint. When I got the car back a few days later, I was on top of the world in a freshly painted muscle machine. As the year went by, things began to wear out. I had rubber hoses that keep coolant running to the engine to cool it off as it runs that burst and sprayed coolant all over the engine causing smoke to come rolling out of the engine bay. My carburetor, part of the fuel delivery system within the engine stopped working, leaving me stranded on the side of the road. Among other things theses two circumstances were enough to deplete my bank account of money, and frustrate me because I was stuck not knowing what could happen next. After all, I’m not a mechanic and I don’t claim to be. One thing I wish I would have discovered before buying this old car was that I either needed to have extra money to repair things that went wrong, or knowledge of how to fix things that went wrong on my own. The frustration I felt was due to the fact that I had no idea what I was doing when it came down to the mechanics of a car. I figured that problems with my car would be few and far between, but I was wrong. I began to focus on the things I could control. I could make money to help pay for the repairs, so I found other forms of income. As I recognized there were things that needed to be done I made the adjustment to accommodate the problem. Focusing on things that I could do to make things easier on my mind helped. I also started to learn more things about old cars. I looked up things that I would need to do next before things went wrong and then I researched how to fix them. I found friends that knew more about cars than I did and they helped me to fix more parts of the car.

I learned two things from my classic car experience, that an old car can be difficult to maintain, and that I could make things easier on myself by focusing on what I can control. I hope to apply my new knowledge of this idea to my studies in the future. I know that in whatever situation I find myself this idea can help me to reassess the negative possibilities to make the outcome in my favor.

How the power of positive thinking has affected my life

Ato Ribeiro

Over the next couple years, I am determined to develop and maintain a disciplined professional studio routine for channeling my creative juices, enabling me to produce new artwork everyday. This is a key objective that I will continue to exercise for the rest of my life. With that being said, now that I have confirmed my accepted to the Department of Print Media at the prestigious Cranbrook Academy of Art, receiving a MFA from this unique graduate program will aid me in developing a more holistic art experience, through fusing my artistic strengths to create a new identity for my craft that I will use for years to come.  

When asked which medium I work in, I have become accustomed to replying “Painting, Drawing, Printmaking, Sculpture and Graphic Design,” and that must stop. Through my graduate experience I intend to investigate various ways to fuse my strengths, creating countless bodies of work that share a unified theme that speaks for me. By converging my skills in these various mediums, I will resolve how to successfully promote patriotism while addressing pressing social issues through installations that further stimulate human senses such as sound, smell and possibly even taste. How cool would it be to recreate the experience of spending time in a tranquil and shockingly well insulated traditional Ghanaian mud hut, while a pot of peanut soup simmers on top of a small charcoal grill? Or meander through a claustrophobic space lined with fingernail scratches along the walls, while the lingering smells of sweat, sea salt, gun powder, and bat guano are overpowering. Just as it was before approaching the Doors of No Return in the Elmina or Cape Coals slave castles, except being located in the middle of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. By joining this community of problem solvers whom exercise thinking outside of the proverbial box, I intend to endure a graduate school experience that I would never regret, and will add substance to the development of my professional artistic career. 

I attained a BA in Studio Art from Morehouse College with the help of priceless constructive feedback that I received from great mentors and art contemporaries such as Christopher Hickey, Fahamu Pecou, Sanford Biggers, and the late Frank Toby Martin. Under their tutelage, I adopted practices such as focusing less on my finished product and more on my processes of creation, allowing my work over the last five years to transform from solely 2D works to exploring countless new ways in which I can engage my audiences within a 3D space. Along with my creative growth, I was heavily active in communities, art clubs, and projects such as serving as artist liaison for the recent Art on the Atlanta BeltLine project. 

During my matriculation at Morehouse, I am also proud to have been Bonner Scholar, dedicating an average of 11-15 hours per week towards serving the community. This scholarship achievement was my undergraduate blessing in more ways than one. Who knew that through service, financing my private undergraduate degree would become far more feasible.  Under the guidance of many professors, service leaders and members of the community, I have and will continue to explore dynamic ways to merge my artistic talents with my moral obligation to serve others. Service has been a practice that I started exercising in high school through volunteering across the Sandy Springs community to paint murals, assist in fund raising campaigns, and even market for a candidate who ran for Mayor. 

While at Morehouse I found other ways to serve, such as teaching at the Harlem Children Zone, mentoring in Atlanta Middle Schools, founding and serving as President of the W.E.B. Dubois International Dorm (Morehouse’s first international student freshmen dorm), helping as Morehouse College’s Ambassador to the Westview Community, and spearheading the Westview Community Garden. Through practicing community service over the years, I have adopted many useful tools that continue to aid my growth as a fine artist, such as accomplishing larger goals through persistently overseeing and nurturing smaller ones.

I am a firm believer in the concept that every experience in life is valuable to that individual’s personal and professional growth. With my professional experience in a corporate setting over the last two years as Digital Marketing Coordinator of Landtours Ghana and Avis Rent-A-Car Ghana, I have been able to improve my web and graphic design skills, along with finding better ways to manage projects within the confines of strict deadlines. As a result, this experience has armed me with the confidence to manage my professional online presence, however I still have a lot to learn with regards to my writing skills. Being able to coherently document my work’s progression through generating enticing written content on various platforms, as well perfecting the art of drafting excitingly unique grant proposals etc. are all tools that I will encompass in the next two years. I intend to become less dependent on others to chronicle my art’s progression, and constructive critiques with artists sharing similar goals such as those enrolled at Cranbrook Academy will allow my classmates and I to investigate ways for all of us to become more proficient in our writing skills. 
Further more, you could only imagine my surprise after stumbling across this scholarship opportunity asking to reflect on how the power of positive thinking has affected my life. This is a practice that has molded my blessed life into what it is today. Each year, I write down positive affirmations in the format of a short essay such as this one, identifying specific goals in my life that I intend on accomplishing before the year’s end. With that being said, I intend to use this and many other awards to finance my graduate investigations of exploring more stimulating means of creating and showcasing my artwork without incurring any further student loans. To accomplish this, I have set out on numerous campaigns intended to finance my graduate school expenses such as participating in various art competitions like the l’Atelier Art Competition in South Africa, which I was recently qualified into the finalist round. I have also set up several platforms such as my website, where I will create artwork in return for private donations above specific amounts. These are all examples of things in my control that have and will continue to be done to aid my artistic growth, allowing me to be the greatest artist that I can be. Through earning this award, I will progress one step closer to achieving my 2016 goal of covering my entire 2 year graduate education costs without incurring any additional student debts.

Attitude of Grattitude

Alim Wooden
Georgia Southern University

I am a senior attending Georgia Southern University, studying mechanical engineering and reaching the end of my undergraduate career. My dream is to become an engineer like the myth busters because that seem to have time and resources to make whatever they want, whenever they want. My plan to achieve that goal was to get into Georgia Tech and research with their robotics department. Over the time spent at the University, I learned a lot and a couple of major changes took place. Going into college as a freshman, like all other freshman, I was trying to find a place to fit in and just a few friends to call my own. It just so happened that my roommate in my four person dormitory was my best friend from high school so I was one of the lucky ones. We both loved video games and had mediocre grades coming out of high school so this was about to be a really fun year, grades wasn’t even on our minds. Also the first year was the year that I received the most Pell Grant, social security funding, and a scholarship from a family friend so stress was at an all-time low.
            The first year ended in a tragedy. So many bad habits formed from playing excessive video games, going out to bars, skipping classes, not studying, and going against myself to make acquaintances that I thought were friends. The typical mistakes of a modern college freshman. Even worse me and my friend stopped talking to each other over an altercation that year, my GPA was low already, and I felt worse about myself and didn’t make all but about 10 friends that I took for granted. Not knowing what I had, I kept thinking this is exactly like high school and started to drink more because I had the freedom, money, it was cheap and easy, and everyone else was doing it, but even though I wasn’t raised that way and it felt off I continued anyways.
            Slowly blessings began to fade away. I received significantly less Pell Grant and no extra financial help so I had to take out a loan, started working out hardcore and destroying my body, and was drinking more. A typical college student that I hoped I would never be. I was nowhere near on the path of my reaching my dream. A combination of growing financial stress, my friend dropping out of school, and being in my head too much led to two consecutive years of bad habits, bad health, and bad grades. My hopes of getting into Georgia Tech was fading away and I had one semester to fix it all.
            The beginning of my senior year was the year that everything started changing around because I decided that being unhappy is not what I want to be. The dean of the engineering college made it apparent to me, by contacting me through a personal call, that I had one last chance to make it into Georgia Tech through one semester of all A’s in Math and Science classes. I knew that I had to make a few changes to my lifestyle and that I did, greatly improving my perception and made me happy and appreciative of all the blessings around me. First it started by praying and getting into the attitude of gratitude. It just so happened that I got in my senior I ended up in the traditional dorms which was an extreme downgrade to what I was living in the previous three years and no roommate so it was, I used to joke around, the cell to myself. I started observing my friends and the people around me and through lots of conversation I figured out that most of the students and even professors were just like me. Then I started realizing that I was actually in a really great situation given my recent let downs and started saying prayers of thanks for everything and everyone that has helped me before every meal. Then instead of listening to music, I started listening to audio books form authors like Brian Tracy and Jack Canfield and became determined to get straight A’s to catch the last chance to make it into Georgia Tech.

These two practices alone greatly improve my attitude and relationship with people. Then I started wondered what else can I do to make this dream happen. So I started running and doing light fitness workouts to get back in shape and heal the damage I was doing to my body. Then I started eating one or two meals a day to gain more energy. Then before I knew it I was pulling 8-12 good hours of study with time left over to read and get a good 7 hours of sleep each day. By the end of the first semester I got all A’s but sadly even this wasn’t enough to boost my GPA to meet the standard of the Georgia Tech transfer program but I wasn’t sad but actually happy with my accomplishments and grateful for anyone that helped along the way. Second semester of senior rolled around and I continued the streak making all A’s in the next year and even joined two extracurricular activities giving my practical application to my studies.

This is my fifth year now and even though I didn’t make it to Georgia Tech I got a year of all A’s, new relationships, a renewed work ethic, a new goal, and most importantly a clearer head and understanding that being positive and not taking what you have for granted combined with hard work for what you what can get you anything even if not by your desired plan. I learned my lessons and today I am now an intern at Panasonic Automotive Systems of America and looking to do bigger things in the future.

Healer heal thyself

Jessica Mills
Community College of New Mexico  

When I was a child and adults asked me what I wanted to do when I grew up, I answered each time, “I want to change the world.”  Each time the adult I was speaking with laughed told me that I was young, and that would change in time. But it did not. I continued to grow and learn, and as I did, I dedicated each of my resources to helping others who were in need. In high school, I ran a small unofficial business which booked and promoted local bands, while taking an equal cut of the evening’s earnings and donating them to local charities. Immediately upon graduating from high school, I left to Plaquemines Parish in Louisiana for a month to work with Emergency Communities. I lived in a tent while I helped to develop an emergency childcare facility to families in need in a time where all resources were missing from the town. I returned and began to work with children and assisted a number of displaced youth in finding resources they needed during the time that they were passing through Albuquerque.
            But as my efforts on their behalf increased, I hit more roadblocks. One night, after opening my home to a young group of traveling boys, one of them had a psychological break followed by a lengthy seizure. I sat on my floor, uncertain what to do or how to help him. He was only 19, had no health insurance and no family to speak of. His friends forbade me to call an ambulance due to financial concerns. I did not have the resources or knowledge to help in a sustainable way. I sat with him until he awoke, and the next morning, they were gone to continue traveling.         

This was a moment of clarity for me. For some time following this experience, it occurred to me that I was attempting to build a foundation to help others out of nothing more than hay, and sacrificing myself in the process. I took a long look at myself. I had not finished college because I felt I had no idea what I would do. I was working as a preschool teacher which I knew would not provide me the financial stability I needed. I was living in a tiny casita which was small and infested with cockroaches. I had no way to truly help others because I was not helping myself.  It was time for me to put the focus on my own life and the things I could control. I formulated a plan that would enable me to work towards an undergrad in psychology and would provide me the tools necessary to both provide for myself and truly help to change the world in a sustainable way. I knew this change had to start from within. I changed my living situation, began working a new job that would help to pay for my education, and started to move forward. I was excited and had a plan.
            And then, on the cusp of continuing my education, my grandfather died. Within months my grandmother died also. My mother, the only child and single caretaker, was bereaved and fell into a year long depression. To make matters worse, at the end of this year she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Once again, I put my plans for school aside and cared for her in the best way I knew how. But I began to struggle with anxiety and depression, myself. Rather than feeling inspired by my prior plan, it felt a burden that I had not continued with it. I was consistently hard on myself for not having finished my education. I was overwhelmed by the events that seemed to always stand in the way. After my mother was treated and declared cancer-free, I threw myself in to my job as a Child Care Worker with children with severe emotional trauma, inside of a residential treatment setting. It was the precise direction I needed.


I worked to help children override unhealthy patterns of interacting and reacting as a therapeutic milieu team member. I was provided access to new knowledge. In seven months, I was promoted to Supervisor where I now, three and a half years later, train a team of professionals, run an operational milieu, communicate with community members, family members and therapists to create and implement ICMPs, IEPs, and treatment plans through a neurologically informed, attachment based model. I help children learn how to be healthy in their relationships and with themselves. I finally found the direction I sought as well as the resources I needed to make a difference in the world. Here, I learned some skills.
            First, I learned that there was always going to be something happening outside of one’s control that, if allowed it to, will affect personal circumstances. Many of the children I work with had childhood trauma which was not their fault, but the effects were now in their control to change. They, like me, had to choose. Watching them inspired me. If I wanted to help others, I had to first help myself. Much like them, if I wanted to help myself I had to focus on the things I could control. And the number one things I could control were the words I chose to say when I spoke to myself.
            I began to monitor my thoughts and how consistently I was an opposing force to my own life progressing. I noted how often I told myself that I could not do something, or how daunting it would be. I reminded myself that I had seen the impossible become possible in the milieu. I decided that I had to work smarter, not harder. I challenged these beliefs, rose up, and faced my fears slowly. I began to speak kindly to myself, to use encouraging words instead of devaluing ones. I reminded myself that I was worth self-care.
            Through this, I learned that my education was imperative to my self growth and also to taking the next step towards helping these children. I learned that I could accomplish it, regardless as to what was occurring externally.  I taught myself that instead of beating myself up for having not done it yet, I could simply do it and be kind to myself in the process. This was in my control. I have accomplished enough in my life to know that anything is possible. I have seen enough hopeless children and families do so. I now know that I need to continue to access my resources, and take care of myself. I know I accomplish this, regardless as to what may come my way.

With your help, receiving the Achieve Today Scholarship will allow me to place my focus on bettering myself and the lives of others while maintaining the milieu and working on my undergraduate education. It is a balance, dedicating one’s life to others while also dedicating it to one’s self. I am certain that your assistance in this powerful task is greatly appreciated, by all who have been offered it, and I look forward to the same opportunity.

Focusing on things you can control

Megan Adcock
University of Southern California

There are many things in life that can make us unhappy, that can make us worry or cause us some anxiety, and this is where the personal development principal of focusing on the things you can change (rather than the things you have no control over) comes in. Using this particular development skill has really changed my life for the better, and while it is still a work in progress every day, I continue to make strides.

I have been living with acute anxiety since I was very young, the first instances I can remember date back to when I was about six years old. While this has lead to many days of worrying, many sleepless nights, two major breakdowns, three different therapists my family could not afford, (and that I hated too) and also different medications prescribed to help, I decided that I needed to find out my way of coping.

While I am generally a very happy person on the outside, (and usually the inside reflects that too) I still always have a lot of anxiety and worry going on under the surface that I try to (at least) keep at bay. Some people have asked me how I can stay so positive about things, and I tell them that since I suffer from anxiety, and never found any help outside myself that worked, I had to come up with certain methods and go about them in my own personal way. This, among one or two other things, includes not worrying about the things I cannot affect or change, realizing that what will happen will happen and I just have to figure out how to deal with it when it does. Also, and above all, focusing on the things that I personally can control, and making sure that if there is something I can do about it, I do my absolute best at it, so not only can I sleep at night with the knowledge that I did everything I possibly could that was in my power to do, that if something does happen, I can rest easy.

Thinking positive, but especially focusing on things that I actually have the power to change/control has really helped me calm down, and I am now down to the lowest dose of anti-anxiety medicine I have ever been on! I would like to now outline the things that really make this work for me personally: the first way is how I changed my thinking. I did this by thinking positive, (this is where one of the other personal development principles really interconnects with this one), thinking of the best outcome, and also, even though this may sound counter-intuitive, I also think of the worst outcome and instead of panicking, I think of how I will react and deal with that situation if it comes up. Next, I focus. I focus on the part of the problem that I think I can tackle/deal with myself, and not focus on or worry about what others may be doing and also anything that is not in my power to do. After this, I realize that if I can really, really do nothing about a situation or conflict, I take three deep breathes, think of something that makes me smile, and go on from there. I also try to put everything into perspective, and try not to sweat the small stuff, because taking a step back and thinking about whether this is something I can do anything about in the first place is always helpful with perspective, and if there is nothing, I make a firm note to myself that there is not and carry on. One last thing that I remind myself is that thinking so much about it will get me nowhere, especially if I cannot control it; on the other hand, if I can control it, I just need to put in place the actions I need to take to control it, and wait for the outcome without stressing over whether it worked or not. Because after all, I have done all I can do in a positive way, efficiently in a timely manner, so if I keep obsessing over it, it will just drive me crazy, and that sure does not help anyone. And finally, reminding myself that I do control my own thoughts and emotions, and that is the first step to making sure that I actually try to control them, and realizing I can do nothing to control other peoples thoughts and emotions.

All in all, focusing on the things I personally can control has made a big impact on my life. I have learned to let go a little, to not worry so much, because if there is something I can do about it I set about doing it, and make sure I put my best effort into it so that if it ends up going wrong, I still do not need to worry. And if there is nothing I can do (which is so often the case with so many scenarios in life) then I do not let it control me or take over my mind. This has really put a different spin on how I look at things, and has made me much more easy-going and all around better at life.

One thing we must control before it controls us

Erin Hatt
University of Phoenix

“It’s a miracle you’re normal!” I cannot count how many times I have heard this in my life; people say it to me as soon as I start explaining my story. “How can you come to work every day, smiling and caring so much about people after you’ve experienced everything that you have been through? I don’t know how you do it.” I tell people it is all about the attitude. When we find something to be thankful for, something positive even in our hardships, we can overcome almost anything!
            Up until the time I was nine years old, my home life was far from ideal. My father had problems with alcohol abuse and both my parents had substance abuse issues. When my dad drank, he became violent. Almost every night, he would physically abuse my mom when I was trying to sleep. My mom had no release for her physical and emotional pain, so she would abuse me. I always promised myself I would do everything I could to not make her angry when I got home from school, but nothing I did worked. She would get mad at me and physically abuse me. One day when I was in second grade, my mom left. I have twin brothers who have autism who just added to my father’s anger because they never slept through the night and we could never control them. My mom left the boys at a neighbor’s house and left for Florida with one of my great uncles.
            My mom called on Christmas Day and said she was coming home. I do not remember the day or month that she left, but Christmas is her birthday so I told her I wished she was home so I could make her a cake in my new Easy Bake Oven. She did come home, but only to get some of her things. A few weeks later, she was gone again. She came home permanently, but only when she offered my dad an ultimatum: she would only come home to stay if he quit drinking. He agreed and quit cold turkey, nothing short of a miracle itself. I am grateful for this experience because I saw firsthand the effects of alcohol on a family and on an individual. I know I need to be careful with alcohol because alcoholism runs in both sides of my family. I am grateful that my father quit drinking when he did because he did a complete 180 when he stopped. Our home life got a lot better after he quit drinking.
            Life became as normal as it could until my sophomore year in high school. I began developing severe abdominal pains, nausea, and other symptoms. I had dozens of health tests and we received no results, so I was a mystery. I missed a lot of school, but somehow kept my grades up and remained at the top of my class. I am thankful for the support I received from my teachers, friends, and family during that time. So many people helped me, doing whatever they could to help me feel better and make sure I had everything I needed when I was too sick to get out of bed. We never found out what was wrong during the year or so I was ill, but I am happy my digestive system is mostly back to normal today.
            At the end of my junior year, my family decided to move to Florida. My dad went to college in Daytona Beach and he thought my family could get a new beginning if we moved. I was not excited for the move because I was leaving seventeen years of my life behind. I had a lot of friends, I had great grades and loved my high school, and I was volunteering at a nursing home on weekends, always the highlight of my week. I had people offer rooms in their homes so I could stay, but I felt it was important for me to move so I could support my family. We moved to Florida in April of 2004 with the money we had from selling our house in Connecticut. We lived in a nice apartment down the street from the “world’s most famous beach,” the epitome of paradise. However, it took too long for my parents to find jobs in Florida and my job at the local ice cream shop did not even begin to put a dent in the bills. In December 2004, we were evicted from our apartment. Thankfully, we learned about an organization called Family Renew Community. Family Renew had three locations to house homeless families to help them get back on their feet. Our family moved into a two room cottage so I could finish my senior year. I got a job I loved at a library down the street, something I never would have gotten if we did not move. I met a lot of wonderful people in Florida and the six months we were homeless were an enlightening experience. People often think that being homeless is the lowest point you can reach, but it was a blessing in disguise. I learned a lot about family and true friendship during that time. It made me a stronger, more empathetic person.
            I have to admit that life is great now. Although I suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia, I feel thankful for my accomplishments and all the things I have experienced. I am almost done with my Bachelor’s degree and will begin my Master’s degree soon after I complete my Bachelor’s. I have an amazing job and boyfriend, a cute little house, and so much to be thankful for.

One thing we must control before it controls us

Maria Luisa Alago, B.S., M.A., (DM, Candidate)
University of Phoenix

Eastern and Western ancient and modern educators realized the power of knowledge, as control measure.  Teachers from the East and the West, throughout history, have identified the cause of unethical behaviors:  Uncontrolled thoughts.  Thoughts control the words; words control the actions; actions control the habits, which ultimately become one’s destiny (Aristotle, 384-322; BCE; 1962; Tzu, 6 BCE).  Other teachers, focused on modeling mandated top-down prescribed codes of conducts, such as the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule (Jesus, 33 AD; Bible, KJV).  A few, such as the modernists, advocated for relativism, leading to nihilism (Foucault, 2003, 2010; Nietzsche, 2011).

From an early age, I learned that the only thing that one can control, are one’s most inner thoughts, indeed.  Growing up in a dysfunctional family, my thoughts were adroit escaping tools.  During my grade school, I had the good fortune to discover the library.  After a few enchanting visits, I realized that books, magazines, encyclopedias, and journals were wells of knowledge.

The library was a panacea of enriching source for nurturing the consciousness and unconscious within the brain with new information, data, insights, ideas, words, concepts, techniques, illustrations, and abstractions.  For instance, they incited the imagination with creativity to escape into a happy place of my own.  At an early age I had mapped out my lifelong dreams.  I dreamed of becoming financially independent.  I dreamed of owning a plush farm in the woods.  I dreamed of having a charming spouse and two children, forget the half.  And as a caveat I visualized earning the highest academic degree my potential would allow me, even that the odds were against me in the form of extreme poverty.

My yet to be fulfilled lifelong dream has been to complete a doctorate to scaffold a platform to self-actualize and help others to develop to their maximum potential.  With a surplus of personal setbacks, which I had no control over, I had to postpone my goal, by placing the needs of others ahead of my own.  Technological breakthroughs in communication empowered me by opening the doors to online education.  Consequently, I had the opportunity to step outside of my paradigm and pursue my dream by traversing the door of online education (OE).

Online education (OE) is my platform to aid leaders and educators whom in turn empower the workforce as moral agents. OE granted me freedom after a lifetime of caring for ill parents, younger siblings, a husband, and three offspring’s.  My oldest was born disabled, a casualty of my spouse's exposure to agent-orange.  We also had a set of premature twins. After facing so many hurdles my dream marriage collapsed, which perhaps I had not fully controlled. Caregiving and putting my life on the line in a public service career preceded my OE. OE enabled my lifelong pursuit of a coveted doctoral degree, while I had the privilege to care young adult disabled offspring.

During the doctoral journey, I have invested over $80,000 of student loans and my lifetime savings towards the degree, with countless hours of research and lack of sleep.  Just as I was two courses away from completing the program, my mother became terminally ill, which I had no control over.  I had to travel thousands of miles to care for her, arranged her burial, and mourn her departure.

After a lengthy Sabbatical, upon which I had no control, I intended to complete my research study and data analysis.  My committee recommended me that I secure the services of a statistician, and an editor, at a substantial cost.  After paying for the technical experts tutors my personal upkeep, my mother’s household bills, my funds and borrowing credit power were exhausted.  My FICO plummeted overnight, and I had no control over it. I am required to register prior to submission for the final institutional quality review of the completed dissertation, and my drop-dead graduation deadline is fast approaching, without my control.

The title of my dissertation is: Increasing Emotional Intelligence and Moral Reasoning through Andragogy: A correlational study.  I did had full control of how I named it and the Alago’s andragogical model.  News and social media have exposed the rise of unethical behaviors.  Many of those unethical acts had rippled global consequences.  For examples economic crisis, food wars, ethnic cleansing, and conspiracy theories.  Also governments’ abstractions, sexual harassment, rise in terrorism, bribery, and implosion of organizations, such as Enron (Janszen, 2010; Karaibrahimoğlu et al., 2009).  Recent literature findings support that, the adult human brain is pliable.  The brain can grow neural connections. Thus emotional intelligence and moral reasoning are augmentable with customized andragogical education, age, and experience (Moll, Oliveira-Souza, & Eslinger, 2003).

After securing some funds to enroll in the final course, submit the dissertation for the quality review, conduct the oral defense, and publish my work, I will promote my Alago’s andragogical model.  The model will aid leaders and educators to design customized curricula for public, private, for-profit, and non-profit organizations empowerment development.  The Alago's andragogical educational model depends on second-order learning, cognitive moral development, and emotional intelligence enhancements (Knowles, Holton, & Swanson, 2005, Covey, 2010; Kohlberg)  Also, the neo-Kohlbergian theory (NKT) (Rest, Narváez, Thoma, & Bebeau, 2000).  NKT explains the mechanism to store experiences, in the brain's amygdala.   Environmental stimuli are detected, translated, and stored as an antecedent mental schema of emotions.  The schema helps the individual to associate present experiences with the fly or fight reflex for survival (Argyris, 2012; Rest, Narváez, Thoma, & Bebeau, 2000).  In the case of mental role playing future experiences may be assessed and measured to the antecedents, theoretically (Alago, 2015).

Vested with the newly gained knowledge, skills, abilities, experiences, and freedom I am confident that I will be able to provide global face-to-face and online programs, workshops and seminars to empower participants.  The mechanism is the design of pragmatic adult education curricula under the principles of andragogy (Knowles, Holton, & Swanson, 2005).  My learned knowledge, skills, and discoveries have pragmatic applications.

My goal is to incite individuals’ imaginations, promote dialog in communities of practice, provide insights to policymakers, influence transformational leaders, guide psychologists, instruct educators, and motivate individual seekers.  The coveted ideal is to enable the workforce to become moral agents.  Moral agents have potentialities, character, and knowledge to safeguard civilizations for the sustainment and survival of humanity.  Moral agents are empowered beings.  As such, they understand the route to happiness.  Enroute to happiness all demographical and environment factors cannot be controlled.  The only controllable factor at any point in the development journey is the thoughts.  Subsequently, monitoring emotionally charged words, may lead to bias actions.  Good actions will foster good habits, which influence the moral agents’ destiny (Alago, 2015; Aristotle, 384-322 BCE; Tzu, 6 BCE).

One thing we must control before it controls us

Sarah Bellin
University of Phoenix

Earning a degree can be very costly, thats why no one in my family has ever received a college education. I'm the first one in my family to even attend college and thats all because when I was a little girl my Mom and Dad started a college fund for me, it wasn't very much but it was a start. Growing up my family never had a lot but both my parents gave me everything they could to make sure I was happy. My parents also taught me the value of money, they gave me a piggy bank and told me to save $5. It took awhile as I didn't have a job and the only way I earned money was with loose change around the house or the dollar or two my Grandpa would give me for helping him out. Once I saved that $5 my parents sat me down and told me they were going to take that $5 and put it in a college fund for me, at first I was upset because only being 8 years old I could've bought myself some candy or a small toy. After they explained to me that it would be worth saving and that in 10 years I would get it back. Once I entered High School and started learning more in depth about college I soon realized how expensive it would be for me to attend a 4 year University. I knew my parents couldn't afford to pay for tuition and all the other fees of college. That summer when I turned 16 I got my first job at McDonalds, every pay check I saved every penny but once school started again I had to quit to focus on getting good grades so I could get into a good school. My senior year of high school the most devastating event of my life thus far happened, my Mom was laid off from her work. We started to fall behind on bills which meant they had to start using some of my college funds to make sure we could keep a roof over our head, before we knew it my college fund was gone. This meant I wasn't going to be able to attend a 4 year, this meant I was not going to get my Bachelors, this meant I wasn't going to be the first person in my family to go to college. It was devastating for me and my parents, they worked so hard to make sure I was going to be able to go to college but now I wasn't. The year after high school I attended a local community college that FASFA fully covered but the issue was overcrowding, I was taking unnecessary classes because the ones I needed were always full. After a year I eventually dropped out and started working full time and started saving for college again. I never wanted to give up on my dream of completing school but wasting my time at a community college wasn’t getting me anywhere. Thats when I found University of Phoenix, its a online University thats half the price of a regular University but I still get the quality education that I would anywhere else. I will now be receiving my Bachelors in Business Management with a Certificate in Project Management. My overall goal after I earn my degree is to work with The Walt Disney Company in the Disney Parks. Disney has always been a big part of my life so I would love to work for them as a manger or even a high up in Disney. I am so grateful that my parents from a young age taught me about the value of an education but like many, I’m struggling financially to pay for it. I want to make my parents proud by becoming a successful person that all their hard work wasn’t for nothing. I feel like everything is slowly being taken away from me though. After filling out an education expense form it'll tell you exactly how much federal aid you will receive and how much loans you will receive during your time in school. The only problem I have is I'm $15,000 short of financial aid that I need to finish school. I have a couple thousand saved up now but that will only cover this school year. So anything would help me greatly. Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story.

History has taught me to look at the glass as half full rather than half empty, regardless of the challenges

Olivia Brophy

My family has always been active in the community – from Scouting to serving food to the homeless. During high school, I formalized my volunteer activities by completing a volunteer project in children’s literacy that required over 400 hours of commitment.  For this, I received the Gold Congressional Award Medal. Additionally, I served a plethora of nonprofit organizations through the National Charity League, South Placer Chapter, and spending a week in Mexico volunteering with my school. Finally, I tutored fellow students in middle and high school in a variety of subjects through the Academic Support Class at my high school. My college choice, Saint Mary’s College of California, has many opportunities for volunteer work. By actively participating in the monthly “Saturday of Service” and annual “Jan Term”, I will be allowed to build upon my volunteer work performed during high school.

Over my schooling career, I have helped to tutor many students with varying needs and for various reasons. As a third grader, I helped not only younger students learn to read and write, but also a classmate who had immigrated from Ukraine. This was my inspiration to select children’s literacy as my focus for my community service hours for the Gold Congressional Award Medal. I worked alongside a librarian to develop library displays and created resource folders for parents and patrons to inspire literacy in children. I took these resources to work with me when I volunteered at a preschool incorporating “Mother Goose on the Loose” over the course of two summers. This incorporation of rhyme, rhythm, and repetition alongside relevant literature made literacy child’s play! The skills I developed while working with preschoolers included patience, perseverance, and adapting to multiple modalities of learning. These would be expanded upon later in high school.

As a member of National Charity League, I had the opportunity to work with a variety of charities. One of my favorite groups to work with was the Special Olympic of Northern California.  The athletes taught me that a simple, “You can do this” or “I am so proud of you” was the easiest bridge to connecting two people.  No matter how long it took them to cross the finish line, they never gave up and the smile that accompanied their accomplishment was infectious. The athletes I crossed paths with through this organization inspired me to confront my shyness with the same courage and determination they displayed in the athletic arena. It is my hope all the amazing athletes I met have an idea about how critical they were in helping me express myself with the confidence of an Olympian.

Their inspiration didn't stop there - my volunteer work took me to Mexico as a foreign exchange student with my school. Leading up to my departure last summer, I was able to use my experience with Special Olympics of Northern California to convince our student group to volunteer with Los Olímpicos Especiales in Merida, Mexico.  I knew how inspiring and accepting the athletes had been here in the U.S., and I believed that our working with a similar group in Mexico - where we were required to speak in Spanish - would be the perfect organization to continue building bridges between people regardless of culture or citizenship. As a result of my experience, I trained my peers on how to interact with athletes - from how to communicate with both verbal and nonverbal persons to recognizing sensitivities based on body language to knowing when to ask for assistance from an adult. This was put into action when we visited a children's hospital, and while my peers went off in groups of two, I was able to go off on my own to work with the athletes and event organizers because I had the confidence necessary to do so. As in the U.S., there were many “Puedes hacerlo” and “Estoy orgulloso de ti” comments as well as high fives and hugs. My peers had no idea how rewarding and inspiring this experience was until our time was over, and it was time to go home.

These experiences culminated in my opportunity to volunteer with our school’s Academic Intervention Specialist. I have come to regard the time I spent tutoring in Ms. Amira’s Academic Support Classes, as well as during Advisory and Enrichment, as some of the most fulfilling. The magnitude of the effect of this experience stems largely from the fact that it developed organically, not from previous thought or planning.

Working with my fellow students, all of a variety of ages and abilities, on almost every subject offered at Western Sierra Collegiate Academy proved to be one of the greatest challenges I have ever faced, but also one of the most rewarding. It is nearly impossible to think of a better feeling than when a student is able to understand a concept after working with you – whether it is for a few minutes or a few Enrichment periods. The smiles on their faces and the pride in their achievements when they’ve done well are unforgettable. Just like the preschoolers and Special Olympians, the pride that students felt with their achievements is etched on my heart forever.

One of the most unique aspects of volunteering in Ms. Amira’s class is that the “tutoring” or “peer helping” isn’t just one way, it’s reciprocal. The free exchange of ideas that is possible in one-on-one or small group tutoring helps everyone involved in a variety of ways. For me personally, having to communicate clearly and effectively with a diverse group of students, oftentimes only minutes after being introduced, seemed initially to be very daunting. Throughout the time I have spent in Academic Support, however, I have overcome this challenge. I have grown tremendously as a person, not only because of the fact that I helped others, but because in turn, others helped me.

Serving as a student tutor required taking responsibility and, therefore, a leadership role, in regards to each student that I helped to succeed. In being a tutor, I took on the challenge of helping students to excel, especially in areas that they needed extra help in. Furthermore, some of the students required extra tutoring in order to grasp concepts necessary to complete their classes. My presence was oftentimes a reminder of their academic struggles, so I had to work to gain their trust. This entailed that I needed to help students feel that they were capable of doing the best work that they could do. Peer tutoring helped me to advance many skills vital in effective leaders, including clear communication and an unfailingly supportive nature. I feel it is important to reiterate the reciprocal nature of everything that occurred in Ms. Amira’s class – as I grew in these key skills, I made an effort to challenge my fellow students to grow as well. 

The lessons I learned growing up through giving back to my community have inspired me to seek out a college that values service to others along with academic achievement. Through “Saturday of Service” and “Jan Term”, I will be able to work in inner-city elementary schools, utilizing both my love of literacy and my skills in Spanish to communicate with as many students as possible. In addition, I hope to be able to volunteer in Saint Marys’ Center for Writing Across the Curriculum, furthering my love of peer tutoring and continuing to build on my communication and leadership skills.

Through all my studying, history has taught me to look at the glass as half full rather than half empty, regardless of the challenges. Through my years of volunteer experiences, whether working with children to gain a love of reading, tutoring my peers or encouraging the athletes of Special Olympics both here and in Mexico, I learned that a “shy girl” can find her voice in service to others. 

A personal story of hope

Michele Costantino

There are stories that we share with the world. Some that we share with friends and family. A few that we share with only the one closest to us. Every once and a while, there is a story that we keep to ourselves. There never seems to be good time to tell it and perhaps there is never the right person to tell it to.

This is my story from high school about hope in the darkness. I’ve never shared it with anyone and I suppose that I was waiting for the right time.

Once upon a time, I took an art class. I didn’t know anyone, so I just sat at a random table. There were four of us at the table and we rarely spoke to each other. Except for Grant McFann and I. We didn’t really speak as much as throw insults at the other’s artwork. We had a great time of it, he with his football player and me with my owl.

Grant and I took a few classes together my senior year, including physics and calculus. I remember him arguing for a half an hour with Mr. McPhee about how the M.C. Escher drawing was completely plausible. We competed with each other in calculus over who could do worse in the class. I usually won.

Senior year was hard for me on multiple levels. On one side I had AP Calculus. I had never failed at math in my life. I once read the whole LoTR trilogy in a summer math class and passed with flying colors. I was so unprepared for failure. This wasn’t just a low grade. I was actually failing, and even worse, I didn’t understand what was being taught. I still remember crying on the bathroom floor during class while some other girls asked if I was okay. It was very Sixteen Candles.

On the other side, there was my home life; hard in a whole different way. Each day was a luck of the draw on whether or not my mom would choose to berate my life choices. I would be called worthless, useless, a failure, the perfect child gone wrong and informed of my impending afterlife burning in hell.

Being the melodramatic teenager I’m sure I was, my life was over. The real problem with suicidal thoughts mixed with above average intelligence is knowing all the ways an attempt can go wrong and how much it can hurt. Being a person who likes to do things right the first time, paired with a low pain tolerance, means that while I would not attempt suicide, the thoughts plagued me every day. It was a struggle to put one foot in front of the other.

Throughout the darkness, there a small patches of light. A teacher going above and beyond to help me succeed. Being asked to prom, the first time I had ever been asked to a dance. These things don’t stop the depression entirely, but they lift the load from your shoulders for just a little while.

One day in art class, I was drowning in darkness again. Having finished my art project, I had started on some extra credit for calculus. As usual, I struggled to even understand the problems, let alone solve them. Being so wrapped up in my own drama, I’m not sure how much was visible to the outside world. Could anyone see me drowning?

I’ll never know if Grant knew how bad it was. We were never really friends, never saw each other outside of school. We didn’t have the same friends and we barely spoke in the classes we did share. But that day, he stopped while leaving class and offered me help. An act of kindness I never saw coming. I could have cried on the spot, but I think I was too stunned.

I’m not sure if Grant did it out of pity. Maybe he was helping someone who struggled like he did. Maybe it just wasn’t a big deal to him and he never thought of it again. I don’t know his motivation; I just know he saved me.

In the all-consuming darkness, he stopped and saw me. And instead of turning away and continuing on his day, he offered me a hand. For a short period of time, I remember being happy. The negative thoughts held at bay by an act of kindness.

Grant and I would never become best friends; there would be no passionate valedictorian speeches to show my gratitude. We would pass each other on campus and nod to the other with a slight smile. He would say hello to me in a Taco Bell where I struggled to make small talk while trying not blurt out my thanks for saving me.

I never told him how much it meant to me. I have spent 15 years trying to figure out how to thank him for what he did for me. A simple thank you seems so meaningless next to the magnitude of his simple gesture. I know that to him it was just a little math help, but to me, it was a gift that can’t really ever be repaid.

This story follows me to this day and it teaches me that helping people is not about the big things. People can be grateful for the smallest actions. Through this lens we know to feel gratitude for the small things in our life. Whether it’s being grateful for the perfect parking spot in the rain or thanking the stranger for holding the door, we can find something every day that makes us smile for a little while.

The "Controllables"

By Sierra Kaszubinski
University of Arizona

Life can be very difficult to maneuver at times. There are high points, and low points, and everything in-between. But, one of the best ways to refocus on life, is to not let the things you cannot control overpower you. It is rather a focus on the things that can be controlled, which can have a better impact on staying positive and reducing stress when life’s roller coaster seems like too much.

The strict definition of the statement “focus on things you can control” is an easy concept to grasp. It is a guide to turns one attention to things that you can change, favor, disregard etc. It is an elimination of the variability that life throws as being a source of stress, because if you do not pay attention to things that are out of your control, they no longer have power over you.   

It is a great way to think; focus on the “controllables.” Yet, accomplishing that mindset can be a whole different story. What are things that one can control versus not? A lot of the times, the thing that can be controlled is you. It’s how you look at the situation, how you put in the effort, and how you seize opportunities. It is your choices, not others’, that you can truly decide. Therefore, the objective of focusing on what you can control is a call to action on your mindset and decision making, more so than a disregard for things that cannot be controlled.

Again, a lot easier said than done. Yet, through my life experiences so far, I feel as though I have a good idea on how focusing on my mindset can change a situation for me.

One of the most important and most stressful times in my life was deciding on which college I wanted to go to. I had big dream; I wanted to go to the school with the best ballet program and best biology program I could find. I was an extremely driven and passionate dancer, having been in dance since I was two and continuing all the way to college. Also, I was an extremely hard working student. I had put in a ton of effort and managed to become the valedictorian of my high school. But for me, the huge stressor was deciding on a college that appealed to both of my loves. I picked three top schools: University of Indiana, University of Georgia, and University of Arizona. All had a pretty good mix of what I wanted- great academics and great ballet. I applied to all three, and made it into all three for academics. But the ballet, was a different story. Because I could not go and audition for Indiana, I didn’t really look like a serious candidate. I was accepted, but I was only offered a scholarship of 3,000 dollars for the enormous 40,000 out of state tuition. I was devastated, there was no way I could afford it. University of Georgia admitted me for both academics and ballet. I was ecstatic! The head of the dance program offered a scholarship for me being in the dance program, and I flew to Georgia to try out the program. Yet, it was not what I expected at all, and I couldn’t see myself dancing there. The ballet was not as serious as I assumed it would be, because there was a greater focus on other styles of dancing. Plus, none of the dancers or instructors were very friendly at all. The scholarship the dance department head had offered, was nowhere in sight. My last option, University of Arizona, had by far the best programs for science and ballet of any of the schools. I got accepted into the academic side, and now all I needed was the ballet side. I auditioned, everyone was so kind and helpful, and I thought I had a shot. This was my last option!

A few weeks later I got the call. I did not make it into the major, but still had a shot at the minor. I was crushed. My dream was the double major in ballet and biology, and that was no longer an option. I decided that a minor was better than nothing, and began college with a biology major in hopes to audition again for the ballet minor. Despite my good initial feelings about the program, I realized that the minor had a lot of flaws. I found myself not enjoying ballet as much as I used to, because the minor level classes were extremely different from the major level classes. That is when I made the decision to not pursue the ballet minor any longer, but continue ballet independently. 

This was the make or break time for me- I could either spend my college career in jest that I had not gotten my dream degrees, or I could make the best of what I had. I chose the latter. I threw myself into my biology major. I excelled in school, making a 4.0 for four semesters. I got involved in lab work on campus, and realized how much I loved it. I had decided, after strenuous research and experience in the lab, that I wanted to become a forensic scientist. Therefore, I joined the Criminal Justice Association at the university, and three years later, I am now the president.

Based off my story, the “focus on the things you can control” turned around my college experience. Despite the fact that my initial dream was not realized, I didn’t sulk about it. I couldn’t change my financial situation, and I couldn’t change the quality of the dance programs. I could only change me. I shifted my dream so that my biology major made me passionate and happy. I shifted my idea of ballet, as being perfect for my own independent expenditure, which took my mind of stressful classes.

No matter what life throws at you, it is your mindset which can change the situation. More opportunities can be had with a change in mindset, even if they are not what you originally expected. The only thing you can truly control is you, and a focus on that can bring positives out of negatives. That idea changed my life for the better.

The Power of Positive Thinking

by Annie Lawson

Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms-to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.   -  Viktor E. Frankl

I have come to realize that this quote from Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor, has provided me with truth and power to act in my own life. I read his book “Man’s Search for Meaning” when I was in high school. This book has changed my life and made me recognize that humans can go through horrific things and still show kindness, gratitude, and have a positive frame of mind. The power in positive thinking literally, saved Viktor’s life. I think it is easy to blame life, blame others, or even blame God when challenges come our way. Though some trials come through our own choices, I feel that this life is to learn and grow through those trials and help us become the best version of us because of those trials. It is all in how we choose to view the challenge and having a positive thought pattern can have drastic results in determining if something will make us bitter or make us better.

I recently saw an experiment with two jars filled with cooked rice and water.  One jar was talked to lovingly, given praise, and encouragement while the other jar was yelled at, put down, and talked to negatively. I was surprised to see after a two week period that the rice that was given positive words still was white and fluffy. The jar that only had negative words given was black, moldy, and almost a soupy substance. This experiment has impacted me with not only how I talk to others and my tone of voice, but also how I talk to myself. I feel that we can be our worst critics. Feeling our minds with all of our short comings, things we keep messing up on, and words of failure can do damage to our ability to improve and overcome and ultimately, stop trying. Likewise, positive thoughts and words about ourselves and our abilities can make an impact in what we can accomplish and our overall happiness.

There was a reality show called “Out of the Wild” that I enjoyed watching. 12 people with little survival skills were giving a crash course in surviving in the wild such as building shelters, catching and cooking food, and navigation skills. They then were given a rough map to help them reach their destination points, many of them over twelve miles away over a month period of time.  The participants had an option at any time to hit a red button and a helicopter would rescue and extract that participant out of the game. The participants didn’t know how long it would take them to get to the end goal and I think the not knowing was what many would struggle with. The conditions that they were in were extremely challenging to not having food for days, weather and lack of adequate shelter, and sheer exhaustion from rough terrain and walking great distances.

 I found it fascinating that the people that I thought would make it would be the ones that were more physically fit or seem to have a lot of confidence or skill. The surprising fact is the ones that made it through all of the difficulty and hardship were the ones that had a positive attitude. They were the ones that looked for a silver lining, had a good sense of humor, and tried to find joy in the journey. The power of positive thinking is such that can carry us all through many diverse situations and come out on top.

I’ve had my own experience with using positive thinking to get me through a challenge. My parents got divorced when I was in 8th grade. At the time, very few of my friends had single parents raising them or were dealing with the many emotions that come from a dissolved marriage of your parents. The first year after the divorce, my mom went on many dates late into the night to the point that my older sister had to wait up for her so that we knew she was safe. She was not a very present parent at that time and with only seeing my Dad every few weekends, my sisters and I had to fend for ourselves.

It would have been very easy to succumb to a “woe is me” frame of mind during this time. I felt very alone and confused, but there was always an undercurrent of hope, happiness, and chance to make something of who I was. I started exercising regularly, surrounded myself around positive people, and created goals for myself. I became active in service in my church and community. I feel because I had such positive things around me that it helped me to remain positive. I think part of a positive thinking came naturally and part I had to make a conscious choice to be. I know I would not be the person I am today because of that trial as well as my attitude and approach during it.  I’m so grateful for the things that I learned about myself during that time and see that a large part had to do with a positive outlook despite my circumstances. It gave me a sense that I can do hard things and not only can I survive, but I can thrive.

We are all given the option in every situation to respond with positiveity and power. I love the things I have learned from people like Vkitor and have seen many examples of what strength a positive attitude can be in others, shows, and experiments. Each trial and challenge puts us at a cross roads where we can choose to be bitter or to be better. My hope is that we will always choose to be better and improve through the power that comes with positive thinking.

The Law Of Attraction: The Difference Between What You Could See & Who You Couldn’t See.

by Kenyona R. Copeland

When I first heard about, The Secret, by Rhonda Byrne
I couldn’t come to fathom why people all over the world was buying this book. With all due respect to this woman, she writes great stuff but I realized something greater than
reading another watered down version of a How-To book. The big secret was just her introducing The Law Of Attraction. I’d watched a lot of my friends and family read this book to agrees with almost everything she talked about, in this novel. I laughed sometimes, because I never saw something great come out of reading it. Everyone must’ve been reading this book as if it was God’s mouth-spoken promise of inheriting the Kingdom.
My “Law Of Attraction” wasn’t her book, at all. For
me, it was finding faith to believe in calling the
supernatural into existence. Speaking from the perspective of a being a struggling mother, who nearly went homeless during my second trimester –The secret didn’t help find me a roof over my head. Instead, it sent me back to New York, living the same painfully agonizing lifestyle that I was hoping so desperately to stray away from. And then before I could turn my head straight, enough to walk forward, another bad seed is planted against me. Now, I’m fighting to provide for my child, and to finish my education. I completed four years just to find out that on June 26, 2015 I finish school without a degree. My Bachelor’s Degree is then put on hold, due to an
outstanding balance of over $13,000.00. Please, someone
tell me where’s the secret in pulling something good out of
that? Instead, I choose to pray and see my future fifteen
years ahead from today.

My kind of Law Of Attraction is telling myself
everyday that I am great, even when I don’t feel great. I
stand in the mirror and I speak life over myself, even when it’s unclear to see. I am the Law Of Attraction, because no matter what good/bad things happen to me, still I attract it for one simply reason –I’m doing what I’m supposed to be. That’s the significance of life; it’s built around matrix. I said, “If you could just separate your emotions from your head, then you’d know that preparing for your success has nothing to do with how you feel.” Law Of Attraction had become something different for me, after realizing that attracting great things to me had a lot to do with selflessness in my own battles.

I believe in myself harder than the absence of a
drought in the rain. I will be where I’m supposed to in
life, with a better chance financially. And if the last
penny could do someone else greater than myself, I’m always up for the giving because some day there won’t be a shortage in sunshine, after the rain. I don’t tell myself
that I need this and I need that, but I speak the word
‘must’ so that my brain gets an understanding of what I
will not take for a ‘no’. The Law Of Attraction is the
pursuit of happiness, and what I keep myself from obtaining is the spirit of fear attacking my head and not my heart. I keep Law Of Attraction in mind, by forgiving those who’ve caused me minor setbacks for major comebacks. Usually it’s a tit-for-a-tat, but without me dishing out bad karma. If I’ve done anything to make a difference in my own life, I’d say I’ve spoken a new life over myself and have maintained a mentality of what it might mean to be durably fit. Solidity beats me into shape, when I’ve given all of my positive energy to possessing a new attitude. Never will you ever hear me say that I hate my life, because what so easily is given can be gone in a grain of sand. And sometimes, though I don’t feel good after being tormented by the spike balls that life tends to throw at me, still I stand and bare the hit.

I live by the faith in Law Of Attraction that when
it’s time to call forth a miracle, I will not squint my
eyes in hesitation to see the birth of a new era.
There were some irrelevant setbacks that did try to
make me believe that I was in many situations permanently: Like going back to New York to pay rent to live in a cold basement with an infant, or someone being in connection with the fraud of faxing in a death certificate, so that I couldn’t obtain my degree just to dodge the loans that I am partially responsible for. If money is the root of all happiness, there’s evil works in that. There are no limits, when it comes to how I choose to apply FAITH to my life; The Law Of Attraction is faith, but choosing to have it within ones own self.

The Law of  Attraction & Power of Positive Thinking: My life is great

by Ferry Fleurimond
University of Central Florida

I am full of joy, happiness, and excitement. My internal soul is as elevated as can be as I am in this very moment typing these words. Life is great and I expect and believe it to persist in such a way. I graduated high school with great achievements and one of the top students in my class. I've spent two years in Massachusetts serving others in order for them to live fulfilled, joyful lives. The last five years have brought abundance in unimaginable ways. I have encountered so many new friends through sports, school, and social events who makes life special. I graduated college in psychology with honors (top 5% of my class).

I have been accepted into one of the top Industrial-Organizational Psychology universities in the nation for their master's program. Most importantly, I've been offered a research assistantship position which allows me to receive a stipend, health insurance, and tuition waivers as I go through school. We've found an apartment in Florida and sold our current apartment on short notice. I found the love of my life on Thursday January 26th, 2012. We were married almost a year after such an eventful day on January 5th, 2013. After a year of trying, we are now expecting a healthy baby on October 19th of this year 2015. Let me reiterate, life is GREAT and my soul is vibrant and full of happiness.

But it wasn't always this way. In fact, life was poverty, scarcity, and disappointments. I was born and raised in Haiti with little opportunities. My mother had to move to the United States leaving her children behind when I was only four years old to seek better financial opportunities. As a result, I spent my childhood years not with my mother but lived with my grandmother, aunt, and eventually my father. To make a long story short, life WAS disappointments. I REMEMBER longing to be with my mother when others didn’t treat me well because I knew that my own mother would love me enough to care. I REMEMBER my father borrowing money from people—not the bank or credit cards because they didn’t exist for us—to feed us and send us to school. I REMEMBER my father telling me to tell those to whom he owed money that he wasn’t home. I REMEMBER being grateful for the free school lunches because that meant I would at least have something to eat in case there wasn’t anything at home. I REMEMBER crying and waiting for that day when I would be with my mother and everything would be okay.

That day did come to reunite with my mother. My siblings and I moved to Florida to live with mother on the 3rd of January 2001 BUT everything was not okay as I expected. In the eyes of a soon-to-be teenager—I was almost 13 years old at the time—the struggles just continued. On top of it all, I had to adjust to a new culture and learn a whole new, unfamiliar language. I thought it was supposed to be better in America, but that wasn’t the case. I watched my mother worked tirelessly—multiple jobs at times to keep her family of eight afloat. She worked days, nights, overtime, etc. She did whatever it took but it was always the same—we were just SURVIVING. I REMEMBER my mother worrying about where the money would come from at the end of the month to pay the rent and the other bills. I REMEMBER us settling for second best because we couldn’t afford anything better. I REMEMBER my mother doing all she could to get us new clothes and school supplies as the new school year approached. I REMEMBER wondering when and if this misery would ever end.

Despite all of these disappointments, starting as a little boy in Haiti and continued even in America, something inside me just kept me going. Why didn’t I surrender to victim city? Why is my life so full of happiness? Why are things going so great? I’ve now come to learn and know that what kept me going all of these years is ONE SIMPLE THING. It has allowed me to go from scarcity to abundance. It has allowed me to go from finite to infinite. It has allowed me to go from sadness to happiness. It has allowed me to go from worrisome to calmness. It has allowed me to go from limit to limitless. What is this ONE SIMPLE THING one might ask? Well, it is MY ATTITUDE. My mindset has kept me from being a victim. I would have remained in my recurring state, and continued to attract lack and scarcity in my life if I had given in to the victim mentality. But I never did. I know now and as a little child I knew internally without knowing explicitly that my attitude would determine my altitude. The mind is a powerful weapon; through it we will create our own reality. Your subconscious mind will go wherever you want it to go, whether scarcity or abundance. Whatever we focus on or send out will come back to us. This is the law of the harvest, and we will reap what we sow in our minds. I CHOSE to be positive. I CHOSE to be optimistic. I CHOSE to see the good that could come out of all my experiences. I CHOSE to be happy. I CHOSE to be successful at work, school, and life. I CHOSE to be great in life. I CHOOSE all of these things because I know that “whatever the mind of a man (and I’ll add woman) can conceive and believe, it will achieve.”

As I stated at the very beginning, I am full of joy, happiness, and excitement. My internal soul is as elevated as can be as I am in this very moment typing these words. Life is great and I expect and believe it to persist in such a way because that’s the path I CHOSE and that is my final CHOICE—I CHOOSE to have a great life. Regardless of the difficulties or obstacles I may face, I’ve already made my decision to see the opportunities out of them rather than to be a victim, focus on the bad, or complain. What do you want your life to be? What will you do when the unfortunate events happen in your life? What legacy do you want to leave for future generations? What will you CHOOSE? You are the only one who can answer these questions. NOT your feelings or emotions, I mean YOU have to make that CHOICE. You have to CHOOSE. However, I hope you join me, and CHOOSE the path of optimism, happiness, and abundance.

Dreams of a Giving Heart

by Nicole Sorensen

I have a dream of rising above my upbringing and shining light upon those who are growing up in similar situations by using my education. I believe that I used the law of attraction to get out of my situation combined with hard wrok. Growing up for me wasn’t your typical American upbringing. My mother was an alcoholic and drug addict who was mentally and verbally abusive. My dad had anger management issues. I grew up couch surfing at various friends’ homes and moved into boyfriends’ homes when I outwore my welcome at my friends’ houses. I traded babysitting and cleaning services for food, a roof over my head, and gas to get to and from school. I didn’t have the best of grades though out high school and into college because in addition to not having the basic items needed to thrive, I also have ADD. I am very intelligent but without additional help academically I struggle.

I managed to graduate from South Whidbey High School in 2011 at the age of 17 with around 40 college credits thanks to various kind people in the community. I continued to couch surf or occasionally sleep in my car until I turned 18. Though WISH I was able to move into a trailer that was falling apart with my cousin. I worked 3 jobs to save to get out of my situation. I worked a 40 hour job in Langley, a part-time job in Lynnwood, and watched various children in the early hours of the morning. This resulted in usually working 7 days a week with many days that were from 4 AM to 11 PM. I joined the Board of Directors for Ryan’s House for Youth so others would be able to get out of situations like mine.

Within a year, I had saved enough to move to Fort Bragg, North Carolina to be with my boyfriend, now husband. I gained a position as a manager within 4 hours of looking for a job in a restaurant with no previous restaurant experience. I moved to a restaurant with better morals where I earned Employee of the Month my first month working there. I even had my name on a plaque on the wall. I was so honored when my superiors and co-workers took the time to show recognition of my hard work that I cried. My husband went with me to counseling to help me get over my trust issues stemming from my childhood. This is where I realized what my purpose in life was. I knew I wanted to help others but I never knew exactly how I wanted to help.  After he got injured in the Army we moved back to beautiful Whidbey Island. Twelve hours after driving 3,013 miles across the county, I attended my first Board Meeting back with Ryan’s House for Youth.

I now work a 45 hour a week job, help care for my husband who is now an injured veteran, and I want to fulfill my dream and become a Mental Health Therapist to be able to help those who come through the doors at Ryan’s House for Youth. I have strong hopes for my future because I now have a strong support system and an academic plan that is compatible with my learning style.

Using the law of attraction I have focused on positive goanls; becoming successful, rising above my childhood, and helping others. With great gratitude, I have done just that. I need to finish school to complete my transformation and help others use the law of attraction to heal and overcome their situations. I have been volunteering for Ryan’s House for Youth since July, 2011. I have helped with many campaigns, events, organizing, strengthening our board, and even sleeping outside to help demonstrate to the public what our homeless youth go through. It brings me tears of joy and tears of sadness but I know that the sadness will be eventually replaced with triumph as we work through various obstacles. Everyone needs counseling at some point in their lives, the students who seek help from Ryan’s House for Youth are in need of extensive counseling and I feel that for me to educate myself in that field would be the greatest thing I could do to help. With the ease that others, including strangers, have opening up to me or even coming up to me and asking if they can cry on my shoulder, I feel I would be great in a position to truly help heal emotional scars. I dream of having my own practice so I can dedicate however much of proceeds I can afford to Ryan’s House for Youth because if I can stop others from not only feeling abandoned, unloved, and rejected but to help them learn the skills to be productive in today’s society, I will be living my dream.

Choices

by Jaime Warhurst

The Serenity Prayer is as follows: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference”. I believe this simple prayer encompasses focusing on things that I can control. It is my further belief that having an attitude of gratitude and focusing on the things I can control are synonymous. 

For almost half of my life I walked around angry. A veritable ball of rage that would potentially lash out at any given time for any mundane reason. A rage that began with my first attempt at college. When a young person goes off to school, it is supposed to be a time of great celebration. A time when a new and exciting future is opened up to them. My time began and ended with me being brutally attacked and raped.

I made a choice when I was raped. I chose to be mad at the world. I chose to blame everyone and thing, including myself, for my rape and subsequent dealings with law enforcement. The disappointment I felt over my treatment by law enforcement and our judicial system led me down a path of destruction for the next 18 years. A path of my own making, and one that would take me further down than I ever even imagined. 

Setting out to break every single law as often as I possibly could led me to a life in and out of jail. Placed on probation time and time again, I never dealt with the root of my rage, only the consequences of it. I would run rampant through the world, being as a succubus on everyone and thing. My life, as it was, led to a climatic finish on interstate I-70 in Utah.

March 7, 2013 - the beginning of my end. In a standoff with over 30 law enforcement officials pointing a gun at my own head, I was at a literal and metaphysical crossroad. What could I control in my uncontrollable life? Whether or not I pulled the trigger. I was facing a lot of time and I knew that this was going to end in 1 of 2 ways. Death or jail. I’d been to jail so many times in the past that death seemed like the far better choice.

Addiction riddled my past. From the time I was raped, until I finally was stopped in my tracks. I used my addictions as a crutch, an excuse, to act how I wanted. I used my attack as an excuse for my addictions. Everything in my life had a justification behind it so that my choices would be condoned. I was in a vicious cycle of blame until I was forced to sit down and take a hard look at my life and choices.

During what I like to refer to as my “legal time-out period”, also known as prison, I learned that every single negative action I had taken since I was attacked was a choice. My choice, and I had no one to blame but myself for the mess I had found myself in. I also learned that I must focus on the here and now. The things I can control.  Myself. My choices. How I respond to the bad things that happen in life. It is a question of whether or not I am going to allow outside circumstances have priority over my self-worth and values. 

Whose fault is it when there is a storm and hail damages my house? No one’s, it just happens. Do I get mad and rage out at my family? My friends? The world? Absolutely not. I see it for what it is. Something unavoidable, beyond my control. I remind myself to be thankful that I even have this roof over my head to begin with. An attitude of gratitude for all circumstances in life, good and bad, are what I can control. The only “X” factor is myself. A tree will fall in my front yard, and will still be fallen regardless of how upset I am that it fell. Choosing to accept that I can either deal with the things of this life or fight them like a fish swimming upstream is the choice we are all faced with everyday.

Grattitude is Everything

By Amber Kinney

Throughout the years, so many of us were raised hearing the phrase, “attitude is everything.” What many of us did not hear, however, was that gratitude is everything. It is easy to insist on adopting a positive attitude, but I have a feeling that many people simply don’t know what that means. A positive attitude has many components, but I believe that gratitude is one of the most crucial. Having an attitude of gratitude is not just being grateful for what you have, but making that gratitude part of your daily life and your personality. Gratitude is not just being thankful for what one has, but also being thankful for what one has been spared from. Gratitude is more than a state of mind – it is a way of life.

            I, like many others, have struggled to adopt gratitude into my world and keep it there. Turning gratitude from a feeling into a lifestyle is the best way to reap its benefits, but this is certainly easier said than done. We live in a world where we are constantly being convinced that we need more of this, less of that, or something different. We see advertisements, we compare our lives to our neighbors, we look through the lens of the media into the lives of the world’s most fortunate. We have a holiday for giving thanks, which looks good on paper, but unfortunately perpetuates the idea that we need only be thankful one day out of the year. Gratitude is not a novel concept, but one can see how it struggles to thrive in our society. Indeed, it is all too natural to focus on what is wrong in our lives and ignore all that is right. This is not to say that we should ignore our problems; our struggles are very real, and should be acknowledged as such. Still, it is a great virtue to accept the things that dissatisfy us while also being thankful for the ways in which we are satisfied.

            The times where I was most unhappy were undoubtedly the times where I was most ungrateful. Understandably, the struggles that hurt me the most were the ones involving loss – the divorce of my parents, the loss of multiple long-term relationships… these are things that so many people experience, yet such events never fail to absolutely floor us. I remember during these times that all I could think about was the loss, that feeling of something being missing that could never be replaced. In those moments, I failed to recognize what I still had left. There was so much I could have been thankful for – the fact that I still had both my parents in my life, my relative privilege in the world, even just the fact that I was alive on this earth while so many others were not. Much later in life, I realized that when you are drowning in life’s sorrows, it is up to you to make your own life raft. We can look to others and accept the help we are offered, but in the end our fate is our own doing. One can choose to see the glass half empty, complaining and staring only into the negative space. Or, one can notice the empty space, acknowledge it, and move on to examining the beauty of whatever is left in the glass.

So the next time I encountered a challenge, when I found myself starting to wallow, I chose to be thankful instead. For example, when I found out that my Master’s program will not be funded, I was greatly discouraged at the idea of incurring more debt in addition to my loans from undergrad. The thought of owing tens of thousands of dollars to the government is terrifying, to say the least, especially when doing so is the only way to follow my dream of becoming a counselor. I worried about paying off my debt someday. I worried about how I would do it, if I could do it, and how long it would take. I worried knowing that my current loans were earning interest by the minute. I worried that my education might not be worth it. And of course, I silently cursed at how much easier things would be if I had been accepted to a funded graduate program, like so many of my friends. But this time, even with my anxiety at its peak, I knew I had to stop. I actually found that even though these worries were my reality, I was absolutely sick of thinking about things that way. Worrying constantly about things I could not change had become boring and utterly unhealthy. I worked hard in undergrad, I wanted to go to grad school, and now I was getting my wish! How ridiculous it was, for me to complain after getting exactly what I wanted. So instead, I chose to think of all the great things left in my life, from the enormous blessings to the simple things I took for granted. I am thankful that I was accepted to this program, that I’m able to qualify for loans, and that my parents will always support me emotionally, even though they cannot financially.

Having an attitude of gratitude won’t change your circumstances, but it will change you. While being grateful will not fund my graduate education, it will make me a better person, which I believe is priceless. I refuse to enter grad school this fall only thinking about the money it will cost me. I refuse to let that fact ruin my valuable time. If you think you’re unhappy now, wait until you see what focusing only on the negatives does to you. To truly be grateful, one must not expect gratitude to be a fix for one’s problems. Instead, one must internalize the practice of being grateful, until it becomes almost automatic. The act of accepting the way things are involves acknowledging the bad and the good alike. I am still learning to do this myself, but even practicing gratitude when I remember to do so makes all the difference. Gratitude allows us to let go of things we should no longer be holding on to. An attitude of gratitude removes the shackles of dissatisfaction, whether real or imagined, and sets us free.

Positive Thinking

By Wendy Miller

At the beginning of the move “The Secret” Rhonda Byrne describes all the way her life had been falling apart. After listing a few tragedies, such as her father’s death and the stress that her work life had caused her, she goes on to say “little did I know at the time, out of my greatest despair was to come the greatest gift. I’d been given a glimpse of a great Secret.” While many write this movie off as a scam, or a tacky self-help guide, this movie has had an incalculable impact on my life and the life of my family.

The message of the law of attraction came to my family in much the same way it came to Rhonda Byrne. My parents divorced, my mother was laid off from her job of over 10 years without warning, my father was arrested, our car was repossessed, and we had foreclosed on our house. Many of my mother’s friends dropped groceries off at our doorstep in the night, wanting to avoid the awkward conversation that would accompany such a kind gesture. We started selling our belongings to pay for hotel rooms to stay in and buy food. It seemed we had hit bottom.  It was a hard time for me, but I can’t imagine the pain and guilt my mom must have felt as a mother of four.

Then one night, in the bottom of a box of food left on our doorstep, we found the movie “The Secret”. We watched it as a family, all five of us gathered under the covers of the queen bed of our hotel room, and it took all of ten minutes before I saw the tears stream down my mother’s face. The impact that this kind gesture had on my mother has served my family far better than any food left on our doorstep.

My mother began to watch the movie every morning before going out to find work – to the point where all of us kids could quote basically the entire movie from memory. The progress was slow, but the results were incredible. Six years later: we live in a beautiful apartment in Berkeley, my mom is getting married to the man she has always dreamed of, and she has a stable government job that she loves at the UC Berkeley lab. Although our financial situation is still very tight, we have come so far, and are so grateful for even the most basic elements of our life.

While the movie goes on to encourage people to use their positive mental attitude to attract the things they want, the message my family has taken from the movie is a little different. To my family and me, the message of the law of attraction goes much deeper.  We don’t necessarily strive to be positive and grateful to get what we want, we strive to be this way for a better life in general. There are so many things happening in this world that we don’t have control over, but one thing you will always have control over is how you treat people, and how you react to the obstacles in your life. In our case, our struggles could have ended very differently. My mother could’ve decided that life had defeated her and given up, resorted to illegal ways to earn money. My siblings could’ve ended up in gangs, as the part of town we were hotel-living in was a pretty bad neighborhood. Instead, my mother stayed strong and stayed positive. With each small feat my family grew tighter, and more grateful and positive. The results speak for themselves.

                The fact is, when you choose to be positive, and hit your obstacles head-on with the knowledge that you will be successful, your whole life will be better. Your relationships with others will improve, your relationship with yourself will improve, and the way your life unfolds will be seen through rose colored lenses. With this, you will become an overall happier person, and even when life is throwing lemons at you, you will be able to handle it with a deft grace.

                Throughout my years in college, I have had no trouble securing jobs to help pay for my college. I consider myself incredibly lucky considering the unemployment rates in some parts of California are as high as 20%. While I am so grateful to have been able to support myself throughout college thus far, what I really want is to be able to enjoy my time in college without having to worry so much about the financial aspect of it. I don’t want to have to squeeze a class or two in between shifts when I can afford it every other semester; I want to squeeze a little bit of work when I can in between classes.

                My favorite author, John Irving, said “If you are lucky enough to find a way of life you love, you have to find the courage to live it.” Going to art school is my absolute dream; I can’t even explain how surreal it is to do exactly what I love to do every time I go to school.  Everything I have attracted to myself so far has helped me work toward this dream – the fact that a scholarship exists based on the very idea that changed the life of my family is incredible in and of itself. While my struggle is not a unique one in this economy, I believe it is unique to be able to take ownership of my own life and appreciate everything I am given. Sometimes these things take a lot of work, and a lot of essay writing, but it pretty much always pays off in the end.

Education and life goals

By Mary Cordle

Education and Life Goals
       In my younger years, there were three sisters and me that had a magnificent desire to attend college. In those days, there were limited opportunities for this venture.  As years went by, and the social and economic environment changed, the college opportunities became very widespread.  Corporations were beginning to rise, and their employees were required to have a college degree for a better job.  Colleges became more affordable and offered enhanced access to higher education.   I had worked at various jobs, volunteered at our local hospital, and established a coupon club in our community during the economic downturn.  I had been a member in our local Extension Clubs for ten years before making these decisions. I knew I needed to obtain my bachelor’s degree in management to be more efficient in my job maneuvers.
       One of my sisters had become depressed and did not get back school.  I had entered college in 2000 at our local campus of Bluefield Sate in West Virginia and had graduated with an AAS in Business Administration in 2006.  I had taken many college classes because I was so ambitious, but could not decide on a degree program. 
       As our dream began to unfold, our Mom died in 2002 just four months before a tragic death hit our younger sister that had been Mom’s caregiver. I was attending our local college and had stopped by to check on her when I discovered her death.  Just four months later, a neighbor that proved to be a stalker had been harassing my family members and informed them he was going to kill them in a short while.  He said he was going to kill his dogs then come for them, and that would be their sign to watch for him.  After three months, they were caught in a compromising position and shot at close range with a 30-30 rifle. He had been released from prison a short while before stalking began to overwhelm him.  He had been an inmate because of murdering two people in the past.  My sister’s future dreams and goals had just vanished.
       I knew I had to stay in school, but my mind had become fogged, and my outlook dismayed.  I knew if I dropped out of school, I might never return again.  While attending school, I was working part-time, was a caregiver to an elderly lady, and had developed pancreatitis in 2006.  I became deathly ill, and my doctors at UVA (University of Virginia Medical Center) had only given me a 50-50 chance of survival.  I had become sick and had to be transported to the hospital just about every week of that summer.  I always had to be taken off of food for two days each time I had this attack.  I was experiencing panic attacks from the prolonged use of anesthesia.  Finally, after several weekly attacks and various day surgery experiences my doctor gave me the news I did not have it anymore. With prayer and healing, I recovered within four years.  I realized by then I needed to obtain a bachelor’s degree to have even a slight chance of getting back into the workforce.  My husband had passed a bad attitude concerning college to my children. I had to change their attitude and show them the benefits of a good college education.  I was determined to get this accomplished.  Not only for my career enhancement, but also for an advocate for my children and others that needed further education.

Plan for Achieving These Goals
       My career goals are to get my degree, get back into the workforce, and set an example for my children and others for furthering their education.  My daughter has been working on a degree at the University of Phoenix for the last two years.  She obtained her AAS in Psychology after I began attending there.  I am now ready to graduate in June or July of 2015 with my Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management if I get this scholarship.  This is my only option to pay for my finishing classes.
       I crave this desire to obtain my Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management.  I would like  to be an advocate for further education.  I desire to set an example for my children by proving the college experience can be rewarding. This degree will help get back into the workforce.  I implore you to; please help me to achieve my dreams and goals to graduate in 2015 with my Bachelor’s in Business Management from the University of Phoenix.

Why I Selected This Degree
       Over the years, I have been in the leadership position.  When working at our local hardware store I was in the management position on the weekends.  I established a local coupon club for our community during our economic family hardships.  I had been planning events in the family.  I had become accustomed to leading people in various programs at our local church.  For instance, VBS, my children’s church class I had established, and had worked with secretarial positions. I had created and developed church directories, flyers, and invitations.  For these reasons, I discovered I would be best in the management position.  I had to lead various work efforts before I saw myself for what I was becoming.

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DECEMBER 31, 2014 DEADLINE SUBMISSIONS BEGIN HERE.
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Achievement

By Amanda R.
UC Davis

In November 2008 I was violently mugged at gunpoint by three gang-affiliated males on my way to the library. The devastating event took its toll over the next few months as Post Traumatic Stress sunk its teeth into me and tore through my world. My support group shattered, my grades plunged, my gpa plummeted, my financial aid was cut, culminating in upaid fees and financial debt piled heavily.   I transferred to UCLA later that year to seek a specialist’s help for PTSD.  Upon my return to UC Davis, I had a falling out with my parents, when I choose to continue to pursue my education.  Suddenly independent, I returned back to Davis familyless and alone.  Thinking I could get my life back on track by returning, I was wrong.  Being unable to pay my outstanding fees nor receive financial aid due to my previous academic standing, I could hardly afford to live—let alone pay for school.  The crushing weight of this traumatic event pinned me down and prevented me from being able to provide for myself, causing me to drop out of school.   My mindset shifted from attending school to focusing on my survival and the dreaming stopped. In a bad economy nobody wanted to hire a 21 year old girl with zero job experience and no car. For the next 4 years, I would be locked into the system of debt.  After four years of struggling mentally and financially, I discovered my inner strength and grew to overcome, shedding myself of this weight, brick by brick. With all odds against me, 20,000 in debt, aggravated PTSD, no form of support, and struggling to eat, how was I able to do this?  By changing my thinking.

When I decided to come back to school I had no idea how tough it would be.  I had no money, no job and times were tough. I had no help, no support, aggravated and untreated PTSD and the outcome of everything was uncertain.  At times I really began like giving up. Then one day, it really sunk in that I was all that I had was me, that no help was coming.  I was the only one who could get myself out of my situation; that my destiny, despite the horrific actions that brought me there, solely relied on me.   Yes it would be hard, yes it would be tough, because the odds were stacked against me and there was very little that I could control, but I was the only way out.  The one thing that I did have control over was my mind.  It was in the way I chose to perceive things (changing this would be challenging because I did have PTSD).  It was in that moment in the school of hard knocks that I began to learn about the Law of Attraction. 

The Law of Attraction is the principle that what you seek and what you put out will come back to you.  If you speak positively and put out positivity into the world, the world will send positivity right back your way.  However, it is not that simple.  The law consists of the several principles that you must implement to see any effect.  The Law of Attraction consists of the power of vision, the power of spoken word and the power of thought.  In game planning how to get out of my situation, I realized I need to decided what I wanted- a goal- hence the power of vision.  The power of vision is keeping in mind what you want to achieve or where you want to end up, and working backwards from there.  More than anything, I wanted to go back to school, hence the solidification of my vision.  In order to go back to school, I needed money and with only a part-time job, living paycheck to paycheck and not much luck being hired anywhere else, this feat would be tough.

Learning finances were at the core and at the same time that there was little I could do, I was determined to make it work. So I began to look for any opportunity to save. If I was going to really make this happen I needed to have high discipline. It was through my struggle to survive that I learned the true value of a dollar. I chose to stop taking the bus and instead opted for walking a mile or two, saving one dollar at a time. I chose to eliminate the things I wanted, paying only for what I needed. I knew that the only way for me to return to school, was to use my insight to make effective changes. I taught myself how to budget, down to the last cent. How much was I making an hour AFTER tax? How much was I spending and on what? What can I live without?  There were times that this was extremely tough on me, but the way I kept myself strong was through learning to change my perspective, thinking, and speech.  I decided no matter how bad things got, to only speak what I wanted and only look for the positive aspects of my situation, hence the power of spoken word and the power of thought.   In learning to speak what I want and in a positive manner, I raised my self confidence and had more relaxed state of mind.  In learning to search for the positive in every situation, I learned to be grateful for what I had which in turn took a great deal of pressure and stress off my back and helped me pull through tough times.   Additionally I would keep my vision strong by posting a picture of the school above my bed, so that every night I could see what I was leaving to achieve. With financial self education, drive to overcome, and power of positive thinking, I gained the courage to walk into a bank and interview for a position as a teller with no job experience in finance. I was hired and instantly fell in love with my job.  Being something I was passionate about, I took every chance to educate people about their finances.

In March 2014 a break came and I finally secured for myself a solid second job. Seizing this golden opportunity, I loaded on as many hours as I could and worked 60-70 weekly for the entire summer with one goal in mind: return to school. With intense budgeting, highly unwavering discipline, and 5 appeals, I was able to pay off the fees and was reaccepted into UCDAVIS for Fall 2014.

Through the Power of Attraction and highly disciplined financial management I afforded myself the ability to return to school. Despite the last four years I was not enrolled, I feel more centered than ever.  I want to help other victims of trauma overcome their situations and emerge from the rubble stronger than ever; to understand their limitations and defeat them for even in adversity can we grow; I want them to realize that they are not alone. To just hold strong and we will fight through this together. To know they can and will get their life back. To show that our limitations lie in none. 

College is the place where my dreams may become concrete. As a full-time student who works two jobs as a means to survive, I am unable to partake in necessary activities that aid in educational development that can strengthen my pivotal role in the lives of others.  This scholarship will allow me the security and flexibility to partake, experience and grow.  It is my passport to travel, and not just stand, in the territory of college.

Master your own thoughts

By Amelia Jones
University of Central Florida

Service to others is definitely one of the most important personal development principles that there are, in my opinion, and it is one that is very close to my heart. Helping others is something that has always brought me great joy. Service is what makes a group of people a community. Community members help one another, allowing the world to run successfully. Service to others can be done in many different ways, from little gestures to big projects. Personally, I try to get involved in any service projects I can. Throughout my time in school I have participated in numerous service events and programs. Some of the most impactful projects I have been involved with have centered around children. Last year, I joined a program that allowed me to teach American Sign Language to kindergarten and first grade students at a local elementary school. It was very rewarding to work with the children and enrich their lives. I also volunteered to assist the high school Sign Language teachers with their classes. This last semester I was involved in a service learning program in which once a week I travelled to an inner city elementary school and worked with a class of first graders, teaching them valuable life lessons and instilling in them principles such as the importance of goal setting, how to interact with others and how to be successful throughout life. This was an amazing experience as I was able to make a real impact on these children. Most of the kids who attend the school I worked with were from an impoverished or low income area and did not have the best home lives. To provide further assistance to these children, the university I attend held a Thanksgiving food drive to allow the students and their families to have a Thanksgiving dinner that they may not have been able to have otherwise. I was especially touched by these kids, and in an effort to provide more for them than we could through the food drive, I contacted all of the local grocery stores and went through their various processes of requesting donations in hopes to provide Thanksgiving turkeys to the children. I received monetary donations from multiple grocers that were then used to buy more food so that we could reach even more families for the holidays. I find it especially important to work with children because I am not only able to provide service for them, but also instill in them the importance of serving others and how rewarding it truly can be. Now is a great time in my life to focus on helping young members of society because I am at an age that is still relatable to children, but old enough to be role model. By serving the children in my community, I am able to set the example for them to do the same in the future, furthering the cycle of service for future generations.

                In addition to my work with children, I also volunteered with my local chapter of Best Buddies. Best Buddies is an international organization that provides friendship and inclusion to individuals who have intellectual or developmental disabilities.  It was wonderful to be involved with the amazing individuals in the program and to be able to make a difference for them in their daily lives. I also had the opportunity to participate in a walk to benefit autism with the family of an autistic child that I cared for. I have also worked with organizations such as the National Beta Club, a service organization that strives to instill a passion for service and leadership in the youth of America.

I’ve also found that the small opportunities that we have on a daily basis to help others are just as important as the big efforts. Whether it’s donating a gift to a holiday drive, or donating money to the fundraiser at the grocery store, or purchasing a meal for someone who needs it, these little efforts are more important than we realize. Small gestures of service to those who need it can sometimes be life changing. I think the most important thing to remember when it comes to service is that no matter race, religion, gender, or ethnicity, we are all human and we must take care of one another. One of my favorite quotes in the entire world comes from Mother Teresa: “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” This quote perfectly sums up my feelings on service to others. Service is meant to be done not for credit or for the ego boost, but because it is our duty as human beings to help one another. Service is good that is done without expectation or hope for a reward. Providing happiness or making someone else’s life just a little easier is the goal of service to others. My hope is to use the life I have been given to make as much of a positive impact through service to others as I can, and inspire others to do the same.

Master your own thoughts

By Christina Joseph 

I am Christina Joseph. In 2008 my life and the life of my three young children changed drastically. As I spoke to the councilor at the shelter for battered women, I began to realize that I had the power to choose a better life for myself and my children. Living in a homeless shelter with my youngest daughter only four months old was challenging, but the freedom I began to find through changing my thinking made all the difference.

          I wanted to provide for my children a stable two parent home. The negative thinking, spurred on through the flourishing seeds of brokenness and resentment harbored by my children’s father were given center stage in the marital home. My thought process and daily goals consisted of: if I love this man enough he will intern go back to being the man he portrayed himself to be before we married. In essence I was deceived into thinking I could, through selfless devotion and servitude earn the love that is right of every bride. Daily life turned into a game of emotional Russian Rullet. Which personality was going to walk through the door? Was it the charming church goer who so many single women swooned over? Or the egotistical, dictatorial, and patriarchal man who emerged only hours after we said our vows. At the time I did not know how to verbalize the helplessness I was learning to become accustomed to. To pacify the aggressive nature of the man I married I had to back down from pursuing my education, my choice of clothing, city to live in, and control of my money. Like a frog in a pot of water, with the temperature rising little by little so it was with me. Each an attempt to control the choices of my husband but I was blind to the fact that I was his puppet. I surrendered my power to choose. I gave it up, progressively, but true to the course I became defeated in my mentality.

          After the birth of my third child, we all took a trip to visit my husband’s family in the Caribbean. There, the culture of family violence of which I was entirely naive to, became a blazing red flag in my sight. After a violent episode perpetrated by my husband towards his mother, my children, my husband, and I came back to the states. It was a matter of weeks before he threatened me with the same treatment if I didn’t get in line and listen to him. It was at this point, I started to awaken, and change my way of thinking. I had come face to face with the fact that my way of doing things had gotten me the polar opposite of what I was aiming for. By the end of the week, I took my children and I to a local women’s shelter. Although homeless, we were finally safe. The freedom from living in constant fear for our safety was a complete relief. Were we homeless? Yes. Did I have two children in diapers and one in kindergarten? Yes. Did I have answers about how all the detail of what to do next worked out? No. But what I did have was my freedom, and the peace of knowing if we were going to get hurt it was not going to be at the hands of my husband.

          This was the start of a shift in the fundamental way I thought. I awakened to the reality that as a mother I have a responsibility before God to first provide safety for my children. That my safety and there’s matter to God. I didn’t know it at the time but my self-image was very low. I did not have a positive self-image at all. But as time passed and I saw that I was capable of making right choices that produced positive results, thus I grew in my strength and confidence.

          Less than a month after I left, I was served divorce papers. Although this was a shock, it was a blessing dressed up as another heart ache. Within five months of leaving the women’s shelter I was enrolled in college, and my children started swimming lessons.

          Now, seven years later I look back and it is as though I am watching another’s life. I wish I could give my former self a hug. If I could give some advice to the old me, one important aspect I would focus on is to be the master of my own thoughts. I realize now, that I have the power to choose what I think. I use to believe that if I kept thinking about all the times I failed, that I would remember to improve. I now know to focus on the light not the darkness. I use to desperately try and search for some trace amount of light to praise about my children’s father, all the while in my mind I replayed the same tired track of my own short comings. Now I know, to be kind to myself.

As I continue through this journey that is life, I choose to educate myself on how to improve instead of ridiculing myself. I choose to stand in the light. Is there darkness in the world? Yes, this is undeniable. But the paradigm shift takes place when I make the choice, on purpose to focus on the light, and be a part of the light. Can I force another person to do the same? No. That is not my job. By putting practical steps into place to make my dreams a reality I am creating better moments in which to live. Now, as a free woman, I use all of my mind and heart. To survive in the environment that was my marriage I had to not live in the moment. I had to suppress that intuition that was my true self. As I went through the metamorphosis that has been the past seven years one of my montra was “No wasted moments.” This was the daily commitment to being present in the moment. Being a participant of my own life. Not allowing fear and shame to numb and mute me. I learned to forgive myself, and improve myself. The gift of brokenness as watered the seeds of hope. Rebuilding myself from the inside out has been a difficult but worthwhile endeavor.

Now, as a student in the Bachelor’s of Health Service Administration, being certified in electronic medical records, and pursuing my 501 C3 not for profit to help other women live in the light and my certifications as a personal trainer, I am proud of the life I am living. Each moment is a choice, and instead of signing out mentally I am signing in and loving it. Are there hard days? Of course, being a young single mother of three young children, a full time college student, part time employee and community volunteer create a lot of responsibility. But responsibility, as with life is a gift. As I stand in the light and choose daily to be grateful for the life that I have and the miracles around me both big and small; I often pause to breath in and thank God for the progress I’ve made and the process that is still taking place in me. I am encouraged, humbled, thankful, and hopeful as I continue to grow and demonstrate to my children and community how to do the same.

Understanding through personal experience

By Cassi Saunders 

I believe in the power of real-life experiences. I am only twenty years old, therefore, I have been in school practically my entire life. I have recently came to the conclusion that no matter how many lectures we sit through or the advice we receive, we rely heavily on our own real-life experiences to provide us with the knowledge we need. The following essay demonstrates the importance of real life experiences.

On September 28, 2004, at the age of 10, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. This diagnosis launched my curiosity in medicine and the human body. After my diagnosis, I continued to be a very sickly child, visiting more specialists and primary care doctors at the age of 18 than most have seen in a lifetime. My experiences as a patient, primarily the patient-doctor relationships, have been my motivation to excel in school and in my community so that I can achieve my goal of becoming a physician. In order to achieve this goal, I am currently double majoring in biology and pre-medicine. I aspire to one day become a pediatric endocrinologist to treat kids, like myself, who suffer from type one diabetes. In order to be admitted into medical school, an applicant must have a four year bachelor’s degree with specific science courses under their belt. An admissions committee also reviews an applicant’s GPA and MCAT score. However, the admissions process has no requirement for an applicant to shadow a physician or gain any clinical hours. In my opinion, if an applicant does not have these experiences, then he or she cannot say with any certainty that a career as a physician is the best path to pursue.

I am very knowledgeable in various sciences; not only will I have a major in biology, I will also have a minor in chemistry. The many science classes I have taken have led me to understand the way in which our body systems interact with one another, the major chemical reactions that take place, how bacteria and viruses infect human cells, and how certain drugs function. Knowledge of these subjects will benefit me in medical school and I will also be able to apply them to my every day work as a physician. My undergraduate university has given me more than enough textual knowledge to succeed in medical school. However, being a physician is not just about knowing the science behind a disease and a way in which to treat it. A physician’s primary concern is their patient. Without real-life medical experiences, a pre-med student cannot gain an accurate feel for what the life of a physician is like.

Through my volunteer work I have discovered what it means to give back and how I can make a difference as a physician. I began volunteering at a local free clinic several months ago and will continue to serve there until I am admitted into medical school. The John P. Murray Community Care Clinic is situated in the rural town of Albemarle, North Carolina. When I first started volunteering there I wasn't really sure what to expect, but to my surprise, I fell in love with working at this free clinic. Not only have I gained real-world healthcare experience, but I have gained new insight into our healthcare system. Prior to starting at the clinic, I only had the opportunity to shadow at various doctor's offices and hospitals. Once I began at the clinic, I started to better understand the lack of medicine and physicians available to those without insurance and the unemployed. Through volunteering at the clinic each week, I have been privileged to watch many well-respected physicians donate their time to the members of their communities. The physicians receive absolutely no compensation other than the satisfaction that goes along with community service. These physicians have shown me the real meaning of making a difference. Not only do they work in a rural, under-served area, they also feel compelled to give back to their community. I am inspired week to week by the numerous physicians that have made a commitment to the John P. Murray Community Care Clinic. I one day hope to serve my community in the same way that they serve theirs.

My responsibilities at the clinic include checking patients in, taking their vitals, and assisting the nurses and doctors in whatever they need. I have seen first-hand a level of poverty that was once unknown to me. The patients that are seen at the John P. Murray Community Care Clinic are out of options and many would not receive any type of care if it was not for this clinic and the doctors that volunteer there. Some of these patients, have been sick and in need of medical attention for long periods of time but have not received any care due to the fact they cannot afford a trip to the doctor. I have seen tears in the eyes of the patients, many on their last straw, desperate for some relief. Having gained this experience shadowing various doctors for the last year and a half, my aspirations to attend medical school have held firm, only intensifying with every experience. Through my experiences I have come to the conclusion that not only can I fulfill my dream of being a physician, but I can also volunteer my time to give back and make a huge difference in the lives of others.

My experiences at the John P. Murray Community Care Clinic have shaped my future. Before volunteering there, I had no real knowledge of what life as a physician entailed. The classes that I have been required to take for admission into medical school have given me a very strong science background, but gave me no real world knowledge of what to expect as a practicing physician. My experiences in the clinic have given me a taste of what to expect, which has motivated me to really buckle down my junior and senior year of college. Sometimes a lecture on a particular subject does not do the subject justice. We can understand and give a more significant meaning to something when we go out and experience it on our own. My experiences in the clinic have shaped my understanding of how physicians treat problems more than any textbook or pre-medicine class could ever teach me.

Passion and responsibility in helping others

By Elizabeth Burroughs

We at Meadow Montessori School commit to challenge and empower one another to discover our unique talents and abilities so as a community of life-long learners we are inspired to serve humanity.

This mission statement of Meadow Montessori, my alma mater from preschool through high school, has shaped the young woman I have developed into today.  It has influenced my entire outlook on life.  During my fourteen years immersed in a Montessori education I have been able to cultivate three attributes necessary for a fulfilling and successful life: curiosity, concentration, and compassion.   I was not able to acquire these qualities effortlessly; Meadow taught me the importance of these attributes, but I had to put them into practice outside of the classroom.  Through numerous experiences, including a service trip to Belize, a local music event I participated in, and a farming trip in Maine, I have learned how to develop a hands-on approach to life--to see, to touch, to actively engage with the world around me. 
In ninth grade, as “servers of humanity,” my high school class decided to extend beyond the local community and embarked on a service trip to Belize.  I was able to test my leadership skills and establish friendships in a completely different and larger environment.  My class volunteered to build a concrete sidewalk and garbage pit, and to establish a recycling program for a local elementary school in an impoverished area of Belize. Upon arrival, I was astounded to see their schoolyard littered with garbage because they lacked a sufficient garbage disposal system.  In addition, almost all of the students went barefoot on a campus that had no sidewalks.  I was amazed to learn that when it rained, students had no choice but to walk through large mud pools and bring the mess with them into their classrooms.  
Part of the process of building the sidewalk and garbage enclosure included collecting water from a small, nearby stream to combine with the concrete mixture and manually “kneading” the mixture with shovels.  We then put the mixture in wheelbarrows, wheeled it to the dug out area, and shoveled and carefully spread it out evenly.  While the new sidewalk was being made, we also built a cement container to hold all of the school’s garbage.  The work to renovate their situation was challenging but very rewarding.  During our work breaks, we sang songs and played games with all of the students.  Soccer was the game that everyone gathered around to watch.  I remember so many students approaching us with hugs to thank us for not only improving their school, but being such good friends as well.  It was a wonderful feeling knowing that we were making a difference in their lives--and they were making a difference in our. 
            After that trip in ninth grade I looked for ways to remain a server of humanity.  As a volunteer, I tutored under-privileged elementary children in my hometown on a weekly basis.  In 2012, I was in a folk-rock band and our group volunteered to perform at a homeless shelter benefit concert held by my local community in Monroe, Michigan. As part of the Homelessness Awareness week, the goal of the concert was to educate the community on the local homeless situation, to assist in changing the perception people may have of homelessness, and to bring the community together to raise donations in blankets and money for the homeless community.  This annual event hopes to reduce, if not eliminate, homelessness in my town.  Monroe is only a small city nestled between the larger Michigan cities of Ann Arbor and Detroit, yet it has 119 homeless people--children as well as adults.  Before I participated in this event, I was completely unaware of this tragedy existing right around me.  I was committed to continuing my service efforts and building relationships with communities.
            During my first year in college I decided to utilize my service efforts as well as my love for nature in a wwoofing experience in Maine.  Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) organization’s goal is to establish a connection between visitors and organic farmers, facilitating an educational exchange and promoting the development of a global community that fosters ecological farming practices.  This past summer I traveled to a small town in Maine to work for a month on a small plant-based vegetable farm.   Daily tasks on the farm included soil prep, planting, mulching, weeding, watering and harvesting.  We built compost out of seaweed, leaves and spoiled hay that we gathered.  At one point, we had so many tomato seedlings that all of us on the farm decided to give the seedlings away to residents in the community.  In addition to working on that farm, I volunteered at two other farms as well as an animal sanctuary.   Not only did I learn and promote sustainable farming methods and lend assistance where help was needed, but I also built relationships with incredible people whom I still stay in contact with. 
            These experiences helped fuel my curiosity, concentration and compassion.  Through all of the service opportunities I have participated in I am consistently reminded of Meadow Montessori’s mission statement.  I have found a passion and responsibility in helping others and it is my personal mission to share my talents for the betterment of those around me. 

Put in the effort

By Ashley Rose

The developmental principle that I always remember is “you can do anything if you put in the effort”. That principle has held true all throughout my life, and it still holds true.  My dad has always told me “I can do anything as long as I put my mind to it” and I have. The results of fowling that principle show in my personal and school life.
            I’ve always wanted to learn guitar; I tried for years to get my mom to teach me, but all she gave me was a book I didn’t even know how to read the charts in. I didn’t know what string was which, what the different frets meant, or anything. I decided, finally, I’d teach myself all those things. In about three days I taught myself the strings, how to read tablature, and two songs (one of which is Come as You Are by Nirvana). There are many things in my personal life that I was able to do by keeping the principle “you can do anything if you punt in the effort” like ride a bike, but the biggest achievement was in school.
            In school, not much was expected of me; I have ADD and was put in special ed. classes and speech classes, because I accidentally cursed when I tried to say bench. But my dad kept on treating me like any other kid and I kept on trying my best at everything. By the time I entered 5th Grade I was in all regular classes and doing well in them too. In middle school (grades 6-8) I always had Honor Role. When I entered high school I went for Honors and AP classes; I started off a little rocky, but my dad kept on telling me I could do it. I kept in Honors and AP classes in Science, Social Studies, and English all throughout high school, even when I was doing poorly in some at certain times I kept pushing to do well. I still remember my classmates surprise when I was doing well in a class or did well on a test; I specifically remember senior year in English we had to write a 20 page research paper, I procrastinated on it because I’d get distracted but I finished it nonetheless. The day I got my paper back one of my classmates asked me what I got and I told them a 95, I would have gotten an 100 had I not forgotten to print my title page, and their response wasn’t what I expected; their response was “oh, we all thought you copied and pasted your paper”. Even in my senior year of high school I was looked down on as not good enough to do well, but I ended you graduating as a member of the BETA Club, Band, in high ranking in our schools Air Force Jr. ROTC unit, and as an Honor Graduate. All of that because I kept by the principle of “you can do anything if you put in the effort”.

Keeping your goals always present

By Kiera Grofsik
University of Central Florida

Plan, plan, plan, and plan some more. Sometimes, this is how life can be. Since I was a child, my mentors and the people around me have always emphasized making a plan for my career and following on that path until I achieve my ultimate goal. In my case, this ultimate goal is for me to have a Master’s Degree in Nursing.

This dream of mine is always in the back of my head and always tests my decision-making process. This goal is especially present when I decide to watch another episode of the show I’m currently interested in or to go out to dinner with my friends. During this time, I am thinking about how I should probably be focusing on my academics, the goal whispering thoughts in my head such as, “Do you really need to watch this episode again, haven’t you seen it already?” or “You have food at home, don’t waste time by going out to dinner.” Most of the time, I give in to my conscience, feeling a little disappointed as I eat my leftovers and afterwards bringing out my flashcards on the different cells of the body for my test that is coming up that week. Even though sometimes I do become discouraged and wish I could spend more time with my friends or relax a bit more, I feel that I am making a decision that will be best for me for my future.

This goal of earning my Master’s Degree does not require one simple step; rather, it requires many to eventually be able to be awarded this honor. I go through these steps and accomplish them monthly, and sometimes even weekly. Being accepted into the University of Central Florida was certainly the first big step. The Nursing program at my school is very highly regarded and difficult to be accepted into. I felt that this challenge would be beneficial to me while I am at the University completing my prerequisites. When I received my acceptance it was the first check off the long list of goals to eventually earn my Master’s Degree. Then, as I continued through school I was able to check more and more off my list to hopefully be accepted into the Nursing program at UCF. Being able to achieve all A’s in my prerequisites for Nursing school was a great accomplishment for me. I believe that I was able to do this by keeping my goals always in the back of my mind. I was able to do this by keeping a planner that helped me organize my schedule. Also, picking up a job in my freshman year of college helped me organize and better plan my schedule. Allowing some of my free time to be spent making outlines for the test the following week and creating flashcards has also been helpful. Having this planner and keeping my ultimate goal in my thought process really helped me be successful in my freshman year and continues to be a big help in my sophomore year of college.

As a sophomore, I find that it is much more difficult to balance my time. My main principle is to always keep my goals in mind and focus on these goals in order to achieve them. While in school, my college studies should be my number one priority. This is a topic that my friends and I often discuss. We all understand we have busy schedules and schoolwork always comes first. If we cannot spend time together that specific weekend, there will be plenty of other weekends to come after that to see one another. We are cognoscente students and that has always been a great energy to be around.

To always have your goal in mind can seem to be like you are forever on a guilt-trip, having your conscience remind you constantly of all the steps you must take to eventually reach that goal. For me, this is not necessarily the case. To have my goals present in my mind helps me make good choices.  An example of this is when I become discouraged if I cannot spend time with my friends or go to an event at night. When I am feeling this way, at the time, it seems that my goals should come easier and then I start thinking I am setting my standards too high. As I start thinking these thoughts, I remind myself to take a step back. I think about how much hard work I have put in to make it thus far, and not about the hard work that is ahead of me. I then think about my goal of getting my Masters, and know that I am able to achieve it. These nights that I spend hours upon hours of studying and preparing for my tests, will all be worth it and my hard work will be rewarded in the end. I will know that I have worked extremely hard for the goal I eventually reach.

Now, I am not saying to have your time and energy be completely consumed in this goal that you have; this is definitely not the way to go. Spending time with friends and family is very important to minimize stress levels and to even help you refocus on your goals. During my free time I will go to the movies with my friends or take a walk around campus or in a park. Sometimes, it is good to ignore your conscience and let yourself have a break. It is also very good to give yourself a rest before you decide to study or do some homework. Giving yourself that hour to relax after your day of classes to reenergize is always very helpful. For me, forming study groups with friends and then spending time together hanging out afterwards is always a great reward.

In conclusion, a great development principle that I have learned to use is to always keep my goals in mind. By doing this, I have been able to work hard and to enjoy the benefits of hard work. I know that if I continue to persevere, I will reach all of the goals that I have made for myself and be proud of the hard work I put in to help me achieve these goals. 

The power of positive thinking

By Luis Sosa
University of Texas

Personal development is a lifestyle that I was unaware of until very recently. Many people of whom I am surrounded by tend to be very negative. I was a part of the negative group. I would allow the negativity that was around me consume my positivity. Why? Well the people that I was around lived with the negativity as if nothing were wrong even though they were always looking to put a negative perspective on every obstacle. Being child at the time, negativity was all that I understood. I wanted to fit in a group, so being a part of the “negative individuals” was my only option. My negativity consumed me long enough to the point where I could no longer take being miserable all of the time. During this time I had finally decided to take my twin’s advice. She insisted on being more positive. I also met a person who always had at positive outlook in life. It was through this person that I was taught and understood the principles of personal development. Of course there are several principles about personal development, but there is only one that has made the most profound impact in my life. This principle is called “The Power of Positive Thinking.” I will describe what this principle means, how living with this principle has made an impact in my life, and I will discuss the importance of this principle.
            What does “The Power of Positive Thinking” even mean? Does positivity even have any power at all? Until just over a year ago, I did not understand what it meant or how it can affect an individual and their surroundings. It is to my understanding that an individual must have a positive mindset even though they are going through a rough time. It was until I met the person, who is now a very good friend of mine, which I began to read books about personal development. The books I read tend to relate about positive thinking. When something bad happens, people begin to think negatively. Why? Maybe it is because bad situations and negativity go hand to hand. Let me give an example of what I mean. When I was in my first year of college, I had very good grades, I was part of the honors program of my community college, and I was doing very well in balancing work and academics. However, after my first year, my grades were not as good as they were before, I was unable to balance work, and I was even removed from the honors program. What happened? Was I partying and hanging out with friends when I was supposed studying? No, I was actually working more to help my family make ends meet and even pay for the rising tuition costs. I was becoming frustrated when I would work thirty to fifty hours a week because I had a very hard time concentrating on my studies. After two years of this constant repetition, I had enough and I began to watch motivational videos on YouTube. This is when I met my friend. He encouraged me to read books about personal development. He shared with me information about having his own business and because of this; he informed that in order to succeed, he needed to have positive mindset. Positive thinking can affect the results a person is striving for. When I failed Math 2413 and University Physics 2425, I began to believe that I was not as smart as the other students. However, after talking with my friend and reading books, I retook the courses again before I could finally pass them with an A. I had to think and even believe in myself even though other people would suggest that I should change my major, because it was too difficult.
            Living with an understanding of a positive mindset, and going through my personal experience of retaking courses, I can say that having a positive attitude does in fact have power after all. I am not suggesting that it has a mystical power, but for a person who had a negative attitude and then changing it into a positive one, it is power that I did not know I had within me! If I would have never read personal development books, met my friend, or even listened to my twin’s advice, I would definitely not have even looked for scholarships. A few months ago I made the difficult decision of quitting my job. Why? I did not want to go back through the “negative cycle” of working countless hours for money that would not be enough for my college tuition. By keeping my job all I would lose are, study time, good grades, and time that could be spent on looking for scholarships. I risked my job knowing that I would not receive money, but after understanding the “Power of Positive Thinking,” I must believe that I will find scholarships to pay for my college tuition. Even if I am not awarded this scholarship, I will remain positive. I will neglect the negativity.
            Staying positive is very important to me, because even after graduating with my degree, I have even bigger plans. I want to start my own automotive company. Within my company, I want start an organization for students at all levels of education. I want to inspire students to work in groups and I want them to collaborate with new ideas of addressing certain issues. I plan to make this world a better place for future generations and hopefully inspire “future engineers.” I know that there will be people who will do everything in their power to stop me, but I must not let them stop me from achieving my goals. In order for me to overcome this difficult road ahead, I must keep a positive mindset. I must believe in myself when no one else will.
             After repeating the failed academic courses, reading and understanding “The Power of Positive Thinking,” I realize that I need to keep a positive mindset to keep trying again until I get the results that I desire. Living with a positive attitude has made me a different person because I took the risk of quitting my job in search for scholarships. Staying positive is very important to me, because I have bigger goals that will have even bigger obstacles that I must overcome. With the help of this scholarship, I will be a step closer towards achieving my dreams of leaving a legacy behind and making the world a better place. Nonetheless, I will remain positive whether or not I win this scholarship.

Beating the odds

By Risa Matsumaura

For the past four years, I have unintentionally lived by the Law of Attraction. It is an
idea that people and their thoughts are made from pure energy, very similar to the
placebo and nocebo effect where is the false idea that something is some type of
medical treatment, but actually is not. The Law of Attraction, in simpler terms, is
generated by thoughts that lead to the actions that an individual will take in life. Often
times when people start thinking about all the things that could go wrong, they are
soaking in so much negativity, making them anxious, fearful, and insecure, that it
leads to actions that are self-fulfilling and catastrophic. Instead of focusing on things
that one does not want in their life, he or she should shift their focus on things that
they want to happen in their lives. By applying the idea that an individual is in control
of the outcome of all things in his/her life, it can have a profound impact on their
everyday decision making process.
From personal experience, I was convinced for twelve years that medicine was the
only thing that could cure my headaches and migraines. Some of the symptoms that
came with my headaches and migraines were loss of vision, inability to talk or move,
lack of hearing and seizures. When I was later diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2013,
the doctors began prescribing me a variety of pills in hopes to reduce the
inflammation and irritation under my skull due to the tumor. Prior to my diagnosis, I
dealt with excruciating headaches and migraines and I often times could not get out
of bed for days. With time, my body became heavily reliant on the prescription
medicine. It was not until after my brain surgery in November of 2013 that I realized
my body had become immuned to the medication and that my body could no longer
accept the medicine I was taking, no matter how strong of a pill or how many doses I
was taking. Due to the severity of the pain, I began changing my diet, my exercises
and the amount of sleep I was getting, instead of hopelessly relying on medicine to
get rid of the pain. I knew at a very young age that I would never want to nor would I
ever allow myself to rely on medications for the rest of my life. Since then, I have
applied the law of attraction to my own experiences believing that if my headaches
and migraines can heal on its own with time, medications are absolutely useless to
me. Instead of relying on the medicine to relieve the pain, I began focusing my
energy and my time towards positive changes. Of course having to deal with the
physical, social and mental disabilities has been extremely difficult, but I would not
trade it for the world. It has taught me to see past my disabilities because I know
how much I am capable of despite the things that are holding me back. By teaching
my mind and body that I do not need to abuse medicine the way I had been for
thirteen years, I have been able to apply the Law of Attraction to my everyday
decision making process. Whether it be through academics or involvement on
campus, I know that I am in control of my future. If I want to see something different
in my life, I am the only person who can make that happen. For example, the classes
I had intended to take at the beginning of the semester during my first year of college
were not at all what I ended the semester with. Instead of dwelling on the fact that
my expectations of my first semester in college did not go as planned, I focussed on
improving on my study habits, finding interest in the courses I was taking, building
relationships with other students and the professors, and most importantly, being
able to apply what I learned in class to my everyday lifestyle. Looking back, I was
able to shift my energy towards something I wanted to see different, which was to
better understand my identity and my limits. I have learned to invest my energy and
my time into things that will help me rediscover my identity. The Law of Attraction
has allowed me to become a stronger, more independent individual since I have
begun college. I believe that the best way to apply the law of attraction is to always
hope for the best, and expect the worst.

Learning through the setbacks

By Kiara Brown

In a general sense, personal development means to do things that help you find yourself and your strengths and weaknesses. It is being able to fully develop your talent and harnessing your true potential. Personal development is a lifelong process of honing your various skills and assessing your qualities, good and bad. Another part of this concept is setting life goals for yourself and growing up into the person that you want to be. But, what exactly does personal development mean to me? To me, personal development is being able to grow into your own skin and become the person that you envision yourself being. It is being able to not succumb to the obstacles that life throws your way. It is about you hardships and turning them into something more, something positive and constructive. This is something that I know very well. I have been dealt many hardships that have made me into the person that I am today. When people hear my story, they look at me in awe and tell me how they would have given up so long ago if they were in my shoes. They respect me for pulling myself up and carrying on. I titled this essay “learning through setbacks” because that is what I have been doing for years. And although my troubles have not completely subsided, I continue to pull through and internalize it in a way that makes me want to do better and be a better person.

Growing up was not easy. I was raised in a home riddled with dysfunction and drama. It seemed as if I would never make it out. My father was controlling, narcissistic, demanding, and above all, abusive. His words burned and his hits bruised my skin and my heart. My parents were always fighting and getting into huge arguments that left me and my younger brothers trembling with fear. My parents’ failing relationship turned my mother into an alcoholic and she still has yet to recover. For a short period of time in 2008, my parents decided to divorce. In that time, my brothers and I lived with my mother. This experience is partially the reason that I am who I am today.  Living with my mother while the divorce was in action, was a terrible experience that I will be plagued with for the rest of my life. She was extremely abusive and I spent many nights crying myself to sleep. The constant fear and confusion kept me on my toes. I felt as if I was walking on eggshells. I thought that with my dad out of the house, things would be okay. I thought there would be no more abuse and I would have nothing to worry about. I could not have been more wrong. It was a complete disaster. This was the year that I decided that I wanted to become a psychologist. I knew from that point on that I wanted to help people deal with their issues and not become my mother. I also wanted to help people to not feel as hopeless and afraid as I did on a daily basis.

The thing about abuse is that it follows you. No matter how old or how stable you’ve become, there’s always going to be a dark feeling lurking around in the back of your mind. Only brought out by familiar cues, like the sound of screaming. This is the past reminding you that you’ll never be whole again. A reminder that the memories are still there, slowly eating away at the furthest region of your brain. No one will understand why it hurts so much. No one will understand why your shield are instantly at the highest of functioning. They won’t get why their tone has suddenly made you feel like the same child you once were, hiding from the harsh hand of life. The only ones that will ever truly understand are those who have seen the same pain. Broken eyes never fail to recognize another set of destroyed pupils. There’s no cure for the broken. No amount of glue and positive regard can reform the shape of what used to be. The only hope of construction management is to figure out a way to channel the emptiness into something better. Something less hopeless. For me, it’s the euphoria from helping those just as broken as I was. No one has the same cracks, no one has exactly the same pieces missing. But somehow all of the missing pieces come together. Fitting as one, like the most perfect puzzle. The only puzzle built in chaos to truly make sense.

Personal development is the fact that I realize when it is time to let go and move on from the thing that hurt the most. I am choosing to go to school and make something of myself and one day help other people. I have overcome my hardships by continuing to follow my dreams and better myself and become soothing more than my problems. I have grown into someone that I can be proud of and I am on the path I have laid out for myself. And as I continue to grow, I will be able to make a difference and help people in need.

Service

By Amelia Jones
University of Central Florida

Service to others is definitely one of the most important personal development principles that there are, in my opinion, and it is one that is very close to my heart. Helping others is something that has always brought me great joy. Service is what makes a group of people a community. Community members help one another, allowing the world to run successfully. Service to others can be done in many different ways, from little gestures to big projects. Personally, I try to get involved in any service projects I can. Throughout my time in school I have participated in numerous service events and programs. Some of the most impactful projects I have been involved with have centered around children. Last year, I joined a program that allowed me to teach American Sign Language to kindergarten and first grade students at a local elementary school. It was very rewarding to work with the children and enrich their lives. I also volunteered to assist the high school Sign Language teachers with their classes. This last semester I was involved in a service learning program in which once a week I travelled to an inner city elementary school and worked with a class of first graders, teaching them valuable life lessons and instilling in them principles such as the importance of goal setting, how to interact with others and how to be successful throughout life. This was an amazing experience as I was able to make a real impact on these children. Most of the kids who attend the school I worked with were from an impoverished or low income area and did not have the best home lives. To provide further assistance to these children, the university I attend held a Thanksgiving food drive to allow the students and their families to have a Thanksgiving dinner that they may not have been able to have otherwise. I was especially touched by these kids, and in an effort to provide more for them than we could through the food drive, I contacted all of the local grocery stores and went through their various processes of requesting donations in hopes to provide Thanksgiving turkeys to the children. I received monetary donations from multiple grocers that were then used to buy more food so that we could reach even more families for the holidays. I find it especially important to work with children because I am not only able to provide service for them, but also instill in them the importance of serving others and how rewarding it truly can be. Now is a great time in my life to focus on helping young members of society because I am at an age that is still relatable to children, but old enough to be role model. By serving the children in my community, I am able to set the example for them to do the same in the future, furthering the cycle of service for future generations.

                In addition to my work with children, I also volunteered with my local chapter of Best Buddies. Best Buddies is an international organization that provides friendship and inclusion to individuals who have intellectual or developmental disabilities.  It was wonderful to be involved with the amazing individuals in the program and to be able to make a difference for them in their daily lives. I also had the opportunity to participate in a walk to benefit autism with the family of an autistic child that I cared for. I have also worked with organizations such as the National Beta Club, a service organization that strives to instill a passion for service and leadership in the youth of America.

I’ve also found that the small opportunities that we have on a daily basis to help others are just as important as the big efforts. Whether it’s donating a gift to a holiday drive, or donating money to the fundraiser at the grocery store, or purchasing a meal for someone who needs it, these little efforts are more important than we realize. Small gestures of service to those who need it can sometimes be life changing. I think the most important thing to remember when it comes to service is that no matter race, religion, gender, or ethnicity, we are all human and we must take care of one another. One of my favorite quotes in the entire world comes from Mother Teresa: “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” This quote perfectly sums up my feelings on service to others. Service is meant to be done not for credit or for the ego boost, but because it is our duty as human beings to help one another. Service is good that is done without expectation or hope for a reward. Providing happiness or making someone else’s life just a little easier is the goal of service to others. My hope is to use the life I have been given to make as much of a positive impact through service to others as I can, and inspire others to do the same.

Success seeking

By Kate Linsley

            You dream big, you stay positive and work through the trials, and then you succeed. That statement sums up attaining success, but it doesn't explain the full picture. Achieving your goals usually starts with a dream, yet I've come to realize that there there is lot more in between the dream and the realization of it. Sometimes you don't succeed or, at least, you don't find success in the time frame you were aiming to achieve it in. There have been a lot of ups and downs in my own life and quite a few times where I couldn't tell if I was even going anywhere. More than anything else, I've started to notice that success is an ongoing process that I continue to learn more about each day. 
            I have been at college for over a year now, and I have never worked so hard in my life at reaching my goals than during this past year at college. I've learned how to make goals that I actually achieve and how to continue moving forward even when it becomes a struggle. The main thing I have taken from my experiences is to trust in my future. This idea does not mean I believe everything will be easy and work out just how I want it to be. It is the idea that when I focus on taking control in my life and put in my share of work, I can achieve my goals. It takes a lot more effort than just believing. Believing is only the start. It is the motivation needed to actually work on my goals consistently. Like any kind of trust, my trust in the future is built up through working towards and appreciating the small successes, and learning from the times when I fail.
            A large part of learning to trust in my future has come through goal-setting. I am surprised how often I fail at doing something well because I did not start by creating the goal to succeed. I learned this point the hard way during my second semester of college while I was studying for a midterm exam. I was doing very well in the class and I wasn't worried about this test. While I was studying, however, I had the thought that I wasn't going to do well on the test. I allowed that thought to stay in my mind, and I did poorly on the test. At first I thought I had predicted the future. But that idea would mean I didn't have a choice about what I was doing and where I was going in my life, making it sound as if I was “doomed” to fail. Since then, I've come to view my life differently. I realized that when I allowed that thought to stick in my head and make me believe I could not do well, I didn't even try to do better. I managed to raise my grade back up by the end of the semester, but the lesson I learned from a time I failed has stayed with me.
            Even after learning to make goals in order to succeed, I still need to be reminded of it once in while. This past semester was a struggle. I was distracted by family issues at home, and I got off with a bad start the second week into the semester by doing poorly on a test. For weeks I studied more than I did during my freshman year, but I wasn't getting the same results as before. I started wondering what I was doing at college. I didn't have any clear career plans, so what was the point? These negative thoughts distracted me from doing well. I had forgotten to trust in my future. Over Thanksgiving break, with only about three weeks of the semester left to change, I realized I hadn't been making clear goals to study and do well on tests. I decided I would get 100% on my Japanese quiz the next week, even though I hadn't been able to do that well all semester. I only studied a little more than usual for it, but I felt much more focused and positive about the situation. I reached my goal. That inspired me to make goals for the other classes I was struggling with. I chose to succeed. There were still the family problems and other issues in my life that were out of my control, but I focused on what I could do, and put my trust in the future.
            Now that I've learned to attract success in my schoolwork, I've started to consider other areas in my life that are lacking in success. For the past few years, I've wanted to write stories and become published. I've tried to make goals to complete them, but those goals always fell to the wayside. I got caught up in schoolwork and doing other activities that were more straight-forward. I want to adjust my strategy to reach this type of goal. How do I do something I've never done before, something I don't believe I can do? I needed to change my mind somehow. Instead of becoming frustrated with my inability, I've decided to replace the old phrase “Ugh, I can't do it!” with “what if I could?” Thinking of challenges that way leads me consider how much I would enjoy being able to do that thing, and I create a future vision of success rather than just giving up and stopping myself from being happier. It's only the start of reaching my goals in these areas, but I need to change what I'm thinking inside before I can create what I want on the outside.
            Searching for success in my life has become a challenge I look forward to mastering. Like learning any other skill, finding success takes consistent practice. Of course, I often wish I could just have a certain skills suddenly without constantly doubting my ability to do them. However, I've come to realize that is not how my life works. Thank goodness. What would I do without challenges to master? Plus, when I make and overcome more challenges for myself, I will gradually learn more about how to get through the one's I don't have any control over. I hope I continue to be surprised whenever I do succeed at something. It is a sign that I am still working towards being who I want to be rather than expecting myself to be perfect and giving up when it gets too hard.

Giving back

By John Hernandez
West Texas A&M

Hello, my name is John Hernandez, and I live in the city of Long Beach CA. I’m married with three children, and I’m pursuing a Masters in Business and a Masters in Divinity. My reason for studying both majors is because I have a strong desire to make a contribution to my community and the society. The principle of giving back is something I admire a lot because I embrace the Biblical teaching of “it is more blessed to give than receive” (Acts 20:35). However, when I thought of making a difference I then realized how much I needed to prepare in order to make it happen. It was then that I followed my passion to be Biblically ethical and business oriented to keep balance in my life, and focused on my goal of giving something back.

One activity I consider outstanding and very meaningful to me is having the opportunity to see a small group of teenagers gathering together once a week to seek direction in life. Everything begun by an invitation to share a Biblical principle to them, and quite frankly this group was small because their expectations were merely within a traditional religious concept. However, my approach was Biblical yet practical at their life stage, and this is what got their attention. I touched on themes such as goals in life and different lifestyles. This was done to motivate them to aspire for more than just what they were experiencing in their social environment. In addition, I was able to talk about actions and their ‘reactions’ or consequences, either positive or negative. I was totally amazed at their awakening! They spread out the word, and what was a small group became a good 40-60 in attendance. There was a lot of interaction, and many interesting and relevant themes, so much so, that even parents were involved and wanted to be part of the class. After a year of continuous teaching, those who had been attracted to gangs and violence, they saw themselves with new possibilities if they could only give a chance to education.

Two years after this event, I know of about 10 of them who have persisted in pursuing their education by attending college –this is very meaningful to me because I was able to inspire them. In addition, those who didn’t continue with their education for the moment are now married with children, but still alive and working to sustain their families; doing well and being productive to the society.  The most meaningful thing I can keep with me is the words I got from these young ones “we need more people like you to help us”, and many of their parents also told me “If I had someone teaching me these things when I was young, my life would have been so different.” I think I have made a small contribution that will have an impact on people’s lives, and I want to continue doing it –it’s my passion!

I just had my graduation ceremony, and the by the grace of God, I achieved a cum laude distinction. However, this ending year has been the most difficult in my life, as I struggled with my oldest daughter’s auto-immune disease that caused her to be in and out of different hospitals for long periods of time. This situation made me realize how much spiritual and economic support is lacking for the families that navigate through life with such challenges. I had the dream of having my daughter be part of my graduation this past December 13th, 2014, but unfortunately we couldn’t do it because she passed on November 5th, 2014 at Keck Medical Center of USC in Los Angeles, CA. During this year, I had the honor to help a couple of families with funeral services for their loved ones who had passed, and when it came to my own situation, I was advised to get help from someone else to do it for me, but I refused because I considered my highest honor to conduct the funeral for my beloved daughter.

I must confess how difficult and painful this is, but I strongly believe that God has a purpose in all our situations, even though this may not be clear at the moment. However, two weeks later, someone who had been present at my daughter’s funeral got the terrible news of her youngest son been shot and died. Two days later, I was contacted by them, and they asked me to give them counseling and conducting their funeral. A week later, a friend in the San Francisco area called and asked me for spiritual support as his mother is in the hospital in a critical situation, and I and one of my brothers took time to go and support him with empathy and love.

Today, I was approached by someone who asked me if I could put together an orientation class for a new group of teenagers who don’t know what to do with their lives. In addition, I had counseled a group of small entrepreneurs seeking direction, and I’m glad to see their results and how their lives have been transformed with the business couching I have provided. I want to keep excelling in both areas so my contribution can reach out to more people, and my service can be better with more skills and education. The memory of my daughter is giving me the inspiration to be the best at what I do. I hope I can be considered a good candidate for the scholarship so I can achieve the goal of taking my service to a different level, thank you for the opportunity!

My personal development

By Kavya Maddali
St. Mary's College

Hello! My name is Kavya and I am 18 years old. I live in beautiful, sunshiney California. And I go to Saint Mary’s College of California. I was so excited to recently finish my first semester of college! College has been an eventful adventure so far, and I cannot wait for the future.
            If I want to talk about my personal development, I have to go back to sophomore year in High School. When I started high school, I was determined to get involved. I wanted to be able to show my spirit and pride that I had in everything I did. I played lacrosse, which let me explore my abilities and the ways that I could perform. I joined leadership, which immersed me into so many activities and greatly improved my social life. I also played in the band. When I was a freshmen, I was a horrible student. I did not really care about grades or about trying. I would show up late to practices and would not take time out to practice extra. But I met some amazing role models. My band director always used to say, “This is the last [month,day,year] you will ever get”. He constantly reminded us to value everyday. He made it very apparent to me that I was not living up to my potential. So I took the challenge and signed up for band again. My sophomore year truly started my personal development. I really took in the idea of living in the now. I was lucky to have one of the best teachers ever, Ms. Hollison my former english teacher, who taught me, with the books that we read, to explore myself and find who I am  without society's definitions. One book in particular, Siddartha, was about enlightenment and Buddhism. I was instantly fascinated by Buddhism and wanted to explore it. I read into it and fell in love with the Buddhist values. I started using these ideas as mantras that I could guide myself with. One of these quotes is, “Do not dwell in the past, do not dream on the future, concentrate mind on the present moment”(Bhudda). This quote explains the living in the now ideology perfectly to me. As a sophomore who has started working hard, so that she can get good grades, and then get into a good college and so on, this quote helped me stay sane. I could have easily gone crazy dreaming about the future. This is even true for today. This quote constantly reminds me to appreciate everyday and to take life day by day.
            Living in the now also goes hand in hand with focusing on things you can control. When I used to play lacrosse, I played goalie. The position of goalie is tough. It can be  physically tough but is also very emotional hard. Though the goalie is still a part of the team, their role is special in the way that the whole team depends on them and that they are more independent. I noticed that when I went into a game feeling very negative and in a bad mood that it would reflect the way I played, I would play poorly; and vice versa. Once this became apparent to me, I made a conscious decision to make myself feel positive and filled with goodness before a game. This greatly affected the way I played. I saw my performance get better. Even if we did not win, I left the field knowing that I gave it everything I had. And that is what the living in the now principle talks about. If one can control their attitudes to seize everyday as it comes upon you, then they will be happy and feel content and positive.
            I just started college but I have already had a very low point. I felt very negative and had bad vibes with me towards the beginning of the semester. I was excited to start college and start a new chapter in my life, but that excitement fell when I kept dwelling on my dreams. I became aware of what I was doing and decided to stop daydreaming. I accepted my tiny everyday achievements and enjoyed everyday as it came to me. I found that I became a lot more happier and ready to continue my days.
Living by these principles can help begin your journey of personal development. Growth always starts with making a decision to want to grow. Once, you put an effort into growing, growth is inevitable. Growth is also constant. It does not stop. I am proud and happy with who I am today. But I am still excited to see what tomorrow will bring to me. My growth is something that other people noticed in me as well. I became more responsible, my grades improved, my social life improved, I feel like I became a better person. My parents grew up in India, and my sister was more interested in arts so, I was left alone to explore academics. Once I started my growth journey, and I saw that I could handle challenges, I started taking advanced and AP classes. I did well in them, and I found a love for challenging myself. Challenging myself also helped me focus on the now. 
            I am proud of who I am today, who I was in the past, and who I will be tomorrow.

Attracting the sun

By Michelle White

I’ve always believed that in order to be successful, you had to pick a life career, and go after it right out of high school. After you graduate from college; you start work, have kids, and then can be be considered a successful contributor to society. However; I have learned that this is not a dreamer’s reality. I remember watching the constant pouring rain that is the Northwest, and wondering how such a beautiful place could be plagued with such a gloomy fate. I constantly worked to loan money to my mom in an attempt to repay her for dedicating her life to raising my sister and I, all by herself. When I wasn’t working or studying to try and finish an associate’s degree and high school diploma at the same time, I was being talked down to in a relationship that smothered my existence and muddled me into an isolated and scared little girl. I craved love and affection in the constant downpour that was my life, so I stayed in a toxic relationship. Having dealt with an on again-off again father, I had trouble coping with abandonment issues and tried to never leave anyone like I felt I was left. My life was a storm, and there was never a calm before or rainbow after it.                                                                                              Thinking that getting a degree and starting university in pursuit of a career would lead me to happiness, I registered for university after looking up professions that made the highest salaries. Life has a funny way of smacking the ice cream cone out of your hand and onto the ground, forcing you to live up to your true potential. Two weeks into my first semester of college, I got the life-changing news that my financial aid didn’t go through, and if I wanted to stay in my classes I’d have to take out loans. Refusing to go into debt, I began working a second job to save money for school. I decided to wait until the next semester when I could save up money, hopefully get my financial aid sorted out, and start fresh.                                                       During the summer of my first year not in school, I fell madly in love with the sun. This colossal ball of heat ignited a flame inside me that will never burn out. The sun that seldom rose and shined upon the majestic Douglas Fir trees and rivers that are ever abundant in Oregon had caused my eyes to crave a new beauty that wasn’t dampened by the rain. The sun was the torch lighting the world in a way I had never seen before. Having a new found joy, and more free time on my hands wasn’t healthy for a poisonous relationship that thrived on negativity. So, quickly into summer we had our last and final separation. I didn’t need him when I felt the heat warming my darkened soul. I dreamt of seeing my lover, the sun, every day. I suddenly saw the mountains as a chance to explore and see sights I haven’t seen before. I couldn’t shake the desire to feel the sun in more ways. I realized my eyes and life were so filled with fog I forgot how bright new adventures make you feel.                                                                                                                        Then it happened. One of my old co-workers posted a picture of the beach on her social network page, and how she loved living in Hawai’i. The idea became a wildfire in my mind taking over my interest in anything else. Greatness comes when you jump out of the nest and dive into the deep. It scares you from the depths of your core, but if you choose to quiet the fears it will take you to unimaginable heights. There was my calling, my reunion with my dreams. It took only two weeks of living on my old coworker’s couch in Hawai’i before I found a job and a room for rent. Instead of feeling like a slave to cultural expectations, I was defining my own rules and taking control of my life. I made the conscious decision to wake up each day deciding to be happy. I started to realize how much control I had over what happened to me. Just feeling the sun on my back and getting rid of someone who made me miserable changed my whole perception on what I could do with my life. Life was magic, and I had found paradise. Everything brought delight to my eyes and fullness to my heart. The new plan was set, and I had finally figured it all out. My idea was to decide what I really wanted to do with my life, and then start school. I would never again choose a profession for a silly desire such as money. The swaying palm trees, flowing tide, and Van Gogh of all sunsets I witnessed every day in Hawai’i was happiness. I knew that nothing would take that from me. Having one dream come true, I realized my full capacity to make life as wonderful as I wanted it to be. Being out there in the middle of the Pacific, I felt so much closer to the rest of the world. With the world and the power at my fingertips, I was ready to embark on new adventures and keep expanding my ever-growing horizon. As I started to look at all places around the world, I recalled learning about Buddhism my sophomore year, and feeling so fascinated and intrigued by Buddhist values and cultural differences. I knew that I had to visit their magnificent temples, and learn first-hand about Thai-Buddhism, especially since Hawai’i was the closest to Asia I’d ever been. Suddenly, after five months of living in Hawai’i, I discovered that a new friend of mine was planning a month long trip to Thailand. I excitedly asked my new friend if I could accompany her on this journey of a lifetime. She welcomed me with open arms, and sooner than I could imagine the flights were booked, and planning was commenced. That’s really all it took for the Law of Attraction to start manifesting in my life.                                                                                                                              Eight months after my trip, and it still doesn’t quite feel real. I saw the massive 45 by 15 meter reclining Buddha at the temple Wat Pho, I cuddled my most admired elephants and bathed them in a head to toe mud bath (both myself and the elephants), I watched terrifying yet playful tigers jump around in water two feet from me, I jumped roped with fire, and most importantly, I met the most kind-hearted people from around the world. I found enduring kindness in Thai locals and tour guides throughout the entire country. I found that if you just try and learn a few words of their sacred language, they will smile from ear to ear and repeat it to you as many times as you need to hear in order to repeat the phrase properly (or at least audibly). Every desire I ever wanted came to me so easily and with so much happiness. This couldn’t be the end, and I knew it. I was overcome with gratitude for the reality of being in Southeast Asia, and I never wanted to stop exploring. I was even rewarded the pleasure of finding the love of my life on the wild streets of Bangkok. Inevitably, I learned that the more fulfilled and thankful you are, the more things and people to appreciate come into your life. I wanted to keep going and I brought that desire into my reality. Just three short months after returning from Thailand I was able to see another country without the cost of hotels. It was all thanks to friends I had made in Thailand, which has added another amazing experience I will forever keep in my mind and heart.                                                    The whole point is that the more you accept that the world is yours, the more it opens up to you. With a humble and appreciative attitude you can manifest any desire you can dream. Just by realizing this, I have changed my own life, and am a much friendlier and much more cultured individual. I have been delighted and educated by people from 12,590 kilometers away from my home, and have realized the importance of communication in relationships. As I am writing this essay now, I find myself back where it all started visiting family in the Northwest again. I haven’t ever been so charmed by the multitude of beautiful shades of gray that fill the sky. There is beauty even in the sunless and wet places. Happiness is watching the clouds suffocate you as you ascend into the sky. It is landing on new grounds where faces come in many different smiles. It’s watching the tide sneak up on you your first time in paradise. It is staring into the eyes of the gentle giants you dreamed of embracing your entire life. Last but not least, happiness is realizing the beauty in every aspect of life, even in the rain.                                                                                   All these experiences have opened my eyes to the world of possibilities that await me. The Law of Attraction has helped me uncover how much I value communication and relating to people. It has guided me to an English major in which I feel will always fulfill my heart, will enable me to help others, and will empower me to expand my mind and travel other worlds through literature. We all have the power inside us to make every one of our dreams come true, and I am truly blessed to say that I have had the opportunity to make so many of mine come true already. This is only the beginning, and I hope to touch as many people’s lives, as so many others’ have touched mine.

Your mind is your only limit

By Hannah Cristina Stahl
Virginia Tech

I have learned that perception is everything in this world. “The mind is everything. What you think you become”. In reality nothing is actually good nor bad. Our actualization of these experiences are what label these things as good or bad. Once we realize this, we are in control of our whole world as we know it. We obviously can’t control everything that happens to us in the world, but we are in control of how we experience circumstances. By realizing the power we have within us, we will be able to keep our peace of mind through any experience that comes our way. I have used to the Law of Attraction to guide me out of depression, and achieve academic success. My on-going journey to learn this essential principle has not been easy, and like all hardships it was hard understanding why, but looking back, every experience had to happen for me to understand how I want to continue to live my life.
             The beginning of my journey began very early and I hadn’t even realized it. As a freshman in high school I was very unhappy with myself. I thought that my only value was the value that other people gave me. I was lost and uncomfortable with myself. I believed that material things and beauty could make me happy. I believed I was worthless; therefore, I was worthless to myself. I found myself insecure due to the comparisons I made of myself and others. My insecurities drove me to Bulimia thinking that if I could be skinnier I would be happy and accepted by those around me. I remember being surrounded by so many people, but feeling so alone. Beginning my sophomore year of high school, I felt optimistic thinking that this could be a great year, but little did I know, this year would be the worst year yet. One thing after another, my self-worth would just continue to be ripped apart, resulting in depression. Desperate to find some support, I remember telling my best friend (at the time) that I thought I was depressed and the response I got was a scuff and the reply “You’re not depressed”. I again felt surrounded by so many people, yet so alone. I began losing motivation for everything. My passion for learning was gone, my smile was always a fictitious one, and my lack of love for life left me empty and hollow. Desperate to rid myself of any feeling, I began taking Adderall. I was a robot simply going through the motions. Indifferent to everything happening around me. There was no flavor to my life. My grades began to drop along with my motivation to do anything. I was isolated in a dark place in my mind, where no one even knew I was in. During all this time my grandfather had been diagnosed with Leukemia. This was especially hard because I was in North Carolina and my grandfather was in Puerto Rico. My grandfather had always lived far away from my family and it was hard accepting that I had missed out on so much of his life due to distance.
            In the summer ending my sophomore year I was exhausted, and I didn’t want to feel like a lifeless human being anymore. My grandfather was likely going to die within a few months and I guess that reality woke something up inside me. Life is something so precious and you only get one shot at it. That summer I isolated myself from my friends and I took three months to heal. I used my time by going outside and enjoying nature. I reflected on why I had so much self-hatred and I began to become comfortable with myself. I learned to remember that I am no perfect human being and just like anyone else I deserve to forgive myself of any shortcomings I had. I finally healed from being bulimic and was starting to see myself in a more positive light. I started to believe that I had worth. That summer I learned that optimism is not something that is innate, it is learned state of mind. I realized that happiness isn’t some big event, but it is the appreciation of all the little things in life, like the color of the sky, making somebody else smile, or the way the leaves sound in the wind. At the end of the summer I felt healed and ready to take on another school year, but at the end of the summer my grandfather died. I was not able to go to the funeral because I couldn’t afford a plane ticket. I grieved with my family at home and we all helped each other through this grieving process.
     My junior year I decided I was going to give it my all and work hard for my grandpa. I had a new positive outlook on life and I was so motivated to work hard. I managed to finish all my high school credits by my junior year and spent my high school senior year earning college credit at community college. My passion for learning returned and grew stronger. I worked hard and I achieved my goal of getting into my dream school of Virginia Tech. I also managed to graduate in the top 15 percent of my class. Because I set my sights on being successful, I was able to achieve something that I had never thought I could do my freshman year of high school. I continued to work hard and became part of a research program at Virginia Tech, received a partial grant, and decided to major in Wildlife Conservation. I am so passionate about helping endangered animals and I can’t wait to see will happen in the future.
            I have come to realize that life is purely what you make of it. I have met so many people who have gone through so much worse than I have encountered and yet, they are still one of the most joyous and giving people. The power of the mind is a miraculous thing. Once you have learned how to control your mind, thoughts, and perceptions, you can do anything. Instead of complicating things with future plans that you have no control over, learn to just be. Let yourself live and to take in every part of what a single moment has to offer you. Let yourself live simply. If you want something to happen go after it like it’s your only purpose in life. My hard work has brought me so much happiness because that feeling of achieving something that you wanted, is like no other. I like to remember that I can do anything, and that there are so many possibilities to what I can do. There are no bad outcomes, they are just the beginning to something unexpected. Although my first two years of high school were terrible and dark, I am so thankful for them. They are the foundation to everything that I believe today, they are my motivation to keep living and working hard, and they are the reason that I can help and they remind me that I am strong. I have gained empathy and humility, and it is the reason I treat everyone kindly because you can never know what someone is going through from the outside. Because I overcame depression I know that I can do anything if I work hard enough. Now I am tasked with the difficult task of paying for out-of-state tuition, but I know that if I apply everything I have learned I will be ready to start this journey as well. I believe; therefore, I will achieve.

Make a difference in other's lives

By David Lee Fuhr

               Personal development is not something that can come easy, sometimes it can actually be hard not only to grow and change, but admit your flaws. The biggest thing that I felt I always have done was try to be the best, not bothering to help other become better. It was out of the idea if I helped them become better than they could become better than me and I would not be the best.
                But then I realized from being in the Army that it is wrong to think that and not wanting to help others be all they can be and grow to their full potential.  Helping others grow and spear your knowledge with them will not only help them grow, but myself as well. You can learn a lot and see things from other points of views that you might not have ever thought of.
                I live by a quote that I heard once, not sure where I heard it, but it means a lot of me and something I decided to live by. Since then I have grown a lot and have helped others grow as well. That quote you may as is something simple but powerful. “Inspire the uninspired!” To me this means you should help people and give them hope and support them. Even if they believe they cannot do it or might fail, it is better to have tried then fail. Because sometimes even failure has its best rewards.
                So, if I see someone that seems to have no motivation to do something or feels hopeless, I talk to them and try my best to inspire them to do it, or at least try. This not only helps them, but help me grow and feel better about myself knowing I inspired someone to grow and gave them hope when they had none.
                The best example is when I was helping a kid out at a volunteer event. They seemed to feel they would never be a great runner and wanted to run track but didn’t think they would ever be any good. I felt he had too much self-drought and just needed to be inspired to try it and practice. I told him that you never know until you try. That I ran track in high school and felt the same. But I tried and practiced the best I could and never gave up. I even tried many different events to see what one I would be the best at and then worked on that one and practiced all the time, pushing myself past the limits. Then after a year of this I was the fastest 400 meter dash runner on the team and placed 4th my senior year at regionals.
                I told him you should try and practice and never left fear or drought hold you back from doing what you want to do. That even if you try and you fail, you tried and won’t look back and wonder how it would have turned out. But look back and know how it turned out and feel good knowing you tried.
                He told me he would try and see how it goes, I seen him a little over a year later at the same volunteer event and he told me he took my advice and practiced hard and tried many events. He found out that he was really good at long distance and his event was the 1600 meter race. He said he practices all the time and he is one of the fastest on the team. He also decided to go the cross country team and raced with them as well. But he is still pushing himself to his limits and knows he is doing the best he can and that is all that matters to him.
                This made me feel good, I made a difference in someone’s life and they enjoyed it and glad they took the chance. This is just once example of how just a little inspiration can made a chance in someone’s life. I feel that the change I made and inspiring people to take positive chances and do things they felt they never would or could do, give me a good feeling that makes me feel happy and proud.
                This one thing I changed in my life and used it to help others as well as myself has made me feel good and proud about the people I have helped. I never knew that helping others and supporting them would be so personal rewarding. It makes me want to do all I can to help inspire others to be all the can be and never give up or lose hope.
                I wish more people would inspire the uninspired or look at themselves and see things they can change that would help them grow. They world would be a lot better place and would together would achieve so much. But I know most of all the people I have helped will help others and share their experience with them, knowing this is being passed on and on, gives me even more hope for the future and knowing if once person can make a difference in a few others life’s and they do the same, it would spread and soon many people will be helping others out and inspiring them.
                In the end everyone can make a difference not only in their life and personal development, but in the life’s of others. But most people will not realize the changes they can make and things they can do until it is too late. But I know I am starting with me and that is a start.

Attracting life

By Chada Chiles

What you think is what is attracted into your life. This is also referred to as the law of attraction.  Whether good or bad this is what is said to happen. Personally I have witnessed what positivity has been brought into my life, by just a single thought. I have never been a straight A student. My entire life I was forced to faced obstacles in school.  My parents are older and had been out of school for many years so they couldn’t help me very much growing up. At times I could turn to my sisters for help, but they were hardly around.

Normally the only thoughts that I had were negative, especially when it came to school. I would always tell myself that I was too dumb or stupid to ever achieve straight A’s. For many years I believed that this was true. While all the other kids where on honor roll and received certificates, I made merit list and got a ribbon. I felt like a terrible person.  I was trying to live in the shadow of my dad who graduated with a 4.0, but I had no type of intelligence as I thought.

 I was even told before that I just wasn’t the straight A type of student. Personally I am not the type to give up so I didn’t. I knew that as long as I kept pushing that eventually I would reach my goals. As the years passed by my grades got higher and I even had a 3.8 grade-point average at one time in high school. I told myself that before I graduated high school I would get straight A’s, and in college I would maintain a 4.0 grade-point average.

My senior year of high school was very challenging, I was in the hardest English class and I was also taking 6 AP courses. I knew I had it in over my head when my grades started slipping. My grade-point average quickly dropped to a 1.7. With my cheer and tennis coaches on my back constantly I knew I had to make a change quickly.

So I looked for every way out that I could, but there was no escape. I just had to work hard and get my grades up, it wasn’t as easy as everybody kept making it seem. I did it, but the scare of that happening to me again made me transfer schools. My mom wanted to see me walk across the graduation stage and I had to do just that.

At the next school I went to, not only was I able to walk the stage, but I was able to graduate with a 4.0. No, I didn’t get straight A’s that year, but because I had an A in an AP class my grade-point average went up by 1 point, and a 4.0 is equal to straight A’s. I was very satisfied with myself.

College wasn’t going to be the breeze that I thought it was, I found that out very quickly. Every class I was taking had a test almost every two weeks, and required studying just about every night. But I had a goal I had to accomplish. In the back of my head I could always picture myself maintaining my 4.0 grade-point average through college. I turned to prayer, I would pray before I studied and before every test that I took, uttering the same words every time. Just about every time I would get the grade that I had pictured, or attracted into my life.

The more positive my life was the more I had positive thoughts, and the cycle continued over and over again. I would ask every night that I just got straight A’s, seeing myself with that 4.0 in my head. I would study for hours, and I was ready for every test that I took. The end of the semester was the worst for me. I didn’t know if I was going to make it or not, my biology teacher had not finished imputing our grades so I couldn’t see the grade that I had.   I was at a 95 percent and within a couple of days I dropped to an 86 with two weeks left of school, all I could do was complete every assignment with a 90 percent or better.

By the last week of school I was back at a 91 percent but I had yet to take my final. I was terrified of what could happen, it felt like I was slipping back again into stupidity.  I studied hard and prayed and thought about achieving my goal. The night after I was done with my finals, my school stressing still wasn’t over. It wasn’t until two weeks later would I find out that all the positivity that I had seen would come true. I passed my biology class with a 95 percent and ended my first semester of college with the straight A’s I had always seen myself getting.

Behold! The Law of Attraction: The far from average story of an average girl

By Erika Cervantes

Success is not always what you think it means. My name is Erika Cervantes, I am an undergraduate student at University of California Santa Barbara and if it wasn’t for my parents I would have lived the stereotypical life of an uneducated, Mexican housewife. I don’t want to use the first generation card because I’m more than that, I am the eldest granddaughter in my family; paving a path for the generation behind me. My family made great sacrifices to grant me the opportunities with which I was blessed. Among them, was giving me all the tools I needed to succeed. They migrated to the United States and worked sun up to sun down in order to ensure that I had food, shelter, and clothes on my back. At a young age, I learned nothing came easy and became ambitious about my dreams; I believed in the Law of Attraction.

Today, I am a citizen of the United States; a scholar with a thirst for knowledge.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

I find happiness in the pursuit of knowledge, I find knowing a right. I continue to pursue my dreams with a more tangible approach, one that comes from year after year of education. There was never any doubt in my mind that I was going to go to college, not because my family expected it but because I didn’t want to stop learning. My parents have always shined with pride upon my accomplishments, my feats were never done before in the family but still I’ve set my goals higher. The law of attraction was ingrained in my mind and what came next was a succession of achievements that brought me to the doorstep of one of the most prestigious public schools in the nation.

My phobia of failure pushed me every day because I knew I could achieve great things if I put my mind to it. I strived to become a well-rounded student and knew that that only came from years of experience. I committed to programs that helped me grow as a person and took on leadership positions that challenged my performance but were essential to society. I became fluent in not only French but in the language of academics. I took on public speaking, from speech and debate to recitations and mock interviews; I wanted to excel. In student politics I took on the roles of president, vice president, and secretary. On a volleyball court my team and I tasted victories and defeats, we left sweat, determination, and unity on that court and took it with us out to the real world. Outside of school, I nurtured a greenhouse in four yearlong project that taught me patience and dedication. I became well versed in veterinary science and efficiently processed newborn livestock complete with ear notching, docking, vaccinating, and castrating. I was fascinated by not only animal science and behavior but with human psychology as well. While studying psychology, I realized that sociology is where I truly want to aim my efforts; I want to dedicate my life to helping others. Knowledge lead me to the future and I indulged in it completely; I gave myself wholly to my dreams and the law of attraction.

But in realistic terms, I have accomplished what millions of others have accomplished; I’ve gained entry way into post-secondary education by using the knowledge I’ve acquired thus far. Now I have the power to decide how I will further my education in order to contribute to the betterment of the world. Pursuing my education is only the first step towards realizing my true potential. The law of attraction states that through positive thinking one will receive positive outcomes. I like to envision my goals completely because it gives me the motivation I need to make them a reality. I know that there are variables beyond my control and I win nothing with stressing over outside forces. But I know that through my actions I can influence the outcome for the better.

The law of attraction helps me prioritize and focus on what is really vital for my success. I know that despite other variables, I am the fixed cost. No matter what life throws at me I choose to not give up. I choose to find alternate solutions and continue to put my best effort into all that I do. I can’t be disappointed with the outcome if I know I gave it everything I have. I refuse to let my and my family’s efforts be in vain. I refuse to let money have the power to stop me. I refuse to rely on wishful thinking, and utilize confidence that is born from erudite drudgery instead. I am forever grateful for the opportunities that have crossed my path and for those that are yet to present themselves. I vow to treat both expected and unexpected opportunities equally and use them to the best extent of my abilities for the progress of society. The law of attraction taught me that success is not measured by wealth but by knowledge, I feel successful and I refuse to let that go.

Never give up!

By Adrian Monroy

I never give up no matter how tough the situation looks like. A personal development principal I have experienced is not giving up.  There are plenty of examples of famous people who didn’t have it easy, but at the end they reached their glory days. It’s all about being persistent and having patience. Just because you don’t see results in a couple of days doesn’t mean they will never come.
            One good example of a person who didn’t give up is Michael Jordan. He got cut from his High School’s basketball team. He went home and cried. A lot of people would have thrown the towel, or they would have decided to play a different sport. Jordan didn’t give up and as a result, he is one of the best basketball players to ever play.
            Everybody has obstacles in some point of their lives. I have some, but I used to a lot of more obstacles a couple of years ago. Back in middle school, I got bullied. Although I was being pushed around and made fun of, I managed to maintain a 4.0 GPA throughout middle school. I didn’t give up on school just because other kids tried to make my life miserable.
            An activity I love to do is playing soccer. After all soccer is the most beautiful sport in the world. Through soccer, I have learned that you need to work hard and focus. This sport has also taught me the importance of not giving up. I got cut from my middle school team in the 8th grade. This hurt me a lot, but I remembered the same thing happened to Michael Jordan.
            Today, I still play soccer and a lot of teams want me to play for them. Some teams are willing to pay me. I have also gotten some calls from semi-professional teams here in San Jose, CA. I want to spend my weekend playing soccer, but I do homework and I also work part-time during the weekends. School comes first.
    All of the recognition I am getting from a lot of soccer coaches happened because I never gave up on this sport. I am a goalie and I used to get scored on 10-15 goals per game. That is a lot! During the last year, I have won two best goalie of the league awards. I felt great after receiving this award. I thanked God because he didn’t let me give up on myself when I got scored on so many goals.
    I use the principle of not giving up in every aspect of my life. I showed how I never give up in school or in soccer. I also never give up on work. At Lowe’s, I get rude customers every day. They try to bring me down by using curse words. I always keep my cool and never let all of the negativity get to me. Others would just quit this job, but I keep a smile on my face.
I also have to sell credit cards at work. Customers are going through hard financial times. I try to keep their hopes up by telling them the benefits of opening up a Lowe’s Credit Card.  They save five percent on every visit to Lowe’s. Sometimes, customers don’t want to open up credit cards. The whole point is to keep on asking and not give up, because there will always be that customer who wants to save money. My goal is to sell at least one credit card per day. If don’t accomplish my goal, I keep on trying.
     I have talked about how I never gave up in the school during the past. During this last semester I started to take Journalism classes at the upper-division level at San Jose State University. These classes got tougher and there were higher expectations. I had to interview people, but I was very shy. I hated when people said they didn’t have time for a short interview. Although these were some tough obstacles, I never thought of changing my major. I kept on going to class and I lost my fear of interviewing people. I turned all of my assignments on time. I am going to take five journalism classes next semester. Giving up is not an option.
            As I have talked about it, the words “giving up” are not part of my vocabulary. Even though something seems impossible to accomplish, always have hope. You never know what might become of you if you don’t give up. There are many famous people that have accomplished things that people didn’t they would do. It’s time for people to follow the footsteps of the famous stars.  Quitting is the worst thing you can do. Be strong and tell yourself that everything will be ok. Just never give up!

A better tomorrow

By Logan Thompson

It was early in the morning, my alarm was about to go off to let me know it was time to get ready for work.  My phone started ringing, my first thought was it was my wife, but when I looked at the caller ID, it was work. That is funny, I thought to myself as I picked up the call.

Me: “Hello?”

Boss: “Don’t bother coming in today. We are letting you go.”

Me: “What? Why?”

Boss: “I don’t have to tell you why, I need you to bring in your uniform as soon as you can.”

I called my wife who was living out of state at the time to tell her the news. I wasn’t sure what we were going to do, I had just got into an apartment and wasn’t sure if I was going to find another job before all of our bills were due. I could tell my wife was upset, but was trying to put a brave face on and not let me get too down.  She encouraged me to start looking right away for a new job and to go apply for a few that same day. This would be the start of a series of jobs and choices that would eventually lead me to the life that I love and am living now.

Choosing a career can be a hard decision, especially for someone like me with ADD and a tendency to get bored of things quickly. Choosing to go to school when you have a small family to support can be just as equally if not harder decision to make. Luckily for me, I have a supportive wife and the strong desire to get everything I want out of life to give me that extra shove that I need. Furthering my education has been tough. I have changed my career choice several times and finally feel like I have landed in a place where I could easily be happy and feel as though I am going to continually be challenged throughout my career. When I started out on my higher education journey, I had a difficult time connecting with the material and couldn’t get motivated to do any homework or even get good grades. I even struggled with understanding what my teachers were expecting from me. The first few years of school I could only seem to manage a 2.0 overall GPA.  I wasn’t sure what I was going to do, I didn’t think I could get in to any programs. It just took one advisor to hear me out and accepted me into the engineering program to get me started. I still struggled through my classes and with my teachers, but was doing better and started a spark of interest. When I heard of the program I am in now, I quickly changed and knew it was for the better. I am thriving in it! Since I started this program I have managed to pull a 4.0 GPA in every semester which has brought up my overall GPA.  Although it was tough getting here-job after job, starting a school program after program, it was those choices and experiences that have led me to where I am today.

Having restrictions in life only makes you appreciate the freedom you get. I LOVE the outdoors. I love doing everything outdoors. From rock climbing to dirt biking, to backpacking, to even hunting and fishing; I do it all and love doing it. I could live in the mountains and absolutely always enjoy my time there.  If I am not working or at school or at a family event, the mountains are where you can find me. I have really struggled the last few years with having a growing family, going to school, working, and still trying to find time to do what I love.  I have discovered that because I have this struggle, I really enjoy and fully take advantage of the time that I have in the mountains. I appreciate it more, I live more when I am there.

At the same time I feel as though my mind is like a sponge, just soaking up everything that I am learning because I have a renewed love and passion for the career field I am studying. I can’t get enough. I have even started small projects at home to help me broaden my knowledge. I feel like I am in a constant state of learning and growth and it feels so rejuvenating and lively. To my mind, learning is like a drug and I get a high from it and can’t seem to get enough of it.  Feeling this way is hard to contain and am already looking forward to when my boy is old enough to get him started in learning what I know now so he can have a better head start than I did.

I have three small children whom I love so very much and can’t wait to share my breadth of knowledge with. Having the attitude of success and learning is a contagious one. When I am learning and succeeding, I can see my children growing and succeeding in their lives. I feel as though I am living the dream that I have always had for myself. All my challenges are ways of opening my eyes to see a better day, a better future, a better here and now.

Turn a devastating situation into a brillant one

By Madeline Baumgart
Grace College

There are always two different outcomes for any particular situation, one positive and the other negative.  It is up to the participants in each situation to decide for themselves how it will play out, and ultimately if the outcome will be positive or negative.  While the situation at hand may have a negative appearance, the outcome can still be quite positive if those involved make the effort to see the elements in a different light. Viewing the situation in a new perspective is all one may need to turn a devastating situation into a brilliant one.
            Reminiscing back several years ago, there have been numerous times when a bad situation in my life could have been far worse without a the little positive outlook that I clung to. Imagine yourself driving in your car, after recently having received your brand new license in the post. The first place you seem to want to drive to is a friends house for a party; however, it is around Christmas time and you have never visited this friend’s home previously. Directions in hand, you set out. The only specifics you have for  the appearance of this particular house is there is a row of pine trees out front. Driving along the road, you find a house with these specifics, and there appears to be a number of cars in the driveway. You pull in, and walk into the home. Walking through the corridor, you see a dining room, with China at each place setting, and after a few moments you reach the kitchen. The surprise waiting there is that you do not recognize anyone, and no one knows the person whom you are looking for. You have mistakenly walked into the wrong home. What are you going to do? Turn bright red, bow your head in shame and leave? Never. Say, “My mistake, I am sorry for crashing your party. Thank you for the invitation to come back if I can’t find the right party.” And you make your way to the door.
            While this situation of walking into the wrong house was extremely embarrassing, what it did do was give both yourself and this family a good story to laugh about for years to come. It taught you the lesson to always check the address before walking into a house that looks correct. The situation could have been far worse had you not kept a cool head, but it was not as horrible as it could have been.
            Another situation that comes to mind is just my entire high school experience. Imagine weeks before beginning high school discovering that you are in need of having surgery. But not just a simple in, out, done surgery; it is more complicated than that. Despite the four surgeries, and numerous doctor appointments endured throughout the time spent in high school, you never seem to have dampened spirits, and the smile never seems to fade from your face. Here the positivity in life seems to really show to those in your surroundings. Those around you give you numerous different reasons for such spirits, but there is one reason that stands far above the rest. Faith. Faith that Jesus died on the cross for your sins two-thousand years ago, and rose from the dead, and he is going to return. Knowing that your sins have been forgiven forever, why would you need to ever be sad or angry about anything; the worst parts of life have been defeated.
            While I have always seemed to hold the more hopeful attitude, one can always explore how a situation would end with the opposite outlook. The situation of walking into the wrong house could have scarred someone for the rest of their life, never again to go anywhere solo. A high school career full of surgeries could have scared someone aways from doctors or surgeons forever, or could have made them a very bitter person. I have experienced my fair share of bitter people and no one ever wants to be caught alone with a bitter person.
            While the outcome of various situations in life that we are thrust and thrown into may be terrifying or embarrassing, there are always two different ways that they could end. Terrible situation have the ability to make or break a person. These situations with a hopeful or positive or encouraging twist can make a person pleasant to be around. On the opposite side of the spectrum, if a person has a bitter or sour spirit hidden within them, it can be torture for others to have to be in their presence. Positive light within people create positive people and positive situation, but negative people become sour, bitter, and spoiled, and everyone detests spending time with them. We reap what we sow; so sow some hopeful outlooks on life, and reap quality time with people that everyone enjoys.

Live life. It's waiting

By Amanda Gasbarro

Three and a half years ago, I was about to graduate college from the University of Central Florida. I had an excellent GPA and excelled in my classes. I had lots of friends and was very busy with my sorority. I lived a happy, supportive apartment with three of my closest friends, and I was on the path to what I’d been working for during the past four years. I was also internally dreading graduation with every fiber of my being.

I felt a black cloud looming over the day I was done with school because I knew in my heart my major of Advertising was not what I wanted to do and be for the rest of my life. The year before, I forced myself to get an internship because it was required for graduation. I did what I had to do. I got through it.

As graduation loomed for me, I looked around and saw that many of my classmates were on their 2nd or 3rd internship because they enjoyed them and were planning for jobs here and in New York City. My only plans were to move back home and look for jobs there. I did everything I was supposed to do. I thought that was enough, but then as the year was ending I had to face reality.

I didn’t want to work in Advertising. I was great at it and I had the skills for it, but I didn’t want to do it. It hadn’t occurred to me before then that even mattered. I thought you choose a path that you can do and you do it. This was what my parents and teachers taught me. This was what my friends were doing. I thought I was doing it. I just wasn’t doing it for me.

When I realized that I had to force myself through every interview for internships or future jobs, I was incredibly unhappy with my life. As I was turned down for interview after interview and all I felt was relief, I knew I had to realize that I probably wasn’t getting those jobs because I wasn’t eager to have them, and that surely came across. So I moved back home and my whole life felt like it was falling apart.

I was 22, back in my parents house, without a job, and even worse unsure where to go from there because all the knowledge and skills I had were for somewhere I didn’t want to be.

I felt stuck and lost, pressured from my family, and scared. I also began questioning everything. I had done everything I was supposed to. How could life do this to me? How could I find my true path? It was through those vastly important questions that I began to search for the answers. What I found not only changed my path, it changed my attitude and my whole life.

With the time I had at home, I began spending time alone and getting to know myself for myself. Things from why I’d been on the path I was on to my favorite color.

My mom had also been very spiritual and she gave me books such as A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle and showed me programs such as The Secret. Those things helped tremendously. I learned that life wasn’t happening to me, life was happening for me. I had the control and in fact I always had been in control. The only person who’d know what I wanted from life was me.

In the past I’d simply let my parents, teachers, and friends guide me in the right path, and I trusted them. I also never thought about what I wanted and never questioned things for myself, and that wasn’t good. When I researched the law of attraction and realized that I had the power to do what I wanted to do, have and give the energy I wanted, and be grateful for the things I had, everything changed.

I began reading a lot, and I realized I had a real love of reading, and stories, and the written word. I also discovered that I enjoyed making up my own stories, and writing them down. In school I was told that I wasn’t a very skilled writer and it never occurred to me that they might be wrong, or that I could write anyway if I enjoyed it. I also went back to the things that I knew, and tried to make career paths from them, because while I lived at home, I still had to work.

I always enjoyed working with children and found that I could substitute at local private schools with just my college degree. I also went away for the summer to work as a counselor at a camp. The more I did things that I liked, the more ideas about what I wanted began to form. I realized I loved helping people. Once I had ideas about things I liked, I followed the law of attraction and began to visualize having and doing the things I liked. Over the past three years, I followed my intuitions and continued learning about myself and seeing the difference in my attitude about life.

Two years ago, I bought The Secret audio-book and listened to it nearly everyday. I made visions board, and I wrote. I wrote a lot. I ended writing a fiction fantasy book and self-publishing it on Amazon. To my amazement other people actually read it, and actually liked it. Since then I’ve written and published two books, and have made money and fans from them.

I also realized through substitute teaching that I loved working with children and I liked working one on one with them to help them. I began substituting with the county school system and talked with many professionals about my interests, especially helping kids. I’ve since realized that the position of guidance counselor is exactly the position I want.

Last year, I decided, after two years of struggling for a career that I was going back to school. I was going to get my graduate degree and become a guidance counselor. I was going to have my own car for the first time, I was going to get a book published by a traditional publisher, and I was going to Europe for the first time in my life. All these things, I visualized and believed that I could do. I was happier, my energy had shifted, and life was exciting. More importantly, I felt grateful for everything I had and I expressed that often, and found more people wanted to be around me.

In the past few months, I got a new job to pay for graduate school at a bookstore. I applied to graduate school. I was able to buy my own car. I started listening to The Secret in my car every time I drove to work. I met a friend at work who wanted to write a book with me, and her aunt is a publisher in New York. She is now anxiously awaiting our final product as we are half way done with it.

I also met a friend who wanted to go to Europe as well. She came into my life at the exact right time. We saved up for seven months worth of money and because I believed I could afford it and I believed that the universe would help me get what I want. I worked hard and we went in October. When I got to my hotel room in Paris, France, my WiFi kicked in, and I received an email that I got into the program at my alma mater and accepted into the school counseling program.

Now I’ve never been happier. I see the good and the positive side of things. I inspect closely my own thoughts and opinions as well as the thoughts and opinions of others. I work toward the things that I want and visualize them. I have the things I always wanted and that includes a future I can believe in. My family as always is extremely supportive and not a day goes by that they don’t mention how happy they are that I’m happy, and proud of me they are that I’m finally seeing the things that I want, and reaching for them. Even things I’ve tried but failed only encourage me to keep pushing forward.

Once I fell flat on face, I was able to get back up. I realized then that I would be ok no matter what because it’s my thoughts and beliefs that guide my actions, and according to the law of attraction, I have the control to change my life and bring my energy up, which coincidentally helps lift up the energy of the people around me.

I’m beginning graduate school in January 2015 and while I don’t have all the money I need to afford it yet, I have faith that I will. I already see myself getting this scholarship and many more. I’m already grateful to have it. I feel immense gratitude toward you and this company for allowing me this chance and funding to pursue my dreams. I know that I can help others in my field of choice and as a future guidance counselor, I can’t wait to inspire kids to be what they want to be.

Positive thinking, gratitude and the power of love

By Jeanne Licurse
Kripalu
Yogapata

“There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude, a quiet joy.”  Ralph H. Blum

On August 28, 2011, I woke to sound of rushing water. When I looked outside to investigate, I found a river had replaced the road called “Big Hollow” which runs through the valley of it’s namesake. Hurricane Irene was just getting warmed up as she destroyed homes, businesses and towns in the northern Catskill mountain’s.

The year prior to this devastating storm, I used my entire savings to purchase an 1865 fixer-upper farmhouse that required an enormous amount of work. My son and I sanded floors, scraped, painted and put up insulation. We persevered through what seemed at the time to be insurmountable problems and God blessed us for our courage time and time again. Positive thinking, grace and gratitude were the diet we lived on as we brought this beautiful old gem back to life. Now this terrible storm threatened to destroy all we had worked for.

As the hurricane waters rose, so did our fears. We watched as the water ripped through my car as if it were a toy model. The old laid up stone basement was filling up faster than I thought possible. Panic was mounting. Once again God stepped in and quietly reminded me to use my gifts. As single mother of 2 children I have learned to be creative and resourceful. As a yoga teacher working with traumatized teens I have learned to “Keep calm and carry on.”

I calmed my mind long enough to come up with a brilliant idea: “We have to build a dam!” I said. “With WHAT??” my teen-age son cried back. “With the 2 cords of firewood” I replied. Knowing the topography at the corner of the house where the major flow of water was entering helped me picture in my minds eye how a dam would be the perfect solution...if only we had enough time.  We set to work as a team, I held down logs as my son stacked more and more wood and our dam took shape. We used rocks from a stone wall I was building to weigh down the front end. We completed our dam within seconds of the water rising enough to potentially rip the house off of it’s foundation. We waited inside, soaking, shivering and desperate for the winds die down and the waters to recede. Would our dam hold as the storm raged on? Once again, positive thinking kept my head above water  (pun intended J). I felt confident that the inspiration that I had received was a sound and solid idea and that it would hold fast and true to it’s function.

I focused on gratitude for the idea and the image of the dam that was taking a terrible pounding from Mother Nature and yet still remained intact. I felt grateful for the opportunity to teach my son how to respond in a crisis and even more grateful that he was so instrumental in saving our home from disaster.

Although we sustained a lot of unwelcome damage from Irene’s unfriendly hospitality, we ultimately gained so much in terms of fortitude, courage, gratitude and love. In the weeks that followed, my son worked 16 hour’s a day helping others in the community who suffered tremendous loss, he became a hero and was well on his way to manhood.

When phone service was finally restored and I spoke to my sister in Pittsburgh. She asked me how much damage there was and I told her “Well, I always wanted waterfront property!” She laughed and later commented on how God had blessed me with an optimistic spirit and it was shining through despite my apprehension and sorrow at the time.

This inherent ability to problem solve creatively and optimistically has helped me cope with loss, conquer adversity and ultimately has given my life purpose and meaning as I teach holistic principles to the young and the young at heart. Looking back I wish I had had a teacher or mentor who helped me develop my gifts exponentially. It is my goal to help children and teens develop their brains with a positive mind-set and an indomitable spirit through Mindful Movement (yoga), Nutrition and Natural Gourmet Culinary classes.  I believe positive thinking should be taught and practiced and I have made it my mission to do so.

Being the seventh of ten children I did not have the opportunity to go to college when I graduated from high school.  I have pursued my education at night and on weekends and received several certifications as an early childhood Montessori teacher and as a homeopathic practitioner.  Finally my passion for holistic education led me to yoga and I received my training in Kripalu’s “Yoga in the Schools”. I started my own non-profit holistic health educational company and I am presently teaching teens in 2 schools in upstate N.Y.

I would be eternally grateful to receive a scholarship in order to continue my education in my 500-hour yoga certification and brain research, I have completed one module at Kriplau, MA, I have 3 more modules to complete. I also wish to study at Yogapata, CT in their “Yogaversity: Anatomy and Body Mechanics modules.   Particularly I wish to pursue studying the brain with mindfulness practices so that I can teach my students how brain science supports using our minds in a greater capacity to realize our full creative potential.

Imagine lessons in positive problem solving and envisioning (or Joe Vitale’s Nevillizing J) affirmative outcomes from a very early age! What if young people learned how to solve old problems in new ways and stayed open to as much feedback as possible? How different would the world be if they had assignments in how to turn disappointment and resentment into something good?

Practices such as Ho’ ponopono are capable of shifting the brain quickly in moments of anger or stress. I can just imagine children reciting it playfully to one another just as they recited Shakespeare’s Sonnet #18 on the playground during basketball practice one year. I had given the assignment as a playful punitive measure after 2 boys committed some harmless transgression. They had 2 weeks to memorize the sonnet and recite it to their mother’s on Mother’s Day.  In a matter of days, all of the boys were yelling out lines and improvising in wonderful and fantastic ways. I was astonished.  It taught me a great lesson in the power of love (my assigning them Shakespeare) over the irritation I initially felt with the boy’s inappropriate behavior.

My goal is my passion: to further my trainings in 2 excellent yoga schools, to grow my children’s and teens programs, film a documentary about the impact of holistic education and write books about it all. My dream is to take holistic health to the next level by introducing these principles and practices in our schools. Furthering my education will help me accomplish these goals.

Thank you for considering me for an Achieve scholarship!

Always believe in the Law of Attraction

By Aditya Deotale


Lord Buddha rightly said that “What we are today comes from our thoughts of yesterday, and our present thoughts build our life of tomorrow: Our life is the creation of our mind.”

This thought is enough to explain what law of attraction is. Action follows our thought. It’s a mind process which gets converted into actions. If you think you can do something you will do it and if you think you can’t you really cannot do it. Most of the people are unknown to law of attraction but those who know it often don’t believe in its power. But time is changing so are the people. They are trying to know what law of attraction is and are practicing it in their daily life.

I have been lucky as I understood the power of law of attraction very early in my life while people take entire life and do not understand its meaning.

In our school we used to have a student representative. The position of student representative was considered as a very prestigious position. Like every other student I too wanted to become a student representative. Teachers nominate three boys and three girls from 10th grade and this students are eligible for contesting elections for student’s representative. This students used to go in every class and used to appeal for votes. When I first saw them appealing for votes, I was so excited that I went home, stood in front of the mirror and tried to ask for votes. I decided that one day I will also go in every class and ask for votes. I started dreaming myself asking for votes.

In our school we used to have events like Independence Day and Republic day. I saw the way the students representative leaded the school. I was amazed after seeing their power and their responsibility. I started seeing myself in their shoes. I started practicing marching in my home in front of the mirror. This continued for four years. I was thinking and dreaming of it for nearly four years and I think it paid off.  

When I was in 10th grade teacher nominated for the student representative’s position, but I was not present on that day in the school as I was having fever. If I am not present I could not contest the election. But at the same day, principal had to go for an urgent meeting. So the election was postponed and I was lucky. I knew that I have to go the next day in order to contest the elections. I was having high fever but I still went as I wanted to become the student representative. I won the election and became the student representative. My dream which I saw from last four years everyday was completed. I thought this was written in my destiny. This was the first time when I experienced law of attraction.

In our country, studying abroad especially (USA) is considered as a very prestigious thing. As I was born my grandfather saw me and said that I will go abroad for higher studies. Whenever I used to see Hollywood movies, the school used to amaze me. I used to think that one day I will also go abroad, get a scholarship, learn a lot and then serve my country.

When I was in high school I wanted to join IIM (Indian institute of management). I cleared the aptitude test and was also selected for the interview. Only 120 students from all over India are selected. I was confident that I will get selected in the interview. But I was in waiting list. So I decided to come to ASU. Now I am feeling happy that I was not selected for the interview, because if I would have been selected I would not have been able to witness such a beautiful country with a beautiful culture. So whatever I dreamt in my childhood came true because of some or the other reasons.

As financial condition of my family is not that good I always wanted a scholarship so that I can give relief to my family in some or the other way. I believe in law of attraction and it had never disappointed me so far. So I can surely say that I will also get this scholarship. I believe in law of attraction and most importantly I believe in myself so I think there is no reason why I should not get this scholarship.

Law of attraction has indeed given me a new life. Some people even after knowing this fact keep ignoring its power. They don’t realize that their mind has immense power and their destiny is in their own hands. The most important thing in law of attraction is to have faith and belief in it. We should not speak out our dreams in public and keep it in ourselves. Just believe in yourself and your mind. Whatever you want you will definitely get it. I wrote a small poem for law of attraction. It is as follows.

Always have belief in law of attraction.
Whatever people says, just never get distraction

At last I just have one thing to tell.
Law of attraction can even bring you out of hell.

Persist in thinking negative thoughts over a period of time they will appear in your life
By Arie'yana Easterling

William Clement Stone stated it himself, “Whatever the mind… can conceive it can achieve”. Our job as humans is to hold on to the thoughts of what we want. It’s amazing how we can make it absolutely clear in our minds what we utterly desire, and from that, we start to invoke one of the greatest laws in the universe—the Law of Attraction. You become and attract what you think about most. My life right now is a reflection of my past thoughts. These thoughts can range from the beautifully conscientious to the perpetual brood of unfortunate events. Since you attract to you what you think about most, it is easy to see what you dominant thoughts have been on every subject of your life, because that is what you have experienced. Learning that thoughts are magnetic, and produce a powerful frequency into the universe in the impeccable novel, “Secret” by Rhonda Byrne—I’ve tried to evince interest in taking care of my human transmission tower. Some may believe that through fortnight, your thoughts aren’t easily immutable. Your thought process can change in a matter of days, hours, minutes, even seconds if you just take the time and release any negative frequencies you may currently have. It thrills me to hear compliments such as “I can’t help but smile when I’m around you; you have such a joyful aura”. Creating a positive atmosphere around you will cause people to greater enjoy their company with you.

My senior year in high school was the incipient of the spread of my positive transmissions. Through leadership and empowerment, laconically, I was able to positively affect various people in my life. The very essence of leadership is to have to have a plausible vision. It has to be a vision you articulate clearly and forcefully on every occasion. You can’t blow an uncertain trumpet. However, you can set feasible long term and short term goals on a whim. Demonstrating the true essence of leadership is a task that can easily be accomplished while keeping the following in mind: conquer the challenge of leadership by being strong, but not obnoxiously rude; be kind-hearted, but not weak; be bold, but not a bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but never timid; be proud, but not arrogant; and have humor, but without folly. Throughout my eighteen years of living, I’ve been blessed to uphold various leadership positions in my school environment, as well as within my community. “Be strong, but not obnoxiously rude”; junior year of high school, I matriculated up the hierarchy of band rapidly once I was announced Drum Major of the Marching Band. No longer was I just a saxophonist who marched within the sea of 140+ musicians down the street, I was now high-stepping and leading them the way. As a 5’4 female drum major, it was vital for me to prove that I was mentally, physically, and emotionally able endure the task of leading. I withstood perpetual workouts and debasing comments for my stature… but little did they know; I am a tenacious individual who will never give up “that easily”.  “Be humble, but never timid; be bold, but not a bully”; as captain of the Varsity Softball and Varsity Volleyball team, I was able to work with various groups of girls throughout the years. I was able to thoroughly teach essential techniques of the game as well as encourage my teammates to be better than they were the day before. I could never witness my teammate hold their head down with shame after making and error or minor mistake during the game, so I would instantly attempt to lift their spirits by affectionately saying “Tigers never shed a tear. Now go get ‘em”. “Be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but never timid”; being a proud member of a community service organization, Theta Phi Delta, has helped me grow not only as a woman but as a citizen as well. The organization exposed me to people of various age ranges all over the state of North Carolina. I was able to conduct a community service project to support the mentally-ill elderly at the Skilled Creations Center. My fellow members and I were able to have a festive Christmas bonding, with presents, performances, singing and plenty of love to shed. The feeling of making another citizen smile once again has always been my passion, and I aspire to never let that ambition die.

It really does take many negative thoughts and persistent negative thinking to bring something negative into your life. However, if you persist in thinking negative thoughts over a period of time, they will appear in your life. If you worry about having negative thoughts, you will attract more worrying about your negative thoughts and multiply them at the same time.  My aunt always told me, “If you pray, don’t worry; and if you worry, don’t pray”. This statement has stuck with me since a very young age and I will continue to live by it for the rest of my life. One must decide that, right now, they are going to think only good thoughts. At the same time, one must proclaim to the universe that all of your good thoughts are powerful and inexorable, any negative thoughts are weak and your leadership will shine.

Let it go

By Jennifer Mesika
University of Central Florida

“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them,” Maya Angelou.

The human mind is an extremely powerful tool. The thoughts we allow to exist in our minds have the potential to influence our daily lives. Negative and positive thoughts hold a bearing on our actions. Many times instead of seeking to control the thoughts inside our heads, we instead, try to control the outside world. Unfortunately, for the past four years of my life, I fell victim to this concept. I allowed a major family issue to take over my thoughts and actions.  It took me until the age of twenty-two to realize certain situations are out of my control. That no matter how hard I try to be a mediator, or a hero, some things will never change. Yet, through these life-changing experiences, I have come out a smarter person, a person who understands that I can only have a great influence on what goes on in my life. A person can only do the best they can possibly do, whether it comes to building relationships with people or establishing a successful career. Once you put in your one hundred percent, the rest lies in the Universe’s hands.

            As my junior year as an undergrad student at the University of Florida began, so did many issues at home. My family went from having the average, middle class family problems, to a situation that tore us apart emotionally. My younger sister, Sarah, the baby of the family, began suffering from deep depression and an eating disorder. Till this day, we are not sure where her mental issues derived from, or what triggered them. For years my family and I tried to piece together the problem, but it was too hard to solve. As my sister’s keeper I only wanted to be strong for her and give her the best advice. There were times where I could hear her vomiting her dinner or hurting herself. Slowly by slowly I saw her hair fall out, her muscles weaken, her teeth changing colors, and her lack of energy for daily activities. The once go lucky, happy sister I knew was now a sad soul. As the older sister, I felt awful about her eating disorder. I wanted to help her so bad that I took my focus away from school and the things I loved to pay attention to my sister. I spent months making her situation the focal point of my life. After all, she is my sister, and I love her. Yet, in those months of countless late night talks on the phone with her, and advice giving, nothing helped. She continued to suffer from the disorder. At that point, I felt so powerless that I too fell into sadness from it. I lost focus on my schoolwork, I didn’t have fun hanging out with friends, and I became quick to anger. I allowed my sisters situation to control me. My sister continued to battle her disorder for another year, and as my senior year came about, I still felt terrible for not being able to fix her problems. Her problems caused my parents to fight more, they caused mom to cry more, and seeing your mother cry is probably the worst sight of all. There were two things that helped me see the light at the end of the tunnel, my amazing friends, and my own ability to overcome tough obstacles. Through therapy sessions with a best friend of mine, and self-realization I was able to think positively. I read countless inspirational quotes, took advice from people who went through similar situations and used my own thinking to realize that I can not allow all these negative situations surrounding me to affect my thought patterns. There was no way I could control my sister’s life and cure her disease, no matter how hard I tried. Presently, my sister is a recovered bulimic. I am sure my advice helped a little, but what really helped my sister was herself. She chose a route that she thought would make her better and that was moving of my parent’s house and starting a family with her boyfriend. Now, she is happy more then ever.  Her choice had nothing to do with me. I spent hours and months grinding a situation in my mind that my sister resolved on her own. Although I allowed this to control my mind, I will never regret trying my hardest. But I have learned immensely from this situation. You will never be able to control something outside of yourself. It is almost impossible. For some reason, as humans, we feel the need to have control because it gives us power. We want to control everything we see. How about instead of trying to control the outside, physical world, we try to control our thoughts. Let’s try to always think positive, and if something bothers us, then simply don’t think about it, or don’t allow it to control how we behave. If we can do this, then we have achieved the ultimate power of control, the control of the human mind.

The gap is widening. The clock is ticking. "Youth suicide"

By Vanshdeep Parmar
Texas A&M University

“I will kill myself, if you don’t agree” said, a young lad in his late teens. This is one of the unavoidable clichés given by a student who is clambering his life through the entangled chains of adolescence. The grey celled human brain is like a piece of parchment which is monitored by the essence of socio-governed society. The evolution of committing suicide lies in the matter when someone causes a virtual resistance. Every now and then, we lend our ears to a devastating report in which a teenager falls for an emotional catastrophe.
The problem is not that WHAT HAS HAPPENED? The problem is that WHY IT HAS HAPPENED?
The problem lies in the grassroots from where “The Step to Death” has risen. Without even thinking about those who cuddled us when we were blue, without even thinking about those fought for wrong things we did, without even thinking about those who embraced us with unconditional love, we fall for a contingent decision like prey. Committing suicide has always been and will be a notion of the coward. Someone who is reluctant to face the red-eyed society is a product of poor upbringing and unhealthy living conditions.
After looking at a lot people around me suffering from this emotional loss of confidence, I decided to join hands with “AASHA”, a non-profit crisis intervention centre for lonely, depressed and suicidal in India. With the aim of active listening, our organization fights for mental illness which is formulated as a result of various porcupine situations in a person’s life. These ordeals may include financial problems, academic failures, joint/nuclear family problems, parental or peer pressure which suffocates the life of the unfortunate and results into disturbing consequences.
Anti-depressant drugs and governmental funded conferences could only halt teenagers for a while, but what will happen to those who are driving
their lives to a full stop, those who are not projected to the final encounter, and those who are still penetrating in the penultimate shell of death. According to a recent report, 3 out of every 10 students are in a dilemma of choosing death over life. The questions may be a million, but the solutions to this problem are limited.
Lack of self-awareness is one of the biggest curses to mankind. A human being is unable to comprehend HIS/HER utility.
WHO AM I?
The answer to this question is very difficult. We are so engrossed in others, that we have forgotten ourselves. According to Charles Darwin theory, “Survival of the Fittest” turns out to be the most appropriate in this scenario. Playing mental games, inflated ego among peers, society pressure, green leaves (money) add up to a pot pourri of emotions. Every bit and piece of this emotional saga has to be dealt with utmost care, because a lost string in the guitar would push life more closer to the cliff.
We receive numerous phone calls from various people (mostly students) and through our method of active listening, we try to counter and alleviate their nerve wrecking problems. Till now, we have resolved a lot of problems which have resulted in leading a productive, stress free and a balanced life. Through our tools of face to face counselling sessions, we have gone deep down inside the problems and have streamlined elements of nervous breakdown.
As a Masters student at Texas A&M University College Station, I intend to start an active learning program which can counsel those affected with this non voluntary eruptive diseases.

A better tomorrow

By Logan Thompson

It was early in the morning, my alarm was about to go off to let me know it was time to get ready for work.  My phone started ringing, my first thought was it was my wife, but when I looked at the caller ID, it was work. That is funny, I thought to myself as I picked up the call.

Me: “Hello?”

Boss: “Don’t bother coming in today. We are letting you go.”

Me: “What? Why?”

Boss: “I don’t have to tell you why, I need you to bring in your uniform as soon as you can.”

I called my wife who was living out of state at the time to tell her the news. I wasn’t sure what we were going to do, I had just got into an apartment and wasn’t sure if I was going to find another job before all of our bills were due. I could tell my wife was upset, but was trying to put a brave face on and not let me get too down.  She encouraged me to start looking right away for a new job and to go apply for a few that same day. This would be the start of a series of jobs and choices that would eventually lead me to the life that I love and am living now.

Choosing a career can be a hard decision, especially for someone like me with ADD and a tendency to get bored of things quickly. Choosing to go to school when you have a small family to support can be just as equally if not harder decision to make. Luckily for me, I have a supportive wife and the strong desire to get everything I want out of life to give me that extra shove that I need. Furthering my education has been tough. I have changed my career choice several times and finally feel like I have landed in a place where I could easily be happy and feel as though I am going to continually be challenged throughout my career. When I started out on my higher education journey, I had a difficult time connecting with the material and couldn’t get motivated to do any homework or even get good grades. I even struggled with understanding what my teachers were expecting from me. The first few years of school I could only seem to manage a 2.0 overall GPA.  I wasn’t sure what I was going to do, I didn’t think I could get in to any programs. It just took one advisor to hear me out and accepted me into the engineering program to get me started. I still struggled through my classes and with my teachers, but was doing better and started a spark of interest. When I heard of the program I am in now, I quickly changed and knew it was for the better. I am thriving in it! Since I started this program I have managed to pull a 4.0 GPA in every semester which has brought up my overall GPA.  Although it was tough getting here-job after job, starting a school program after program, it was those choices and experiences that have led me to where I am today.

Having restrictions in life only makes you appreciate the freedom you get. I LOVE the outdoors. I love doing everything outdoors. From rock climbing to dirt biking, to backpacking, to even hunting and fishing; I do it all and love doing it. I could live in the mountains and absolutely always enjoy my time there.  If I am not working or at school or at a family event, the mountains are where you can find me. I have really struggled the last few years with having a growing family, going to school, working, and still trying to find time to do what I love.  I have discovered that because I have this struggle, I really enjoy and fully take advantage of the time that I have in the mountains. I appreciate it more, I live more when I am there.

At the same time I feel as though my mind is like a sponge, just soaking up everything that I am learning because I have a renewed love and passion for the career field I am studying. I can’t get enough. I have even started small projects at home to help me broaden my knowledge. I feel like I am in a constant state of learning and growth and it feels so rejuvenating and lively. To my mind, learning is like a drug and I get a high from it and can’t seem to get enough of it.  Feeling this way is hard to contain and am already looking forward to when my boy is old enough to get him started in learning what I know now so he can have a better head start than I did.

I have three small children whom I love so very much and can’t wait to share my breadth of knowledge with. Having the attitude of success and learning is a contagious one. When I am learning and succeeding, I can see my children growing and succeeding in their lives. I feel as though I am living the dream that I have always had for myself. All my challenges are ways of opening my eyes to see a better day, a better future, a better here and now.

Turn a devastating situation into a brilliant one

By Madeline Baumgart
Grace College

There are always two different outcomes for any particular situation, one positive and the other negative.  It is up to the participants in each situation to decide for themselves how it will play out, and ultimately if the outcome will be positive or negative.  While the situation at hand may have a negative appearance, the outcome can still be quite positive if those involved make the effort to see the elements in a different light. Viewing the situation in a new perspective is all one may need to turn a devastating situation into a brilliant one.
            Reminiscing back several years ago, there have been numerous times when a bad situation in my life could have been far worse without a the little positive outlook that I clung to. Imagine yourself driving in your car, after recently having received your brand new license in the post. The first place you seem to want to drive to is a friends house for a party; however, it is around Christmas time and you have never visited this friend’s home previously. Directions in hand, you set out. The only specifics you have for  the appearance of this particular house is there is a row of pine trees out front. Driving along the road, you find a house with these specifics, and there appears to be a number of cars in the driveway. You pull in, and walk into the home. Walking through the corridor, you see a dining room, with China at each place setting, and after a few moments you reach the kitchen. The surprise waiting there is that you do not recognize anyone, and no one knows the person whom you are looking for. You have mistakenly walked into the wrong home. What are you going to do? Turn bright red, bow your head in shame and leave? Never. Say, “My mistake, I am sorry for crashing your party. Thank you for the invitation to come back if I can’t find the right party.” And you make your way to the door.
            While this situation of walking into the wrong house was extremely embarrassing, what it did do was give both yourself and this family a good story to laugh about for years to come. It taught you the lesson to always check the address before walking into a house that looks correct. The situation could have been far worse had you not kept a cool head, but it was not as horrible as it could have been.
            Another situation that comes to mind is just my entire high school experience. Imagine weeks before beginning high school discovering that you are in need of having surgery. But not just a simple in, out, done surgery; it is more complicated than that. Despite the four surgeries, and numerous doctor appointments endured throughout the time spent in high school, you never seem to have dampened spirits, and the smile never seems to fade from your face. Here the positivity in life seems to really show to those in your surroundings. Those around you give you numerous different reasons for such spirits, but there is one reason that stands far above the rest. Faith. Faith that Jesus died on the cross for your sins two-thousand years ago, and rose from the dead, and he is going to return. Knowing that your sins have been forgiven forever, why would you need to ever be sad or angry about anything; the worst parts of life have been defeated.
            While I have always seemed to hold the more hopeful attitude, one can always explore how a situation would end with the opposite outlook. The situation of walking into the wrong house could have scarred someone for the rest of their life, never again to go anywhere solo. A high school career full of surgeries could have scared someone aways from doctors or surgeons forever, or could have made them a very bitter person. I have experienced my fair share of bitter people and no one ever wants to be caught alone with a bitter person.
            While the outcome of various situations in life that we are thrust and thrown into may be terrifying or embarrassing, there are always two different ways that they could end. Terrible situation have the ability to make or break a person. These situations with a hopeful or positive or encouraging twist can make a person pleasant to be around. On the opposite side of the spectrum, if a person has a bitter or sour spirit hidden within them, it can be torture for others to have to be in their presence. Positive light within people create positive people and positive situation, but negative people become sour, bitter, and spoiled, and everyone detests spending time with them. We reap what we sow; so sow some hopeful outlooks on life, and reap quality time with people that everyone enjoys.

The power of positive thinking and focusing on things I can control

By Michael Cole

What is going to discuss is living in the now, the power of positive thinking and focusing on things I can control. Today is the age of technology and technology seems to be getting more advance as the years go on. Living in the now means that we live in the era of the technology,
which computers and cell phones are the future of the technology era. Living in the now today the social media has become more involved in today’s society everyone is on a social media network whether you on face book, twitter, snap chat or any other social media sites everyone is communicating on one of these social media sites. Today seems to be about the reality television series and there is not any television shows that are on the television, which makes people not want to watch television because these reality shows are about nonsense. Today it is a lot harder for people to find jobs all over the world because you have people that have degrees and college education that could not find a job in the field that they have degrees. With that being said this
makes people frustrated with the job market. In the world today the education process and the education structure is very bad. The education system does not educate the children anymore because you have teachers that will not stay after school to help the students that need help they
are just there for their check. Educators are not compassionate to the students’ needs and they rather fail students instead of help them. The education system wants the teachers, paraeducators, teacher’s assistants or anyone who works with school age children to hold their hands through their educational process, which does nothing for the children it hurts the children and it does not prepare the children success in life and success in college. 

The next topic that will be discussed is the power of positive thinking this is something that will help you in life no matter where you are at. Positive thinking is a key component that everyone needs to master because when you think positive about things then good things are bound to happen to you in your life. No matter what is going on in your life you have to think about positive things and think if you seek out God in your life nothing but positive things will come to you because you are seeking God in everything you do. Worrying or thinking negatively would only result to having bad things will happen in your life and this will have you to stress and be frustrated with your life. God would not put on you no more then what you could bare and that brings you success in your life so what I would say that give it to God so you can think positive instead of negative. I am one that believe thinking positive about my career because I have been subbing at the high school district as a para-educator, instructional aide and campus security since 2011 until November 2014 and I subbed at Piute Middle school in Lancaster as a campus supervisor which is security. With that being said I will be given a permanent job at Piute Middle school when we return back to school on January 12, 2014 this all because of my positive thinking, which I started claiming that job and praying to God that I would get the position. God answered my prayers along with thinking that I would get the job I never thought about they would not hire me for the position. This is a testimony that giving it to God would benefit to anyone in life.

The last thing that would be discussed is focusing on what I could control in my life. The things that I could control is finishing my bachelor degree in criminal justice so I could move to my master’s program in sports management, education, sports administration and getting into law school after I finish all these master programs. Another thing that I can control is my relationship with God and focus on helping my students that I coach and work with at the school and those at my church get to college. Helping these children with life skills that will prepare them for life after high school so they could be productive members of society. Making sure that our children know that they could go to college and know that I care about their future know that I care for them no matter what they do in life. The other thing that I could control what my family does in their life.

The power of an individual

By Michael Galfetti

The Power of an Individual. The power to change the world is within you. Take a look at history and you will see that the world is continually being shaped by humans. People with humble beginnings and people who started at an advantage. No matter who you are you have something within you that makes you powerful. Your individuality. Your perspective shaped from your life experiences is powerful. No one else has that and the world needs that. It is perspective that turns a problem upside down sees the solution to the previously unsolvable problem. The world does not need more people who are looking at things the same way, it needs people who look at things in ways they have never been seen before.  As we become more interconnected the amount of influence we have is almost unlimited. Make every interaction you have purposeful. To be purposeful means to act with intention. You see, every action has an intention behind it. Every hug says something. Every word carries an emotion. All of these things emanate from you and make you powerful. You have the power everyday to build or to destroy. Neither is better than the other, both are necessary at different times. You have to understand the power of yourself to decide. To make conscious decisions and act with purpose. When you understand the power of yourself you will see that you have such a heavy influence in the lives of those surrounding you. The lives of people you have never met can be changed by you. The most powerful thing about you is your unique perspective shaped from your past. The way you see the world is what resonates out from you and is received by the world, thus changing the world. The Power of the Individual is to recognize the place you have in the world. The weight you carry with your friends, family, and strangers. And to understand why your perspective makes you important and valued; how the world needs you because you are unique. The Power of the Individual is to foster that individuality and make it intentional. Take who you are the beautiful powerful individual that comprises you and give it intention. Breathe life into it. Understand your power and give it intention. Live this everyday. Wake up and know you are powerful, you are unique and powerful. You are exotic and have purpose. When you live your life like this you will see not only your life but the lives around you transform because of it. Living this principle has changed my life. I have purpose everyday because I am affecting people everyday. I am seeing my friends, I am talking to my family, I am letting my retweet reach people I have never seen before. Everything in life affects someone. The Power of the Individual is subtle. It does not overtake you one day, you live it every day. You spend time in those reflective moments and see how you have shaped those around you, how those people have gone on and reached others who you never could've impacted on your own. Understanding this changes how you view your life. It does not matter where you stand in an individual moment, you could be president or you could be a high schooler. Wherever you go you take your power with you. You carry it with you like a torch knowing you have purpose because you do. An individual is the most powerful thing on the planet.

Live life. It's waiting

By Amanda Gasbarro

Three and a half years ago, I was about to graduate college from the University of Central Florida. I had an excellent GPA and excelled in my classes. I had lots of friends and was very busy with my sorority. I lived a happy, supportive apartment with three of my closest friends, and I was on the path to what I’d been working for during the past four years. I was also internally dreading graduation with every fiber of my being.

I felt a black cloud looming over the day I was done with school because I knew in my heart my major of Advertising was not what I wanted to do and be for the rest of my life. The year before, I forced myself to get an internship because it was required for graduation. I did what I had to do. I got through it.

As graduation loomed for me, I looked around and saw that many of my classmates were on their 2nd or 3rd internship because they enjoyed them and were planning for jobs here and in New York City. My only plans were to move back home and look for jobs there. I did everything I was supposed to do. I thought that was enough, but then as the year was ending I had to face reality.

I didn’t want to work in Advertising. I was great at it and I had the skills for it, but I didn’t want to do it. It hadn’t occurred to me before then that even mattered. I thought you choose a path that you can do and you do it. This was what my parents and teachers taught me. This was what my friends were doing. I thought I was doing it. I just wasn’t doing it for me.

When I realized that I had to force myself through every interview for internships or future jobs, I was incredibly unhappy with my life. As I was turned down for interview after interview and all I felt was relief, I knew I had to realize that I probably wasn’t getting those jobs because I wasn’t eager to have them, and that surely came across. So I moved back home and my whole life felt like it was falling apart.

I was 22, back in my parents house, without a job, and even worse unsure where to go from there because all the knowledge and skills I had were for somewhere I didn’t want to be.

I felt stuck and lost, pressured from my family, and scared. I also began questioning everything. I had done everything I was supposed to. How could life do this to me? How could I find my true path? It was through those vastly important questions that I began to search for the answers. What I found not only changed my path, it changed my attitude and my whole life.

With the time I had at home, I began spending time alone and getting to know myself for myself. Things from why I’d been on the path I was on to my favorite color.

My mom had also been very spiritual and she gave me books such as A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle and showed me programs such as The Secret. Those things helped tremendously. I learned that life wasn’t happening to me, life was happening for me. I had the control and in fact I always had been in control. The only person who’d know what I wanted from life was me.

In the past I’d simply let my parents, teachers, and friends guide me in the right path, and I trusted them. I also never thought about what I wanted and never questioned things for myself, and that wasn’t good. When I researched the law of attraction and realized that I had the power to do what I wanted to do, have and give the energy I wanted, and be grateful for the things I had, everything changed.

I began reading a lot, and I realized I had a real love of reading, and stories, and the written word. I also discovered that I enjoyed making up my own stories, and writing them down. In school I was told that I wasn’t a very skilled writer and it never occurred to me that they might be wrong, or that I could write anyway if I enjoyed it. I also went back to the things that I knew, and tried to make career paths from them, because while I lived at home, I still had to work.

I always enjoyed working with children and found that I could substitute at local private schools with just my college degree. I also went away for the summer to work as a counselor at a camp. The more I did things that I liked, the more ideas about what I wanted began to form. I realized I loved helping people. Once I had ideas about things I liked, I followed the law of attraction and began to visualize having and doing the things I liked. Over the past three years, I followed my intuitions and continued learning about myself and seeing the difference in my attitude about life.

Two years ago, I bought The Secret audio-book and listened to it nearly everyday. I made visions board, and I wrote. I wrote a lot. I ended writing a fiction fantasy book and self-publishing it on Amazon. To my amazement other people actually read it, and actually liked it. Since then I’ve written and published two books, and have made money and fans from them.

I also realized through substitute teaching that I loved working with children and I liked working one on one with them to help them. I began substituting with the county school system and talked with many professionals about my interests, especially helping kids. I’ve since realized that the position of guidance counselor is exactly the position I want.

Last year, I decided, after two years of struggling for a career that I was going back to school. I was going to get my graduate degree and become a guidance counselor. I was going to have my own car for the first time, I was going to get a book published by a traditional publisher, and I was going to Europe for the first time in my life. All these things, I visualized and believed that I could do. I was happier, my energy had shifted, and life was exciting. More importantly, I felt grateful for everything I had and I expressed that often, and found more people wanted to be around me.

In the past few months, I got a new job to pay for graduate school at a bookstore. I applied to graduate school. I was able to buy my own car. I started listening to The Secret in my car every time I drove to work. I met a friend at work who wanted to write a book with me, and her aunt is a publisher in New York. She is now anxiously awaiting our final product as we are half way done with it.

I also met a friend who wanted to go to Europe as well. She came into my life at the exact right time. We saved up for seven months worth of money and because I believed I could afford it and I believed that the universe would help me get what I want. I worked hard and we went in October. When I got to my hotel room in Paris, France, my WiFi kicked in, and I received an email that I got into the program at my alma mater and accepted into the school counseling program.

  Now I’ve never been happier. I see the good and the positive side of things. I inspect closely my own thoughts and opinions as well as the thoughts and opinions of others. I work toward the things that I want and visualize them. I have the things I always wanted and that includes a future I can believe in. My family as always is extremely supportive and not a day goes by that they don’t mention how happy they are that I’m happy, and proud of me they are that I’m finally seeing the things that I want, and reaching for them. Even things I’ve tried but failed only encourage me to keep pushing forward.

Once I fell flat on face, I was able to get back up. I realized then that I would be ok no matter what because it’s my thoughts and beliefs that guide my actions, and according to the law of attraction, I have the control to change my life and bring my energy up, which coincidentally helps lift up the energy of the people around me.

I’m beginning graduate school in January 2015 and while I don’t have all the money I need to afford it yet, I have faith that I will. I already see myself getting this scholarship and many more. I’m already grateful to have it. I feel immense gratitude toward you and this company for allowing me this chance and funding to pursue my dreams. I know that I can help others in my field of choice and as a future guidance counselor, I can’t wait to inspire kids to be what they want to be.

Positive thinking, gratitude and the power of love

By Jeanne Licurse

“There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude, a quiet joy.”  Ralph H. Blum

On August 28, 2011, I woke to sound of rushing water. When I looked outside to investigate, I found a river had replaced the road called “Big Hollow” which runs through the valley of it’s namesake. Hurricane Irene was just getting warmed up as she destroyed homes, businesses and towns in the northern Catskill mountain’s.

The year prior to this devastating storm, I used my entire savings to purchase an 1865 fixer-upper farmhouse that required an enormous amount of work. My son and I sanded floors, scraped, painted and put up insulation. We persevered through what seemed at the time to be insurmountable problems and God blessed us for our courage time and time again. Positive thinking, grace and gratitude were the diet we lived on as we brought this beautiful old gem back to life. Now this terrible storm threatened to destroy all we had worked for.

As the hurricane waters rose, so did our fears. We watched as the water ripped through my car as if it were a toy model. The old laid up stone basement was filling up faster than I thought possible. Panic was mounting. Once again God stepped in and quietly reminded me to use my gifts. As single mother of 2 children I have learned to be creative and resourceful. As a yoga teacher working with traumatized teens I have learned to “Keep calm and carry on.”

I calmed my mind long enough to come up with a brilliant idea: “We have to build a dam!” I said. “With WHAT??” my teen-age son cried back. “With the 2 cords of firewood” I replied. Knowing the topography at the corner of the house where the major flow of water was entering helped me picture in my minds eye how a dam would be the perfect solution...if only we had enough time.  We set to work as a team, I held down logs as my son stacked more and more wood and our dam took shape. We used rocks from a stone wall I was building to weigh down the front end. We completed our dam within seconds of the water rising enough to potentially rip the house off of it’s foundation. We waited inside, soaking, shivering and desperate for the winds die down and the waters to recede. Would our dam hold as the storm raged on? Once again, positive thinking kept my head above water  (pun intended J). I felt confident that the inspiration that I had received was a sound and solid idea and that it would hold fast and true to it’s function.

I focused on gratitude for the idea and the image of the dam that was taking a terrible pounding from Mother Nature and yet still remained intact. I felt grateful for the opportunity to teach my son how to respond in a crisis and even more grateful that he was so instrumental in saving our home from disaster.

Although we sustained a lot of unwelcome damage from Irene’s unfriendly hospitality, we ultimately gained so much in terms of fortitude, courage, gratitude and love. In the weeks that followed, my son worked 16 hour’s a day helping others in the community who suffered tremendous loss, he became a hero and was well on his way to manhood.

When phone service was finally restored and I spoke to my sister in Pittsburgh. She asked me how much damage there was and I told her “Well, I always wanted waterfront property!” She laughed and later commented on how God had blessed me with an optimistic spirit and it was shining through despite my apprehension and sorrow at the time.

This inherent ability to problem solve creatively and optimistically has helped me cope with loss, conquer adversity and ultimately has given my life purpose and meaning as I teach holistic principles to the young and the young at heart. Looking back I wish I had had a teacher or mentor who helped me develop my gifts exponentially. It is my goal to help children and teens develop their brains with a positive mind-set and an indomitable spirit through Mindful Movement (yoga), Nutrition and Natural Gourmet Culinary classes.  I believe positive thinking should be taught and practiced and I have made it my mission to do so.

Being the seventh of ten children I did not have the opportunity to go to college when I graduated from high school.  I have pursued my education at night and on weekends and received several certifications as an early childhood Montessori teacher and as a homeopathic practitioner.  Finally my passion for holistic education led me to yoga and I received my training in Kripalu’s “Yoga in the Schools”. I started my own non-profit holistic health educational company and I am presently teaching teens in 2 schools in upstate N.Y.

I would be eternally grateful to receive a scholarship in order to continue my education in my 500-hour yoga certification and brain research, I have completed one module at Kriplau, MA, I have 3 more modules to complete. I also wish to study at Yogapata, CT in their “Yogaversity: Anatomy and Body Mechanics modules.   Particularly I wish to pursue studying the brain with mindfulness practices so that I can teach my students how brain science supports using our minds in a greater capacity to realize our full creative potential.

Imagine lessons in positive problem solving and envisioning (or Joe Vitale’s Nevillizing J) affirmative outcomes from a very early age! What if young people learned how to solve old problems in new ways and stayed open to as much feedback as possible? How different would the world be if they had assignments in how to turn disappointment and resentment into something good?

Practices such as Ho’ ponopono are capable of shifting the brain quickly in moments of anger or stress. I can just imagine children reciting it playfully to one another just as they recited Shakespeare’s Sonnet #18 on the playground during basketball practice one year. I had given the assignment as a playful punitive measure after 2 boys committed some harmless transgression. They had 2 weeks to memorize the sonnet and recite it to their mother’s on Mother’s Day.  In a matter of days, all of the boys were yelling out lines and improvising in wonderful and fantastic ways. I was astonished.  It taught me a great lesson in the power of love (my assigning them Shakespeare) over the irritation I initially felt with the boy’s inappropriate behavior.

My goal is my passion: to further my trainings in 2 excellent yoga schools, to grow my children’s and teens programs, film a documentary about the impact of holistic education and write books about it all. My dream is to take holistic health to the next level by introducing these principles and practices in our schools. Furthering my education will help me accomplish these goals. 

My life right now is a reflection of my past thoughts

By Arieyana Easterling

William Clement Stone stated it himself, “Whatever the mind… can conceive it can achieve”. Our job as humans is to hold on to the thoughts of what we want. It’s amazing how we can make it absolutely clear in our minds what we utterly desire, and from that, we start to invoke one of the greatest laws in the universe—the Law of Attraction. You become and attract what you think about most. My life right now is a reflection of my past thoughts. These thoughts can range from the beautifully conscientious to the perpetual brood of unfortunate events. Since you attract to you what you think about most, it is easy to see what you dominant thoughts have been on every subject of your life, because that is what you have experienced. Learning that thoughts are magnetic, and produce a powerful frequency into the universe in the impeccable novel, “Secret” by Rhonda Byrne—I’ve tried to evince interest in taking care of my human transmission tower. Some may believe that through fortnight, your thoughts aren’t easily immutable. Your thought process can change in a matter of days, hours, minutes, even seconds if you just take the time and release any negative frequencies you may currently have. It thrills me to hear compliments such as “I can’t help but smile when I’m around you; you have such a joyful aura”. Creating a positive atmosphere around you will cause people to greater enjoy their company with you.

My senior year in high school was the incipient of the spread of my positive transmissions. Through leadership and empowerment, laconically, I was able to positively affect various people in my life. The very essence of leadership is to have to have a plausible vision. It has to be a vision you articulate clearly and forcefully on every occasion. You can’t blow an uncertain trumpet. However, you can set feasible long term and short term goals on a whim. Demonstrating the true essence of leadership is a task that can easily be accomplished while keeping the following in mind: conquer the challenge of leadership by being strong, but not obnoxiously rude; be kind-hearted, but not weak; be bold, but not a bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but never timid; be proud, but not arrogant; and have humor, but without folly. Throughout my eighteen years of living, I’ve been blessed to uphold various leadership positions in my school environment, as well as within my community. “Be strong, but not obnoxiously rude”; junior year of high school, I matriculated up the hierarchy of band rapidly once I was announced Drum Major of the Marching Band. No longer was I just a saxophonist who marched within the sea of 140+ musicians down the street, I was now high-stepping and leading them the way. As a 5’4 female drum major, it was vital for me to prove that I was mentally, physically, and emotionally able endure the task of leading. I withstood perpetual workouts and debasing comments for my stature… but little did they know; I am a tenacious individual who will never give up “that easily”.  “Be humble, but never timid; be bold, but not a bully”; as captain of the Varsity Softball and Varsity Volleyball team, I was able to work with various groups of girls throughout the years. I was able to thoroughly teach essential techniques of the game as well as encourage my teammates to be better than they were the day before. I could never witness my teammate hold their head down with shame after making and error or minor mistake during the game, so I would instantly attempt to lift their spirits by affectionately saying “Tigers never shed a tear. Now go get ‘em”. “Be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but never timid”; being a proud member of a community service organization, Theta Phi Delta, has helped me grow not only as a woman but as a citizen as well. The organization exposed me to people of various age ranges all over the state of North Carolina. I was able to conduct a community service project to support the mentally-ill elderly at the Skilled Creations Center. My fellow members and I were able to have a festive Christmas bonding, with presents, performances, singing and plenty of love to shed. The feeling of making another citizen smile once again has always been my passion, and I aspire to never let that ambition die.

It really does take many negative thoughts and persistent negative thinking to bring something negative into your life. However, if you persist in thinking negative thoughts over a period of time, they will appear in your life. If you worry about having negative thoughts, you will attract more worrying about your negative thoughts and multiply them at the same time.  My aunt always told me, “If you pray, don’t worry; and if you worry, don’t pray”. This statement has stuck with me since a very young age and I will continue to live by it for the rest of my life. One must decide that, right now, they are going to think only good thoughts. At the same time, one must proclaim to the universe that all of your good thoughts are powerful and inexorable, any negative thoughts are weak and your leadership will shine.

Law of Attractions Grand Influence

By Francesco Incandela

A more recent development of my moral fiber has been that one’s outlook and actions has a profound impact on the progression of his or her life. I have found that doing good, helping others, and being optimistic will produce good energy; even if this was not immediate or always evident, I persist and continue believing that the positives will bring about more positives. In the past, I have had a pessimistic perspective on all aspects of life; I believed that if I never expected more than what was absolutely necessary, I would never be disappointed. Unfortunately, this ideology greatly reduced my quality of life; I justified my negative outlook by assigning my mindset as realistic. Over time, I found that this perpetuated negative outcomes: nothing seemed positive and others around me reflected this depressive ideology. It wasn’t until my second year of college did I realize this. From that moment on, I knew I had to change my entire being; implementing an ideology that coincided with the Law of Attraction encapsulated the solution.
            To begin, my relationship with my girlfriend participated in a metamorphosis. Throughout our freshman year of college, I assigned a significant portion of my energy, attention, and life to my academic endeavors. Although this methodology proved successful relative to my academics, it had a devastating effect on my relationship. I found that this neglect created negative tension between us; this negative tension produced an aura negativity around me thus perpetuating negative events: fights, arguments, bouts of avoidance, and stress. In order to alleviate this destructive negative force, I had to assemble the courage to withdraw some of the energy I have dedicated to academia and apply it to my relationship. I began thinking more positively of the significance of our relationship and began performing acts of selflessness and kindness towards the relationship. The positive essence I projected onto the relationship inspired the accumulation of reciprocal positivity; our relationship benefitted from the ideology that the introduction of positivity into the environment will consequently produce positive reciprocity. Abiding by this ideology has greatly improved our relationship so to this day I attempt to transcend optimism and perform selfless acts of kindness towards the relationship.
            Although I have diverted some of my energy from scholastic endeavors, I still have dedicated energy to such a pursuit. Nonetheless, my methodology of goal achievement has been molded to model the ideology of the law of attraction. The pursuit of knowledge may imply isolation, but I have managed to develop my learning style to incorporate the benevolence of positivity. I am aware that the courses in which I have enrolled are extremely demanding thus necessitating a certain intellectual capacity amalgamated with strict discipline. This amalgamation is not achieved simply; many individual lack the time required to satisfy such a feat due to extraneous obligations. This established the opportunity to apply the law of attraction to my academic aspirations. I put it upon myself to exceed the normal pace of lecture to offer students tutoring or review sessions for the relevant material. I believe that this action is asserting a positive energy into the environment thus setting up the opportunity for reciprocity. I have found that sacrificing my own time to help others has brought positivity into my academic life. My grades have not diminished even though I have dedicated less time to myself. Contrarily, my grades have improved; by optimistically viewing tutoring—it will benefit my own consolidation of knowledge—I have been affirmed the positivity by earning better grades and helping others achieve better grades. Since my first attempt at tutoring, I have found that my life is more positively lit; I believe that this is a direct consequence of my exertion of positivity.
            Finally, recent hardships have fallen onto my family; my siblings, parents, and relatives have been burdened with life altering illnesses: cancer, dysphagia, depression and hypercholesterolemia. Each individual was devastated to learn of such hardship that each with which has been confronted. The initial debilitating pessimism and depression flooded their conscience thus potentiating the destructive impact of the illness. Not yet being trained in any medical or psychological mediation, all I could offer was support. With each individual I asserted the notion of ascending past the hardship through perseverance and optimism; dedication, discipline, and confidence will act as a catalyst for the medical intervention required for each. For each individual, with time, this revelation sprouted and blossomed into a foundation for stabilization. Each individual’s quality of life improved as treatment commenced and their spirits were lifted. Although maybe coincidental, I believe that their positivity may have influenced the rate at which their recovery followed.
            Revelation has been sewed into the fabric of my life since my earliest memories. One of the most profound and recent was the ideology encompassed by the law of attraction. Before such revelations could unfold, I was burdened by pessimism. My ignorance to such ideology disseminated negativity thus attracting the same back to both me and those significant in my life. The severe contrast between now and then is astonishing. Each day I am fortunate to see that I am emanating a certain essence that attracts that same essence. Through this continuous reinforcement, I am obligated to incorporate the ideology into all of my actions. Although there is a reciprocal aspect to the concept, the simple guidelines are an incredible stress reliever and emotional uplifting mechanism that serve a larger purpose. Being able to improve the quality of life for myself and others is satisfying on numerous levels; a philosophy that allows for such a cycle to occur is one that I incorporate into my own personage.

I look forward to reaching the top

By Curtis Aanerud

I was about 10 years old the first time I went rock climbing, and I remember being scared to start. As I climbed higher, I would look down and become frightened by how far I could fall if something went wrong. However, when I looked down I would also see my belayer, the person who would stop my fall by controlling my harness rope. He shouted words of encouragement, hollering that I could make it to the top. He also said that, if I fell, he would stop me, so I could always retry the climb near the place I had fallen. I remember the fatigue of the climb, the endurance required to cling to the rocks, the energy it took to pull myself farther up. But despite the struggles, I remember most the energetic triumph I felt as I reached the top; the breathtaking views that can only be witnessed by those who push through the fatigue, fear and pain; the relief of rest before rappelling back to the ground; the joy shared with people who cheer you on; the adventure of another challenging climb.

When people first start climbing, typically their footwork is sloppy, they try to muscle their way through problems, and they rely almost solely on their arms to pull them up a wall. Beginning climbers also find it difficult to climb for more than an hour or so, partially because some of their muscles need to adapt to a climber's needs. It takes time, effort, and stress to condition the body to climbing, which often causes considerable pain (in fact, after my first few climbs my hands ached while I gripped my car's steering wheel to drive home!). Climbing indeed involves physical strength, particularly with trying, failing, falling, and trying again, but it also engenders encouragement, seeing how others solve a problem, and showing people how to succeed. Climbing newbies and veterans alike can quickly become a support group, much like students struggling through a chemistry class: everyone helps each other in hopes that they all ace the test.

I have climbed off and on over the years since my first climb at age 10, and as I have grown I notice an uncanny number of parallels between the challenges of rock climbing and those of life. I now see climbs as representations of life's new challenges. Forgive the puns that connect life with climbing (uphill battles, stuck between a rock and a hard place, hanging on by your fingertips), but starting college as an older student is my next climb, especially after I have discovered the challenge of supporting myself and others with little more than a high school diploma. Several times in my college career I so badly wanted to quit, to let go of the rock, rappel back to the ground, take off my harness and be done with it—in fact, without support  I probably would have done so. However, many times I let go of the rock for a few moments, took a deep breath, relied on the encouraging words of my friends, family, and teachers belaying me, and then kept going up.

As discussed above, few experiences compare to the triumph of ascending the top of a climb, especially those that take weeks of effort and planning, but some experiences come pretty close, like when I studied, practiced, and worked for my “B” in an advanced calculus class. Now that I am harnessed to a collegiate career, I look forward to reaching the top. I eagerly await the views I will enjoy, and the pride I will be able to share with my family who has been shouting words of encouragement since I put my hand to the first challenge in community college. Graduation may be the top of one climb, but is only that: ONE climb. If I want to stay in shape, I must continually find new mountains, new tasks to undertake. Luckily I have a great group of belayers to help me along the way.

I am grateful that Achieve Today is so generously offering students a means to achieve their own goals. Looking back I spent too much time coasting through my life, solely talking about climbs, or flippantly attempting to climb. Over time, as I mentioned above, I realized that in order to achieve what I knew I was capable of, I would have to work out some derelict muscles, strap on my harness, and start climbing for real! As soon as I had that realization, I knew what I had to do. Since that I had that insight in 2013, I have taken over 40 credit hours in Fall, Winter, May, Spring, and Summer semesters and have maintained a 3.8 GPA. I’m serious about making something of myself and with the support I would receive from the Achieve Today Scholarship Fund, I would be able to witness the beautiful sights at the top of this climb.

How I learned Financial responsibility 

By Elan Holston

As long as I can remember I had a piggy bank in my room. I would place every bit of change I could get my hands on in that bank when I helped my mom doing little chores in the house.  The longer the chore, the more change I would get.  It was so heavy and full of mostly pennies. When no more could fit I told my mom I wanted to take it out and spend it because no other coins could fit it in. Of course she had a better idea. A wide ceramic two foot vase that made my pennies looks like nothing in the bottom. What do I do now I asked my mom? I was told to keep putting money in it until it was time to place it in a bank account. Why are we taking it to the bank I asked when I could spend it? I was told we would have that talk when I turned seven years old. Wow, one more year to go. That’s a long time for that money to sit there when there were so many ways to spend it. I noticed that the bigger the chores, the more silver coins I would get and sometimes even green paper money. All I knew is whatever I buy; it's going to be big and special.
               Seven years old took a long time to come. I couldn't even move that vase because it was so heavy. Sometimes it looked as though the money was growing overnight or maybe I was just too anxious and excited because I knew what I wanted to buy.
                My mother always took me shopping with her but this time she made a list and as we picked up items I would have to enter the cost in a calculator. Now we only did our big shopping once a month and I knew this would cost a lot of money but did not quite understand my mom’s salary. I just knew it paid the bills. When my mom showed me the receipt with the list of items I asked her if we got too much stuff. She smiled and said she had bought what we need and a few extras.  There was a big snow coming.
                After the snow cleared we went to the bank and my mom opened up a bank account for me. The financial adviser looked at me and asked how I had saved this much money. I told her since I was five years old. After counting the coins in the coin counter I had a total of three hundred and fifty dollars.  I couldn't believe I had saved that much. It was only in my early teen years when my mom told me that she kept placing all her loose change and single dollars in the vase.
                I decide to put all my money in the bank except for enough to take my mom to have a steak dinner. Which I'm sure she paid for that too. I then learned to save as much as possible but treat myself with little treats. Always pay bills first and stay away from credit cards that you cannot pay off each month. Lastly, put away money for a rainy day because you never know when an unexpected event that costs money will happen. I continue to compare cost of items, stay on a budget and am financially responsible. When I got my first job at a fast food restaurant, I paid myself 10% and placed the rest in my bank account. I then would save up that ten percent until I could purchase something I really wanted or needed.  This is a good way to prepare for the future and focus on financial responsibility.

Live a life that is known for helping the poor, healing the sick, showing grace to the undeserving, and loving others 

By Myra Cheng

Mother Teresa once said, “faith in action is love and love in action is service.” Today, there are so many medications and cures that can treat an array of sicknesses, but without kind hands given in service, and generous hearts given in love, it is hard to find a cure for those who feel unloved and lonely. As a native of San Francisco, a city historically steeped in grassroot movements and unique cultures, I am inherently excited to catalyze change in large communities. In the summer of 2014, I partnered with an organization called Hands at Work to support vulnerable communities across sub-Saharan Africa where HIV/AIDS, poverty, and the numbers of orphans and widows are a record high. I applaud Hands at Work because they do not solely provide quick solutions to problematic areas, but care for individuals as a whole. They strive to improve the health of the vulnerable through an array of holistic activities delivered to the homes of the sick and dying. I spent most of my time in Zambia, Africa in a small community called Zimba where I shadowed local care workers who serve the poor, broken, and helpless in their community. Through home visits, I assessed the health and security of children, identified urgent needs, and provided basic physical and emotional care. We also made it a goal to raise health awareness by securing a clean water source and by teaching the communities about HIV/AIDS transmission. The trip only strengthened my convictions to strive for equality and justice in the nursing field with the intention to serve others.
            My decision to become a nurse did not come in a moment of blinding revelation but from a result of various experiences. Throughout my childhood, my parents instilled in me values such as compassion and respect for others, stressing the importance of giving back to the community. As a result, I have always known that I would enter a profession that involved service to others. A career in nursing would be the perfect marriage between my interest in both healthcare and people. Many who are close to me experienced me passionately stating facts about the human body, a topic in which I often initiate. I am completely fascinated by the intricacy and complexity of the human body. It’s astounding that a body with so many different types of systems and functions can miraculously work together as a cohesive unit, in which if one system fails, the entire body ultimately fails. For this reason, I want to further my understanding of the body and eventually contribute my knowledge to the healthcare community. I also have a huge interest towards people and my desire to become a nurse stems from the relationships developed by helping others. My first experience working in the healthcare field was as a rehabilitation therapy assistant at California Pacific Medical Center. While volunteering, I befriended a patient who revealed to me that she often felt lonely. She rarely received visitors and craved to be more than simply a name on a chart. Overtime, the patient and I cultivated a special connection that I will never forget. I remember the gratitude in her eyes as we shared conversations about music, books, and her love for pie. Each day, I sought to show the patient that I valued her as a person and each day in return, she thanked me with a glowing smile. This relationship, along with many other experiences at my internship filled me with a sense of purpose that fuels my career ambitions today.
            My motivation to pursue nursing was reaffirmed after I attained my EKG certification. While working towards the certification, performing and analyzing EKGs on patients in a fast-paced healthcare environment helped me gain insight into healthcare from both the patient and the nurse’s point of view. My constant interaction with the patients, nurses, and doctors taught me how to communicate effectively during times of stress and need. Seeing both perspectives has provided me with an invaluable understanding of how to empathize with patients and how to address their needs professionally. I aspire to become a nurse to not only treat the patients’ illnesses but also their quality of life. I believe nursing is a great avenue to counsel, educate, and help people live better and healthier lives. My intention is to use my leadership, creativity, sensitivity to different cultures, and ability to speak English, Cantonese, and Spanish to create a trusting environment towards future patients. My goal as a potential health professional is not only to treat those who are physically sick, but to care for the individual’s emotional and mental level as well. I’ve learned that illnesses and pain is inevitable in life, but with the opportunity to become a nurse, I can comfort and aid those facing their dark and often frightening truth. Knowing this, I recognize that a career in nursing is a perfect fit for my career goals for it promotes justice and serves the common good. I stand firm organizations that help train strong leaders to be the change they want to see. Therefore, if accepted for the scholarship, I will strive to carry out this mission and to be an ambassador of the school’s belief through nursing. I will be able to help people get better whether they are near or far because the field of medicine should know no borders. I want to be a nurse that extends a helping hand to strangers in need since that’s what the profession is all about; a desire to serve those beyond your loved ones.
            In conclusion, I have developed the skills, courage, and compassion through various experiences to excel as a well-rounded nurse. Whether I work in a hospital or a community clinic, a degree in nursing will provide me with the knowledge to address healthcare issues and the skills to deliver patient care in any healthcare setting. Being a part of a campus with an emphasis on making a world a humane society will motivate me to continue striving for my goals to make a difference in the world. My hope is to live a life that is known for helping the poor, healing the sick, showing grace to the undeserving, and loving others like one would have wanted to be treated.

Embrace our differences and stop comparing ourselves to people around us

By Brandon Pope

Daisaku Ikeda once stated, “I cannot say this too strongly: Do not compare yourselves to others. Be true to who you are, and continue to learn with all your might.” As human beings that are constantly surrounded by a richly diverse population, we must stop comparing our own abilities, skills, and features with others around us in order to positively strive for our own ambitions and develop positive relationships. This is a significant principal that has truly brought flourishing to both my accomplishments and relationships.
            Focusing on comparing our trait, accomplishment, and characteristic values with other people can stunt our growth in progressing towards our own goals. Naturally when we discover another person contains a quality that we do not posses, it can easily sidetrack us from fulfilling our greatest potential. Ever since middle school, I always wanted to be successful in high school. However, I often felt worthless compared to other people who were more intelligent and athletic than I was. Although I was a decent student and athlete, I did not identify myself as being worthy of accomplishing some of my own goals because I felt other people were better than I was. I was so limited through comparing my own self to other people until I found out that my mother saw potential in me. She continually encouraged me to set academic and athletic goals that I could pursue because she believed that I could accomplish so much with my own great efforts. Due to my mother’s support, I started to train as hard as I could during cross-country practice, get extra academic help from my teachers, and continually seek out different opportunities regarding college. Through abandoning my own thoughts of comparing myself to others, believing in my self, and giving my greatest efforts, I was able to: become a varsity cross-country athlete, earn multiple scholarships, and become the first member in my family to attend a university. I believe that we all can reach some of our largest dreams and goals if we stop comparing ourselves to those around us and utilize our own abilities to learn and execute one task at a time.
            Another lesson I have learned is that comparing ourselves to others can often cause relational division. Dillon Burroughs once stated, “The problem with comparison is that you always feel either better than someone else or worthless compared to someone else.” I’ve discovered very large negative pride from other people, and I myself have also had degrading thoughts toward people that I’ve felt superior to. In the past, I have experienced feeling worthless compared to people around me and I have also seen people completely destroy friendships because they felt unworthy to others. It’s very sad, we are all a part of this cycle of destroying one another through negatively comparing ourselves to other people. I used to absolutely dislike some of my classmates because they were arrogant about how much more athletic and academically accomplished they were than I was. Not only did their pride allow me to feel anger towards them but I also contributed to these relational divisions because I cared so much about my own ranking among them. As I started to realize that I did not enjoy critiquing myself so harshly against my own classmates, I was encouraged to fully appreciate every aspect of all people. After deliberately considering my previous attitudes, insecurities and self-pride, I came to the conclusion that I needed to accept the uniqueness of both others and myself. I started to be more appreciative of not only my own strengths but also the traits of others as well. Because of this, I have been able to develop many healthy and constructive friendships. For instance, my friend Andrew is a great athlete and I’m a decent writer. Instead of comparing our own abilities negatively, we have learned to build each other up through our own talents. We exercise every week together and he pushes me to my limits so that I could become a stronger athlete. Along with that, I proofread many of his essays and give him positive feedback to help him improve his skills as a writer. This is one of many examples on how I have learned to develop positive relationships through eliminating destructive comparisons in my own life.
            As unique individuals we need to embrace our differences and stop comparing ourselves to people around us in a way that limits our ambitions and relationships. It is significantly important that we are able to identify valuable traits in all people including ourselves in order to realize we are all worthy of being successful. Furthermore, it is also essential that we appreciate the strengths of the people around us without any comparison in order to build constructive friendships. I have learned that living a life without comparing myself to others is very beneficial; I’ve moved positively towards my own goals and have created great relations within my own community. I truly know this is also possible for any individual that applies this principle to his or her own life.

The Law of Attraction: A Journey to the Truth

By Amanda Hudy-Martin

Focusing on positive or negative thoughts may bring about positive or negative consequences.  The law of attraction, which stems from this philosophy, suggests that like energy attracts other energy.  Life's journey is filled with twists and turns, and I see the different paths as being reflections of self-identity and what we want out of life.  I went down one path feeling as though something was missing, sensing a familiar energy beyond me.  To me, the law of attraction is a process of self-discovery, in which the inspiration and wisdom taken from one path is applied to a new path to boost personal motivation and growth, but one energy can overpower another energy during our journeys to the truth.

   I moved from Stevens Point, Wisconsin to Lakeside, Oregon about three years ago with my husband, and so far, I am not missing the snow one bit.  Going back twenty plus years, there was a family tragedy, in which my younger sister lost her life in a drowning accident.  My mother was unable to overcome this negative experience in her life, and there were negative consequences, including alcoholism and mental illness, which resulted in a lot of dysfunction within the family.  In present, these negative consequences for my mother still stand, and the negative thoughts about the life that her daughter lost override the positive thoughts about the life that her daughter lived.  Feelings of sorrow, guilt, and denial continue to invade positive energies.  A path that contained so much experience just kept going without a destination in sight, until I felt the energy of another path drawing me in.  I believe that my mother's battle is just one example of something that gives the felt energy life, and the path that I have chosen is likely to take me to a place that reveals how to conquer battles such as hers. 

   The environment in which we live in can distract us from accomplishing our goals and staying true to ourselves, and we may lose sight of the positive while being consumed by the negative.  I think that every meaningful action and decision that we make fuel the energies that are waiting for us off in the distance, and the wisdom gained is a matter of what was taken from our experiences.  I keep saying to myself that it's only a matter of time before my mother balances her thoughts and conquers herself, taking control of the engrossing energy.  Hope is a powerful emotion that I feel has the potential to balance the negative and the positive, in that the negative gives us hope that positive outcomes will stem from it.  One might imagine the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly.  A dramatic change may be thought of as being unsettling; however, the beauty and peace that result will be well worth the discomfort and uncertainty.  The same can be said that my sister lived a happy life, and her memory is cherished both positively and negatively.  Isn't it better to have happy and sad memories of someone than to have none at all?      

   Is it ironic that negative thoughts can produce positive outcomes?  Rather than seeing this as being ironic, I see it as being hopeful.  It may be that acceptance and appreciation of the negative is the only way to truly understand the positive and where it came from.  Furthermore, if we don't truly understand ourselves, then we may feel lost in our chosen paths.  In terms of the law of attraction, I infer that one energy can overwhelm another energy due to factors like perception and emotion, but if one energy attracts a like energy, then those perceptions and emotions can become consuming.  Some energies may become so invasive that they alter people's sense of reality, affecting their behavior and stability, making them oblivious to the good within in the bad in the search for the truth.  Living with these principles in mind has had quite the impact in my life, and my family is proud of me for how I have taken my experiences with me to evolve from.  Although there were some hurdles along the way, I am a junior in college majoring in Psychology with a 3.96 GPA from SWOCC where I obtained my Associate's degree, and I'm starting off with a 4.0 at OSU.  Ultimately, my mother is my greatest inspiration in my journey of self-discovery.             

   In closing, much can be taken from the experiences that feed a new energy, such as inspiration and wisdom.  What we have lived doesn't have to define us; rather, it may give life to an energy that gives life to another and so on.  I think that an energy can become overwhelming, which may result in the negative being extracted from the positive and vise versa; there may need to be a balance.  I feel that we shouldn't dwell on the negative, but we shouldn't fear it either.  In the end, I believe that the path(s) not taken should never be forgotten in our journeys to the truth.

Suicidal Sixteen

By Lauren Click

 I was raised Catholic, and continue to practice to this day. Ephesians 6:1, however, is the only passage that will always pain me to recite. I have not honored my father, but he has not honored me either. The spiral of addiction is dangerous and repulsive. I grew up watching my father continuously pour bottles down his throat. Over the course of my childhood, I had been emotionally and physically abused because of my father’s alcoholic depression. However, it is only because of his addiction that I found strength to be the person I am today.
            Growing up, my fathers and I never had a positive relationship. We were constantly fighting, and it would always be caused by irrelevant details, a messy room or a broken dish. These fights often ended with him either hitting me or throwing something at me. Most of my childhood memories are made up of these violent encounters. The hardest part about this was watching my younger brother going through the same thing, and not being able to protect him. Contradictions filled my household right from the start of my life. In kindergarten, you learn about police officers, and how they are there to protect you from harm. My father is a police sergeant, and has caused the majority of the harm in my life. I was confused and scared, and only five. And worst of all, because of this I thought for the next ten years that everyones father acted the same way. This lack of trust filled my life with anxiety and sorrow until I was sixteen years old.
            When I was fourteen, August of my freshman year of high school, my parents separated. My rocky relationship with my father soon veered off a cliff. During a drunken rampage, he cornered me in my room, screaming at me, throwing anything in his reach. Although drunken and slurred, his exact words were “You’re not doing anything, and you will never do anything important, so why don’t you kill yourself?”
            Those seventeen words triggered a downward spiral disguised as what I thought was self-realization. I looked in the mirror, and saw a different person than the week prior. I retreated from the rest of the world, social anxiety setting in for two and a half years. I had panic attacks nearly every night, causing my personal relationships and grades to suffer.
            The judge ordered us to go to counseling because “It looks bad on the police system for a cop to lose custody of his children.” Funny how the people who are supposed to deal justice often do just the opposite. I had been going to counseling for about a month at the time, and my counselor told me that my father would retain custody of me until my eighteenth birthday. I asked why, and was met with the response “You just need to deal with it”. From that moment, I decided to take control of my future, not leave it in the hands of my father.
            I planned to commit suicide the morning of my sixteenth birthday. I would no longer be his to hit or threaten or judge. I was trying to stop the pain, I was trying to find happiness in the unknown.
            A few moments before I was about to drown my sorrows with pills, my dog ran into the room. He had a goofy smile and he slobbered all over my clothes. All of the sudden, my tears turned to happy ones. It is one of those little moments you ordinarily take for granted, but when it happened I realized how blessed I was. In that moment, I thought to myself, “Who would love him when I’m gone?” His smile saved my life. In that moment I decided that because he saved my life, I would spend the rest of my life devoting mine to save his, and other animals. I didn’t matter about the pain I would have to go through, because if I could make any animals’ life the slightest bit better- Well then, I knew it would be worth the pain. When you love something so strongly, you will do anything for them.
            My father telling me to kill myself ultimately made me strive to better myself, as well as my surroundings. After my sixteenth birthday passed, I took control of my future. This time determined to make the most of every day I live, and to give it everything I have. Before I hit rock bottom, I was unclear what I wanted to do with my life, let alone my future. Now, I am driven to seek kindness and help all creatures. These characteristics define the person I am today. They allow me to seek out and take advantage of opportunities I’m given in order to make an impact on the world. Without this event in my life, I would lack the qualities I believe are necessary in order to change the world.

One of the things that will be happy in the future is if we have our own dreams in life

By Chai Her
Milwaukee Technical College

For as long as I could remember, I have wanted to be a business manager. I have been dream for business management ever since I was in the fifth grade until the current. My name is Chai Fong Her. I’m from Thailand. I have just been eight years in the United States. I am a full time student for my business management in Milwaukee Area Technical College in Milwaukee of Wisconsin in the United States. Education is a great thing that nobody says, it is not special thing because almost everyone expects their own jobs that will make their lives better more than the past. People said and believed, “Education is the most powerful weapon which we can use to change the world.” One of the things that will be happy in the future is if we have our own dreams in life.

To reach my goals, I realize that I must pursue a four year college education for my business management in the future. I am very excited about my future and feel that with the opportunity your scholarship will provide, I am successful. The business management is my major that I’ll need to achieve with my education in my life. It is the most important thing to me, because it’s a program that I can learn how to assist companies in reaching goals and objectives related to sales, productivity, and profitability in the United States. Also, it is a job that will give me skill, learning how to interact with other workers and gain knowledge of proper communication within a group.

For as long as I could remember, all of these are my dreams and views about my job becoming a business manager in my life in the future. Now it is a time that I am always expecting that my dream will be true the next four years in the future. It will be time that I will feel so happy and excited with family and by myself in my life; with this job it will be make my eyes see everything is so perfect when I have done. Being a business manager is what I like to work and will never give up in my life, in the future. I will be determining to learn and keep my responsibilities in my mind until the future. Even through it will be hard to me; I believe I can reach anything that will make my life better than now.

I have come to believe that everything I do is by the law of attraction

By Elisabeth DiMascio

Someone once said “Bad things happen to bad people” and even though it is quite catchy, it indeed, is also true. One may believe that there is no reason behind what may happen in one’s life, positive or negative. I am a firm believer in the laws of attraction. I say this because it has affected me in several different ways, one including my education. In my short 23 years I have experienced so much due to the law of attraction. Certain situations have not turned out to be in my favor but that is because I made those choices, knowing it or now, to have that outcome. Here, I will provide different examples of positive and negative laws of attraction that pertain to my life.

Before transferring colleges, I always had a reason or excuse for not being able to pass my classes and it was always someone else’s fault or “I just don’t know”. Once I look back on how I handled the course work and just did not take it seriously, I came to see how foolish I was. I was spending a lot of money to just blame it on anyone but myself because other things seemed to be more important. Once I learned how to apply myself and give time management to my education my grades went from C, D, and some Fs to As and Bs, it was a wonderful feeling. Looking back, I cannot say that I regret a thing because it was what I chose to do at that point in time. The law of attraction is how I live my life. No matter what one may think, our own intuition is more powerful than anything. I AM LIVING THE LAW OF ATTRACTION!

I started cheerleading at the age of five and I continued to cheer all the way till my second year of college at a division 1 university. Cheerleading is my life and I would be lost without it. When I decided to not go back to cheer after my second year I took a three year break. I realized that since my career as a cheerleader has come to an end, why not share my knowledge and skills to others. That is when I made the best decision of my life, becoming a head coach for pop warner. Pop warner is volunteer work that gave me the best experience of my life. I got to coach 10 and 11 year old girls that not only looked up to me but little do they know, they taught me so many life skills even at the age of 23. Coaching those girls and watching them grow each and every practice was something that I would have never expected. At the end of our season those girls placed 8th in the nation out of 14. It’s a feeling that is almost indescribable because those took the knowledge that I provided them with and applied it. Those girls are ones that I’ll remember for a life time all because I made the choice to become a coach. I AM LIVING THE LAW OF ATTRACTION!

Another law of attraction would be technology. Whether we choose to go with the trends or not, I know I crave to have the next “big thing”. With all the technological advances people, including myself, have become extremely dependent on our phones, computers, internet, etc. For example, I currently work at a hotel as a front desk agent. Our computer systems crashed for 2 days and yes we have an emergency plan in order to keep the hotel running but it is time consuming and can be stressful. Guests are not so understanding when they question, “So you’re just solely dependent on the computer?” Well, yes we are because that is where this century is leading us. We have forgotten that there wasn’t always a computer system around to run a hotel. We are attracted to the easy and convent way of doing things and technology helps us get there. Technology is a huge part of this society and even if you try your best to avoid it, it is almost impossible. I know that I would be lost without my phone or computer or even WiFi. All because, I AM LIVING THE LAW OF ATTRACTION!

Here, I have shared different stories of how the law of attraction has applied to my life. I have experienced different situations that have been affected by my decisions and some choices that are inevitable. There are certain things in life that clear and easily understandable and there are others that are not so clear or understood, that’s just life. I have come to believe that everything I do is by the law of attraction. It is the exact reason why I am writing this essay, law of attraction to receive funds that are not borrowed, to continue my education and not graduate with so much debt. As one once said “What you think, you create. What you feel, you attract. What you imagine, you become.” by anonymous. I AM LIVING THE LAW OF ATTRACTION!

The experiences that I have endured throughout my life dramatically changed my perspective. 

By Kaylena Dornes
           
As a young child, I was always outspoken and open minded about exploring happiness and success. Living in an economically disadvantaged environment, I did not come across many people whose ambitions were to be successful. Many of the people became content with struggling through their poverty. They had no motivation to strive for better which caused them to become put in a miserable position. In that culture, stunting your educational growth was the norm. In my mind, I knew that I had to distance myself from this lifestyle and experience things that would help me develop and grow into a stronger individual. Growing up in that culture motivated me to accomplish greater things and to take advantage of educational opportunities to assist others through their hardships.
                Throughout my elementary and middle school years, I was extremely timid but once I made it to high school, my attitude and character changed tremendously. High school allowed me to discover my purpose as an individual by helping people positively change their lives. During my junior year of high school, my mother told me that she refused to assist me with my college expenses. My father had been unemployed at the time and was struggling with his financial hardships which caused him not to assist me with my tuition. I believed that anyone I could depend on for financial assistance should be my parents. Unfortunately, I learned that in order for me and my family to not have to accumulate any debt, I was going to have to apply for scholarships. Everything that I desired to have in life depended on my actions. I knew that I had to do whatever I could to leave home and experience life for myself. Now that I look back at the decision my mother made, I am grateful to her. Her actions inspired me to become a more independent individual and realize that I am going to have to work extremely hard in order to fulfill my goals in life. I decided to create a program within my high school which assisted students who were experiencing the same issue I was: finding financial resources. Furthermore, I had the opportunity of being able to create a leadership role that others benefited from in so many ways and that has been my greatest accomplishment.
     During my senior year I volunteered as the senior assistant for the Advancement via Individual Determination Program (AVID) by assisting my senior peers with creating resumes and scholarship lists, applying to colleges and for scholarships applications. Also, I provided ACT and SAT test material to students so that they could successfully prepare for their college entrance exams.  I even spoke on the morning announcements about scholarship opportunities, and spent my lunch break assisting my senior peers. It meant so much to me to provide educational resources to my peers so that is why I volunteered everyday during my lunch break.  I wanted to be someone that my senior peers could rely on for encouragement and assistance. Many students in my community were not encouraged to leave home to further their education due to the fear of financial issues. However, I did not want these attitudes to affect my educational decisions. My personal investment is education and I refused to give up on this. Because of this I remained steadfast in my desire to gain a higher education. There were many students that I came upon who did not have the drive to complete scholarship essays. Therefore, whenever these situations would occur, I would leave my peers with one question: “Would you rather write an essay and possibly receive aid for school or take out a student loan?” I realized that if you instill questions like that into students then they will perform better and realize how significant and equally rewarding it is to complete scholarships. The AVID program allowed me to fulfill my passion by helping others. This program has provided me with the greatest resources to make my first college semester a success. It taught me the true meaning of what being a leader really is. When you are a leader, you show perseverance and endure whatever it may take to impact the world and positively change lives.
     Based off of the leadership roles I have played throughout my high school career, I have developed professional leadership qualities and have been an active individual in my community. I am always willing to assist others in any way that I possibly can because helping others is something that I genuinely love to do. I work in a leadership role at St. Luke Methodist church in San Angelo, Texas. I am volunteering twice a week at the Child Development Center assisting pre-k and kindergarten students with their assignments and reading comprehension. The students are very smart and are willing to learn. However, many of the students struggle with their alphabetical letters and pronunciation. When I was in elementary school I did not have the opportunity of having a young adult in my life so that is why I volunteered at this educational center. Speaking fluently is essential as a student which is why I am passionate about assisting students and helping them in their early stages of learning and development.
     The experiences that I have endured throughout my life dramatically changed my perspective. Once I accomplish my goals and make them into a reality, there is always room to excel for more in life. By being a leader I have been able to create a lasting impact on so many lives. I realized that the road to success consists of many obstacles and challenges but I am passionate and willing to endure anything so that I can become an inspiration to others and provide individuals with necessities to help them grow and develop into leaders of their communities. 

Healthy body, healthy mind.

By Brooke Urbaniak
           
 I have an eating disorder. It started five months ago, beginning with a restrictive diet and becoming a full-fledged disorder. There were evil thoughts, obsessive mannerisms, and a feeling of hopelessness that never dissipated. Until I developed an eating disorder, I never considered the side effects that came with extreme thinness. I thought skinniness was the symptom of anorexia. Unfortunately, the problems span on a much deeper level. Fainting, self-hatred, cold sensation, headaches. The problems become worse with every lost pound and every passed day. After a month of self-starvation, I lost the person I used to be. I couldn’t focus, my passion for writing disappeared, and my favorite feature--my brain--felt hazy. I was ruined.
            Because my eating disorder stemmed from my severe depression and anxiety disorder, I had recently enlisted in therapy sessions. My therapist realized I was developing an eating disorder before I did, and for weeks, I thought she was crazy. I didn’t have an eating disorder--I simply didn’t want to eat. That was before the Beast, as I call my eating disorder, started whispering nasty thoughts through my mind. He hated me, wished I wasn’t so ugly, wanted to shed my fat. The Beast’s presence arrived shortly after my obsession with numbers. An unexpected need to know my weight and calorie-intake took over my life. I couldn’t go more than a half hour without checking my weight, and whenever I ate a meal, I would weigh myself five or six times in the same ten-minute period.
            Sometimes I cried, but sometimes, I felt numb to the pain. It felt as inevitable as an approaching birthday, something you dread but cannot escape. I had become my eating disorder, and for a long time, I wanted to give in to the Beast. My therapist was the only thing separating me from absolute destruction. A weekly visit in her office constantly reminded me that I was not okay, that eating disorders were not normal, that I could not give up. When my BMI dropped to 15.6, she wanted to admit me to an in-patient clinic. That, more than anything, woke me up. Until that point, I imagined myself as a slight anorexic, nothing like the real anorexics. My therapist’s insinuated ultimatum: be admitted or gain weight, finally provided the motivation I needed to recover from the disorder--or to at least try.
            Needless to say, it wasn’t easy. Eating disorders are not decisions--they are not a weight loss plan. They are disorders, usually caused by an obsessive need for control. I was haunted by the Beast. He screamed for me to lose weight, to put down the fork, to burn the 140 calories of my lunch. In many ways, the recovery felt worse than the sickness. I cried more often, unable to decide whether I was being good or bad when I ate. Anorexia felt like a game, and I had been winning. But now, with every bite I took, I was a loser. I prayed for the flu, anything to keep me from gaining weight. My parents stared with helpless expressions, unable to comprehend my suffering.
            I was in a cutthroat battle with myself, and it was impossible to know which side of me was winning. My recovery was not the gradual incline I expected. One day, I would eat a normal diet, the next, I would starve myself to make up for it. There was no fast track to recovery, and the back-and-forth progress made me feel as helpless as my parents. I told this to my therapist, and she suggested I think of a mantra to use any time I thought of giving in. It sounded like a stupid idea, but it continues to heal me today.
            Healthy body, healthy mind. I loved my brain more than anything about myself. As a writer of creative fiction and a scholar in school, no side effect was worse than the loss of my intelligence. Of course, I was still the same person on the inside. I knew the same critical reasoning as before, but with an eating disorder, I was trapped in obsessive thoughts that allowed no time for creative writing or education. There were only thoughts of calories and pounds and food.
            I knew recovery would bring health, not only to my body, but also to my brain. My therapist promised my past intelligence would return with recovery, and I wanted that more than anything. The ability to write was my greatest talent, and I found the mantra healthy body, healthy mind to remind myself of the real goal. I was not gaining weight to be fat--no, I was gaining weight to be myself.
            Today, my eating disorder recovery continues. I have raised my BMI from 15.6 to 16.8, and though I have a long way to go, this is a vast improvement. The determination to achieve a healthy body, healthy mind motivates me to continue my recovery and further my cognitive abilities in my future and my education.

Don't walk around hating what you can't change. 

By Aynna Powell

Hi my name is Aynna. I would like to tell you a little bit about myself. I am a mother of 3 beautiful children.  I have one boy who is 5 and my girls are 8 years old no they are not twins. My husband and I have been together since our girls were 1 1/2 years old.  We indeed have a blended family which I love I wouldn't change it for anything in the world. 
   Now I didn't always love my life as much as I do now.  I was raised by a single mother of 5 me being the eldest of them.  I grow up with most of my life in California and then bouncing back and forth from California to Colorado.  My mom finally stayed in Colorado  when we watched our first cousin gunned down in front of us.  
    I fell in to a depression at the age of 9 having lost the only male figure in my life. I was so depressed I wouldn't leave the house.  We ended up living with my moms boyfriend who was my younger siblings father. I was raped and molested from age 9 to 15.  At  that time I fell so deep that I started to hate the world and the people are me that were in it. 
I didn't understand why this was happening to me? I didn't understand what I did wrong to deserve any of this. I started to attempt to take my life over the course of these years. I would take pills and hang myself. I would walk into on coming traffic.  I had a death wish for myself.  I know scary right... sad thing about it is that I dealt with it by myself for all these years. 
  Eventually my mother moved out into her own place how ever I still did attempt suicide at any chance I got. I was living with pain that no body ever knew about and I wanted it that way.  Until one day a friend of mine came to school with a black and blue face and she told the school that had gotten into a fight which be both knew was a a lie.  I wanted to help her but how could I? I couldn't even help myself.  So I would hide her in my mothers house so she could sleep and eat in peace. 
   Then the day she came back from lunch she had a black eye and her face was just all bruised her hair was missing in some places.  I told her we can't keep doing this she has to tell someone.  She was so scared that in order for her to go through with it I had to tell something that no one else knew about me. So I told about the person that had raped and molested me for all those years just so I could get her to tell for her to be safe. 
  I'll never forget the look on their faces when I told my story. The first this my friend said was she didn't know and that she was sorry.  It felt good to help out someone else that truly needed. When I got home my mom just asked why didn't I say anything? Why didn't I tell her. However I did try for many years. 
   I felt like it was my mother fault. I blamed her for everything. I felt like if we wouldn't have moved out to Colorado it would not ever have happened.  I put a lot of bad engery out there in the world.  I was still mad at everyone for not knowing and not helping me. For not saving me. I wanted people to hurt like I did. 
   Then my mom got with this new guy years later and I caught my first charge behind protecting my younger siblings.  He came at us and said "I should beat you like your father should have" then he hit me and tried to break my arm so I grabbed a knife to protect us and because my grabbed the end of the blade and nicked her finger I went to jail. My anger grow. 
  After a 100 days in jail and 4 years probation I was released.  While I was locked up my mother became ill and a family friend said I need to go talk to her but my anger wouldn't let me I said so many hateful thing because I was hurt. Hurt for the second time that she didn't come to my aid and protect me. 
  So I went on attempting to commit suicide all the way up until 27 which is my age now.  At 18 I had I first child and it was a girl and I was  hurt I never wanted any girls never wanted them to feel anything I did.  Nothing you can do to change that. I worked several jobs to put a roof over our heads and to keep it that was. I started writing and going to meetings. 
     I wanted to better and feel better.  I put out there that I would do everything in my power to make things right.  Helping people here and there telling myself that what I put out there i what I get back.  So if I stay positive I will get positive back.  I then meet my husband of 7 years and we have our 5 year old son together and his little girl who is 8 years old.  
    I have have meet some incredible people on my long path. Some that I have inspired to help others and others never judge a a person by there background some people just need that one or two people that will give them a chance to show who they can be. Not who they are are labeled to be. I am thankful for all the wonderful that were put in my path that gave me a more positive view on life  without them I don't think I would be here today. So many thank yous go out to them. 
   I just want to say this... Don't walk around hating what you can not change. The only thing in life that is consistent is change.  You have to change you nobody can change you for you. Don't Let your small thing wear you down into thinking they are big because someone else maybe worse off then you. Knew that what you put out is what you get back. Be thankful for waking up this morning I know I am. 

Let’s face it: personal development is a life long journey from birth until death.

By Sandy Sparkman
Saint Edward's University

Personal development has been very important to me. Physically, my personal development has been quite difficult. Mentally, due to these physical ailments, my personal development has been strong, bold, and courageous. I have never let anything get me down, and hope that my career path in physical therapy will eventually help others in their personal development as well.

The reason for pursuing a career in physical therapy is about more than being a “doctor” or even more than helping patients recover from injury. I have a special connection with the medical world, because I was born with deformities causing me to go through fourteen surgeries in the span of my eighteen years of life. Being born with no hip socket and a highly deformed knee—both on my right side—as well as a congenital short femur on that same side has taught me that it will hurt, but that it will also get better in time. I want to share my experiences and prove to my patients that I have been there, and I will not stop helping these people until they can sufficiently use the injured bone, muscle, or tissue again. Having been in such a situation for all of my life, and attending physical therapy sessions many times with several physical therapists, I understand the pain that therapy induces and the hard work that must be accomplished in order to receive the correct amount of therapy. It is quite difficult for many people, myself included, and I would like to be there for my patients and show them that it will be difficult but it will be worth it. I know that these experiences will help me become a great physical therapist.

I was able to shadow a previous physical therapist of mine in 2011, and see the other side of the therapy room with new eyes. I understand quite well the patient side of physical therapy; however, I never really realized the differences between the patient and the therapist. Seeing Mr. McHorse, the physical therapist I shadowed, I was able to discern the importance of kindness and honesty as well as the importance of remaining focused, understanding the human body, and critical thinking of new and important exercises for the patient. It is a difficult process, one in which I better comprehend due to the program I participated in. Because of this, I feel as though I am able to distinguish and combine my knowledge of receiving and administering physical therapy and create an environment in which my patients will feel comfortable and therefore more willing to work toward the goal of recuperation.

Another important aspect in my life that will help my career path as a physical therapist is that I played several sports as a child and young adult. This gives me another advantage in physical therapy, because it enhances my understanding for the bones, tissues, ligaments, muscles, and more. By staying active and being healthy, I am more alert and can see the effects that exercise and training can do to muscles. This knowledge can be transferred to the field of physical therapy, in that exercise and hard work will help the injured body parts become healthy once again.

The only issue with the above statements is the fact that due to my physical limitations, I cannot actually perform physical therapy. I am too limited in what I can and cannot do in order to do what I am truly passionate about; therefore, I have joined Saint Edward’s University so that I can pursue a Bachelor’s degree in business economics. With a background in entrepreneurship—both of my parents own successful businesses of their own in maintenance and tax—I believe that I can indirectly help those like me in need through the financial side of things and own a physical therapy clinic. This way, I can have my passion in a new way, and still make sure that people are getting the help they need.

Hopefully, I will hold a clinic available for all ages, because let’s face it: personal development is a life long journey from birth until death. Children under 18 years of age are my main focus, simply because my passion began due to my life-long physical therapy throughout my childhood and into my young adulthood. Often, as I have experienced through my time shadowing at the Dell Children’s Hospital in Austin, Texas, children do not understand their ailments, and need a lot of help. Their personal development, both mentally and physically, is essentially in the hands of their role models—their physical therapists, parents, peers, and others. I would like to take the development of these children, adolescents, and adults into my care and make sure that they are treated with respect and get the treatment they deserve.

Making the Most with the Law of Attraction.

By Kristine Williamson
University of Nebraska at Omaha

When I wake up in the morning, the first thing I see is something related to the ocean. I have surrounded myself with anything and everything ocean including pictures of white sand beaches, shells that I have collected, pictures I’ve taken, books, vast array of stuffed sea animals, figurines even my dolphin pencil.  I feel a closeness and a need to understand and care for the ocean’s creatures and I have focused all my mind and energy on reaching that goal. 
     When I was twelve years old my life was changed forever. Like many pre-teens, I was starting to wrestle with that ever present question of what I want to be when I grow up.  As attraction would have it, an unexpected occurrence answered that question for me. My family took a trip to Florida where we visited a place where I could swim with the local marine life.  There is no way to express the echo created by that moment as it still resonates in me today.  I did not want to leave.  The beauty, grace and wonder of the many sea creatures as they swam around me and brushed against me was electrifying and created a bond that is marrow deep to this day.  Unknowingly, I was using the Law of Attraction at twelve years old and would continue to reap its benefits for years before I realized what powers I was using. 
     I had such a positive feeling about the ocean that I would think about it constantly and knew that was where I belonged. My outlook on the ocean has never changed and I still to this day want to be a marine biologist. So when I was fifteen I got scuba certified. This has afforded me the opportunities to see breathtaking creatures far below the ocean surface. One of the best parts about being a scuba diver is all the creatures that I fell in love with, have read about, have seen in tanks, I now have gotten to see for myself. The Law of Attraction for me is when energy flows and attention follows. For me, I have always had a positive outlook on stingrays. They are the creatures I wish to work with and every morning I wake up and see my collection of stuffed animals and figurines which make me smile. I put out so much energy about my love for rays that the universe responded. My most recent dive trip was all about the manta rays. I got to dive to new depths, in a brand new place and got to turn around and see mantas the size of cars swimming all around me.
     Another big part of my life is traveling and not just to the ocean. I am always thinking of new places to go and the universe has responded with many opportunities. I have attracted trips I never thought possible which have allowed me to see things that have blown my mind.  These trips have provided me with a new appreciation for how diverse the world is yet so strongly interconnected. 
     Being from Nebraska, I am very landlocked. All during my high school years, I looked forward to graduating and going to school by the coast. While I did graduate high school very successfully, the universe had an entirely different path in store for me. This path was unexpected and wonderful. I did not attend a coastal school as I had intended. However, the universe’s path was first shown to me about two months into my first year of college. This was when I first heard about studying abroad.  Initially, I didn’t give it much consideration.  Later that year, I found a program that would take me to the beautiful island of Fiji where I would attend a university that offered an array of marine biology courses.
     This is how the Law of Attraction has worked wonders in my life once again. It has not only combined my love for the ocean but also my love of traveling. The universe took the two things that I think about most and always in the most positive of light, and has given me this opportunity. I have been putting positive energy out into the universe about Fiji since that day and now the path to getting there is right at my door step. I have been following the process to complete forms, take certain pre-requisite classes and find ways to pay for this opportunity.
     In Fiji, I will be taking courses that count toward my major with the amazing benefit of the marine biology classes being right in the ocean. This hands on experience is something I have been craving. Since I will be going into this field, this educational experience will not just be a step in the right direction but a leap forward into the career of my dreams.
     I am very thankful for this opportunity to see the world, work towards my career goals and be by the ocean. The path to my dream has been shown to me and I am now working towards making it a reality. I trust the universe to show me how. One of the paths is identifying scholarships, which is how I found you. Your generous scholarship represents a significant step in the fulfillment of my success. The Law of Attraction is giving me some exciting cards to play and I know I am holding a winning hand.

I use my understanding of the law of attraction daily now, to enrich my life as well as those I care about.

By Analysa Gallegos

Willie Nelson once said, “Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results.” Throughout my life I’ve been told many iterations of this quote by my family and loved ones. And while I strive everyday to do my best by it, it’s not always easy. There have been times in my life where the positive spin has been a very difficult one to accomplish. I have faced challenges that I saw no way around no matter how many negative thoughts I replaced. Yet, I still think this is an amazing quote to live by. I believe this because I know we go through difficult times.I’ve experienced them, and I know that there are some things you must endure rather than attempt to change. But no matter how much you undergo, energy still attracts like energy. It is much better to move through the tough times with whatever positivity you can muster, because without that, you have absolutely nothing.     I’ve been told many times by my peers that I can be overly optimistic, and honestly I don’t understand that. How can one be too positive? At what point does my positivity begin to appear as a negative thing to others? In my eyes, it simply can’t be. I strive to always find the positive because what else is there to strive for?In science we are told that positive attracts negative and vice versa, yet this is not true in all aspects of life. The law of attraction is all about your thoughts feelings and actions. And, contrary to science, it is focused on the idea that positivity will be rewarded with a positive outcome. To me this means that in order to achieve wants, needs, and goals,one must be focused on the achievement of them.         Living with this law in mind has affected my life a multitude of times and not always in the same way. That isn’t to say that I attribute everything I’ve accomplished to my belief in this law. While I believe that living with this mindset has made a big difference, I know that the majority of the accomplishments have been a factor of my own work and dedication. Manifesting this law does not mean that I sit back and relax while always making sure to keep my thoughts positive. I work to the best of my ability, accomplish whatever is possible within my means, and then I conclude by focusing on positive thoughts. Even if the former were a way to gain success, it is not a way I would like to realize my objectives. While the law of attraction focuses on emitting positive thoughts to result in a positive outcome, to me it also means that you must put forth positive work and actions in order to see the desired developments.
    People often focus on the achievement of their goal while still going through the tasks needed to complete it and once that is done they move on. But what if they continued through life with that goal insight? This is what I believe makes the largest impact in regards to the people who focus on positivity and those who do not. In all respects of my life, rather than completing a task and moving on,I have continued to hope for the best result. Rather than focus on the worst possible outcome, or the thing I don’t want, I aim for how I will benefit. Constantly, I focus on the achievement of my goals and what it would be like to achieve both my current goals and my lifetime successes.
    I am only 17 years old, and many things I’ve accomplished thus far in my life may seem small later on in retrospect,but right now they are the greatest things I’ve done. And while I won’t credit my will to stay positive for all I’ve succeeded in, I can’t deny the fact that it has made a definite difference in my life. As I write this,I am sitting in the dorm room of a university that only a year ago seemed like such a difficult goal to reach. Even when envisioning myself achieving this type of success,I often doubted my abilities. And yet, here I am, despite people telling me my grades were not enough and other criticisms I received,I believed in myself. That belief, not only in myself but also in what I was striving to attain,is why I am sitting here today writing this.
    My positivity has helped me in many areas of my life.I have reached many of my goals already and I have no intention of stopping now. The law of attraction was something my parents instilled in me as a child, and because of its outcomes I have continued and will continue to apply it in everything I do throughout my life. I see no way continuing this positivity can be a hindrance;in fact I have faith that it will simply continue to assist me invariably as I continue to reach new heights. Living with this precedent will not have a negative effect and can therefore only improve my future. Any limitation I am faced with in the future will be one I have set for myself. And with this law in mind,I hope to never set any restrictions on myself and go as far as possible in all I desire to do.

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I use my understanding of the law of attraction daily now, to enrich my life as well as those I care about.

By Nathaniel Gardner
Brigham Young University

On 6 May 1954 during a track meet watched by about 3,000 spectators in England, Roger Bannister accomplished what many at the time considered impossible when he ran a mile in under 4 minutes.  Imagine if you were one of the 3,000 who witnessed this historic event.  The Stadium announcer for the race would later publish and edit the Guinness Book of Records.  His name was Norris McWhirter, and according to Bannister’s own account of the race, he intentionally held the crowd in suspense by delaying the announcement of the actual time as long as possible.  Over the loud speakers he announced:

“Ladies and gentlemen, here is the result of event 9, the one mile: 1st, No. 41, R.G. Bannister, Amateur Athletic Association and formerly of Exeter and Merton Colleges, Oxford, with a time which is a new meeting and track record, and which – subject to ratification – will be a new English Native, British National, All-Comers, European, British Empire and World Record. The time was 3…”

The roar of the crowd drowned out the rest of the announcement. Bannister’s time was 3 min 59.4 sec.

Just 6 weeks later, that record was broken by another man named Landy, followed by another, and then another, and another…  Now the mile is being run in the low 3:40′s.

I remember when I realized for the first time that I do not behave in accordance with what I can do, but rather in accordance with what I believe I can do.  When I first came to BYU I didn’t have much money so I started working right away. It seemed like I was always working, but never keeping any of the money I earned. My car broke down over and over again, the restaurant I worked at went out of business and left me without pay for 2 months of work I had put in, my transmission went out, I owed people money.  I really hit rock bottom. When I needed money for food, I went to my boss to ask for the two months of wages that he owed me, and he pulled a gun on me and told me to leave.

I couldn’t pay my rent so I started living out of my car and showering at the University sports building. Needless to say, my trajectory was going down.

I was homeless for 3 months when a family member gave me the book “The Secret.”

For the first time I understood the power of my thoughts, and the beliefs that create those thoughts. I realized that our beliefs have great power.  I am constantly subconsciously recording what I think about.  When I perceive my surroundings, I do not record what is actually happening, rather I record what I think is happening.  Some doctors had gone on record saying that if someone were to run a four minute mile it would do real damage to their heart, and might even kill them.  Many believed that humans were not built to run a mile in under four minutes.  Obviously in hindsight we know this belief was not a reflection of reality.  

In my life there will be those who think I am smart, those who think I am dumb, others who think I am attractive, and still others who will find me repulsive.  Even the most enlightened people hold opinions.  The opinions of others have no effect on me however, until I adopt them as my own.  Once I believe I am a certain way, I will act accordingly, regardless of the truth.

When I do adopt a belief, I give orders to the subconscious to continually find evidence to support this belief.  My subconscious has many responsibilities, and one of those is to keep me from going insane.  It does this by filtering through all of the stimuli I encounter on a daily basis, and only allows important information to enter my conscious awareness.  Information or evidence that does not support my beliefs is deemed unimportant, and does not enter my conscious mind.  So once I have an established belief, I lock into that and use it to filter information.  I cannot have conflicting evidence competing for my conscious attention without anxiety, so I use my existing belief to defend against conflicting evidence.  Whatever the belief may be, I will find or create ample evidence to support it.

Why do some people struggle visualizing success?  Why can others visualize the success, but only create it for others?  It all goes back to my image of myself, and my image of reality.  If I cannot identify with the visualization exercises, I will either ignore them subconsciously, or find a way to reconcile them with my established beliefs, probably by rationalizing it away to success for another.  “Other people can have this lifestyle, but not me, I don’t think I could ever do that…”  Again this has nothing to do with reality, only beliefs.

Meanwhile, people with winning self-images can have setback after setback, but never accept that as their fate.  They will find themselves saying things like “that’s not like me” or “I wonder why that happened;” but never “things never work out for me, that’s just the way I am….”

I have decided to watch my self talk.  My self-talk needs to represent a conscious desire to become greater and perform at a higher level.

Instead of saying “I have a problem” I say “I have an opportunity”

“I have to…” becomes “I get to”

“I have a setback” becomes “I have a challenge”

There are many other examples.  I have learned that watching my self-talk is one of the best ways to monitor my beliefs.  When I am intentional with my beliefs I become an active creator of my life, instead of a passive sleepwalker.  

I use my understanding of the law of attraction daily now, to enrich my life as well as those I care about.  I’m on track to attend medical school in a couple of years, and I’m excited to continue learning about the human body and its wonders. I intend to continue experiencing a successful life in my family, my job, my education, and in every other way. I am grateful to Achieve for sharing the powerful message of truth, light, and empowerment with the world.  Thank you for being a beacon for good, and for considering my scholarship application

If we got everyone on this earth to start focusing on the positive aspects of life everything would change so drastically.

By Brittany Stone

One will only realize how greatly image impacts others till that one is impacted so greatly they begin to change their life and everyone’s around them. Throughout my life I have learned to set an example and help lead the way for all my surroundings to the best of my abilities. You must go about your day in a positive manor and not let little things get you down. I have grown up in a family where success is admired and our weakness are not brought out. Everyone has a chance at success and it’s in your own power that you fulfill your hopes and dreams. I currently have a role as a manager at work and I am in charge or making sure everyone fulfills their tasks to the best of their abilities. I could go to work every day and be a mean boss and have all my employees hate me, but I choose to be the positive one and have my Employees look up to me. One thing that drastically changed my life was my current career. I started out as just a regular employee at the age of sixteen and by eighteen I had applied for my first manager position. Most the candidates were in between twenty years and thirty years old and everyone around me was second guessing my chances. I ended up getting the position at only eighteen years old and completely showed everyone what was possible. My attitude and the law of attraction is what got me the job. Now to this day there are people eighteen years old applying for manager positions because I showed them it’s possible. One great thing I love is everyone always asks me why I’m so happy. You know if you wake up happy I can almost guarantee you will have a smile all day long and so will the people around you. Things in life don’t have to be painful, things in life can be painless.

One thing I find amazing is about seventy percent of American’s hate their job and sadly it’s because of their attitude and the attitude of the people around them. If you went to work every day and maintained a positive relationship with your coworkers and a positive relationship with everyone around you things might be different. If we got everyone on this earth to start focusing on the positives aspects of life everything would change so drastically. Everyday we see Americans on the freeway honking, cussing, flipping people off and so negative it’s out of control. What if we all took a step back slowed down and just enjoyed our drive to work.  Instead of honking and cussing we could avoid the negative drivers and change lanes and stay next the positive drivers or be the positive driver. We could even exchange a hello wave instead of the middle finger. So many little things in this world could change our lives so greatly. Starting your day off right is important and one key is to start that day positive and happy.

Being someone with a positive attitude is a lifestyle not just a decision from day to day. My name is Brittany Stone and I am an undergraduate student on my way to earning a criminal justice degree. One day I plan to work for the FBI and show people that yes a girl can do it. I want to find answers and help solve major epidemic’s we have going. I want to help get criminals off the street and keep communities’ safe one step at a time. By attracting positive people in my life and telling myself I can and I will goes to show what the law of attraction can do for you. If you simply change your route to work every day you might see new things in life that attract you to change your attitude to.  When one person is negative the whole room becomes negative. When one person is positive the whole room will become positive. Imagine what we could change with society if every person was positive. The law of attraction is key to success among our nation and among our societies. I believe if more people realized what power the law of attraction holds many individuals attitudes in society would change. Having students make a video and spread the word is a great way to get people’s attention to this huge epidemic. Spreading knowledge is key to growing our nation as a whole. I never realized how big the law of attraction is to changing people’s day to day lives. With the right power this message can get across and people hopefully will begin to change their attitudes. If everyone at work and school was positive to your throughout the day I’m positive you would have ended your day on a positive note as well. Overall one thing people must realize is that in life attitude is everything.

Black Silhouette

By Rachel Brewer

“Potential becomes realized when a conscious being focuses [her] attention on an imagined outcome, which causes that potential to vibrate and expand until it becomes energy. [She] attracts that energy by expecting the outcome to occur through desire or fear.” – Quoted from Essential Practice.com

I stood in an art supply store when I noticed a small thin book hidden behind another book that focused on landscape and architecture.  On the cover of the book there was a woman’s body, filled with yellow skin and dark lines posed against its brown cover.  Standing with one arm behind her back and the other arm draped over her face, she seemed to reach off the border of the cover.  She was my first silhouette.  On that day, this particular silhouette touched a deep desire within.  The book stood out like a beacon of light, guiding me to a deeper purpose.  I would later come to realize that the universal laws of attraction were already developing within me. 

I first began seeing my silhouettes and feeling my desire to be an artist when I was nine. Her name was Georgia O’Keeffe. The flowers she drew filled entire canvases. I felt as if I saw them through a watery magnifying glass; each flower turned into its own sunset. They spoke to a hidden desire and I believed I wanted to be, just as great as Georgia O’Keeffe.  I was so excited when my teacher gave us an art assignment and told us that we had the choice to either draw our own flower or duplicate O’Keeffe’s flower. I chose to duplicate.  Her flowers became silhouettes of their own by representing what could not be seen at first glance but only thought of.  Each stroke allowed for the viewer to visualize and think of what type of flower it was and its personality. As my pencil brushed around the paper duplicating the lines of her flowers, frustration ran through my mind all the way to my fingertips.  No matter how many times I started over my flower was “childish” compared to her flowers. The lines had no desire.

I must have attracted my teachers’ attention because she sensed my frustration and came over to kneel beside me. She told me words that I have never forgotten, “In order to be a successful artist, you have to be able to know what you’re drawing and why. If you’re having a hard time try drawing your own, you’ll be much more satisfied that way.”  I knew I was drawing flowers to make them as perfect as O’Keeffe’s, but I didn’t know why it was so important. Instead I drew my own flower. By the end of the day my flower was the only one on the wall that did not take up the whole page or was magnified.  My flower stood in a crowd as a silhouette where everyone else’s looked like replicas. When your eyes scanned along the wall, there in the corner with its dark colors and gritty texture was my silhouette. It had its own personality.  My teacher was right.  I was much happier to see that the individuality of my work stood out just like O’Keeffe’s would have.  As young as I was then, I didn’t realize by focusing my energy on being as great as Georgia O’Keeffe, my conscious “Being” was creating its own reality for the first time. For a long time after that, I focused on drawing flowers believing it was the only type of art I would be successful creating. However, as the laws would have it, I was become bored of them.  

  When I was at the art store I asked my mom to buy the book with the yellow silhouette woman on it for me and I studied it thoroughly. It became the book that inspired me to look at my own self-identity as an African American woman. I began to paint people; black silhouettes whose faces I only knew were symbolic of African American identity.  It was the second time I had felt a strong connection to my art.  As time progressed the silhouettes started to change color depending on how I felt: blue (sad), brown (relaxed), yellow (happiness), and black being a statement for my people and me.  Then the silhouettes started to grow faces with lips, eyebrows and one stroke noses.  Then they grow muscles; a collar bone, a back line, a chest, and cheek bones.  The more I advanced my stages in painting, the more I began to envision this person who was a reflection of me, or someone I knew, or someone I read about.  With the silhouettes I was meditating, something I didn’t do when drawing flowers.  I began seeing my potential as an artist while meditating by taking my emotion and visualizing what I wanted to see before the brush hit the canvas.

I was beginning to understand what I was creating art for.  I now could visualize the kind of artist I had the potential to become.  Much of my work after the flower stage became afro centric and I was afraid it would make many non-African-Americans uncomfortable. It took me a while to realize that the energy in your work matches the energy within the artist. If feared other ethnicities would feel uncomfortable with the art then my work would radiate that type of energy. Eventually, I shook away the fear, and created with the intention to use my art as a form of enlightenment. It became a way for me to educate and inspire all to learn about African and African-American cultures.

When it came time to apply for college I didn’t know where I wanted to go, but I knew what I wanted to be, an artist.  I went to a college fair to find where I would fit in. However, I was not having much luck.  With each representative I spoke with, I was not getting the right energy.  As I was about to leave, I came across Arizona State University.  It was like a magnet inside me pulled me towards their table. I know where I needed to be but the college was so far away from home and I had little money. So, I prayed.  The universe ensured that Arizona State would be in my future. It was the only art school I was accepted to.   I doubted momentarily that Arizona was right for me and doubted whether I should go.  However, my list of pros outweighed the cons.  When an opportunity comes, you have to seize it, if not you’ll regret it.  With little money, I left home and began the second part of my journey.  I never looked back. My desire to be an artist was manifesting in front of my eyes: I was headed to Arizona State majoring in art.

  I once was a black silhouette who didn’t understand the energy around me, but when I close my eyes everything becomes a silhouette along with my future.  It is my duty to feel it in with what I want because I am the conscious creator of the law around me.  From the beginning of my journey until now, I have used the law of attraction as a guiding compass in my life.  The distance I have traveled has taught me that the Law of Attraction is more than just a theory.  By visualizing what I want, then speaking into existence, I have come a long way from where I began.  Now I am speaking to this scholarship and utilizing the laws of attraction to bring it to me for, “a conscious “Being” creates their own reality by focusing on something and allowing it to occur,” (Essential Practice.com) and this scholarship is meant for me.

I’ve been practicing the Law of Attraction for about two years, and looking back at the way it has altered my life is truly amazing.

By Rielly MacKenzie

While there are countless books and documentaries about the Law of Attraction, it all boils down to one simple concept: you get back what you give out. Repeated thoughts and spoken affirmations, be it positive or negative, are constantly forming the world around us and our experiences within it as well. Many people are skeptics and argue that the Law of Attraction “can’t be proven with science!” This is technically true for the fact that science entails the process of an experiment yielding consistent results. Because every human is an entirely unique and individual person, it isn’t much of a surprise that all “scientific” results concerning the Law of Attraction are inconsistent. Everyone has their own distinct human experience, and that’s why science cannot technically prove the Law of Attraction. However, there is one study in particular that I would like to use to negate this argument. Dr. Masaru Emoto, a Japanese author and entrepreneur, formulated the theory that human consciousness has a direct correlation to the molecular structure of water. His extensive studies involved viewing frozen water molecules under a microscope after manipulating separate containers of water by labeling them with different words, both negative and positive. The results are astounding; water containers labeled with the word “Love” formed beautiful crystal molecules, while containers labeled with “Hate” took on a more chaotic, distressed state (Emoto). The study even went further into the way certain music, prayer, and positive thinking affects water and all produced similar results. To summarize, positive words, prayers, and encouraging thought all resulted in beautiful and wholesome molecular crystals forming. All in all, the most important connection to make from this experiment is that humans are about 60% water; it’s safe to say that there is a parallel between humans and those containers of water.  Thoughts have literally been proven to physically alter the world around us!

I’ve been practicing the Law of Attraction for about two years, and looking back at the way it has altered my life is truly amazing. I have experienced the law of attraction in all aspects of my life: personal, professional, and academic. Before I discovered the Law of Attraction, I used to feel victimized and that was steadily allowing for unfortunate luck to recur in my life. My attitude towards these experiences was even worse, ultimately resulting in a constant cycle of negativity. Now that I have been a firsthand witness to the transformation my life has made because of the Law of Attraction I can say that this law is the most important thing a person can learn in their lifetime. These last couple of years I’ve learned to truly love all of myself, love others around me, and want for everyone to be the happiest they can be. Now, I’m not saying that I don’t have any bad luck at all anymore; it’s just that my perspective on it has changed. I am always making a conscious effort to take the negative situations and put them into perspective to find the good in them; or at least see what can be learned from it, all while maintaining faith that everything will work out in my favor. I’ve come to find that everything happens for a reason and the acknowledgement and appreciation in that belief is what makes life’s challenges bearable.

I am a full time student studying film at Arizona State University and I work part time as a waitress here in Tempe to pay for my living arrangements off campus; needless to say it can be a bit of a juggling act sometimes. Nevertheless, my positive attitude helps me stay focused and grateful for my classes and the opportunities I’ve had. The fact that I even had the chance of discovering this scholarship to apply for is proof to me that the Law of Attraction is manifesting itself in my life.

Because I am a film student looking to get into the film industry as a writer/director, the Law of Attraction plays a major role in my future. That industry has a bit of a reputation for being tough to get into. Unfortunately, in film school many students and professors alike have very morose attitudes towards the odds of making it in the industry; “It’s not about what you know, it’s about who you know,” this is a phrase I hear every single day in my classes. Personally, it makes me sad how discouraging it can be to young students with big aspirations. The Law of Attraction ensures that with enough persistence, hard work, and faith in the universe, the right opportunities will come along, and more students (not just in film) need to understand and learn that.

The Law of Attraction is essential to the human existence. All people deserve the success and fulfillment that the Law of Attraction can bring into their lives, and quite frankly, it needs to be practiced more often. The Law of Attraction is such a dominant influence in my life now, I think it is impossible to discourage me from achieving my goals in my future ambitions; and other people deserve that confidence as well. No matter who you are, old, young, student, worker- the more people that use the Law of Attraction the more wholesome and harmonious this world can become for everyone in it.

The Practice of The Law Of Attraction

By Amy Norfleet

I am a big believer in the concept that what I put out into the universe, I will get back. I have been aware of this idea since I was very young when my mother would tell me, "you get what you give". Meaning that if I act negatively, I will get negativity back and vice versa.

     Now that I am an adult with my own children, I tend to give this same advice to them. This does not mean that I have always followed along with the idea, or lived always in the positive. I am well aware that in "the heat of the moment", this can be quite difficult. And I am no stranger to losing my temper. However, I did learn a lot of lessons about this the hard way, and tend to address situations where there is confrontation, or where I may be "called out" on something with caution.  

     These days, being an adult with much experience, I do tend to live my life with the idea of the Law of Attraction in mind. I know that if I approach the world in negativity, I will most certainly get negativity in return.  So I tend to walk through life open minded, willing, and with love in my heart. I know that no one and nothing is perfect, and that I can choose what type of affect to have of any situation. I have always been a person who likes to help others. It is just the way I am. I brought home the wounded animals as a child. I also have taken a lot of hard hits in life.  Also I have family members who struggle with the disease of addiction. I have seen, first hand, the effect of addiction on everyone and everything around the suffering addict, and how hard it is to overcome. I have seen entire worlds turned upside down around them, and how it seems that there is no way out. I have seen someone I love commit suicide, and I have seen the utter turmoil that addiction causes in the life of an addict, and it's effect on lives all around them.

    Another thing I am involved in is caring for a child with serious mental illness that he was born with. This little boy is only six years old, and is Autistic, and is Bipolar with fits of psychotic rage. Never in my life have I seen such behavior in a child, and I can not express how it breaks my heart. Especially knowing that he was born this way and it is not his fault. He lives in his own world and has little to no control over his thoughts and actions. This is a child that requires non stop attention, can never be alone, and although some behavior will get better with age, he will never lead a "normal" life. This concept is so difficult to grasp. It is hard to believe, and when explained to others, is usually not until they see for themselves.  Since this young child has come into my life, I have been overwhelmed with love for him and a non stop desire to do whatever I can to help him have the best quality of life possible.  I have noticed that this is the same way that I feel about people who struggle with addiction, and anyone else who struggles daily with different ailments of the mind. Another thing I have noticed is the lack of resources out there, or how difficult it is to find them if they are out there. Imagine how it might be like for someone who wants to get help, but doesn't have their own resources to pursue them, ie: no computer, car, phone etc. I have always wondered if there was something I could do to help. I want to put these thoughts into action. This is actually one of the main reasons I have decided to return to school. 

    Today I am pursuing a degree in psychology with minors in human resources, and counselling. I want to specialize in diseases of the mind, so that I may better understand people, and the ways in which they operate and move through life. I feel that I have a lot to give and that I have what it takes to combine my new found knowledge with my own life experience to help others and to leave this world better than I found it. In doing so I will feel enriched in my own life and I believe I will have done something good  for the world.  

     I am also hoping, that at least in some small way, I can use my own positive energy, thoughts, and heart, to have the same positive effect on others, their lives, and the lives of the people around them. I think that if everyone lived their life with this concept in mind, and used it for good, that this world would be a much better place. A beautiful, happy, loving, caring world we can make.

     This is how I use, and plan to continue to use the Law of Attraction in my life, and how I plan to use the pursuit of a degree in school the same way.

The Practice of The Law Of Attraction

By Gabrielle Gabino Gamble 

The law of attraction is a belief that “like attracts like”, that a person’s positive or negative thoughts will produce a positive or negative result in their life. This idea was brought about, when people were seen as “pure energy”, and energy attracts like energies.
                Without realizing it, people use this law every second of the day. For example, if a person has a bad start to their day and takes that negativity to the workplace, that person’s coworkers and employer will feel that negative energy and reciprocate it. Likewise, happy vibes will make others around you happy. As humans, we feed off of each others attitudes and energies.
                As a college student, I try to be very positive in my life even though things may be stressful. In every aspect of my day, I look for the good in things. My positivity contributes to my success. For example, when I have a big test coming up, I study, a lot; but on the day of the test, I do not think of anything negative, I believe in myself and acknowledge that I have been well prepared and cannot fail. In most cases, this process works. I believe that if people are positive and look at the bright side of life, that when something does go wrong, they can bounce back more quickly.
                I believe most things happen for a reason, so when I use a positive outlook on life, if bad things happen – it’s for the better. When I ponder over this concept, I constantly think of “mind over matter”. I am constantly trying to keep a positive mind set so good things will happen to me. I see a pattern with people who pity themselves or think negatively on life, usually have “bad” things happen to them.
                I took a psychology class my senior year in high school, where we learned about locus of control, though I see myself as a religious person, I believe most factors in my life are in my own control. I know many people life to diffuse the responsibility of the outcomes of their lives onto others; those individuals have an external locus of control.
                The law of attraction, mind over matter and locus of control are all very similar. The basis of each foundation is having a positive mind set. When a person focuses on being positive, positive things will materialize in their lives.
                This theory can improve my life by regularly keeping me positive. I believe if I use this law in my everyday life, I will attract only good things. Yes, there are factors out there that will change my life and not always be positive, but if life was perfect then did you really live?  

                Many people do not believe that this concept will produce a good life and criticize it because it misinterprets the energy of brainwaves; but this concept should not be completely scientific. But whether or not a person believes in this theory, there are many scientific findings that support it. Oprah Winfery, is a huge fan of the law, she even dedicated an entire show to how positive thinking can change a person’s life.
                The more a person focuses on a thing, the more powerful it become. Hence, the more you think about something whether it be a promotion, a good grade on a test or any scenario really, the more powerful it becomes. So does not be a “negative Nancy”, be a “positive Pauly”.
                All in all, positive thinking contributes to success. People can use the Law of Attraction to keep their positive mind set in check. Individuals should never lose focus of what they truly desire and they need to see it in a positive light. Positivity is the key to having the things a person wants in life. We often lose focus of the good things in life and bring attention to all bad things; in actuality we need to look for the good in life.  The Law of Attraction can be used in everyday life and should be used.

The Practice of The Law Of Attraction

By Crystal Conover
Arizona State University

I live the Law of Attraction in my daily life by spending time to myself to think. I usually do this in the morning and at night. I also practice thinking and requesting through out the day. The Law of Attraction for me is focusing my thoughts and energies on the things I want, need, or desire in my life. I can also do this for other people and the things in their life, just like praying. My family went through a bit of a crisis this past year and by using the Law of Attraction I was able to get us through the circumstances easier.

I imagine my family, Alison and Meadow in our home happy and together each day, I place a constant feeling of warmth and love to my thoughts. Currently my family is healthy and happy and I give the universe thanks for helping my family. 

            I manifest my requests through visualizing what I want as if I already have it or as though I’m in a circumstance with it. Since the universe attracts like to like energies I keep in mind that my thoughts are what I will receive or what I will eventually come across. My thoughts are constant and meaningful. My thoughts have a feeling or emotion attached to them. If my thoughts should began to lean toward doubting my intentions then I quickly shift my pattern of thought back to positive. This isn't the easiest thing but with practice it begins to happen almost automatically. I always remember to give thanks and express gratitude even for the smallest requests.

Thank you, thank you, thank you

            Being mindful and aware helps me to see what I truly want to manifest. The practice of meditating helps me to be mindful. When requesting something I begin with “ I” statements instead of “ I do not want” statements. The universe does not recognize “ I do not want” statements. I believe in my thoughts and do not give restrictions to my thoughts so I would never say“I would have a happy family if this didn't happen.” In addition I help out my requests by acting on them just as the Law of Cause and Effect states that everything happens for a reason and all actions have consequences which produce specific results.  I am actively obtaining my requests through the thought process and by pro actively helping in the manifestation process.

I am successful in my art career not only because I have requested and always had the idea that I would be but also because I make contacts, I make art, I hold meaningful and helpful conversations, and I put my art out there; in turn the universe places opportunities in my path and I take them.
            My knowledge exceeds the phrase “Like attracts like.” In my studies I've learned The Law of Attraction dates back to ancient times up to Plato asserting the first Law of Affinity. The Law of Affinity states that likes tend to attract to other likes. I’ve also learned that synchronicities play a role in practicing the Law of Attraction due to the need of having a high frequency when putting thoughts out that manifest what one truly wants or desires. Synchronicity was described by Carl Jung in the 1920‘s. They are the experience of events that seem to be meaningful in relation in a non related place. People see them as meaningful coincidences and sometimes follow them. Synchronicities happen in life to help one get closer to who they are and raise ones frequency. However, one must not get lost in them or follow them just because they are there. Sometimes they are there as somewhat of a test to finding who you are.
If I constantly dated the same “wrong person” that I gained self awareness from, but then meet a person and dated him under the pretense of existing synchronicities, I could very easily find that the person even though synchronicities existed was still the same “wrong person” that also taught me a bit about myself. 
            The Law of Attraction is so important to successes in ones life because it brings to you what you want. During my undergraduate degree I was in an art marketing class which I learned how to write an art proposal for a gallery, marketing plans, and the beginnings of business plans. Years later I obtained a gallery to represent me called Art One.
One night I was going through old school papers and came across a proposal assignment. In the mock proposal I was writing to Art One Gallery for consideration into their gallery. I couldn't believe it, I had obtained it! See I had actually forgotten about the proposal assignment but I had already put it out into the universe. I then actively did the things I needed to do to gain the skills to be able to be in a professional galley.

I can connect the importance of  The Law of Attraction to my success in art because it has actually happened. I witnessed proof of it the night I was going through my old school papers.

            Living the Law of Attraction can greatly improve your future by helping you create your wants, desires, and needs. These are your dreams, your passions, your goals. By obtaining them you evolve efficiently. Always remember not to get stuck in doubt, complaint, or other negative patterns. If you do, shift your thoughts to positive ones. A good way to practice the Law of Attraction is to make a “ new story.” A new story will create a new pattern, which creates a new attraction point for you in your current place, its creates a past, and a future. I've learned that if you come into alignment with who you are the rest will come. Success wether in ones career, family, or financial does not only require hard work but also alignment of thought. I wish everyone the best in all they do and I hope everyone uses this practice and the Law of Attraction in a positive way.

A positive attitude will go a long way, but it will mean nothing without hard work to follow it.

By Marie Snow-Johnson
Arizona State University

Being the eldest in my family, I have always had the expectation of achieving more. I was lucky enough to have a very encouraging, mother who always made me see the brighter side of things. To always know that even when you’re in a dark pit there is only one way to go and that’s up. I would say that this philosophy is closely linked to the “Law of Attraction”.  In the sense that you are taught to think of the thing you want and go for it. The positive thinking that was installed by my mother allowed me to keep going through the good and the bad. However, that wasn’t always the case; there was a period in my life that was very dark and less hopeful.

I had always wanted to go to college so in 2007 when I graduated high school I always assumed I would go directly to college but it didn’t happen that way. My parents didn’t go directly to college but both had went to vocational schools as adults. They didn’t know how to prepare me for college. I didn’t know anything about FAFSA. I just thought you applied and got in. I never thought about the financial aspect of college, because frankly I was never told. When I couldn’t go to the university of choice (Arizona State University). I became slightly resentful of my parents. I’m embarrassed to admit that I had blamed them for their poor choices, for them not being truly prepared financially for children. I eventually decided to focus on things I could change and focus on things I couldn’t.

                Although, not in my initial plan, I then proceeded to go to community college. I had moved in back with parents and took up a part time job. My parents would pay for room and board as long as I was in school.  I didn’t luckily have to take out any loans, I was able to cover all my expenses all on my own. When I was finished with my degree (associates). I decided the best thing for me was too work for a year and then again try to go to ASU. However that wasn’t plan I was destined to take. This year after my associate degree completion, was one of the hardest bleakest movements of my life.

I couldn’t find a job to save my life. I looked every day. I had my dog to think about. Although, I was living with my parents at this time. My father became resentful of me. He became very short and anger with me with my lack of employment. I eventually went to live with my brother’s girlfriend. We had an agreement that I would nanny in exchange for room and board. My brother, over sometime moved in as well. He used me as a scapegoat for all of his shortcomings as well. For the men in my family I had become a human emotional punching bag for my lack of income. This rejection and disrespect lowered my self-esteem and worst made me feel alone. The people I thought I could depend on where the ones who rejected me so severely. I did learn one thing though, that never again could I naively trust people whole heartedly.

About in August of 2011 I had found employment and moved out away from my family. I had a myriad of jobs that following year. I finally found a stable job. And realized, I was nowhere near where I wanted to be. Fast forward, August, 2013. I started my junior year finally at ASU. I had a full schedule at 18 credits. I was supposed to live with my grandmother while attending school. However again when I think I have life figured out, life gives me a curve ball.  There was a situation where I couldn’t live with her and BAM! I was homeless. I still continued to go to school but was determined to move and provide a home for me and my dog.

During this time, I had given up on thinking what I wanted was possible.  The lesson I would say with all the hardships I had endured would be “That being that a positive attitude will go a long way, but it will mean nothing without hard work to follow it.” I’m not the type of person to watch the world go by, I’m the type to make things happen. And what takes you there is a great attitude and a plan of action.

The attitude helps you get through even the dreariest situations to know when life is tough that it could be worst. That this is just a small snag, that maybe it’s okay if your isn’t in chronological order (A to B) . Sometimes (you can go from A to D.) but regardless of the detours life makes you never give up. You pick yourself up you dust off and keep going. Setbacks in life are times for reflection to set up a different plan. You can do anything you put your mind too. The law of attraction allows you to think anything is possible it allows to be planned to execute theses plans while having a positive attitude. What I believe people forget is the action part of the law of attraction.  A dream without action is just a wish. Without the hard work and even at point’s sacrifice there is no point to perusing a goal or dream

This to me is how I apply or live through the law of attraction I do believe in in positive thinking, in dusting yourself off even in the dire situation. That you can always find a silver lining. I keep going no matter how many doors are slammed in my face. You keep going, you set up plan and go for it, if that fails you use a different plan. No matter what you keep going and think positively. That is how I apply the law of attraction.
       

To believe that something is possible makes the whole difference between overcoming an obstacle or falling short of your goals.

By Imrane Khamlichi

A wise philosopher by the name of Bruce MacLelland's once said, “You are what you think, not what you think you are.". I have this quote on my bedroom wall as it defines so many of my beliefs that I base my perceptions on life upon. To believe that something is possible makes the whole difference between overcoming an obstacle or falling short of your goals. Those who have faith are successful and this can be seen in every aspect in life. Let’s take your prestigious company for example. A brilliant individual had a strong belief that he can start a connection and create a network with the goal of increasing education, creating opportunities, and having this network prosper to one day become what it is today . To create a business corporation supported by over a dozen national corporations, a belief that one must strive to achieve this accomplishment is required for this dream to become a reality. Inevitably, the company’s founder met others with the same beautiful conviction and created what is proudly know today as Achieve Today. “You are what you think, not what you think you are". This process of thought connects with every aspect of life. As the law of attraction states, “like attracts like”. I consider myself a determined individual aiming for nothing short of leading a successful like and leaving a positive mark on my community, my friends, my family, and society as a whole. This conviction has given me the pleasure and honor to meet others who are trying to achieve the same goal as me and we are able to benefit off of each other’s positivity. The achievement of success requires three things: hard work, knowledge, and most importantly attitude. With the proper attitude, one will strive to seek knowledge and work hard. The law of attraction affected me even as I was a young a first grader. I was a foreigner setting foot onto a whole new world not a friend to call my own, and no knowledge of the language to be able to communicate with others by. I kept to myself mostly in the early days until one day at recess I remember noticing a young Asian boy sitting nearby as I sat by myself while the rest of the class played. He too, was new to the country and could not speak the language. I can still remember to this day how I had some wafers in my hand and I shared some with him despite not being able to speak a word to him. I remember how he smile nervously and took it gratefully and over the course of first grade we grew to be the best of friends and remained that way until his family moved away to new york during my middle school years. We still send emails to each other every now and then but the experience taught me that it is true that indeed likes attract. One of my mother’s sayings that I was raised upon and that I cherish dearly was “you are who you associate yourself with”. If you associate with people who are unsuccessfully and do not pursue success, you will no doubt be unsuccessful. If you associate with people who commit crimes, you will not doubt commit a crime. If you associate with those who care about their future and wish to be remembered with positive words, you will achieve just that. You will always find what you are looking for. This rule guides me every day in my life and falls under the same category as the law of attraction. If I associated myself with bad company in middle school, I would never have been a straight A student. If I didn’t acquaint myself with the top students of the Center of International Studies in in my early high school days, there’s a good chance I would have been unable to meet the high requirements of a magnet program that required a high amount of rigorous Advanced Placement Courses. As I set foot in the entire new world of college education, I cannot help but feel drawn to follow that rule that has led me over obstacles throughout my entire life. This is more important to me now than ever before as the college world is a land full of opportunity that can only be achieved by following the right steps. I have already befriended students that are graduation from the Ucf Pre-Health undergrad to learn from their experience about the career path that I have just set foot upon. The Law of Attraction is ironically, why I am writing this essay in the first place. After all, the only way I heard about these scholarship opportunities is through a friend who is determined for success but is in the same financial need as myself. Quite the irony if I do say so myself.        

I began realizing all the things I had overcome with that disease and that I was only getting stronger from it.

By Sydney Rizzo

The law of attraction is the belief that one’s thoughts whether they are positive or negative can bring about positive or negative consequences. At age 13 I was diagnosed with a life threatening disease known as Lupus. This disease causes the immune system to begin attacking the body. Lupus can cause several other issues in regards to health. My case of Lupus also caused rheumatoid arthritis and a disorder that causes a low platelet count named Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. The disease Lupus could have impacted my life in a negative way as it has many negative symptoms. However, the law of attraction was one way to overcome this disease that I was given. In my opinion, the law of attraction means to radiate positive energy and surround yourself with good vibes in order to achieve a positive outcome. If I felt negatively towards my disease I would only feel sicker and depressed. However, thinking positively has given me an entirely new outlook on my illness. I see my disease as a gift in some ways, as it has taught me how to be resilient and persevere. It has changed the way I carry myself, and the way I deal with problematic situations. 
            Being 13 years old is an awkward time for most children as they are dealing with lots of new things such as being more independent, starting middle school, and juggling extracurriculars. Being diagnosed with a life threatening disease is not something a 13 year old should have looming over their head. Typically, having a disease such as Lupus is typically seen as a curse and thought of in a negative manner. When I was diagnosed my health was not good. I was dealing with other diseases brought on by the Lupus and I was starting to struggle academically which was entirely unlike me. I had always been a straight A student and had a natural talent for learning. I always participated in several extracurriculars and volunteer projects. I always wanted to be able to help my community. My Lupus was starting to affect my brain and I became depressed because I knew I was not working to my full potential in my academic pursuits. However, I found that once I became depressed I only started to get sicker. My Lupus was attacking my whole body and I was in bad shape. I did not want my disease to take over my life. I did not want to use it as an excuse to not act on my passion for learning. I started to see my disease in a more positive manner. I began realizing that my diagnosis was not a punishment, it was an eye opener. It showed me a better perspective on life.
            I began realizing all the things I had overcome with that disease and that I was only getting stronger from it. The more positive I was in regards to my illness the healthier I became. I stopped feeling sorry for myself and began achieving the academic success I knew I was capable of. Of course, I still had days where I did not feel entirely healthy but I used those days to channel all of my positive thoughts to ensure I would continue getting better. I have overcome so many obstacles by using the law of attraction. Each obstacle thrown into my life only makes me stronger and healthier. I have learned that I can achieve anything I want to achieve by simply thinking and radiating positive thoughts.

Since applying the law of attraction to my everyday life I have realized that my disease has led me to my true passion, pediatric rheumatology. My goal is to become a pediatric rheumatologist so that I can help children who are struggling with the same things I struggled with. I want to teach them the law of attraction so they can start to change their lives the way I have. I would like to become a doctor they can relate to and speak with. My understanding of the issues they are facing will be beneficial to both the children and myself as a doctor. Being diagnosed with a life changing disease such as Lupus can honestly make you a very negative person and can potentially ruin your outlook on life if not handled in the correct manner. I would like to teach these kids that with their diagnoses they are given so many opportunities to transform their life. I will be able to teach them the positive but also the negative. They will need to know what the negative side of the disease is to truly appreciate the positives. I learned that the tough way and I want to be able to teach them the easy way. I want to share my knowledge with the children and watch them go through the same metamorphosis that I did thanks to the law of attraction.            
 

One thing that I will keep in mind is that it is possible for me to have what I desire.

By Julianne Magale

Using the Law of Attraction can benefit many people. Many people use it whether they realize it or not. It is in fact involved with every person in every situation everywhere. A popular phrase associated with this Law is “Like attracts Like”, which states that whatever I put in my thoughts, that is what I will attract. So it is very important that I use the law of attraction to my advantage and not to my disadvantage. One of the most important part of being a human is having energy. I am made up of energy and frequencies that are exposed to myself and other people. This is why it is important that I think positive thoughts. Whatever thoughts I have, positive or negative, it will bring positive or negative results. This is due to thoughts being made from pure energy. The circumstances, situations, and events that happen around me are results of my positive or negative thinking. Although I have not known about this Law before, I do now understand the effects it had on the people and events around me.

One thing that I will keep in mind is that it is possible for me to have what I desire. If I desire something, I will receive it when I accomplish these certain steps to achieving my goals in life. The first step that I take is to know exactly what I want and to have no doubt in place. If I do not have anything to achieve, other people and other circumstances will happen for me. For example, I should know what kind of car I want from the car dealer that will benefit me the most. However, if I am not firm in my belief, the salesperson will make a decision for me. I may attract the wrong car because I did not know what I wanted. The next thing I do is I ask God for it. There is nothing wrong with asking for things. Alot of people are afraid to ask for things that they feel they do not deserve.  The very act of doubting will actually attract the bad things that happen to them. I sometimes feel discouraged as well, but that does not mean I will give up. Asking for things positively will get the ball rolling basically.

Everybody has feelings. Some of them hide it very well, but this is a very important part of achieving one’s goals. I tend to express my feelings to a lot of people in lots of ways, but I can also use them in this Law too. It is important that I know how to control my feelings so that I can receive positive results. If I want something, I need to have a positive feeling about it and actually visualize myself having it. As an example, for a long time I did not have a job graduating high school. I started to become depressed and think negatively about myself. That negativity brought on more negative occurrences of me not getting my dream job at Bath and Body Works. However, I started to change my perspective on things. I wanted to positively achieve my goal of getting that job. Therefore, I started to envision myself working there. I envisioned myself in the store. I started going to the store, feeling what it was like to help customers, stack bottles on shelves, etc. Once I did that, I actually applied and I got the job. As basic as feelings are, they affect my perspective on my life. I change the way I feel about people too. Having negative feelings about others will only attract the bad side of them. Thinking positively about others will bring out the good side and vice versa.

Having gratitude has to be one of the hardest steps to take in using the law of attraction. Everyone wants to focus on the things that they do not have. It is often a result of comparing themselves to other people. However, I have learned through past experiences that comparing myself with other people is not effective at all. It often brings on negative feelings about myself. Therefore, I thank God for the good things that I have. Once I do that, I focus on them. I give attention to the strengths that I obtain in order for me to achieve my goals. Too many times I tried to change my weaknesses in order to be like someone else, but that obviously does not work. Staying focused on the positive and my strengths that I already have will enhance my experiences, which will positive attract the people and situations I want.

One big change that has been affected by use of the Law of Attraction would be my stress levels. As a college student, I often was negative and stressed out about the things I did not have as well as the problems in my life. I minimized my stress level by changing from the inside out. I started to try things over and over again whenever I failed a certain goal. I felt good about myself as I mastered my good experiences and fought through the bad ones. Whenever I desired a job, a better friendship, a new car, or even good food for the day, I was focused, open-minded to different opportunities and consistent. There is a certain action that needs to be taken in order for me to enhance the attraction.

At first I was not too sure about accepting the law of attraction. However, applying the principles of the law to my everyday life, I have benefited from it. I have accomplished some financial, spiritual, and even familial goals. The way I see people is different. As a result, I have attracted better friends than I had before, connected the bonds with some family members, and love on the people that do not like me.       

Throughout my time of using the Law of Attraction I discovered that I do not simply live by the law, but I am the Law of Attraction.

Ashley Wittiker

Using the Law of Attraction can benefit many people. Many people use it whether they realize it or not. It is in fact involved with every person in every situation everywhere. A popular phrase associated with this Law is “Like attracts Like”, which states that whatever I put in my thoughts, that is what I will attract. So it is very important that I use the law of attraction to my advantage and not to my disadvantage. One of the most important part of being a human is having energy. I am made up of energy and frequencies that are exposed to myself and other people. This is why it is important that I think positive thoughts. Whatever thoughts I have, positive or negative, it will bring positive or negative results. This is due to thoughts being made from pure energy. The circumstances, situations, and events that happen around me are results of my positive or negative thinking. Although I have not known about this Law before, I do now understand the effects it had on the people and events around me.

One thing that I will keep in mind is that it is possible for me to have what I desire. If I desire something, I will receive it when I accomplish these certain steps to achieving my goals in life. The first step that I take is to know exactly what I want and to have no doubt in place. If I do not have anything to achieve, other people and other circumstances will happen for me. For example, I should know what kind of car I want from the car dealer that will benefit me the most. However, if I am not firm in my belief, the salesperson will make a decision for me. I may attract the wrong car because I did not know what I wanted. The next thing I do is I ask God for it. There is nothing wrong with asking for things. Alot of people are afraid to ask for things that they feel they do not deserve.  The very act of doubting will actually attract the bad things that happen to them. I sometimes feel discouraged as well, but that does not mean I will give up. Asking for things positively will get the ball rolling basically.

Everybody has feelings. Some of them hide it very well, but this is a very important part of achieving one’s goals. I tend to express my feelings to a lot of people in lots of ways, but I can also use them in this Law too. It is important that I know how to control my feelings so that I can receive positive results. If I want something, I need to have a positive feeling about it and actually visualize myself having it. As an example, for a long time I did not have a job graduating high school. I started to become depressed and think negatively about myself. That negativity brought on more negative occurrences of me not getting my dream job at Bath and Body Works. However, I started to change my perspective on things. I wanted to positively achieve my goal of getting that job. Therefore, I started to envision myself working there. I envisioned myself in the store. I started going to the store, feeling what it was like to help customers, stack bottles on shelves, etc. Once I did that, I actually applied and I got the job. As basic as feelings are, they affect my perspective on my life. I change the way I feel about people too. Having negative feelings about others will only attract the bad side of them. Thinking positively about others will bring out the good side and vice versa.

Having gratitude has to be one of the hardest steps to take in using the law of attraction. Everyone wants to focus on the things that they do not have. It is often a result of comparing themselves to other people. However, I have learned through past experiences that comparing myself with other people is not effective at all. It often brings on negative feelings about myself. Therefore, I thank God for the good things that I have. Once I do that, I focus on them. I give attention to the strengths that I obtain in order for me to achieve my goals. Too many times I tried to change my weaknesses in order to be like someone else, but that obviously does not work. Staying focused on the positive and my strengths that I already have will enhance my experiences, which will positive attract the people and situations I want.

One big change that has been affected by use of the Law of Attraction would be my stress levels. As a college student, I often was negative and stressed out about the things I did not have as well as the problems in my life. I minimized my stress level by changing from the inside out. I started to try things over and over again whenever I failed a certain goal. I felt good about myself as I mastered my good experiences and fought through the bad ones. Whenever I desired a job, a better friendship, a new car, or even good food for the day, I was focused, open-minded to different opportunities and consistent. There is a certain action that needs to be taken in order for me to enhance the attraction.

At first I was not too sure about accepting the law of attraction. However, applying the principles of the law to my everyday life, I have benefited from it. I have accomplished some financial, spiritual, and even familial goals. The way I see people is different. As a result, I have attracted better friends than I had before, connected the bonds with some family members, and love on the people that do not like me.      

Throughout my time of using the Law of Attraction I discovered that I do not simply live by the law, but I am the Law of Attraction.

DaMaurya Seymore
Arizona State University

Our lives are guided and managed by the tone and circumstances by which we create using the Law of Attraction. Being a fundamental system of how things are established and organized in our lives, whether it is unconsciously or consciously channeled, it is inevitable. When I was younger, I suppose that I did know something of the Law of Attraction except that there was a name and a system of how it works.

I was told by my grandma that, “You bring into your life what you want in your life.” Since I was so young I did not understand what this meant and I did not know what I wanted. I excitedly went to school every day, learned new material every day, and received grades no lower than a “B” during my elementary years. Growing up in a small house in the impoverished city of Oakland, California, I have always aspired to do so much more with my life than what my surroundings exposed me to. In school, I exceeded above all others to make the most of free education and figure out what I wanted. At a young age, the sounds of sirens, relentless gun fire, and the roaring of engines racing down the street had me certain that I was bound to the poverty stricken area. From what I understood, if I wanted to exceed all expectations, I needed to move to a safer and more comfortable environment. Finally, when the time came, I took the first chance to move to Phoenix, Arizona with my mother, sister, and grandmother to pursue my goals. I suppose that at the time, I just wanted to get away so nothing could slow me down in my journey.

The Law of Attraction encourages the idea that “like attracts like”, implying that one brings positivity or negativity into their lives built from their positive or negative thoughts. From history, stories, and science, we learn about how the Law of Attraction impacts our lives on a daily basis. As part of the energetic law of the universe, whatever vibrations we hold within our minds magnetically attracts to us more of the same energy that we release. With stating that, our frequency connects with other frequencies that are on the same level as its own. During my time in High School and to this day, I became friends with five hard working students who focused on their education. With our ambitions high and mind-set focused on education, we became the top students in our senior class. In a choice between a good friend of mine and myself, I was chosen as the valedictorian of my graduating class which deemed me as the top student in my class. After graduating from High School, I went straight to attending Arizona State University focusing on Italian Language and Literature and Brazilian Studies. My group of friends and I are currently and still the only students in our graduated class that have continued on to receive a college education. We attract to ourselves that which we are in vibrational harmony with, less along the lines of what we long for or believe we deserve.

Every area of our lives, including relationships, health, and our finances are influenced by the Universal Law of “like attracts like”. In a conscious matter, we can attract just about anything that we need. In the form of need, not merely craving, we can consciously attract anything that we want to experience in our life. When something is needed that means it has a purpose and when it has a strong enough purpose, it becomes a necessity or a requirement instead of a luxury. A few months ago, I self-assuredly registered to study abroad even though I needed a great deal of financial assistance. I was told about a scholarship which I applied for and wrote the most important essay of my life with confidence. After submitting my work and competing with three thousand plus students in the nation, every day I told myself, “I will get that scholarship.” Competing against over three thousand college students for a summer scholarship would seem nerve-raking or frightening, but that was not the case for me. My conscious mind and positivity harbored confidence within me. After a long 3 months, notified that I along with a fortunate thousand other students were awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman scholarship to study abroad. Through optimistic thinking, I went on my first study abroad excursion to Italy. This form of Law of Attraction made the likeliness of being awarded the scholarship considerably greater than the typical expectations. Currently I am a junior at Arizona State University starting a new semester with high hopes. Being a young African American male, I am expected to follow up on stereotypical traditions of playing sports like basketball, speaking improperly, sell drugs, live on welfare or worst of all, prison. However, my mentality and upbringing has kept me free from the shackles of stereotypes to pursue my own desired path of studying languages and culture. Considering that I am a first generation college student, there is a great weight placed on my shoulders from my friends and family.

            Throughout my time of using the Law of Attraction I discovered that I do not simply live by the law, but I am the Law of Attraction, or at least the positive aspects. With the intent to use the Law of Attraction for many years to come, I have high expectations for myself. Reach for the stars while we still can. This divine energy will certainly take and bring me to a position at working with the United Nations and in Foreign Relations. The power of the Law of Attraction has just about always played a role in life as I noticed it started unconsciously to inevitability and finally reaching a conscious level.

The Law of Attraction As It Applies To Me.

By Johnny Curl 

I’d like to invite you to think about your friends, those that you currently interact with as well as those from long ago. If you were to be completely honest with yourself, chances are that you became friends due to a trait you had in common with one another. These traits bond us to that person, and they to us. It is common that when those interests, characteristics, or activities fade out, so to does the friendship. In essence, our thoughts, desires, and successes operate in the same manner. If we continuously think, desire, and expect to achieve our goals, then it would follow that those things are naturally drawn to us, just as our friends are. This is the Law of Attraction at it’s finest. It breeds success and leads us to achieve all that we believe we are capable of. As we shift our thoughts to a positive, attractive mentality, those thoughts produce a physical likeness of what we desire to come about.
    There are many who would try to discredit this way of thinking by claiming a lack of scientific backing and physical proof. They may say that “your perception becomes reality”, or express a similar notion to say that it is all in the mind of the individual, and what they are choosing to focus on more so than what is actually occurring around them. To this rebuttal I would offer my life as proof to the contrary. Not four months ago my life was anything but what I desired it to be. I was a poor college student trying to work his way through school and struggling to do so. Due to odd hours at a job that I did not enjoy, I was loosing sleep as well as study time. I would fall asleep in class and feel too overwhelmed and exhausted to explore any social excursions. My life had been limited to school and work, both of which I was not doing nearly as well at as I would have liked. Because of this I recognized that I needed to create a change. That recognition was the first step.
    After identifying the need for a change I realized that I had come to expect those failures to occur. I expected that I would be short on time and resources, and so that is what I got. Believing that I deserved better, I chose to change my way of thinking, to expect to receive what I needed and had earned through my hard work. I strove to eliminate the negativity and focus on the positive. I wrote down what I wanted to accomplish to solidify this as my desire. I wanted to be financially stable, have adequate time to study so that my grades would rise, understand the material in my classes, and find friends that I could go have fun with. As I wrote these goals down and began to focus on them in the context of “I will”, it was amazing how quickly things changed in my life. Believing that I would find what I was searching for, I resigned from my job trusting that one more suitable would come along. I began looking for scholarships and opportunities to enhance my schooling experience and secure my financial situation while doing so. I took summer classes believing that I could handle the faster pace of a block class and excel. I began going about my day with an expectation that others would want to be around me and associate with me. I can now say, a mere four months later, that all of these things are being accomplished. The job I found not only works with my class schedule, but also pays better, provides excellent work experience for my future career and is in close proximity to my classes. I was able to not only pass the classes taken over the summer months, but do extremely well and score in the top of my class on every test. Not a week after setting these goals, I met a girl named Megan who has become my very best friend, and somehow I have enough time and energy to spend with her having a great deal of fun while still accomplishing everything else required of me. My life has begun to shift in a very positive way, completely as a result of changing my thought process. Those around me have noticed the change as well, and have talked to me about how quickly my circumstances have improved. This further solidifies the reality of the law of attraction. It is real and effective, and my life is undeniable proof of that.
    You may have noticed that I have not addressed how one of the goals I set was, or is being achieved, and that is the goal of being financial secure while enhancing my educational opportunities. I believe that this scholarship is a direct result of that attraction I have been exemplifying. The fact that it has come to my attention when so many others did not have the privilege of hearing about it, that the adjustments only recently made in my life are an exact representation of what was sought in this essay are far to much of a perfect fit to be anything other than a fulfillment of the philosophy you strive to make the world aware of. I have attracted this opportunity because I expected it to come. Due to this, and a belief that I must continue to expect what I desire to come my way in order to continue to see the measure of success I seek, I believe that you will see I have an exceptional grip of the law of attraction. I believe that you have seen how it has been manifest in my life and that I understand how it can improve my future as application is continued. Because of this, I can expect to hear that the law of attraction, a teaching that you and I desire to be shared with those around us, has further been proven by the fulfillment of the goal I set four months ago and I will be offered this scholarship because of what I have set a goal to achieve. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Having a positive perspective towards everything will cause all aspects of life to be as best as they can be.

By Alexis Bell 
University of Central Florida

This year I have been putting a lot of focus into my professional career. I’m beginning my junior year at the University of Central Florida and I have begun to freak out about graduate school just like everyone else. I have always wanted to obtain my Doctorate’s in Physical Therapy focusing in geriatric care. Physical Therapy school is very competitive and involves a difficult course load in the undergraduate level. Last year, I became really discouraged and tried to talk myself into looking at other career options. I kept telling myself that I was not smart enough and would not be able to make it into a single graduate program.
    As a student studying Health Sciences, it’s easy to give up or get discouraged. It’s easy to tell yourself “I’ll be happy if I pass with a C,” or “this class is impossible,” but it’s even easier to be positive. When I started college, having a negative perspective towards my courses seemed to have less pressure and tricked my mind into thinking it was okay, if not expected, to not do my best. I quickly realized I was entirely wrong; I was going through college with the wrong mindset.
    Instead of dreading class, I forced myself to get excited; except it did not take much force. I started realizing that these classes will help me become a professional in my field of study and expand my knowledge base. I told myself that I’m going to learn exciting new concepts and ideas that not many people get the chance to learn. I started improving in all my classes. I became more outspoken and the concepts became easier. I was taking less notes and doing more active-listening. The classes seemed to fly by and I was getting so much more out of them! I started realizing that if I keep up this attitude, I will become a fantastic Physical Therapist. I believe in myself. I know that I’m going to get into a graduate school program, and I know that even though I do not have an internship in my field of study that I will be okay. I have stopped comparing myself to every other student in my major that do things differently than I do, and I do not get discouraged when I see someone else in my major with more accomplishments on their resume. I have always been extremely successful in everything I have put my mind and efforts towards. I know that wherever life takes me, I am going to do great. Having a positive perspective towards everything will cause all aspects of life to be as best as they can be. If you think lowly of your workplace, or believe you are underpaid, then you will always be disappointed come pay day. If you look at your paycheck from a more positive viewpoint and realize that you are blessed to even receive one and that you are proud of every penny you earned, then that paycheck is worth so much more than the dollar amount printed on it! It all comes down to your perspective and how you perceive every encounter you will ever have.
    I am a strong believer in the Law of Attraction. I know for a fact that positive thinking brings about positive outcomes, and negative thinking brings about negative outcomes. I experienced it first hand. I am the President of my sorority and the Vice President of my university’s Greek Council. I did not achieve these positions by telling myself that “I’ll just apply for fun, I don’t actually want it that bad” or that I “didn’t have the right skills or requirements.” Instead I told myself that I could be a great leader for my sorority, and I can help so many people in the Greek community. I knew that I was the type of person they were looking for and that I could give these leadership positions the time and commitment they needed. I attribute my success academically and within the community to my positive outlook on not only myself but everything around me. If I don’t get excited about something, then how can I expect my friends to back me up and get excited? The Law of Attraction teaches us that we can create our own realities. Even though I am a science major and I love data analysis, research, and I trust numbers more than people, I try and incorporate this law into everything I do. I believe that by using this law, we can attract the people that we want in our lives. We have the power to open our minds to unlimited thoughts and wonders. If we limit these thoughts, ideas, and dreams, how can we expect them to come true? By opening our mind to positivity we can control what we become and we can live up to the potential we have always dreamed of and desired.

The Law of Depression.

By Ryan Servert

A man sits in a bar, drinking his whiskey sour; watching people scurry back and forth in a never-ending game of sexual tag. This man, however, sits alone. He strikes up some minor conversation with the people that sit next to him and may even buy a girl, that is way out of his league, a drink. Now, he is not here to join in the cat and mouse shenanigans. He is there to drink, and a lot, if his stomach can handle it. The simple act of buying that girl a drink may brighten his spirits a little; maybe she’ll stick around and actually want to talk with him too. A simple good deed, that could change the way he goes home and wakes up the next morning; all because she decided to have a conversation with someone that bought her a drink instead of running back to her friends as soon as glass touches skin.
            Depression is a state of mind in which, even for no reason, one feels completely at odds with their existence. Sadness and frustration are a constant, and life loses all luster. For a depressive, the world can seem a dark and dismal place with little hope for any relief. However, seeing someone smile because of a simple kindness that depressive committed can make all the difference. Simple, small good deeds can turn that person’s day from entirely black to at least having one pinpoint of star shine.
            And this is where the Law of Attraction comes into play. Good begets good, and if one can simply continue a trend of putting good energy into the world, that good will come back to them. Some may call it Karma, but the concept remains the same. Even in a state of mind plagued by chemical imbalances and horrible life experiences, happiness can be found in the happiness of others.
            As a depressive myself, I know seeing someone else smile because of me brings a moment of joy, however small. As someone recovering from alcohol abuse, it turns having a drink from a mournful ritual into a night on the town with friends. By simply living to make other people happy, by paying for a parking ticket for the day, or a meal when they’re struggling with money, makes me feel just that much better about myself. I’m able to get up a little easier in the morning without hating the day, without hating myself. I know people are going to enjoy me being around, not because I do things for people, but because they know I am a good person and will, in turn, want to return that kindness.
            The world is full of so much pain. War is a never-ending cycle of hate and retaliation. Simple acts are the way the world changes. As Mother Teresa said, “Every time you smile at someone, it is an act of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.” If everyone in the world took a day to just buy a stranger coffee, let someone merge during gridlock traffic, refrain from yelling because they are frustrated; the world would become a better place overnight. Of course this is a crazy sentiment. There is no way that the whole world could put aside its conflicts, even for one day. Still, the little things make all the difference, and with a lot of little things there can be a whole lot of change. That’s what should be strived for, those thousands of little joys combining into a singular, fantastic revelation. Humans can destroy, but they have the capacity to love, and love is a force that should be more accepted, more readily available, than anything else men are capable of.
            Understandably, this is an unrealistic notion, but that doesn’t mean I will stop trying to improve others’ lives. I’ve been criticized for being too much of a giver, a kiss-ass, a number of other names, but the reality is that I do things for other people because it makes me feel better, about the world and about the life that I have been handed to live. If I didn’t, I would end up secluded in a one-bedroom apartment with a bottle of whiskey because I can’t handle the astounding amount of animosity that surrounds me. Good begets good, and I’d rather be the one giving than continue to sit back and watch hate continue to eat away at my sanity and humanity. I feel depressed not because I want to, and I refuse to let it stop me from being the better person I know I am. Doing good will eventually pay off, eventually turn around and return the favor, but until then, I can wait, and I will do so with that smile on my face. Giving those little gifts, giving love, and living a beautiful life, despite any obstacle that may come my way.

Living the Law of Attraction.

By Enrique Gonzalez

The term “Living the Law of Attraction”, was first made known to me by a little book called “The Secret”.  This particular book was quite a unique read, which proposed an amazing theory. From my understanding, the “laws of attraction” dictates that energy attracts energy. In other words, positive energy would attract and welcome, as well as lead to more positive energy, Think of it as Karma. However, the same can be said for Negative energy, which would attract and invite all things negative.

Learning this and applying this theory has helped me have a positive perspective in life. I’m always thinking positive in everything that I do and think, being optimistic and having faith that every obstacle and challenges I face, I will overcome. This allows me to move forward in life, to have inner peace and to truly live life to the fullest unafraid and free.

I try to think of the positive in every situation, from relationships to my school work.

By Janelle Jamun

The law of attraction states that every positive or negative event that happened with you was attracted by you. Whether we know it or not, we all use the law of attraction in our lives. I myself consciously use it on a daily basis.  I like to treat people how I would like to be treated; I jot down or print quotes, and cut out pictures to keep me on track.  I am human and at times it is tough to remember to use the law of attraction.
     I am naturally a loving, caring, friendly person and believe that by being so, I will attract the same kind of people. Who wants to be around a person who is negative and miserable? It is easy to become miserable when that is what you’re around, such as the saying misery loves company. It is true, when I come across a person who is not so friendly, or looks unhappy, instead of being rude back I try to be kind and wonder what has happened in their day that is causing them to act that way. Sometimes when we have a bad day we can take it out on others unknowingly and a simple smile from someone is enough to change our mood. My mom has always reminded me from a young age to treat others as you would like to be treated, as I get older, I realize that my kindness goes a long way.
    I not only use kindness, I like to find motivational quotes in books and on the internet. When I find a quote that I like, or is encouraging I print it or write it on a colorful notecard. I then tape it to my binder or tack it to my cork board, so I can always read it and keep my thoughts right. My favorite quote at the time is “Today is the perfect day to start living your Dream”.  I find this quote encouraging as I am just starting college. Every day is a new day to work towards my new life goals.
    I also like to post pictures on a cork board that I have. Not just any pictures, pictures of things that I would enjoy having one day. For example, homes that I would one day like to have, nice cars, and places I would like to visit. I am constantly finding things I want to do, and have. By posting them on my board, I am constantly reminded that I must work hard and do the right things to obtain the articles that I would love to have and be the person that I would like to be.
     I try to think of the positive in every situation, from relationships to my school work. Granted, I have not always been so positive.  I changed my way of thinking after my junior year in high school; I had a teacher that was not so kind to her students. She gave us so much work in this class that I was swamped, every night I was up until at least 2 A.M. getting the work done. She didn’t care that I had homework in every other class.  I quickly became a negative person, I felt like I was living to do her classwork only!  After a year of the negativity, I kept becoming sick with various throat issues and eventually at the end of the year had my tonsils removed.  While talking with my parents one day, I realized that I was being negative and needed to change my attitude, thoughts and the way I was seeing people. It was not easy, I slowly day by day tried to be more positive, looking for the good in people and every situation I was in. That is when I started printing pictures and quotes. I realized that it was becoming easier to be the kind of person I wanted to be. I started hanging out with people that were kind, positive and have like goals. It made a huge difference in my thinking. Not only my thinking, but how I was acting towards others.
    I am enjoying my positive lifestyle and realize that anger and unhappiness truly seem like the easier way to go. I do not want that for myself.  I often have friends that call when they get upset because they enjoy my take on their situation. It makes them laugh and laughing is good.  Everyone has problems and I believe it is how you deal with them that make you who you are. Sure it is easy to keep the anger going, although it is so much more fulfilling to forgive and move on. That anger will eat people up from the inside. Positive thoughts/actions, encouraging quotes, and pictures of fabulous things I want in my life have helped me to apply the law of attraction to my life, in turn making it much more rewarding on a daily basis.

How I Am Living the Law of Attraction and Manifesting the Law in my Life.

By Delia Charlemagne

“I attract to my life whatever I give my attention, energy and focus to, whether positive or negative.” This is a quote stated by Joe Beaven that I strongly believe in.
            The “Law of Attraction” has been working in my life while I was not even aware of it. At the age of six, I had already layout my future in my head. I knew very well what I wanted to become, what I wanted to do and what I wanted to have. Each day, I would visualize myself wearing a white lab coat and a stethoscope around my neck. At that time, I could view a clear image in my head of who I would become.
            I was not sure of how I was going to accomplish this dream, but I knew in the back of my head that if I kept on praying and doing academically well in school, with a positive mindset and attitude my dream would be fulfilled. However, in many other people eyes, I would never accomplish this dream, for one reason which is lack of financial support.
            Growing up, teachers, family members and friends would frequently ask me the question, “What would you like to be when you grow up?”  My respond would always be, “When I grow up, I want to be seen as Doctor Charlemagne, someone who runs a hospital saving lives, with a great team of workers, regardless what their financial and social status might be.” Majority of them would just look at me in doubt, laugh and say, “Keep on dreaming,” or “Why even bother when you know that you will never become a doctor, being that you parents are poor”.  Saying those words to a child would only destroy their dreams, lower their self-esteem or put their spirits down. At some point in time, I realized what they were saying could be true, but I never allowed it to stop me from trying. Being that positive minded person that I am, I would always think of these particular people as my motivation to push me further.
            For instance, certain types medication, taste or smell awful. Ignoring the unpleasant taste or smell, and consuming the medication would always help me feel better. Regardless what people say to me good or bad, I always manifest the “Law of Attraction” in my life by thinking about any particular situation in a positive way. Instead of allowing words to discourage me, I take them as an opportunity to grow. Whereas if I sat there thinking, “What if what they were saying is true,” I would not have gotten where I am today.
            A few years ago my grandmother was extremely sick. My grandmother’s youngest daughter came to visit her. She noticed how caring and responsible I was towards my grandmother. One day, with tears in my aunt’s eyes, she said to me, I can see you have a passion for the sick, you are doing a much better job than I would, and this act of kindness will take you a long way in life.”
            A few years later my grandmother passed away. My Aunt came for the funeral. At that time I was a senior in high school, with one month left until graduation. Explaining my situation to my Aunt, she decided to help me financially. With the financial support of my Aunty I am proud and thrilled to say that I am currently attending Palm Beach State College, working toward achieving a degree in Nursing. I have been doing academically well as a result, I am a member of the Dean’s List and also the Honor’s Society.
            The “Law of Attraction has been and is currently a powerful tool in my life. It is important to me because I have realized that whatever I think about and apply my focus and energy to, I tend to accomplish it. For example, I never enter into a completion with fear. I armor myself with the “I can do it attitude.” I challenge myself, and I know that I have confidence in myself. Therefore, I deliver the promise I made of myself that I can do it.
            I have used my medication technique as a guidance to help me achieve my dreams. I have realized that people are opinionated and will express their opinions good or bad. I respect everyone’s opinion and whether positive or negative I always try to get positive energy for it.
            By just thinking, I am able to make my future become reality. As Wayne Dyer stated, “You create your thoughts, your thoughts create you intensions, and you intensions create your reality.”

How Am I Living the Law of Attraction? I Am the Attractor of My Every Experience!

By Jacklyn Godfrey
Brigham Young University - Idaho

After learning more about the scholarship being offered and the mission of Achieve Today, I’d like to share my recent life experience in these four areas:
1. Law of Attraction:
2. Raising Frequency:
3. Power of Gratitude:
4. Changing the Way We Think:

1. The Law of Attraction
Since becoming aware of this universal law I’ve come to understand why things have happened the way they have in my life. I can see patterns. I understand now that every thought I think is vibrating at a frequency, and by the powerful Law of Attraction, that thought is now attracting another thought that is its vibrational match. And now, those combined thoughts are vibrating at a frequency that is higher than the thought that came before and so on until eventually the thoughts will be powerful enough to attract a “real life” situation or manifestation.
            I am a mother of 4 and used to wonder if my life course was “set in stone” or was there something else I was supposed to do besides being a Mom. I believe being a mom is the highest calling a woman can have but I also felt that there was something else I needed to do. With the benefit of hindsight, I now believe that these thoughts and impressions were inspiration whispering to me and it said “go get your nursing degree.” At first, I dismissed it. “I am not smart enough to do that,” I would say to myself. “I don’t have enough time,” “my home life will fall apart.” These were all excuses that entered my mind due to the fact that I was moving to the edge of my comfort zone, or what was familiar to me at that time. Thankfully, I didn’t give in to these negative thoughts and eventually I gave in to inspirations nudge and registered for school. Long story short, after many months of sacrifice, study, wrestling with more doubt but continuing to trust an ever growing belief that I was on the right path, I have been accepted into BYU-Idaho’s prestigious nursing program. I now believe I attracted this situation. I now believe that your thoughts & your feelings create your life.

2. Raising Frequency:
I came to understand that a belief is only a thought you keep thinking and we all have the ability, if we try, to begin new thought patterns, to tell a new story, to achieve a different vibration, to change our point of attraction. The Law of Attraction will respond to our vibration, and we can easily change our vibrational point of attraction by visualizing the lifestyle we want and holding our attention upon those mental images until we begin to feel as though that lifestyle is already ours. This visualization process causes a vibrational shift which raises your frequency and starts to form the future experience that we are creating right now.
            I am thankful that I didn’t buy in to the incorrect perspective that my life was left to a predetermined fate. I just lacked confidence and needed some encouragement to pursue my goal. Part of what helped me was having a friend and mentor who was also a working mother trying to earn her degree. She encouraged me in times of frustration and doubt. I believe that having this support was very important throughout this process. Someone with an outside perspective can help us see solutions when all we can see is failure. Once I learned to imagine and feel as if I were already a successful nurse, I began to believe it. I would imagine what if felt like to accomplish my goal, and I would hold that feeling in my consciousness until it became very comfortable. It took work, it was difficult at first, but I didn’t have anything to lose by just imagining a new situation for myself. The Bible teaches that “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” I believe that teaching from the book of Proverbs and I believe that by focused, positive thinking, my frequency was raised to match that of my goal, and as a result, it changed my reality.

3. Power of Gratitude:
Author Neville Goddard, of the new thought movement, said “Nothing comes from without. All things come from within.” Throughout this process I realized that I’ll never attract something in my life that is not in harmony with me. Good energy attracts good energy. Being grateful and keeping a high frequency isn’t always easy. There are challenges that could derail progress if we choose to let them. But rather than complain when things don’t go according to plan, I choose to have faith. I feel grateful for the experience of moving beyond my comfort zone, and I stay focused on the positives.
            When you focus upon failure or lack in an attitude of complaining, you establish a vibrational point of attraction that then causes more thoughts of complaint. Expressing Gratitude, Appreciation and love is the ultimate “giving back,” so to speak, for in your pain or struggle, you have nothing to give back. Your deliberate effort to tell a new story will establish a new pattern of thought, providing you with a new point of attraction from your present, about your past, and into your future. The simple effort of being grateful and looking for positive aspects will set a new vibrational tone and the Law of Attraction will begin the immediate attraction of thoughts, people and circumstances that support this positive mindset. Everything that surrounds us in life, including the things we complain about, we have attracted.      

4. Changing the Way We Think:
An interesting fact is that the Law of Attraction influences both problems and solutions. The realization that something is not the way you want it to be is an important first step but once you have identified that, the faster you’re able to turn your attention in the direction of a solution, the better. If we focus solely on our problems it will prevent us from finding solutions. The problem is a different vibrational frequency than the solution—and all thoughts (or vibrations) are managed by the Law of Attraction.
            If I started to give in to doubt and fear about my choices, I soon discovered I would become a self-fulfilling prophecy. This “doom and gloom” thinking cripples our momentum and tries to pull us back to our comfort zone.
           We have control over the thoughts we think. Since we have control over our thoughts, what could be more just than the Law of Attraction responding equally to everyone who offers a vibration? Once we gain control over the thoughts we think, a sense of injustice and a victim mentality will fade and be replaced with an excitement for life and the zest to progress and create that each of us were born with.

God bless and thank you for the opportunity to share how I’m living the Law of Attraction.

If I really believe in something and I visualize it in my head as it was real it will happen.

By America Tapiz

Hello my name is America Tapiz, I as a child of poor parents, I discovered the power of attraction when I was very small thanks to my dad. I have experience what you explain through book and blogs but I never knew it was called the power of attraction, I always thought that the human brain has so many powers that if someone desires something so much that it will happen because of the power of the mind. I know that you also talk about this topic and that the mind has a lot to do with completing our most wanted desires. I agree with your opinion and I have experience a great positive outcome in every way money, life, relationships and usually with obtaining the jobs that I always wanted as I grew up. As I was growing I never had a religion belief but more of a spiritually and mystical way of getting what my family needed, they called it the faith of the start and now I know that they meant the power of the mind. As I grew up I had a way of working on my power of attraction since I have a lot of experience with it even though I am in my 20 people think I am lucky because of my “luck attraction” as they say, I hope you enjoy my story of how I prepare myself for my future as well as how I have changed and develop and where I am now.
            Even though now I believe in a bigger being and I believe that he helps me complete my tasks that seem impossible I still believe in my childhood roots of the power of the mind. As a poor Hispanic child I grew up in Tijuana Mexico and saw so much death, poverty and lack of opportunities everywhere I looked. My father worked in the United States and would come see my brother, mother and me if he could at least once every two weeks. My mother worked in Tijuana in our house so she could protect us from all harm that Tijuana is known for, she tried every job out there possible from having a small candy store to having a hair salon in our living room. Because I wasn’t allowed to be outside I became really shy and antisocial but thanks to that, I was able to find myself and understand that where I was and how we were is not how I desired to be. My father introduced me to his theory that he believe deeply and that was the power of the mind, he told me when I was about 6 years old that if I really believe in something and I visualize it in my head as it was real it will happen. At 6 years old I didn’t really understand but I saw it more as a magic trick! I remember I would stand up in front of my bed and visualize a Barbie or a pair of new pants on top of my bed hoping that when I would open my eyes it would be there. Even though that wasn’t what my dad tried to explain I couldn’t comprehend at that age. As I got older around 9 years old I was tired of living in such a poor place and this is when my first power of attraction happened. I was lying on bed thinking about what I can do to get out of this poor place but at 9 years old I couldn’t do anything but re think what my father once told me so I sat down I started to imagine myself in a better place in the united states and going to an American school. I never thought it would happen because of my parents economic standing and because my parents and brother were so afraid of change. But I didn’t stop, every day I would visualize myself in the United States going to school and seen my dad every day after work, even though it seem impossible it was my deepest desire to be together as a family and learn English in America. When I almost 12 when my parents finally decided to come to the United States and confront their biggest fear, and I was in so much shocked that I believed in the power of attraction right there and then.
            We moved to the Vista California, a family of four in a room for a small child but I was as happy as a 11 year old girl could be. I started visualizing my future from there on top of my bunk bed next to the window I imagined myself every night speaking English then in two years I was fluent in English and people couldn’t even tell I was a foreigner, next step I visualize myself having a horse and I got one that was pregnant that later I had to give back because we couldn’t afford to go every weekend to México to see her. As I got to my 15 years I was no longer thinking about horses or little girl stuff but about boys, I would imagine a boy that would be really nice, respectful, (can’t forget handsome) and that will love me forever, soon I met my boyfriend to this day he is everything I saw myself with and more we been together for 7 years since sophomore year in high school and don’t plant to quit our relationship. After I had everything I wanted as a girl I had to start thinking about my future as a young woman, getting jobs and higher education so I started to think what jobs I wanted and I got them all. Even though the jobs I got weren’t special I really wanted them, I was a bagger at a grocery store, a receptionist at a surf shop, a sales associate at Forever 21, a veterinary assistant, a promo model and finally a dog groomer.  And I used the power of attraction to get my jobs. In 2012 I wanted more than just a job I wanted a carrier and go to a university and get my bachelors in journalism with a scholarship that I know is waiting for me somewhere. My dream job is to be a broadcaster and travel the world then become a producer of a news station, I know I will become a well-known broadcaster because I know I will but I need help since my parents are still poor and can’t really help. When I become a well now journalist I know my parents won’t suffer from money but to help them and make my dreams come true I need your help. I wrote to you because I believe in the power of attraction as I have experienced it. I hope you make the right decision and pick who ever really deserves and needs your help thank you for reading my experience and I hope you enjoyed it.

I believe the reason I am in America, attending college, and living a healthy life is because my mother always told me to think positive.

By Kadiatu Kamara

In our everyday life we are faced with memorable events whether it’s something big such as getting accepted to your first choice college or something small and simple such as finding a dollar on the floor. Through these events we come to learn and develop as human beings, develop in the sense that we come to an understanding of what is needed to be done to have a meaningful and successful life. The Law of Attraction states that anything and everything that happens to us as human beings is happening due to the fact that we are attracting it. In simpler terms whether it is something negative or positive it is happening because of the actions we have chosen.
    Thoughts play a major role in how the outcomes of something will occur for example two months ago my family and I had visited a home for sale, it was love at first sight and my family and I knew that this was the house for us. After visiting the house my family and I sat down and we started imagining a future with us living in the house it was nothing but positive thinking. As beautiful as the house was we knew the chances of getting the house was slim due to our finance.  At the very end the owner of the house decided to give the house to us because she said she loved how our family was nothing but positive when touring the house.
    The idea of always thinking and repeating the same thing over and over again whether good or bad is a way of welcoming this idea into your life. An example of this can be seen when I tell myself at the beginning of each school year “I am going to get honors”. It could be one in the morning and I would still be working on my chemistry homework. As much as I can feel my body wanting to rest I would simply remind myself the positive outcome that will happen when I complete this homework and receive a good grade.
    As the oldest child in a family of six, at a very young age I had decided that I had to be the perfect role model for my younger siblings. Since I was little girl my mother always told me whatever I put my mind to or dream about will eventually come true. At the age of seven I wanted nothing more than to come to America and live the America life. I would constantly dream and tell my mother all the great things they have in America. Couple of months later my family and I were picked from a draw to be one of the few families to move to America through a refugee program.
     As a huge believer of the Law of Attraction I believe the reason I am in America, attending college, and living a healthy life is because my mother always told me to think positive. Rather than seeing things for what they are now I think of the way I want my life to be and how great it will be when I finally reach my goal. Through this law I am able to say that I have been living a wonderful life that would one day lead to a successful future.  With this law not only have I been able to maintain wonderful grades in school yet at the same time balance my health, you know what they say, a happy mind is a healthy life.
    I know for sure living the law will improve my future because negativity is not needed in my life. If I am attracting positive thoughts then I know for sure positive things will occur in my life and at school. Following my intuitions, never once doubting myself when it comes to making decision, if my mind thinks this is the right decision, then there is no reason to over think or worry about a simple situation. Beaming positive energy to others and myself and allowing other positive people and things to enter my life can increase my chance of a successful path. Allowing myself to accept my mistakes and move on rather than dwelling on it will push aside all the negative thoughts and negative actions to occur in my life. I must remind myself that success is not limited therefore my time to become successful will one day happen. All I have to do is live life one day at a time surround myself with good people, positive vibes and come to the understanding that success is not a short term thing but rather long term. With all the struggles I have faced nothing is sweeter than living a life where you know the future is bright.

Around the age of 6 or 7, I understood that my actions determined many of the occurrences in my life

By Liad Mizrachi

     How do we explain the series of events that occur in the time that we spend walking the Earth? In other words, what reasons are there for how life unfolds in the way that it does? One theory that has been in development throughout the majority of intellectual humanity is dubbed “The Law of Attraction”. The law of attraction states that every positive or negative event that happened in your life was attracted by you in some type of way, a concept that can be a bit confusing but we all find it present in our world if we look deep enough.
      Ever since I began to think consciously, approximately around the age of 6 or 7, I understood that my actions determined many of the occurrences in my life. If I misbehaved, I had to deal with a consequence or punishment, which is the most basic form of the law of attraction because my conduct in fact attracted the repercussions that followed. So naturally, I began to follow my parents’ rules and avoid disobeying them in order to be able to stay away from the guilt and negativity that came with being put in time-out. Unfortunately, I also learned later on in life that the law of attraction is not always that easy to grasp and manipulate.
      As I mature, I recognize that the universe works in very mysterious ways that I may never be able to fathom, but I must do my best to work around the unknown and create a simplified milieu for myself. I always find myself trying to stick to the basic ‘good nature’ that I was raised on, and generally try to fulfill the life that my parents dreamt for me, as well as continue on the pursuit of happiness until I am content. I understand that by getting an education, I can continue on to have a career, and my chances of succeeding in society increase substantially if I do so. I understand that the only way for me to get the girl I want is to be upfront, confident and down-to-earth, and not try to use subliminal hints or fake personas to lure her into my life. I understand that living an honest life and trying to support the continuation of life is what I was born to do, because I have the ability to do so and must fulfill my potential. I conjecture that life must not become too wildly complicated, and that the most satisfied people are the ones that keep it simple and learn to enjoy the little things while still maintaining a clear view of ‘The Big Picture’.
      Some of mankind’s most revered thinkers have tried to construct a basic understanding of the Law of Attraction, from Plato to Isaac Newton. Personally, I think that this concept must be perceived individually, and that it is a bit different for each one of us. What my vision of ‘success’ is could entirely contrast the ideals of the person sitting next to me. This all depends on the upbringing of the individual, and the values that have been instilled in their mind from day one. But a basic fact that strings us together is that we only have control of our own actions, so I do my best it to focus strictly on how I can make changes in myself to better the outcome of my life instead of trying to adjust external forces that are out of my jurisdiction. I was raised thinking that I must try to gain as much authority over my life as possible, and whoever is the most financially, socially, and physically stable is in most cases the one who is the most emotionally at ease. I use the Law of attraction to try and fight my demons in order to attract extraneous forces that will lead to me achieving these goals my life, so as to stay as far away from turmoil and distress as possible because it can in fact lead to my destruction which in turn deters me from fulfilling my potential as a person.
     Even though the Law of Attraction is a notion that is prevalent in the back of our minds, I believe that we each are conceived with a destiny already set for us, and it is our job to fulfill our destiny during our time on Earth in order to keep the flow of space and time. We may not know what we were put on this Earth to do, and we may never find out, but we must try to do what is best in order to have a more stabilized future, not only for ourselves but more importantly for those that come after us. My child’s life is the closest thing to my life in terms of the amount of influence I have over the choices that are made throughout its duration. While living my life I learn what is good and what is bad for me, and in order to help my children from making the same mistakes I will try to guide them towards what has worked for me. Although I do understand that this process is all trial and error and that they must learn these things for themselves because they are their own person it is my job to assist them in making better choices for their own sake. But I am far from being a parent, so in my current day to day life, going to school, working, and supporting my communities growth are generally positive things I like to keep myself involved in because they will get me to where I want to be in the future.
    It is difficult to explain in detail exactly how the Law of Attraction is being manifested in my life because I do my best to keep things as black and white as possible. Life can become arduous if you lose track of your motives and goals which is easy if you keep yourself drifting in the gray areas. For some people this may be the way they choose to live, but after studying my experiences I have decided to stick to my way of thinking, and thus I realize that if I promote the genesis of what is most widely considered ‘good’ I will in fact soon find myself achieving contentment which is really what we are all after. I am attracted to what makes me happy, and I will always operate in a way that promotes prosperity whether it be in my lifetime or thereafter.

I Am What I Think I Am

By DeOndre Franklin

The Law of Attraction is a philosophical view that believes that every event that happens to you, good or bad, was attracted to you because of your thoughts and feelings. This is a concept that similar to Karma, faith in God, and the “what comes around goes around” doctrines. The Law works through three basic steps – ask, believe, and receive – which are almost identical to what Christians believe, which is to “ask and it shall be received”. I don’t believe that the ‘asking’ part means that you have to speak the words, per se, but rather in your mind you visualize what it is you want at that time. While visualizing, you must also believe that the request will be granted in time. I must pause to point out that the asking and believing must be done within a reasonable amount of time. For example, although I may ask to become CEO of Microsoft and believe that it will happen, it is not reasonable to believe it will happen tomorrow; however it is within reason to ask/believe for a job with the company and work my way up to an Executive level. The last step is to receive, and this is the most important and tricky part of the Law because, as I just pointed out, receiving may not come in the package we think it is in. Also, the Law of Attraction is not a euphemism for “easy street”; being granted a request does not come without hard work and sacrifice. Using the same example, I may be offered a job with Microsoft as a mail sorter or data entry clerk, but if I turn it down because it is not the CEO position I want I will have broken the Law and missed out on my blessings.
    Although I had not thought about it much as a child, I watched my mom (who watched my grandparents) live the Law of Attraction, therefore I inadvertently lived it as well. There were many situations in my childhood that could have been bad had I not believed that better things were coming. I cannot take all of the credit for positive thoughts either because there were many times I wanted to give up, but my mom’s encouraging words and wisdom in the Law many times carried me through my periods of negativity. The most recent, and so far most significant, situation in which the Law has worked for me was being able to return to school this semester. With quite a large outstanding tuition balance, I still do not know how I will make it through the semester, but I know that it will happen.
    My lesson in the Law of Attractions began the second semester of my senior year in high school. I knew I wanted to go to college, but I just cruised through school putting forth the minimum effort, taking for granted how difficult it is to get into a University (particularly here in California where all college programs are impacted). By second semester of my senior year everything hit me at once - my GPA was barely at a 2.0, my SAT scores were low, and I had been denied by all of the colleges I applied to - and I began to panic. At one point I even gave up on the notion of going to college, telling myself I was too dumb and that I would just live at home and go to community college. There is absolutely nothing wrong with community college, but to stay in the town I live in which is stricken with poverty, crime, gangs, and a significantly high unemployment rate, would almost certainly mean to carry on the cycle. My school counselors, family, and friends had all resigned me to community college, but mom is the one who explained to me the Law (she calls it Faith) and that my thoughts, and my thoughts alone, would cause me to either fail or succeed. From that point on, I took on a different outlook on my situation. At the urging of my mom I decided to change directions and apply to colleges that most people would not consider, thus I had a great chance of being accepted to – a Historically Black Colleges/University (HBCU). It so happens that the Black College Expo (in hindsight this was the Law working for me already!) was going to be at the Staples Center in the next coming weeks, so I grabbed a couple of friends and we went. It was an amazing experience. I was able to apply to a dozen different HBCUs all under the same roof, and they waived all application fees that day. I was also able to interview with several admissions reps that day, but I only interviewed with one because the first one that interviewed me accepted me into the school! I was so excited that I accepted on the spot. I will always be grateful to Mr. Thomas St. Julien at Huston-Tillotson University (HTU) for giving me the opportunity to go to college; he has changed my life forever.
    I had a great time at HTU and learned a lot, however, my dream of attending a Division 1 university still nagged at my mind. The desire became stronger and stronger, and when I talked to my mom about it, she encouraged me to follow my heart and believe in myself; so I applied to four large universities. The first three did not accept me, but the last one, Arizona State University, accepted me. There are no words to express how amazing that felt, until I got news that hit me like a brick wall – we could no longer afford to pay for college. My grandma paid my $7,000 HTU tuition that financial aid didn’t cover, but she had recently retired and could no longer afford to pay it. I was floored and started to go into a bit of a depression until my mom (my angel) had a long, encouraging talk with me and reminded me of the Law. She said that it would happen, to have faith because I was going to ASU. To make a long story short, a lot of things fell into place at the last minute. I was able to get the WUE tuition and additional loan money since my mom does not qualify for a PLUS loan. I was also able to get into housing which is less expensive and does not require a meal plan. I currently have an outstanding balance this year, but I know that, based on the Law of Attraction, it will get paid somehow. I am applying for every scholarship I can find and I know that something will come through.
    The Law of Attraction has been a force in my life that has carried me a long way. Now that I am aware of what it is I am always mindful not to think negatively, lest I cause my own failure. I also know that I still have to work hard to make good things happen, that success will not just fall from the sky. I have also found that thinking positively is good for the body, spirit, and soul as well. Positivity emanates from people and attracts other positive people who can have a profound influence on your life. Negativity will also do the same in reverse. I pledge to always think positive, no matter how hard it may be at times. I am the next generation and the world is there for my taking!

I can give countless experiences in my life where the Law of Attraction has been prominent 

By Sandra Okuboyejo
Pace University

Ships are meant to take you places. So, if you are in a friendship, relationship or companionship that isn't taking you anywhere...it's time to abandon ship. We attract what we think about: good or bad. That, my friends, is the definition of the law of attraction.. You cannot surround yourself with negative people and expect to live a positive life. So, I decided a while ago that involving myself in the service of others, and surrounding myself with people who felt so deeply about positively influencing others, is a way I can apply the law of attraction into my own life.
     “The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it” is an influential quote by Albert Einstein, which greatly expresses why I involve myself so deeply in community service. I grew up with community service implanted in me and I found that the  more I involved myself in my community, the greater my enthusiasm for helping became. As Albert Einstein said, the individuals who don’t do anything are figuratively speaking as much at fault as to why the world is such a dangerous place. I refuse to be numbered amongst those who did not try to make a difference.     
            The first massive community service project I involved myself in was when I was in 7th grade. I moved down to New Jersey, and I thought getting involved in my community would allow me to adapt better to a new environment. I had no clue that being occupied in community service would not only allow me to make new friends, but would also introduce me to a life long love; the love of helping others. I decided to audition for the play “Bye Bye birdie”. What made this play so special was that the proceeds from this production would go towards The Gabriel Project. Founded by Mark Melamed, The Gabriel Project is named after three-year-old Gabriel Inyunye of Tanzania, East Africa, who died of intractable heart failure before funds could be raised to bring him to the United States for surgery. Gabriel was a patient at the Muhimbili Medical Centre in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Upon Gabriel's death, doctors at the hospital identified two year old William "Willie" Mushi as the patient in need of immediate surgery. With four holes in his heart and a bad aorta, Willie had successful surgery on July 11, 1994, becoming The Gabriel Project's first success story! The play alone raised about $5,000.To this day, funds from the Gabriel project are helping other African children in medical need, and some are fortunate enough to come to the United States.
            Also in 8th grade, I was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society. As part of that, there were a lot of community service options open. One of the most memorable community service projects was caroling throughout the winter. (The money was later donated to C.H.O.P. and other local hospitals.) Local holiday fundraisers for hospitals were a hit, but one event that stayed with me was the Elwyn Art Auction.  Mentally disabled patients at the Vineland developmental center would construct paintings that went up for bid during this Art Auction. The first time I showcased their art for it to be bided on, I was on the verge of tears. I could not believe the amount of talent that these individuals possessed; I was just breath taken. Also, the fact that I was in a room surrounded with the individuals who felt the same way as I did (including Miss New Jersey 2011, Katharyn Nicolle) made me even more ecstatic. That night I also helped talk to the patients, greet guests, and clean up afterwards. It’s rumored that the event raised anywhere from $10,000- $15,000
            Eventually, my community service efforts got to the point where I was busy every weekend. My platform is “Character builds character: enriching lives through theater education and involvement”. My passion for theatre increased greatly when I became a member of my thespian troupe: troupe 5480. I was at every event for my international thespian troupe and all of the proceeds ($5,000- $10,000 yearly) we collected went to wards Equity Fights Aids and the Educational Theater Association.  I was selected out of thousands of applicants to perform with Broadway performers at thespian national’s 50th anniversary. Benefits from that show exceeded $3,000 and went towards the EdTA. On December 12th and 13th, I successfully wrote, directed and produced my first production "Save The Pieces" which was loosely based on the Sandy Hook tragedy. The show resurfaced a great tragedy that was slowly being overshadowed, and touched on the statement "love and hate are beasts. The one that grows is the one we feed". I was able to raise a little over $500 for Equity Fights Aids and $200 for the Newton memorial fund. Attract good vibes, good friends, good morals and values and you will unknowingly attract a good life.

I can give countless experiences in my life where the Law of Attraction has been prominent 

By Sukari Smith
Arizona State University

The Law of Attraction is thoughts that attract corresponding situations and circumstances. For example, a positive thought would attract positive events and negative thoughts would attract negative events. Say for instance if you doubt yourself and entertain negative feelings about hardships then that is what you would get in the end leading to stress and unhappiness. If you fill your mind with content thoughts then you will attract happiness in your life. With this law the three basic steps are to ask, believe, and receive just like in Matthew 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” or Matthew 21:22 “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer” and the key is to never doubt yourself.
    I can give countless experiences in my life where the Law of Attraction has been prominent. When I worked for a very well known food restaurant for the summer every Friday night I would become very anxious because I had to get up very early in the morning and make chips. With the position I worked, opening shift consisted of preparing the line, setting up the patio, making seven buckets of chips, 21 orders of fried tacos, and cleaning up the station while making time to take a thirty minute break before opening the doors early all in the matter of two hours. So the night before work I am up until one in the morning anxious and hyperventilating because I am so nervous that I will not be able to finish my tasks on time and I will disappoint my co-workers and possibly be fired. So in order to ensure that I complete my tasks efficiently on time  I wake up an hour earlier than usual to arrive thirty minutes before scheduled to come in and finish my tasks. As I take the second bus to my job I find out the one I need to take does not run on weekends. At this point I am extremely nervous with the thought of not making it to work at the time frame I planned to complete all my tasks for the opening shift on time, but the driver assures me of an alternate route I can take leaving me relieved and with hope that I can make it and he drops me off. As I sit at the stop fifteen minutes go by, no bus. Then thirty minutes go by and at this point I am very much on edge, my heart racing with my eyes starting to tear because I know I won’t make it on time and even worse I will be late. I proceed to call the manager to tell her I will be late and I start to feel that all hope is lost. From the beginning I knew the day would be terrible as I kept repeating I hate today, it’s such a terrible day, I won’t be able to complete my tasks on time and everything is going to go all wrong.
    While pacing up and down the stop I grab my phone and call my mom hoping she will be up early to receive my call, lucky enough she answers and as I explain to her what is going on she tells me she is on her way and will be there soon. In a few minutes she picks me up and tells me do not worry you will complete everything needed, everything will be fine just tell yourself this. As I race to work I take her advice and repeat to myself I will get this done on time and today will be a good day. As I am firing up the fryer twenty minutes go by and it is hot enough, I soon find that it is not turned up all the way and then must wait another fifteen minutes for it to get to the right temperature. Even with this dilemma and time set back I tell myself it will be okay and I finished all my tasks on time for the day.
    For the last week of work, I told myself I want to have an amazing last week, I want to make sure that I am a great employee and well missed by my co-workers. In the end I had a very successful work week and my employers told me that there will always be an open position for me and they were sad to see me go. These experiences go to show that once you put a thought out in the atmosphere negative or positive that is what the end result will be.
    All my life I have struggled, my mom was working a minimum wage job with four kids and taking care of my sisters child, so money was extremely tight and we couldn’t afford much. I disliked my circumstances and worried constantly about paying for college on my own however I told myself since I was younger I am going to do well at everything I do, go to school, and have a successful life. Here today I am going to college, doing well in my academics, working, and involving myself in numerous opportunities and I am so grateful for it all. All the experiences I have shared with you today from my life show that all you have to do is ask, believe, and you shall receive. You are the key to improving your future and being successful. All you have to do is believe it and never doubt yourself for a second.

Change Your Thoughts And You Change Your World 

By: Hadley Ferrell
Brigham Young University

The law of attraction is one of the most empowering principles taught.  With the right beliefs anything is possible.  History is filled with stories of men and women that never gave up on their dreams. They attracted greatness!  As an inventor, Thomas Edison made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb.  When he was asked, "How did it feel to fail 1,000 times?" Edison replied, "I didn't fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps!" Edison's perseverance and vision attracted greatness.
     I personally try to live my life everyday with this same belief. I am currently a senior attending BYU Idaho.  This spring I completed one of the hardest and most time consuming semesters yet.  While taking 14 credits I also worked about 25 hours a week.  Being able to manage both work and school along with other responsibilities in my personal life required a high level of energy and commitment everyday.  During this past semester I was enrolled in a business statistics class, a couple of accounting classes and other courses required for my major in business marketing.  Shortly into the semester I began feeling overwhelmed and didn’t know how I could manage both effectively. My business statistics class was extremely difficult and the class policy didn't allow for any outside help. I tried to stay positive under the circumstances, but continually felt like the odds were against my success in the class. I continued to study for long hours and kept believing that it would soon pay off.
     One particular night I stayed up until 4 am to finish a large homework assignment in that class which was due the next day.  I slept for three hours then went to my class at 7:45 am and then after class I than headed directly to work.  I remember feeling so overwhelmed.  I was exhausted but grateful that I had accomplished the task on hand.  However, the class only got harder in the upcoming weeks.  At the beginning of the semester there were 40 students enrolled in the class.  Week after week students dropped out.  Some were caught cheating and dismissed from class. At times I questioned my abilities but I realized how important believing in myself was as well as the powerful beliefs of others in my behalf.  I constantly had the support of my wife, my teacher and my family that everything would work out the way it needed to. 
     When I first heard of the law of attraction I thought it was some mystical belief that gave people hope.  After much more study I have realized it is much more than that.  It is a principle that directs and effects relationships, finances, health, our spiritual life, school, success, and work.  I truly believe that anything is possible. We are capable human beings with a destiny implanted in our beliefs. 
     As I walked into my business statistics class I was surprised to see only 12 students there to take the final.   When the semester started I was one of many but one of the few that completed and actually passed the class.  I learned so much about myself during this experience.   It was an opportunity for me to allow and attract positive thoughts and beliefs to encompass my life.  It would have been easy to give up on this class like many others chose to do and try to retake it the next semester. Looking back now I am glad that I chose to stick it out because now I know how capable I am if I persevere and set my sights on success.  The law of attraction is real and success will be within your reach only when you start reaching out for it.  One of my favorite quotes that sits on my desk says “Good things come to those that believe, better things come to those that are patient and the best things come to those that don’t give up.”
     This last semester I also continued to work part time even though I only had about half the time that other employees did to make their sales. I came to work each day with the belief that I could attract greatness and accomplish my goals.  I wanted to make $100,000 in sales and was able to do that in less than 6 months.  I was exhausted at the end of each day, sometimes falling asleep during my homework.  However, I feel grateful for the work ethic and belief that my parents instilled in me from a young age. That work ethic has made me believe that I can accomplish anything that I desire, I strongly believe that you, "Attract what you expect, reflect what you desire, become what you respect and mirror what you desire." I believe I am moving forward in the right direction.  With two more semesters until graduation I would be a qualified candidate for this scholarship and hope to continue to be a great example for this company

I had not known of the law of attraction by name. However after performing some research, I immediately realized that I have been utilizing this concept to get me through many difficult events through my journey as a college student.

By: Joseph HeilerArizona State University

I am an incoming first year graduate student at Arizona State University. I will be studying Biomedical Informatics, with the hopes of attending medical school in the near future. Over the past 6 years I have managed to overcome several challenging circumstances be embracing the law of attraction and trusting that good things will happen.
     Until I discovered this scholarship fund, I had not known of the law of attraction by name. However after performing some research, I immediately realized that I have been utilizing this concept to get me through many difficult events through my journey as a college student.
     I began college in North Carolina as a scholarship basketball player, and quickly realized that my coach and teammates were not the people I originally believed them to be. Rather than let the year become a negative experience, I focused on bettering myself as a basketball player, teammate and person. I learned that year how valuable it was to focus on the positive aspects of my life and not allow my difficulties to prevent me from achieving my goals.
     After returning home to Arizona and enrolling at ASU, I began focusing on my studies with the goal of attending medical school. I graduated in 2013 with a degree in Biology/Pre-Med. I had worked very hard through undergrad and earned a GPA of 3.92, as well as scored a 32 on my MCAT. With these qualifications I sought admittance to medical schools as I began my senior year at ASU. I applied to 22 schools, was interviewed at 3, and placed on the wait list at all three schools. However I did not gain admittance, and was forced to find an alternative route.
     I have spent the last year working two jobs; a scribe in the emergency room and a doctor’s assistant at the state forensic psych ward. Between the two I worked 50-60 hours weekly, and gained very valuable experience in the medical field. After re-applying to 32 medical schools with my year of work experience added to the application, I was placed on 4 wait lists, and again have not gained admittance. I am currently enrolling in the Biomedical Informatics graduate program at ASU to study the use of technology in the medical field.
     The past two years have been beyond frustrating for me. I have given every effort to bettering myself as an applicant and as a person. It has been very difficult to receive upwards of 50 decline letters from medical schools and remain positive, but through this difficulty I have come to value the presence of positive thinking in my life.
     Without remaining positive through the past two years, I may have given up my dreams to attend medical school. Rather than focus on the negative, I have chosen to remain positive and proactive, constantly searching for the next opportunity to make myself a stronger medical applicant.
     The law of attraction has truly worked for me through my work experience. As I began work at the state forensic psych ward, I got to know dozens of patients who had impossibly difficult lives and horrible pasts that led to their forced stay at the state hospital. I saw how many of them had given in to negative thinking and it had ruined their lives. This very real example really changed how I think, and forced me to embrace the positive in my daily life. Additionally, I saw many patients who were focused on the positive in their life, intending to be discharged from the hospital and change their lives for the better. One of the most powerful moments was when a patient I had come to know very well was discharged to a halfway house, and the joy that was on his face the day he left. I know that his life will forever change because he chose to remain positive in the face of an overwhelmingly impossible situation.
     I firmly intend to become a doctor and spend my life doing what I love while helping others. I know that medical school will be intensely difficult, and that I will need every advantage to make it through. With my ability to remain positive through the setbacks I have already experienced, I feel I will be more prepared to handle the tough school work ahead of me.
     As I begin my graduate program, I choose to ignore the negative thoughts about how I could be 2 years through with medical school, or how I envy my classmates from undergrad as they are beginning clinical work. Instead, I focus on how I have learned so much over the past year in the emergency room and psych ward. I focus on how lucky I have been to be accepted to a wonderful graduate program at ASU, and study at a university I have come to love as a second home. I focus on how much better prepared I will be to take on the demands of medical school and I know that I will continue my path in a positive direction.

I think there is great implied pressure to attract in the US culture, especially if one wants to be or to feel independent.

The Law of Attraction
by Stephan Pacheco

I am a rebel and I attract rebels. Anyone can make a Ted Talk on theory, and many can do attract with an enabled company and a marketing campaign, but in public application the basis for the True Law of Attraction (which can only be defined by actual attraction) takes approximately ten to fifteen years to manifest within the public sector. Rising with silenced fears and bold strokes we draw, write, make movement, and beat; creating and
growing an existence that is present; digital, and so present forever.  As myself, trademarked, I am a present and active participator wielding the Law of Attraction; a more willing participant I've never found and I always sign off on my own liability. I have direct experience with the Law of Attraction, intertwined with the Law of Large Numbers, as a subject and observer; experimenting with the laws publicly from age 11 as a performer, and since age 14 as a writer, and since age 18 as an interesting
entrepreneur.  This is an essay, not a resume. It's relevant that I have released several insights of my compassionately rooted research and simple impressions of our culture in posts to the public, of which, a vast majority have been given away freely in social media as a Philosopher, writer, entertainer, and public figure. This, coupled with my public announcement of Live  performances and the production of film, within these special genres that invite people to stare at a person without inhibition; this has began a professional-grade level of already influential individuals being attracted to my words, style, and image.  We can write and write, but when we begin to speak, something different happens.  There is a bold attraction that occurs.  Few things impress more than simply standing in front of other people and
expressing oneself without a fear of judgment, and is much better and attractive if it gives people something they want and could very well need.  Most ways to attract involve increased vulnerability, which means increased exposure, and increased risk...which is meant to yield the security of a core audience.  By being many things, through multiple
disciplines, a person can become like a bridge, attracting rivals within a vast industry, many of whom are already influential and are being attracted to a universal, strong, and peaceful style. Now giving the established, what they wished that they had seen and could have been when they started their careers decades before. We attract by releasing publicly a commodity in entertainment that offers the viewer a single emotion that the consumer seeks to experience at the time of searching for it. Understand? I am living it. It is a massively broad project I live  independently, made all-American by doing it from within extreme poverty for 15 years. For individuals that come from a family background that has no economy to support the offspring, then the impoverished youth must take on great risk to have the time to create original works (which is different from involvement in the works of others) that will only lead to attraction and influence and prosperities, such as food, shelter, and clothing, at a much later time. By addressing diverse and personal topics in an extreme, and thereby detached fashion, through entertainment, an individual that wishes to have influence, and thereby MUST attract other people, can open familiar hearts and thoughts in diverse but completely human (homogenous) cultures within a large Culture which allows for the removal of a deep psychological fear of what may be different (or
untolerated, and perhaps even genocided) which can  prevent a person from interacting and succeeding throughout global societies. It is in this way that we pull; by placing stylized portions of ourselves in places that attract audiences after premieres in other genres. For initial developments in this type of long-term attraction, it should be assumed budgets for developments at start-up time to be at zero, thereby making writing a great place to initially develop one's means of attraction over time. We can as humans break ourselves down to think along a single line or open ourselves up to feel and think of
(original; without ammendement/expansion to  results)reality in a macro-sense. This is an actual mental ability we, generation “whY?” and younger, have developed very naturally by being many things and being exposed to diverse cultures early on through arts of foreign regions, like Japan. The psychological pathway  to overcoming the sense of self-consciousness and avoiding repression of emotions linked to actions like and involving sexuality, a
“thank you” we owe to the generations of the late 60's and early 70's, (ultimately incorporated with sexual education, thank goodness) is a key to allowing people to be attracted to you (the public figure).  Through the transcendence of our immediate environments, we are  no longer products but now independent innovations. Interdisciplined and defined by the many diverse and tribalised prides that define directly a path that was positive for an individual’s single self. Entrepreneurs bruised and battered in defiance by the many stigmas unspoken that just boils down to the point and message that we are on our own with our risks. It is by this rejection that we are drawn together, often attracted through events like conferences. Where people are attracted to people with similar interests within an active or developing market, where opportunity can be offered to many in mass, all looking for relevant information...such as, through a college with an essay contest that contains an award that is as attractive as it is enabling.
    Some people that practice the Laws of Attraction by inviting vulnerability may have no insecurities toattack, or at least can act the image as good or better than anybody without flinching, but still probably laughing at the very end. However the New-Age-Attractive act without malice, much more for the benefit of others than the residual and necessary benefit to ourselves. We have no guilt to be pursued. We are free, and all before us must accept that because their, the elder generations, that by participating
in mass events have been attacked in mass and got broken back, but their own dreams of happiness
continue throughout their whole lives. We are attracted by few emotions, all of you, like me, not to get our wampum, but inevitably what we get that we can hold will be  exchanged for it...led by emotions to have what is pretty, because pretty makes us feel happy, and happiness is the pursuit of all humans on Earth but only occurs in the true paradox that we must not want what we must gain, and when we can finally take advantage of people from positions of power, we just won't because we don't need to want it, pride and stress, just to feel like we're doing something.
    The Law of Attraction is generally viewed as likes  attracting likes, but reduced down to a general state of human existence, we are all alike, and thus able to be mass marketed to; because, through kindness, compassion, and understanding we are able to approach cultures that are very peaceful or even very violent with familiarity and insight of the feelings that diverse groups are trying to accomplish with actions.  If a person becomes diverse enough, his or her toughness attracts the poor, and his or her education and elegance attracts anyone else that can enable that person with award.  I think there is great implied pressure to attract in the US culture, especially if one wants to be or to feel independent. To break down a thousand words...Nothing attracts  like a simple smile, with a happy gleam in an eye.  What can be complex and played with in the mind must be simple in application. Smiling is simple and attractive.
    Google me. Go ahead. Do it. Please. In this way you can see the application of the vulnerable Law of Attraction, veiled in strength to prevent attackers, completely in process at a still early stage.  All youth begin  deconstructed...and we will never be complete...so we always keep building, ourselves...a new habit of the youth that we believe will keep us united with more than just our own generation over time. AMMENDMENT; RESULTS: This is the revealing of additional conclusions based on observations of the natural phenomena of attraction actually happening. I have been able to expand my view based on the way that Achieve Today has chosen to define the Law of Attraction, wherein, like is attracted to like. I can view a single subject, or a single word, from many viewpoints, but being asked to look at something from a specific viewpoint can yield more exacting results for the person that lives with a singular viewpoint, should I be thinking on behalf of such a person or such a definition. Current results show that I am not really attracting young male rebels, which is what I am, though I'd be their slightly older version of characters in works I created when I was in the demographic. That's not the the type of person that is following me....my fans, meaning strangers that like me from the general public, which only know me through my public existence...these fans don't resemble me. The majority resemble the female character on the front of my first book which attracts. It's my bold male literary style, in the body/image of the nameless Girl. First the reader is attracted to the image of the character, “the girl,” and then they are attracted to me...and it's human sexuality that keeps and creates and initial feeling which will allow people to make positive thoughts in a chain, about a public is what's really really attracting anyone to most anyone when image is concerned..a feeling held onto for any dream of security, no matter how fictional or necessary it is to keep a faith in life from day to day.  These results I was not able to predict. We can create something, but how the public, humans, respond to it is a result of phenomena, as the unspoken mass public perceives what it needs to maintain a sense of self in a system where dreams are delayed and random...This is a point in mass human consciousness that is like all before it, in that it can only ever really be guessed at with an educated curve based on the experiences of others as they have reported this phenomena, as related to humans, of this current
existence. Final results cannot be reported, and there is no time-frame definable for the results, but we know the
results cannot span further than my  lifespan...however...digital is forever, therefore image can be forever which is what attracts, even if a person is not eternal...most of us are really popular right after we're gone.

People and their thoughts are both made from pure energy.

By: Sammy Yung

It is  a great world we are living in since the time it was created and living with the law of Attraction is also one of the things that makes it even greater. It is said that the law of attraction is a name given given to the belief that ''like attracts like'' and that if we try to focus on positive or negative thoughts one can bring about results turning out to be positive or negative.This belief is based on the idea that people and their thoughts are both made from pure energy. An example which can be used by a proponent of the law of attraction is that if a person walked into an office for an interview expecting not the get the job,then the law of attraction would be confirming those thoughts after the interview and a person who expects to get the job would under the same law get the job instead of being told to try elsewhere.

In-fact the Law of attraction is a very good theory which if clearly understood can be of a lot of benefits.An example is with my own self,back then when i was growing up i was battling with a whole lots of issues of the mind and some of them were that i was always thinking too much if i had a task ahead of me to complete,instead of choosing to stand on one thought i was always jumping on both sides and that did not help me at all.I was always thinking both negatives and positives when ever i had a task to complete and this was not so good because most of the times the results that came were not pleasing to me,but after learning more about the laws of attraction it was clear to me the right thing to do whenever there was a task in front of me.If i had to be on the positive side i would clearly be on the positive side like for instance one experience i had on the soccer field.

Over here where i play soccer there are about 4 teams and we only have one soccer field so on that day i went to play soccer i noticed that the team i was on wasn't fit enough to win even a single match so i was thinking to myself if i should switch with someone else so that i would join a better team but i had a positive thought which said i should stay in the current team and i did just that.I played the defense position on that day and people where asking why i was there and i just said that is where i would play for the first match like i always do.Our matches lasts for ten minutes after which we eliminate by straight penalty shootouts.We won the first match after which i went to my normal position of being a midfielder, because i was working with the law of attraction we were rather the best team on the field that day, i remember it was our turn to have a penalty kick after the team missed and i said ''pass me the ball so that i will score and eliminate this team'', i put the ball on the penalty spot and kicked the ball straight into the goal post i heard shouts and people raising me up and i was grateful to God and the law of attraction, we eliminated all the teams back and forth by either straight goals or penalty shootouts and people were saying we were not even playing enough but we always won.If i had stood on the negative side and tried to switch to another team i would not have enjoyed the game as i did.

Living with the laws of attraction can improve our future because it has great benefits like making the individual think positively which is the main thing.Thinking positively makes us feel comfortable and makes us act in a way which is acceptable to society because other people will be appreciating us for the good we do to them which in turn will create an atmosphere of peace and harmony.

Also the laws of attraction will help us approach  very difficult situations with ease because we will know that we have good in mind and will pull through it no matter how difficult it is.It is with this zeal that will help us break down the difficult situation into peace and pieces.I used to have difficulty in working on some aspects of mathematics and realized i was failing before i entered high school but i realized if a teacher was teaching then i could also understand it better by having a positive mind because the teacher is also trying to help us ans this is what pushed me into taking classes more seriously and learning more whenever i had the chance and by the time i was getting into high school i had picked up a lot of topics.

I always tell people around me to always be with the laws of attraction and because i have explained things to them the more they are having less difficulties and rather having much more success in their lives.

The law of attraction states...focus on what you want instead of what is, or may go wrong.

By: Ryan Jackson
Arizona State University 

Discovering the law of attraction is just one neutral step into success or so called luck. However, the law of attraction, is attracting objects or fantasies you want. If you want to be wealthy, have a boat, be president, or even change the world. The law of attraction states you may do so. But you have to attract positive entities and not negative ones. In other words, focus on what you want instead of what is, or may go wrong. Implementing the law in ones life, and practicing it through daily routine is life changing. In my life negativity has taken a toll ever since I was a little kid. I have been told, I am to small for this, to little for that, and even picked on at some schools. To add on to my dismay of being unlucky, I was a top ranked wrestler in California, and I was in communications for a verbal commitment to the school of my dreams. I was just about to be offered a full ride scholarship. Three days before my season was moving to the post duration, my neck was severely hurt. Eventually surgical procedures took course to fix my neck. I was told I would not be able wrestle again, or if the surgery was to fail I would never be able to walk. I found no goodness in life at all. Everything just seemed so bland. Food did not taste the same, I never enjoyed the birds chirping, or even felt a cool ocean breeze in my face. My feelings of negativity took control of my emotions. I toured Cal Baptist University, but then realized my parents could not afford it, so many things happened in my life, situations occurred I could not find a reason to why. I was lost, attending a local community college and hating every second of it. My parents always despised junior colleges, so I felt as if I was disgrace. That is until I read a book called The Secret, by Rhonda Byrne. The law of attraction can determine the course of your life. If you dream big, and truly do believe it than positive things will happen. Before I had my surgery I made a list of physical activities I would do when I came out. I attracted the activities to me, I attracted the Idea. I saw my self actually doing these, and my surgery went great. I read this book shortly before I applied to ASU. I brought a certain level of confidence to myself, assuring that I will do what it takes to get Honors, and study Political Science. I worked hard, while my friends went out, I stayed home and studied because I know If I have the attractive mind set that Bryne talks about then all my dreams will come true. I saw my self in honors classes, and I dreamed of being in a class at ASU.At first I thought that the law of attraction was an attitude, but then I shortly realized that it is a life style. It is more than just thinking positive, it is doing random acts as a person and ultimately giving back. It is not only being able to tell yourself you want something but picturing your self doing it. Every time I prepared for a test, I thought about ASU and gave a very attractive vibration, so I could attract ASU, or my dream to me. Manifestation is its own destiny, but the good vibrations is what makes dreams into a life style. I wrote my goal of going to ASU every where in my room, and most mornings I would repeat it to my self, saying “I want to go to ASU by fall semester.” That made my conscience mind turn subconscious so I was attracting it when I did not even know. Now that I am an ASU student, and my semester is going to start I say to my self graduate with deans list. I want to attract it that way the thought of failing or procrastination does not cross my mind. I started focusing on things I wanted instead of things I want. To many people focus on the things or situations they do not want. Practicing the law of attraction accumulates the law of success through faith, vibration, and certain feelings. Success takes faith, reapplying faith that you may achieve your goal and feeling it. Vibration, is the vibe that you give off when people are around you. If you talk and act successful, the law of attraction states that you can be successful by reapplying the necessary traits. Controlling your feelings is another key aspect because you feelings tell you objects you really want, and things you do want. If you feel angry because you run late to work, you are attracting negative things to happen to you such as speeding tickets, car accidents and other activities. However, if you focus on the goodness of the situation or think about how hard your going to work because you showed up late, it accumulates success. Instead of focusing on being late, focus on seeing your self in the management position. Living the law of attraction through daily routines can alter the course of your life and determine your level of success. Oprah Winfrey, one of the wealthiest women in the world speaks of her humble beginnings and how the law of attraction changed her life. She says, “the way you think creates reality for your self.. You can really change your reality by the way you think.” She speaks the law of attraction, one of the most successful women in the world. She is part of the top 1% and makes up 97% of the worlds wealth. Will Smith a man from humble beginnings, he said “you decide who you are going to be, what you are going to do, how you are going to do it, and the universe will get out of your way.” This quote is powerful speaking about the law of attraction. If your thoughts become so significantly power then nothing can stop you. Powerful, positive thoughts create success.

If one can dream it, one can do it. Through the law of attraction accumulating the law of success.

Achieve Today’s mission is much like the one I have for
the foster youth and at-risk individuals I work with 1-on-1

By: Gabriel Kruse

My name is Gabriel Kruse and I am submitting materials to be considered for the Achieve Today
Scholarship. I might do this a little differently than most because, in all honesty I am trying to strengthen
my case. My video had to be brief, but I wanted to clearly display the sincerity in which I am using this
law. To have stumbled upon an application to a company that does exactly what I do in a different part
of the coaching world is a fascinating thing. Achieve Today’s mission is much like the one that I have for
the foster-youth and at-risk individuals I work one-to-one with, and I truly admire the youth and drive
that your company emanates in achieving its own vision. 
 
  I believe that demonstration of knowledge is better than regurgitation of theory, because only one leads to results (positive of course). In this case, I am writing to further explain how I have used the Law of Attraction in my own life. I have gone back to school because I know that I need it to become credible in the field that my Non-profit organization operates in, by helping foster youth achieve post-secondary educational success. But, I have looked at it in a way that will help me found my second
company. I am looking at my continued education to help strengthen my professional network, to help
me understand people management concepts, and to develop my next idea to help me fund the vision I
have for my life, and the lives of the foster youth I hope to impact. My goal is for this second company to
either be offered an IPO opportunity to take this company public, or to have an acquisition opportunity
that will give me the resources to forge ahead the ideal status of Warrior’s Way all by the time I
graduate with my Bachelor’s Degree. I am aware of the statistics, but I have beaten those before. I
expect to blow them to pieces again. Not necessarily by my own ability, but in the same way I beat them
before. Taking the first plunge, running forward toward my goals regardless of “speedbumps” as I call them. Then watching others join the vision of my company, and giving a hand to help it succeed. My thoughts are never on how grave a solution is, and I believe it is why people fail to accomplish what they truly want for their lives is by worrying about the bad. But, I just know I will prevail. No speedbump has ever foiled my result because, If there is anything that collegiate wrestling has taught me, it is that every position is a scoring position.

The link for my YouTube video is here: http://youtu.be/1LzwCd3KqK0

The law of attraction is a very unique conceptual idea.

By: Kyle Ritter
University of Tampa

The law of attraction is a very unique conceptual idea. It essentially entails that every positive and negative event that happens to you was caused by you. That you asked, thought, or allowed the universe to create the event that has happened to you, and what events will happen to you in the future. However, we as sound minded human beings have the ability to determine how the Law of Attraction pertains to us. To first start out on this journey we will cover three basic things we can do to use the Law of Attraction to our advantage. Firstly, we must first ask for what we need or want, we must then believe in what we have asked for, and then we will receive. Sound easy enough? Let’s all start by informing ourselves about the asking process.
    When we ask for something we have to whole heartedly believe in what we are trying to attain. We have to have a clear focused mind. Basically, one needs to be in a totally positive state of consciousness and being.  This means we shouldn’t have bad stress, or off the wall emotions plaguing us while we try to connect ourselves with the universe. Then we ask the universe what we want. People ask all sorts of things that fall along the lines to that individual’s pursuit to happiness, or to help that person attain their goals in life. For instance, what some people say that what they ask for comes to them through their dreams. I personally see it more in my day dreams. Just remember, we are about to invest ourselves into this. The next part is that we cannot just ask once for things and expect it to happen, therefore; there are certain tools we can use to help ourselves stay focused and positive. One tool is using positive affirmations. In plain  English  this means a positive statement. Here is a way that I use it, “I have money for college”. This is a great example because it is positive, it is short message for our brains, and it is in present tense.  Using affirmations such as this one works really well because you want to feel like you already have the money for college and it is short so that your mind gets the exact message quickly. Another vital tool is repetition. Repetition is another essential tool when asking. It helps because it is always reminding ourselves about what we are invested in. These tool will us keep our minds focused. Now along with this positive focused mind we need to believe.
    So although we may request for something, and we’ve been using the tools for an hour or two we will not receive it with a shaky belief. We all have to have a non-wavering or altering belief no matter the extent of time it takes. What I’m trying to convey is that we need remind ourselves that we are fully committed into what we have asked, and believing in the tools that we have learned are helping to propel us forward towards our goals. Some ways to help strengthen our belief is to imagine what it will be like when we receive our goal. For example, if we close our eyes and picture ourselves in real life after we’ve attained what we have asked. What does it feel like? My personal example is that I take my dog for walks, and while were walking I visualize myself succeeding in my endeavor. Actions such as these will help keep our emotions balanced, will keep us happy, and will keep our conscious and sub conscious mind on track for when we  finally receive.
     Lastly, we must be willing to receive the good fortunes that come to us after all our hard work. Remember, we did work for it just not physically. So, it is counterproductive to bring negative thoughts such as “I didn’t really deserve this” or “I got lucky” because the beautiful thing about the Law of Attraction is that you receive more for what you are grateful for. I personally always have to remember that.  Basically, if we have a negative mindset after receiving a wonderful gift we will corrupt and undue all the good positive affirmations we have done to receive our gift in the first place. On the other hand, if we instead show gratitude for receiving that gift we will keep the positive aura and continue to have other positive outcomes. Just think about all the great things we take for granted every day. If we were to show appreciation and gratefulness to all of these things we would attract more of the same. One example would be  “wow  today is a beautiful day”. Then it can be followed with “I am going to be so productive”. Simple things like this power our positive energies with the universe. A way I like to look at it is that positive people create positive outcomes. Just remember all three of these steps have equal importance.
    Asking, believing, and receiving are some basic guidelines on how to use the Law of Attraction. Every step must be taken before the other is tried. This will help us on our many journeys. However, the Law of Attraction is not black and white and is always changing throughout every individual’s life. One is never too old to learn a new trick, and we can all periodically reevaluate how our lives are being affected by the great and powerful Law of Attraction.

The law of attraction believes that the things you paying attention to and focus on are what you tend to attract more of into your life.

By: Brooke Alvarado 
Arizona State University

The law of attraction is focusing on the things that you want to happen in your life instead of worrying about the things you don’t want to occur. Fears, finances and discouragement from others allow people’s mind to think more about failure and the fear of not being able to accomplish a goal. These factors come across everyone’s mind when they take a chance on something whether it be starting a new business, pursuing a degree, singing up for a marathon or even challenging yourself to become a better person. These doubts and “what if’s” are the main cause of people being too afraid of going after their goals or making a change in their life. This can also occur with things that are current in your life right now. For example, if you don’t like a small aspect about your job or about a relationship you have with someone and instead of seeing the good that comes out of your job or that relationship, you are always focusing on the one little negative thing. This could also occur when you are thinking about yourself as an individual, maybe you don’t like your own body type or you don’t like that you always have a full schedule and too much on your plate. Instead of realizing the good qualities about yourself and what those small aspects that you don’t necessarily like actually bring, you can’t truly be grateful for your life and appreciate things for what they are.

The law of attraction believes that the things you paying attention to and focus on are what you tend to attract more of into your life. When you spend your time focusing on certain things, you are apt to have the same emotional atmosphere that you surround yourself with. If you are absorbing something too much, you become a part of that emotion or feeling or negativity and you carry that around with you for others to sense and rub off on. Once you are in a certain state of mind, there is a wall put up around you that doesn’t allow any other view point on life lead you down a different path. You become oblivious to the great opportunities you are surrounded by because you are focused too much on one thing or emotion in your life that becomes something like a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Your thoughts generate actions in your life. You will not take resourceful action when you are too focused on negativity and all the problems in your life. The cause of this could be fear, resentment, and failure in any outcome of your life. Insecurities can cause you to not take chances and experience something new that could potentially become a hobby or eventually even helping someone else along the way and making new relationships and connections to others around the world.

In order to adapt yourself in a positive environment and surround yourself with good qualities, you need to follow the law of attraction by learning to focus on the good things in your life and what they bring. Create an environment where you feel confident and successful and good about your quality of life and this will help you attract success and positivity. In order to move away from problems in your job, relationship or your life in general, focus on creating something that is missing from your wants and desires without the fear of it failing. Instead of worrying about things in negative outcomes, think about all the possibilities of a positive outcome. And if it doesn’t turn out the way you wanted it to, your gained experiences and lessons along the way that will teach you how to do something even better the next time. Think about providing more value in your life, and more value will come to your through your job, relationships and goals.

The importance of law to success in my life is very essential in order to go after what I want without the fear of failing. I am currently entering my senior year at Arizona State University. I am a first generation college student in my family and for the longest time during my earlier years of college and even now, there has been a constant battle with the fear of the unknown. I wasn’t sure how college was going to be and I learned to figure everything out on my own because of the importance that it meant to me to go to college and pursue my degree in communication. It is very important for me to have a positive outlook on my college career and to be motivated to see where my hard work will lead me in the future. I am very fortunate to be able to attend school and have family that supports me along that way and are they congratulating my success. I have personally learned the importance of having the law of attraction for success and happiness in my life. I will continue to use this law in continue striving for a bright future for myself and my family. I have learned that there may be fears of uncertainty and the fear of failure, but I learned to have overcome them as I am optimistic about my future of success.                 

The power lies on us

By: Valeria Lescano

I first heard of the Law of Attraction on TV and then when I found this scholarship I did some extra research and it is then when I became really interested on it; I have even requested the book “The Law of Attraction the Basics of the Teachings by Abraham” to be sent to my local library. I do believe in the theory of the law of attraction, which states that we as human beings attract everything that happens to us, whether it is positive or negative, and we have the power to control it. The power lies on us, on our conviction, on how strongly we believe and with how much desire we ask, once the universe gets a clear and firm idea of what we want, the universe will grant us our wish.

There are some steps required in order to communicate with the universe. First we need to put our lives on pause for a couple of minutes and meditate and get a very clear and specific idea of what we want. Our request can’t be vague or confusing because the universe will not know exactly what we are asking for. We need to visualize and make a picture in our minds of what we want and transfer that mental picture to the universe, for example, walking on stage during graduation, or reading a notification on a scholarship award, etc. Another step is to act and feel as if you had been granted what you wished for, but feel it today, right now, right here. As with anything that is given to us, we also need to be thankful to the universe, not only for what we are about to receive, but for everything that is given to us on a daily basis, even when something doesn’t go the way we wanted, because things could’ve been worse.  Imagine that you live in a perfect world where everything that we desire comes to us; therefore, imagine a place where we don’t need anything else. Be patient, wait and trust the universe, don’t hesitate or become anxious, this will only disturb the universe. The law of attraction is based on thoughts and I believe on energy as well. Our thoughts need to be clear and strong, and our positive thoughts will attract positive things to our lives, just as positive energy attracts positive outcomes.

After reading and learning more about the Law of Attraction I decided to live my life in a very positive way, and am convinced that my positive thinking will attract only goods things to my life. When I reflect and think about it, I believe that I already knew about the law of attraction (probably not with that name) but I was sure that we attracted everything around us, only by thinking –both positive and negative things, ranging from small mundane things, to major an important. For example, in too many occasions I have been thinking on a song right before the radio will play it, or after thinking on a person, will receive and unexpected call or visit from him/her, or even more transcendental things like somebody getting married, being offered a job or being accepted to the university. In many of these occasions I was convinced that my mental power called for these actions or events to happen. Now I know I have the power for them to happen and I know they are not pure coincidence.

For this reason, at the beginning of every day, I give thanks to the universe for everything that I have, for a beautiful sunny day, or a rainy day, because even the rain is beautiful. I learned to appreciate all events and moments in life, including the rain, the heat, the cold, even hunger, because it is at these moments when we give more value to what we sometimes take for granted, like the sun, the air or a simple meal. Then I focus on whether there is something that day that I really need, because I also don’t want to be greedy and I know even though I don’t have much, I am more fortunate than other people who aren’t even close to having what I have. But if I really believe I am in need of something, I clear my mind and picture what I want, I look for a quiet place with no distractions and communicate my wish, repeating and convincing myself that I will receive it for sure, my mind remains focused and my positive thinking is so strong that I can sense the feeling of happiness and gratitude for my wish being granted. I constantly repeat to myself that I will get what I desire, I write it down, I see myself getting it, I even give thanks in advance for what I am about to receive.

I truly believe in the theory of the Law of Attraction, I believe in it to an extent that I have been talking about it with friends and family, especially those who are presently struggling, either financially, or in their relationships or with matters concerning their health. I am confident that their present situation is a result of their own thoughts, and that with a little of knowledge and discipline, a lot of faith and conviction, they too will be able to turn their lives around and have control of their futures.

I am looking forward to reading the book I requested from the library and gain more knowledge about the Law of Attraction, but for now, I am sure that my future will be great, I know I will succeed in every goal I set for myself and I will only attract good and positive things to my life. Now I feel powerful. Now I am ready to begin the new journey of my life.

Our Lives with the Law of Attraction

By: Steve McCoy
Arizona State University

How can the Law of Attraction improve your life?
           
“Light attracts light!”  If you have never heard this term before now, or have never taken the time to understand this concept in greater depth, than my hope is, what I’m about to attempt to communicate here will be prominently beneficial. 

A basic description of the law of attraction is whatever focus/attention you give out, you will draw towards yourself.  Much like a magnet attracts metals or other polarized magnets.  In the most common terms; the law of attraction has been reported to help people obtain success in their utmost materialistic desires.  Many have heard about those people using this method to attract great wealth and riches.  While this is certainly the end goal for many interested in this subject, this is not where it all begins.  “Milk before meat”, as they say, applied to the law of attraction would imply that we need to start smaller, much smaller, to ever truly understand this concept and be able to apply this in our daily lives.  

It does not matter what background, creed, religion, or belief system you have for the law of attraction to work.  It’s a very simple law of ‘balance’ per se.  You give out energy, so shall you receive.  It is interesting to note, however; that many, if not most religions would not disagree with this concept, they would simply just have different terms therein.  For example; Christian religion(s) may explain this concept as “blessings” as they are earned through “obedience” and/or “righteousness.”  

Let us start out with the first steps towards understanding and executing the law of attraction.  It starts with living a positive life.  In every aspect, do what you can to have positive thoughts.  Seems simple right?  That’s because it is.  Start making a conscious effort to control your negative thoughts and only have positive ones.  Although, it may be hard at first to break that mold and habit of negative thinking, but it will get better with practice. 

Luckily, I grew up as an optimist quite naturally despite my surroundings.  It wasn’t until I was in my early 20’s that I started to realize the cause and effect that I was subtly creating for myself.  Because I had a positive outlook on life and thoughts thereto, I was experiencing positivity in my life.  With an Irish background, people have told me that I have “the luck of the Irish.”  Of course that had absolutely nothing to do with what was happening.  I was, and still am, creating positive outcomes in my life on every level through the law of attraction. 

Upon realizing what I was doing, I began to test these thoughts and feelings I had inside myself.  I started paying attention to the small things that would help build the law of attraction.  Instead of thinking I couldn’t qualify for a house and that it’s going to take a long time to qualify, I began to think that something was about to happen any day.  I would wake up eagerly to see what was going to happen that would pull me closer to obtaining this goal.  After some time, little things kept happening.  I would get a random bonus from work that I could save or help pay off credit cards with, that were hurting my situation.  I would be given, literally given, opportunities to earn extra money quicker.  Things seemed to randomly come out of nowhere.  The Universe kept on giving as long as I remained willing to receive it.  I ended up being able to buy my first house in less than half the time that it originally would have taken me.  And I did not do anything special.  I never worried and I never thought negatively about my disposition.  I just kept believing in my soul that I would be able to purchase a home soon, and opportunities would come my way that were going to help me achieve this. 

Anyone can apply this to their life.  The affects start out small but get increasingly more noticeable as you understand the law of attraction.  Be positive and you will attract positivity.  Some may explain this as simply believing in yourself.  While that is a noble attribute to have in life, this concept is much more than that.  It is a way to gain and achieve the any life goals you may have.  Whether you want to attract the love of your life, obtain your dream motorcycle or qualify for that first home, the law of attraction can play a “physical” role in your life.  (Although we may not see or understand it, all matter is physical.) 

I continue to be a proponent of the law of attraction to those around me.  Now that I have a conscious understanding of it, I aim to apply this with any goal or desire I may have in life.  I’m not a success story of wealth and riches, but I am a story of life success of a young man.  The law of attraction has touched my young family, it has given me much love and joy, and it continues to be a mechanism in my life today.  I am happy. 

The Law of Attraction and Success

By: Laura Simon

The Law of Attraction is defined as; you attract like vibrations, "like attracts like" by focusing on positive or negative thoughts, you shift your vibration to attract what you are focused on. There have been many authors that have written about employing the Law of Attraction into your life, as well as movies have been made to teach about the Laws of Attraction. It is a way of life, a life style if you will, a technique of living in harmony with your environment and becoming in line with what you desire.

            As a student it is important to be mindful and in line with your desires for your life experience and your ultimate goals for your life after college. This can be achieved with different options, you can read books on the Laws of Attraction and train yourself or you can simply start by changing your thoughts. Taking some time to be with yourself and really look at where you are now, and where you want to be in your future. Asking yourself what career would make you happy, then feel it inside of yourself and within your heart. The emotion you raise will fuel your energy to employ the Law of Attraction. Practiced daily this technique of visualization will enable you to be where you want to be in your life, employ it as part of your daily life experience.

            Once you have established the basics of visualizing you can expand the technique by stating mantra’s to change your vibrational attraction. An example of this would be that you woke up and had an argument with your room mate or boyfriend or girlfriend and now you’re angry and attracting negative energy, everyone around you walks away they do not know why they feel compelled to leave, and that will make you angrier. How you stop this cycle is by stating a mantra to shift your energy. A mantra for success could read like this, “I am successful, my goals are met, and I live the life I dream of”, and visualize that future you have planned for yourself, and breathe deeply. Do this action over and over until you are back in line with your goals. When you’re a positive person you are exuding positive energy and people will want to be around you. You have the ability to shift your vibration as needed with your thoughts and intentions, you have the power to bring into line and manifest your desires with the Law of Attraction. An example of this in action is I had desires to go back to school to finish my degree and to get the education I needed to be successful in my life. It took me about 5 months to overcome my fear of going back to school and to bring forth the program that was perfect for me. I keep myself in line while overcoming my fear I was able to manifest the support I needed at my age with a great program that has supportive Professors and Instructors. If you focus on your desire and picture it happening it will manifest for you with a diligent practice. Success can be achieved in many forms such as, getting into the program you desired, being in the dorm with a likeminded friend, maintaining a great GPA. Success can be achieved by being open to what comes to you, and accepting the gifts the universe has manifested in your life. The road to your success might not always be the way you planned it, and that is okay, because the Law of Attraction will deliver your success how it is supposed to happen.

            Ways to aid you in focusing your thoughts to the practice of Law of Attraction and manifesting your success are, placing pictures of success on your bathroom mirror and looking at it each day. Writing the GPA goal you have on labels and putting it on your books and in your bag seeing it visually every day. Another way is to make yourself a collage of all the images that remind you of your success together then placing it where you will see it every day to remind you to be still and focus on your success.

            These are some great resources to learn more about applying this practice to your life, books by Esther Hicks and Jerry Hicks, all of their publications are fantastic reads. The first book I read to learn this practice was by Florence Scovel Shinn this book changed my life with the in-depth history about this practice of attraction and how to employ into your life the title was The Game of Life/ Your Word is Your Wand it includes her Biography. The Secret is one of the newest publications by Rhonda Byrne, it is a great read as well, and there is a DVD, read the book first then watch the DVD.

            The Law of Attraction will change the way you perceive success and what you have manifested in your life. Put your all into your practice of Law of Attraction, keep yourself in line with your manifestation, feel it in your life “like attracts like”. Remember your thoughts and your emotions have power when put together and your word will be your wand.

A Positive Outlook In Life

By: Elle O’Connor

            My understanding of the theory, The Law of Attraction is the mind set of a positive outlook in life knowing that the universe knows and feels how you feel and in order to get what you want out of life you have to put in the work to get it. Having a negative outlook on life such as saying, “I hate myself”, “I can not succeed” or “There is no point in trying” are feelings that the universe looks as a way of not returning good to that person. In order to receive good outcomes, one must produce good outcomes. This theory relates to my life so much because it is all about having a outlook positive on life and stop feeling sorry for yourself cause it only hurts yourself.

            When I was 15 as a sophomore year in high school I lost my father to a rare form of blood cancer. My father was my rock and he gave me the drive to succeed to the fullest. He was the one that inspired me to set a goal to become a Pediatric Oncologist and do a special program to have a 2 year head start in college versus other students my age. After he was gone the drive disappeared. I began to give off negative vibes that affected both emotionally and physically. My grades dropped and the sense of wanting to attend school disappeared. I began to miss class and all together not even show up. Having a mother who was not involved in my school work and all together stopped caring for me both physically and emotionally did not help. There was many fights and struggles between my mom and I over silly things that did not even pertain to my school work. By the end of my fall semester as a sophomore there was a serious doubt that I would not make it into college my junior year as I planned. I realized then that I if I truly wanted to succeed in life I had to do it for myself, not for anyone else. I knew I needed to stop feeling sorry for myself and put the energy I had for arguing towards my studying. My spring semester I studied non stop and managed to get all A’s and one B and pass the PERT (Placement Exam State Test) test with flying colors. Through those long weeks of studying I told myself that I could do anything I set my mind to and no one was going to stop me from achieving my dreams. My favorite phrase I told myself every morning as I was brushing my teeth was “You are strong, smart, and beautiful and never forget that” Even though I began to have a positive outlook on life it was not easy to bring the grades up and results did not show up overnight, it took many weeks and even months. Through the next few years left as a high school student I began to become a full time college student at a local state college. Although, there were times of doubt still, I knew there was no room to back down and to keep on fighting and believing in myself. Today, I just turned 18 years old, graduated high school with honors, have my Associates and Arts Degree, and am currently enrolled in summer courses at the University of Central Florida.

            Even though I have gone through so many obstacles I know there are many more to come. I know I have to stay strong and positive to achieve what I want in life. I believe as I continue to live my life with the Law of Attraction I can endure anything that stands in my way. Having a positive mindset has taught me not only that it is healthier for the body, but it is a healthier way to live. I find many more happy moments in my life than sad these days. I believe there is no room for feeling sorry for yourself, be strong and strength will come your way. I believe we all have an undesirable strength inside of us, it is all up to us on how we choose to use it. 

Living the Law of Attraction: What It Looks Like in My Life

By: Steve Hanson

How does a young man with a disability from a lower-socio economic single-parent family  pursue a goal of becoming a lawyer who would represent the legal rights of society’s most vulnerable people, those who suffer discrimination because of race, color, poverty, or disability? The following life story illustrates how the three basic principles of the Law of Attraction helped me to realize my goal.

During high school, I realized that I wanted to be a public interest lawyer to help the disadvantaged in our society. I volunteered in numerous local agencies where the clients faced various life challenges. As I continued to serve those in need, I also learned by listening to their stories: stories about their poverty, stories about their disabilities and their academic failure in schools, and stories of their feelings of powerlessness. Gradually, I realized that my volunteering had evolved into a deeper understanding of the challenges that disadvantaged people face, so I resolved to advocate on their behalf. By pursuing a career in law, I knew I could make a difference in their lives by providing legal assistance.

 However, I did not have the money to go to college. Because my single mother’s income is very limited, she could not contribute to my college education. I could have chosen to believe that I would not have enough money for college. When people do not have money, it is easy to imagine a future without it as well. Rather than letting that deter me from my goal, I was determined to seek scholarships to pay for my undergraduate degree. Therefore, I focused on the three principles of the Law of Attraction in order to attract scholarship money into my world.

Principle #1: Know and ask for what you desire.

The first step I used was getting clear about what I wanted.  I focused my attention and then wrote down my wish in the present tense: I am grateful for the scholarship money that I will earn which will enable me to attend college and to graduate debt free. It is important that I was specific about the details of my wish. Being specific with my thoughts about scholarships that were related to my life goal is important because the Pinciple says that you attract what you think about. If you know exactly what you want in life, you will generate thoughts toward that very thing. In addition, I thought about other details, such as: what college I would attend, the classes I would take, the size of the campus, and how I would feel walking through the campus each day. For some people, this process is difficult; however, I found it relatively easy to get clear about my vision. I created the phrase “I am so happy now that I will earn scholarship money so that I can attend college.” I dreamed big, focusing my energy and attention on positive thoughts, thoughts that would bring about positive results.

Principle #2: Believe that what you desire is already yours.

When you dream big, you also have to believe that it will become a reality. You can use the Law of Attraction in your everyday life by creating the feeling that you have obtained your desire. By process of elimination, you can discover what technique works for you. If visualization puts you in a positive state, then do it. If positive affirmations do so, then do that.

For me, it was effective if I wrote affirmations and did visualizations at the same time. I visualized that I had already achieved my goal of earning enough scholarship money and that I would be debt free when I graduated. Each day, I practiced experiencing the joy as if I had already accomplished my desire.

Practicing these positive emotions was effective. Rather, than going to my email and thinking, ‘Oh, I probably didn’t get any scholarships today;” then most likely when I opened my email account, I wouldn’t have any. However, I turned that thought process around and thought to myself, ‘Oh, today l will get a scholarship!’ and on some days—that is just what I got. I learned to believe in my dreams and to focus on it with all my effort. I needed to feel that they were going to happen. The Law of Attraction states that "whatever we think about, we bring about." Some days I would actually feel that a scholarship would arrive.

Principle #3: Receive your desired wish.

Lastly, you must expect the good thing will happen in your life. You cannot let self-doubt or disappointment set in. You must have the faith that it will come; therefore, you must expect to receive it.

I assured myself that it was right for me to receive these scholarships. Each time that I sent in a scholarship application, I would not only congratulate myself but also imagine that it was well-received by the scholarship committee. After applying for numerous scholarships, I would wait for the scholarship money to arrive. I did not worry if it would happen. Rather, I recognized that I was worthy of having these scholarships that would arrive by mail, email, and phone. I expected my desire to show up in my life.  As the Law states: when you expect something to happen, you leave no room for doubt or any other negative emotions that can keep you from your desire. When you expect something, you are attracting it into your life. Every day I would continue to receive and experience the positive energy of my desire showing up—my earning scholarships.

Because I embraced the Law of Attraction, I was successful. My dream became a reality. After using the three basic principles—knowing what I desired, believing the desire was mine, and being willing to receive the desire; I was able to finance my undergraduate degree, which was about $30,000 each year, almost exclusively with the scholarship money that I was awarded for academics and leadership. According to scholarship research, only about 1.0% of undergraduate students are able to achieve this feat. Yes, I was able to graduate with no student-loan debt because of my positive thoughts, words, and actions. In fact, I even had extra money for incidentals, too. That is the Law of Attraction in action.

In sum, when you live the Law of Attraction, you will think, speak and act in a manner that says that your desire is granted. Currently, I am again implementing the three principles of the Law of Attraction. I need to earn graduate scholarships for law school, which is about $50,000 for each year! When I engage the three basic principles, the Law of Attraction will again give me what I desire—a Juris Doctorate Degree, debt free. 

Using The Force

By: Charles Bark

“Don’t worry about it,” that’s what I usually tell people who sweat the small stuff. I’ve been applying the Law of Attraction to my life for years, but I’ve never really referred to it as a law of sorts. I refer to it, instead, as the “power of prayer” or, in a fit of nerd influence, “the Force”. The principles of both are the same; simply focus hard enough on something that you want to happen with the real desire to see it happen and, in time, it will come to you. You have to believe it in order to see it and I’ve been a strong believer since I was very young. I first came across the law on a random search on the internet about “old magics” that had been forgotten or simply stopped being taught. Among the list of advertisements and Halloween costume stores, I found a site which described old traditions known as esoteric. Upon review of these traditions, I came across a page which said that one could influence weather change, monetary gain and manifest what the heart desired most. Of course, I had to read and figure out what this power could be.

After reading all that I required to understand what it was and how to use the law, and also after reviewing a few testimonials from others who had also “used” this law, I set out to master what I had learned. It took a little time to come to a full understanding of how exactly it worked but ever since I breached this new level of mentality and mindfulness, I’ve never been the same. I went from being sick multiple times a year to once a year, if I’m particularly unlucky. I do not worry about being hurt, or sick or even about where my own money comes from. I’ve become a very “go with the flow” kind of person. I’m also a very happy person who is always willing to share a never-ending stream of cheer to those in need. It’s hard to really say just how much the law has impacted me over the last ten years, or so. I’ve even made attempts at reversing the law to help others I’ve met over the years. I mean, if you can create what you desire most by following a set of universal rules then you should be able to create a world of happiness for others, if that is what you desire.

There are too many areas of my life that are made better every day because of the Force that eight-hundred words and even more couldn’t summarize the beginning benefits. I wish that others could understand this way of living more, if not for their material gain then for their personal welfare. I also wish that being content wasn’t constantly being mistaken for not caring. Who doesn’t want to remain happy in any situation that life will throw at them? I’m the first in my family to graduate from a college, not only that I have graduated from a second college. I’m now shooting for the third, this time at the second largest university in the United States, the University of Central Florida. Am I worried that it will be harder on me than other colleges I’ve attended? No, because I already know that it will be harder and more expensive and it is natural that better education requires more on my part. Knowing this keeps me level-headed and versatile through any transition (college is merely an example of how I apply the law to life situations). There are great expectations that I am being held to by choosing to attend and succeed in college, and I’m very pleased to meet those expectations for those who believe in me.

            The LoA has been the most important gift that, whoever it was who posted the information that I read, could have possibly been given to me, other than life. As Bill Gates always believed that he would be rich and successful, so do I believe that I will be rich and successful. The paths that I can and will take in my life are many in number, and they do not stop extending for me as I sit to take a breather during the walk. What I can do to make my dreams come true is to continue to believe in the Force, or LoA, and apply it to my life any and every time I can. I can only succeed in everything I attempt… with some exception for science and upper-level math, which are the only two things in the world I cannot seem to be very positive about. I enjoy the law so much that I have related it to childhood fantasies of worlds that exist in a galaxy far, far away.

To me, the Force is not just a law to be followed in order to reap the benefits of its ruling. Like in the Jedi belief system, the Force is a way of life that one must consistently work hard to maintain and understand. It flows through all living beings and its influence can be felt by all the senses of everyone around the world. If you really want something, then go and get it. The only thing stopping you is yourself. As for the “Sith” portion, the Force can be used in the wrong way and it is up to those who understand its use to use it wisely, as intended. I strongly encourage those who feel as though life only seeks to kick them while they’re down to read, study and embrace this method of life. Every day, I send pleas hope to the heavens that soon the world will embrace a happiness that, like an apple, they could pick out of the very sky. I have yet to hear an answer, but then again the bell has only started ringing.

A Person Is Responsible For Their Own Choices

By: Christina L. Stapleton

Throughout life a person is given a path that they must follow and along that way the person is responsible for their own choices which can influence their path. My life started out as most any child’s life would start. This is in a loving home with a parent that loved them, whether it be one or two parents. When I reached the age of 11 my mother died unexpectedly. Fortunately, my mother had married when I was 2 and I had been adopted at that time by my new father. The teenage years were not always easy but we made it through them.

As an adult my life hasn’t gone as I wished it to, including an unplanned divorce, but life goes on. I believe that the Law of Attraction has had a huge impact in my adult life. I made the conscious choice in my 30s that I was going to focus on the good even in the worst of situations. When I got divorced I was left with $35,000 in debt that was not mine, but for which I was responsible. I chose to see that even though I had that much in debt starting out my newly single life that the positive in that was that I now had control of how my finances worked instead of being at the mercy of someone who had no regard for finances or our family. Everything was in my hands and control.

I chose to remove negative people from my life which then led me to a group of friends who are reliable, trustworthy and always willing to help me out when I need assistance. I have a friend of more than 7 years now who only focuses on the negatives in his life and it shows. He has no motivation, he is depressed, he is gaining wait. By taking control of my attitude and focusing on the positives I was able to pay off most of that debt in less than four years, buy a home instead of renting, return to school, and rebuild my credit. I have also chosen to take the initiative to improve my health by removing chemicals as much as feasible.

These positive changes have not only helped myself and my situation but by having the positive attitude I also have a willingness to compromise or rearrange my schedule so that I can help others achieve their goals and finish things in their lives as well. I am able to help an elderly friend organize her home because I chose to free up some evenings to assist her. This is turn has helped me to earn a little extra money during a time when child support has disappeared from my finances and money is extremely short. So by putting forth the positive effort and energy to help someone else, this has resulted in a positive move for my own life.

When a person only focuses on the negatives, their life reflects negativity. I believe that by choosing to find something good in even the worst of situations that I am making my life better, in addition to the lives of those around myself better. I have learned that when I make a statement like “today was a really bad day because everything at work went wrong” if I change that statement to say “today was a really bad day because everything at work went wrong, but at least I have a job” that it really does make the bad thing seem not so bad after all. By rethinking situations it also helps to improve my overall attitude in a day.

It is not an easy thing to do this sort of thing. We as humans are programmed I believe to focus on the negatives in life. This is reflected in the society around us. By changing our mindsets even just one time each day a real difference can be made.

I have also found that instead of watching the evening news every day, that if I just scan the headlines for news articles on the internet that my days don’t seem to be so negative. This is because 80% or so of the news is based on negative stories about murder, theft, corruption. All of these things have a negative effect on the world and by focusing on those negatives it affects the mentality of those watching the news. When there is a good news story about a human interest such as a couple that has been married 70 years or someone who went out of their way to help someone else, it really does make myself feel better about the day and the world as a whole because it shows that all hope has not yet been lost.

If every person in the world were to take the time to change just one negative thought into a positive each day the world would be a better place.

The Law Of Attraction Is Simply Visualizing

By: Chloe West

The law of attraction is a very interesting concept that I believe many successful people have put into use, maybe without even realizing that they are doing it. The law of attraction is simply visualizing and using positive thoughts to shape feelings, behaviors, and outcomes to turn out how you picture them. The law of attraction, however, sounds much easier said than done. Due to my biologic make-up in genetics, I believe I was predisposed to be happier and easygoing (inherited from my father and grandmother). This I feel laid the stepping stones to me realizing the power of positive influence, followed by visualizing what you want, and resulting in watching my dreams come true. I don’t take this for granted though, and I consider this my greatest, valued asset of all.

I have been exposed to a diverse spectrum of intellect and thoughts, beginning from my parents adopting two special needs kids, whom struggled with many set backs. Some of these setbacks originated more in their flawed thought patterns, compared to their actual ability to function in society. One of my brothers in particular suffered severe depression, making it nearly impossible to allow him to think positively or realize that he is the direct cause of his future and his happiness. This unique background of people with disabilities and depression lead to my career choices of studying psychology as an undergraduate and now obtaining my master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. It is my passion and has developed into my life-long commitment of helping people develop healthier thoughts and lives.

The law of attraction does not promise a perfect life, but it does change the way we view the world and the choices we can make everyday. Those who believe their limitations are their shackles rarely end up where they want to be. Rather, those who truly believe they are capable of whatever they set their mind to actually end up making those goals a reality. It’s okay to have a bad day or get upset, but I like to begin each day with the conscious thought that I will enjoy it and make the most out of it. I find joy and peace by appreciating the beauty that surrounds me, whether it’s watching the wind blow through the trees or how delicious my lunch is. This can be found amidst a boring day at work, but I find that by absorbing the good things in my life, I feel more content in my day. Greatness cannot be accomplished in one day, and by starting small in appreciating the good things in contrast to focusing on the bad, fuels me to strive.

I don’t have a photographic memory, or a gifted IQ, but what I knew and always have known is that I would go to college, and I would have a successful career.  Turns out I of course made it, and I know I will continue to use this positive power to help me keep growing. A benefit of the law of attraction is not only great for success, but more importantly for health. Thinking bad thoughts can directly lead to stress and strain on the body physically and mentally. According to the National Institute of Mental Health this leads to increased risk of: lower immunity, normal functioning of body systems, headaches, sleeplessness, depressed mood, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and many other illnesses. I want to avoid these harmful conditions by at least doing what’s within my control. The brain is an organ that needs to be cared for the same way your teeth need to be brushed or your stomach fed. A brain can be underdeveloped without adequate stimulation as a child, and the same effort should go into easing the brain by thinking good thoughts.

But not only do I want to use this knowledge I have acquired towards my own life, it’s going to be very useful in my quest as a therapist helping my clients live better lives too. This concept reminds me of Cognitive Behavior Therapy, which begins by changing unhealthy or delusional thoughts in people with mental illnesses. Researchers have been amazed at how this form of “positive thinking” and behavior modification has impacted not only anxiety and mood disorders; but also even severe mental illnesses, such as Schizophrenia. The law of attraction is a beautiful concept that every type of person in the world could benefit from. It’s exciting that I get to live a career I know I am passionate about, and one that I get to elicit positive changes in people.  But it’s not only going to be reflected in my work, but in all aspects of my life. I’ve had countless people comment on how great my life is, but it’s because of how I think about my life, and therefore choose to live my life.  It’s kind of like how in your dreams at night you can end up being chased by a monster, or flying over a glowing city.  Your thoughts shape your dreams when you sleep, and that doesn’t change when you’re awake.

Achieve Today Scholarship

By: Marilyn Rivera

My name is Marilyn Rivera and I am 35 years old and currently pursing my bachelor’s degree in Health Administration with focus on Health Care Management.  It wasn’t until the age of twenty-five that I was introduced to the Law of Attraction.  I  have never heard of such thing existing.  I was with my friend and complaining about how things never seemed to work out for me.  I dated the wrong guys, there was always a struggle with my weight, and I was unhappy about my financial status.    She explained to me that I needed to use this Law of Attraction and to realize I get what I give the greatest amount of thought too.  Everything that I was living is what I attracted into my life.  I certainly did not like to hear that from her but she made sense and put things into perspective for me.

Understanding the Law of Attraction

In the beginning, I struggled with understanding how the Law of Attraction works.  I didn’t get how this would benefit me.  Once I began to understand and learned how to use it, I started to understand that my thoughts would help me live the life that I desired and no longer attract the negative things into my life experience.  I truly started to believe that everything would work out and it did.  All I had to do was believe in myself and the universe would believe in me.  With the Law of Attraction, I get exactly what I want and desire. 

Bad Days

There have been days when my day started off on the wrong foot.  I’m getting ready for work and can’t find my favorite shirt for an important meeting going on that day.  I would immediately think, “This is going to be a bad day”.  Then I find myself looking for other bad things to happen and just as I would imagine, bad things would show up all day long.   Now at the age of 35, if I can’t find that shirt I want to wear so badly in the morning, I just laugh it off and say it is going to be a great day.  I then stop looking for other negative things to occur and understand that is cancelling the creation of negative things into my life’s existence.  I remember getting in my car and just being so scared and thinking I would get into a car accident.  I ended up in a car accident because I kept thinking it was going to happen.  Now, when I get into my car, I always think of a safe and smooth ride.  Every day that I drive, I can say that I have been blessed with an easy ride.  When I go to the mall, sporting events, or concerts, I always find great parking on my first try.  I always keep in my mind that I will always have the best parking and find it fast.  Once I noticed things were happening for the better by my thoughts, I took things to a whole new level.

Feeling Good

I realize that we all use the Law of Attraction in our everyday lives.  Some people realize it and others do not.  We attract our life circumstances from the time we wake up to the time we go to bed.  The best way for me to remember is to know that life if reflected back to the way I think and feel.  When I feel good, I will attract good feeling people and things in my life.  I was trying to find love.  I wanted a family and my relationships would always end in turmoil.  I didn’t understand why this was happening to me.  I realized that I would always think the guys I dated would just not work out from the beginning.  That is exactly what happened.  I changed my thoughts; I knew I would find the man of my dreams.  I asked the universe for exactly what I wanted and now I am engaged to the most incredible man. I deserved a great man, someone who wanted a family, and he found me.  I am the happiest that I have ever been in a long time.

Education

I always appreciate and I am thankful for all that I have right now.  I am thankful for having a roof over my head, for the food on the table, and the clothes on my back.  I know that good things will continue to appear.  We have to be thankful and express our gratitude for the big and small things we have in our lives.  My education is one of the biggest things I am grateful for.  No one can ever take my education away from me.  I use the Law of Attraction in all aspects of my life but at this point, I’ve been using it especially for school.  I say affirmations to refresh my mind and reinstate my beliefs.  I have been successful with my college career because I know that I can and will achieve great grades.  I am on Dean’s list so far and will continue to work hard to stay there.  I aspire to be one of the top students of my class and I am heading in that direction with a 3.82 GPA.

In conclusion, I am very happy and proud to say that I understand the Law of Attraction and with faith in God, I know I can achieve anything.  I’ve learned to relax my mind and meditate to increase focus and the power in my brain.  I know exactly what I am looking for and make sure I don’t have any doubts.  I know to find joy and feel as if I already have what my heart desires.  I am able to connect with the Universe which allows my wishes to manifest.   I make sure to be grateful and pay the Universe back for the in order to allow more things to draw into my life.  Paying it forward really works.   I trust the Universe.  I know that it is on its own timing and I can’t force things to happen.  I have faith in what the Universe can do for me. 

            I work for a chiropractic office in Independence, Ohio as an X-ray technician and marketing director.  I was asked by a patient recently if I truly believe in the power of positive thinking.  I told her I did but she did not agree.  She is an established patient and has been coming to see our doctors for the past two years.  I’ve only heard her speak of negative things.  Her family is not around to support her, she seems to always be in pain, and is very depressed.  Our doctors have talked to her about changing the way she thinks.  It is very hard for her to do so.  So in effort to prove to her that the power of positive thinking does work, I conducted an experiment in our office that I found online. 

The Rice Experiement

            I found a study done online inspired by Dr. Masaru Emoto.  The experiment is a project that provides us with real results implicating what happens when we expose physical matter to various words.  Some of our patients thought that our talks about thoughts impacting reality seemed iffy and didn’t have the evidence they needed to see.  We decided to try this experiment.  The patients were asked to say the words labeled on each jar.  The test was conducted over a period of 15 days.  This was the result:

The “You’re a Fool” rice started to ROT and had a foul odor.  The “I Love You” rice remained white and actually started to ferment.  We were amazed by the results. We posted this quote with the results “Don’t base your disbelief upon supposed criticism of “experts”, prove it to yourself”!  This was certainly a fun project.

Focusing on Things You Can Control

Angelita Cobbs

Hello my name is Angelita Cobbs and I would like to introduce myself to you. Here is my story  “Law of Attraction and Focusing on Things That You Can Control”
I am a proud mother and coach. I coached my son and started teaching my son at the age of two years old. I am a successful tennis player and business women. I played in the Australian Open, achieved a world ranking, made a couple of commercials, owned my own business, Director of Tennis, Head Tennis Professional, Director of Junior Tennis, coached nationally ranked players, worked with coaches who were ranked in the top 10 in the world, taught at the top prestigious country clubs, coached high school tennis and have coached people from the ages of 2 to 99 years old. I have done a lot charity work and did motivational speaking with celebrities.
My son who is my only child was born 10 months after my father passed away. My son’s name is Miguel. Miguel is very special and means the world to me. Miguel is also a tennis player and finished #2 in the Nation and 201 in the United States Men’s Professional Tennis Rankings, #8 Men’s Singles Rankings in Florida, and Top 20 in the Junior USTA Tennis Rankings in Florida. Miguel also went to college and won the award Player of the Year in the Midwest. Miguel also is the New York State Mix Doubles Champion for year 2011, 2012, and 2013. Miguel is very successful and is a director of a prestigious country club in Westchester County, New York and he just got married.
            I have traveled around the world playing tennis, Asia, abroad – Europe and my life has been very interesting. In 2012 - I moved to Arizona to pursue my professional tennis coaching career and I became very sick. I did not originally plan to attend school when I moved here; however, circumstances beyond my control transpired and I was forced to make some life changing decisions. I originally moved here in the middle of July 2012 and due to it being the summer time, I was not able to start looking for in my chosen career field as a Tennis Pro, I started applying to for work so that I could support myself until the tennis season began.
 
One of the first position I was able to get was through Integrity Staffing in October 2012 as an Order Fulfillment Specialist at Amazon. I was employed with Integrity Staffing though November 2012 and my reason for leaving the position was due to illness. At that time, I was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure, inability to produce enough red blood cells and a uterine tumor that was 33 centimeters in size. In addition, to these health problems, I became homeless and had to move into a shelter in Mesa, Arizona.
 
For the next couple of months, I tried to maintain some stability while living in shelter and find a way to have the surgery that the doctors stated I needed to stay alive. I was also told that I would not be able to return to my previous career due to episode of congestive heart failure and after the life-saving surgery. I was able to get the surgery done at Maricopa County Medical Center in Phoenix in late February 2013 and moved into the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Ozanam Manor so that I could start my recovery process.
 
It was during this time that I decided to go back to school. Since my physical health had now restricted what I was able to do for work, I decided to reinvent myself by getting a degree. I started at the community college level because I had not been to school of any kind in over 35 years. I have been attending Gateway Community College since August 2013. Every semester something has gone wrong with my health. I use to walk to and from school everyday in order to keep in shape and get some exercise. One day while I was walking from school, I tore my meniscus and had to have knee surgery.
I scheduled my surgery on a day when I had off from school, so that I would not miss any school. I remember having three days off before it was time for me to return to school. I was so determined that I was not gonna miss any school and fail my classes - Nothing was going to keep me from finishing my classes that semester, so I went to school every day on crutches and Physical Therepy. The next semester I went to the doctor to get new glasses and I was diagnosed with glaucoma, and what a shock!  I went in for one thing, only to find out about something else. So I came to terms with that and kept things moving forward in a positive direction.
After that semester was over, the next semester I went in for my six month check up and then the doctor diagnosed me with Cataracts, I said “ Damn I need to hurry up and get my degree, because it seems like every semester something with my health is going wrong”. Once again I came to terms with my health issues, and was getting closer to my degree. The next semester became very hard for me, because in order to get into the Nuclear Medicine program, I had to pass Biology 156 (which was my second time) and Math 151 (math 151 – with a (B) which was my third time. Well that didn’t happen, here I go again, I failed my math class for the third time. At this point I became very confused, because I wasn’t sure what to do next because
 
I was so sick of math. Something inside of me said go to my advisor and see what other options that I have, and that’s when I found out that I can go in a different direction without having to look back and move forward in getting my Associates degree. I changed my major to Liberal Arts. By doing that, my next semester was to be even more difficult for me, because I had to take five classes and take two in the summertime in order to get my Associates Degree. I remember being so excited that I can finally finish and get an Associates Degree. The next week it was time for me to go to the doctor and get my check up, and to have some test done as well as get a colonoscopy. Once again I scheduled my colonoscopy for a day that I did not have school.
Well I guess I was lucky that my doctor recommended me to get a colonoscopy because they found several polyps. My doctor removed the polyps and said that “ They caught everything in time, if I had not come in when I did, within the next year or two those polyps would have turned into Cancer. After surgery was over, I returned to school more determined now to get my Associates degree. Long story short I passed all my classes and I marched across the stage in May 2016, and completed my Associates of Degree in Liberal Arts this summer.
 
When I had Congestive Heart Failure, six blood transfusions, a tumor that was 33 centimeters and growing. My blood level was 2.8. The doctors said “to run the computers again because the computers must be broken.”  They ran the computers again and it read the same and all 11 doctors said “It was a miracle and none of them have ever seen that, because the average person’s blood level is 12 to 16.” They believed that because I was a professional tennis player/pro that’s what kept me alive.   I have had death knock at my door and yet I have survived. Like the doctor said "I am their miracle patient".  That's when I decided to go back to school. I decided to attend Gateway Community College.
I was planning to major in Nuclear Medicine, and my plans changed, because I felt God has given me a second chance at life to do something to help peopleI. I don’t know what God has in store for me next, but in the next 4 to 6 years I would like to have a new career as a "Transformational Coach”. I am now attending Arizona State University and I am working on my Bachelor Degree.  My long term is to get my Masters Degree and if time permits a Doctorate. I feel that God have helped me to survive all of these trials and tribulations and adversity in life, and “ I am inspired! I feel compelled to help people, because now I am 55 years old and I am reinventing myself. Even though it’s been hard and challenging - I feel that my story and the story that I will tell can help and inspire people of all ages. I would like to thank you for reading my story. This is the “Law of Attraction and Focusing on Things That You Can Control”

Personal Development

Annika Machado

Like it has been for generations past, being a teenager in this day and age can be difficult. We are perceived as requiring “safe spaces”, having a crippling dependence on technology, and being generally unmotivated and lazy. Yet, the real problems stem from those perpetuating these stereotypes – generally pessimistic people who like to declare that their “faith in humanity is lost” because of me and my peers. It is a self-fulfilling prophecy of sorts: when we are told that we are lazy and entitled, do we feel motivated to rise up and do great things? And although I have grown up with a love for service and I am very involved with service organizations, I never truly put my personal impacts in a global scale. Because of this, I have grown up as a very cynical person. No, individuals do not make a difference; the issues in the world are too big to solve; and my generation is lazy and will be too busy whining about problems to fix them. Then, I went to ICON. What I experienced there changed my worldview for good. I learned about the impact that a simple change in mindset can have on my entire life path.
Key Club International Convention was held in Atlanta this year, and I was excited to go for the expected reasons (time with my friends, no parents and of course, my love for Key Club), but I was honestly unprepared for the entirely new perspective that it would bring to me. I found myself in awe of the visions that hundreds of motivated, passionate, service-minded high-schoolers had for their futures. For example, one girl told me that she wants to be a pre-natal neurosurgeon when she grows up – a career that I didn’t even know existed. What stuck with me most however, was an activity that we did during one of the general sessions. About one thousand of us were seated in the main ballroom, and the speaker of the day directed our attention to the three large boards on the back wall. The left-most board was titled “Is the world in 2016 as it should be?”; the board on the right said “Will the world in 2025 be better because of the actions of you and your peers?”; and the middle board was “What will you personally do to make a change in the world?”. For the left and right boards, we were supposed to put up stickers that represented our thoughts – green for agree, pink for disagree. For the middle board we were each given a sticky note to write our answer.
By the end of it all, the left board was a sea of pink. Almost no one in that entire room thought that the world was a good at it could be right now. But on the right, every inch of space was covered with green – we knew that it would be our generation who finally takes on the problems the world faces to fix them. And in the middle, every single sticky note outlined someone’s dream of how to improve humanity. I saw things as small as “compliment someone every day” to movements as large as “end racism”. So there I wrote my own little dream – “become a nurse and help people”. And throughout the rest of Convention, I heard that same message repeated: my generation is going to be the one who finally ends suffering. So I took a grainy picture of that wall on my phone, and I occasionally look at it to remind myself that I am more than a cell phone and a safe space, that I have the power to make that board green.
Here I realized what the power of positive thinking can do for not only an individual, but the world. I am changed forever by my ICON experience – I solidified my academic and career goals and (more importantly) in doing so I found a purpose for myself. Having all the positive vibes in one place allowed me to finally believe in my generation’s strength. Instead of focusing on the propagated negative attributes of people my age, I now choose to remind everyone of the positive. I believe in my personal power and the difference that I can make., so I surround myself with people who reminds me of the great good we are capable of. The best way to show the nay-sayers that they are mistaken is to prove them wrong through action. I spur myself to action through positive thoughts. Whenever I hear of a mass shooting, or a chemical attack on innocent children, or a bloody civil war that rips lives apart, I remember not to lose hope. I remember the inherent good of people in the world. And I remember that through my education, career and attitude through life, I can make a difference to make the world a more peaceful place.

Personal Development

Timothy Cutler
​Utah State University

From a young age I have always wanted to learn all that there is to know. Whether that be regarding history, science, or philosophy, it didn’t matter to me, I wanted to know everything. However, this has not stopped me from narrowing my interests and pursing a career. I now know what I want to achieve in this life, and have a plan to get there. That is not to say I have completely abandoned my lifelong goal of learning everything I can, which is why I have chosen to complete a Liberal Arts degree first. This degree carters to my interests, and allows me to continue learning well after I have left the lecture hall. It is also what allowed me to discover my interest in the Philosophy of Linguistics. Durning High School I was enrolled in multiple Honors and AP classes that allowed me to pursue my quest for knowledge and understanding. I was also on the Debate Team, and excelled in Extemporaneous Debate, which allowed me to explain my arguments regarding various topics. However, this was not enough to satisfy my desire for knowledge, so I joined the Computer Tech Program in my school district to learn more, which landed me a job in IT. Like many other Freshmen attending university, I can’t say my first school year went without a hitch. However, after a time I quickly understood what it takes to excel, and I am happy to report a GPA of a 3.64 for my previous semester at university. While some of my acquaintances were dropping out of university, I was learning what it takes to ascend to new academic heights. I learned is that you must never stop learning, never grow uninterested, and never merely cram information to be quickly forgotten after an exam. My life experience has made this possible. Few people will tell you that learning a new language is easy and requires minimal effort. Fewer still will tell you that Latin is an easy language to learn. I was interested in taking Latin for the challenge, and the insight it would give me regarding Philosophy. Latin, with other philosophy classes, has interested me in Linguistics. It is my goal to learn everything there is to know about it, and make a career of it. If I end up not wanting to teach at a university level, I will then seek employment in the private sector to develop artificial intelligence regarding speech recognition software. The connection between a Liberal Arts degree and the Philosophy of Linguistics is not overly apparent. However, I see it as a fundamental and necessary foundation for understanding Linguistics. I want to answer questions like: Why is the grammatical structure of different languages different? How does culture affect the evolution of language? Is language the result of a fundamental structure of the human brain? How can the study of linguistics lead to better understanding of our human condition? These questions are what I seek answers for, and what I hope to answer in the course of my academic career. Liberal Arts is not about learning the basics of a vocation, it is about learning how to learn and the ability to apply complex theories and concepts to real world applications. It is about learning what makes a good life possible. It is about learning reasoning, morality, philosophy and many other subjects to better yourself and society. It is my goal to be accepted into a graduate program, to finish my Bachelors degree at university, and to learn all that I can while I can. 

Personal Development

Melvin Mathew

People seldom realize the value in the words, “Like attracts like”. This seemingly insignificant saying used many a times to explain the kinds of people; with whom we make meaningful relationships with, speaks much more to the one who understands deeper. It is more a calling to the listener than an explanation. It speaks eons about the emotional state of oneself to achieve greatness. We relate to people similar to us, this is true and practical to a great extent. It is true because of the fact that a person likes to be with people with similar tastes, aspirations and even professions to himself. Also, subconsciously; isn’t it more a self-love that leads us to love others like us? The Law of Attraction speaks of a subconscious effort needed in each person to achieve greatness. It tells to all who are willing to improve themselves that a positive attitude to life ensures a better life. It tells of the importance of looking for the silver lining in every issue. Yes, one may say that it is being blind to all the torn in a rose garden but, life has so much more happiness in it if you just look for it. I was a person who never saw the light in positive thinking and took to watching out for all the mishaps and unplanned accidents in my life. It sorely disturbed me. I alienated my friends for a couple of years due to unresolved issues with some common acquaintances. These three years during my Bachelors were real dark and morbid, seldom did I reach out to my family and best friends. I led the life of a hermit, alone even in a crowd. After attaining my degree, I took a year off to travel and see the countryside. I travelled far and wide through India experiences varied cultures like the Bhangada in the north-west, the Durga puja in the north-east, the food of Mumbai, the metropolitan life in Bangalore, the dance and food from the south. From all these travels the only thing I took away was that there is was so much good in the world, I was too self-centered and sad because of my past to see past those clouds. I came home to find my family all eagerly waiting for me. After the initial period of settling, I chose to immerse myself in reading and self-improvement. One of the advices I came across in that period of my life is “The Law of Attraction”. It completely shook my being. I chose to see the best in all situations. After that day, I had problems in life especially monetary. When I applied for my Masters in the United States, I never had enough to sustain myself for the first six months but, I chose to believe and kept working on achieve the best in me. I went through trials and tribulations during the first year here in Arizona but, the Law of Attraction kept my afloat, it proved to be my mentor, my best friend, my teacher and my core value. I believe it is an essential lesson to be kept close to heart for every person to succeed. One may attain fortune, family, esteem and respect but, he is still incomplete without peace. Peace comes from within and is driven by acceptance. The Law of Attraction proves that one can work towards improvement in one’s life by just changing the way you look at your own life. However, dull the day seems remember there is always a silver lining beind that cloud waiting to be discovered. So never stop looking. Never stop believing in yourself.

Focusing on Things You Can Control

Calvin Ho
San Francisco State University

After I was raped I laid there for a while, wondering what had just happened. The world was spinning around me and I had lost my traction on the ground beneath me. I felt as though I was fading away. Shame washed over my body as I began to wonder how I let this happen. Confusion followed suit because I wondered how a guy that I was dating could rape me, and was this even rape because I consented to dating him? When I got home a few hours later I began to rapidly fall back into the depths of a depression that had consumed me once before and this time I wasn’t quite sure if I could escape it again. Days went by as I became trapped in my room, my mom constantly asking me what was wrong and trying to coax me out of my room. “I’m fine,” I lied. I always lied about that question with people. In my mind the demonic presence of anger had surfaced, interrogating me on the trauma I had just endured. “Why did you let yourself lose control?”
                I approached a handful of friends on this topic, seeking desperately for a way to escape the feelings that encapsulated my mind and threatened to end my existence. I was not prepared for their responses or the debilitating isolation that seemed to follow as every single person I spoke to slammed a textual door in my face: “why didn’t you fight back?” Reading that text several times over that week dimmed the flickering lights that struggled to shine inside of my head. I felt more powerless than ever, more vulnerable than I had ever been in my entire life. I was the victim and was being coerced into believing that I was simultaneously my own attacker.
                One of my friends happened to ask, “did he use a condom?” This question acted as shrapnel from a bomb explosion: digging into my skin even after enduring the initial blast. It dawned on me that my life was in even more danger than previously thought because HIV was now on the battleground. The coming weeks were the worst of my life as I went to the hospital to get tested. I had actually developed a plan to end my life in the event that I had become infected because I could not bear to tell my parents about how this came to be. Shame had become my spokesperson and it was doing a terrific job at it. A few days after getting tested, I was woken up by a phone call. Unknown number. I began to wonder if this was it, wondering if this was the call that was going to change my life in the worst way possible.
                I think I almost fainted after hearing, “Your test for HIV was negative.” It was such a relief but at the same time bittersweet because the nurse told me that I had contracted chlamydia. I believe that my recovery from that day began when I went to get antibiotics to wipe away the infection. I was doing it: I was getting rid of him for good. Finally I felt like I was in control of something substantial. I was finally able to reclaim my body as my own.
                In the months that followed, I decided to see a therapist to talk this through and he gave me one key piece of advice: although he controlled my body that day, I was in control of how I perceived the situation and how I was going to cope with it afterwards. I stopped blaming myself for what happened because I did not want to become the monsters that I called my “friends”. I accepted it and acknowledged that it had happened but that I had survived. I wasn’t just a victim, I was a survivor. Kinda like the Destiny’s Child song. Today I continue to use this train of thought in other contexts: for example, when I was denied a job at H&M because I lacked experience, I didn’t get upset because their decision to hire me was out of my hands. However, I had the ability to continue to apply to other places in order to get that initial work experience and so I chose to pursue that goal. I learned that when life seems impossible and intimidating that there are always things within your reach that you can do to make yourself powerful enough to stand up against it.

The Power of Positive Thinking

Joy Banks-Chapman
ASU
​
Many of us have heard the saying that life is like a roller coaster; full of ups, downs, twists and turns. While some of us are afraid of the uncertainty of roller coasters, others are excited by the thrill of steep declines, sharp turns, and, of course, being upside down. What we all should take into consideration is that the key to fully enjoying a roller coaster is to think positively. The more you think of how frightening a drop may look or how scary it is to be upside down, the less you are to enjoy the ride, and the more you regret not enjoying it when the ride is over. However, if you’re thinking of how much fun it will be and remain positive that no matter what the ride takes you through, you will come off safely and more satisfied, and the roller coaster will be an entirely different experience. The same can be applied to how we handle the difficulties that life takes us through, and that with positive thinking, we can overcome any obstacle and accomplish great things.
            Thinking positively during difficult situations is much easier said than done. When you lose your job and your bills are due, or when you’re involved in a car accident and you have no insurance and no money to fix it, it’s easy to become frustrated and upset, not knowing how you  can be positive in situations like that. When friends and family members tell you that everything is going to be alright, it’s more frustrating than helpful, especially when situations are being viewed in a negative way. Some of the hardest things that we have to do can have the greatest rewards, because of the simple fact that it was hard to do it. Thinking positively is hard, but it is what will help you get through any situation that you are in, and it is always worth it. When you think negatively, it clouds your judgement and shifts your focus, which, in turn, makes the situation worse instead of better. The only thing that can be concentrated on is how bad things are, where if you think positively, you can concentrate on how things could be, and what could be done so that they can get better.
            Recently my mother and I went through a situation where she lost her job, and she had no unemployment and no income. Rent was due, bills were due, and I was the only one who had an income. Making a low hourly wage, the situation seemed endless and overwhelming, and I was stressed more than I had ever been in my life. I had my own bills to pay, I was putting myself through school, and through all of this I had the weight on my shoulders of how I can pay bills for the house, rent, all of my personal bills, put gas in the cars of both my mom and I, and buy groceries and toiletries while trying to get through school. School had always been a priority for myself, but it seemed as if it had to be put on hold so that I can take care of my mom and I. Although the financial burden was heavy on me, what made the situation tougher was the fact that my mom was constantly thinking negatively, while I tried my hardest to stay positive. I was not only carrying my mother and I financially, but I also had to carry us emotionally.
            During this period of our lives, in spite of the situation around me, I maintained positive thinking that our situation was only temporary. My mom being out of a job was temporary, bending over backwards so that I can make ends meet was temporary, and I focused on the positive, such as me having a stable job and the fact that we weren’t starving or living on the streets. My mom would get frustrated at times because she couldn’t understand how I can be so positive when I know what is going on, but maintaining positive thinking gave me the push that I needed to work harder to make things better. My mother’s negative thinking sent her into periods of depression, where she can only focus on what was wrong and she spent most of her time in bed. Her negativity allowed our situation to control her, instead of her taking control of the situation. Her negativity also made her unproductive, which prolonged the situation that we were in. Watching how her negative thinking made things worse and even more stressful helped me to realize how important it is to be positive, no matter what the situation looks like.
            Although we are still experiencing the setbacks that occurred during the time my mom was unemployed, things seem to be getting better. She recently got a job and is able to contribute more financially, so that I can begin focusing on repairing the damage that this situation has done to me financially. Now that she is working, the times that she remembers the most when she was unemployed is how negative she was being, and how positive I remained. Things only become permanent when you give up on it, and I refused to give up on the fact that she would find another job and be stable again. Staying positive helped me to get through that situation, and it is something that I know will get me through any situation that occurs in my life.

The Positive Power of Gratitude

Lisa Bell

​As we sat at a small table in Eida’s modest family home, I droned on about the difficulties of my life. Her eyes widen with amazement as I whined about the inconvenience of working two part-time on-campus jobs to pay college tuition. I explained that in addition to working, I had to keep my grades up to maintain a scholarship. My brow was furrowed as I laid out these hardships and waited for her to offer pity, condolences, and comfort. However, when my complaining stopped, my Peruvian friend offered a different point of view. “Aren’t you grateful to be able to have not only one job, but two and to be able to go to school at the same time, without delay and with a scholarship? How very fortunate you are,” she said. I sat there silent, taking in this new perspective. Finding work as a young person in Peru was difficult and going to college for someone in Eida’s financial and social situation was even more unlikely. My cheeks flushed with embarrassed realizing that my ingratitude limited my vision, making me only see the work involved and not the immense opportunities I had been granted or the tools that allowed me to achieve my goals. Eida’s words have stayed with me as I have worked to live with a greater sense of thankfulness. Living with gratitude has not only unlocked a clearer, more positive view of my life’s gifts and possibilities, but it has helped me navigate the change and challenges that inevitably come and strengthened my relationships with others. Sometime ago, I received an unexpected health diagnosis. While not fatal, it impacted my daily life. One Saturday morning, I found myself wallowing in self-pity, feeling sorry for myself and my situation. I wondered aloud if any part of my body was functioning normally. In response, my daughter responded, “Your eyes work. Watch this dance.” I watched her as she leapt around the living room, and I decided to continue to game. As she twirled, I listed aloud more things I could be thankful for, making an inventory of all the physical gifts I still fully enjoyed. My feet worked, allowing me to hike my favorite canyon trails. My hands worked, allowing me to work in the garden and hold down a job I loved. My mind worked, allowing me to think clearly and critically, to stay informed about my new situation and make informed decisions. My ears worked, allowing me to hear the wise words of my young daughter, sparking a change in the course of my thinking from a negative and narrowed view, back to gratitude and a mindful awareness of my abundant life. This simple exercise brought needed optimism and put the changes and new challenges into perspective. Living with an attitude of gratitude has also strengthened and enriched my relationships with others. Recently, I found myself waiting with several coworkers for an important meeting to begin. The clock ticked from five minutes to ten minutes after the hour and beyond. I watched coworkers become visibly agitated. While it would have been easy to complain about the wait, I found myself grateful for the delay since it gave me time to talk to a colleague about an upcoming project and catch up on each other’s personal lives. I was thankful for this unexpected block of time to focus on getting to know her better and to improve our personal and working relationship. This focus on gratitude turned a setback into a step forward for this relationship. Gratitude has also built my relationship with others as I have sought to express sincere thanks to others. For my birthday this year, my grandmother sent a gift, and as I unwrapped the present, opened the box, and pulled back the tissue paper, it was clear that this gift was not something I wanted or would even keep. Yet, I felt a sense of gratitude and set aside time to write her a thank you note. As I sat down to write her a letter, I didn’t focus my words or thoughts on the unwanted gift. Instead I thanked my grandmother for her thoughtfulness and generosity. She had remembered my special day and expressed her love for me. This was the true gift, and gratitude allowed me to fully receive it and offer my love and thanks in return, increasing the depth of our relationship. While gratitude may seem trivial to some, it has been a powerful tool in transforming my perspective in life, helping me work through challenges, and developing positive relationships with others. Though it is a small thing, the constant practice of gratitude reinforces the positive and productive parts of my life and makes me more aware of the abundance and possibilities around me.

Focusing on Things You Can Control

Raquel Willys
​ASU

Focusing on the details in life that we have no control over will not lead to any joy. Not only will we become frustrated with life, but with ourselves. I feel as though many of can say that they have had to deal with some sort of event or experience that they could not control. And while many times those moments are not great, the ability to focus on things you can control can be beneficial for various reasons. As a little girl, my mom was always one to reiterate the fact that “we cant stress over things that we cant control” and “you cant control what happens to you in life, but you can control how you react to it.” Those words have always played a role in my day to day life and continue to do so. If I said that I had one major life event to test this principle of life, I would be lying because I have been fortunate enough to say that there hasn't been a tragic moment in which this principle was used. Although, focusing on things I can control has come in handy in bigger life moments and simpler life moments. Lets start with the summer after my Sophomore year of high school. I am originally from Los Angeles, but was raised in the gloomy and rainy state of Washington. The summer after my Sophomore year of high school, my family and I made the move down to Palm Desert, California - a small city right outside of Palm Springs. It was August 18th, the day I became the “new girl” at school again and I was terrified. High school is rough in itself without having to make new friends halfway through your four years. I have always been a person who believes everything happens for a reason, which is also why focusing on things that I could control might have come so easily to me. I knew then, that this move was to serve a purpose that I was still not aware of and therefore, needed to focus on things that I could control at the time: my attitude, my grades, and the way I was planning for my future beyond high school. And that is exactly what I did, I graduated in the top 15% of my class with a 4.0 GPA. Its the little things that can stress you out, and unfortunately those things many times you cannot control those things. Now lets talk about the day my grandmother was officially diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. To this day, I still don't feel as though its real. Maybe because I choose to take it out of my mind. To me, she is just my grandma, and nothing else. I was a Sophomore in high school and my grandmother had gone through various tests to try to determine why her mobility had been diminishing, her arms had been bothering her, and why she felt as though she was shaking inside. She described it as “Im shaking on the inside but you cant tell on the outside.” As I sat in at the kitchen table one day after school, I watched as my mother began to cry. My mom looked at me and said “I just don't understand why things happen.” When you cut to a few weeks later, after my grandmother had been officially diagnosed, my mom looked to me and said “you know, at first I was upset, and wondered why things have to happen to people we love, but I have come to terms with the fact that this is not life threatening and that is whats important.” That is a clear cut example of not focusing on the things you cant control, and focusing on what you can. That is exactly what we did, its 4 years later and while the Parkinson's has progressed, she is still around enjoying the little things in life like cooking for her 6 grandkids - which she has always enjoyed doing since we were little. As far as how this principle continues to apply in my life, consists of how I look towards my future both academically and personally. I am currently a Community Health major at Arizona State and intend to apply for the Nursing program in the Spring of my Sophomore year. As my freshmen year passes me by, I find myself having what I call “a minor panic attack” when I begin to think about the fact that there is a possibility I wont be admitted because it is such a competitive program. But as I continue to grow throughout this first year of college, I come to terms with the fact that I cannot focus on the outcome because that will deter me from being able to focus on the present. I can only control what I put into it. When it comes to being admitted, I can only focus on my grades, my work ethic, my focus and my drive. By knowing that I am giving it my all, I know that everything else will work itself out, and that is all I can hope for. All in all, the principle of focusing only on things you can control has always played a role in my life, even if I had no idea. Although, it is more than a principle for me, it is a way of coping, and a way of keeping myself locked in the present. Its a way of life, and I'm fortunate to have had someone in my life to instill that in me since I was a little girl.

Principle of Positve Thinking

Leah Weems

Our mind is one of the most important functioning organs of our body; However, it has the ability to hold us back or push us forward in our everyday lives depending on which way we allow it to go. Being a gymnast one of the hardest skills to achieve is staying positive when you just can’t seem to quite accomplish a skill that you have been working on for months or maybe even years. You usually have a choice between two options: you either have a bad attitude towards the situation and admit defeat or you can stay positive and push through the beating you will most likely receive accomplishing it at the end. These options are the two that people have perceived to be the only two paths that you are able to take. This is a fallacy, you have millions of different options to get out of accomplishing what you wanted for the day, or you could completely eliminate the option of failure and have the positive mindset that drives you to accomplish your goals.
    This is how the principle of positive thinking has helped me through my gymnastics as well as difficult times in my life. It helps me focus on the goal that I have at hand and how much I want it along with the benefits of making that task a reality.  When you are able to do this anything seems possible and helps to motivate you more by giving you that extra boost of self-confidence. Looking towards everything on a positive aspect has made me become the person I am today and has etched itself into my personality. Whenever you do this it makes it as though anything is possible and helps people to dream big which is what drives Americas to the most accomplished nation in the world.
    The biggest way the power of positive thinking has helped me in my life was simply by helping me overcome my fear of speaking to a group of people that I didn’t know? I used to worry about what they thought about me or if I said something completely idiotic or conflicting to what they believed that i was going to make an enemy. However, when I realized that thinking that way was holding me back I started to wonder of about the other possibilities, such as could I make a friend by speaking? This helped motivated me and has helped me with my academic projects, social skills, and public speaking.
This has not just not helped me better myself in athletics, it has also helped my academically as well. This is an important character trait to have with your school work as well because it's hard to figure out a reason to keep working if you look at the negative aspects of completing the task. Whenever you work on a project or paper I always like to be able to see how this is going to help me in the future and how I can make it as fun as possible. This way I don’t see it as just another assignment that was given for busy work, but as an opportunity to better myself. In doing so it has helped me keep up my grades in high school to get the best academic help for college.
This basic concept of being able to think in a way of thoughts that are of a positive manner has simply made me a better person as well. It helps me with job opportunities by showing others I can be a fun coworker by not being a downer to work with. My sense of humor is strengthened and helps keep others think positively making it a huge cycle of contagious attitudes. If you have a negative attitude most likely everyone around you will feel the same way as well and likewise with the opposite attitude.
People struggle in the world, it's just the way it works; however, it’s what you do in the face of that struggle that defines you as a person. Whatever happens I try to have a positive outcome of the situation, because it’s the best way to improve and move forwards in life. If you live to the basic understanding that everything has a sunny side to it you are able to move mountains. I have been able to see it as a way to motivate myself and it has moved my athletic, academic, and social goals to abilities I didn’t think was possible. The power of positive thinking doesn’t come to people who feel as though the world is always against them, it is for those who are willing to go the extra mile to accomplish something to reach the benefits of the end product. The power is the ability to “shoot for the moon and reach the stars”.

Personal Development

Stephanie Waterhouse

My self-esteem plummeted. I didn’t think I fit in anywhere, and I dreaded going to school. I pleaded with my parents to move somewhere far away. I didn’t care where, I just wanted to leave.
 
I’m usually very positive and optimistic, and I make friends easily, so this wasn’t like me. I had never had to study in middle school and felt ready for a challenge, so I decided to take all honors courses and add Chinese to my freshman schedule.
 
Walking into Chinese the first day, seeing the room filled with unfamiliar faces, and knowing that I would go through this alone was depressing. Most of classmates were native speakers and already friends, while I sat alone, feeling like I was the only one struggling with the material. There was no one to study with and the semester had just started.
 
My teacher lectured about the need to stay on top of the work to avoid a learning gap, but I could feel the gap developing. Weeks went by and things didn’t improve. My grades were regularly in the 60s, something I was not used to. I stayed after for any and all the extra help I could get, but still wasn’t able to grasp the language. I’d never felt the power of words until I felt the brunt of each blow of the sentences I continually fought with each class period. My teacher read the Chinese dialogue so quickly that my brain couldn’t even process the first word. When I asked her to slow down, she said she couldn’t go slower just for me. I had no idea why this class was such a burden, and the difficulties rolled over to my other classes. My A in Honors English plummeted to a B-; my Algebra 2 grade followed. With Chinese always on my mind, I had lost my motivation. I didn’t know how to focus on the the things I could control; I had lost the will to think positively; and I almost lost all hope.
 
But as the semester came to an end, my teacher assigned the final project to be done with a partner.  I was paired with a girl, who didn’t speak Chinese at home, and quickly found out that the rest of the non-native speakers were struggling as well. To cope, they went to school early to finish the homework and study for the tests together. I asked to join them and finally made friends because we all were in a debacle over Chinese. I didn’t feel alone anymore.

            I chose to take Chinese because I wanted a challenge, and a challenge is what I got. While my freshmen year of high school didn’t go as planned, it made me work harder. That summer, I was diagnosed with an expressive language delay, which makes it difficult to comprehend what people are saying to me, and to get my thoughts down on paper. Finally, my struggles in Chinese made sense. Moreover, I share this story with you because I learned the importance of always seeing the potential for possibility. That sometimes it takes a challenge for us to recognize how we’ve been applying creative thinking and problem solving to our academic and personal goals over time. I ultimately realized that math was my native language.
 
When I took calculus in high school, I didn’t feel like I was learning. I was told, “This is a derivative. This is an integral. Now plug these numbers in and solve.” Not to say that I didn’t know what calculus was, but just as one becomes more fluent in Chinese the longer they are immersed within their learning, I needed to understand theories and philosophies of math to help me apply them to larger world issues. In other words, I never understood the why. I would ask my high school teacher how we could form this equation, but she would only brush me off and say, “This is just how it is done.” Frustrated, I would try to wrap my head around the connections between what I had discovered to be true and what I was conceptually lacking. Luckily those gaps of knowledge were filled when I began my college coursework.
 
Risk assessment and management should take into account the implications of decisions, while also creating alternatives and opportunities that others may miss.To be honest, I was surprised when someone first recommended Actuarial Science.  But after exploring the possibilities, I thought, “This can’t be real. There can’t be a job in my field that I wake up to every morning and purse wholeheartedly. Surely there can’t be a job that uses math, statistics, business, and allows me to help people. This is cool. This is amazing. This is how I can leave my mark.” For example, removing an integral piece of a policy could result in financial savings, but if those savings aren’t going toward health care policies or infrastructure support - a lawsuit could negate everything.
 
I know that the language that will provide me the most success into the future is the language of math, but more importantly, the language of helping people. If nothing else, my experience in Chinese gave me a solid foundation for solving problems in the future. It gave me the training ground to focus on what was within reach, while maintaining a positive perspective on what was to come.

Developing High Performance

Matthew Daley
ASU

​How to become a high performer in any subject often plagues many college students, office workers, and athletes. Everyone wants a way to get an edge on their competition and it helps to have some sort of methodology to achieve this. The popular rule of putting forth 10,000 hours to become an expert in something is a nice metric but is too standardized to actually be applicable to every subject one could become an expert in. For instance, the 10,000 hour rule is great for explaining a large percentage of the proficiency of professional musicians but what about students? Many college students have to develop and display a level of proficiency to get ahead in much less than 10,000 hours of experience. So given that the 10,000 hour rule may not be as standardized as some believe, it is likely that the real determining factors in developing high performance are actually found in the aspects how the skill is acquired and not simply the amount of time spent. An obvious factor in the effectiveness of developing a high level of performance in a given skill is the source and order of information being acquired. Consider three scenarios of a 13 year old baseball pitcher in which the first is practicing for an hour per day and taking notes from a book on pitching mechanics, the second is practicing for an hour a day with an experienced coach giving feedback, and the third is practicing for an hour a day with an experienced coach giving feedback and starts reading the book on pitching mechanics after a few months. The first pitcher has access to raw information immediately but does not have a practical way to apply it. The second has a practical method for improvement but no access to raw information. Lastly, the third 2 is introduced with a practical method of improvement and later exposed to the raw information. Most people would predict that the second or third pitcher would outperform the first after 365 hours of practice and that the third pitcher would do the best overall. For beginners of any skill, the most practical and immediate approach for receiving feedback is ideal to lay a foundation for developing that skill. Once a foundation has been established more technical nuances can be introduced to further accelerate development of that skill. The next important factor affecting skill acquisition is knowing what pieces of development to focus on. Consider the concept of the “key log” commonly employed by Canadian Logging companies. These companies typically cut down trees upstream of their processing center such that the cut logs can be pushed into the nearby river and will float down to the processing center. Occasionally, the river becomes so filled with these logs that they cause a jam. Rather than trying to force the logs out of the jam an engineer will survey the situation and determine which log, if moved, will undo the entire jam. Similarly, in skill acquisition there are key components that when learned correctly make the learning of other components significantly easier or obsolete. This is exemplified in the chess coaching techniques of Josh Waitzkin, who is known for removing all but two or three pieces from the board to teach the core patterns of how pieces interact. High performers are often seen as highly motivated because they seemed determined to reach their goals everyday. Motivation is not what makes this determination possible, it’s discipline. Motivation waxes and wanes over the course of months, weeks, and even days. It can start unbelievably high in the morning and plummet simply because hunger sets in, and no one is immune to these fluctuations. Discipline, on the other hand, doesn’t oscillate between highs and lows in short time periods. It is a constant that enables high performers to continue their work regardless of motivation 3 levels. People that reach elite levels in their chosen field have methods of cultivating their discipline built into their habits. The most common habit you’ll find among the highly disciplined is that they all make their bed first thing in the morning. Starting the day with a small exertion of control, no matter the level of motivation, almost always brings about feelings of self control, empowerment, and positive feelings towards self. These small actions have the potential to snowball into the larger actions of consistent training, studying, and practicing necessary to develop high performance in any skill. A popular viewpoint of becoming a high performer in a given skill is that a person must spend 10,000 hours practicing that skill. This metric is easy to quantify but overlooks an important set of factors in determining how quickly one can become a high performer: the methods employed to develop high performance. The most important of these methods are the source and order of information learned, selecting the most effective components to focus on, and the cultivation and maintenance of discipline to put these methods into effect. High performers aren’t super humans, they are normal people that use the methods laid out here to get the most out of their efforts so that they don’t have to spend 10,000 hours locked away practicing the cello. Even high performers deserve sunlight. 

The Power of Positive Thinking

Brittney Fulop

"A man dies when he ceases to expect anything from tomorrow" - Abraham Miller

I remember the tears. I remember the feelings of helplessness, of fear… My whole life I have struggled to deal with stress, I always felt that I was never good enough no matter what I accomplished. It was my freshman year when my stress began to spin out of control. My grandpa, who I was really close to, was sick throughout second quarter and passed away towards the end of the semester. I was devastated by his loss and I was not able to focus on school. My first final was the day I returned from the funeral, it was math. Ever since then I have been wrestling with test anxiety when there are any numbers involved.
My junior year, I broke emotionally. I have always pushed myself to get good grades and that year was by far my hardest year academically. What sent me over the edge was not school, it was my coach. She would berate and belittle us, taunt us and try to make us cry. She did not care about our physical or mental pain, she did not seem to think that she was doing something wrong. I did not care much when she targeted me, but when she targeted my teammates I felt responsible to look after them. They did not deserve her hateful words so I took it upon myself to comfort and stand up for them, which only made my own verbal lashings increase exponentially every time. I became absolutely miserable and I did not feel that I could find a way to get out of it. That was when I had my first full-blown panic attack. It was the most terrifying experience of my entire life. I felt like I could not breathe, like the world was ending and I could do nothing about it. There was so much water dripping down my face that I could not see properly. A second attack followed a few days later.
As far as I am concerned, my past does not define me and it does not have to define anyone. Everyday when we wake up, we make a choice. We chose how we are going to act and how we perceive the world around us. We chose who we are and who we are going to be. I woke up and decided to take my life back. I started small, I used the internet to search for stress relievers. I started meditating twice a day and eating healthier foods; I scheduled breaks for myself where I spent time with my friends so I was no longer completely antisocial; I stopped playing volleyball competitively and was told by my team mom that my coach was fired because of what she did to my team and I. Instead of letting my coach corrupt a sport that I loved, I decided that I wanted to coach. A year later I am still coaching adorable little girls and teaching them to stand up for themselves. I wanted to be a different kind of coach than my old one, the kind who empowers her players rather than tear them down and I do that every week.
My most important change was my outlook on the world around me. I started to find joy in the small things, rather than just in the big picture. I stopped tearing my hair out when I got a B on a test or had a low A in a class. It was not going to impact my future so significantly that I would not be able to have a great future. I started writing in a journal to get my feelings out on paper rather than just hold them in. I would write a weekly list of things that were causing stress and then I would write why none of them were really important. I began to meet my friends outside of school more and I grew to them. Most importantly, I chose to remain optimistic no matter what was going on in my life.
The power of positive thinking is unparalleled in terms of personal health. Keeping a positive attitude is vital to living a fulfilled life. After I started using a more optimistic viewpoint, I felt lighter. I was no longer burdened by every little thing I did. Before all I was able to think about was the big picture, nothing could make me happy, but now I have begun to find genuine happiness in moments and I focus more on the present than on the future. My health also dramatically improved; I was able to sleep more restfully, eat more, and focus more on my schoolwork. My days became brighter. Overcoming adversity makes us stronger and wiser. I will never forget the problems I have faced, but I will continue to move forward and not dwell in my past mistakes. The power of positivity is a force to be reckoned with and I will no longer take it for granted. It has been over a year since I pulled myself out of my pit of despair, now I am on the edge of the pit. I am looking into the darkness and choosing to walk away. We always take what we have for granted, positivity included, but just believing there is hope, that there is a way out, can make a world of difference in our lives. Without positivity there is no hope and without hope, what are we living for?

The Meaning of Gratitude

Andria Albert

To me, gratitude is synonymous to humility. It is the act of humbling oneself in order to truly appreciate every single aspect of one’s life. This can be a challenge in today’s world. With the seemingly continuous releases of new iPhone models and ever-changing fashion trends that encourage consumers to purchase the “hottest” trends, it can definitely be difficult to be content with what you have at the moment. Now before I get too far, let me give a quick background on myself. I, too, was at one point always craving the “next big thing”. Whether it be those high-priced combat boots or that new Matte lipstick line, I was all about it.  ‘But why?’, might one ask.  Why did I need these high priced items when I had plenty of similar products at home? Because that was simply the thing to do. I was so engrossed in obtaining, that I forgot to start noticing and appreciating. How ironic it was, that each Thanksgiving I would stand, surrounded by family and friends, and give an endearingly artificial speech about all the things that I was thankful for, meanwhile contemplating all of the products that I needed to buy at the Black Friday sale in a couple hours. It was façade of gratitude that never proved to be true. Now this was my life all throughout middle school and high school; I would simply want more, and I could not have it, I would be wholly unhappy.
 
But like in every story, I did eventually come to a turning point in my life.  And this was a very significant turning point, indeed. The summer before I started my Freshman year at college at Arizona State University, my parents took me to visit India, which is my original birthplace. This was a life changing experience for me, because it truly opened my eyes to how man of my cousins lived without the internet and at times, even electricity. Yet in spite of these all of these evident hardships, they were so content with their lives. I was appalled by this. Especially because the first week that I spent these seemed like hell. The constant heat was only made worse with the lack of air conditioning. And the absence of any electronic devices also places me in a confused rut. I had no idea what to do or how to deal with the situation. However, slowly but surely, I coped. I learned to live without these commodities, and towards the end of my two month stay, I was completely in tune with my life in India at that time. ‘No internet or electricity? Psh, so what?’ I happily would think to myself towards the end of those two months. After living without such basic commodities for my time in India, I was able to see myself and my life back in the States through a new lens. I was so beyond blessed with the life that I lead in the States. And yet, the contentment that I could not find, even with all of the commodities that I possessed there, was discovered during my short time in India where I was deprived of all of those similar possessions. I was able to take a closer look at the lives of my relatives and as I observed their lifestyles, I was able to see the age-old adage unraveling before me: “less is more”.  This adage could not have sung more true for my experience in India.
 
My trip back home to the States was one of determination: I was not just bringing back wonderful memories; I was also bringing back a new outlook on life. I was bringing back gratitude, which was something that I once lost. Now, I wouldn’t say that I became a new person overnight, but it was slow process that yielded positive results. I started appreciating more in life. I valued my education more, and as a result, I found myself applying effort and time into attaining good scores on my exams and assignments. My job at a retail pharmacy, that I once thought to be mundane, was transformed into an opportunity where I could improve my communication and medicinal skills. I was able to realize how grateful I was to even have a such a prestigious job at this point in my life, and that allowed me to appreciate the work even more.  Over time, this outlook of gratitude transformed my life. It allowed me to be humble and not want for things that I don’t need, but to simply be happy with the belongings I have now. As a result of gratitude, I have become a more joyful and appreciative individual. And the thanksgiving words that I say during my family gatherings truly have meaning. 

The Gift of Life

Jake Recoulle
ASU
​
The greatest gift you are ever given is life. Every day is precious even though they may not go your way or be in your favor. I realized this early in my freshman year of high school and I looked at how I could change the outlook of my life to avoid the negative things that weighed me down and to allow myself to keep focused on what I really wanted for myself. As I researched, I came upon the “Law of Attraction”. For myself, this best suited to ways I had already thought and my goal-orientated mind set. It is the idea that we bring things upon ourselves. To elaborate, negative things can only affect us if we let them and positive things will come to us if we work for them and bring them into our lives. Just like America is “the land of opportunity”, our mind is as well and we are capable of making whatever we wish happen if we stay focused and occupied in a mindset that is proactive towards it.
Much of my high school career was spent under a divorcing household that was not by definition the best place for a developing teenager to grow and evolve due to the constant conflict and volatile situations I witnessed between my parents. With my lifestyle diminishing to a point of being practically self-sufficient by the age of fifteen, one would say from the outside looking in, that understandably life was looking dim to me, and to be honest, the challenges put my mental state through ebbs and flows. Through observing patterns that led to lack of contentment in my parents lives and others around me, I knew I needed to change things for myself and that I needed to take control of my destiny. At that point, the only real thing I could change was my outlook on life and start planning milestones that would be reminders that I was leading myself to a path of my ultimate positive future.
My parents had announced their divorce when I was in eighth grade but it did not end short after. It would be throughout much of my high school career that I would be in the middle of the divorce. It was hard for many months listening to constant fighting and having to be quiet about going with another parent or else a fight would happen or something that would be said would anger me. It really affected my mentality and I just kept to myself because I process my emotions internally and had made a commitment to myself to channel frustration by focusing on the path I had set for myself.  However, I found that by isolating my feelings internally, it was at the cost of letting in other people who could help me, and I needed to find the proper balance. At such a dark time in my life, I still believed that there was a purpose to everything I had been going through. I had watched other family members process the family challenges in different ways, but found it hard to relate because I felt so different. During this time, many of my friends were experiencing similar circumstances with their families going through divorce, and even though we didn’t talk about it, I found respite and a sense of family in spending time with them because of the common thread we were all experiencing.
Towards the end of my freshman year, I sat down to think about my life and where it was going. I came to a point where I was mentally tired and just needed to stop and think about life for myself. My parents’ divorce was pretty brutal at times and it really hurt to see over twenty years of marriage end like that. By sitting there and analyzing what my life had become and what I wanted to do with myself, I was able to realign myself with the path I had set for myself since the fifth grade. I had known I wanted to go to college and get myself in a secure financial state after seeing how hard my father worked for what turned out to be very little toward the end of each year. It only further strengthened my idea once I was working for him in the trenches for twelve hours a day at least six days a week. I knew I never wanted to do that with my life so I set my mind to working hard in school so I could go to the college I wanted and to work in the career of my choice. My goal seemed far in the future, but as I hunkered down and worked to achieve a 4.0 GPA and being in National Honors Society, it became a blur. My life seemed better because all the outside distractions of my family’s tough financial situation and divorce stopped affecting me in the ways they used to. It would still be tough at times but with the idea of going to college and imagining me at a university of my choice in the end, I was able to stay focused and on the right track.
Today, I attend Arizona State University and I am an actuarial sciences major. I had visited it on a trip to Arizona and when walking around the campus, I was able to envision myself walking to classes and living there. My goal of going to college became narrowed to going to Arizona State University. It was one of the greatest successes in my life when I received my acceptance letter from there which included a scholarship based on my academic career up unto that point.
As I reflect on my experiences and challenges growing up, it’s clear that by abiding to the Law of Attraction and changing my outlook on life, I was able to stabilize my mental state and focus on what I had imagined for myself. My grandfather had always told me, “you can do anything you set your mind to” and with my accomplishments so far, I’m a testament that his lessons resonate with me in a way that are engraved within my core my values. 

The Attitude of Gratitude

Elena Hermling
ASU

​People have become increasingly obsessed with the idea of living the ideal lifestyle and doing what is good for oneself. Very few will the good of others around them or truly appreciate the beauty in giving to those who are in need. My generation has become fixated on the idea that making sacrifices or providing for the greater good, comes at too high a price. However, it should be just the opposite; true gratitude should inspire people to assist those who are in need and to accompany them. It is in being thankful that one can truly come closer to all people and creation on Earth. This wholeheartedly involves setting aside your desires in life and dedicating time and commitment to the lives which surround us. I find this to be absolutely essential in living a life of true kindness and being content with one’s lifestyle and actions. When pondering the true meaning of gratitude, an elderly woman I have known for over fifteen years comes to my mind. This woman, Micky, dedicates her time to the Prince Ministry in South Africa and has cared for those most in need of assistance. She set aside the life she once had as a young woman and founded this ministry along with her husband. She has devoted majority of her life to finding shelter, providing food and water, and bringing a brighter future for children in South Africa who have been affected by AIDS. This woman is means of exemplifying the entirety of gratitude for all lives, as she demonstrates the true selflessness, continued love, and appreciation of the gift of kindness. She is a true inspiration—a woman who has made sacrifices in her life to bring about greater good and hope in the world. Gratitude encompasses a very important aspect of life, which can greatly impact the lives of those around me. For instance, Micky has taken significant steps towards providing for these children who have lost hope because that is what her appreciation for all of creation has inspired her to do. Her sacrifices are truly beautiful and they reflect her good nature. It is important to understand that forming men and women for others demonstrates the kind of social justice which must be a part of our everyday lives in order to bring brightness to the world. Micky’s motivation for caring for the less fortunate has shed light upon the lives of these children and has filled the empty spaces in these children's hearts. There is little time to be selfish, acting solely concerned for our own lives rather than the lives of the many people around us. Educating men and women to be kindhearted towards others can greatly impact their lives, whether it be a small favor or a wholehearted sacrifice. There is great beauty in changing someone’s life, and witnessing the greatness that comes with an exchange of kindness has propelled me to exchange kindness with those around me in hopes of bringing about a more unified society. Witnessing the kindness of the people around me has inspired me to do the same for others who are in need of my help. In focusing on the gift of gratitude, I have come to understand that what is most important in life is treating those around you with great kindness in hopes of forming a more passionate environment. Without this kind of passionate devotion in serving all of creation, we may find ourselves limited in terms of experiencing the fulfillment of kindness in all things. Kindness has undoubtedly inspired me to take part in my community and instill a stronger sense of gratitude and faith in my peers. It is my strong-held sense of appreciation that has motivated me to work in providing for my community through charity and service opportunities and caring for those around me. This has demonstrated the true importance of assisting and accompanying those in need, which has made my life entirely complete and myself far more confident in the future of the world. In my caring for the community through service opportunities such as helping young children learn how to read, I have experienced the fullness of life. I have learned that in order to live a life centered on the fullness of gratitude and love, it is necessary that we set aside all desires in life and dedicate time and commitment to the people around us. An attitude of gratitude is a powerful force in any community and an absolute necessity in changing the world for the better, as well as willing the good of the people in our lives. It is this mindset of being truly thankful that has guided me towards a greater love and appreciation for the many people in my life and without it I would feel incomplete. 

Personal Development

Justin Lee

I used to be a genius.
Perhaps it is slightly strange that I say that in past tense, but this is because my status in society has changed. I was a child prodigy that never made use of his natural born talent. Hence, I “used to” be a genius.
In my pre-teens, I was top of my class in about every subject. Put into advanced studies, I conquered material that was three or even four years ahead of my grade level. Math was like a puzzle with which I continuously grappled. Reading opened up hundreds of new worlds in which my imagination ran wild. Writing allowed me to express this abundance of imagination that filled my head. The material should have been extremely demanding; however, the difficulty of school didn’t bother me. Rather, the challenge entertained me while also pushing me to improve as an intellectual. Unlike many of my peers that age, I genuinely enjoyed school.
Aside from my studies, my parents decided to spend what little spending money our family had on me. They paid for a personal piano teacher, and enrolled me in a summer basketball program. Surprisingly, I not only relished these opportunities, I was very successful in these hobbies. Once again, I was greeted with a flood of compliments from the people around me. I became the ideal student, proficient in fine arts, athletics, and most importantly, education.
My attitude towards school changed with the pressure that accompanied the compliments. I felt as if I needed to uphold my reputation of being smart. Everything I did in life became geared towards pleasing others. I completed math homework not to challenge myself, but to receive a good grade. I read not to let my imagination run wild, but in order to find out how to become more successful. I wrote not to express my imagination, but in order to seem more educated. I played piano not to express my emotions, but to beef up my resume for college. I played basketball not for its addictive competitive nature, but because it made me seem “cool”. All of my actions had the motive of pleasing others, rather than satisfying my needs. I worked tirelessly to uphold my reputation in order to garner compliments. In the end, all of my endeavors had the end goal of portraying an image of a child prodigy.
This way of thinking continued throughout high school. My education became geared towards earning the best grades possible, no matter the method. If I had to sacrifice my enjoyment of education in order to advance in the cutthroat high school environment, there was no question that I would do so. My life then turned from vibrant to monotonous. Every day devolved into a series of planned motions in which I strived to minimize the amount of effort I put into school without jeopardizing my grades. By doing so, the compliments fed my greedy appetite without me having to work hard and deserve them.
However, this lethargic attitude towards school did not bode well for my future. Eventually, those who were deemed child prodigies alongside me advanced further and further. They maintained a love for school and a passion for learning, enjoying themselves in the journey of life. They garnered more compliments, while the amount of praise I received steadily dwindled. When I was not able to attend my dream school, I took a second to sit back and think why I was unable to attend the top schools, why I was no longer lauded as a genius.
I was lost.
                My whole life was dedicated to receiving the praise of other individuals. It was my purpose of working hard in school, my goal to becoming successful in after school activities. So why did society cease to commend me for my accomplishments? Why did I not evolve as a person, a student, a musician, an athlete, just like other child prodigies had done?
                I took a look at my successful friends, my rivals in education. I studied what they did, what their attitudes were towards school. The one similarity I found between all the successful “geniuses”, was that they worked for themselves. They studied hard to satisfy their own goals, they played passionately to quench their own desire, they became successful to please themselves.
                On the other hand, I was addicted. Addicted to the compliments, addicted to the praise. I wanted to please other people. I wanted to control something that I couldn’t control. My friends and rivals, by working on themselves, they accomplished much more than I with much more burning passion and desire. To society, this is commendable and attractive. They were acknowledged by society without explicitly searching for acknowledgement. For me, I studied like a robot, played piano without passion, and lived life methodically. To society, I was nothing better than a machine. Although I could be considered a genius, an individual smart enough to make more than just a living, I was a role model to no one. Although people acknowledged me, they did not appreciate me.
                By striving to accomplish my own goals without considering what society thinks of me, I truly believe that I can not only help myself reach my true potential, but also due so in a way that motivates and inspires others. I realized that no person wants to imitate a robot, lifeless, mechanical, and methodical. Rather, one should strive to be a person, vibrant and full of life, exuding color and passion as the impossible becomes possible. I have seen that there is no way that one can control another person’s emotions. However, there is a way in which one can influence another person’s emotions. By accomplishing what one wants to do in life, that person gives off a natural aura of confidence and success that many of the labeled geniuses present. Ironically, by succeeding without worrying about what society thinks about you, society becomes more attracted to you.
                With this scholarship, I see an opportunity where I can take a step forward in accomplishing what I want to accomplish in life. Winning this would signify taking a step in the ladder of success, in an effort to accomplish what I truly want to accomplish in life. No longer do I worry about what society thinks about me. With a positive attitude, shining with passion and love for education, I will become a beacon of light to all who have lost their way in life.
I am found. 

Focusing On What You Can Control

Kennedy Allen
ASU

When I started eighth grade, I started getting headaches, which I had never gotten before. By the winter of that year, the headaches had escalated into full blown migraines. And by March of that same year, 2012, I had a migraine every day.
            This caused a lot of problems for me, both at home and at school. Before 2012, I had never had a migraine, but by that March, I was having one every single day. My grades started to slip because I was having trouble concentrating when I was at school, which it felt like I never was, since I had so much trouble just getting out of bed.  It was hard to concentrate because my head was pounding and the visual disturbances would make it hard to read. Making it to an afternoon class was an accomplishment to me, because I did not make it very often. And before the migraines, I was a student with nearly perfect attendance, so it was bizarre to suddenly start worrying if I was going to have to do summer school to make up all that I was missing.
            The longer that the migraines went on though, I started to learn coping mechanisms, especially after I started being seen by doctors for my condition. I started focusing on the things I could control in my life, when I could not control the migraines. The first thing I could control was whether or not I let it take my future from me. Before the migraines, I was a straight A student, and after I started getting them, my teachers did not even have enough of my assignments to calculate a grade.
            Another thing that I could control was whether or not I even tried to get out of bed. The migraines had started to get me so despondent that I some mornings I did not even try to get out of bed before deciding that I could not go to school. I decided no more of that. I was at least going to try to get up and go to school each day- that was something within my control. From there, the migraines could take control of my day and make it so that I had to ask my mom to turn the car around before we even pulled out of the neighborhood, but at least then I had the satisfaction of knowing that the migraines did not take control of my day from the very beginning and did not keep me from trying to get through the day.
            That same year, I developed OCD, or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. In order to conquer that, I had to focus on what I could control, and what I could control was not destroy my hands from washing them too often. I found that I could control this urge by using hand sanitizer on just the palms of my hands, and not the backs of my hands, so that I controlled the urge and the urge did not control me. I was later told by a psychiatrist that the method I developed to control my OCD, was better than a psychiatrist could do with therapy and medication, and I was able to do that by focusing on what I could control, which was not allowing the compulsiveness to rule my life.  
            My freshman year, I decided that in order to take back control of my future from the migraines, I needed to make sure my grades were really good in high school so that I could get into a really great college. I could focus on that instead of how the migraines were getting worse. The second semester of my freshman year of high school, I went homebound, but continued focusing on my grades in order to make sure the migraines would not take my future away from me as well.
            I completed my sophomore year online. I spent most of that year in bed, but I did get up each morning. I may have quickly ended back in bed, but I did get out of bed each morning and attempt school.
            Junior and senior year went slightly better. I still missed quite a bit of school, but I got good grades and got into my dream school. I was focused on controlling getting myself into Arizona State University, so I kept my grades up and every day I made sure to get out of bed and try to go to school.
            Now I attend ASU, and the migraines are easier to deal with because I am able to manage my schedule, unlike in high school. I am able to focus on continuing to not allow the migraines to control my life and keep my grades up.
            Focusing on what I can control helps keep me positive and keeps me ready for what could happen next, but not dwelling on it. I learned through my migraines that I can control that I get out of bed in the morning, and that I get good grades. I have learned much from dealing with chronic migraines, and I think the most important thing I learned is perseverance.  

Positive Thinking

Garrett Hoy

One intellectual virtue that I have developed throughout my life is positive thinking through self-reflection. Throughout all of my childhood I was trapped by my shyness, which caused me to be reserved and muted during classes; however, self-reflection counteracted this. Although I was generally quiet and didn’t always verbally participate in my elementary school classes, this did not stop me from acknowledging my goals and staying academically sound in reaching them.
One major event in my life which allowed my self-reflective trait to guide me was the choice to choose a high school. This was a different decision then I had ever made previously, as it forced me to choose between the possibility of a better education or my friends. The choice came when I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the International Baccalaureate (IB) program at Westwood. Although I had moderately decided that I wanted to advance to Red Mountain High, a little bit of curiosity still remained in my mind about the IB program, so I attended the informational meeting about it. After this meeting, attending Westwood actually seemed like a very viable option. Everything within the program seemed challenging and I liked that, and as time passed the interest I had in attending Westwood grew until eventually I made my final decision.
The reason I ended up choosing Westwood, the lower income school filled with diversity, over Red Mountain, the wealthier school with newer buildings and all my friends, was a period of self-reflection: I decided I didn’t want to continue following my friends’ futures just because I was afraid of sitting alone at lunch or making new friends. I wanted to go to a school which I knew could help me reach my educational goals. I took a risk attending this program, but I had a crutch to support me. This “crutch” was the idea in the back of my mind that I could transfer to Red Mountain if Westwood wasn’t to my liking. The idea that I could always give up and transfer was somewhat of a safety net that I never had to use, until at the end of my sophomore year. This was when my cohort was transitioning from the freshman-sophomore portion of the program to the diploma program. Many of my classmates were debating whether or not to stay through the last two years in the program, but the question didn’t even come to my mind. At that moment I knew I no longer needed the safety net.
This sequence of events is one example of my own personal growth and perfectly shows how positive thinking has affected my life. I looked towards the positive side of an opportunity that came in my direction and it changed my life. Now fast forward to present tense, I am a freshman at Arizona State University, studying finance in the W.P. Carey school of Business and the Barrett Honors College and in addition to going to school full time, I am also maintaining two separate jobs on top of being involved in an ASU Marketing organization. With all of this on my plate, I can honestly say that I can account my ability to keep up with all of these responsibilities directly to the power of thinking positively.
In regards to schoolwork and staying on track with grades and assignments, positive thinking has inspired me to stay motivated. Specifically pertaining to the first semester of courses which included plenty of unexciting classes such as English, and Brief Calculus. I was able to think positively and optimistically to persevere through the semester. This positive thinking was rewarded with my anticipation for the coming spring semester in which my course load includes more interesting classes such as Accounting and Economics. In addition to staying motivated to do well in classes, positive thinking has also helped me to look towards classes through the lens of learning rather than through the lens of redundant prerequisites.
In regards to my employment, positive thinking has indefinitely helped me to grow as a person. I work at Epic Valet, a contracted Valet service throughout Scottsdale, Arizona, as well as Dutch Bros Coffee. Both of these jobs require daily social interactions with customers which in turn not only shapes my mood, but also the attitude of these customers. In valeting specifically, we want to give our customers a quick, and comfortable service so that they can go off without worrying about their vehicle. Positive thinking, leads to positive interactions and conversations with these customers which in turn rewards us as valets with a job well done. In regards to working for Dutch Bros Coffee, we as a company are the embodiment of positive thinking. We market everything towards making our customers feeling great. Positive thinking has allowed me to keep a positive mood which in return affects our customer’s moods positively as well.  
            Positive thinking has had such an extreme effect on my personal growth in the past, and the present. It has helped me to make important decisions for myself, as well as led me to stay motivated in school and to positively affect the moods of the countless customers that I have interacted with. 

Focusing on Things You Can Control

Lily Whitler

I was the percussion section leader in my high school marching band for two years, and I learned valuable lessons about myself during that time.  My first year was stressful for me because I had this idea that I was responsible for doing everything that needed doing.  That isn’t to say I didn’t think other people could do it; I just thought I could do it best.  The constant feeling of “I need to be doing more” was nerve-wracking.  I went into my second year as section leader knowing this, and I made a conscious effort to focus more on what I could do rather than what I could not.  That new approach made all the difference in the world.  Yes, being a leader was still stressful, but it was less about “what am I doing wrong” than “what can I do to improve myself and others.”  The lessons I learned from these two years shaped my perception of how I should approach life, especially because I will always have a responsibility for something.
Focusing on what I could control instead of what I couldn’t was key. I couldn’t control if it rained, but I could control if I froze up and didn’t know what to do, or if I had the flexibility to handle a changed circumstance. As section leader, one of my responsibilities was to ensure that everything got done when it needed to get done, and it was very easy to become obsessed with organizing everything perfectly.  It was also very easy to forget that I wasn’t just dealing with static objects or events, I was dealing with people and sometimes very changeable situations. It took some time for me to realize that I had to be able to easily adapt.  Inflexibility only leads to frustration and anger for everyone involved.
One moment is particularly poignant to me. It was the day of a major competition and we were running late. I sat on the bus alternating between staring at the freeway exits and mile markers through the window and glancing at my watch. We had gotten a late start, traffic was bad, we still had about an hour to drive, and we performed in two hours. I was slowly working myself in a frenzy, thinking of all the things that could go wrong because of our tardiness. “What will we do if we don’t have time? We still have the unload the equipment truck. An hour is not enough to unload and get in uniform and warm up. What if we don’t make it to the field on time? We have so much to do and no time to do it!” I had to force myself to stop right there, and that was when I had my epiphany. Yes, I admitted to myself, we were certainly going to be pressed for time. That was easy. The hard part was admitting to myself that I couldn’t do a thing about it. I like to be in charge, I like to be in control of myself, and I really didn’t like the prospect of running around like a headless chicken to make up for lost time. However, I conceded, it was going to happen whether I liked it or not, and all I could worry about was how to make sure all of my imagined worst-case scenarios didn’t happen.
By the time we got to the site of the competition, I had mostly calmed myself down. We made up a little time on the road, but not enough to entirely dispel my nerves. As soon as we got off the bus, we had to unload the equipment trailer in record time, warm up, and go to the field to play the best show of our lives. This to-do list was all that kept me going that day. I couldn’t focus on how little time we had to do all of it; that was out of my control. Instead, I had to focus on actually doing it because that was what I could control.
 
Since then, I have handled a lot more bad situations, but instead of working myself into a tizzy, giving myself a headache, and freezing up when confronted by something to do, I have learned to stop worrying about fixing something that can’t be fixed. Instead of wasting energy on stress, it is much better to focus on making the best of a less-than-optimal circumstance. Usually that involves a time issue. A deadline, or a due date, or an important meeting that was suddenly moved to overlap another important meeting. It could be other people in a group, who don’t start working on a project until the night before the due date. Whatever it is, you can do nothing except your own part, and have a little bit of faith that the rest will handle itself.

Personal Development

Bria Lemon-Johnson

​I have looked through almost 3 physical textbooks and they all give me the same definitions of love or attraction, but what is it really? What is it based on? Why am I attracted to who I am attracted to? I get the whole concept of “the heart wants what the heart want” but why? There can be an attraction between anything: a person, a place, a thing, even an idea! It is because of the familiarity. It is our predisposition, or the likelihood of doing things a certain way, to gravitate things that brings us pleasure. The world is an extremely terrifying place and to go through it alone is something nobody wants to do. That is why we as humans use defense mechanisms to shy away from situations that are too much for us to cope with mentally. Defense mechanisms contribute to the Law of Attraction because it was a strategy our bodies came up with to fight against high feelings of anxiety and impulses. The things that usually are not deemed as “acceptable” in society get justified by these mechanisms. We want to be accepted, that is really all anybody wants, like I wrote earlier, the world is a scary place to go through alone. In my case, being accepted makes me feel like I belong. That was a good feeling, a warm feeling. This is why so many people, including myself, do not want to try new things. For the fear of being judged. I have recently been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. Yes, I now know not to let my diagnosis define me, but on some level it does explain why I do the things I do. Growing up I was very shy, it was very easy to shatter the little confidence I mustered up. I stayed to myself and every schoolyear I had one friend who I would just follow around. In Girl Scouts I would do the work but refuse to participate in team-building activities with the other girls. They were different than me personality wise: loud, confident, but also not very motivated. In senior of high school and my first semester of college is when I blossomed. Lemon-Johnson 2 People asked me what changed. Why am I willing to try new things, to be social? This question directly fits into the Law of Attraction. I was always silenced, could not really have my own opinion because of my overbearing mother. I could never go out with friends, causing me to lose a lot of them, had to beg to see my boyfriend, who I eventually broke up with because I did not have the girl advice I need to work out my problems with him. The things that I were able to do and the people I was able to talk to I cherished beyond belief. Thus, they were close to my heart because they were who I chose and want I wanted to do respectively and got my mother’s approval. On some level who I talked to, where I went, and what activities I participated in as a child helped develop me into who I am now, but it is also why I have the problems I have now. I could not make my own decisions, even though I tried many times. When I got to college I had no idea what I was doing, in both the sense of crazy teenager and functional member of society. It was made clear to me that I did not get a chance to “be a teenager” or just simply talking to people my own age. I only knew how to go to school and come home. What were these “party things” people were going to, why are there people shouting at 1 am on a Saturday night, are these people trying to be my friend. How do I write a check, I do not know my bank account information, how do I use a vacuum? I only knew what I my mom decided to teach me, and if I tried to learn other things I needed to “stay in a child’s place.” But we are getting slightly off topic. In simple, you are attracted to things that bring you pleasure. Pleasure is known as something that raises your endorphins and gives the feeling of being happy. My situation is as follows, I did not have much to work with so I grew attached to the things that I was attracted to. With human interaction with many people, including myself, have a fear of judgement making for a fear of change which results in us to being attracted to people with the same qualities and Lemon-Johnson 3 personalities. In my case I refused to even think about stepping outside of my bubble of familiarity. It is human instinct to want to be loved, to crave human contact. I did not receive much of that growing up, just orders. Making it in this world with only a fraction of the support and guidance you need, is a very difficult thing to do. Attraction to what is familiar and provides comfort to me was and is my only option.

Focusing on Things You Can Control

Kaci Gwilt

Focusing on things you can control will dramatically improve the way you think at life. You can control what you eat, what job you want, or your actions. Controlling all these things is the way to make your life what you want it to be. Nobody can ever tell you that you cannot do something, and you should always prove them wrong if that’s what happens. If you want to lose weight, you can. If you want to gain weight, do it. If you want to get good grades, study. If you want to make money, go after jobs. Of course we only have 24 hours in a day, but you CAN control how you use your time. One of the big things that’s changed my life is creating more time by doing PSEO, or dual enrollment instead of high school. I can take online classes. This has dramatically helped my all around quality of life. I wasn’t really fitting in with the kids in my grade throughout high school (grades 7-12) and I went to a small school. Everyone I knew only cared about partying or sports. I didn’t fit in. I moved to a community college my 11/12th grade years and I feel like I’m surrounded by people with similar goals. Everyone wants to get a degree, get good grades and just help each other out. Although there are typical party people, the majority of the college is adults. Doing PSEO has allowed to have full time/part time jobs during school and I’ve saved up so much money to go on a senior trip in a few days. People I know are starting to call me Miss Moneybags, and it’s a great feeling. I am also getting more recognition for my hard work at the college. I have time to workout. I also have received a lot of advice about my future and made lifelong friends. I cannot wait to go to a 4-year university. My overall point is that anyone can control their life. There are only 24 hours in a day and you can choose what you spend each and every minute on. If you focus on the things you can control, you can improve your quality of life. It may not be easy at first, but it always gets easier with persistence. I wish that more people would take time to focus on themselves and what they can control, not what they can’t control because that creates a negative atmosphere and just makes people depressed. If someone has a rough day and just thinks about everything bad that’s happened, they’ll be very sad. If they thought about what they can still do that day or the next day, or about the good things and what will happen in the long run, they’ll think more positively and it will make them happier overall. I know a lot of people who think negatively and it is because they focus on the things they can’t control. It’s so useless to do this to ourselves. Nobody should feel upset, worthless or helpless. The only way to improve your life with what you got is to FOCUS ON THINGS THAT YOU CAN CONTROL. I’ve been so much more happy with my life since I’ve focused on my life and how I can control it. High school wasn’t where I belonged and I felt more advanced. I tore my ACL going into my junior year so I was pretty upset about a lot of things and I didn’t like where my life was going so I completely changed everything. I’ve found what I like to do, who I like to be around and what to stay away from. I’ve been healing my knees and reduced the risk to hurt either knee again, I’ve bought my own first car (which I love so much), and I will receive my AA degree In liberal arts and sciences about 3 weeks before I walk for high school graduation. I am able to finish my senior year by taking only classes that interest me, such as astronomy, forensic science, calculus and analytic geometry, earth science and tae kwon do. Not many people could say they have done this. I only had one class requirement and 11 credits total to get my AA degree this semester. I needed 12 credits to qualify as a full time student, and I am taking 15 credits. All together, I will have a total of 64 college credits, while my high school class can only have a maximum of 30 by taking classes through the high school. I’m more than happy with my life at this point, but the only problem I’ve encountered with doing PSEO is that most scholarships aren’t given to PSEO students because they already have college credits. I think it’s more like a punishment for doing PSEO because a lot of my classes don’t transfer to the universities I actually want to go to and I took more generals than what my degree will have. Anyways, I think everyone should focus on what they can control, and forget the rest. Focus on you.

The Power of Positive Thinking

James Trainor

Positive thinking can turn a terrible situation into a much better one. In life not everything will go the way you want, things will not always be what you expected, and people don’t always live up to expectations. When these things happen, you have a few options. One is that you accept it, try to find some good that will come out of it, and move on. Another is to ignore it. The last is to try to change your situation.
If you accept what is happening and try to look for some positive outcome, then a situation that may seem unfortunate to others turns into a positive learning experience for you. You can then move on and grow as a person learning from the experience at hand. If you just ignore the situation, then nothing comes out of it. You are stuck dealing with the same problem until you try to do something about it. This leads to wasted time, possible emotional damage, and disappointment in your situation. In my opinion, you should only ignore the situation if it has little or no interest to you. Sometimes change may never come, no matter how hard you try and it is for that reason I would say it is the second best option.
I came up with this order of choices when I was thirteen. I had been playing soccer for about nine years, and the love I had for the game had begun to fade away. At that point, I was playing club soccer for a rather successful team. I was fairly talented, had passion for the game, and worked hard to earn my place on the team, but the coaching staff didn’t support me. They didn’t give me much playing time, gave no compliments when I played (even if I did do something good), and didn’t even give me any constructive criticism to work with. All they did was put me down and made me hate the game I loved for so long. That hatred for the game I loved had been going on for several years (the first year of my six at the club was good). I decided that I would just ignore the problem thinking that I would be able to meet their expectations, but no matter how well I played I was always ridiculed by the coaches. So then I decided that I should just quit. Luckily for me, my parents were much wiser than I was at the time and knew that I could still enjoy soccer. They encouraged me look for different clubs and maybe one of them would be a better fit. So I went to a few tryouts and found a good fit at a different club. There my love for the game was re-sparked. I thrived there, and when I played for my high school varsity soccer team, I made the All-Sectional team, MVP for the team, and had the most goals in our conference.
Now that I am a bit older I have learned a lot from this experience. Part of the lesson was that sometimes no matter how hard you try, you can not please everyone. I also learned that although a situation may seem terrible at the time, later on in life it can be a great learning experience. I also got to play a sport I loved (even if I didn’t at that time), made some friends, and stayed fit. Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I could have tried to get out of my situation sooner than when I actually did.
So this year, when adversity hit me, I knew how to handle it. During a soccer game for my high school, I went for a 50/50 ball, got knocked over, and broke my collarbone. When I was told by the doctors that I wouldn’t be able to play for a while and that my season was over I was heartbroken for a short time. I decided that I could wallow in my own sorrow again or find something to do. So I helped coach my team and studied for the ACT. The coach of the high school team said I did a good job coaching and I rose my test scores in multiple subjects on the ACT. I also managed to get all A’s in my courses this year except for one B in AP Statistics, but it may become an A after my final is graded. Because I looked for something positive to do with myself, I feel that I was successful during my recovery time. What I did with my time in a negative situation was far better than just sitting around thinking about what could have been. When my next challenge presents itself to me, I hope that I am just as successful at handling it as I was with the challenge I faced this year.

The Power of Positive Thinking

James Baker
University of Louisiana

The tests were given back, and everyone held their breath as they looked at their grades. I stared down at my own and was in shock. I had never made a grade that low in that class before, and I was horrified. I didn’t know what to do. This was the situation I was in last semester when taking my Cellular and Molecular Biology class at my university, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. I thought I knew the material front and back, and thought that I would ace the test. I studied the night before, and had reviewed notes between classes, too, thinking that surely with all the preparation I was doing I had that test in the bag. Clearly, I was wrong.
At that point, there was no way for me to go back and change what I had done to study or try and fix the holes in my knowledge for that test; it was over, it was out of my control. I was scared, I didn’t know how to do better than I had, I felt like I had reached my limit. Needless to say, my positivity was at an all-time low. That was when I remembered the advice an upperclassman gave earlier that year: record the lectures and study from those. That was something I had not done before! It was also at that time that I remembered the advice that my best friend gave me during a difficult class I had taken the semester before: change your study habits to fit your class, not your personal style. I began to change how I studied, listening to the recordings of the lectures that were more difficult for me and making sure I understood the concepts from those before I moved on and studied the next section of notes. It was tedious, but I felt I could do it. Rather, I knew I could do it, because people believed in me. If people believed in me, I had nothing to worry about! I knew that they would support me through thick and thin, and through their advice I was able to focus on a new method for studying that would surely lead me to success on this test. So there I was, staring at the next test in my hand, and I felt so confident! I knew that I was going to ace it and succeed like I had not done in that class before. I blazed through the answers and turned it in, feeling very assured that this time I did great. Imagine my surprise when the results came around and it was almost the exact same grade as before!
I was so frustrated but once again I knew the results were out of my control, and I knew that dwelling on them would be meaningless. I wanted to give up and to stop trying so hard because it felt like it wasn’t making a difference anyhow, but I decided then and there to think positively even though the results were not what wanted, and to look towards the future instead of the past. All I had to do was study even harder, and keep on maintaining that positive attitude! So that’s exactly what I did: that test, I left nothing to chance. I listened to almost every single lecture that would be relevant to the test material, reviewed my notes, added onto the new notes! I did everything I could think of to make my grade come through for me. I went to study groups, talked to upperclassmen, used tutoring to help me make sure I understood the concepts, and even talked to my professor to see what I had missed on the last test to make sure I would be able to understand the questions she wanted to ask on the upcoming one.  I also made sure that through all of this I did not let myself get scared or worried about the results, because I knew that it would not contribute to my success. Instead, I sought encouragement and talked with others to remain as positive as I could be.
Finally, the test day arrived. I went into the classroom, looked around, and despite the lack of confidence I felt I made the choice once again to stay positive. I did my best to stay calm, I took my time, and did my best to make sure I fully comprehended each and every question before I answered it, trying to recall anything I had studied, heard, written down, or been taught in the past. I turned in the test, and waited out the next few days for results. When they came in, I couldn’t believe it! I had made an almost perfect score! I was so excited and felt for the first time that my hard work had finally payed off. What I didn’t realize at the time was that it was not just my studying and the help of others that got me through, but it was also the fact that I chose to keep on thinking positively, despite how I had felt. After all, if I had given into my hopelessness and stopped trying to succeed I never would have made that grade! In the end, regardless of how you feel, make the choice to think positively! If you remain positive, you can accomplish anything, even the impossible!

Focusing on Things You Can Control

Xochitl Valtierra

I teach. What is your superpower? I’m not only acclaiming to be a super hero because I’m a teacher but because of my ability to help my students succeed despite the many uncontrollable factors in their lives. As people say, my students come from a lower socio-economic status and live in the unprivileged area of Yuma, Arizona. I on the other hand, call this ‘status’ and ‘unprivileged’ area my lifestyle growing up. This is why I can relate to my students and can sincerely, from experience, tell them that focusing on the things that they can control is what will allow them to succeed in life. These are my mother’s words of wisdom that still ring in my ear to this day.
I was born in San Luis, R.C. Sonora, Mexico and raised in Somerton, Arizona. My mother and father are both agriculture workers. My father is an alcoholic who was never able to overcome his addiction. My mother is the strongest woman I know. I recall how she worked from dawn to dusk in the fields picking crops so that she could provide for the family. She instilled the importance of education in my siblings and I. I still remember her coming home from work at night and watching her take off her muddy shoes and jacket and unwrap her hair from her handkerchief as she would talk to my siblings and I about focusing on things that we could control. She would tell us that we had the ability to control our future and that education would be the only way to a better life than what we had. She often reiterated that although we, kids, did not have the ability to control the obstacles that stood in our way of living a better life, we had the ability to learn from the obstacles. As a child, I never really understood what she meant, but as an adult, I now understand what she meant. My mother has a passion for learning. She always dreamed of someday earning a college degree, but the lack of financial support from my father impeded her studies. Instead, she dedicated her life to working and providing for her children. Although she tried to help my father overcome his addiction, it never was a success. Instead she focused on things that she could control. She could control our happiness and our values. She made sure that we always had food to eat, clothes to wear, a home to live, and that education was our number one priority.  
I attended Arizona State University and received a Bachelor degree in Education while my mom stood by my side fully supporting my educational endeavors. I too have a passion for learning and have decided to further pursue my studies. I currently teach sixth grade in Yuma, Arizona. My students face challenges and obstacles in life similar to what my family and I faced growing up. I understand where they are coming from and the emotional pain some are currently facing. With my students, I emphasize the importance of focusing on the things that they can control. I have served as their counselor more than their teacher, but I know that one must first overcome their emotional challenges before they face academic challenges.
Yuma, specifically the area in which the elementary school I teach at is located, is a 5-mile drive from the Mexican border. Most of my students’ parents are unable to cross the border into the United States, but they have decided to sacrifice seeing their children often and send them to school in the United States. They live with other family members such as a grandma, aunt, family friends, etc. This burden is one that often interferes with my students’ ability to learn. They miss their parents and sometimes see them on weekends but others will not see them until a vacation comes up. I constantly tell my students that this is something that they cannot control. They are minors and their parents have reasons for making the decisions that they make and that although they might not understand these reasons now, eventually they will.
In my opinion, education, politically speaking, is an area where we have minimal control. We have endless high-stakes tests that measure solely academics and never once consider the negative, or positive, uncontrollable factors that play a role in our students’ results. Our students are given labels as a result of these scores. This country doesn’t look at our students’ starting and ending point, which is their growth. They focus on the end score period. In my own classroom, however, I have full control education. I focus on building a positive environment where my students will feel successful and protected.
Most of my students do not have a mother at home like mine. They do not have a mother who will encourage them to keeping going and to only focus on the things they can control. They do not have a mother who repeatedly tells them that they are loved. They do not have a mother who instills the importance of education in them. I am ‘my mother’ to my students. When my students are promoted to seventh grade, if they can take away from sixth grade to always focus only on the things that they can control, I’m sure that they will become success individuals. 

Personal Development

Gelila Kassaye

My name is Gelila Kassaye  and I am a very grateful person. I am extremely thankful for simply being able to breath, walk, talk…thankful for being alive. Not because I have had a near death experience, but because through all the 18 years I have spent on this earth, I have realized that life is too short for us to be anything but thankful and happy. Because I know how it feels to be constantly sad, I value happiness. Because I know what almost not having what you extremely wish for feels like, I appreciate and am grateful for what I do have.
 Just like a lot of people, I was bullied growing up. That had taken a real blow to my self-esteem and confidence. And so, even though the bullying stopped when I entered 7th grade, I never felt good enough, I always doubted myself and I developed social anxiety. High school was a night mare for me. I was not bullied or anything, it was just the time in my life where I didn’t know where I fit, and I was simply a wreck inside. I felt trapped,  One thing I did know was that I didn’t want my future to be like that. I also knew that I had the power to alter who I’ll become in the future so I concentrated on my school. I put all of my energy in to my education and every time I would almost slack, I would envision my future self living a miserable life, pursuing a career I never wanted, and , most importantly, hating who I am because of that. I got my act together and started planning my career.  I decided that I want to pursue petroleum Engineering. That is not a field taught in my country Ethiopia, so I knew pursuing that career field would require me to study abroad. I chose to study in the United States of America because it has a great reputation for hands on education, which is very important in my field, and it’s relatively affordable. However, my family was strongly against my idea. Ethiopia is a third world country where what is considered middle class there is thought as poor here in the United States. By Ethiopia’s standard, my family is between poor and middle class. So my family was more than reluctant to send me to the states to pursue my education. I, however, knew that my education was my only hope. I knew for a fact that if I got the opportunity, I would help my family for as long as I live by being the best in my field. So convincing my parents that pursuing my career abroad is not an option but a must had not been easy task.
Because I focused on what I can control, I now can say that I am happy and can see myself even happier down the road. I have learned several lessons and have become so much mature now because of my bump. I don’t want to call it a hardship because I know there are several worse things in life and mine is insignificant in comparison. And that’s what makes me grateful. However, it’s something I overcame by myself and I am proud of myself for that. 

The Power of Positive Thinking

Daisy Garay
ASU

Being bombarded with challenges in life can create a negative impact on one’s mindset, or in this case, mine. There are many people that try their hardest to make ends meet. I am one of these humans and up until recently I realized that the power of positive thinking can make my struggles all the more, better. Being born into a family with an abusive father with a horrible drinking habit, my opinions of life and males, in particular, weren’t always positive. I was never truly happy because of my family’s situation. Instead of going uphill, our circumstances seemed to keep going downhill. Because of the constant bickering of my parents and being financially unstable, I put little to no effort in school. Although, I was exceptional in my studies, I could have accomplished so much more. With my negativity holding me back, I was always putting up a front and never allowed myself to be optimistic and to look forward to later opportunities in life. My mother, the one who has suffered the most, was the opposite of me despite our identical appearances. No matter how difficult the situation was at home, she went to work every single day to make ends meet for my three older brothers and I. Nothing stopped her from giving her children a roof over their heads and food, even if it wasn’t much, on the dinner table. Once I was of age to attain a part time job, I applied any and everywhere as soon as possible. I didn’t want to be a burden to my mother any longer. I wanted to be independent enough to be able to help her with payments or whatever else needed. I was already in my junior year in high school when I had become a cashier at Sears. I ended up working part-time, although it felt as if it were full-time. Even though I could financially support myself for school and my mother, I was becoming weary working long hour shifts, only to get back home to start and finish homework. There were some days where I just could not handle much more and would break down from all the stress of school, work and the same family problems that didn’t seem to go away. However, I realized that my mother had been putting up with this pain and more for years, if she could get through it, so could I. Any time that I felt that I just couldn’t carry on any longer, I reminded myself that the day after was a brand-new day. Not only that, I mouthed a quote to myself, “Everyday may not be good, but there is something good in every day” to remain calm and continue on with my day. With each upcoming year in high school, I gradually started to look forward to new things. Without noticing, I was becoming happy. I had a job, I was going to school, getting involved in clubs, participating in community service and actually being of use to my mother. I was doing things that I would have never imagined, such as being Vice President of Community Service for Future Business Leaders of America. I didn’t know it then, but what was motivating me and affecting my mindset was indeed the power of positive thinking. I admit I didn’t really have a healthy way of thinking growing up, but as I matured and accepted that sometimes life doesn’t go as you’d wish, I realized that the most important thing to do is to not let life knock you down. Having a positive way of thinking allowed me to try my hardest and give it my all in order to succeed and most importantly, learn to become happy. It wasn’t until the end of my senior year of high school that my mother decided to divorce my father. Finally, it seemed that our family situation had started to stabilize. It’s amazing how being optimistic can hold one up. While trying to apply to a variety of universities and searching for ways to pay for college, my family was going through a divorce. I say family, because although I never truly had an appropriate father figure in my life, he gave me life as he did to my siblings. Not only my parents were affected by this divorce, so were my brothers and I. The heartache was shared between us all. It wasn’t a smooth divorce either, however we all got through it because we all wanted the same thing. We were all exhausted of the fighting, the arguing, and the tears. Looking at the bright side of all our baggage, we all became strong and learned that by being positive, days become brighter and our lives suddenly don’t seem as gloomy as a rainy day. I may have been named by my father, but it is because of my mother that I am proudly able to say, my name is Daisy Garay and I am more optimistic than ever. Especially to see what the future has in store for me.

Focusing on Things You Can Control

Lianne Ortiz

Sitting on an old brown leather couch waiting for the psychologist to come back, I thought of the millions of reasons why my son being diagnosed with Autism was unfair. Why him, and why me? I was mad at the psychologist for diagnosing him, mad at myself for not being a good enough mother, and mad at whoever chose this cold leather couch that wouldn’t let my tears sink in the fabric. Instead, my tears pooled there in droplets making them stand out even more making them harder to ignore. I had let my insecure thoughts delay taking him to get diagnosed in the first place and didn’t want to hear the truth. I did not want the fact that my son was Autistic to be confirmed and be true, because then I wouldn’t be able to go back to my denial, and back to a place where if it wasn’t confirmed, then maybe, just maybe it wouldn’t be true. I had let my feelings dictate my actions for far too long and blamed everyone and everything for our struggles. Sometimes it is easier to be naive and simply pretend things aren’t as bad as they are, or convince yourself that the world is unfair and life will tear you down no matter what you do. I always felt helpless and hopeless whenever life would throw some obstacle at me and it was easy to play the victim and blame others for my hardships. But, in the moment that I left the psychologist’s office, I decided that I was not going to be a victim anymore. I decided to focus on the things I could take control of and for the first time, felt truly empowered.
I had finally received a diagnosis for my sweet boy and it was hard, I’m not going to lie. I knew that no matter what I felt, I could not change the fact that he had Autism. But, what I did realize was that I did have the power to accept it, and to accept him. I had the power to be his advocate and make sure that his every need could be met. I sat in the parking lot of the psychologist’s office and knew that I may be young, but I was going to do everything I could to help my boy in any way I could, and took control. There was going to be no pity party, and no mourning. My boy was still just as amazing, and I still loved him with my entire being. Nothing had changed but my attitude. Now, I had the knowledge of what was going on with him-giving me the opportunity to help him. I began working with children with Autism and was lucky enough to be given workshops and training on how to help individuals with Autism developmentally so they could catch up to their peers of the same age. I soaked up as much as I could, and did everything I could to learn as much about Autism and effective strategies to help those with the disorder. I took control at home the best I could by creating therapies mimicking programming I had seen to give my son a leg up while we waited on waiting lists to get him enrolled in his own professional therapy sessions. I quickly learned that working and trying to be there for my son were conflicting so I quit my job to care for him full-time. It was hard getting him the help he needed, and dealing with his problem behaviors such as biting and hitting was physically and emotionally difficult. I could not change some of these behaviors because I just did not have the expertise, so I focused on what I could do which was finding an agency that specialized in behavior intervention as well as help with developmental deficits. I spent hours every day calling different therapy centers trying to get my son off waiting lists and to visit centers providing early intervention programming. I spent every day on the phone with insurance agencies trying to find exactly what would be the best fit for my son, and with persistence, we were called for him to be assessed to get him the therapy he needed.
It sounds selfish, but in helping my son, it made me a better person and was a life changing experience for myself. I was proud of the assertive person I was becoming, and I didn’t let things that were out of my hands control me or my feelings. I could have dwelled on the fact that I could not cure his Autism, but instead realized the importance of focusing on only the things I could control. I finally felt like I had the power, and if I wanted something to happen, then I was the only one who could create those changes. My son went into early intervention programming as a non-verbal two year old with severe developmental deficits such as not being able to hold eye contact, and not being able to express emotion. He now just turned four and got moved out of his Autism classroom into a regular preschool class. He now looks me in the eye and tells me he loves me every day and that alone made my decision to focus on the things that I can control the best decision I have ever made.  

Personal Development

Tyree Furman

I chose to attend to University of New Haven because I wanted to prove not only to my family, but to myself that I can persevere through the collegiate curriculum and earn my degree while living far from my home in New York City.
When I was younger, I was diagnosed with multiple mental disorders that hindered my learning ability while I was at school. I used to get doubted by my peers and my teachers that I wouldn’t be able to maintain at least a “C” average and that I would be better off dropping out of school. Nobody expected that I would graduate from Mount Saint Michael Academy as a member of the National Honor Society and more importantly heading to school out in Connecticut.
My mom is the only person who supports me financially. Currently, she is unemployed; she has been for a while now. This scholarship will alleviate some financial burdens that she experiences on a regular basis.
In addition, I feel like I deserve this scholarship because I am an extremely dedicated student. My mom has thought me the values of hard work and commitment. I could have easily allowed the words of my peers distract me from achieving good grades, but she made sure that I was always concentrating on my goals of being academically successful. That’s why I’m the student that I am today. I spend the extra time I have completing and reviewing my work with the help of tutoring ever since I was in elementary school. There is even a tutoring program in my university that I visit almost every day of the week; working to make sure that my assignments are perfect. If I continue working to the extra mile, I’ll be able to accomplish task that I am faced with. That’s one way the Law of Attraction has impacted my life. Instead of focusing on the negative that surrounds me in the present, I look forward toward the positive that’s in my future.
I became a better student by bringing my competitive nature from sports into the classroom. After the doctors diagnosed me with multiple mental disorders during kindergarten, I had specialists prescribing medications. The amount of medications that I was prescribed to overwhelmed me. I refused to take them. I wanted to overcome my problems on my own, naturally. My mom noticed that I had a lot of energy and put me in sports, believing that it would help me excel. She was correct. Sports was able helped me academically, and once I realized that I could rise to the challenge, I started to push myself constantly to earn better results in my school work and in my exams by bring my competitive nature into the classroom.
I’m currently majoring in Communication with a focus of TV and Film. I working to achieve a Bachelor’s Degree and become a broadcaster for a big network like ESPN or FOX Sports 1. Growing up, I’ve always indulged myself in anything sports related. I was highly entertained by the broadcasters like Chris Berman, Lee Corso, and the late, great, Stuart Scott. The way they presented the game with their catch phrases, observations, and analysis made watching sports memorable. Their passion for broadcasting resembled how much I appreciate sports. These men brought passion and intensity to their broadcasts and it influenced me work on my speaking skills and follow in their footsteps.
I’m also a person who likes to share my gratitude by giving back to my community. I use to be a member of the NYPD (New York Police Department) Explorers program. This program focuses on volunteering and community service. Every meeting there is a different assignment, whether it’s team-building activities, reading to senior citizens, or tutoring under privileged children. This program had really helped build my confidence and self-esteem. Being in the Explorers program gave me a sense of pride. It still makes me feel like the leader I’ve always strived to be. The people in the program acknowledged my good deeds and hard work. I’ve never been credited for up until that point. It made me proud of who I am. As a victim of bullying, so I know first-hand that young people need to feel protected and safe, this program did that for me. Aside from my mom, I had no one else to run to about my problems; so helping others in their time of need makes me feel like a guardian angel for my community. I still strive to have the same impact on my campus with my positive attitude, just how I impacted my community while I was a NYPD Explorer.
All of the principals have a big impact on my life academically, socially, and personally. It shaped me into a mature student whose focused on being helpful towards my community and successful in the classroom.

An Attitude of Gratitude

Ken Ma 

My head was spinning, my eyes were wincing, and my tongue was filled with the taste of my own sweat. The wind was pushing me back; my chest was aching from the effort. During my first year on the track team, this was how I felt at every practice and race. Two years ago, running was very painful, and even a jog felt as though it would kill me. I would end up in last place for all the races, which did not make me very popular among my teammates. Even so, I kept going without looking back or quitting. 

After my first track season, I had focused on things I could control. During the summer, I decided to train independently to improve my endurance and speed. I was working at a youth center that summer, so I had little time to run on the weekdays. Weekends were training days though. I slowly noticed that I was not getting exhausted and winded from running. I observed an uptick in my speed. When cross-country started, I was disappointed. Even though I felt that I was a much stronger runner than before, I was still the slowest and weakest runner on the team. At the first race of the season, I ended up in last place. I did not give up though—this summer showed me that being a good runner was about putting in the time and effort. I continued to attend practices and gave my best effort at all of the races. At the last race of the season, I placed ninth.

My running illustrates the power of the mind and persistence.  I believe that I can accomplish anything that I put my mind to—whether it be in my hobbies and extracurricular pursuits, my education, or my career. I decided, during my high school freshman year, that I wanted to become an engineer. Math and science were my favorite subjects in high school. Additionally, I loved solving problems, such as my problem with running when I first joined the track team. To learn more about the engineering field, I reached out to some engineers in the Boston area to learn more about the engineering field. I learned that the path to becoming an engineer is difficult—lots of difficult classes and internships. The engineers I spoke to encouraged me to sign up for business classes because it would make me more marketable later on in the job market.  Despite the warnings that the path to becoming an engineer will be difficult, I am now entering my freshman year at Northeastern University in the engineering department. I have taken the experienced engineers’ business advice to heart by obtaining an internship at the State Street Bank this summer.

My primary goal in attending college is to realize my dream of becoming an engineer. After my decision to pursue engineering, I reached out to engineers in the Boston area to learn more about the engineering field. The engineers advised me to keep networking with other engineers and companies while in college. They also encouraged me to take business classes because it would make me more marketable in the job market. I have taken the experienced engineers’ business advice interning at the State Street Bank this summer. I am registered for both engineering and business classes at Northeastern University. I am particularly drawn to Northeastern’s emphasis on co-ops and internships, so that I can learn about different engineering companies. I also hope to study another language, such as German, and study abroad in Germany to be able to meet engineers and companies in Germany.

I am excited to pursue engineering and business classes at Northeastern and meet other like-minded individuals. I am particularly drawn to Northeastern’s emphasis on co-ops and internships, so that I can learn about different engineering companies. I also hope to study another language, such as German, and study abroad in Germany to be able to meet engineers and engineering companies in Germany.

To me, no path is too difficult. Skills are obtained by patiently training. I am not a natural runner? There is no such thing as a natural runner, I say. With some time and effort, I can make it happen. Engineering is too difficult? I am determined to be successful at Northeastern University and in my engineering career.

An Attitude of Gratitude

Stacey Sheffield, RN

On April 14th of this year, my life was forever changed.  I had a stroke that robbed me of the sight in my right eye and the ability to drive my vehicle.  After finishing my rehabilitation, I was told by my specialists that I would not have survived my stroke if I were my previous morbidly obese weight. I began my health change 3 years ago and have maintained my healthy weight for 2 years.  I am proud to say that my 125 lb. weight loss helped save my life!  It was that day that changed my attitude on life too.  I wanted my children to know that just because I now had a disability did not mean that it had to limit what I could do in life.  I just needed to learn a new pathway to help me obtain my dream!  

Having an Attitude of Gratitude is the most important one in my life.  One must make gratitude a habit in our day-to-day life in order for us to truly understand the full meaning of it. Having gratitude towards others helps me to focus on the blessings that I have in my life versus what I feel like I may be lacking at the time.  It helps me stay focused on the positives in my life and not the negative loss of my eyesight or the setbacks that being suddenly blind in one eye may have caused. It helps me stay excited about being socially engaged and being around others with a passion to learn how I can serve them.  Having an attitude of gratitude has helped me work thru the negative and traumatic experience of having a stroke at my age, wondering if I’ll ever be able to take care of my children without help. The answer is “Yes!”, because I’ve chosen to be grateful and share my attitude of gratitude with others.  “Focusing on what we have and what’s going well isn’t always easy. But, sometimes the key to getting through distress and misfortune is to find value amidst the chaos” (Wilner, 2011) In the middle of my chaos, I needed to be grateful rather than focusing on the “what if’s” that kept trying to creep into my mind and make my future seem very bleak. I chose to make my heart focus on the people that came out of the woodwork to care for my every need and to serve my family when they needed it most. By making an attitude of gratitude a daily habit in my life, I instantly saw the impact it had on my overall level of positivity.  

The power of positive thinking can be huge in anyone’s life that chooses to embrace it.  Our thoughts have incredible power over our actions.  If we allow a negative thought to take hold in our mind, it will control what we think of ourselves and rob us of our happiness. I use my imagination to visualize only favorable and beneficial situations in my recovery. I dreamed of the moment when I would be able to walk up our stairs to snuggle with my children in their beds for the first time since my stroke.  I’m still focused on the first time that I’ll be able to drive my children to school again.  Or, how about the day that I get to put on my cap and gown to cross the stage for the first time to be handed my diploma and offered my first job as a Nurse Practitioner?  These visualizations are what keep me focused on the prize at the end of the day.

I believe that we truly have to make all four of the categories you asked us to write about part of our daily living in order to achieve personal success. I selected the top two that have affected me the most but could easily have gone over board talking about the remaining. I personally have chosen to make lemonade out of the lemons that were handed to me on April 14th when I had my stroke.  I may have lost my eyesight in my right eye, but it truly changed the vision I had for life. I’ve chosen for this potentially negative experience to be turned around into an opportunity to serve and support others. I am now passionate about becoming a nurse practitioner that specializes in helping my patients achieve their optimum health and maintain wellness. I think too many of our patient population live in the unhealthy zone and struggle to find support. Thanks to my life challenge, my passion to serve others is now ignited with a new fire that can never be put out! 

Sources:
Wilner, J. (2011, March 2). How to Have an Attitude of Gratitude. Retrieved August 30, 2015, from http://blogs.psychcentral.com/positive-psychology/2011/03/how-to-have-an-attitude-of-gratitude/
 

The power of the human spirit

Sumia Basunia
Georgia Institute of Technology

A breeze lifts my headscarf as gushing water thrust upon the rocks below. Looking far into the distance, water appears a shade of blue. Flowing closer and closer, the water turns to shade of green, but as it falls down to the rocks below, nothing but white, pure white. A mist the fog, a faint yet distinct rainbow appears. Loud clashes of water bombard my ears, yet I stand staring as if frozen in time. Niagara falls. “It’s beautiful.” says my cousin. “Yes, it is.” agrees my aunt. The scene described above requires a number of faculties to understand and comprehend. To begin, it requires the faculty of sight. For a person’s sight to be functioning properly, the various parts of the eye have to work in unison to be able to transfer visual information to the retina. From the retina, the information will travel to the primary visual cortex where visual information is processed. Also, it requires the faculty of hearing. For a person’s hearing to be functioning properly, the air vibrations must cause the mechanical vibration of the bones in the ear. The mechanical vibrations will in turn cause movement of the fluid in the cochlea. From the cochlea, the information will travel to the Heschl’s gyrus where the auditory information will be processed. These are only a few of the properly functioning faculties needed to experience this one moment in my life. How can I not have the attitude of gratitude?

Currently, I am a senior at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta pursing Bachelors in Biology. The more I became grateful for the opportunity to study at a prestigious institution, the more I appreciated the courses I was taking. I have come to appreciate biology as an interdisciplinary field that encompasses not only the energy interactions within our biosphere, but also the microscopic cells within the human body.  

Coming to college, however, I struggled adjusting to my new environment. Creating a friend base and joining organizations on campus took priority over my education. In a sense, it became my escape from the reality of my grades and my lack of participation in classes. As I began to mature, I realized that if I truly wanted to make an impact on the world, I would first have to change myself. As Rumi once said “Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself”. I would have to take responsibility for my past and be grateful for my present. On this journey of change, of self-actualization, I am striving to use my past as a source of strength, not as a source of weakness. As Roosevelt once said “…his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat”. My main motivation is that I want to look back, in retrospect and with integrity, say that “I was truly grateful”.

As my junior year began, with much reflection and enthusiasm, I was excited to start anew. The attitude of gratitude was instrumental in driving my new perception on life into action. Gratitude truly taught me the importance of hard work because if I wanted to consider myself as a grateful person, then I would have to be grateful for my time, my intellectual ability and my physical faculties to mention a few.  I started actively participating in lectures, and recording them to truly absorb and retain the material. Going to office hours allowed me to further investigate interesting topics and really engage myself with the material. This hard work ignited in me a passion for neuroscience. My interest in Human Neuroanatomy became the catalyst for me to begin research. In my junior year, I was privileged to conduct undergraduate research in the Cognitive Motor Laboratory at Georgia Tech. More often than not, I am bewildered by the intricacy and organization of the brain. I am so grateful for the undergraduate research experience because it has exposed me to not only various fields of research, but has also given me a newfound respect for academia.

Also during my undergraduate experience, I interned for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. UNICEF, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, is an IGO that caters to the humanitarian needs of children in the developing world. My internship exponentially expanded my level of awareness to the plight of children in developing world. With this newfound awareness, came immense gratitude. I became grateful to have grown up in a suburban neighborhood playing outside in the cul-de-sac in front of my house. I became grateful for the Halloween-themed movies on Disney Channel in October, and the Tarzan game on my brother’s PC. Simply put, I became grateful for my care-free childhood.

My experiences at Georgia Tech have taught me the power of human spirit, its ability to grow and progress. The two experiences at Georgia Tech that have forever impacted the trajectory of my career are my research experience and my internship. I have decided to pursue a career in medicine with the goal of joining Doctors Without Borders or DWB. I was able to delineate between what I sincerely enjoy and love from what I was simply satisfied doing.  For that, I am truly grateful.

What I could control

Carol Field

Do you remember falling in love for the first time? Do you remember lying awake thinking about them,  half waiting, half running through the hours until you could spend more time together? Do you remember the day your fairytale came crashing down? I remember.

    I remember the flyer, “COMPANY AUDITIONS” in Broadway font, and the hours I spent on my porch, practicing pirouettes until the concrete burned my skin through the fabric of my ballet shoes.  More than anything, I wanted to be a part of that elite group, the company.

At auditions, Kim read off each skill as four teachers watched silently, scribbling judgments on a rubric.

    “Double Stags,” Kim read, and I panicked, not knowing what a stag was. Timidly, I raised my hand, and she obligingly demonstrated before letting us practice.  Although I’m sure mine were a rather poor imitation, a week later I found myself dancing ten hours each week, sweating through summer afternoons in the garage that was our studio, fighting playfully with my classmates for the tiny space by the fan between piques across the floor.  The exhilaration of mastering new skills, the camaraderie in the tiny company, even the long days and constant soreness made up my favorite part of summer; I was in love.

    I remember when they announced that the studio was closing, and the morose silence during that infinite, final ride home.  Despite innumerable hours spent searching for a studio we could afford, I found myself the lovelorn girl whose beloved had fled.  Although there was nothing I could have done to save my studio, I did not give up so easily-I loved dance, and I would find a way.  I knew what I could not control; I just needed to find something I could.

    I remember seeing the cheerleader’s pep rally routine, and finding my answer.  By April, I had rebounded from my breakup, and was practicing with my new teammates, the only three from last year’s team to return.  We travelled to camp, and experience that proved a curiously harmonious mix between fun and frustration.  After camp, several more girls joined us, and we began learning our competition routine.  It would never be dance, but I enjoyed it anyway.  
    I remember sitting in a circle in room 108 as my teammates condemned our coach to the athletic director.  Finalizing the decision to fire her, Mrs. Oitzman offered us the chance to cheer for basketball under a supervisor.  An overwhelming majority had no interest in finishing the season.  Again, my love had been torn from me, and I felt helpless-I could not change their minds, I could not unsay their words, and I knew I could never afford to cheer at a gym. Toward the end of the year, and interest sheet was posted to determine whether they would hire a new coach.  Spurred on by this glimmer of hope, I set about attempting to persuade every eligible female-experienced or not-to join this future team.  Finally, I was able to do something.  Despite my relentless recruiting attempts, the list remained mostly empty; there would not be a team.  I had failed.

    Still, I had to dance.  After much deliberation, I compromised with my mother.  Though I could not devote every second of spare time to dance, maybe I could take one or two classes.

I remember telling my best friend that I was thinking of taking two classes at her studio, and before I knew it, she had convinced me to audition for show choir.  I applied to be an intern, the only way I could ever hope to afford the classes I would need.  Even when I was not selected as an intern, I still joined show choir, thinking we would figure out a way to pay.  I ran headlong back into the arms of my beloved, even if for only four hours a week.  Still, I cherished every minute.

    I remember breaking down in rehearsal when I failed my part test, and when I could not stop, Rachel asked me what else was going on, and between sobs, I divulged that not only had one of my best friends moved to Illinois that day, but I had also just found out that could not stay in Showstoppers, as it was too expensive.  Again, it felt like there was nothing I could do.

            I had tried, and tried, and every attempt had been met with seemingly insurmountable obstacles.  Still, I had never stopped looking for another way.  Just because I had been shoved out onto the street and had a door slammed in my face did not mean I could not pry another one open.

    I remember sitting in room 108 again, the school had hired a new coach, and I snapped at the opportunity.  I gave all of the energy that I had devoted to finding an outlet for my passion into the team.  What followed was an amazing season, and as we got off the bus from Basketball State Championships, I was already anxious for next season.  Squealing with my teammates in joy at each new hair bow, hugging my stunt group in celebration when our pyramid went up, and watching the team improve made me realize how much I love cheer.

I will always remember my first love, but in the end, it was the rebound I fell for, and I am not sure I’d want it any other way.

Living is not only about mentally willing something, but willfully doing it

Elisabeth Parroquin

Slumped over my laptop, here I sit in the dark corner of the Chicory Cafe. All the while willing my fingers to fly across the keys as I write an essay on the law of attraction. An idea that I had heard of before, but never had an official name to it. The law of attraction can be described as your attitudes (positive or negative) having an impact on life outcomes, due to an energetic magnetism between similar energies. So here I am, typing away while trying to radiate the energy and desire to win this scholarship; hoping that the universe (or the people reading this) pick up on those energy waves to fulfill this definition of the law of attraction and how I live it. However, I believe that to be an extremist definition, and really everyone who is submitting an essay is in some way willing for Achieve Today to grant them the much needed cash. So how does the universe decide who deserves this money according to this law? I cannot pretend to have an answer, so instead I must argue that there is more to it than two beings creating a magnetic relationship.  

In a sense, it is true that the state of mind that you carry on a daily basis attracts similar states of being from your surroundings. If I were to have a negative outlook on life, it would appear to me that bad things always happen to me. Now whether or not that is because I attract similar energies as stated by the law of attraction, or because of the self-fulfilling prophecy in that I consciously or subconsciously find trouble, my state of mind has a significant impact on the actions I take, and how I interpret the results. In other words, if I am bent on thinking negatively, I will analyze anything and everything negatively. Unfortunately, I am very familiar with this counterproductive way of living.  

One example: I spent most of last year believing that my friendship with a close friend was not going to last. Many of the actions I took and things I said actually caused this fear to become a reality, and I was miserable for a long time. According to the law of attraction, my negative energy attracted a negative result. What this theory lacks however, is the process between the initial state of being and the resulting consequences. My attitude influenced my actions, which in turn generated a specific outcome. I must say, I have generally been doing much better since, and my thoughts progressively become less burdened. Which now brings my journey to the present, and keeping the entire “process” of the law of attraction in mind, changes in my attitude have led to positive, tangible changes in my life. 

I used to be afraid, a prisoner to my thoughts. I still may dwell on some things from time to time, but I can honestly say that I feel more free as I am learning to avoid cynical thinking. Now, I feel that I not only externally portray an independent young woman, but I internally embrace a positive way of being. When I find myself dwelling on something that I cannot change or resolve at the moment or even within the near future, I notice tension specifically in my facial muscles. When I choose to relax, un-furrowing my brow and unclenching my jaw, I immediately experience a change in my attitude. It has been discovered that one’s facial expressions actually can influence his/her emotions/attitudes. So if I choose to smile more or in this case, relax my face, it can directly influence my body chemistry to help me be more positive. I have come to incorporate meditative practices into my life, and thoroughly enjoy exercises that clear my mind to focus on grounding myself physically. For example, savasana in yoga where you lie flat on your back, palms up is one of my favorites. I do not fall asleep, but instead, mentally sink into the ground, remaining transcendently relaxed while still maintaining alertness. My favorite way of embodying a positive cocoon of being without stress, is through physical relaxation incorporating breathing techniques.  

I am learning to let go of what is retrospectively unimportant. I know that my well-being is ultimately more important than any goal or obstacle. And my ability to liberate myself from pessimistic judgement these past months has allowed me to be a more confident, independent, and open-minded person. Six months ago I would never have traveled to Chicago for the Blues Festival by myself and stayed at a stranger’s house. I went because I wanted to swing dance (a passion I have picked up since starting college). Six months ago, I never would have been okay with the idea of studying abroad in Europe without any connections. I hope to go my senior year, and whether I have someone to go with me or not, I intend to visit as many places as I can afford while studying there. 

I am excited about my future, and the older I get, the more driven I am to make those dreams happen. Which brings me back to the law of attraction, and what I perceive it to be. What I am currently willing for this upcoming year includes good grades, fun friends, and managing money. What I “will” shall influence my decisions that will ultimately impact how my year goes. In this way, the law of attraction, the type of energy and determination that I epitomize, will show a concurring effect. For example, if I am determined to get good grades, then I will work hard, which will grant me that “A”. Living is not only about mentally willing something, but willfully doing it. And it is in this determination that I live with the law of attraction in mind. I have goals and dreams, and I am determined to make them happen. And so, through willful thinking, my thoughts will turn into actions, which will eventually implement the desired outcome.

Being angry

Amina Mazhar

For the majority of my life, I’ve felt as if my parents constricted me. They prevented me from experiencing what most people would as they’re growing up. In their minds, they were protecting me from a demonized world. They didn’t want me socializing and thus absorbing the unholy ideas and actions in today’s society. This made me angry. I had no control over my life. Their grip on me slightly budged as I got older, but was still present despite the fact that I was an adult and deserved my freedom. My anger was building up, and I could no longer control it. Any small annoyance would make me boil inside. I always looked annoyed and frustrated.

I would constantly listen to people tell me that I looked mad, and that I was being being rude. However, I never really viewed my anger as a problem like everyone around me did. I just thought it was normal to be angry, especially at people who annoyed me. I’m not sure when the time came that I realized I had anger management issues and wasn’t being a reasonable person; I just knew I needed to make a change. The first thing that I did was Google why I was angry all of the time. Scrolling through the pages that popped up under the server eventually led me to an article that stated; the first step to controlling anger is to determine its source. I thought long and hard as to what the source of the anger was. I organized the times and places that I usually became angry, and the times I would have my happiest moments. I realized I was usually mad at home, when I was around my family. This disturbed me. Family should be the one safe haven where I can relieve my stress and talk about my problems. I realized that the things my parents or siblings sometimes said would annoy me to a point where my head would throb with anger. But they were small things, which in reality shouldn’t be an issue. I wondered why my anger was uncontrollable at home but could be controlled around other people who I knew also said and did things that annoyed me. The only reason could be that I lacked control around my parents. They constricted me when I was at home, which in turn would drive my anger.

I thought about the amount of self-control it would take to fix my anger problems. I really needed to start taking deep breaths and thinking twice before I said something hurtful or made a face to portray my annoyance. I had to think about how useless my anger was, and that it was better to fake it till I make it. Smiling and hiding my anger would eventually push it away, because it was pointless anger. Having my parents control my life was not the end of the world. It was their way of portraying their love for me, and the only way they knew to protect me. They didn’t know any better. It wasn’t their fault I was angry. It was my own fault. I was the one who wasn’t doing the right thing by respecting my parents and controlling the things in my life that I could control. Why let anger run my life? Why not focus on smiling and laughing more? This would not only make me happier, but it would make people happier to be around me. I didn’t want to be an annoyance to the people surrounding me, and I didn’t want to bring other people down for no reason.

Controlling my anger has also allowed me to control other aspects of my life.  Anger is something that people find a lot of difficulty controlling. It’s a pretty personal issue. You have to search for strategies to control anger in different situations that work specifically for you. This requires some experimenting, and thus patience. All of that anger isn’t going to dissipate at once, especially if it stems from your family, who are always around you. Gaining the ability to be patient and learning to control controllable problems has really helped me grow into a more organized individual. Organization prevents my life from becoming chaotic. Chaos can cause frustration and thus add to my anger. It’s the little things that really allow me to keep my life and mind in the right state.

Writing this essay has allowed me to organize my thoughts and really understand how much I’ve grown in the last couple of years. At the age of 19, I’m beginning to find myself and come to terms with who I am. I’ve gained the ability to control my emotions, which has enhanced my abilities in dealing with issues and focusing on what really matters in life. There is now one less angry person on Earth, which makes all the difference.

What you can control could change the course of your life

Eriyana Truesdale
Spelman College

In life, there are many things over which we have no control. Steve Maraboli, author of “Life, the Truth, and Being Free”, once said, “incredible change happens in your life when you decide take control of what you do have power over instead of craving control over what you don’t”. There is a certain level of drive and motivation that comes with focusing on things you can control. When you focus on things you can control, it propels your life in a positive direction. This is true for the simple fact that focusing on what you cant control is a waste of time. For example, I can not control the cost of my tuition and the fact that I do not have nearly as much money to pay it. If I chose to focus on that aspect, I probably would not be in school right now, or worse, I would not have even applied. However, what I can control is the amount of scholarships I apply for to improve my chances of fulfilling my goal of graduating college.

I grew up in a single parent household, where my mother was responsible for everything. She had me at a very young age but was determined to give me a better life than she had. She couldn’t change the fact that she was pregnant but she could dictate the type of life I would have.  Even though my father was not an intricate part of my childhood, the time I did spend with him was precious. He was killed in a tragic car accident that changed my life forever. Now, growing up without a father is a statistic that has been proven to negatively affect the trajectory of a child’s life. Many people tend to take the fact that they did not have a father and use it as an excuse for their failures. However, there is something powerful that happens when a person chooses to look past the lack of a father. Personally, I chose to use the lack of a father figure as motivation not to become a statistic. I chose to focus on what I do have and make sure that in the future my children will not have the same situations.

There are tons of experiences where looking at what you can control could change the course of your life.  Similarly, my life is a personal display of the importance of this specific life principle and how it has made a positive impact on my life. It is inevitable that obstacles will come. Whether it be overcoming the loss and abandonment of my father, lack of money for school, or whatever obstacles I have faced, it is the solution that has always helped me deal with it. With that being said, it is what you choose to do about them and how you respond, that makes the difference.

Hop(m)eless

Jenessia Cort

10 O'clock. 10:30. 12am. 2am. 6am.These was the times my brother was nowhere to be found. I love my brother. My head was spinning under these bitter cold sheets, thinking…Is he dead? Why hasn’t he come home? Where is he ? Is he hungry?  I felt as if my left was crashing down like two airplanes colliding into each other .I was worried with pain. My brother Deonandre was missing. Although this brought stress to my family and I, I’ve learned  life will consist of hard times, but the key is not to let bring you down. At a young age I had to have determination, perseverance and most importantly being strong minded /purposeful.

In 2011 my brother went to school on a regular typical day. Never would I think he would run away from home and not come back until in the morning. I remember the cops questioning me asking, would there be anything causing him not to come home? Could I ask anyone who has last seen him? Is my mom a good mother? That night couldn’t sleep because I didn’t know what I would do , if I lost my brother. And at that time I lost my grandfather. Tears flowed through my eyes.My head was pounding , I felt so stressed out . My mother  would come home and not say a word to my siblings and I. Everything in my life shifted at that moment. At a very young age I took up responsibilities that I was fit or ready for but I had no choice. I became a second mom for my little sister. Nigh, days, and months  would go by and things weren’t getting any better .

When he came to the door that morning. Many answers I wanted from but he wouldn’t tell me nor nobody in my family. Sooner or later , Social workers detectives and police always would show up at my house.  My brother Deonandre would start not coming home, disrespecting his teachers, attacking them, and fighting my mother. He claimed he doesn’t like the way the teachers treat him and the abuse my mother was putting him through. He was “stressed”. He was always sent to the psychiatric ward  to find out he had ODD & ADD. His actions were affecting me and remember going to school with all these things happening at home and crying saying I just want everything to be normal.

Many nights I went to visit him at the psychartic ward  and saw the way things were in that ward. It was sad saying goodbye leaving wishing he was home with us. I didn’t believe he had a mental illness. But the things that were happening in those 2-3 crazy years  have taught me that things will take time and learn how to get throughout things and not stop me. It’s the same thing I would do in college. Never let anyone stop me from working hard and getting a degree. Whether it be stressful times, I’ll work it out.

Gratitude

Amani Edwards

The first time it happened, I was in an assembly with my friends at school. Even though you weren't supposed to use cell phones in school, I found it weird that my mom was calling me, since she's an advocate of “Education first, technology later.” As I picked up, I heard a voice almost similar to a sergeant's, yelling, “Get out, get out right now! Don't touch anything, get out!”
            I remember yelling, “Mom! What's going on? Mom?!” My friends looked at me as if I were some sort of lunatic, but I didn't care. As wrong as it was, I ditched school and took a bus home. When I arrived, a sheriff was tossing our things out, along with some of the women that work in the office. The neighbors came out of their houses and stared in disbelief. I stood there washed over in embarrassment. But, my mom stood strong, even after recently having surgery, gathered up what she could, and loaded it onto the truck. It struck me as weird that they wouldn't let us inside to take our own things out. And later on, we realized they had stolen about sixty percent of our things.
            I learned in psychology that you can't move up to the next level of hierarchy if you don't have a place to live, eat, or sleep. And we were below the last level even there. In America, they tell you there's a lot of people that can help you. But, where was our help? Where was our Superman?
            Phone call after phone call, but these people were all the same; they were all redundant, feckless, and churlish. My mom was exhausted and constantly crying. It's hard to see someone as strong as steel break down every day in front of your eyes. It's even worse when you have little or no money and no family to take you in until you get back on your feet. But, we lived that life every day for a few months. We knew it was bad when we could smell ourselves sometimes. When we were starving and the growling of our stomachs became music that filled the car. When our hair looked wild, from lack of combing or brushing. We “showered” and brushed our teeth from random sinks. We changed into what little clothes we had. All three of us, my mom, sister, and I, slept scrunched up in the car. But, we never begged for anything from anybody. The only good thing we could have possibly had at this time were food stamps. But, those would run out eventually and we'd be hungry for days at a time.
            I became reckless, doing things I wasn’t supposed to and coming back late, but I never missed a day of school. School was this big fashion show, but I was only really there for the education.  I couldn't wait to graduate. Even better, I got selfish and couldn't wait to go to college to run away from the problems haunting me. Education was my key to getting out.
            One time, I overheard my mom crying for most of the day. And it was heartbreaking. She just didn't want to live this life anymore. I told her what she always tells me, “Hold your head up, have faith, and things will always get better.” That only made her cry harder, but it seems as if those words were only the beginning to our saving. My mom got a phone call. Someone was putting us up in a hotel for a few days. The hotel room even had a kitchen! Along with that were two gift cards from Publix to get food. Up until that point, our stomachs never growled as fiercely, yearning for cooked food that we could finally have. On that same day, my mom got a phone call, ABOUT A JOB! This one day of joy was the happiest we've ever been in our lives. Things were finally looking up...
            ...Until they started looking down again almost a year later. My mom lost her job and paying the rent became hard. We lost another home, yet again. This time, I had graduated from high school, got a job to help my mom out with the bills, and postponed my dream of going to college in the fall. This time hit me harder than a punch to the gut. There's nothing worse than feeling like you failed and disappointed your mom. None of us wanted to go back to that life we lived before, but we had no choice. Luckily, at least that's what we had thought, a friend of hers let us stay with him, since he was never there anyway. At first, we were more than grateful. Despite how disgusting the place was with roaches crawling around, we made it work. But after some time, we all began to realize that we needed to go. The man said sexual slurs to my mom and spoke to my sister and me as if he was high and mighty and we should approach him as a father figure. Last time I checked, my father walked out of my life more than twelve years ago.
            My mom sat me down one day and told me that I needed to go to college. I argued and refused saying that I needed to be there with them, but she remained calm and told me to make something of myself. It seemed as if I were her last hope. I quickly realized that I never want to live this way as I grow older and my biggest fear was to fail. That's when I got accepted into Florida Gulf Coast University for the spring of 2014.
            The day I left for school, my family was still homeless. Either bed hopping or sleeping in the car. I wished I could invite them into my little dorm. I felt selfish living in luxury compared to them and I was constantly worried. I called every day; I never missed a beat. I automatically knew that I would get through school and become something or someone so that I could do right by my family and myself.
            I was home for spring break when all the good in the world finally came rushing in. My mom found a place she loves and it was for them to stay for a long time. This time I was ecstatic to know that I had my own room for the first time in my nineteen to twenty years of life. I was even happier to find out she had two jobs and they'll finally be alright. My mom being full of alacrity is the greatest memory I could ever cherish. And I couldn't have been more proud.
      All of this makes me the person I am today. I could never understand how people could be so ungrateful. How could people be so fussbudgety and booboisie, when there's people in the world who have absolutely nothing? You have clothes on your back, a bed to sleep in, food in your fridge, and a clean bathroom to take care of your needs. So why take anything for granted? But, at some point, this was all that I was. I learned not to be ungrateful and to accept everything that I have, even if it isn't much. Watching my mom fight us out of this struggle taught me to never give up and to always have faith. Whenever I want to quit, I realize how strong I am, how strong I've been, and that I can keep going. The only thing I want in life is to succeed and with this life lesson in mind, I refuse to do any less than that.

Focusing on things you can control

Jasmine Holloway

When I began my first year of high school, I had a precise plan on how the next four years of my life would go, what clubs and sports I would join as well as the academic and personal goals I wanted to accomplish. I knew exactly who I wanted to become and I thought I had complete control of my future. In my mind, it was the perfect plan that would make me successful, and I didn’t think that there was any other way to do this. However, I never expected that early in my freshman year my “perfect” plan would be altered by one basketball game. 
     In the middle of my basketball season, I injured my knee as I was trying to steal the ball during a game.  The athletic trainer expected me to be able to return the following week.  Unfortunately, the injury was more serious than I had thought and I was told that I would need surgery.  Surgery was not an option for me financially at the time, so I despairingly had to give up basketball, one of my passions in life.  I was completely devastated and disappointed that I would never be on varsity with the rest of my teammates and I worried about how this injury would affect me in other areas of my life. How could a setback like this happen in my first year of high school? I spent the rest of my freshman year wondering how I would ever accomplish any of the rest of my goals.        
     Eventually I realized that I couldn’t let this one moment define who I would be and that I had to keep pushing forward to accomplish my plans. Although this injury impacted my life tremendously because I could not perform at the level I was capable of, I did not allow this setback to set the tone for the rest of my high school career. I had to change my perspective of the situation, and see it as an opportunity to explore other interests and extracurricular activities that I would have never considered before.
     The activities that I became involved in was:  volunteering at my local community hospital, joining the Associated Student Body and becoming a member of track & field, a sport that I could partake in without causing much stress to my knee.  These were amazing opportunities to help my school and community while developing my team building skills, however, during my junior year I discovered a new passion: dance!  The artistic expression found through dancing gave me a boost of confidence and a fresh perspective about my life, specifically to be bold and not cower from new opportunities.  My new gained confidence transferred to other areas of my life and inspired me to be more open-minded.  Additionally, dance has allowed me to display another side of myself by expressing my eccentric personality.  The feeling I got when I performed at dance shows was an exhilarating rush of excitement and artistic expression.  As I reflect back on these experiences, I also learned about different cultures through music and people, which allowed me to appreciate the diversity of our community.  Overall, I would have never dreamed of performing in front of hundreds of people and although dance was not a part of my “precise plan,” I am proud of myself, my personal growth, and being a part of a dance program that plays a huge role in our school’s culture in developing confidence and embracing individuality through the performing arts. 

     The lesson that I learned from this situation is that I cannot always control what life will throw at me and sometimes the unexpected will happen. What I can control is how I choose to respond to the situation at hand. Changing my perspective of the situation and deciding to have a positive attitude allowed me to find another passion in my life that I would have never considered before. I realized when I kept thinking positively and controlled how I responded that everything worked out better in the end. This unexpected pathway led me to a happier future, one where I was completely fulfilled and it didn’t matter that I didn’t get to play varsity. I control how I decide to move on from a bad experience. I control what I will learn from disappointing situations and how I will grow as result. Once I focused on the things I could control and remained optimistic, I applied this to all areas of my life. I could overcome anything and face any obstacle that challenged me. I have a choice in life that I only get to decide; a choice that I can only dictate. Moreover, I could remain depressed and sulk over all of the disadvantages and failures that I had to deal with and never progress to become anyone better. Or, I could choose to keep on persevering with the hope that I will accomplish my goals even if it isn’t the original pathway I thought it would take to get there. Focusing on things that I can control instead of worrying about things I couldn’t has led me to live a happier and more positive life.

Control of the self

Madeline Stienhoff

So many elements of this world are beyond control. Gravity ensures the seasons, the years, and the contents of the planet. On a human level, emotions, actions, and social traditions and customs are often out of the control of any individual. A singular human being in this world can only control their own actions, thoughts, and behaviors. As a person, I am only able to truly control myself. I learned this at a young age and from then on focused the majority of my energy primarily on only that which I can control. Doing so has helped me to not only avoid unnecessary stress and negativity, but to also focus on being the best possible version of myself. 

I am a quiet and rather shy person and I always have been. This is more of a result of liking my own company than self-consciousness or fearing others’ opinions of me. When I was nine years old, my family moved to a town with which I was completely unfamiliar. At nine years old, I could control neither where I lived nor where I went to school. I could, however, control my attitude and how I reacted to this change. By focusing on elements that I could control and approaching the situation positively, I saved both myself and my family excess stress that would have resulted from any negative reaction. Although I was apprehensive about making new friends, I knew I could not force my peers to like me; I could still only control my own behavior. This caused me to greet every new face with openness and kindness, which ultimately resulted in genuine, lifelong friendships. 

When I left for university at eighteen years old, I moved again to an unfamiliar place, now on my won. This time, I could control where I lived and where and what I studied, but I still could not control what my peers thought of me. Again facing a new place and still apprehensive about making friends, I reminded myself that I could not force my peers to like me or approve of me. Once more, I approached every new person I met with friendly openness. This method of addressing a new social environment does not ensure friends, but it does ensure that I am comfortable in my own company and that I am positive and kind around others. 

I have always been particularly academically inclined, but I have never been concerned with grades or percentages. While I comforted friends who cried over B minuses or ninety-nine percents, I personally wrote grades off as numerical quantifications of arbitrary evaluations of skill, completely in the control of the instructors. Grades were and always have been out of my control, so instead of relying on numbers to inform me that I had learned something, I focused on my own study habits and accomplishments, always doing my best and achieving what I could. Knowing that others, such as university admissions officers, attributed value to these numerical grades did not affect my philosophy. I could not control their opinions or beliefs. All that mattered to me was that I was gaining knowledge as thoroughly and as effectively as I possibly could. Maintaining this philosophy not only saved me the stress of calculating a passing grade or struggling to answer every test question correctly every time, but also allowed me to freely learn from mistakes and preserve my self-worth by not defining myself in numbers. Instead, I focused on the material and learned as much as possible, regardless of my testing ability. 

However, as I’ve grown older and more educated, this philosophy has become more and more difficult to maintain. As I learn more about politics and social injustices, such as hunger, poverty, and oppression, I strain to control things that I cannot. I struggle to understand opinions other than my own, and I struggle further to prevent myself from forcing my beliefs onto others. Yet ultimately, whether I expel my energy or not, others’ decisions are beyond my control. Therefore, I try my best to focus my energy on my own actions instead of on changing the views and opinions of others. By taking charge of my actions and voting or volunteering, I can positively effect the change I wish to see. 

Focusing primarily on what I can control has been largely beneficial throughout my life and is still proving to be so, regardless of the difficulties I encounter. This practice has helped me focus on what I consider truly important, such as self-love, self-improvement, and my education. It has allowed me to understand and control myself entirely and to approach others with an open mind, ready for anything. Focusing positive energy on that which I can control instead of negative energy on that which I cannot has ultimately helped me to live a healthier life.

The power of positive thinking

Karyn Taylor

The mind can bring me up or down. The way you think about any situation can determine your outcome before it occurs. People can decide to have an outlook on life that says that the glass is half full or half empty. For me I find value in looking at my situations where the glass is half full. The glass half full shows that I am thinking the best of my problems. If you keep your head up and think positively then nothing can get you down. I have always tried to look on the bright side of things. For as long as I can remember, people in school have always told me I am very positive and happy all the time. They questioned why and how I could remain positive even in challenging times. The reason why I focus on the good over anything else happening is because focusing on the negative never changes anything. Looking at the bad things only make us feel worse; whereas, if you focus on the positive, hope will shine through. I like to stay in the positive mind-frame, so that my thoughts and the way I perceive things around me will appear positive as well. If I want my life to be enjoyable, then all I have to do is choose to enjoy it. Positive thinking is a choice and once you make that choice things really start to look up. For example, I applied to many different companies for summer internships. My first interview was very mediocre. Although this was my first interview with a professional corporate company, I soon after saw so many things that I could have done better. I did not do much company research before the interview and I used too many filler words. A few weeks into Christmas break I received an email from them saying that I did not get the position in their summer internship program. After I reading the non-acceptance email for the internship position, I began to feel discouraged. I noticed myself feeling hopeless and sad. I had to quickly remind myself that maybe I did not get that position because it was not where I was meant to be. The internship that works out for me is where I believed I was supposed to be, and I decided to focus on that instead. God has a plan for my life, and this was the time in my life where I truly learned what trusting in God was really about. The more I surrendered and began to trust in Him, things started happening for my good. After that bad experience, I chose to remain positive and seek out other internship opportunities. I chose to participate in several mock interviews to help with real interviews with companies. I knew I had to improve my interview skills, so I began to do more and more practice questions. I would memorize some probable situational questions along with the answers I wrote down. This was a positive way to purposefully pursue an internship. I knew I could not remain in sadness or go into frustration because neither of those were going to help me obtain my goal, an internship. When I got the chance to interview with the company I ended up getting an internship with, I knew this had to be the one. I did tons of company research, memorized their core values, and practiced interviewing with two of their current employees who gave great feedback. I stayed joyful and in a positive mindset the day of my interview. This helped me press through when I got lost trying to find the correct floor and when my manager interviewing me looked completely uninterested. I went in with confidence, because I knew my stuff by that point and I felt prepared enough that if they could throw just about anything my way and I would be ready for it. This interview did go much better than any previous ones I had done. The one thing that was very difficult afterwards was the waiting to hear back from them. I took about three to four weeks for me to get an offer, but once that letter came in it was like a flood of relief. Going into the interview with a positive attitude and thoughts really helped me move through the interview with ease. I love being positive in my thoughts and words because it not only helps me remain in joy, but it lifts others up as well.  I love transforming and lifting up other’s thoughts and words into positive ones.

The quality of wisdom

Leona Lewis

I can’t be specific about when I first decided to pursue a career as a mental health counselor, but what I do know is that I am quite excited about and proud of the strides I have recently taken to pursue this ambition. As a recent graduate of CUNY’s Medgar Evers College, where I obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, my studies were consistent with a passion I’ve long felt for the field and which I hope will ultimately culminate in obtaining a doctorate. I have been fortunate to be influenced by persons engaged in the practice of various forms of psychotherapy, some of whom have become actual mentors (I’ve even eagerly discussed some ideas for a dissertation with some of them). Additionally, I have always had a special interest in working with youth and my recent experience doing just that has encouraged my belief that a Master’s Degree in mental health is the right direction for me at this time. I can also add, if somewhat immodestly, that it has taken a good deal of dedication and perseverance to come this far and become a graduate student at Brooklyn College.

As the oldest of three siblings, I come from a background where family values or interests usually come first. While I certainly share the promise of a closely-knit family, this has often meant that my own interests were jeopardized and in some cases sacrificed. Thus what I believe was my true potential in school or other forms of scholarship was not always manifested. While I certainly take responsibility for these outcomes, I simply could not always give my full dedication to particular tasks or classes because of the priority of these family matters. With the passing years and the knowledge that can only come from experience, I’ve learned from my mistakes and developed a hunger and dedication to do more with my studies. As Freud once said: “If youth knew, if age could”; with that said, I believe the programs that these awards would allow me to continue would provide the keys I need to unlock the next door in my education. And as a native “Brooklynite,” I can think of no better place to have the chance to counsel those who may be drowning in circumstances similar to mine. Not that I believe in the future these will be the only ones I could help, but as I’ve already begun to discover in counseling and group sessions, there are potentially many in this program whose story I will readily and deeply understand.

The idea of interning at one or more of the facilities with which Brooklyn College is connected (as I’ve come to learn from an alumna with whom I’ve had some conversations) adds to my feeling at home in this program. As my resume attests, my various positions as a youth advisor or peer mentor or even day camp counselor at present have helped provide me invaluable experiences in preparation for mental health. Moreover, should I be granted more of an opportunity, I will be privileged to work with various individuals not only whose lives I would hope to  make more productive but from whom I would learn as much and make my own life more meaningful. In short, I do know something about family dysfunctions, substance abuse and the effects of stress, and I would be so bold as to suggest that this knowledge, learned as much from personal experience as working with others, bolsters my candidacy.

I would add a positive note to my mention of family. While I already indicated that in significant ways, my own education has had to compete with some harsh realities of life, it could now serve as a motivating influence. As a first-generation college student and now Masters’ candidate, I could serve as a role-model for my younger siblings, as one who not only exemplifies the virtues of remaining in school but who believes education is life-long. I would also be motivated by a desire to make them and my community proud. 

In short, receiving this scholarship would allow me to “give back” a portion of what was provided me by exceptional mentors and educators along the way. I was indeed fortunate in finding them and now that I know what they look like, I’m sure to recognize them in future endeavors. I close by affirming that “The quality of wisdom isn't measured by the abundance of knowledge one possesses, but by how and when it is applied.” Such application would be my hope were I to receive the benefits from this prospective scholarship.

As I pursue my Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling (a field that undoubtedly has room for growth and potential outlook), I cherish the keys I am getting now to unlock the next door of my milestone. I certainly would not desire to take out more loans (loans I cannot pay back, let alone having accumulated interest). Thus, I would desire nothing more but to be granted the privilege in receiving this monetary award so I may continue enlightening my mind today to treat those of others tomorrow. On a final note, if I hadn’t said enough and my voice was not heard, do take away nothing else but this: Even if I do not get selected and chosen for an award, I thank whose ever eyes are gracing these very words right now for allowing me to share my story and for taking the time to do so.

The Attitude of Gratitude

Alexandra Seda
Ohio Northern University

The attitude of gratitude is an important principle that embodies being thankful for every day that one has to live. Each day of life is a gift. Life is not perfect, there will be good and bad moments, but it is the attitude that makes the difference in approaching these life events. In January of 2013, I suffered an accident at work in which I fell down stock room stairs. My accident resulted in a fractured sacrum, which is the lower part of the spine. The injury was one of the most painful experiences I have ever had in my life. I could barely walk and the pain was constant. My accident happened right before the start of the spring semester. I was able to overcome these circumstances by having an attitude of gratitude.     
            The attitude of gratitude helped me take each day, one step at a time. For two months, I had to stand in my classes. The attitude of gratitude helped me have a positive outlook on life. I was thankful that my injury was not worse. I was thankful that I had the opportunity to stand in class, for it meant that I was blessed with the opportunity to pursue a college education. That same attitude of gratitude helped me through each physical therapy appointment and numerous spinal blocks. The gratitude helped me complete the semester. I was able to apply and get accepted into engineering school. Thereafter, I became a University Innovation Fellow, where I had the opportunity to receive three days of training in Silicon Valley to be at places like Google’s Headquarters and the Stanford D.School.
            Had it not been for this attitude of gratitude, I would have let my injury define my whole life. I would have taken the semester off. I would have stayed in my room and felt sorry for myself.  I would have never applied to an out of state engineering school and would have never become a University Innovation Fellow. I would have never had the opportunity to go to Google Headquarters or the Stanford d.School. I would have never been the person I am today. I am the person I am today because of the attitude of gratitude. I believe that anything is possible as long as one is willing to work to see the mission through. I achieve today, so that I, as well as, my friends can succeed tomorrow. My success is everyone’s success, because I know and do what I can achieve every time. 

Laws of attraction

Lisa Garcia
Drexel University

I live with the law of attraction in mind by waking up every morning with the expectation that I will have a good day no matter what happens. I accept that I will encounter people who have a different attitude or temperament than my own. However, I do not allow the negative things done or said to infiltrate my being and cause me to be distracted by my goal of a good day. Also, my faith is evidence of my daily use of the law of attraction. Having faith implies that what we desire will come into being. When I want something, I am not dissuaded by the absence of money, time, person, or thing. I am faithful that if it is good for me, it will come. Additionally, I live by the law of attraction by accepting that even the negative things that happen to me are positive for my growth. I am made stronger by these events.  Also, negative occurrences are opportunities to make more positive choices for my life. Moreover, I live by the law of attraction by making good causes in my life that will, ultimately, result in good effects. I am conscious to always encourage people and to treat them kindly. It is not enough for me to be happy and successful. I must care for the sick, provide money and goods to the poor, and encourage those who are lonely, bereaved, or hopeless. Furthermore, I open my life, mind, and heart to make room for desired changes in my life. For example, if I want a boyfriend who treats me better, I “remove” the existing boyfriend from my life so that a new one can come.  Likewise, if I want love to come into my life, I must open my heart to it. I welcome “newness” in life, as opposed to allowing myself to become stagnant in ways to which I have become accustomed. Also, my life is based upon the law of attraction because I endeavor to be in the company of positive, honest, and thought provoking people. I want to be as they are and reflect the same truth in my daily life. As a child, my mother told me that I would be judged by the company that I keep. She also said that”… water finds its own level.” It is not my goal to lower myself and my expectations in life by affiliating with people who are not only limited in their thinking, but also who wish to limit mine. Additionally, the law of attraction is implicit in my belief that I am worthy of good things happening to me. There was a time when I wondered why I kept meeting people who did not have my interest at heart. I came to realize that I did not think much of myself so I was attracting people who did not care much for themselves or anyone else. I had to work on my self-esteem and to see that I was beautiful because I was uniquely me. Once I did this, I began to meet people who were caring and sensitive to the needs of both me and others. They were attracted to what was the best part of me that had been hidden by my feelings of self-consciousness and self-doubt. Now, I know that I will only attract the good in life when I first see the good in me. Moreover, I accept that I already have everything inside of me to become a happy and successful person. I am, in fact, in control of my own destiny. I was born with these capabilities, but they are improved upon by my continued maturity and wealth of experiences. Furthermore, I apply the law of attraction to my life when I envision what I will to have or to happen in my life. If I cannot see it, I cannot see it happening. I often use vision boards which illustrate the realities, not dreams, of my life. When I do this, I go for exactly what I want. I never leave room for anything less. Also, I believe that our only purpose for being on earth is to be happy and to make others happy. A successful life is a happy life. I believe that this happiness exists even when we are going through trials in life. At these times, the happiness is in our ability to endure and move past these times. Lastly, using the laws of attraction, I always speak in positive terms. For example, I say “I will” not “I wish.” I believe that our lives can be shaped by what we speak into the universe. If I speak with fear, I will live a fearful life. However, if I speak with determination, I will live a determined life.

The cure to negativity

Kassidy Vredeveld 

Without the darkness we would never see the stars. This is the philosophy of life I have chosen to live by. Without the negatives, how can we ever truly appreciate the positives? How can we grow as an individual? Negativity is like a disease. It is all around us and constantly taking over aspects of our life, but it is our choice to dwell in the dark despair brought on by the negativity or think positively to grow and thrive from it. Who wants to live a life filled with a negative vibe? I do not and neither should anyone else. Fact is that we will all run into hardships because that is life, but learning how to deal with these things to make an overall positive outcome is the true lesson of life.
            Yes, we have all heard of the glass filled half way scenario. Is the glass half empty or half full? A positive thinker would say that the glass is half full. This is said all the time but does anyone really think about the meaning. I look at it this way. The glass may be only filled to half, but that means that there is still room to add more liquid. In life there is always more room to grow. We as people are the glass filled half way. The liquid to fill the glass is more knowledge, friendships, intuition, or memories. If we had no need to grow or no room to add more, then what would be the point in living? We spend our time adding to the glass that is our life and once that glass is full, we know that we have lived a long and fulfilling life.
We cannot stop the waves, but we can learn to surf. We all have high points and low points in our lives that we cannot control, but we can learn to ride the wave and enjoy the experience. I am not naïve. I know that this can be hard to do. When the waves keep knowing us over it can be hard to convince ourselves to get back up, but if we do not, we could miss some of the best moments and experiences. By dwelling on the fact that once again we were knocked off, we could be missing the perfect wave that makes all the mess ups worth it. By thinking positively, we will always know that the ride will get better if we just hold on and finish strong. Every time we fall off the board, we learn a new tactic on how to stay on when the next wave comes. Life is the same way. When life takes a punch, we learn how to dodge it the next time. Life is a learning experience and it will by no means be perfect, but those imperfections are what make us unique. Life is like learning to ride a bike. We will fall off a few times, but we will get better the more we try.  Always look on the bright side of life.
     Thinking positively can make all the negatives in life easier to handle. Think of a time when a loved one, friend, or pet passed away. My best friend killed himself when we were in 8th grade. I stayed on the couch for days not eating, talking, or sleeping. I was so mad at him for leaving me in that way. “How could he do this,” were the words that kept echoing in my head. I spent those days dwelling on the fact that he was gone and I could never see him again. He would never cheer me up, make me laugh, or be the rock that held me up for so long. I felt alone, but that is when it hit me. He may never be able to do those things for me again, but I still had all the times that he had. Dwelling on the negativity made me miserable. Thinking of all the memories I had, all the good times that could never be taken away from me, and the experiences we had together made it easier to say goodbye. This experience taught me an important lesson in life. It taught me that thinking positively can make all the negative experiences easier to handle.
     Thinking positively can be a challenge when the going gets tough, but in the end it is more than worth it. It can make life more enjoyable and ease the pain given by negative experiences. Instead of thinking that negatives are a bad thing, think of them as an opportunity to learn and grow. Think of it as a way to become a better person. Imagine what the world would be like if everyone had the positive mindset.  Be the change you want to see in the world. Cure the disease of negativity in the world by thinking positively.

The Power of positive thinking

Elizabeth Juarez Diaz

Back in 2012 my world fell apart. I remember that afternoon my dad came home looking somber. I remember that shiny, tired look in his eyes to this day. He had showed me the letter his boss had given him requiring him to fill out the I-9 form to continue being employed. This basically meant he was getting fired since my father had no legal documents to work in the U.S.  That moment changed my life. Not only had we gone from doing ok, to having no income. It was a year before I graduated from high school, and my plans to go to college looked very distant at that moment. I remember having our dreams and goals as a family getting torn in that instant. However I looked for some peace inside of me by choosing to stay positive and thinking those hard times would not last. We would overcome.
            I helped my father looked for cash paying jobs on craigslist. There was a pretty promising one a couple of minutes away from our home. When he went there at the end of the job the contractor decided not to pay him since he had no legal status, he had no right to get paid, at least that’s what the contractor said. It was harder to stay positive because it seemed that we were not going to be able to pay for rent. We stayed together as a family and even resorted to getting groceries from the local food shelves. My dream of going to college was distant, but still there so I would do everything I could to help my family get out of that situation.
            Thanks to the executive action that President Obama passed in 2012 that opportunity finally came. I received a work permit and license under DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) since I am an undocumented student that emigrated from Mexico in 2000. I was able to legally work in the U.S. and help my family out. Staying positive brought peace to a family that was falling apart due to depression and poverty.  I endured eating canned food and was grateful to go to sleep on a full stomach. I had the chance to help my family pay rent, and hopefully save some money for college.
            When I was graduating high school in 2013, my dream of going to college was right around the corner. I applied to several schools, and got accepted into one. After getting a decent scholarship I went to talk to the financial advisor to see how much I would have to pay out of pocket. I meet with her and she told me that I had to pay out of pocket. “You still have $16,000 to pay, and if you want to live on campus $20,000.” I remember asking her if I could apply to any other scholarships, because that amount was outrageous for me since I was the head of the household at that time, of my parents and my brothers I was the only one working. I remember that look on my financial counselors face, I felt ashamed for begging for her help and for her lack of understanding or knowledge that the only words she could give me where, “I’m sorry”. At that moment I did loose my positive thinking. I ended up missing much of my last days in high school because I didn’t see as to why I should worry of high school if I couldn’t afford going to college. I was also getting exhausted of having to take the bus to work everyday, and not being able to enjoy prom or many of the other celebrations my friends where having. I admit that positive thinking was hard those days.
            What mattered is that I was able to overcome those days of negativity and hopelessness with the help of a great woman and great mentor that I will forever be thankful for. She understood me and knew how and why it was important for me to go to college.  She reminded me that if I wanted a better life I had to care about college, I had to care about finishing high school strong. And strong I did finish. I was able to get a couple more scholarships due to my high academics and afford most of my tuition at the school that a couple of months had told me, “I’m sorry”.
            Right now I’m very thankful that my mother was able to find a job to help me pay for school without me having to work full time anymore. Staying positive helped me in the past and it’s helping me right now as well. I recently changed my major from Nursing to Chemistry after an internship doing breast cancer research. I have truly found my passion, and even if it means packing on an extra year of college and a bigger debt, I am dreaming of a future that waking up and going to work will be something I look forward to. I don’t have time to look at the negatives, such as living in a one-bedroom apartment with a family of 5, or not being able to spend as much time helping my autistic brother. I look at the positives in life, because staying positive has helped me get to this point in life, and it will help me become a oncologist in the future.

Our connectedness

Jaqueline Zuniga 

There is no doubt we are all connected. Everything in this universe is composed of the elements, and every element has come to be from within the nucleus of stars deep within space. Through the process of nuclear fusion, the nuclei of two hydrogen particles collide with very high energy to create a new atomic nucleus, or element. In this process, hydrogen forms helium, lithium, beryllium, boron, carbon, nitrogen, and all the elements of the periodic table. Throughout time, the cosmic sea of energy propelled new born elements through space and eventually reached Earth to create life: nature, animals, and humankind. If one can understand that everything that ever existed was, is, and will be made up of the same elements throughout this universe, and if one can understand that everything: every particle, every being, every star, has energy, then one would understand that there is no distance between anything because we are all touching, we are all connected, and we are all one. Furthermore, if we aware of this, and if we can concentrate on those things to which we desire most, then we can apply the very real Law of Attraction in our daily lives and have true control over our fates, and our wishes.
        The Law of Attraction is a universal law that was established by quantum physics principles. According to applying-the-law-of-attraction.com, “The Law of Attraction states: I attract to myself, whatever I give my focus, attention, or energy to; whether wanted or unwanted.” With that said it is important to be mindful of what thoughts we are generating, consciously or not, because we are always attracting our thoughts to our real life. In addition, a key factor in the Law of Attraction is that we must always harvest positive thinking, in that way we generate only positive thoughts to attract to ourselves, and in turn create a positive life. The scientific basis for this law is a fascinating, almost unbelievable, but very true incident that has been proven over and over in labs across the world, and this is entanglement. Entanglement is a physical phenomenon that occurs when groups of particles are generated and interact in ways such that the quantum state of each particle cannot be described independently—instead, one quantum state may be given for the system as a whole. For example, if you send two particles- Particle A and Particle B- which were created together at the same time, across opposite ends of the universe and do something to particle A, particle B feels what you did to particle A instantly, instantly. According to What the Bleep do We Know- Down the Rabbit Hole, “Either information is traveling instantly fast across space, [which is unlikely], or in reality the particles are still connected, entangled, and since everything in the universe was entangled at the moment of the Big Bang, that means everything is still touching. Space is just the construct that gives the illusion that there are separate objects.” This is the evidence for our connectedness and for how the Law of Attraction works, it’s because we are connected! This fact was mind blowing to me, but the more I study quantum physics, the more I understand it to be true.
        In my life, the law of attraction has made a significant impact. Not only do I believe in this law, I practice it, every day. When I wake up, I give an honest and happy “thank you” to the universe for giving us a new day of life and I pray. I ask for good health, happiness, peace, love, joy, fulfillment, wellbeing, accomplishments, and many good things for my loved ones and myself. Once my prayer is done, I know I have called good things into our lives, and I believe we will all have a good day. I have been practicing this form of prayer for many years, one in which I only focus on positive wishes and cures for bad circumstances, and it has brought much peace to me. If I go a few days without a praying session, I start noticing things are not going as well as they should. When I pray after noticing my troubles, my worries subside and I am at peace again because I know that I am in control of my life, and am attracting only positive things and life will go as I think.
        Positive thinking and the Law of Attraction has helped me in my financial burdens. My family and I have been going through hardships with money through our entire lives. We are a low-income family. My parents can barely maintain the household, and cannot help me with my educational fees. I dream of studying astrophysics and neuroscience, but my financial troubles seem to hold me back. Nevertheless, I apply to many scholarships and always envision me winning some so that I can pay for my tuition next Spring 2016 when I transfer to Cal State Long Beach and continue my lifelong dream of studying the universe. I know things will go well because I believe, and when you believe you can make anything happen. Our connectedness to the universe and each other is more profound than we will ever see, but it is there, and it is powerful. I pray for people to become aware of our connectedness and to be amazed by our true nature, because it is real, it is true, and it is powerful.

Focusing on things you can control

Noah Brown
Tennessee State University

My name is Noah Brown from Indianapolis, Indiana.  I am a sophomore at Tennessee State University.  My essay is about focusing on what you can control.   

My parents have made significant sacrifices for my education during my elementary and high school years. Regrettably I was not the best student during my junior high and high school years. My focus was playing on the football team, not studying to the best of my ability and goofing off. This disappointed  my parent very much. 

My struggle in school started in junior high.  My friends and classmates appeared to get better grades than me, and were able to balance school and recreation a lot better than I could. This affect my confidence and my self-esteem started to suffer.

My mother did her best to motivate and inspire me, but I just could not seem to focus on my school work.  My test scores were poor and unless I received help, my assignments were always incomplete or incorrect.

My parent’s employed tutors and made the most of every resource that my school offered. It would be two long years, before we discovered the cause of my struggle in school.  I had ADHD or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.  I believe I always had it but it was never really an issue until I entered a more structured environment that required concentration and focus, like junior high.

As long as I can remember, I was taught to never quit and to turn every negative into a positive. But this was very difficult for me since most of waking hours were spent at school, the one place I was struggling.

I am very grateful that I had parents that refused to give up on me.  My mother began to take me to counseling and doctors to find out why I was struggling so hard in school. After careful consideration and learning more about ADHD, we decided medication would be the best approach to treat my condition.

After taking the medication my grades did get better, but I did not like taking the medication. I did not like the way the medication made me feel.  So I would only take the medication the night before a test.  This worked for a while, but really didn’t solve my problem, I did not like school.  I was able to graduate from high school, but my GPA was so low, I did not qualify for many colleges.

My parents continued to take me to college fairs and tours, they really wanted me to have the opportunity to attend college.  Honestly, my interest was dismal at best. It was at a Historical Black College Fair I met a student who told me that he struggled in high school as well.  His name was Jermaine Tyus.  We had never met, but we talk like we were brothers.  He shared with me his experiences and struggles in school, I was so relieved to talk to someone who understood my challenges. Jermaine told me, if I raise my GPA, to a 2.0, Lane College would be willing to accept me. I did not believe any college would accept me because I did not like school, it did seem like a good match.  Since high school was so difficult, I just knew college would not be a consideration.

So I took Jermaine advice, after high school, I attended Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis, Indiana, increased my GPA to 2.2, and was able to transfer to Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee, in the fall of 2014. While attended Lane College my GPA increased to 3.187.

It was at Lane College, I discovered I had the power to focus on the things I could control. Lane College challenged me, by making me work hard, be disciplined and accept responsibility for my education.  I realized if I was going to be a successful college student, it was up to me to focus and take advantage of the opportunity.

I started to look up to students that were doing well in their classes, and learn some of their habits.  I asked one of the Deans to mentor me.  I learn and took advantage of positive things college life offered.

Now when challenges come my way, I say words such as, 'I can' and 'I am able'. I learned to truly believe in myself and change the way I thought and felt about myself. 

This fall, I am a sophomore at Tennessee State, maintaining a 3.167 GPA. As you may know, the cost to attend college is significantly expensive.  I will be paying for my college education with money I have earned from my internship at IST Management, work study program, parents and student loans.  However this will still not cover all of my college expenses. 

I am a hardworking and committed college student.  I realize the value of a good education.  I am pursuing a career in computer science. Tennessee State is one of best colleges to attend for a computer science degree. I would be very grateful to receive this scholarship, and complete my bachelor degree at Tennessee State.

Cannot have gluttony without gluten

Zachary Schwartz

At the age of 11, I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that forever changed the way I eat. Celiac, an autoimmune disease, kills off the nutrient absorbing villi in the small intestines whenever gluten is consumed.  In simpler terms, I will not be able to absorb any nutrients if too much gluten is in my immune system.  Gluten is found in the common ingredients wheat, barley, oats, malt, and rye.  I thought my life was over when I was diagnosed.  Regardless of the fact that my daily and painful stomach aches would be over, I felt that giving up gluten was too large of a cost.  As an eleven year old, all that was running through my mind when my gastroenterologist diagnosed me was that I would never be able to eat any “good food” again.  Despite the reassurance from the doctor at the time, it was not enough for me to hold back the tears.  Since prepubescent boys are supposed to act tough, I was embarrassed while tears rolled down my cheeks.  On the car ride back home, I blubbered to my mom why I had to get cursed with a disease.  She replied to my comment by saying, “As long as you are able to stay gluten free, you will not have to lie down on the couch feeling nauseous after nearly every meal”.  That was not enough for me to change my attitude and perspective.

Throughout the first week of being diagnosed with Celiac, feelings of denial often led to frustration and anger.  Four days after I got diagnosed, one of my classmates shared cake with everyone in honor of their birthday.  At the end of school, I grabbed one of the plates of cake and walked outside waiting for my mother to pick me up.  Seeing me eating cake upset my mother.  She told me to throw it away.  I replied, “Why Mom?  I am hungry and the cake is the only food I see around that I can eat”.  My mother reminded me, “Do you not remember going to the doctor and getting diagnosed with Celiac?  You are not allowed to have any gluten.”  Reluctantly, I threw away the cake because I knew I had to listen to her.  I made a fuss once we were a distance from my middle school.  Knowing now that I am a late bloomer and was not affected by puberty at the time, my denial and anger about having Celiac Disease rooted from being aware that something simple like eating will always be more complicated than it previously was.  My mom caught me that same week eating cupcakes made from wheat flour.  At this point, she was frustrated with my actions.

The conversation that my mother required me to endure with her was the start of my transformed attitude on my condition.  Initiating the conversation, my mom expressed, “I can only imagine how frustrating and difficult it must be to have Celiac Disease.  The anger you have displayed throughout this past week demonstrated that your adjustment to complying with Celiac Disease is an uphill battle.  In spite of your efforts of denial, there is no correction tape for your genetic makeup.  You have an autoimmune disease whether you would like to admit it or not.  Attitude and perspective is the only thing you can change about this situation.  I love you and want to help you become better.  If there are any concerns you have about Celiac, please tell me and I will help you as much as I can”.  My morale was still low and I detached all the negative aspects of Celiac.  With no specific direction in mind, I ranted, “How am I going to continue with Boy Scouts?  They go camping in many different places.  They will not get all gluten free food just for one person.  Also, what about when I go out to eat?  Gluten is nowhere near as recognized and catered to as peanut allergies are.  Am I supposed to starve when the waiter and server have no idea what gluten is?  Lastly, a lot of gluten free food tastes really bad.  It seems like it is worth it to suffer from nausea while eating good tasting food rather than consuming different variations of terrible tasting food.”  I held onto the belief that I had persuaded my mother to letting me choose food and suffer possible consequences.  However, that is not her personality.  She cared too much for my well-being to let me experience the effects of consuming gluten.  My mom replied, “You can talk to the scoutmaster and the youth leaders about having Celiac Disease.  I am sure that they can give you some accommodations.  Whenever you are going out to eat, whether at a restaurant or a friend’s house, let them know that you cannot eat gluten because of Celiac Disease.  If they do not know what gluten is, explain it!  You know what ingredients gluten is in and can recognize many foods with gluten.  Ask about food if you are unsure if it is gluten free.  Do NOT eat food if the person who made it is unsure.  It is better to be safe and sorry.  You were with me when the gastroenterologist said that more brands each year are offering gluten free options.  You just have to be patient and willing to try different foods.”

I thought over the conversation with my mom for the next couple of days.  I came to terms that Celiac Disease will just be something that I will have to deal with no matter the costs.  It was difficult to accept, but it is certainly better than subconsciously thinking I can change it.  I researched the long term effects of consuming gluten with gluten and saw that a lack of nutrients absorbed could stunt growth.  I was already one of the shortest people in my grade.  The thought of growing even less gave me chills to the bone.  I would rather deal with eating nasty tasting food than being stuck below five feet for the rest of my life.  At the next Boy Scout meeting, I talked to the scoutmaster and a couple of the youth leaders.  The solution was that I would be able to bring gluten free bread and the gluten free alternatives to food on the meal plan that I could not eat.  I brought an entire cooler filled with food on my first campout after I was diagnosed.  Even though I was embarrassed for taking a large amount of food, I did not let my mood during the campout change.  During the mealtimes, I had to get my special food out of the cooler and prepare a meal for myself.  Despite it being a burden to do, I got used to this process after a couple of campouts.  

Everything else in my life started to fall into place.  I began to forget how food containing gluten tasted like and the pastry cravings were curbed.  Anytime I went out to eat, I had to explain my health condition to the chef or manager and my needs were usually accommodated.  From Celiac Disease, I was able to become more assertive whenever questioning the ingredients in a particular dish.  I am an introvert by nature and this forced social interactions allowed me to socially mature.  Additionally, the extensive knowledge on food allergies connected me to my first summer job at Sprouts Farmers Market.  The key to my success was a changed attitude.  Just like poet Maya Angelou once said, “If you do not like something, change it.  If you cannot change it, change your attitude”.  The different perspective on food allowed me to make my diet healthier.  To this day, I eat the minimal amount of processed foods.  Looking back on this life changing event, I am pleased that I was diagnosed because I would not be where I am today without this character building catalyst (Celiac Disease).

The power of positive thinking

Amanda George

One day while I was flipping through the channels I saw this show that I have never watched before but it had Patricia Heaton, who plays on one of my favorite shows, Everybody Loves Raymond as the wife of Raymond so I decided to watch it. After watching the show for a couple of minutes I really enjoyed it so I placed it on the list of my favorites. That television show is called The Middle. The Middle is a television series that shows the daily mishaps of a married woman and her semi-dysfunctional family and their attempts to survive life in general in the city of Orson, Indiana. I fell in love with this show because it displays a good idea of what the “American family” looks like. The parents, Neil “Mike Heck” Flynn and Patricia “Frankie Heck” Heaton have three children, Charlie “Axl Heck” McDermott, who is the popular guy in school and sits in his boxers all the time at home is the oldest. The middle child and only girl is Eden “Sue Heck” Cher, does her best to find her place in school and always comes up short but through it all she has a positive attitude. The youngest Atticus “Brick Heck” Shaffer finds his enjoyment in books and does not care to socialize with others but he loves his parents and often repeats things in a whisper which makes the teachers and staff at his school worry about him. But he is content with how he is. The kids do a good job of bringing laughter into each episode and you can tell that they all love each other and no matter what the show always end on a positive note.

I love the television show because it portrays a good example of what the ordinary family is like and also because of Sue Heck. Sue Heck is definitely my favorite character on the show because of her outlook on life. She is the middle child and there is always talk about the “middle child syndrome” but Sue is very positive and has an optimistic perspective on life. While preparing for this essay and deciding which topic to choose, I thought about my day and all that I did. I remembered how I watched Sue deal with the fact that her parents, mainly her father had favorites when it came to their children. Her positive thinking towards the situation spoke volumes and showed the power of positive thinking.

Positive thinking is being able to see a situation for what it really is and decide to view and dwell on the good side rather than the bad side. We are all faced with problems and issues that are out of our control. Also, there are times when it seems as if there is no way out but what a person thinks and what a person says in those moments play a huge part and shows a lot about their character. My character was shown when I was faced with a health issue that needed to be addressed.

The summer of 2013 was an interesting time for me. While I was lying around the house, I reached over for the remote and noticed a lump in my right breast. I remembered from the pamphlets that I was given about breast cancer on how to check for yourself to see if something was there so I checked and something was definitely there. It was pretty late at night so waking anyone up wouldn’t be smart so I prayed and went back to sleep. I woke up the next morning and told my mom. She felt it and called some of the nurses that she worked with for advice. They all gave suggestions of what it could be and we made an appointment that Monday to see what the doctor had to say. My doctor told me that it was a mass and the next day I went in for an ultrasound. The results from the ultrasound showed that the thing that was in my right breast was fibroadenoma, which is a noncancerous tumor. A friend of the family, who is a doctor, told me that it is my choice in whether I want to have it removed or not. So a couple of months later, I went to the hospital for surgery. The surgery was short, in and out, I did not have a lot of pain and the recovery process was short as well. I had a biopsy for my right breast and I did not have breast cancer.

The whole process was different for me because I have never had to undergo something as serious as that. At that time I was 21 years old and thought I was too young to have cancer. I understand that cancer does not have an age limit but no one wants to go through something like that, especially someone who life is about to start.

That night when I realized that I had a lump in my breast, I made the decision right then and there that I was going to think positive and see the good in all of this. Now how can someone see the good and think positive when they could possibly have cancer? I definitely found a way. By me having a positive mindset in that situation, it helped me because I would have stressed myself out and made the situation worse. Stress has an impact on your health so if I would have let stress get in the way then that would have been something else that I had to deal with.

Positive thinking has power because it might not change the situation but it will change you. You can turn a bad situation into a good one with something as simple as changing your thoughts. It all starts with a person’s mind. Proverbs 23:7 states, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” (NKJV). When a person is faced with an issue what they think in their hearts or their minds determines what the outcome will be. If they think negative things then they will have negative results. If they think positive then they will have positive results. It’s really easy to think negative but it takes work to think positive and that is why it has so much power.

Positive Thinking

Taylor Moreau
Rutgers University - New Brunswick SAS

My emotions, depending on how strong they were, used to be able to have a significant effect on my performances. For most of my life I never really had an issue with academics...until my second year of high school that is. Sophomore year was the first time I had ever truly struggled with school. I had recently moved from Arizona all the way to New Jersey and had to adjust to the new curriculum. The previous schools I had attended were all advanced, so I was confident in my academic abilities. However, I soon realized that doing well in an advanced biology course did not necessarily guarantee success in an advanced chemistry course. I originally thought I would be used to the concepts and assignments by the second marking period, but I was sorely mistaken. The concepts stayed foreign to me much longer than they should have and I received grades I had never received before in my life. Even my teacher, who was a retired chemist for the government, could not help me. I had lost all hope for chemistry. After a while, I lowered my expectations, becoming ecstatic whenever I managed get at least a B on something. With those lowered expectations came laziness and negativity. My strong desire for success was weakening. I no longer believed in myself.

Then, all of the sudden, something completely unexpected and out of the ordinary happened. I was introduced to the K-pop (South Korean pop music) world. To some it may only seem like a music genre, but to me (and many others) it was everything. I was absolutely fascinated by the dancing, the singing, the shows, the food, the idols. Everything about it was so amazing to me. But most importantly, it taught me to think positively. I thought I had lost my potential for academic success, but all I really needed was something positive and exciting in my life, something that would never let me down and that I could always go back to. Soon enough, instead of staying up late stressing over my homework, I was able to voluntarily start it right after school because I could sing along to K-pop music while working on it, which made it much more enjoyable.

Aside from my mere interest in the South Korean culture, there was something unique that I noticed about the celebrities. They were always ready for an interview, whether scheduled or on-the-spot, and, no matter what the questions were, they were always able to give a clear, thoughtful answer right away. That was almost like an epiphany to me. Suddenly I began to wonder why I felt that school was so hard. My only job was to study the material until I truly knew it, and, at any given time, be able to provide my knowledge on the subject. For some reason, I could not understand that until I watched the celebrities. I had been so used to giving complicated, overly thought-out answers simply because I was in high school, and high school, in my opinion, was supposed to be difficult. All along I had the wrong mindset. From that day forward, I decided to change my view of high school and life in general. It would only be as hard as I chose to make it.

Unfortunately, the school year was almost over before I could actually benefit from this new mindset, so I had to apply it during my junior year. Procrastination was no longer an option because it was a form of negativity. “I don’t want to do that, yet, because it’s going to be boring. I don’t want to do that because it’s going to be boring and I have more enjoyable things to do.” I replaced those thoughts with rather uncommon, positive thoughts such as, “Once I apply myself to this, I can enjoy it,” or “If I do work on this with the best of my abilities, I’ll be able to discover new potential within myself.” And, as a result, there was a dramatic improvement in my grades. Over and over I impressed my teachers and went from being placed in CP (college prep) courses to being recommended for all AP courses. I was relieved to find that my rather negative sophomore mentality did not affect the rest of my high school career and that I could save my grades before it was too late. I will continue to use this mentality throughout life. 

Sometimes I wonder how things would have turned out if I had not found any inspiration to point me in the right direction. I might have failed the year, or I might have struggled on hopelessly, forever being a victim to my own false limits. But I did not fail, and I was no longer hopeless. Korean pop music may have been the inspiration for this change, but positive thinking is the ultimate reason why I was able to believe in myself and achieve success I would have never dreamed of back when I was a sufferer of a negative mindset. 

The power of being positive

Elizabeth Chicoine
Bay Path University

            Have you ever woken up on the wrong side of the bed, dreading the day ahead of you because of a big exam that you are fearful of failing? This is what some people call test anxiety. The fear of a test and, the fear of doing badly on a test most of the time causes people to not do well on it, for the fact that when the time comes to take this test, you forget everything you have strived to study for because you blank from anxiety.
            Being positive always has a big impact on how society acts and how society runs. When you think positively, you are motivated to try your hardest, no matter what the outcome is. If you think positive, you will be positive and feel like overwhelming warm happy feeling that you get when you succeed. To be successful, you need to be positive. Those who try succeed, and that’s all to it.
            As a child, and still today as a pre-law student, I always get anxious on the day of a big exam. Through experiences of always being so scared that I will fail, I never seemed to do well on exams where I doubted myself. In my freshman year of college, the week before a big history exam, I did not believe I was going to do well, I had a negative thought which was effecting my every day activities. I seemed stressed and irritable towards friends and family, and the fear of failing made me miserable and I could not function. The night before my exam I was speaking to my mom on the phone, and she reminded me of my favorite quote that I had once always lived by. Winston Churchill once said that “Success is not final, failure is not fatal, and it is the courage to continue that counts”. After she had mentioned that I realized that I was being so hard on myself and so anxious, and so negative that is was causing me to forget the material that I knew by heart. With all that on my mind, I went to bed so I would get a good night sleep. When the morning came, and it was time to go to class, I was so nervous but I told myself, that no matter what grade I get, it is about how hard I try and that I need to be positive and believe in myself. I aced that exam with flying colors. Ever since then I have never beaten myself up with negativity that I won’t do good. Since then I have always thought positively even if I didn’t know the answer to a question, I would still try and guess and give it my all, because believing in yourself and being positive is the greatest reward possible. I have also used positive thinking, when it came to getting my cosmetology license. I was so nervous, that I thought I would be sick, but I knew inside myself, that there was no reason to be nervous because I had known the material like the back of my hand. And the worse people think, the worse they do. But the more positive people think, the better. It sounds so cheesy but it is so true.
            With my experiences of positive thinking, and knowing that I have the power to change how I think and feel, that this is the best thing to share with others. I have always told my friends and family, and even strangers that I have met in classes whom are freaking out over and exam, who are telling themselves that they are going to fail. I always turn around and say “ don’t say that, if you think negatively of yourself and of your abilities, then yes, you will fail, but if you think positive and believe in yourself, then I know you will do great because I know you know the material, you just have to see that for yourself.” I say this to my best friend all the time, and she always get nervous and anxious until I let her know to believe in herself, and she has always done fantastic on a test after, she thinks better of herself. So I believe that positive thinking, is the key to success. I truly believe through personal experiences that if you think positive that you are going to pass this test, or get the job, or anything, that if you think positive you will accomplish anything, but you have to try.
            Success is in the eye of the beholder, and in the positive thoughts of those who can push away, and block out the negativity. Positive thinking is the key to bettering yourself, and passing and succeed through the difficult moments that life, and school throw at us. Positivity has a good effect on society, and with accepting it, people and society will do great. I have lived by being negative before and I did not do well, but I also how lived by being positive, and my success is only growing up, not down. My advice to others whom may read this or who I run into, will always be to try hard, but think positive and believe in yourself, and success will be yours.

Showing gratitude

Stephanie Martis

Dear Grandma,

            It has been a wild time without you, but I hope you enjoy your new view at Rosehills, because it is going to be yours forever.  I have been thinking of you more.  I find myself asking why and how, because some days it is unbelievable how much time has gone and how you really are not coming back.  You would be asking me everyday what I need for my dorm and probably be laughing at Mom for being so emotional that I am leaving, because you know I would never wander far.  You probably would have loved the story I am writing and would have tried to get me out to a Dodger game so I would not burn my eyes from the computer screen.  You probably would have bought all the UCLA gear by now.  I guess it just comes down to I miss you.  I miss the “could have beens,” but I am so grateful for the “had beens” – the memories.
            Being grateful, I think, has been the most important value in my life, especially when you left.  Without gratefulness, I would be upset, I would be depressed, and I would be miserable after losing you.  Gratefulness blessed my life when you had to be taken away from me.  That does not mean I do not miss you or that I think of you less, but that I know I was given more than I deserved while you were here.  I have to be greater than what I suffered when you were gone.  Gratefulness, resulting in hope, helped me understand that I am human, and everyone is, and everyone deserves a blessed life filled with this hope that only comes from the thanks internally sanctified.  Having even a couple of years with you gave me that blessed life – one that I cherish dearly.  Just because those moments with you ceased, does not mean I never had them.  I had them and I still have them close to my heart and that overweighs my greediness for more.
            Would I want more time with you?  Of course, but because of this attitude of gratitude, I do not need more than what you would have given me.  Seventeen years with you was enough for me to know you added something special in my life no one else was able to.  One second with you would have made just the same impact.
            Because of you, I want to show others gratitude.  I want others to know every time they open up their eyes in the morning that they are grateful.  That is why I want to be a hospice physician: to be around those who feel the end coming near, like you did, and keep their spirits up. Keep them living to the fullest feeling blessed, grateful, and fulfilled.  I remember you struggled, but I also remember you leaving with peace and hope for those you were leaving behind – for me.  I remember you were excited like a child on Christmas morning if you were able to sit outside and enjoy the fresh air in any weather – rain or shine.  I remember you beamed when family walked through the door to see you.  I remember you anticipated seeing Grandpa again with smiles and tears of joy.
            You are my model of gratitude.  I think so many people, once they reach that point in their lives, leave grateful, because they see the importance of life and note every given moment handed to them with bliss no matter how mundane it may be to people who are not so grateful.  You were so grateful if you were able to speak after your tracheotomy.  I saw how being grateful, even for the simple things in life, made you excited to live, even when you knew your time was to expire.
            Being grateful made you happy you were just able to live.  And being grateful makes me happy I was just able to know you and call you my grandma.  I am so grateful it was you who I brought to my elementary school for grandparent’s day.  I am so grateful it was you who went to all my academic achievement events.  You were the first person I thought of when I woke up the morning of my high school graduation.  I cried.  I wished you were there.  But then I smiled, because I remembered your smile.  I am grateful I was able to see you smile while you were here.
            I am grateful because you were.  Because you showed me an attitude of gratitude.  Because you showed me life is only worth living if you are grateful for life itself.  And for that, I am grateful.  I am thankful.  I am hopeful.  I am living a life worth living.         
Love,
Your Granddaughter, Stephanie.

The Power of positive thinking

Dollya Kidd

      The mind can be either a mass lethal weapon of destruction or your ticket to a prosperous, happy life. It's your choice. It has the authority to either make you or break you. Having a negative perspective won't get you far in life. In order to be happy, have peace and achieve your goals, you have to have a positive perspective and a positive outlook on life. A few examples of a positive perspective includes knowing your self-worth, not doubting yourself and knowing that the sky's the limit, and not holding grudges against people who do you wrong. When you know your self-worth, nobody's opinion matters. You know who you are and what you're capable of accomplishing. People can't take advantage of you as well. Realizing your self-worth will make your life so much better.  Knowing that the sky's the limit is also important to know and realize when you're striving for a positive mindset. Your way of thinking is the most important part of achieving a goal. If you keep thinking negatively, it will be 100 times harder to achieve your goal. 
    In your life, people will do you wrong, I guarantee it. No matter how nice you are, someone is bound to do something that will hurt you. The natural thing to do when somebody does something to hurt you is hold a grudge. Although it's normal, it isn't healthy at all. Holding a grudge and having hate only really hurts you in the long run. Letting it go, moving forward, and staying positive is the only thing that will give you peace. It's all about forgiving. I had to learn the importance of forgiveness the hard way.
     Born and raised in Queens, New York, I lived with just my mother. My father wasn't around in my life much. As far as I knew, I didn't really have a father. I saw him a few times in my life and when I was told that he was my father, I was confused. This didn't really bother me much until I reached my teenage years.
     Apart from going to school and living with my mother, I've always attended church. It's safe to say that I've been in church all my life. I love going to church. Every time I go to church, I feel spiritually rejuvenated. Not only that, I am surrounded by loving caring people who I basically knew my whole life. Growing up in church, I used to see my peers in the pews sitting with their mothers and fathers as a family. I was never bothered by this. It wasn’t until I got a little older that I had realized I was one of the only few my age sitting alone in the pew with just my mother. On top of that, nosy people used to ask me about my father.
            Every time I was asked about my father, I would ignore the question or just change the topic. This bothered me so much that I developed a certain hate towards him. I hated him for not being in my life and I hated him for not doing his job as a father. I also hated not having a father on Father's Day. It wasn't until a tragedy had happened that everything changed.
     April 21, 2013 was the day my father passed away. At the age of 58 years old, my father had passed away from the long and brutal fight he had with Lou Gehrig’s disease. I was told that since this disease which impaired his ability to walk and talk properly, it was hard for him to visit me. I still questioned why he couldn't at least visit me for the holiday or try to make a way to be in my life more.

     Two weeks after his funeral, I was in a church service. The preacher was preaching about forgiveness. He was saying that in order to move on to have peace in your life, you have to forgive. After he said that, I realized that forgiving my father was the only way that I could move on and have peace. That day I decided to let go of the hate. I learned the importance of forgiving anybody who has ever hurt me. This led me to activate a whole new mindset and it changed my thinking. When you hold a grudge against somebody, it's only hurting you. You give the person who did you wrong the authority to dominate your mindset. You should never allow anyone to control your mindset and put you and put hate in your heart. You should also never let anybody who did you wrong make you feel bad about yourself. Every individual on this Earth is destined for greatness. In fact as crazy as this sounds, I believe that everyone is royalty. If everyone realized this, we as a human race would settle a lot of issues and accomplish so much more. It all starts with a positive attitude. Keeping this mindset will bring anyone very far in life and enable them to extraordinary things.

Laws of Attraction

Ashley Mason

The law of attraction; it’s a powerful thing. How do I know? Because I am living proof of it. My whole life from elementary school to high school I was bullied. I was told I couldn’t sit at a table because I wasn’t a certain race. I didn’t like meat for a period of time so some girls snuck meat slabs into my lunch box when I went up to get a little carton of milk. There were terrible things written about me on a bathroom mirror along with vicious rumors that ran everyone away from me. The worst part about it was these girls used to be my friends. Once I hit high school, people tried to pick me up and throw me in a dumpster, malicious poems were written about me and circulated through school and I was threatened on several occasions. In gym class, some girls I barely knew decided they wanted to play dodge ball and threw the ball right at my face and knocked me out. They laughed as a classmate took me down to the nurses off. I was in a bad place with bad thoughts. I hated my life and I didn’t see the point of living. I had a number of big dreams and tried to not let people get me down, but they always found a way. They told me I was stupid and just a pretty face. I wouldn’t amount to anything and I would have to marry rich because I wouldn’t make my own living. They would laugh if I came to them with a dream and tell me why it wasn’t possible. I started to believe all the things being said about me as it was said by many people, so why wouldn’t it be true if everyone saw that in me. 

                The end of my junior year, I began working at a library. It was a blessing in disguise and my saving grace. I started reading books all the time. I read nonfiction and many self-help books on spiritual healing. All I knew was I was in a bad place and wanted to get out desperately. Growing up as the oldest of four children, I was not always given the attention I wanted and if I did, it was quickly distracted. I learned at a young age I can only count on myself and that I have control over my life, not my circumstances. I would read several books a week and then I decided to start reading positive quotes for one hour a day. I saw improvements immediately. I thought to myself, “Wow, I am doing a lot of things to help myself and my outlook has changed to a way I never thought I would feel or see again. I can do anything.” That is when my whole life changed.

After my epiphany, I started to realize life is about what you want from it. The law of attraction is whether a person focuses on positivity or negativity, and the outcome is whatever their energy is focused on. Most of my life was based around negativity. Once I started looking for good and trying to bring in positive energy, the dark clouds went away. I felt a weight lifted and I felt freed. This brought great success and happiness to my life. Success to me is loving yourself and doing what makes you happy. It’s helping others along the way and there is no monetary value. Without positivity, there is no success. There is no success without failure. No one attempts something and achieves greatness the first time. In fact, if I did something and it came out great the first time, I would be a little disappointed. That seems a little weird, right? What I have learned from living with positivity is when something doesn’t go how you want it, it means something better is ahead. For example, I applied for several jobs because I didn’t feel I was reaching my full potential at the library. I patiently waited and 60 applications later, I finally got a call back from the community college I attended. I worked there for about a year, and still felt I wasn’t reaching my full potential so for six months, I diligently applied to many jobs once again. I would get a few call backs here and there but nothing solid. I could have been upset or angry, but I knew that if I sent out positivity to the universe, they would return the favor. Soon enough, I got a call from the state about an interview. I went in and realized this is not what I had intended it to be, as it was in IT and I was looking for more clerical type work. Rather than being disappointed, I let them know my situation and told them I was willing to give them my all and I would be happy no matter what I did. One of the managers interviewing said they didn’t think this job was the right fit for me, but she knew of one that was and had a special arrangement set up for me as they had already done the interviews for this position but hadn’t decided on a candidate yet. I ended up getting the job and I have been here for two years already!

Thinking positive in a negative situation can yield great outcomes. If I hadn’t thought positively through all that, I wouldn’t be where I am now. It’s made me more successful and improved my future. With the different jobs I’ve had, I’ve been able to pay for all my schooling so far. At times, I had three jobs while going to school to make sure I would have enough for my bills and for my tuition. In a way, we create the results of situations based on how we react. I live with the motto of thinking positively brings in positivity. I also believe that everything happens for a reason. When I didn’t get the jobs I wanted, I knew there was something better. I knew I had to stay positive and patiently wait for the right position to come along.

Currently, I am in the same position as I am a little less than a year from graduating and I want to find my career job. I’ve applied to several places, but I haven’t received a call back yet. I know that if I keep thinking positively, positivity will come back and I will find the perfect job. I am also applying for many scholarships. I haven’t heard back from anyone yet, but I know that’s because something great is going to happen and if I start thinking negatively and assuming I won’t get anything, then that will be the outcome. My positive thinking has also helped others around me and they have begun applying for scholarships and bringing positive energy into their lives and they have seen improvements as well. I feel this wouldn’t be possible without the positive energy vibes given off that truly show people that all it takes is the law of attraction. Positivity brings upon more positivity and there is no way I would ever go back to negative thinking.

Focusing on things you can control

Ivan Ost
University of Chicago

Prompt: How has the Internet helped your education?

The little stainless steel iPod Touch was six months of savings and the most exciting thing since Christmas. It had me tracking, obsessively, its location on the long odyssey from the Foxconn production facilities in China to my home here in Sebastopol and sprinting home from the bus on the Big Day to unravel that intricate, crafted packaging. I was immediately wrapped around that object, emotionally invested in its curves, its touch(!) screen, the earthy click of its finger-molded home button, and most importantly, the cosmos of content that it contained, the more-or-less-entirety of the miracle and library that is the Internet. I could now scroll through that vast repository, digging its depths one 3.5” screen-full at a time.

My digital beginnings were simple. I quickly tired of ripoff Fruit Ninja and Doodle Jump and began to dabble in the online world. An email address was the first step.

Here’s how it happened. I:

1.      set up my email.
2.      found my inbox empty.
3.      signed up for every digital newsletter I could find.

I Googled what I knew and scoured the webpages for their newsletters. I found the Minecraft newsletter, the changelog for an online Battlestar Galactica game, details about Apple’s rumored next iPhones, and, of course, inside each email, I found links with more details that I was hungry to read in my glut of bored summer free time -- pages of the Battlestar Wiki, appleinsider.com, and more, and more. My reliable summer schedule became an arduous two hours of parentally enforced outdoor play, two hours of book-reading, and then an afternoon of exploratory Internet spelunking.

I learned to follow threads. I loved to read, but print books were finite and free of hyperlinks, so my thread of curiosity was limited to the width of the author’s story. What they didn’t write, I didn’t learn. When I was curious about the ancient city of Prague, where the protagonists dueled lumbering, river-mud-golems, I had to ask a parent, find a reference book, or give up.

The Internet, though, was different. As soon as I discovered that those little blue links could answer any question I had about my subject, about anything, how oolong tea is processed or how fighters catapult from the backs of aircraft carriers, I began to teach myself how to learn. I could start with one topic and follow my lines of questioning until the supposed magic of Vltava river mud and the history of Prague’s golems traced paths like ivy around my first question. Before I knew it, after a few days of reading on a topic, I was borderline well-informed. Following those branching pathways, one place to another to another, I learned why the Internet is called the web.

Through the Internet, I learned how to research and wander, the logistics of the action itself but also a love for the process, the satisfying accumulation of finding out more. School has taught me to value education. The Internet showed me how to love the process.

The Law of Attraction

Julia Wan

Personal development is very important; using the law of attraction has had a positive impact in my life to do the things I want to do. A couple of summers ago I read a book, and I had also read numerous things online about the thought that you attract the things you want into your life. This encouraged me to use the principle in my own life. I thought of things that I wanted to happen, for example, I was going back to school and playing volleyball there, I wanted to be an outside hitter and I wanted to play middle back defense. Through the summer I would play volleyball a couple times a week, and then in my mind I would picture myself doing those things, hitting outside, and playing middle back. When I got to school my coach put me in the position that I was hoping for, but he didn’t put me in middle back. So for a couple of games I played left back, but I kept the picture in my head, the scene, the motions of playing middle back. My coach switched me; he could see that my body moves better with the game if I’m in the middle back. During that semester, I continued to use the law of attraction in my life; I would try to attract positive thoughts of me doing well in my classes, or winning a game, getting a good grade on an exam, or for a happy relationship with my boyfriend. I kept those positive thoughts in my head, which attracting positivity will lead to positive things happening in your life. Just as if you think something bad will happen, usually something bad does happen. I wanted to be happy; I attract happy feelings by thinking about having happy feelings. During my semester I would meditate in my room, trying to attract good things in my life. The outcome was excellent, my volleyball team and I won our conference, and we went to the first round of NCAAs, but we lost. We had a ton of fun, and I really was happy with how far we got, I wish we got further. I thought about the next time I would see my boyfriend, since we were long distance, and when we went to the NCAA tournament he drove 4 hours to watch me play. When we got off the bus that night, that was the end of our season, and it was time for me to focus on my grades. I was taking an advanced course on cognitive neuropsychology and I was so scared that I wouldn’t pass. I studied every night and took excellent notes, I would just think about how awesome it would feel to pass that class. At the time I was also taking a 3D design class, I was somewhat having a hard time since one of the days I missed for a volleyball game and fell behind. The class time is mainly the students designing 3D art projects. I had to attract the positive thoughts that I would get through those classes, that I would make deans list or get close to it. When my boyfriend had his thanksgiving break he got to stay at my school with me for a couple days before I went on mine, everyday I was hoping I would get to see him. The law of attraction has been a huge influence on my life and will continue to be for years to come. Everyday I attract positive thoughts so that I don’t feel depressed anymore, so I don’t have an anxiety attack, or so that I can focus on my schoolwork. I have always had problems with these issues, I never knew what to do, and I certainly had no idea what I wanted in life. By using this principle in my life it has helped me to be a better person, and become the person that I want to be. I have seen my family struggle with the same issues as I do, and I didn’t have a very good role model for what to do. I am the youngest of four kids, and I am the first to go to college; neither of my parents went to college either. My parents always wanted us to go to school; it’s just that we all had a difficult time in school. It wasn’t until my freshman year in high school that I decided to focus of volleyball and my academics more. I thought about how happy my parents would be if I could do the things my siblings didn’t get to do, or that they didn’t get to do. That is the thought that I always attract into my life, how happy my parents would be of me if I could do something amazing with my life. That is what I want to attract.

The power of positive thinking

Stacia Richard

Thoughts. Do they really ever stop? Even when we are sleeping the brain in a subconscious state still does not pause them. The power of thinking is not known to many. Some do not understand, we have the ability to manifest everything we want into our lives. Dwelling on negatives will only bring relative ideas, literally creating a dark cloud around our cranium. When I  finally decided to take action and contradict the negativity positivity took affect, allowing me to relinquish the cloud.

When I project positivity that's what I get. I was standing inline at a local bookstore. I’d already gone in and browsed the isles and headed to the register. There I was greeted by an older lady in front of me, she was dealing with a returning a book but the cashier noticed a deformation in the book. If I choose to think about how long she was going to take, the longer it would have taken her. Instead I decided to think of how much I would enjoy reading my book later that evening. My positive vibrations radiated towards the situation in front of me, and quickened the process. Time is ultimately an illusion the more I  thought about it the slower it went. I have realized my thoughts do not only effect me, those around me are also effected. A thought goes out in the form of a vibration, these vibrations can and do touch those around us.

Positivity isn’t only for when I need to get out of a situation, it is my way of life. The power of positivity is something that should always be spread throughout life. Nothing I truly want is achieved after the first try. The first time I chose to workout the ten pounds I planned on losing was still there. I only began to see changes after I committed myself to the idea of losing weight. The same goes for positive thinking, just because I radiated something positive in that moment does not mean it will appear right then. It is with my commitment that I  started to see my desired changes. When negative things happen I choses to not ponder on how much it bothers me, instead I choose to think about how soon it will begone and what I will do when that time comes. Spreading positivity where ever I go, I do not know what the fellow next to me is going through.

Those of us who choose positive thoughts have better lives.Through out everyday we face many situations, some we would have never expected. When we choose to take on said situations head on with a positive attitude our chances of getting the results we want are higher. Many choose to think of all the worlds negatives, never realizing thats why their lives are so miserable. The power of positive thinking allows people who incorporate it into their lives to see the bright sides to their situations. By simply choosing to acknowledge the lesson learned from my problems I am accepting it. Positivity allows me to learn from my past and accept my mistakes as a form of blossoming into who I am meant to be. When I finally began to accept my selfs and my mistakes is when I started seeing who I truly was.

Being a skeptic and doubting yourself at every turn will only lead to more uncertainty. In life positive thinking allows me to make choices and stand by them. When I choose to make a decision instead of stating how I’m not sure or just don't care, sets the ball of life in motion. Every decision I don’t make happened in another dimension. I  make my choices to go on with my life and not have to dwell on, ‘what if?’. Choosing to be positive isn't always easy. What I  keep in mind is that nothing worth doing is ever easy. Positive thinking  brings light into my life. Granting light into my life makes way for me to look at the bright sides. Understanding that this negative is only for the moment, and the sun will come out tomorrow. I accept that bad things happen to everyone, and I have the power to make it through to the sunshine of tomorrow.

The power of positive thinking is abundant. I am aware my power to control everything manifested into my life, because I created it. Keeping positive thought help maintain my happiness and satisfaction with life. When I choose to dwell on the negatives of life that is what I  attract. Understanding that positive thinking is a lifestyle opened all the doors I’d been waiting on. The positivity I put out soon returned and entered my life. I do not continuously think of what I can’t do. Once I start believing in not only the impossible but also my self, I was made aware of what all I am capable of.

Gratitude

Jennifer Romero
California Baptist University

 When I was in high school I was part of the AVID program. The high school I attended was considered an AVID demo school, which meant that our school could be used to train other schools that were developing the program. My sophomore year of high school we were told that the AVID board had chosen our school to be used for the new AVID video.  Also we were told that they were picking students from our class to be a part of that video and it seemed interesting, but in reality I did not want to be chosen because the idea made me nervous. The video would be used to teach other teachers and students how to go about doing tutorials.

Tutorials were done twice a week and during tutorials students were to come to class with a question that they had worked out but were confused on; and they were split in groups based on their questions so they can help each other. The tutorial process after being split into groups is having the person that needs the most help to go up on the board and write their question, the job for the rest of the group is to ask questions which will help the student answer their question. In order for the board members to pick a student from our class they observed us for a couple of weeks and they were to choose the three they felt represented tutorials to their liking. Those three would then be recorded and then they would pick the one that would be used to teach the process of tutorials nationwide.

The day finally came when they announced the three that were the possible contenders for the video. I was hoping not to hear my name but to my surprise the second name they called was mine. All I could think at that moment is that I should be grateful because I was given an opportunity that only three from the whole class were given. I was still a little nervous because I knew this meant they were to record us next week with our groups and that they would then make their final decision. In all honesty as the day to record got closer the more nervous I got; I was scared I was going to mess up or that they might think I was a waste of time. The day before our recording day I was preparing my tutorial sheet and, although I was scared, I could not help but think that I was lucky for them to have considered my work.

A lot of people in my class did a very good job as well, so I was thankful for the opportunity.  It was finally the day when we were going to record our videos and I was told me and my group were going to be the second group to be recorded. Meanwhile we were to wait for the first group to finish and during that time I just felt terrified. I got more nervous when I was told I had to wait longer because they were going to record the first group again since they could not hear them well in the first recording. Finally the time for my group to be recorded had come.

We walked into the room and there was a camera, a boom mike, people from the AVID board, my teacher, and another tutorial group. It was time to take our seats and start recording and I was going to be the presenter (the student that goes up to the board to work out their question). The nerves went away quicker than I thought and the process felt to go by pretty quickly. I felt even better when some of the board members took a picture of my work on the white board. After finishing the recording I felt happy and a bigger feeling of gratitude for this experience that was given to me. The board members told us they were going to announce whose video was picked in about a week. I was actually excited to find out if mine was picked. When my teacher was informed who was picked she was ready to make the announcement.

It was what she opened class with that day, she had us do a drum roll and then she announced my name. I could not be more grateful that they picked me. She told me that we were going to have teachers from around the district come to the school to watch the video and learn about the tutorial process. My parents were so proud and excited that I could be a part of the AVID video. I still am very grateful that I was chosen to be a part of that experience.

Having an attitude of gratitude

Maryam Sekhery

I felt some poking at the back of my head. I turned around to see who it was and saw my fellow classmates watching the movie on the screen so intently. I turned back around and heard them snickering.

“She’s bald.”

I went white as a sheet.

How did they know? My mom tied my hair in a way that no one could tell…

“She was right. I see it too”

Who was right? Who knew?

RING! The bell signaled that lunch time was over. We waited for our teacher to come take us back to class.

Rhea tapped me on the shoulder.

Excited that someone was being friendly, I quickly faced her. “Hi.” I smiled.

“Hey.” She smirked. “I wanted to ask, why do you wear your hair like that?”

I panicked. “What do you mean? I just wanted to.“ I noticed the carefully placed pins in her own hair. “Why do you wear your hair like that?”

“My mom did my hair. I can’t touch it. She’ll get mad.”

“Oh.”

“Take off your pins.”

“I don’t want to…”

“Why? Are you hiding something?”

“No…I just don’t want to--”

Ms. Perry came to my rescue. “Girls, let’s go. Everyone has already started their way back to class.”

We began walking and I kept my head down trying to hide my tears.

I hated this part of my life. I was nine years old. You would think people would be kinder to me, but no they were so cruel. Imagine a chubby cute little girl, yes I was cute, with bangs, short hair, and glasses, and people picking on her. Maybe that seems normal to you, but I despised that time. And you know what shocked me the most? That girl, Rhea, was bald too. That’s why she couldn’t move her pins. Yet, everyone knew about my hair loss and not hers. And you know why? Rhea told everyone. That’s right. Nine year olds can be so selfish. I had alopecia and so did she. We could have become friends over that, but no she didn’t want that. By the end of the year, I was sitting alone at lunch and she sat with the “cool” people at the back of the table.

I went to Switzerland, my family reunion summer vacation, earlier that year. When I got there, my mother didn’t tell anyone but my aunt found out when she walked into the room one day and my mom was applying corticosteroids to the various bald spots in my head. My aunt started crying but it didn’t faze me, I was used to it. The doctor had said that there wasn’t any cure and I could get injections in my head with the possibility of hair growth.

Fortunately, my hair started growing back that June. It took a while for my hair growth to catch up to the length of the majority of my hair, but it came back and I can only thank God for that.

I will be honest, I never thought positively back then. I never thought that my hair would grow back, but it did. I should have focused on positive thinking because if I did, my hair might have grown back faster. However, I have always had an attitude of gratitude. I am thankful to God for every little thing He has blessed me with. Even when the girls in my class picked on me, I was thankful to God that they couldn’t actually harm me, both physically and emotionally, without my consent. I let them hurt me emotionally. What could I have done, especially as a nine year old? I was thankful for my early trip to Switzerland that year. That time helped me get through alopecia.

The doctors used to say that I got alopecia from stress. The elders told my mom that I lost my hair because “wicked ladies got a bad eye” on me. All I did was thank God that I never lost all of my hair. Yes, I lost hair in random spots, making it difficult to cover up, but I didn’t really know that I had so many. I had only been told of two spots. I was thankful that all of my other body parts, my heart, my arms, my legs, my eyes, functioned properly.

 My parents are the reason that my hair came back, and my attitude of gratitude will never be enough to repay them for all they have done. My father used to pray all of the time for my hair to come back. He would say, “Oh Lord, take away my hair, but please make my daughter’s hair grow back.” I showed my gratitude to my mom all of the time, for taking care of my hairstyles, applying the corticosteroids and doing my shampoo.

My story didn’t end happily, and honestly, most stories don’t. Although my hair came back, I had hair loss again in seventh grade. That year, I went to Switzerland as well, ironically, and my hair came back. Maybe there’s just something different in the air in Switzerland? The thing that I am most thankful about at times is that God helped me get through these times and so did my family. I am thankful I didn’t have to get injections in my head with a chance of hair growth. I am thankful that my hair came back. I am grateful that I had my parents to keep me hopeful. I am thankful for everything.

Having an attitude of gratitude not only gets you through tough times in life, but gets us through everything in life blissfully. When we show gratitude, we are thankful to God and everyone else. There’s a wonderful chain reaction; the people we show gratitude to, get happy, we get happy, and then, everyone is happy. 

Just keep swimming

Jasmine Han
University of Rochester, NY

Just keep smiling, just keep swimming. If you are like me, life’s ups and downs may have brought you on a roller coaster ride, leaving you feeling like you are out of control. Of course, we’ve all grown up hearing peers, parents and authorities tossing around the thought that Life’s not fair, you can’t do anything about it, that’s how life is. Despite this accepted idea, I know that there is a way for us to be in the driver’s seat on this path. We are in charge of our own thinking and emotions and by utilizing this piece of knowledge, we can choose how we react to and our outlooks on situations.
     Gymnastics was never a skill of mine to start off with. Running my hands through glossy pages of the yearbook, I settled on the graceful pictures of gymnasts tumbling and flying through the air. This was the first time I considered participating in a sport in middle school. Gymnastics was a sport that I wanted to learn from and improve my overall body endurance and flexibility. However, young and without prior experience or lessons, I knew that making the team much less joining the varsity team was beyond my dreams. Two months before the actual try-outs, I fiddled with the idea, often imagining the outcomes. More often, I rode my bike to the nearby park and began attempting some of the skills I had seen gymnasts perform on the uneven bars when I visited the local gymnasium and watched 5-year olds perform routines. All I had to do was focus on one accomplishment, one little skill that I had learned by myself. It was all it took to convince me that I could try out and show the coaches my perseverance. Day 1 of tryouts crept up on me. The event started with basic tumbling, something that I had been playing over and over inside of my brain for the past few weeks. “You got this, you know what this is,” I whispered to myself before I could panic and think about all the wrong things I could be doing. By focusing on the things that I could control, I was able to calm myself and provide myself with confidence. Finally, it was time for my group to try the uneven bars. As one by one performed the basic skills, front hip circle, back hip circle, squat on, I murmured to myself as I watched some girls laughing at the girl on the bars in front of me, “It doesn’t matter what others think, just focus on the skills that you have been practicing. You’ve done these a lot so you are prepared. Show them what you’ve got!” It was already my turn to perform the skills. I walked up to the bars with what some would call “a false sense of confidence” but at least I was confident inside. Flawlessly, I executed the flips as I had told myself these past few weeks. With another goal accomplished, I was accepted onto my first gymnastics team! I knew deep down inside that ultimately, my goal was to make it onto the varsity team so I continued to practice my bar skills during practice, replaying and replaying the skills perfectly in my head. I could almost feel the exhilaration and excitement I would have exhibited if my coaches informed me that I had made the varsity team. My friends would no doubt support me as well.
     One day towards the end of practice, one of my coaches had reported me to the head coach about my performance. She wanted him to come watch me perform the squat on and jump to the high bar. For some reason, I understood that this was my chance to demonstrate my willpower as well as my determination. Jumping onto the high bar will be a new skill that I have never physically tried, but it didn’t matter. I had already jumped to the high bar in my mind. Of course, I agreed and stepped off the bars to begin my full routine. First, I demonstrated my pull-over onto the low bar, my front hip and back hip circle and then last of all, my squat on. Throughout this entire process, I kept such a positive outlook on myself and those around me that I managed to jump onto the high bar for the first time. The head coach seemed impressed by my skill but mostly, by my open-mindedness and devotion to practice. That day forward I was a member of the Lakota Middle School Varsity Gymnastics Team.
Without any prior experience, I consider this accomplishment of my most rewarding experiences. As I have grown up, I find it more difficult to maintain such as positive and grateful attitude in my daily life events due to more peer pressure, elements of self-consciousness and the increasing competition and the daunting reality of the world as I prepare for college. Fortunately, this memory will stay with me even when though I am far from it. When I open my seventh grade yearbook, I am left staring into open space as I recall the motivation, belief and attitude I exhibited to reach and catch this goal. A picture of me standing proudly with my team is all it takes to remind me that things, actions, ideas can be done as long as I believed I could do it. But I really had to believe in myself. No fake cover-ups, doubts, worries or excuses. I had sincerely believed that I could make the Varsity Gymnastics Team and my motivation shined through my actions. I am grateful for this opportunity to see the power of human thinking in our everyday lives and it will be an experience that I won’t forget. I cannot wait to see how far I will go in the next decade as I pursue higher education and medical school with the dream to spread my help to others. And who knew that Dory’s quote from Finding Nemo could be so true? Just keep swimming, just keep swimming and

Ahead of time

Jeromey Martínez

Growing up there was a plot I’d seen many times in film and television. A character literally goes back in time to right their wrongs and correct unfortunate situations in order to alter their future. In the end, what they learned is that no matter how many times they went back in time to try and change the situation it still resulted in the same outcome. They were stuck in time going back and forth trying to fix something that was out of their control. I would often think of this story in relation to my life because, like many people, I had a lot of regrets I wish I could’ve gone back in time to fix. Like that character, I was so focused on the past that I completely forgot about my future. Most of the time the situations I wanted to fix were things I couldn’t control and there was nothing I could have done differently. The principle I chose to write about is focusing on the things I can control because it is the principle that saved my life and I can assure you there is no one who understand the consequences of avoiding this principle more than I do.

The hardest lesson I learned through focusing on what I could control was that I was in the position I was in because I chose to be. In early 2009, I was rejected from almost all the colleges I applied to which left me heart broken. In 2010, I attended an art school but was suspended after a few months due to the severity of my depression. By 2011, I had no job, I barely left my apartment, slept, or ate. After my second hospitalization I knew that I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life clinically depressed. Yet there was no one who frustrated me or made me feel helpless more than myself so I chose to do nothing simply because I was afraid to do anything. I felt like a failure and that my life was mocking me. I knew about lost, I knew about pain and sacrifice, but the concept of control seemed incomprehensible to me. I focused so much on what I couldn’t control that it began to control me. Change felt impossible, change was scary, but among the many lessons I’ve learned is that change is imperative to personal development.

To accept change I had to accept that I could not control the actions and reactions of other people only my own. Dealing with rejection has never been easy for me because I often allowed the actions that were done to me affect my personal judgment. After being rejected from those schools, I doubted my intelligence, I blamed the socioeconomic faults of my high school for not preparing me for college, and as my world collapsed my life began to appear as one huge dismissal. People will say no, some may say it harshly than others, but no matter what they say or do it’s important to remain active. However, I was stifled and stagnant floating in an ocean of blame and self criticism. My life was supposed to be in my hands but instead it was in the hands of my past and I had enough. I acted by first finding a therapist I was more compatible with and a year later I began meditating at the Transcendental Meditation Center to help manage my emotions and stress resiliency. That action lead to me first job as an administrative assistant there at the center which gave me the courage to transition to a more social environment when I became employed as a theatre usher. Then by mid 2013 I felt it was time to return to school but instead at a community college rather than an art school. I completed my first semester at West La College and continued at Pasadena City College. Going back to school wasn’t easy for me but once I got over one hurdle the rest were a piece of cake. Once I was able to manage my mental health the time came for me to make one last change.

By remaining active and in control I understood that one simple action could reciprocate a positive reaction and through this I learned the final and most important lesson; I was more powerful than I gave myself credit for. I had the power to make an impact and produce change. Throughout my adolescence and early adulthood, I struggled with my weight and at the age of 20 I was diagnosed with gallbladder disease. The damage was done but I decided to gain control over my eating and in return lost approximately fifty pounds. In Spring 2014, during my second year of college, I had my gallbladder removed and today I’ve lost approximately one hundred pounds. Of all the changes I’ve made in my life losing weight was the most difficult and the most rewarding. Losing those pounds was more than weight off my body; it was relief from years of pain and unimaginable challenges. The quality of my life improved dramatically because I focused on what I could control and embraced change. After my surgery I continued my studies at PCC and finished my Sophomore year with straight A’s and a 3.7 GPA. Starting this Fall I’ll be transferring to The New School in New York City where I’ll be studying Theatre, Film, and Photography. I chose these disciplines because art has brought an abundant amount of substance to my life. It’s allowed me to deal with the struggles of my past and rewrite the course of my future. Art is an essential part of my power. It was a gift that was given to me and a gift I hope to give to others.

Through this principle of control, I realized my strengths, worked on my weaknesses, and progressed into a better and healthier version of myself. I am not a perfect person but even when I have my doubts I am beyond relentless. There is no other student as passionate as I am. There is no other student as honest and courageous. No matter what I educationally achieve, I know I will continue to progress and grow, and I am very proud of myself. I know I cannot control time but the fact that I will be a full time student in NYC living my childhood dream I can live knowing I’m at least one step ahead of it.

Realizing what I could and couldn't control

Faith Reed
SUNY Buffalo State College

Growing up in what seemed to be a normal household from the outside was something that confused me well into my late teens. My family situation was anything but normal, however all of my friends assumed I lived a perfect life because of the happiness I constantly gave off. So with everyone I knew telling me how lucky I was, I would sometimes stay up and ponder if I was lucky and was just taking what I had for granted. I was so unsure.
     My parents divorced when I was nine years old, which is the best decision they ever could have made. By Christmas of 2007 I was moved into a tiny ranch house with my mother, sister and brother. My mom never treated us properly, but she would pretend she did when my father was around. Now that she was all on her own, all walls came down. I felt like there was no escape from the negativity and the constant suicide threats and the comments of wishing she had never gave birth to any of us.                 
     I eventually got out of there and moved into my Dad’s house when I was thirteen years old, the best decision I ever could have made. However, the pain from my childhood still lived within me, even when I couldn’t feel it tearing away at my soul. With a lack of emotional support coming from my father, I felt as though I couldn’t express my feelings. As I had always struggled with my body, by the time I was seventeen I had developed an eating disorder; bulimic anorexia. It consumed me, and I knew I would never be able to escape it. As much as I wanted to get better, I was so sure that I would die from all of the trauma I was putting my body through.
     About six months after everything really erupted and my health was plummeting exponentially each day, people began to figure things out and I was forced into therapy, something I had truly feared. I was in a constant conflict with myself because I wanted to recover so that I could be healthy again and do all of the things I used to love doing, like picking up the two year old I babysat. However, I also feared recovery because of my major phobia of gaining weight. At this point, I was more afraid of weight gain than I was of losing my life.
     My counselor, and many close family friends kept talking to me about control. “I need to feel in control so that is why I am doing this to myself.” And for a long time I hated hearing this. I was in control of myself and my actions and all these people were wrong and ignorant. I shortly realized that I was the ignorant one. I may have not noticed I needed control, but I did. I felt as though I couldn’t control my feelings about what had happened to me when I was a child, and I couldn’t take any of those events back. I didn’t realize this until I learned that what happened to me wasn’t my fault, and all of it was out of my control. I was just along for the ride.
     It is no surprise that I developed an eating disorder. I was constantly being told I was ‘fat’ or ‘too big’ or should be ‘eating less’ when I was never even over weight. And already having negative thoughts about myself, it seems now looking back that it was almost impossible to avoid.
     I withdrew from my first semester at Ithaca College because my disorder was out of control and I wasn’t healthy enough to stay there anymore. I received no credits from that semester when I had left just one week before my final exams. I had done so much work and it all ended up to be for nothing, and I have the bills to remind me of it every day.
     I knew that I couldn’t let this ‘thing’ keep destroying my life and taking away everything I worked so hard for. I worked with many counselors and began to realize that although it didn’t seem like it, this disorder was actually something I did have control over. Not completely, but I could be the one to choose to go back to therapy and to work hard every day to rid myself of these awful habits. Also, I could be the one to reach out when things weren’t going so well and when I was relapsing. I had to choose to not be embarrassed to ask for help every single time I needed it, because maybe it wasn’t possible to get through it alone, but it was possible to get through it.
     Something that really helped me was the serenity prayer, “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” I decided to let go of what I couldn’t change, and start focusing on the things that I could. Realizing what I could and couldn’t control has everything to do with my recovery.
     Nothing is perfect, and it is still hard sometimes to not give in to my thoughts and act them out as harmful behaviors. However, I am working through it. I am going back to school in a couple weeks, I have two jobs, and I can pick up my now four year old little guy with no problem. I am getting stronger every day, and I wouldn’t trade that for the world.

Positive thinking

Kamah Bivins

At an early age, I understood the diversity of the community I lived and went to school in. I knew there were an array of minorities from several different backgrounds and economic statuses. Living in the large city of Atlanta, I was able to experience that life is rough for many people.  The city of Atlanta has a perception of a very gloom background where many single mothers are barely able to feed their children, homeless citizens without a safe haven and children who lack proper positive guidance from home fall into a life of delinquency. Even as a child, I was determined to not “fall through the cracks” and ensure that I do not become a statistic but rather make a positive impact on my life by deciding to enter college. Deciding to attend college appeared easier said than done because I didn’t have an inkling of the vast amounts of careers I was able to pursue.
            As I grew older, I observed that I enjoyed leading large groups of people to complete projects for my school and environment. I was always a person who would rather provide someone else the opportunity to shine than to be the one who takes it. I’ve also always enjoyed contributing to intellectual conversations with others from all diverse backgrounds. It appeared clear to me soon that, I was born to become an entrepreneur. After I’ve figured my career goal, I set my sights on the expectations and opportunities of an entrepreneur. The wealthiest of entrepreneurs are also known to be some of the wealthiest people in this world. Even with their loads of money, many don’t make it a priority to change some of the less fortunate parts of the world and put forth an effort to create a better economic status for them. As an entrepreneur, I plan to give back to not only my community but for everyone in need of assistance around the world. My long term goal is to save the world by ending poverty and hunger.
            “Poverty is not an accident. Like slavery or apartheid, it is man-made and can be removed by the actions of human beings” (Mandela). In my opinion, wealth isn’t given to a person to use for themselves, but to help others less fortunate with the inability to be economically independent.  My entire future after high school will be aimed towards that goal of a better future for all. As I have grown up, I have seen people fall into depression and starve because no one would reach their hand out to help. I can become that help even if I have to do it on my own. Being an entrepreneur is one of the greatest ways to get this message across. Initially, I believed that I was destined to become an entrepreneur to display my leadership abilities however; leadership should be given the opportunity of all, despite the circumstances.

The power of positive thinking

Marcus Nelson

The power of positive thinking is beyond belief and I personally don’t think people understand the benefits of doing such. It provides a different perspective to living especially in difficult times. My personal experience, which changed my life, came not too long ago. At the time I felt somewhat lost and depressed. The more I thought negative the more things seemed to get worse. I believe this is the law of attraction, you think and so it shall be. I came across some motivational videos while doing a random search on Youtube and from there things began to change. I felt uplifted and powerful, not physically but mentally.  I continued to watch more and more feeling determination to change and my mindset began to become more positive. I started to see the silver lining in everything and when “bad things” would happened I was unscathed. The more positive I thought the more positive things would happen and like Confucius once said “He who thinks he can and He who thinks he can’t are usually both right.” If you go into a job interview with a positive mindset it creates a positive aurora around you, you feel good and you’re more upbeat person to talk to. If you do the same thing but with a negative attitude you’ve basically already accepted failure and there is a negative vibe about you. Which would you want to hire? My father, who happens to be a 51 year old bodybuilder, was struggling to find the motivation to continue with bodybuilding. He let a difficult lifestyle and the negativity of individuals get into his head. The fact that he was up there in age, people told him that he should think about retiring due to the fact that his body can’t take the stress and unfortunately he began to think they were right. I pulled him off to the side and showed him some of the motivational videos. I told him about how they helped change my thought process and how things have begun to get better for me. I spoke to him every day giving him a positive motivation as well as outlook on any issues he was having. He started having a better outlook at life and started becoming a more positive person. He started training harder because he wanted to show everyone that he could do it regardless of what was being said. He won first place in his division, first in masters, and won third overall. He even received a promotion for his hard work and positive attitude, his work said it was because he inspired people to have a positive attitude at work. Here is another example on how powerful positive thinking has benefited an individual. My last example of how the power of thinking has benefited someone is about my little brother. My little brother was a very hard working man, he had his own apartment along with someone he loved. His mindset was not always positive but then again it wasn’t always negative. He worked, trained, and then would go home to relax. Times began to get difficult with time management as well as finances. His thinking process started to become more negative than positive. He thought he would never have time for training and that he would never be able to catch up on his bills. This of course began to put stress on the relationship and eventually led to the breakup. At this point it was difficult for my brother to remain positive let alone want to be positive. He lost motivation at work and every chance he got he would call in or go home. I spoke to him about how things were going and told him that it seems the more negative he thought the more negative that would happen. I showed him some of the motivational videos and told him the only way things would change is if he began to be positive. It wasn’t an easy process but he began to do everything he could to be positive. Some days were easier than others and on the bad days we would talk. He started to see the silver lining in everything, something would go wrong such as his car running out of gas and he would see it as an exercising opportunity. Things began to get better and he started doing better at work, working as much hours as possible. He caught up on bills and began training hard. Eventually him and his girlfriend began talking and began to make things work. Ever since then he has continued to keep a positive mind regardless of the obstacles that come. Thus proves my point on the power of positive thinking. The three examples showed not only the effects of negative thinking but how positive thinking has benefits. Every person that began the positive thinking process turned things around.

“The difference between a good day and a bad day is…..perspective.”

Optimism is a mindset that takes courage

Apollonia Morales

            I grew up with a lot of negativity in my life, and it used to be a huge cloud that would loom over my head. When I was a child, my dad would always come home irate because he felt unfulfilled at his job. It set the dynamic for the evening, and it felt like we were always walking on egg shells. Weekends were worse, even though he was not at work, he carried a lot of the negativity everywhere he went and posed a lot of hostility towards us even if we were not doing anything wrong. He would get angry at drivers for the most frivolous reasons, and he would even get angry at my sister and I for any little thing. It was miserable living this way for eighteen years, but it taught me a very valuable lesson in my life. Negativity hurts yourself and everyone around you, and you can end up abusing the ones you love without realizing it.
            Still to this day, my dad does not realize how his negativity has impacted me growing up, but instead of living life by pointing the finger at others when something goes wrong in my life, I take responsibility for my actions and learn from my mistakes. By doing this, I can keep a positive mind and live a much better life with the confidence in knowing I am taking the high road. Having a positive attitude intrigues others, and for a long time, people thought I was being fake, when in all actuality, it was the first time in my life where I truly felt like myself. I was not forced to believe a particular situation, I was not letting anyone else’s negative energy bring me down, and it changed my life. Having self-awareness of who I am and why I react to certain situations has given me the power to take charge of my life by having the courage to face the day no matter how many times it tries to break me.
            Positivity is brilliance, and it changed my life. I now enrich myself and others around me by helping them during the arduous roads in life, and I always reassure them that things will progress in a positive direction. More like than not, these individuals thank me for the kind words of wisdom by helping them stay encouraged through their distresses. Occasionally, others may need a helping hand to guide them through the turbulence, as it gives them hope that they will eventually withstand the hardship and endure the troubles in their life. Constructive thinking has gotten me through some very difficult moments in my life, especially when my parents got a divorce when I was 20 years old. It is kind of funny how people seem to think you can handle a divorce much more cooperatively when you are older, when it is quite the contrary. When my dad told me he was leaving my mom, my whole perspective of love was shattered, and I did not know how to have faith in men. It was hard to believe that anything good could come from a situation like this, but it gave me a different perspective in love, life and happiness. Just because my parents failed at marriage does not mean that I will fail at love. By learning from their mistakes, the relationship I have with my fiancé is strong and prevailing. I have learned that appreciation, trust and communication is key in a relationship, and I make sure that I give my fiancé the love and support he needs every single day. I know it may sound strange, but if I did not learn from the recourse of my parent’s divorce, I could have made the same mistakes my parents did and fail at relationships exactly the way they did. Looking at a the situation in a more positive way has made me a better partner and will also make me a better wife, and I am sure that if my parents had this attitude during their relationship, they would still be together.
           I love helping people, and the love I have for others has inspired me to go to medical school after I graduate from Arizona State University with an undergraduate’s degree in Integrative Health. After obtaining my B.S., I will then study to pursue my true passion in acupuncture and holistic medicine. By obtaining my M.A., I will become a doctor of oriental medicine and help patients in a more holistic manner. These procedures, such as acupuncture, will greatly reduce the use of pharmaceuticals and chemicals given to patients by replacing them with a natural, non-toxic alternative that will increase the quality of life in the body and mind. It is a great option for those who deal with pain on a daily basis. I want to help those who are done taking pain medications every day and want a healthier option to cure the pain. Although, medications only mask the pain, meanwhile, acupuncture can cure the pain by healing the pain at the source. Having a more optimistic attitude will give my patients the mental and physical strength they need to heal their ailments. Patients need a doctor who cares for them and who is willing to treat them with proper care without the need to prescribe medication to temporarily subside the ailments instead of curing it. I want to be the doctor people count on, and with a positive outlook on life and my patients, it will later lead me to my success.
            It truly is an exciting journey for me, and staying above the negativity I have been surrounded with has given me the optimism to go fourth with pursuing a medical career. It is a great start to a new beginning for myself and my family, and I owe it all to the major obstacles I had to face in my life. Without them, I would have never found the strength to dig deep when times get hard, and I would be content with never achieving my goals. By staying level headed, I am going to be the first person in my family to graduate from college with an undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate degree. Most importantly, optimism is a mindset that takes courage, strength, and the willingness to overcome adversity without letting negativity consume the freedom to fly.

Impossible was not impossible

Jordan Alexander
Bentley University

The words ‘no’ and ‘can’t’ are common in a child’s everyday vocabulary. They are heard in the house when the child finally learns how to open the kitchen cabinet, and in the mall, where every store looks desirable. They are words which regulate our behavior, speech, and future actions, yet are said with the intention to teach a child wrong from right. Like all children, I commonly heard these words too. I expected to hear them when I did something wrong, and was obedient to avoid hearing them too often. They were common commands which I followed religiously, and was disappointed to find that my dream represent the Team USA at the Olympics in figure skating was being used in conjunction with similar restricting words.  

It was in November of 2000 when I was first told my dream was an impossibility for me. I wasn’t listening when the doctor first came into the office. He was softly talking with my mom near the door while I was engrossed in the lasted version of the all-too-familiar Highlights Magazine. I immediately looked up though when they turned at address me. Both their faces solemn with grief, they were looking at me in an unfamiliar way. It was not the comforting demeanor I was used to but instead uncomformatable distress. I could tell the news was not one I would be looking forward to hear as the silence seemed to drag on into eternity. That day, I was diagnosed with Kohler’s disease - a rare bone disorder in the navicular bone. The doctor went on to explain the symptoms of the condition, yet I was too preoccupied with his words: “She will never be able to be an athlete.” Within those few words, he leveled my aspirations to be an Olympian, and placed a giant roadblock in front of me. 

I had been limited by the word ‘can’t’ before, but never for doing something which I loved. This time, the restrictions placed on me were to prevent serious injury. It was something I could not ignore and a hurdle I had to figure out how to overcome. I was only five at the time but two options originated; I could either accept my condition’s impairments, or work to overcome them. I understood it was not going to be an easy process and I had to prepare myself for the possibility of failure. I had to challenge my limits though, instead of just accepting them. My dream was not something I was willing to give up that easily and it was something that I was willing to take the risk for. I had nothing to lose and I understood that even if the Olympics did not end up becoming a possibility, I had to at least see how far I could really go. 

Looking back on my decision to challenge my limits, I realize how different my world would be today, had I not done so. Since being diagnosed, I have had a whirlwind of a journey in the figure skating world. I won two back to back national championships at the juvenile level in ’07 and ’08. I few weeks later, I was given the honor of representing the United States internationally as a member of Team USA in Synchronized Skating. At that time I was 12 years old and would become the youngest synchronized skater to ever make Team USA. Since then, I have competed in 9 international competitions, numerous national championships, and the 2015 World Synchronized Skating Championships. I was continuously persistent through all the ups and downs. It was not easy and the journey continues to test my strength, but I can proudly say my dream is still alive. Synchronized Skating has a bid to be included in the 2022 Olympic Games and as the reigning US champion, my dream is becoming closer and closer to reality. 

Although the doctors said my chances of athletic success were slim, I wanted to prove that success wasn’t impossible. The doctor’s focus was on what he thought I couldn’t do on the large scale. By focusing on the small things I could do, I was able to slowly change the big picture of the so called “impossible.”  I set out with the goal to someday walk in the Olympic opening ceremonies, and although I am not there yet, I’ve shown that it’s the desire to be the exception is what makes you extraordinary. I am the only commander of my destiny. There are things that I can’t do, but there are many more that I can do. It is by doing the things that I can do that got me to where I am today. I believed in myself and that the impossible was not impossible. Every day I cherish that I have never let Kohler's disease hold me back, but instead fuel my dream to one day achieve greatness, on my terms, not the diseases.

Opportunity to overcome challenges

Dylan Threadgill
American University

It is often said that one of the hardest things a student can do is take time off. “You won’t want to go back,” they say, “you’ll settle into the workforce” they say. While this may be true for some it has not been true for me. After two years I returned to my education, completed my Associate’s degree and set my sights on a Bachelor’s. At 23 years young I will likely be the oldest junior on campus, but that’s fine by me. I’ve always been known to stand out. 

In August of 2013 I followed my heart to Invisible Children’s Fourth Estate Leadership Summit. I wasn’t studying in the conventional sense of the word but I refused to believe that meant that I couldn’t learn and grow. No one was particularly thrilled with my decision but I moved forward in faith that I was on the right path. I was. For the first time in my life I felt completely at home and amongst strangers! I was surrounded by people that believed in themselves as well as one another and it was electrifying. I was hooked and I would never be the same. 

That was the year I would declutter my life from the inside out. I sold or donated all of my belongings except for what I could fit into two suit cases. My plan was not to over think it. I lived in various communities for weeks or months at a time taking myself as far North as British Colombia, Canada. I read, I ate, volunteered, meditated and I loved. It was time that I needed to find my voice and the inspiration to dedicate myself to making a difference. 

My choices have been unorthodox but they have allowed me to become more focused and driven than ever. My goal is to learn as much as I can about the social, political and economic differences in the world today. I hope by doing so I am able to make use of societies’ unifying principles. My future lies within a life of advocacy. My dream is to rally a social movement for self respect that is completely inclusive of all people. When individuals cultivate their own self worth it’s reflected outward. I believe this is the key to a more peaceful planet. 

I didn't always drive my friends crazy with optimism, however. As a young girl I would woefully recite: The only stable factor in my life is instability. At the time I thought this was my particularly unique situation. However, with practice, I came to understand that most daily factors are in fact out of my control. Wrapping my head around this single truth was the beginning of my liberation. 

One might think that they are relinquishing their power if they cease to exercise control. Quite the contrary. By recognizing and acknowledging our place in the world we may be humbled and empowered to transcend our efforts. This is precisely what I strive to do by moving forward with my formal education. 

My biggest reservation over school was paying for it. I was terrified of debt and what it would do to my future. When I decided to stop living in fear, however, I was able to gain a new perspective. I am a determined, perseverate young women with gumption and finesse, I tell myself. I can do anything I set my mind to. So I began the search for my perfect school, funds and wealth aside. I knew then and I know now that as long as my intentions are pure I will be a success. And lone behold the one school I applied to accepted me. 

That school is American University in Washington, DC, over a thousand miles from home. I chose this school because I sincerely believe that my potential will best be realized as an Eagle where I will be faced with the opportunity to overcome unique challenges and soar. At American University I will not only be exposed to the countries most influential leaders but also accomplished professors and genuine mentors of an incomparable caliber. These are just a few of the reasons that will surely make it all worth it. 

Yes, moving and living expenses can be costly let alone tuition, but I will not allow finances to apprehend my dreams. I understand and practice the Law of Attraction. That is not to say that I will obtain every single thing I strive towards. It may be decided that someone else is more deserving of this scholarship. So be it. At least I was able to share my message with one more person. Some lessons are worth more than their weight in gold and some things have to fall apart so something better can come together.  

I don’t have a step by step plan for how I will apply my education. How can I possibly know today what I will learn tomorrow? What I do know is where there is passion there may be success. At the Fourth Estate Summit we had a saying: Your life is bigger than your best dream for it. So, what will I become? I welcome the uncertainty because theres no expiration for self exploration.

Life is really about love

Brittany Bates
J Sargent Reynolds Community College

“There are many aspects to success; material wealth is only one component. ...But success also includes good health, energy and enthusiasm for life, fulfilling relationships, creative freedom, emotional and psychological stability, a sense of well-being, and peace of mind.”  -Deepak Chopra

            Sitting on the cold rock, drinking the last gulps of water I had in my backpack, I noticed the simplistic beauty of fall leaves strewn across the ground. I sat in this still, enveloped by the heart of nature. My legs trickled blood from the previous wounds of fighting with the prickly bushes. I was exhausted, fearful, and quite certain I had sprained my ankle; I don’t know why I thought it would be a good idea to wear Sketcher Shape Up shoes.  I thought to myself “how did this happen?”….. A fateful handful of events had brought me to this path in my life, but it all started once I graduated high school.
           When I graduated high school, I had no idea who I was or what I wanted from life, let alone, what life REALLY was. So as I waved a jealous goodbye to all my friends as they packed up and turned their focus towards college, I turned mine to the world.  My friends were fortunate that their parents were paying for their education and if mine had been able to, I would have followed the same mundane routine as my peers. Instead, I was solely responsible for paying for my education. Knowing that I would be fronting the costly bill that is education, I needed to be certain of what I wanted to do. I was 18 and my ideas of my future included an oscillating mashup of: artist, scientist, author, environmentalist, fashion designer, and President.  I simply could not afford switching majors. So instead of sampling various college courses, I sampled various landscapes. I sampled various cultures, peoples, foods, social situations, and perspectives.  I had an overabundance of aspirations and was packed with an infinite amount of potential, but I did not have any direction. So to find what was missing within myself, I flung myself outwards into the world.
           Once a year I would take a trip to some desolate location, detached from city life.  I would venture out into nature to reflect, center, and seek guidance within the abundance as did mankind long ago. I had been to Chattanooga, the Great Lakes of Michigan, Asheville, Fayetteville, and Hadensville, to name a few. Yet, the most poignant experience I have ever had, that has forever altered me, was my trip to Shenandoah. I set out towards the end of November on a Friday. I arrived at my rented studio space for the weekend a few hours after my departure. I had collected maps and hiking trails from the local welcome center and spent the evening researching the best sights to see and trails to hike.  I found the perfect location called Overall Run Falls, the largest waterfall in Shenandoah. I packed my belongings in preparation of the hike and went to bed early.  I set off to go hiking at 8:00am that morning with a backpack full of water, a disposable camera, my Rouger semi-automatic 380, bear mace, some almonds, some pickles, and a cell phone. Where Overall Run started was located at a camp site off Skyline Drive called Matthew’s Arm, but in winter Skyline Drive closes and, so, many of the campgrounds were already closed, including Matthew’s Arm.  So I decided I would find a trail that connected to Overall Run. I found Piney Branch Trail, a small winding path that intersected, after roughly an hour of hiking, with Overall Run Falls. To make a long story short, I ended up hiking the wrong direction down Piney Branch, resulting in me wandering around, lost in the woods of Shenandoah (which has over 500 miles of trails). There was a moment when my trail had come to an end at a river. I assumed (not the brightest of ideas when one is alone in the woods) that I would be able to climb up to the top of the mountain, see the waterfall and figure out which way to go. Unfortunately, I couldn’t see anything from the top of the mountain, only more brush, and, on my way down, lost the trail I was previously on completely. After walking opposite direction of the river for roughly an hour, I started to panic. Then, from the depths of my being, the deepest depths of my soul, I called out to God:  “I am lost, where do I go?” Then, I kid you not, the moment after I cried out my plea….a whispering cool breeze came and started to gently move all the leaves around my feet to the left. So I went left. As night fell everything starting going dark, I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face, and I honestly believed that I would surely die. If I hadn’t gone left, I would not have found Skyline Drive 18 hours later.
        Nothing lights a fire under your butt like a near death experience. I discovered that somewhere hidden within my core, is an undying fire, an undying will, to survive and to succeed. I will not stop, I cannot stop. True success is not about what you achieve today; it’s not even about all the accomplishments or acquisitions you hope to gain tomorrow. What I know for sure, real success; rewarding, soul filling success is sustained when we can embrace that greater energy within us, love. What I learned from my experience is that life is fragile, precious and ever fleeting. Life is not about pride, ego, wealth or fame. I learned that I needed to take charge and direct my life instead of just drift through it. I learned that life is really all about the inner most core of who we are as beings, love. I want to dedicate my life to allowing that energy within me to flow freely to everyone and everything. I want to make lasting impacts on people’s lives that will ripple throughout time. This is why I decided to go into the field of Nursing. I plan on graduating from J Sarge with an AS in Nursing and then transfer to VCU to gain a specialization either in sleep disorders, forensic pathology, or neuroscience. I now know who I am and what I want. I define my success. Just like the dark, thick envelope of the woods, life can be a scary place to be. You can feel overwhelmed with obstacles or pressures from society; however, I beat those woods. I refused to let them be the downfall of me. If you chose to bless me with this scholarship, you will be helping me in unleashing that success I found within myself, and in turn, making this world a little brighter, a little more hopeful, and filled with a lot more love.  Thank you.

Vision and passion

Vamshi Garikapati

My research experience the past few summers has greatly solidified my interest in pursuing a career in scientific and engineering research, specifically in materials science. I have always had an interest in how the world functions dynamically with technology and how we have uncovered and obtained its vast wealth of knowledge, but I was not certain how I would pursue and integrate these interests in my career until recently. In my first month of laboratory research, ambiguity was the first thing that I experienced when I first started my research project. Not because the science behind it was hard or my experimental design didn't work but because it was a stressful period of time where data needed to be collected constantly every class, and it left room for a lot of problems to occur. But with these problems came experience, knowledge, and passion that further intrigued me. With this, I set up my schedule for following up my research from my senior year, which was to utilize a unique etching and coating mechanism to fabricate water-repellent aluminum, and test my modified aluminum substrates with heat, chemical, and abrasive tests this summer as I continue undergraduate research throughout college. As a prospective entrepreneur, my passion for computers and technology extends to the fabrications of material sciences as I hope to be a part of implement innovative materials with the hardware processes and systems in the future computers and electronics.
My career plan was formulated based on these experiences and interactions with material sciences, electronics, and entrepreneurship ideology. Those few years of research allowed me to investigate the broad applications of potentially new and innovative materials currently being studied upon by many researchers around the world from zirconium sensors to biologically suitable titanium alloys. As an avid technology fanatic, I based my senior research project on fabricating superhydrophobic aluminum in order to allow military, transportation, and energy industries to prosper with more advanced and energy-efficient systems for its consumers. Personal satisfaction also plays a key role in my career decision. While monetary rewards are of practical importance for anyone, true job satisfaction comes from the opportunity to mature and learn within an industry. This was what motivated me to pursue computer engineering alongside material science. I enjoy acquiring new skills and information to help me adapt to the ergonomically dynamic world, as well as to spur my interest in innovation. In addition, a career plan involving entrepreneurship creates an opportunity for open prospects and ideas to be formulated, and it would give me constant incentive to improve myself and to gain more knowledge further on.
I see my academic choices playing an important role in influencing my leadership philosophy on serving the people before my own self-interests. As a rank leader in the Marching Band and tutor in academic clubs, I have learned that interacting and collaborating with the people around you, to help each other, encourages an environment that promotes growth, diligence, and academic and social success. Having the opportunity to collaborate on classwork with my fellow classmates would give me an insight into what concepts and ideas I would be dealing with and how they can be approached from different points of view. With this, uniqueness and openness is what I believe plays a central role in providing innovative products and solutions for the people. Along with this, my choice to engage myself with challenging courses throughout high school and going into college expanded my ability to think, write, and make decisions as a leader while also developing my own perspectives and suggestions not only in the
classroom but also within my community and society as a whole.
The entrepreneurship community has always been about living a few years of your life like most people normally wouldn’t and then spending the rest of your life like most people can’t. I believe my studies and career plan would have a positive impact on the whole entrepreneurship community by helping reinventing the concept of “risk-taking”. I never intended to become a potential entrepreneur until I found a passion working with and analyzing computers, something I loved doing as a hobby. It was enough to lead me down a career path in STEM where many students relied under teachers and mentors to guide them through their research. However, I wanted to work on my own interdisciplinary research that I could develop with my own creativity, integrity, and intuition. Throughout my three years of research, the lessons I learned and experienced were tools that helped me understand how unique yet useful a process research was in the field of science, technology, and engineering. While I encountered failures and discrepancies with my experiment and research methodology constantly, I had learned that time spent now failing would be time spent later progressing. It followed me throughout high school and was an important aspect to every homework assignment, assessment, and project I had done. People think of entrepreneurs as risk-takers that either reach too far and fall or start too low and go nowhere in life, and I couldn’t disagree more. My goals uptil now have always been funding from my passions and eagerness to serve the community, and these passions have extended to my long-term goal of becoming an entrepreneur for building a materials research company with an adequate amount of knowledge, ideas, and support from myself and those around me. If a leader has a passion and sets a vision, any risk he takes fuels his desire for knowledge and experience down the line. The more time he spends, the more passionate he becomes and the more risks he takes.
Progression has always been a desire and goal for researchers, scientists, and engineers alike to pursue in an effort to expand their knowledge base and learning capabilities; but an underlying aspect is progression does not come without service to society so that it is not left behind struggling to keep up with advancements. Having said that, the gift of education provides one of the best opportunities to improvise societal needs which itself becomes a new philosophy that encourages forward thinking and a steady progress to society as a whole, and as an entrepreneur that has found such passions, set his vision, and took those risks during his research, academic, and career plans, I aspire to embrace such a gift on my path towards entrepreneurship and building a successful and impactful materials research company.

Vision for my life purpose

Katrina Brown
University of Texas El Paso

Every great accomplishment that has ever been realized began with a vision.  Having an ability to see, that which is not yet present, is quite possibly one of humanity’s greatest gifts.  Without vision businesses could not maintain their organizational effectiveness, athletes would never go the distance, civilization might have never existed.  Vision precipitates inventiveness, resourcefulness, and buoyancy when necessary.  It allows us to see the big picture while striving forward one step at a time. More importantly, an effective vision helps us to remain level headed when the going gets tough. It instills just enough motivation to appreciate the value in hard work and determination. Sometimes, maintaining focus on your vision can get tough, and life has a tendency to get in the way of your dreams. Sometimes you have to put your dreams on a shelf because of circumstances beyond your control. But sometimes, the vision reignites with full force and projects you back on track.

After over fifteen years of part-time study while working full-time to support myself, I finally earned my Bachelor of Arts degree in Corporate Wellness and Health Behavior at DePaul University. I never took the SAT or ACT because my parents had terrible credit and couldn’t help me with tuition at a four-year university. Because my grades were less than exemplary and I was a first generation college student, there weren’t many available resources either. My only options following high school were community college or trade school. I chose community college and persistently chipped away at my courses, taking one or two at a time whenever I could afford the tuition and work capacity. For fifteen years, I worked within my limitations to carry out this endeavor.

Although I initially preferred a Bachelor of Science, I was not proficient in college level algebra and I was unable to take advanced math and science classes since they were only offered during the workday. Eventually I found myself in a position that provided just enough income and flexibility to complete an adult education. As fate would have it, I was finally able to pursue a degree that integrated my experience as an office admin with massage therapy training that I had acquired along the way.

My final push to reach this milestone developed after observing health risks in my workplace. People frequently complained of chronic stress, myalgia, and a variety of repercussions resulting from sedentary lifestyles. The more I learned about health behavior and environmental limitations, the more acquainted I became with the larger issues at play. I was confounded by the fact that so many people willingly put themselves at risk for life threatening and debilitating illnesses. That awareness ignited a desire to provoke changes, which ultimately transpired into a vision for my life purpose.

Because I was merely an admin at a large corporation my influence at this organization was very limited. But I still wanted to make positive changes. My initial attempt at making a difference started out with corporate wellness promotion in Chicago, Illinois. I volunteered to help push the company’s wellness campaign by leading health challenges, organizing fitness events, teaching seminars on stress management, and I utilized my massage therapy knowledge to treat chronic dysfunctions like tension headaches and carpal tunnel. While completing these projects, I used the experiences to supplement my coursework at DePaul University.

I took a social marketing course so that I could learn how to target my audience of corporate employees. I completed a mindfulness meditation course so that I could teach this concept in the workplace. Although I found these undertakings unbelievably fulfilling, my capacity to make a difference was still undeniably limited. I also found that I particularly enjoyed treating other peoples’ ailments. I found pleasure in explaining the reasons why someone’s neck was hurting. The more I helped others, the more I realized that I could not actually heal anyone with my inadequate scope of practice. I was simply not equipped to do enough for them, and I was disheartened when I learned that my degree would not likely permit enough capacity.

Following these realizations, I decided that I needed to make a drastic change to my life if I was ever to fulfill my self-created prophecy. I need math and science in order to see my dreams through, and I cannot afford another degree at DePaul University because the tuition is so high. Chicago is an expensive city to live in as well. My only feasible option is to complete my coursework in an area where I can survive on a significantly lower income. So I quit my job and relocated to El Paso, Texas and enrolled at the University of Texas – El Paso. Throughout my entire adult life, the necessity to support myself limited my educational opportunities. I tried to work within my limitations to find a fulfilling career, but I have since learned that if I accept my limitations I can transcend them. I have set myself on a long arduous path but I am grateful for the lessons I have learned to get to this point. By focusing on things that I have control over, I have learned that anything is possible as long as I progress one step at a time with the mindset that has carried me thus far.

Redefining success

Tiffani Brown
Florida A&M

I have always been the type of student to thrive under pressure. I enjoyed taking enough classes to keep me super busy and provide a “good” level of stress. I always received the best grades on assignments when I waited until the very final hour to get them done. This was the lifestyle I was embracing and fully accustomed to. When I went to college, all of this changed. It was culture shock for me to have to deal with living 4.5 hours away from home and also deal with collegiate level work. This created a level of stress I was not used to. Rather than thriving under this bone-crushing pressure, I cracked.
                It was Spring semester of my freshman year that I experienced my very first episode of depression. I never felt so unmotivated in my life. I didn’t enjoy anything, nothing made me excited. I just wasn’t who I knew that I was and this realization pulled me all the way to rock-bottom. This episode of depression not only affected my overall happiness and mental health, it caused me to be physically ill. In early February, I was diagnosed with having an upper respiratory infection. This infection was not completely gone until the first week in May. My immune system suffered just like my grades did. I lost my full-ride scholarship to my top-choice school, Florida A&M University. I was completely devastated and it felt as though everything that could go wrong did. It took me coming home and seeking professional help that really pushed me in the direction of recovery.
                What I went through almost two years ago has made me who I am today. That experience shaped and molded me into a better person. I have taken what happened as a learning experience and feel as though I can “pay it forward” by sharing my journey with as many college students as I can so that they know that self-care is the most productive thing you can possibly do in this life.
I think the Millennial generation has so many positive qualities, but many of those qualities can turn negative as well. Our generation is frequently described as being just as fast-moving as the technology we use. We are constantly on the go and this is awesome! However, it can also be a bad thing because we are, at times, moving too fast to listen to our own bodies. Rather than listening to my own body, telling me that I was doing too much, I ignored the signs and took 17 credit hours’ worth of classes my Spring semester. Our generation is also described as being hyper-concerned about reaching “success”. I used to be the same way. I still am the same way. However, I’ve learned to redefine success. Success shouldn’t be measured by the job you have or how much money you make.  Success should be measured by your level of happiness and feeling of content. I was more concerned with my schoolwork and making sure I secured an internship than my happiness. I now know that if I’m happy, the success will typically follow and if it doesn’t- that’s okay too.
I would love to be given this scholarship because it’ll help me stay in school and be able to spread this message of stress-reduction, self-care, and the importance of redefining success. I believe the conversation of mental health is one that happens very rarely in the spaces we most need them to be discussed. College is the perfect space to mention and teach about mental health and its importance. All too often we assume people are doing just fine if they’re not crying in public. We rarely dig deep to see how people are really feeling. This is something that needs to be changed and I feel like I can begin conversations at my university to spark that change. This is very important to me and I would love to be given this opportunity to make our world a healthier and happier place, one campus at a time.

Gratitude

No narrator could write about gratitude from the heart. Myself included. Especially myself.

  But I know how to tell my story to others. Rather simple, you see; once live it, you’re not going to forget so easily. No one ever does.

  Sit back, bring some drink. Enjoy my story, and maybe you’ll learn some from me. I hope you do. We all do.

  I come from a country called Ecuador, a little mountainous retreat, sandwiched between coffee-toting Colombians and the occasional Peruvian. Still walking tall since 1999. Never thought it possible.

  I’ll keep that year short. No one got out of it free. Not even ourselves. We had property and businesses to our name, so we had something to fall on. But that was us, not the rest. They were all out cold, there were tears on the streets. There was food where the money was, but the money was scarce. Not for us. What could a kid of 3 understand about those times? We all had it comfy. We had food on our table, plenty of television, I got my toys and reading glasses, and my family was content to see my chubby face grinning with love. They were the best at facades, that I know now. You try to ask them what’s wrong, they say “nothing dear, they’re all just a little worried”. I took the answer, with my 3-year old logic. What else did I know?

  My childhood went smooth too, something I frown at. My school was one of the lucky ones, they had people in it who were good friends with the major. He donated some buses to us, the newest Hyundai models. Beautiful buses, those; the paint was new and the windows clean. Helps to have friends in high places. I’d ride that bus from home to school and back again. I’d walk 5 minutes to the station and no more. I’d live unknowing of the outside. My bubble with four wheels and a clutch, comfy seats and a radio to the other buses.

  I looked outside my window every day, taking in the sights. It wasn’t a pretty one. I grew up watching the mountain outside, a foggy cover as a skirt, covering the valley and leaving only the peak above, almost at hand’s reach. I’d always look up as a kid. Never gave a glancing thought at looking below. Although, the more I grew, the more I looked down from the cloud. To where I live in.

  They never lie when they say a book is a mighty fine weapon.

  I started studying history then, reading up on the news and whatnot. Spent my days reading and learning history, finding my reality. The reality I craved for. Opened my eyes at last, to what I hadn’t ever seen before, hidden away behind my parents and their fortunes. The bubble they caged me in. I saw it.

  And I wept.

  The banking crisis of 1999. Learned it all, too quickly. The great exodus from Ecuador, the frozen bank accounts to pay a foreign debt, the I’ll-gotten riches from those in power, the hypocrisy behind the people’s government, and my position in it. The child of textile moguls who built an empire many years ago. A legacy standing in name only, but with surviving property and wealth enjoyed by the very few. A wealth I did not understand, until it was put to perspective.

  The things I craved as a child, the toys and the baubles any infant could want. The plastic trivialities that so appetized me in my younger years. The want for things and activities and the ignorance behind them, which my parents would satiate with loving hearts. All of the medicine and eyeglasses and medical contact lenses. These things weren’t everyone’s ritual. I was one of the privileged ones. I could have these because my wealth allowed me to. It made me sick.

  The people were suffering, and here I was with everything they lacked.

  I felt guilty for it all. My parents, they had token charities. Free food during Christmas, clothing donations, but it wasn’t enough. My debt to everyone was too high. My burden, unattended. I wallowed in excess yet everyone had only meager scraps.

  I could go to college, in the States. Most of my others did not. Those I studied with, my classmates, they went to study Industrial Engineering, Computer Science, International Affairs, all personal achievements. But what of those left behind? Forgotten, ignored? They had no remorse for those marooned away, yet they had the audacity to exploit their position only for themselves. Without a second thought for everyone.

  I would return though. To the land that raised me, gave me plenty, to repair it. Life has gotten better back home, but the injustices still have to be addressed, wounds must still be healed. I have the power of my family, few of whom have amassed back home.

  I can’t abandon them, after what’s happened. Damage must be mended to my home before I can free myself of my burden. And my wealth should be enough to start.

  My father has retirement benefits, and my mother works part-time as a dermatologist. They have around $34,000 in yearly income, which is a fortune back home. I work full time to pay my college, to study City and Regional Planning. My mere presence here is already a step forward. My studies, a door to retake the burden others have carried for me.

   That brings us to today. Writing my essay on a laptop purchased with my savings, a wealth now hard-earned with my own labor. Another step forward to controlling calamity. Ending strife back home.

  I’ll use what I have to fix my home. Bring out dignity back. Make the people stand tall again, retake the pride we lost so many years ago.

  My tale spans much longer than that, but for now that will do. If you ask me to be grateful for what I have, I’ll tell you I cannot; the tears of many stain the home I live in. To say that I am “grateful” would ignore their pleading and supplications. And I cannot abandon them.

  I can’t be grateful now. I haven’t done enough to earn my gratitude. My studies will take me forward though. I’ll head to the edge of home, and step forward. My hope will not disappoint me.

  I’ll be grateful when the sins of the past have been fixed. By my hand, the disproportionate wealth I’ve accrued will not go to waste.

  My gratitude will arrive once I repay my debt to home. I’ll be grateful for having the chance to mend the shattered lives of everyone.

I’ll repay my debt to home. I’ll be grateful then.

You’ll see.

I don't want to miss a thing

Sabrina Ashleigh

"I don’t want to close my eyes, I don’t want to fall asleep…” I can still hear Aerosmith blaring through the speakers at my senior prom. No, this wasn’t the 90s. It occurred around a year ago on one of the most memorable, and stressful, weekends of my high school experience.

A few days earlier, a couple of my friends were pressuring me to go stag with them to our senior prom, because “It’ll be so much fun,” and the cliché, “If you don’t go, you’ll regret it.” Unfortunately, I have a strong aversion to attending school dances-I’m petrified of dancing-so you can imagine how easily excuses come flying out of my mouth anytime this situation comes up. However, this time, I really did have a valid excuse, “Guys, I’m going to be flying to New York this weekend. I’ll be too exhausted.”

And true to my word, I was preparing to go on a spur-of-the-moment trip with my mom to New York. By that time, college acceptances and rejections had all been sent out, and I had narrowed my options down between attending UCLA (pros: an hour away from home and significantly cheaper tuition) and NYU (pros: I would be able to major in film and live out my inner Carrie Bradshaw).

Of course the battle between passion and practicality is never an easy one to fight, so my parents decided that in order for me look back with no regrets, I should be able to visit both campuses and decide from there. Being an academic control freak (I never miss a day of school if I can help it), I was highly on the fence about flying to New York, especially during testing season. But, luckily, my eternally supportive mother was persistent and I knew she was right; if I didn’t go, I would always regret it. So there I was on an airplane, on a school day (gasp, I know), sitting window seat with my mom on my right, headed off to The Big City.

I’m not going to lie. New York didn’t embrace me the way I imagined it would. First, it was extremely cold; my LA clothes were no match for an East Coast winter. Second, unaccustomed to walking being the primary form of transportation, my feet became very sore early on. Third, my mom and I were staying with a family friend who had work all day, so we (two directionally challenged individuals) were off navigating a foreign city on our own. It was not the ideal situation, and by the time I was on the NYU campus tour, I realized that I may have oversold myself on the fantasy of attending college in New York.

Don’t get me wrong, I loved the tour and I was thrilled to be experiencing people and culture outside of my own LA bubble, but I also began to see that I was not quite ready to take on such a fast-paced environment at such immense tuition costs. With this realization setting in, I knew my Big Apple dreams could stand to wait a little longer.

After two days of New York, I remember how relieved I was to be flying back home. I now had a sound mind with my decision to become a Bruin, and I was about to see my friends in a few hours at prom. I know what I said about my tumultuous relationship with dances earlier, but I guess the New York trip awakened a fearless spirit in me; I realized that the less I tried to control things, the more I began to live outside of my head. So I let my relentless friends wear me down, as I found myself going to prom. And truth be told, I’m so glad I did.

I didn’t have a date, I was wearing a DIY dress that wouldn’t stay in place, and I still couldn’t dance to save my life. But as the last song played, and I disappeared into a hazy sea of slow-dancing couples, I heard Steven Tyler belt out “…And I don’t want to miss a thing…” and I knew I was doing just fine.

My attitude of gratitude - an educational journey

Amy McBirney
University of California - Davis

I am continually amazed at the many blessings and opportunities that have filled my education. These experiences are only possible because I have been given the chance to pursue a university education, despite financial barriers. As I continue my education, I now have the unique opportunity to study veterinary medicine at the University of California-Davis, an institution renowned worldwide for its ability to produce leaders, educators, and innovators in research and medicine. As I pursue my educational goals, I reflect on the numerous experiences that have given me this attitude of gratitude in my education. As I look forward to new opportunities that await me in my future, I seek to express my appreciation to those who have impacted my educational goals and contributed to my personal growth as a leader. I will continue to engage with youth in my community, encouraging them to achieve their goals despite ongoing obstacles while also striving to show them the importance of living with an attitude of gratitude.

As a child, my parents often did not have the resources or funds to enable me to take part in costly extracurricular activities. I did, however, have the opportunity to join 4-H, the nation's largest youth development and mentoring organization, which encourages youth to reach their full potential through the provision of youth leadership, educational, and community service experiences. The program’s mission and values have been a driving force in giving me opportunities to lead by example. I can honestly say that I would not be the person I am today without the many dedicated leaders, parents, and volunteers that form the backbone of this life-changing organization. The generous donation of time and resources these mentors contributed to my personal development has fostered within me an eagerness to learn and grow, while always maintaining a thankful spirit. Through these valuable relationships and friendships formed with my mentors, I was blessed with opportunities that opened my eyes to the rewarding nature of a veterinary career, which is capable of perpetuating a spirit of gratefulness and giving back.

From the time I was young, I was certain of the career I intended to pursue. With my passion for people, teaching, animals, and science, I determined that veterinary medicine encompassed all these elements and would lead me to a fulfilling career where I would have the ability to enrich the lives of those around me. Perhaps this determination is attributed to my mother who immigrated to the United States from the small Caribbean island of Barbados to pursue her study of Biology. She has been a personal mentor in my academic life, encouraging me to dedicate myself to my education and pursue a veterinary career regardless of academic and financial challenges encountered. My mother’s mentorship has inspired me to serve as a source of encouragement to others. My appreciation for her guidance has compelled me to focus my attention on transitioning into a mentor for others and establishing my own leadership role with youth in my community.

After many years in 4-H, raising poultry, rabbits, miniature donkeys, horses, dairy cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and more, I knew I was meant to be a veterinarian. My 4-H involvement confirmed my fascination with veterinary medicine and presented numerous opportunities to develop my leadership and teaching abilities in this capacity. I shared my knowledge about proper animal healthcare, handling and exhibition techniques with younger members. It was rewarding to witness the success and newfound confidence gained by these youth, which I had the opportunity to mentor. I enjoyed sharing my passion for animals with others and soon realized this feature is interwoven into a veterinary career!

I have continued pursuing youth mentorship roles during my college years and am repeatedly reminded that regardless of what avenue my veterinary career may take, I will always maintain involvement in mentoring and educating young people. Because of this passion, I have maintained involvement in 4-H. After personally benefiting from the guidance and mentorship of 4-H leaders during my youth, I have served as an alumni leader so I may impact young people’s lives in the same way my own life was impacted. I volunteer at county youth livestock exhibitions, assisting students in competition preparation and speaking to 4-H youth about agricultural and veterinary career opportunities. I treasure the interactions with these young people and will remain in youth leadership roles throughout my education and into my career because I find joy in passing on my attitude of gratitude.

As an aspiring future leader and veterinary professional, I hope to fill the shoes of my mentors who came before me and empower youth around me with the courage needed to realize their dreams. Obtaining my veterinary degree will allow me to complete my personal story of victory over hardship. The completion of my education will enable me to impact the lives of youth, demonstrating to them that seemingly unachievable goals are indeed attainable. Though financial hardship continues to threaten my pursuit of a veterinary career, I have determined to hold firmly to my attitude of gratitude. It is this frame of mind that has helped me reconcile the financial and academic challenges in my education. I remain encouraged at the thought that I might one day be able to reciprocate the guidance and kindness that was once shown to me, through my role as a mentor. By sharing my personal story of an educational and career goal accomplished, I hope to compel young people to endure through hardship with an attitude of gratitude that will enable them to find and follow their dreams.

The power of positive thinking

Patricia Etienne
Florida International University

I was placed in the foster care system at the age of four with my older sister and younger brother. The biggest adversity I had to face throughout my years in and out of foster care is the sense of stability. I never had it. I was stuck in foster care after a huge incident with my older sister and my mom. That is where my journey of going to one foster home or group home to the next began. You could be there one day and gone the next. You just never know. The years that I was able to be with my biological family was as unstable as a foster child’s placement: tiring. I moved 5 times in the 7 years I was ‘home” and at each house we were threatened of eviction more than I can count and then we were eventually evicted anyways. You'd think I would be a messed up girl by now after being in and out of foster care for 13 years. But I try looking at the brighter side of life. At least I'm not dead somewhere in a ditch. I'm alive and well and thanking God every day.

I had to realize from a very young age that sometimes life can throw you a curveball. What you do with it determines the outcome. I chose to think positive for myself because at times I was the only person that had my back. It sucks to think about when your 8 years old and your parents blame you for everything that has happened to them. Growing up with negativity for years can take a toll on you and eventually you start to believe that maybe their right. That’s a dish served for trouble. Though my siblings decided to go down that path I knew if I just focus on what I have to do, I can prove them wrong. I can make something better of myself. I put myself in a positive mindset and worked my butt off in high school, dual-enrollment and part-time jobs so I could make it to college. Now I am currently a junior at Florida International University in Miami, FL. I’m majoring in Travel and Tourism because I love and believe in great customer service. I also love to travel and sometimes I think it is because of the instability that I’ve had in my life that makes me more comfortable in a change of setting. However, I also believe it could be my backbone into why I’m not afraid to take reasonable risks. I believe there are only opportunities.

One of these opportunities is giving back to the foster care system. A lot of young adults who age out want nothing to do with it but I believe that we are truly the only ones who can make a change because we know what it’s like.  At my fourth foster home now I help with parents wanting to foster by speaking to them about what it is like to be a foster youth. I’ve talked about the Independent Living program, a transitional program for aging out foster youths, on the news and spoken in meetings and conferences about how the foster care system can be improved. I also know plenty of foster teens who believe they will never get out of their situation to become something more. I want to incorporate a section of my travel business that is geared toward teens in foster care, or homeless or come from low-income families where they have a chance to pursue their own interests in hospitality on a national basis. It would be profit/non-profit and would include community engagement in local hospitality businesses. Not only will participants feel like they’re doing something that they love but they’re also doing something bigger than themselves. Small businesses are and will continue to be an important and growing driver of U.S economic growth and dynamism. My situation had put me through ups and downs but I didn’t let it define me and who I want to be nor will I stand by and let others go through the same things.  I'm very independent and tend to do things on my own because I had to rely on myself for so long but I know when I need help and where I can get that help. I'm grateful for my small group of friends and adults that stick with me and support me with anything I do because even though I may not be grounded in any setting I am stable by the people I consider my own family.

However, as most may know, college comes with new challenges, hardships and stress. The reward of walking down the aisle during the graduation ceremony and getting your degree makes it all worth it. It is sometimes hard to see the end of your goal when there is so many obstacles in the way. Housing is such a struggle here at Florida International University. When my financial aid came in last year, most of it had gone to paying for housing during the Fall and Spring semesters. Apartments are expensive in Miami and housing at FIU isn’t any better. Books and other required materials needed for my classes can also be expensive- as much as $600 depending on your classes. I believe this scholarship would be a step in the right direction for me. Knowing that I have one thing that I don’t have to worry about gives me relief and I can focus on schoolwork. Thank you so much for reading my personal statement. If I were to receive this scholarship, I would be utterly grateful for my situation.

Focusing on things you can control

Jordan Matthews 
Coastal Carolina University

My collegiate career hasn't been what one would call a breeze, but once I developed the mindset of focusing on things I can control, things started turning around in my favor. When focusing on things you can control, you stop wasting liable energy on things you can’t control and begin redirecting that energy to things you can. Life challenges are only overcome through personal development and focusing on things you can do to enhance your quality of life. Developing talent, potential, and setting goals all assist in overcoming life challenges.

No matter who you are, your life will be faced with obstacles. You must focus on what you personally can do to change your situation and the outcome of the situation. I attended a four year college for 2010-2013. There I realized I was in the wrong major, I was also in the wrong school for the major I was acquiring. I was in a bad car accident. During that car accident, I had to decide whether I was going to stay in the car, or struggle my way out without any help from anyone surrounding me. My accident was a very trying time in my life. I was scared, vulnerable, and alone. I took control of the situation and removed myself from my unrecognizable car. After my life changing episode, I decided to take a year off from school. After my year off I began, focusing on things I could control and enrolled in a two year institution. There I made sure my grades were perfect. I am now a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and I made the Dean’s list my last semester attending the school, I then earned my Associates degree. Again, focusing on things I could control, I applied to Coastal Carolina University (CCU), where I plan to receive my bachelor’s degree in Marine Sciences. I was accepted and began preparing to leave for school.

Like every college student requesting Financial Aid, I submitted my FAFSA. After a couple of problems were settled with my FAFSA, I only received $3,500 for my 2015-2016 collegiate years. Here’s a little background information, Coastal Carolina University out of state tuition cost $12,160. That is a difference of $8,660. In case you were wondering, I do not have that kind of money lying around, nor do my parents. Focusing on things I can control, I began researching ways to pay for school. I tried applying for loans, but couldn't find a creditworthy cosigner. I finally came across Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC). MHEC offered me in-state tuition because my state doesn't offer my major. After the strenuous application process, four months later I was finally approved for in-state tuition through Coastal Carolina University. I now have to pay $5,265 to begin my collegiate career at CCU. Again, focusing on things I can control, I have been submitting scholarships and writing essays trying to earn the remaining money I need. I’m trying to refrain from my parents pulling from their 401K retirement plans. I know they will do it without any question for me, but again focusing on things I can control, I am trying to assist in receiving money for school so it can be less of a burden on my family.  

I am a little terrified to leave home. I know my family will overcome all obstacles just like I have in the journey of going to school. By applying the mindset of focusing on things I can control, I survived a car accident, earned my associates degree, and am on my journey to finishing my bachelor’s degree at the best school on the East coast for my major. By continuing the mindset of focusing on things I can control, I will get acclimated with campus, keep my head in the books, earn good grades, join organizations and clubs, be accepted into another honor society, make the dean’s list, earn my bachelors degree, and continue being a better steward for my environment and the occupants that reside in our world’s oceans. I will also use this personal development principle by being a good daughter and sister and make my family proud. I will set a good example for all those looking up to me and all those who have inspired me in the past. In my career, I can apply this personal development principle by controlling how I educate others on the environment and how we should put more effort into protecting it. I can also focus on things I can control by doing all I can to spread awareness about the serious problem we are having regarding the pollutants in the world’s oceans.

The law of attraction

Motunrayo Ayodele
Cornell University 

At age four, I first learned how to read. At age six, I first learned how to write. At age eight, I read my first chapter book. And at age seventeen, I taught my first student how to do the same.
            It was the first day of Freedom School. As the Rama Road elementary school students nearly trampled each other to get to their favorite Providence Day volunteer, I kept my eyes glued to the ceiling. Since I had not taken part in the first summer of Freedom School, I had missed the critical period needed to form strong bonds with these kids... Or so I thought. Instantly, a little girl named Ali appeared before me with this dazed look on her face. "Is your name Roxy?" she uttered. Before I could even say no, she said, "Well it is now." She proceeded to then grab my hand and drag me over to her group of friends. Their faces immediately adopted the same dazed look. It was only after much confusion did I come to learn that I looked like the star of the newest Disney Channel Movie, "Let it shine." From then on, I "Motunrayo Alayode Adetoun Ayodele" became known as "Roxy".
            Freedom School was only the beginning of mine and Ali's tumultuous relationship. When school returned in the fall, I was excited to reunite Ali, who had this quality that only a kid could possess that I so envied. Each reunion that we had was met with much laughing and talking, and reading. One day, in the middle of a conversation, she turns to me and says, "What grade are you in?" So I responded, "Ali, you know this. I am a senior" Then, with a serious expression on her face, she remarked, "You are a senior? Like a senior citizen?" And this was only 1 minute of the nearly 45 minutes we spend together. So then the school year progressed… and something started to change. Ali's big smile that accompanied her even bigger personality began to fade, and it was replaced with this new seriousness. On one occasion, Ali and I spent the whole 45 minutes reading. Not once did she even beg me to read. When I went to hug her goodbye, she then whispered in my ear, "I do not want to go home. I am moving, so I am staying at my grandmother's. She has bugs in the house and no A/C. I miss my friends." I was at a loss for words. For a seven year old who goes to a school exactly .8 miles down the road to experience this, I wondered, what does this mean?
            With United States newspapers reading, "Black-White Education Gap Persists", "Disparities in Graduation Rates Among White and Minority Students", "The Crisis in the Education of Latino Students", a war on education has begun. All the studies done by various educational researchers lead to one conclusion: minorities do not match up with their white counterparts. While many of them simply do not have access to quality schools, others face a bigger hindrance due to the fact that they come from a family in which English is spoken as a second language. Consequently, these children have already been set back before they have even been enrolled in the school system. I joined Big Brother Big Sister in order to fight this war.
            After nearly a year together, I have learned much about Ali and her family and what it means to grow up with parents who do not have enough time to read with their child every night. I have even gotten the chance to meet Ali's loving parents. To Ali, our time together has been a chance to work hard, then reap the benefits through some time spent just talking. To me, however, Big Brother Big Sister has been so much more; it is a chance for me to share my endless opportunities with someone else. The belief in each other to succeed has taken our relationships to great heights. At age four, I first learned how to read. And at age seventeen, I have chosen to never stop fighting for these children so that they can do the same.

A positive attitude helped me overcome culture shock

Alexis Bracey
George Mason University

Imagine going to a country where the people do not look like you, where the people do not speak the same language as you, where the people eat differently than you. Imagine going to a country where nearly every woman you see is wearing a hijab, headscarf, over her head, where mosques, instead of churches, light up the city at night, where everyone is reminded it is time to pray when the voice of the muezzin, religious leader, announces the Call to Prayer, five times a day. This was my reality when I went to Amman, Jordan on a government-sponsored scholarship to study Arabic this past summer. Eventually I acclimated to a new way of life. Arabic no longer seemed unfamiliar and catching taxis to explore the city was no longer a daunting task. Amman eventually became my home and its people, my family. However, the acclimation process did not occur overnight and I consider it one of the most challenging, yet humbling, experiences I have ever encountered in my life.

One of the most frequently asked questions I receive when I tell people I went to Jordan is “Were you scared?” I always respond with “No. I was more worried about communication difficulties,” which is true. I learned the alphabet and studied a few basic words in Arabic before I went but overall I could not express myself, except for a few basic greetings, efficiently in Arabic. My reading, writing, speaking, and listening abilities improved immensely over the seven weeks that I had lived in Amman. Having Arabic class for seven hours five days a week, from Sunday – Thursday, and studying vocabulary and grammar to prepare for weekly tests for at least two hours after classes were over, really accelerated my communication abilities in Arabic.

The most difficult part of my journey to Jordan was not learning Arabic; it was adjusting to my new surroundings. I was fortunate to live with a Jordanian host family for the first two weeks of the program before I moved into an apartment building with the rest of the members of my program for the last five. Living with my host family, and interacting with them through watching television and sharing meals, really taught me that cross-cultural similarities should be acknowledged as well as differences. Eating dinner at my host grandmother’s house during Ramadan reminded me of my own family. We all sat down to eat together. Afterwards, children ran around the house playing, and the women, men, and teenagers were immersed in their own separate conversations –  just like at home. I admit, there were times when I was not sure about the proper social protocols in certain situations.  However keeping an open mind, and being willing to laugh and learn from my mistakes while keeping a positive attitude helped me overcome culture shock.  

Keeping an attitude of gratitude and keeping positive thoughts made my experience in Jordan more enjoyable. Seeing the good in every situation helps a person enhance the following personality traits: patience, humility, and gratitude. Even now, when I notice myself becoming quick to get upset, I calm myself down and remember to think about the good in the situation.

As a result of the time that I spent in Jordan I have gained a greater awareness of myself, my community, and the world at large. I am more compassionate and empathetic towards people around me. I am always finding a way to approach life from a global perspective. Cultural knowledge is such an important facet of life that ultimately serves to make a person better well-rounded. Going to Jordan has made me even more passionate about communicating with the world.

What many people fail to realize is that education is not just analyzing works of literature to compose essays, memorizing historical events, balancing chemical equations, and solving equations for math tests. Education is humbleness, humility, and self-awareness. Education is appreciating humanity in all of its beautiful diversity.  My ultimate goal in life is to give back to the world all that I have received through knowledge. One way that I plan to accomplish my goal is to work for an organization committed to making a difference in the lives of others.

Receiving this scholarship would be beneficial for me because it would help fund the development of the skills necessary to obtain a job once I graduate from college. Undoubtedly, college is extremely expensive and in order for me establish a career in global education I would need as much technical training as possible. This scholarship would just be one of the many pathways I use to educate and inspire others.

Focusing on things you can control

Emily Koenn
IUPUI University

Having control over everything going on in around me has been a necessity ever since I was a little girl. As a child, I was sexually and emotionally abused, and it has literally ruined my perception of what self-control is. I struggle with PTSD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Clinical Depression, suicidal thoughts, Insomnia, and self-harm every day of my life, so making sure I have control over everything in my life helps me feel sane. Without control, I honestly feel helpless, and as if my life is spiraling – it’s my obsession. This, however; isn’t the story of my struggle with control, but how I have overcome what has happened to me (with the help of close family members and friends). Slowly, I am learning how to function better by focusing on the things that I can control, and how to let go of what I can’t.
                Even though I have struggled since I was a child, I really didn’t start to get help until I was a junior in high school. I started up in therapy when I was 10 years old, but it never helped my conditions- it only masked them since I felt as though my therapists didn’t fully understand my situation. One night in early September 2012, my world came crashing down as I was committed to end my life. With a last moments of hope, I woke my mom up at midnight, and I was hospitalized at 3AM, admitted to the children’s section of Parkview Behavioral Health by 5AM. I remember sobbing in the solidarity confinement room (padded walls – think of an insane asylum of a prison), thinking how I failed at everything, even suicide. Eventually, I adjusted to my surroundings and my attitude towards life made a complete 180 degree turn. I began to learn methods of coping with group and private therapy. I also met amazing individuals; since we were all vulnerable, we connected with each other quickly – we even made jokes about how we’d escape (covering ourselves in soap and sliding through the halls, the nurses loved that one), where we’d eat where we got out, and calling our temporary home the “insane asylum”. Besides jokes, we were able to help each other with our problems, and often traded tips for advice - deep breathing, focusing on patterns to calm down, etc. The most valuable lesson I learned while at Parkview Behavioral Health is one that has stuck with me since – Everything will be okay, and I’m not alone.­ I have always felt like the only person struggling with my hardships, so this was the biggest coping method I learned. Three days after staying there, I was deemed safe to go home. I never heard of or saw my friends again, but their memories will forever be in my heart.
                Along with my past, I have learned that I may not always be in control of who I am, or my self-identity. College has been a time of self-discovery for me, and where I have come to terms with who I am – a lesbian. To some, this might seem like a small portion of who they are, but to me, it was absolutely terrifying. I grew up in a small, conservative town, raised as a Roman Catholic – where identifying within the LGBT community is considered damnation. Even though I was preached against it, I always knew I had an attraction to girls, but I decided to push my “sinful” thoughts to the back of my mind, snubbing it off as a lustful temptation. I was scared of losing myself, being kicked out of my house, and felt like I had no control of expressing myself. At Indiana University – Purdue University of Indianapolis, I have been able to realize that I can still be a lesbian and Catholic. I even was blessed to meet Lea DeLaria (an LGBT activist, actress, and comedian) at IUPUI’s annual Harvey Milk Dinner. I expressed my fears of coming out, and she gave me the best advice I’ve ever heard, “It’s okay, honey. When it’s time for you to come out, you’ll know, and it will naturally happen. Don’t try to force it, just let it naturally happen. Forget those who shun you, they don’t really care for you. You are loved” (Lea DeLaria). Hearing these words personally by someone who I look up to so greatly was the best experience of my life. When I started dating my girlfriend, that’s when I knew I wanted to come out to close family. I told my father first, who accepted me whole-heartedly. Then, I told my mother; she wasn’t so accepting of it at first, but has recently come to terms with it. Eventually, after hearing Leverne Cox (a transgender activist) give a speech at a local conference, I felt strong enough to come out publically via social media. While I did receive some backlash from some family members, I received great support, especially from my very-religious aunt who used to be a Catholic nun. Hearing how she called me “strong” and “a brilliant adult” made me extremely grateful. For once in my life, I finally felt like I was in control.
                While I have struggled with having control over everything in my life, I’m slowly learning how to cope. I’m discovering that growing up, adulthood, means that I may not always be in control. I know that I will never be in control of my past, but learning how to control how I react in the future because of it gives me hope. I know I can’t control my identity, but I know that others struggle with it, so that helps. I don’t have to go through anything I can’t control by myself – I don’t have to struggle alone.  I’ve realized that I need to let what I can’t control roll over my head like a storm, and to learn how to dance in its rain by enjoying the smaller things in life that I can control. With learning how to focus what I can control on, I have succeeded greatly in college. I am currently the Secretary of the LGBTQ Student Alliance of IUPUI, Undergraduate Student Government Senator for Gamer’s Guild at IUPUI, a JAGversity Peer Educator in the Multicultural Center of IUPUI, and a First Year Seminar mentor for students in their first year at IUPUI. Along with being active in school, I have received the Curtis Oratorical Scholarship and made the Liberal Arts Dean’s List for the Fall 2014 semester. I am currently double majoring in Anthropology and International Studies, and double minoring in Japanese and Political Science. I hope to succeed in working with refugees, and working for the Human Rights Council for the UN. By learning to cope with control, I want to change the world.

Being content with your 
lifestyle = success

Jairo Alpire

In the process of growing up I’ve been strongly influenced by my parents’ teachings on life and what it means to be successful. Success is not only defined as having money, a big house, or a good job. It involves reaching a level of contentment with the lifestyle that a specific career or job brings.

My aunt is the second person in our entire family to earn a college degree, paying for college was a significant obstacle for her, however the values and principles that my grandparents have taught her along her unceasing perseverance, have gotten her where she wants to be, her courage and determination encouraged me not only to dream big, but also to gain great interest and respect towards the medical field as well as strive for academic, and social excellence in order to achieve success in the future. Similar to her, I moved to a different educational, social, and cultural, environment when my family emigrated from Bolivia to the United States five years ago. The language barrier was the first of several obstacles that I personally faced as an immigrant, learning how to associate with peers from different cultural backgrounds. Lastly, being able to accommodate to a new environment without the support of important members of my family such as my grandparents has been an obstacle difficult to overcome. However, the unconditional support from my parents and the unceasing desire to overcome these obstacles has shaped my character in a profound way.  However, Religion has played the most significant role in my life.

Principles and values I have learned from the Bible in the process of growing up have shaped my character and taught me the true power of serving others without expecting anything in return. Volunteering in school and community activities is part of my daily life, I find contentment in feeling useful, and helping others. I believe this feeling fits perfectly to the career of Law which is the career I’m willing to pursue.

            My biggest professional goal is to become a lawyer, and provide my help to individuals that need justice. Being a lawyer comes es with a lot of responsibility; the values my parents have taught me along to the education I’ll receive in the following years will prepare me to be a caring, reliable lawyer. However, never forgetting my roots, one of my dreams is to become an inspiration for future students who have faced similar challenges to the ones I’ve faced; accommodating to new cultural environment, learning a new language, supporting your family overall.

Four years seems like a really long time, at least that’s what I used to think as a freshman in high school. They will go by fast; however, I’m sure not much will change. I see myself facing new challenges as I will graduate from the pre-law program at Walla Walla University with honors, working hard and learning from past experiences to not make the same mistakes. I see myself enjoying the career I chose to study, applying to law school in order to further my knowledge in the law, getting the residence I need to go on and become a lawyer seventeen years from now. I also see myself volunteering as I always have, on trips to different countries to learn about other cultural environments, serving others without expecting anything in return. Overall, I see myself remaining true to myself and to God. He has blessed me greatly throughout my life, and I will continue to serve Him in everything I do. The Achieve Today Scholarship will provide me with financial support that my parents can’t afford, however it will be an investment on a student willing to get back to his community. 

Finding a cure for cancer

Kenneth Wong

Ever since childhood, I have an interest in medicine because I was fascinated with how the body functions and how cells form. Because of my curiosity, I started volunteering at UCSF, where I ran errands for patients in the ICU and the Urgent Care Department. I also helped the volunteer office input data in the computer system and taught new volunteers the necessary skills for their jobs. While running errands for patients, I saw how the physicians worked, and I knew I wanted to be like them in the future. While volunteering at UCSF, I also participated in a program called UCSF Medlink, in which first year med students taught high school students. We investigated the differences between a real healthy lung and an infected lung to compare how oxygen travels in the airways of each lung. We also researched and studied different types of disease causing bacteria under a powerful microscope. When I left Medlink, I knew how to perform CPR, take blood pressure using pulses, and diagnose various conditions. Because of UCSF, I started volunteering at SFGH, where I worked at Occupational Health Services. At SFGH, I worked with nurses who showed me how to perform certain clerical tasks. By volunteering at a small clinic, I experienced how nurses and physicians work every day. I gained so much knowledge while volunteering at these two hospitals, but little did I know these experiences would be crucial to my development.

On September 26, 2012, my grandmother was diagnosed with Stage Four lung cancer. After discovering the news, I devoted countless hours researching treatments for lung cancer.  When confronting the physicians with my new knowledge, the physicians told me that the treatments would not be effective and there would not be any other solutions to cure her cancer. At that point, I was filled with sorrow because I felt I was not able to make my grandmother’s life comfortable since I had to witness her wither in front of me. What hurt me the most was my grandmother saying that she was okay and telling me that there was nothing to worry about. I wished I had some knowledge about cancer so I could have been able to help save my grandmother.

On May 1, 2013, I visited my grandmother and I saw her lying on the bed staring blankly towards the ceiling. As I walked into her room, my grandmother saw me and signaled me to come, so I walked in and sat right next to her. With every ounce of energy she had left, she got up and hugged me. While hugging me, she said, “Go on without me and succeed,” and she collapsed afterwards. I frantically got the doctors, who pronounced my grandmother dead.    

Losing my grandmother to cancer was overwhelming because depression soon hit me. I started developing an eating disorder where I faced a loss of appetite, and it gradually got worse as the days pass by. I kept restricting until I lost twenty pounds, from 140 to 120, and experienced two fainting spells. After experiencing fainting spells caused by my hunger, I started to eat enormous amounts of junk food such as chocolate bars to cope with my weight issues. While consuming chocolate bars, I began watching marathons of Project Runway for hours to help me escape from the world. I would go to bed afterwards, but I would not fall asleep because I would flail in bed while lamenting about my grandmother. Most of the time, I would cry myself to sleep and wake up in the morning with a massive headache, which made me take pain relievers to help alleviate the pain. All of my actions soon affected my health again since I gained forty pounds, from 120 to 160, and was diagnosed with high cholesterol.

Being diagnosed with high cholesterol soon triggered something within me. I realized that I cannot live like this anymore because I knew that my grandmother would not want me to torture myself.  I also realized that my actions have affected the people around me, especially my family. Every day, my parents would take care of me as if I were a baby again. They would feed me, rock me to sleep, pamper me, and help me walk. After discovering that I have high cholesterol and what I had done to the people I loved, I swore to restart my life again.
            My decision of choosing University of Washington over any school in California was solely based on the academic reputation of the school’s medical program. I want to pursue a college that has more classes that are more medically based and make strong connections to other physicians working at one of the most renown medical school in the entire country, UW Medicine. My grandmother’s battle with cancer has added fuel to my passion for oncology. I am determined to find a better, alternative cure for cancer because the stage of my grandmother’s lung cancer had precluded any current cures to take effect. As a future oncologist, I want to be able to answer questions like the following: Are there other options for treating cancer, including non-traditional practices? What are the best options to deal with cancer? By answering these questions, I might prevent other families from facing the same agony that my family faced and provide various treatments for my future patients. I do not want any patient or their family members to feel hopeless or powerless.  I want them to feel at ease because I want them to feel that I can help prevent the cancer development and save the patient’s life. With the help of UW and this scholarship, I will hopefully put an end to cancer and save people from cancer and I know I will be one step closer in obtaining my dreams with your help. I hope to change the face of medicine in the U.S. by finding a simpler and suitable cure for cancer.

The Power of positive thinking

Nashana R. Johnson 

Hello, my name is Nashana R. Johnson. I am from Rock Point, AZ, located in the Navajo Reservation but live in Farmington, NM. I am of the Tangle Clan, born for the Chippewa-Cree Tribe, maternal grandparents are the Salt Clan, and paternal grandparents are the Chippewa-Cree Tribe. So, that makes me half Navajo and half Chippewa-Cree. I grew up on the Navajo Reservation since I was a little girl. I was raised by my grandparents and mother, and I am an only child with a single mother.

I went to school and graduated May 2004 on the top of my class at Rock Point Community High School, leaving with the Valedictorian Award. In August 2004 I left for college to continue my education at University of Arizona, majoring in Spanish, which I didn’t do so well, because of health problems, but dealt with them on my time off from school. Then I applied to Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI) in spring 2006 majoring in Liberal Arts and graduated in spring 2008 with an Associate of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts. In spring 2009, I applied to Fort Lewis College, got accepted and majored in Physics Engineering with minor in Mathematics. I am currently attending San Juan College, with a major in Civil Drafting and Design Technology that will help me finish my degree at Fort Lewis College. When I graduate from San Juan College I am going to transfer back to Fort Lewis College where I plan to graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree, than I plan to further my education by pursuing a Masters at University of Arizona or University of New Mexico majoring in Architecture Design. With all the degree(s), I am going to get the career I want and that’s when my educational goals will be accomplished and fulfilled.

My degree(s) and I are going to help my community by funding to build more buildings that are going to be in good use and for good use, as well as homes for the elderly, and help in any way that I can, because my community as a whole helped me get to where I am today. I am going to help rebuild or refurnish the old buildings in our community to make it even more beautiful, not that it’s not already beautiful enough. In my community elderly are the most that need their houses rebuilt or have a house built for them, but they don’t have the money or the family to do that for them. The other building that I would like to add to or rebuild would be the senior citizen buildings in all the tribal communities. The other thing I want to and plan to do is build buildings that the tribal communities really need but keeping in mind and building the buildings with the tradition and culture of the people. I am also going to keep the landscape in mind and not building over the scenery that makes the tribal community stand out. I even want to help surrounding areas or communities with their buildings and fund them if they can’t find any money to help build what they need or want.

For the years from the day I graduated high school, 2004, to this day I have gone through three hardships that has affected me and my education.

First hardship I went through was the loss of my grandmother in 2005, who supported me through all my educational goals and plans. Like I had stated before, I was raised by my grandparents from age 5 to the woman I am today, while my mom was at work in another state because there were no good jobs on the reservation at the time. My grandmother was the other woman in my life other than my mom that wanted the best for me and wanted me to continue my education as far as I can go, and she believed I could go all the way to a doctorate if I wanted to. With her passing I had a hard time figuring if I should continue my schooling at all, but I didn’t want to disappoint her so I am still continuing until I know my educational goals are fulfilled. I also knew that I had my grandfather still by myside along with my mom to push me forward.

Second hardship I went through, was the decision of having my daughter or let my body decide to let go of the pregnancy. In March of 2012, I found out I was pregnant; it was a surprise to me, because I planned to have kids until I was done with my educational goals. The doctors told me that my body was rejecting the pregnancy, and if I didn’t slow down or be on bed rest, than I would miscarry. That was one of the hardest decision I have ever made in my life. A big part of me wanted to just let my body do what it wanted, because I knew fighting my body for something it didn’t or wasn’t ready for was not a good idea and I so wanted to finish my schooling, because at that point that was the most important thing to me at the time. Than another part of me knew what my grandmother would say to me and the idea of having a baby was a blessing to me. So, I decided after very deep thoughts that I will slow down and let my body respond with my help and I withdrew from school, Fort Lewis College with a year left to get my bachelors in science. Today I have a beautiful daughter who brightens my day every morning and is my motivation to finish my education.

The most recent hardship(s) I went through is three deaths in my family one after another. First was my uncle in December, than my other grandmother, my grandmothers sister, in January, than my grandfather, who raised me from age 5 to the woman I am today, in May. Dealing with a death in the family is ok but three deaths one after another, that is unbearable. I do not wish that on my worst enemy. My uncle passed when I was on my finals week for Fall 2015 semester, my grandmother passed when I just started my Spring 2015 semester and my grandfather died when I was on my finals week for Spring 2015 semester. The only thing that got me through was my daughter and my mom. I didn’t want to disappoint them, as well as my grandparents, because they believed me from the very beginning and always pushed me. They always told me, “It is up to me, I am doing this for myself and for my wellbeing and the wellbeing of my children.”

Overall, these hardships that I endured from my prime of college to today have taught me, “the power of positive thinking”, that life is not perfect and easy. There will be obstacles of all forms that you will encounter and it is up to you to pull yourself back up and finish what you started for yourself and others that have encouraged you to strive for your very best. It has taught me to stay strong for myself, my daughter and mother, and for the family I have lost, that all believed me and push me to become who I want to be. It has taught me courage, which I never really knew I had, until all the hardships that I had gone through made me find it deep within myself. Finally, it has taught me to believe in myself a lot more and that I can get to the educational goals that I want. Which are to finish at San Juan College and then return to Fort Lewis College to finish my year, receive my bachelors in science and then off to getting my masters in architectural design.

I have found that God cares for me so I should care for myself

Bryan Toutges
MidAmerica Nazarene University 

To begin, I must first share that depression has ruled my life for years. This has been in no little part due to my family atmosphere and the lack of hope which pervaded my world. At the start of my second semester at MNU my depression deepened significantly, for my parents decided to split apart. I did not think it would be as detrimental as it was, in fact I chose to ignore it and throw myself both into school and into work. On top of my substantial amount of hours at school, I took on a job at Chick Fil A and invested myself heavily there, maintaining nearly 35 to 40 hours per week. This is when my grades began to drop awfully, which actually worsened my depression due to the stress of school, the exhaustion of work, and the tense environment at home. When I came back in the Fall, I thought that I could take a few less hours and be okay working still if I worked less, but I was already so far gone in my depression that I couldn't handle it any more. To be honest, I was suicidal. It scared me, and so I began to see Dr. Fine, a Ministry teacher, on a weekly basis as a councilor to try and combat that. Our sessions didn't help me very much, but he suggested that I attempt a group therapy class, which I attended. However, during our second session, I had a breakdown within the group. During a lesson in which we shared, I was overcome with emotion and began screaming and pacing, and was barely able to control myself.  This was very late in the semester, and my grades were horrific. I attempted to see what I could do to salvage any piece of them. I went to Dr. Anderson, who was my Biology teacher at the time, and shared my story with him, and broke down in tears in his office. He encouraged me to stop worrying about school and work and to start worrying about myself, as he was worried about my well being. I was extremely touched by what he said, and the way he cared about me even though he barely knew me at all. I took his advice to heart, and two weeks later when the semester ended I decided that I needed to change something if I wanted to live.  I quit my job at Chick Fil A, decided not to enroll in school for the coming Spring(this past Spring), and to find a way to get my life together. The only two ways I could think of to do this was A: asking my Uncle if I could live with him and learn from him, as he is one of the wisest men I know, or B: living on my own away from the toxic environment I was stuck in and teaching myself as much as I could. I asked my Uncle, with little hope of being able to go out there, but we soon reached an agreement . I would be able to spend my weekdays with him and his family, but I would have to spend weekends at home with my family. I readily agreed, as it was the best chance of survival I could see. While out there, I was just a kid in their family. My Aunt and Uncle taught me incredible things, and invested heavily in me. They learned about my life, my struggles, and they gave me the chance to become the man they knew I could be. During March, I had a breakdown at their house, and was barely able to move I was so scared. However, while lying on the ground in fear, all of a sudden things started to feel okay. I felt a weight lift off of me, and felt God's hands surround me and protect me. I have never felt anything close to what this was. I had been searching for a long time for God, I wanted to believe but couldn't, and in that moment, lying in the ground in pain and terror, He found me. I believed for the first time. Since that moment, I've known that my life is not my own. I've been given an extraordinary gift, one that I do not intend to waste a day longer. My Aunt and Uncle encouraged me to take my ACT test, and after studying and preparing with my cousins, I took it. I scored a 33 of 36, which was incredible. I acknowledge that God has given me a huge advantage, and I understand that I've wasted every opportunity put in front of me. I recognize God has kept me alive this long for a plan of His own, much greater than anything I could imagine. I am writing this letter in the hopes to go to school and further my education, and stop wasting the opportunities that have been so graciously bestowed upon me. I have never had trouble with the academic side of things, but rather have had trouble with the motivation side. I have never once in my life been motivated to participate in school, as growing up I would get hurt for showing my smarter side. I hated it. I don't want to waste this talent any longer. If given the chance to come back to school, I will give the best effort that I possibly can to bring glory to my God. I no longer am apathetic to my own cause, as I have found that God cares for me, so I should care for myself. I would highly appreciate this chance to make a difference in my own world. If it is simply impossible, I understand, and I will search elsewhere. In either case, I intend to use this incredible gift that I have been blessed with, and with my efforts dig myself out of this rut.

Thought becomes reality which can provide happiness or sadness

Desire Sotelo

When we talk about magnetism first thing that comes to mind are two magnets that attract or repel. But there is another kind of magnetism governed by the same laws, which is what people generate with our thoughts. Such thoughts emit a vibrational energy that functions as if it were an antenna. This sends a frequency and exactly attracts another vibration of the same frequency. The principle of the law of attraction or magnetism, based on quantum physics says that energy emitted attract only other twin or equal energy.

The Law of Attraction says that whatever attract into your life through your thoughts.

Everything that you imagine in life, you are attracting to you, by virtue of the images you hold in your mind. It is what you think the easiest way to get money, many of the ancient sages knew the power exercised by this Act for any of us, but very few know the law or do not know how to apply their concepts. Most millionaires and big business people have used this law to bring everything they have, but one thing is clear and that is that according to research the millionaires have 90% of the money in the world, this shows that although this law is made for everyone, very few use it.

The easiest way to use the law of attraction is imagining like a magnet, attracting everything good to you. You become what you think about most and what they attract more you think, why this law is designed to both positive thoughts, as negative thoughts.

This principle of the law of attraction can be summed up in three simple points: Thoughts, reality and happiness or sadness. What most people do not understand is that a thought has a frequency, and as time goes by that thought, it becomes a reality, which can provide happiness or sadness.

Poe example, if you're imagining in your mind having that brand new car, having the money you need, building that company, finding your soul mate and you are imagining frequently, you are gradually turning thoughts into solid reality, as our mind works boomerang in a way, what you do and constantly think, everything will return in the same proportion, whether good or bad.

This universal law of attraction, I apply to my life as follows:
Money: everyone wants money, but some people only serve to fall behind the reality of their own misery and only think about how poor they are and leave his fate to what life can give them. But others see money as if it was bad and they think that if they get money, diverted his way and people will become unsuccessful. By focusing on poverty the only result we get is poverty. So if we get money just focus on the money and claim it as yours, keep the image of all that can be obtaining financial freedom, investigates how other people have achieved his fortune, and ask your mind to bring money to you and your mind will seek the means to find the money they so desire.

Social: People also attract with your thoughts, your friends, you know all of them reflect our ideals, your perception of the world, your positive thoughts, your negative thoughts, so if you are focused on your weakness will attract that kind of people into your life, if you focus on your strengths, you will attract people with similar characteristics. A clear example of this is when we feel a connection with someone, then something happens at a subconscious level, there in the depths of the mind, the ideal other, their perspectives on life are perceived, their perception of the world and its values, and be supported by binding these kinds of thoughts attract and feel a great comfort to be near that person. So well it determined what kind of people you want in your life and implements those values ​​that bring you to them. 

Love: many believe the love of his life never come or do not believe that it exists, but they are very wrong and that love exists for those who believe and likewise for those who do. If you want to attract your soul mate, you should take into account the emotional and sentimental characteristics of that person you want to have, say them every day out loud and with conviction, always keep in your mind those traits of that person in your imagination, visualize the person you want to be, living the dream love you long and most likely find the love of your life, sooner than you think.

Goals: the easiest way to apply the law of attraction in your goals is picturing, having already reached the goals you want, do it consistently and your senses will be alert at every opportunity to start building your future. When you want something always think you get, do not hesitate one second, persistent and convincing about what you want because when you want something that comes from your heart, it is because you can reach otherwise not feel that way, and that is the true sense of the most powerful law in the universe the law of attraction!

"The ladder of success is best climbed by stepping on the rungs of opportunity."

By Giuliano J. Lobos

I am currently an upcoming sophomore in college with dreams of being the first in my family to receive a higher education in the United States. I am a proud son of Argentinian migrants. Even though we do not have all that we desire we come from a humbling place where people retire in their first dead-end jobs. Leaving all they had known, family, friends and with a few hundred dollars in their pockets. Suitcase in one hand and my small vulnerable hand in the other, my parents and I left Argentina arriving in United States fourteen years ago. As I grow older my parents bestow life changing views and morals on me that continue to shape me as an individual. My parents both had their tough shares of situations in their childhoods in Argentina. Both of their families were not very economically stable, especially my father being one of the oldest out of seven siblings his father making him work from a young age to support their family. My father had to drop out of high school to help out his family. My mother is from a small town where there was only one elementary school and one high school, if students wanted to continue to college they had to go ten hours away to the big city of La Pampa. At the age of sixteen my mother left to what we consider here a community college living on her own and accomplish to graduate as a kindergarten teacher, she was the first in her family to go to college. Much like my mother I too will be dubbed the legacy changer of my family by accomplishing the goal of acquiring an education in the United States.

Through both their tough experiences and sacrifices my parents have bestowed their work ethics to me. From a young age showing me through example both working countless hours in jobs they truly do not enjoy, all due to their lack of education. My father always tells me “no tener una educación es lo peor, la educación abre un montón de puertas.” which translates to not having an education is the worst thing, an education opens many doors. These words and the experiences my family and I have gone through have kindled a flame in me to succeed. At the age of ten my mother read a self-help book called “The Secret” a book based on the law of attraction. My mother would teach me everything she learned from this book a quote that truly impacted me was “your thoughts become things.” And since then I have had aspirations of becoming the first doctor in my family’s history.” Throughout the years I have test out this theory, and recently one event that has truly proved to me the power in this ideology is my acceptance to the college of my dreams. Since sophomore year in high school I have dreamed of attending this university and now through countless hours daydreaming, every night visualizing myself walking this campus it has become a reality.

With that being said some of my many educational goals are to graduate with my A.A. degree from a four-year institution, and also graduating with a bachelor’s in biology further helping me achieve my dream of becoming a doctor. I have optimistic aspirations of graduating top of my class, knowing there will be students much more gifted or have more resources than I, but I will never be out worked my ambition to succeed and my work ethics is what will set me apart. Once graduated I dream of being accepted in a prestigious medical school learning from many respected professors acquiring the adequate tools to provide quality care for my future patients. I believe this career is my “calling” because I have always had a passion for providing a helping hand for others. Following certification one my career goals would be to specialize in either anesthesiology or pediatric oncology, fields that have always interested me and have had a huge impact in my life.

Furthermore once the opportunity is presented I would like to start a non-profit organization that will serve as a tool for immigrant students, assisting them through the many college application processes. Being brought up in an immigrant household the college process becomes much more difficult. Personally I was oblivious on what steps to take, and what was needed of me to attend college. Not having someone to guide me through this process became frustrating and it could discourage many students. That is why I believe this would be an incredible goal to someday achieve allowing me to help countless students in their search for a higher education.

Martial arts have also helped me evolve as an individual through “Bushido” which is the moral virtues a martial artist develops through years of training, including integrity, respect, heroic courage, honor and self-discipline. These virtues have helped me not only through my training and personal life but also my education. Throughout the years the life of a migrant and growing up in household where economic stability was at times far-fetched was arduous. However I believe we are a product of our experiences and those tough circumstances and sacrifices being it through many years of distance from family members or loss of loved one have influenced my “go getter” mind set, my attitude towards life and my ambitious aspirations.

I believe I am a worthy candidate for a scholarship thanks to my parents who through example have not only bestowed their work ethics but many more characteristics on me. Such as being a risk taker shown to me from the early age of five through grit and courage, when my parents decided to leave their homeland to an unfamiliar country, characteristics that continue to shape me as an individual. Such as my parents did fourteen years ago I am proud to say I will do the same leaving to the University Of Central Florida, taking a risk and going to an unfamiliar place. I am joyful to accomplish such an un-imaginable feat. And have learned that all the resources I need to make my dreams a reality have been existing inside of me all along and are mine to control. The only person stopping me is myself and limiting thoughts and beliefs. Anything is possible. 

Ayn Rand once said “The ladder of success is best climbed by stepping on the rungs of opportunity.” Receiving a scholarship would be just that, a great opportunity allowing me to further my educational journey. I am optimistic that I embody the characteristics a scholarship candidate possesses. And I will remain focused and dedicated until I achieve my many dreams. And if I were to be fortunate enough to become a scholarship awardee I would be utterly grateful of the opportunity.

Was I just another American Anticipating Baby Carrots in an Adult Carrot World?

by Jillian Wybenga
University of Massachusetts Amherst 

You know you’re an adult when you miss a bus. No one held your hand and ushered you onboard, explaining to the driver that you didn’t speak German and requesting that he take care of you. In the world of adults, people book their own bus tickets. They go online several days in advance, compare prices, and find a copy shop to print their digital purchase confirmation. They take their time, pack a bag the night before, and maybe even create an itinerary of things to do and see at their destination. Adults don’t careen into the station twenty minutes before their bus’ departure. They don’t proceed to run around the station, frantically trying to find out where all their friends are, and where to buy a bus ticket on the spot. That behavior is characteristic of children. 

If you haven’t already guessed, I was just such a bus-missing adult. My lack of planning cost me a trip to Strasbourg, France with my friends during my first few weeks of studying abroad in Heidelberg, Germany. Through a combination of my extremely limited German vocabulary, my flat being centrally located in Heidelberg, and the ease with which I initially got away with most things by smiling and apologizing, I became extremely lax in regard to making plans in my new home-away-from-home. As a novice to German language and culture, I simply felt like I did not have very much control of what was going on around me. It was overwhelming to constantly be inundated with new information, new people, and new expectations—even if most of the time those new things were good. Instead of confronting my feelings of helplessness head on, I first tried several crafty ways to avoid them. 

When I went out at night, it was to the cluster of downtown Altstadt bars within a five-minute walk from my flat. All I had to do was wait for the other international students to congregate in my neighborhood before I tripped off to join them. After class, my apartment was a ten-minute walk away from everything on Hauptstrause, the main drag in Heidelberg, so it didn’t matter if I needed to duck home and pick something up. Whenever I needed to go somewhere by train, tram, or bus, I just waited for someone else to express the need to go to the same place (which happened often, since all exchange students had roughly the same to-do list) and latched onto their travel plans. I knew that the 31 and 32 trams went to Neumenheimerfeld, and that the 22 tram eventually came back to Bismarckplatz, but that was about the extent of my tram expertise. I lived in fear of the day when a Polizei would board the tram and slap me with a fine for not paying the fare correctly. In fact, I always boarded trams through one of the back entrances in anticipation of this scolding. In short, I dealt my feelings of being out of control by passing the responsibility to my classmates and friends. As the bus incident revealed, this solution was neither a responsible choice, nor one that was working for me.

A few days after the Strasbourg bus debacle, I was craving baby carrots and hummus—staples of my snack rotation back in the United States. Unfortunately, when I got to the Supermarkt I discovered that neither hummus nor baby carrots were anywhere to be found. In a surge of proactivity, I bought some adult carrots and decided to peel and slice them into babies myself. The lack of packaged, pre-sliced carrots in Germany led me to draw an analogy to the cultural juxtaposition of the U.S. and Germany; one society expects all the preparatory, menial work to be done by someone else, and the other society expects a higher level of autonomy and responsibility from it’s inhabitants. I always thought of myself as an independent, self-driven person, but Germany was making me reassess this perception. Was I just another American, anticipating baby carrots in an adult carrot world?  

I ultimately never made it to Strasbourg. Having already visited the city on the day I failed to prepare, the rest of my friends weren’t interested in visiting again. This lost opportunity was disappointing and deflating, but it was also the impetus behind my motivation to spearhead later trips to Paris, Amsterdam, Hamburg, and London. Missing that bus to Strasbourg was the wake-up call I needed to realize that only I could create my ideal study abroad experience. My professors, IPO advisors, parents, and even my friends weren’t going to do the legwork for me, and it wasn’t their responsibility to ensure that I had prepared myself. I still was not proficient in German language or culture, but I chose to stop focusing on my deficiencies and instead focus on making my experience into the best it could be through being proactive. In this new country, I grew to realize that I needed to pick up a knife, and peel my own carrots.

Focusing on what I can control makes a difference in my perception and character.

By Nicole Leigh Zollner
University of New Mexico

Naturally, every individual has a set path, a series of difficulties or conflicts they are presented with and must overcome. Perhaps the reason for certain conflict or difficulties are not apparent while they are occurring nor right after a resolution, but eventually the reason surfaces. The reason becomes clear and then, as an individual, each one realizes exactly why it had to occur that way. 

Throughout my life, I have had series of difficulties I had to overcome, to learn, and to become a stronger, wiser individual. When I was seventeen, I was presented with situations that made me question my self worth, who I was as a person, and whether I was strong enough. The difficulty of the events resulted in an eating disorder: anorexia and bulimia nervosa. The eating disorder was a result of emotional abuse, stress, and having no control over certain aspects of my life or the people affecting me. Throughout the disorder, I learned important principles in which I should live, how I needed to change my perception. 

However resistant individuals may be, positive thinking deeply affects lifestyle and perception. Personally, through this experience, I had to let go of aspects in my life I couldn’t control, let go of stress. Once I let go of things out of my control and trusted that everything needed to and was happening exactly as it should, my eating disorder began to fade. I no longer harmed myself, rather I found different mechanisms to cope, to release and let go of stress. When one lets go of things that are out of control, one can breathe.

It is a release to trust and to focus on things one can immediately control. It is a release to focus on the choices and decisions that can only be made at the moment, the ones only an individual has control over. I chose to become stronger, despite emotional abuse and questioning my self-worth. I chose to recover from the disorder, feel and be normal again, although it took an enormous amount of effort and dedication. Every day is a battle, but choosing to think positively and focusing on what I can control makes a difference in my perception and character. 
 
Although the reason is not exactly clear to me yet, I realize that this difficulty has shown me how worthy I am. It has shown me that letting go of things I have no control over and change my perception to think positively are principles that deeply influence lifestyle. These principles can help any individual overcome any obstacle, whether it is educational, personal or physical, and make one achieve and be successful. 

You Have the Power and the Capability to Change a Negative to a Positive.

By Jonique Lacy
 
The law of attraction can have either positive or negative effects on your life. People always told me to think positive because if I think negative nothing good will come of the situation. I honestly believe that if you harbor positive or negative energy, you will get whatever you put into it.

Single parenthood brings challenges that would make the strongest person buckle at the knees. If a person utilizes his or her positive thinking, they would stand up straight and live life. There are days that I sit and think about the lives of other people. I will be honest and state that I do at time get a little jealous of their ability to ignore the strife that is put before them. I had to ask them, “How can you smile and get through the tough stuff?” They told me that when you are faced with the ugly situations, keep your head up and don’t give your attention to what stresses you. I knew from then that I have to handle my problems in a positive way. I had to think the best of every situation.

You can motivate yourself to become a positive thinker. While I am at work patrolling around in the security vehicle, I tend to do a lot of thinking. I go over the stress in my life and figure out how I will deal with them on a day to day basis. Some thoughts that I had were either positive or negative.  I then separate each issues and find a positive solution to help me move forward in life minus the negativity. I will also search for information to help reinforce my positive thoughts.

I look at my life with my kids in a positive light. I love my children and care about their future. I am a single mother who works, go to school. Times do get rough but I always look at the positive aspects of my life. I am alive. I am able to provide my children with the proper care and love that a mother is supposed to do. If I looked at the situations in my life in a negative light, my kids would be taught the wrong way of dealing with stressful situations in life. Children look up to their parents. I want my children to understand that there is always a brighter side to every situation. Life is what you make it, and I plan on making my life and the life of my children the best there could be. Positive thinking is the only way I can achieve that goal.

Obtaining a higher education costs money and sometimes the money is not there for your use. I started feeling down because of the negative thoughts about not being able to finish school. I sat down and prayed. I thought about my children and thought about how far I have come, and that moment gave me the positive energy to push out the negative energy. If I think positive and get the energy to search the web for scholarships, I know that I will eventually luck up and get the money I need to finish school. Positive thoughts will keep my heart and mind headed in the right direction or path.

As of today I would say that I am an optimistic person optimistic. All the thoughts that are running through my brain are on a positive note. I don’t want to seem like I am a pessimistic person so I will always choose to look at every situation with a positive attitude. I will continue to remember the saying: “This too shall pass.” There is always a brighter side to everything.

I started a hobby that has kept me thinking positive thoughts. I bought a small journal and started recording every good thing that has happened since I started my educational journey. I also write down the negative things along with ways that I can solve them. I then write how grateful I am to have had the opportunity to learn how to turn a positive to a negative. I write down a lot of things that I am grateful for. I am grateful for my children, my job, and the opportunity to be able to go to school so that I can better my life and the life of my children. My advice to anyone who decides to start a journal, be truthful and to let your feeling spill.

Appreciating what you have and what you have learned will help you stay constant in your positive thinking. Never wallow in self-pity and stay angry at something you may not have control over. Appreciate the fact that you have the power and the capability to change a negative to a positive. 

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DECEMBER 31, 2014 DEADLINE SUBMISSIONS BEGIN HERE.
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Controlling what I can

By Kristen Negron
 
Having control of one’s life is something that many take for granted. It seems so easy- it’s your life, how can you not be in control? Yet for me, that control was elusive. I always felt like I was overpowered by my parents and it didn’t help that the decisions I made for myself ended with regret and on one occasion, a dire consequence. I came to think that since I couldn’t make good decisions on my own, that I shouldn’t be making them at all. However, the lack of control over my own life distressed me and, like I usually did, I made bad choices while trying to regain control.

As a child, I was abused by my father. I was either eight or nine when the abuse started and thankfully, it ended about three years later when my parents divorced. During those three years, the father that I had been so close to hurt me and I couldn’t understand why. The home I had grew up in became a prison that I wanted to escape but I felt I had no where to go. I thought of running away many times but never did because I knew I wouldn’t be able to survive on my own. I was trapped in a dangerous situation that I couldn’t fix. I collapsed in on myself and wouldn’t let anyone into my tumultuous private world. Isolation was my comfort. I didn’t go to anyone in my family because I thought that maybe it was normal that daddy hit me and I was almost positive that other daddies did it to their daughters too. Despite trying to convince myself of that, I knew deep down that it wasn’t normal and I was scared. When I look at pictures now of when I was young, before the abuse started, I see a little girl who would go to her father for comfort and support. I have a picture of him holding me with a big, proud smile on his face as I am sleeping. When I look at that picture I see the tragedy of such a close, loving bond being severed by anger that my dad couldn't control. He took the chance of a happy childhood from me and instead gave me years of anger, depression and an aching to be able to change the past.

In eighth grade I began to cut myself. Dealing with my emotions in a healthy way seemed too hard for me and cutting was an easy escape. Often times I would be depressed and not know why and instead of trying to figure out the root cause I would cut myself as a distraction. Physical pain is tangible and I knew what the cause was. My emotions were confusing and indefinable and there was a certain solidity in physical pain. My cuts evolved from small scratches to deep gashes by the time I was in high school because I would often go over the same wound again and again. My parents were still battling out their divorce in court, even though it was two years later and the court had ordered mandatory therapy for all four of us. I wasn’t able to choose the therapists I saw and I didn’t like any of them so I never felt comfortable being vulnerable to them. My parents knew that I cut myself and because I refused to let anyone help me I didn’t stop. Eventually, one of my classmates noticed my cuts and reported it to a teacher. I had to go to a school counselor and show them and they promptly told my mother. When my dad first began to abuse me I was too scared to tell anyone about it and dealt with my pain alone. Eventually, it became a conscious decision to not let anyone know I was in pain and for years I was emotionally numb. By the time my cuts were reported to a teacher I had been contemplating suicide and I was exhausted from trying to be strong all the time. I was finally ready for help.

I met the therapist that I still see today when I was fourteen and at our very first meeting, with both my parents in the room, I described my suicide fantasies. I told them how I would spend hours each day writing suicide letters in my head to my friends and family and weighing the pros and cons of different methods to take my life. I was still numb at the time and I remained that way for a while and when I spoke of my fantasies and feelings it was in a monotone voice. I was detached from my life and would often get surreal feelings when I would think to myself; “This is real. This is real life. I am real and I am alive”. Then I would pinch myself as if to wake up from a dream. I was detached from my family and felt little connection to the people around me. Most of all, I was detached from myself. After many sessions with my therapist, all that changed and I stopped trying to bury my feelings and my numbness started to wane. I was finally alive again, finally feeling things that I hadn’t let myself feel including happiness. With it came a deep and profound sadness that I had tried to run away from but as I began to delve into my childhood and inspect each wound that had been inflicted on me, I was finally able to face it. I finally found the causes of my pain and that meant that I could mend it. As I was healing, the pain I felt was still difficult for me to bare. One thing that I have always struggled with is being vulnerable, so my path to healing felt like a roller coaster of vulnerability then a stoney detachment. Destructive behavior was something that I had always turned to as a distraction. I still didn’t feel in control of my emotions and where my life was headed, so I continued to make harmful decisions.

Those harmful decisions often put me in high- risk situations and one of those had dire consequences. On March 7th, 2009, I was date raped. The guy who raped me was twenty at the time and I was sixteen. Date rape has this stigma to it that suggests that the woman could possibly have wanted it due to her actions or clothing. I was so ashamed and confused because I could barely remember anything. Above all, I felt dirty. I was disgusted with myself and kept thinking, “what if I did do something that made him think I wanted it”? The coward that raped me stole all my power from me and the little self respect that I had left. He had left me, alone and naked, for my friends to find and didn’t think twice about what he had done. I had always told myself that I am strong and I would be the one to fight back. But I couldn’t. He made me feel weak and powerless and I relived that experience over and over again as I would have flash backs and “body memories” where I felt it happening all over again. I had no control, no power, and I was too confused to report anything. I finally told my therapist what happened and she confirmed to me that I was raped. I decided to take back control and report him. Unfortunately, it took me about a month to finally work up the courage to tell the police, and my parents, what had happened. I felt degraded and scared all over again as the officer who took my statement treated me as if I was a criminal but I still told him everything I could remember and I still went back when a detective wanted to have an interview with me. We decided to set up a cold call, where I would call my rapist on a phone that was hooked up to a tape recorder. I was nervous and scared- I was finally going to confront the person who had stolen all confidence I had in myself to fight; the person who stole all of my power. At the end of it the detective said that it was one of the best cold calls he had ever been on. The guy practically confessed. I would never get justice, however, because I had waited too long and there was no rape kit so it was more of a he said, she said case that the DA decided would never hold up in court. When I made the choice to report my rape I knew that my case going to court would probably never be a reality but when I thought of other women out there that he may victimize, I knew that if he already had one rape reported against him it would help them make a better case for themselves. I took my power back from him and finally gained control over what happened to me. I decided to report the rape and I went through with it and I am proud of myself for that. I still live with the fact that he is out there, somewhere, and at any moment I could run into him but I refuse to let that put a damper on my life. I did what I could and I am proud of that. I knew that I would never be able to live with the guilt of not reporting it knowing that I could have done something to stop him from hurting someone else, even if I would never be able to take it all the way to court.

Before I confronted my rapist, I had also confronted my dad. My therapist had been wanting to do joint sessions so I would be able to address everything he did to me and how much it damaged me. I was always afraid of my father so I never stood up to him because if I did, I would get hurt. Confronting him, reliving all of the pain I had suffered at his hand, telling him how everything he did effected me, was one of the scariest moments of my life. I expected to be ridiculed or hit. Instead, for about six months, he actually listened to what I had to say and often times, we cried together. When those sessions were coming to a close and I had reminded him of every single thing that he did, the two halves of my life finally came together. My dad said, “I remember.” I burst into tears and he held me as I cried, like he would when I was little and we were so close. Before he said that I had felt disconnected to my past and even questioned whether or not my memory had failed me and perhaps I had been making these events up. By hearing him say “I remember” validated all of the pain that I went through and I knew that I had the right to be hurt and angry. I wasn’t making anything up or making myself out to be a victim. That moment was one of the most healing moments I have ever experienced and it allowed me grieve like I never did before and in turn, rectify my pain.

I have confronted the two people who seized my power and control, and I regained it from them. Confrontation has never been something I’m good at and the fact that I was able to accomplish such a feat made me feel like I actually could make healthy choices for myself. My depression and anger seemed to be a force pushing me towards dark places and dangerous positions but I was able to latch onto my demons and conquer them. I no longer allow my emotions to make decisions for me, I make decisions for myself. If I am in a tough situation I’m now able to realize that I have the power to pull myself out of it and get myself into a better place. I no longer ache to change the past because I have accepted that I can’t. I no longer wish that I had somehow convinced the DA and detectives to allow my case to go to court because I know that I couldn’t have. I used to regret things that I couldn’t change and often looked back and thought that if I had only chose to do “this” rather than “that,” things may have been different. Now I know that my struggles happened for a reason. I have decided to become an Art Therapist so I can help others with their struggles. I recognize that there will always be things in life that I am unable to control, but there will also be things that I can and those are the things worth focusing on. 

Living Law of Attraction: it starts with you

By Darian Wellington 

Many do not know what the law of attraction is let alone how much of an impact it has on a person’s life. Imagine a mirror. A mirror reflects everything it sees, whether it be good or bad. Have you ever had a good start to a day by just being in a good mood and it seemed like everything just fell in place? Or maybe a day where everything seemed to go wrong starting with one bad thing leading to another? That is because of the energy you send off to begin with. What you project can either make or break your day by simply reflecting what you are putting out. That is the basis of the law of attraction.
I live by the law of attraction mindset everyday. I learned about the law of attraction when I was introduced to affiliate marketing and studying entrepreneurship just this past summer. What I understand about the law of attraction is that it is something that starts within yourself. In order to properly apply the law of attraction, you must first understand it. I live with the law of attraction in mind by realizing the important effects and how I began to apply it to where it becomes a habit and second nature.The power of positive thinking can do wonders.
            It is very simple actually. The first thing to know about the law of attraction is the importance of it. There were many times before when I would stress and worry over things I felt was out of my control and expected the worse. Because my mindset was negative and inviting in the worse possible outcome, that is exactly what happened. The word many consider the true explanation for this mindset is a pessimist and have the “glass half empty” ideals versus the optimist with the “glass half full” ideals. The importance of the law of attraction has everything to do with what you incorporate in your life and how you view each situation. Those with a more positive view on life and it’s lesson to grow and learn from them have a higher success rate compared to those who take self pity and dwell in negative feelings with little improvement. Henry Ford once said “Whether you think that you can or that you think you can’t, you are right.” This quote is the mantra for the law of attraction mindset in a lump sum. The barriers we face in everyday life are self created. When the human mind gets past the conformity mindset and realizes that opportunities are limitless, you adapt the law of attraction mindset. The power of positive thinking opens the doors to endless possibilities. Instead of saying “who is going to allow me to do what I want,” I began to say, “who is going to stop me”. This is a very important concept to understand because it has the ability to change your life dramatically in the best of ways. You would be surprised just how things work in your favor by just simply asking extravagantly. Be mindful of the power of law of attraction but also understand you must also play the role as well. You must make an effort toward what you want to happen or who you want in your life. The law of attraction can either make your life as horrible as a nightmare or an endless dream of possibilities and blessings.
            When I learned the important effects of the law of attraction, I began to apply it. I live by the law of attraction mindset everyday by projecting and manifesting what I want to happen to me. I Begin by imagining and envisioning myself in certain situations or ending up with certain outcomes I want to happen. One example is an experience I had just this past summer. I took my boyfriend on a trip for his birthday to a water resort in wisconsin. When we got there, the room I purchased was trashed. Apparently no one had come to clean up from the previous guests. The manager felt so bad about this inconvenience, she upgraded our room to the presidential suite, the most expensive room in the entire resort, free of charge. This is evidence of law of attraction for my boyfriend and I envision ourselves in nothing but luxuries and enjoying the best of life by surrounding ourselves with positivity. Another piece of evidence from law of attraction mindset is when I made a “do it” board. This is a cork board with images of everything I want to do in the next year. By envisioning where I want to be in the next year, it speaks it into existence and the universe goes to work to provide me with what I want. On my board is a bundle of money, a nominee author award, and Loyola University, just to name a few. I want to get my work published and I want to attend Loyola University. I want the best educational and prestigious degree that I can earn. I want to be able to go into the world as an attractively competitive applicant and work hard to get to where I want to be in life. I also want financial stability. So far, one of those few things have already began to happen. I have financial stability just in time to help me purchase a vehicle in which I desperately need. Before my car broke down, I imagined nothing but money in my bank account. Once my car did break down, I envisioned myself going to a car lot and purchasing a new car. I knew I would not go very long without a car. Not long after, I was driving off a lot in a new car. Constantly thinking in a positive light and always moving forward is how I prevail. This is just a few examples of the many things I have attracted to myself. My next few images I’ve added to my “do it” board is a “scholarship congratulations” word clipart stating my award of the scholarships in which I am applying for. I know I must already have the mindset that I have been awarded the scholarships. In my mind’s eye I can see myself receiving an email congratulating me on winning the scholarship. In my mind’s eye, I see the check being made out in my name and mailed to me. I see the mailman delivering it to my mailbox. I can see myself walking to the mailbox and finding the envelope with my name on it from Achieve Today and tearing it open to find a check of $5,000. Because I know the impactful effect of the law of attraction mindset, I see only this outcome. I must think positively. This is how I live with the law of attraction mindset throughout my life. 

The amazing Law of Attraction

By Donte Martinez

The law of attraction is an amazing and mysterious phenomenon that gives one the ability to steer their own destiny by using their thoughts and energy to create events similar to what one envisions.  In my life this law has helped me pursue the insight, wisdom, mentor and role model that I had wished as a high school student.
            During my sophomore year I decided to become a therapist to change the lives of people in this generation and a psychology teacher to plant good philosophies to the next generation to move humanity closer to peace, but to do that I craved knowledge and wisdom to be able to create the impact I desired.   In my mind I wanted to become sage-like.  So I went to the library to the self-help section and rented the first two books I picked up that had exactly what I wanted and needed to chase wisdom.  I felt drawn to these books by what seemed like an invisible force that urged me to pick these books amongst the other hundreds that laid on the shelf.   One was a guide to meditation, which was very sage-like, and another book titled “Seven Masters One Path” which detailed a combination of the core teaching of seven masters who impacted philosophy, for example, Jesus, Muhammad, Lao-tzu, Buddha and Gandhi. 
            Over the next two years I explored bookshops and libraries to pursue more enlightenment and knowledge.  I still envisioned becoming a person whose rich with wisdom.  With intuitive feelings, along the years I picked up more books, one titled “Personal Power Through Awareness”, which had a detailed explanation on metaphysics and controlling one’s energy.  The next book I ran into by what seemed like destiny was another book on metaphysics, “Soul Stories”, which had people’s life experiences.  Then I stumbled across the book, “The Definitive Guide to Body Language”, learning body language, and “Emotional Intelligence”, studying EQ and neurology.
            As more time past by, I had a feeling that my readings couldn’t prepare me for everything in life, a lot but not all.  I felt like I needed a mentor or master, someone who will be with me one on one and teach me what I needed to know to live life with enlightenment.  When I pictured this someone I envisioned an old man who just knew the answer to everything.  Kind of like a Mr. Miagi from the Karate Kid movie or an old sage. Then when I was signing up for classes for senior year of high school, I signed up for a Transpersonal Psychology class.  However it was filled so I couldn’t get in.  I didn’t let that stop me.  I pictured me getting the knowledge from that special class that only a lucky twenty-five or so student can take once a year.  During lunch I went to the classroom and met who was soon to be my mentor, Jerry McCullough.  I asked him if he can teach me anything during lunch and with open arms and with a pleased smile he said yes.  Again everything worked out perfectly. 
            From that point on I visited Jerry during lunch every Tuesday and Thursday.  Every time we had a session, one on one as I dreamed of, he would teach me and make me experience so much epiphanies about myself that was mind blowing.  A few things he taught me was about people’s acts, the shadow self, more meditation, how to use intuition, how to meditate into the inner world, archetypes, dream analyzing, what a person’s inner child is, family dynamics, religion, how to live in the present moment, rules about reality, how to think, feel, and notice, the seven levels of consciousness, and many more life lessons.
            I didn’t even notice until I was writing this essay was that I was also looking for a friend and remodel at the time, which is what Jerry is to me.
            Growing up there was no one I really looked up to.   There was never a person that was real in my life where I would say, “I want to be just like him or her”.  My dad would go straight to the T.V. after work, I wasn’t social enough for teachers to pay attention to me, and the rest of the adults I didn’t quite admire.  Deep down I wanted a role model who was kind, wise, and was in touch with their greatness that’s deep inside everyone.  That was Jerry.  I focused on having someone to admire then Jerry happened.  
            The law of attraction is very synchronistic.  Thanks to his mysterious force it has helped me move closer to becoming the wise man I wish to be and created my encounter with the man who is my mentor, remodel, and dear friend. 

How the principle of leadership impacted my life

By Amanda Brown

Throughout my life there has been one overarching life skill that has aided my personal development.  Leadership.  I was involved in the 4-H program from the time I was eight years old until I graduated high school.  This youth program operates on the principle of the four H’s, Head, Heart, Hands and Health. 4-H also teaches and trains youth to become leaders by giving them opportunities to lead peers and become mentors to those younger than them.  Throughout my 4-H career I was able to hone my leadership skills in many different facets including, club activities, summer camp, and mock legislative sessions.  Through it all I became an accomplished leader who can lead efficiently in any given situation that is in need of leadership.  I think this is an extremely valuable life skill and I’m glad I had the opportunity to learn it.   

In my 4-H club we had members from the ages of eight to eighteen.  One of 4-H’s guiding principles is learn by doing and this also applies to leadership.  The older members teach workshops to the younger members.  This gives the older kids an opportunity to practice leadership in a safe and secure environment and provides the younger 4-Hers with peer role models that they can look up to and learn from.  I have had the experience of being in both positions.  I have great memories of doing projects like cooking, arts and crafts, science projects, sewing and Lego science all taught by elder 4-H members that I still look up to, to this day.  On the flip side when I became old enough to begin taking on leadership roles in the club, I found that I enjoyed that immensely as well.  In addition to leading a few projects of my own, notably babysitting, and messy science, I also served on our club’s leadership board.  I held several different offices in the club including secretary, vice president and president.  Through each of these jobs I gained more responsibility and a better understanding of leadership.  Being secretary taught me how to be more organized, a quality that can dramatically improve your ability to lead efficiently.  The vice president job taught me that being an effective leader means being able to assist others in leadership.  As vice president I needed to help the president complete tasks and fill in when he could not.  Being a leader is not a singular act.  It also takes team work.  Finally, the role of club president gave me an opportunity to be a leader in a larger arena then I ever had before.  I was in charge of running our meets smoothly and according to proper procedure.  I had to make sure the other officers were getting their jobs done and make sure new members felt welcome.  Together these experiences helped grow me into the leader I am now. 

My favorite leadership activity was 4-H summer camp.  I attended as a camper for quite a few years,  but when I got old enough I became involved with the leadership opportunities available.  First I became a C.I.T which stands for counselor in training.  You have a few minor responsibilities and you learn how to be a counselor by observing and assisting the cabin counselor.  In true 4-H fashion you learn by doing.  From there you work your way up to being a full-fledged camp counselor.  You are not only responsible for keeping the campers in your cabin happy and safe but you also teach classes and activities throughout the week.  The four years I was a camp counselor I learned so much about my leadership style.  I had to keep my campers engaged, involved and in line while still making sure they had fun and loved being in my cabin.  Being a leader is not ordering people around, it is inspiring people to do great things and I hope I inspired my campers.

As I got older the activities I became a leader in became more professional.  After attending a Florida 4-H state mock legislature event in Tallahassee for senior 4-Hers, I was given the opportunity to help lead a similar event for the intermediate 4-Hers around ages 11-13.  I was responsible for teaching the youth about the bill making process, proper parliamentary procedure and the proper way to debate.  While this was a lot of fun it was also a tremendous responsibility and a new challenge for me.  I had to teach a new and complicated concept to younger members and make it fun and exciting.  I think the event went very well and I hope the attendees learned about the legislative process in an interesting way.  

4-H has impacted my life in a huge way. I would not be the person I am today without it.  Especially in the area of leadership.  4-H gave me so many opportunities to become a leader and improve my skills.  I am so grateful for this program and the life lessons it taught me.

The house on Hellensfield

By Alexandria Christen Dantes

            We never lived on Hellensfield Crescent. Not like my mom or my cousins, Chrissy and Chris, did. But we grew up there, my three siblings and I. For as long as I could remember, 47 Hellensfield Crescent was home. Even though it was three thousand miles away—an equivalent of a thirty-six hour trip by car—there was no place on earth I felt more comfortable or at ease. It was where Mother and Lolo, my grandparents, established their life together. Where I was George instead of Lexie and where my cousin Alyssa was Fred because we’re close like that. It’s where we roasted marshmallows in the fireplace for the first time because we don’t have fireplaces in Florida. It’s where I fell in love with hockey and Kernels’s double butter caramel popcorn and where I used to pretend I was in a castle just because the house was so huge. I didn’t want to sell it. I didn’t want to say goodbye. But I had to. So I did.
            I’ve experienced some pretty big changes over the course of my lifetime, but letting the house on Hellensfield go was probably one of the worst. To anyone else, it was just another house, but for my family and me, it was a foundation of memories. Good ones. Bad ones. Hilarious ones. Heartbreaking ones. To this day, it’s a part of my life that I wish never went—a part that I sometimes secretly pray will come back. Over the years, I’ve seen more of my fair share of change. However, since starting university this year, I’ve also learned a few things that have shifted my perspective on life. Change is not always easy. It is not always welcome, and it is certainly not always fair. But it also not something we should fear. Change is inevitable. It may not always be for good or for the better, but it’s a part of life that we not only must learn to accept but also embrace.
            When I was growing up, my mom and I would always say a prayer. It went, “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” To this day, the serenity prayer is one I continue to find comfort in. It is a reminder of an important personal development principle I like to stand by and that is to focus on the things I can control. There are things in life we will never understand. There are ventures at which we will fail. There are roadblocks, hindrances, and downright dead ends. However, there are also reasons for everything. There is a reason why I keep hitting all those reds on my way to school. Why something important came up and I had to miss that party. No one likes an interruption, and for someone like me, changes in plans are not gratifying. But sometimes, we just have to accept them and move forward. Because who knows what the alternative option would have been? A car accident. A drunken brawl where someone would have gotten hurt. Focusing on what can be controlled ultimately keeps me grounded. It keeps me accepting, open minded, and makes life simply flow more smoothly. For me, it is a way to stay happy, even in the midst of hardship, struggle, or disappointment. It’s a way to remember all the possibilities life has to offer, a reminder to take advantage of second chances, and a promise that missed opportunities aren’t always closed doors—just ones making way for the doors that are meant to be opened.
            It was hard to give up the Hellensfield house, especially after all the time our family had spent in it. However, keeping my focus on what could be controlled—finding my grandmother a new and safe place to live—helped keep my mind off what we were leaving behind. It realigned my focus and reminded me about what really mattered: looking after Mother. If it was difficult for me to let the house go, it was that much harder for her, especially with my grandfather being gone. I’d felt so powerless not having a say in what happened to the house, but putting my own feelings about the new change aside, I placed my attention and efforts where they could count—taking care of my grandmother. Doing so helped me move on, keep up with the present, and look forward to the future.
            Today, the house on Hellensfield belongs to a new family. There is no longer a silver Suzuki that sits in the driveway. The roses my grandmother planted at the front have long since wilted. The green bins that once read “Dantes” are all gone. I can’t control what happens to the flooring inside the house. I can’t control what colors the walls are painted or what new shutters have replaced the old ones, and I can’t control what happens to my grandfather’s old tool shed in the backyard. What I have come to realize, however, is that while there aren’t many things that can be done about these new changes, there is still plenty that is within my control. Because it wasn’t the house itself that made the place so special. It wasn’t the crystal chandelier or the mahogany stairs or the window that overlooked the garden. It was family. I may not be able to control what happens to our beloved house now, but I can control how I spend the rest of my life and with whom. And in my opinion, being with those I love—making new memories and sharing new laughs—doesn’t sound half bad at all.

Personally me

By Kyle Likely
Morehouse College

I find it interesting that so few people take the time to invest in their own personal development. From birth until death, we are all growing, and not just physically. We grow mentally, spiritually, and existentially. Further beyond popular misconception, we do not just grow through external stimulus. We aren’t just flowers in a garden, depending on our resident botanists to take care of us. We are artists and our greatest works are ourselves. Personal development caters to those of us who would rather sculpt ourselves into the successes that we want to be as opposed to allowing outside forces to weather down our potential.
The common proverbial quote “It takes a village to raise a child,” implies that children without external support are at a huge disadvantage. However that couldn’t be further from the truth. When we are all alone, we still have ourselves. We must be our strongest supporters and our most lively fans. Personal development shows us how to do that. Whether through simply managing goals and learning how to set habits all the way to visualizing and meditating, personal development shows people how to take control of their own person and carve their own path to success.
                Though there are a large range of ideas that can be found on personal development sites, in books, or taught through mentors, my favorite and most fervently followed ideas are to break away from the masses, to fail fast, and, above all, to think positively! Why are these concepts so important to me?  Well, it’s because they were intuitively learned through hard times of my life and were integral parts to me escaping those hard times.
                The first, breaking away from the masses; it was an important thing for my confidence and ability to contribute my ideas, that I  learned it is okay to be different and to push boundaries. Instead of appealing to what everyone wants now, I should be happy providing new perspectives and solutions to issues.
                With failing fast, it was me just getting over my own perfectionist tendencies. Because life isn’t perfect. I’m not perfect. Though success is good, nothing is learned through it. And honestly, that’s where a lot of the fun of doing things comes from—learning. Failure isn’t bad as long as you take your failure and learn from it. But you can only do that with POSITIVE THINKING!
                It’s actually quite interesting how much your thinking influences you. My Sophomore and Junior year, I dealt with a negative cyclone of thoughts that pushed me into a deep depression that few people know about. It was only until I learned to live in the positives and be grateful for what I had and what I could do, that I was able to pull myself out of that huge hole.
                Personal development has become a huge part of my life, and I honestly would love to bring people into THEIR OWN lives. It’s amazing being with yourself and making yourself better. 

Transforming the sun

By Mackenzie Marr
University of Georgia

William Jennings Bryan said, “Destiny is no matter of chance, it is a matter of choice.  It is not something to be waited for, it is something to be achieved.”  Through my successes, and even more clearly through my failures, I continually find this statement to be true.  Life is not going to drop success into our laps with a smile and a pat on the back; we must go after it with all that we have within ourselves.  I am a piano performance major at the University of Georgia, and one of the most important lessons I have learned is that positive thought breeds positive outcomes.  In order to achieve the destiny we want for ourselves, we must make the conscious choice to cultivate positive thoughts in our daily lives so that we can create the outcomes we desire. 

            One of the most important things that I have learned about positivity is that even the smallest glimmer of optimism can make a difference.  During my junior year of high school I went to a Chinese restaurant with my family and opened a fortune cookie at the end of the meal.  It had a simple message printed on it that read, “You will achieve something great.”  I made a whimsical decision, as sixteen year olds often do, and decided to keep the thin slip of paper in the pocket of the jacket I wore almost every day, until it was a withered, tattered mess that could hardly be deciphered.  But every day for more than a month I looked at that message, and I told myself that it meant something and that I was going to make that fortune come true; I was going to achieve something great.  A few weeks later I went to an audition for a prestigious summer piano program that I was passionate about and hopeful that I would be accepted to attend.  I went into the audition and interview radiating confidence and positive energy and was accepted to the program.  I do not believe that the fortune I received at a Chinese restaurant really had anything to do with predicting what I achieved that day.  I do believe, however, that the positive thought I was able to generate from something so simple was one of many things to help me along my way to accomplishing my goal.

            In playing the piano, the energy I have as a performer can make or break my experience.  Recently I have learned more about this through negative experiences that I have had in competitions and in front of audiences.  In the past few months I have felt afraid of the pieces I have been playing and I have allowed that fear to directly influence my performance.  I have been so afraid of facing failure and embarrassment that I have instead caused these things to occur.  In October, I was competing in a concerto competition and felt extremely prepared for the challenge.  I loved the piece I was playing and I had spent hours in a practice room perfecting it and making it artistically beautiful.  However, in the days before the competition and in the moments leading up to my name being called, a little question crept into my thoughts: what if?  What if I make a mistake?  What if I forget the notes?  What if I no one likes my performance? And the biggest question of them all, what if I just fail?  These thoughts entered my mind just seconds before I took the stage, and I then made a major mistake on the second page of the piece.  Panic set it and negativity flooded my mind for the rest of the performance.  I pictured my own failure moments before I went to compete for something that I really wanted, something that I was fully capable of achieving, and I caused my own demise. 

            I try to live my life by using positive thoughts and energy to cultivate positive results.  My grandfather says that life is too short to be unhappy, and I think that happiness is not something to be waited upon; happiness is something that we can create for ourselves right at this very moment.  Several years ago I struggled with being very negative and I found that the best way to get over this was to find one thing every day, large or small, that made me feel happy.  It could be as simple as a sunny day or a smile from a friend, it could be anything at all that brought some warmth into my day or just made me smile.  The more I made myself find one small thing every day that made me happy, the more things I would find without even looking, until I did not even have to make myself search for that one positive light in my day.  Pablo Picasso said, “Some painters transform the sun into a yellow spot, others transform the yellow spot into a sun.”  I think that there are many events in our lives that can be considered either positive or negative; it all depends on our individual outlooks.  We can choose to take the suns in our lives and be negative about them, making them into yellow spots, but I prefer to take the yellow spots and turn them into burning suns. 

            Our thoughts and our attitudes are more powerful than we can even imagine; energy is power.  I can practice a piece to the pinnacle of preparation, understand it backwards and forwards, and practice it with extreme artistry, but if I allow myself to picture a negative outcome of the performance, I increase the likelihood that that image will become reality.  This semester I performed my junior recital and this fear and negativity was my only focus.  I was not excited, I just wanted to get it over with and I was petrified by the idea of failure.  One of my pieces was disastrous, but I learned a valuable lesson that I will not soon forget.  Yes, it was horrible and I felt embarrassed and disappointed in myself, perhaps more than ever before in my life, but one performance will not destroy my life.  I still have a wonderful family and friends who love me, a roof over my head, and a world full of opportunities.  My world did not end, so why should I be afraid?  I learned that there is no place for my fear and the only thing causing me harm is my own negativity.  I am dedicated and talented, but I must remember that optimism and positive energy are the keys to my success.  In the last few months I have not been using the law of attraction to my favor, but from these experiences I have learned how to use it to help me even more in the present and in the future.  Instead of dwelling on my failures, I am viewing them as learning experiences, for I have nowhere to go but up from here.  In the words of Winston Churchill, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

            I live my life by trying to find positivity in the world around me.  I know that to create the destiny that I want for myself, I need to have an attitude of good energy and positive thought rather than fear and negative energy.  Thoughts have power, and I must create the happiness that I want in my life and see the world around me with optimism.  I know that with hard work and enthusiasm I can achieve the goals that I have set for myself.  I will continue to strive toward my goals and seek out even the smallest specks of positive energy surrounding me because I agree with the words of author Henry David Thoreau: “It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.”

Living the Law of Attraction

By Stephanie Yau

Living the law of attraction means depending on my thoughts, I can attract certain things to happen in my life. I used to be quiet and shy. Even now, others’ first impression of me is a quiet and shy girl. However, I knew that there was so much more I wanted others to see, that I am open and easy to communicate with. I decided that in order for others to see the stronger side of me, I really had to put myself in the mindset that I was not afraid to take the initiative to speak with others and get to know others. I knew I would contribute a lot to my personal development if I took the first step. I decided that volunteer work would be the best way for me to exhibit my living of the law of attraction. I thought positively that if I believed in myself and was confident in my knowledge, I could influence others to also have confidence in learning something new and mastering the skill at some point. This would attract happiness to my life because not only am I empowering myself, I am also empowering others. With the ability to adapt and willingness to learn something new, one can develop great skills no matter how seemingly impossible it was in the beginning. Positive thoughts attract that ambition to make dreams come true and the strength to fight through obstacles.

I thus improved not only my confidence, but also my openness with the law of attraction. With my volunteer work of tutoring seniors, many seniors were beginning to learn about technology, and I needed to be confident in helping to guide them through the steps, from teaching them how to open multiple tabs on the browser to how to manage their email accounts and even exploring the social media websites like Facebook. I guided them through the steps, but still let them take control of the mouse. In order to retain the mindset of learning about technology and not being afraid that they would press the wrong key or click on the wrong icon, I had to encourage the seniors to always be holding the mouse and typing the words on the keyboard. I believe in the empowerment of other individuals. I learned that with more confidence, I was able to encourage more people around me to also believe in themselves more to strive and reach for their goals. I have become more open and I take the initiative. I have taken on responsibilities to care for others, both older and younger than me, and helping them to the best of my ability. With more exposure and experience, I have grown and matured and learned more about myself and the goals I have in life. I know that it is very important to me that I can help others and contribute to my community and the society to help individuals as much as I can.

            I also volunteer as a financial literacy tutor for low-income high school juniors. These students are very hardworking and have dreams of going to college, but because of their limited resources and concern about being able to afford college, it can become a barrier for them. I work with other financial literacy tutors to explain to them how it all works, and because I am a college student who is experiencing all of the hard of paying for college, I can empathize and understand how they feel. I try to answer their questions about the college application process and college in general as well to encourage them to strive towards their dreams. Although money plays a huge role in a student’s ability to attend college, I believe that as long as a student is willing to be brave and take on the financial responsibility and strong mindset that he or she can succeed, it is possible to attend college and achieve one’s dreams.

            I am a first generation college student and recently, my family has fallen into a difficult financial situation because both of my parents lost their jobs. In life, sudden changes can happen but the courage to adapt and overcome can help a person mature. I am paying for college with scholarships and money earned from working. Waking up early in the morning several times a week before sunrise to drive to go to work at the school library and then going straight to classes is hard, but I can persevere knowing I am gaining experience and strength because I have the courage to face reality.

By volunteering, I am literally putting myself in the environment of the people I want to help. I believe that in order to help others, I have to first put myself in the mindset of having courage and confidence. I feel that when I am confident in my knowledge of either technology or financial literacy, I can encourage others to have confidence in themselves. Not only am I attracting the positive events that happen in my life, but I also attract many people to build long-lasting relationships with them as well. I was happy to build friendships with seniors, because not only were we friends, but she also saw me like a granddaughter as well.

            I believe that if I can trust myself, I can encourage others to trust me as well. Being a tutor requires knowledge, but also the ability to empower others as well. As a college student, I believe that I can succeed in the future and that is what gives me strength to keep moving on no matter how hard it is. I work while going to school and even though I have to wake up before sunrise and drive to work and immediately going to classes afterwards, I know that this is experience and I can endure it. Instead of thinking that I am in a very difficult situation, I think of how this is an opportunity for me to learn and help others.

I like putting myself in new and different situations and adapting to them to solve problems and continue achieving my goals.  I love what I do with passion and I always put all of my effort into my work. I have a positive attitude and always hope to bring happiness to other people through helping them. Continually living the law of attraction will help in the future for the rest of my life because there is still so much time for me, but if I choose to think that I can live my life happily and that many opportunities will come to me, then I can achieve my dreams and help make contributions to this world. I am a business major and I understand that in the future, I will be working in teams with others. My attitude can influence others on my team and our ability to get things done. From my experience with volunteer work, I hope to maintain the attitude of sharing my knowledge and confidence with others and help others become more independent. With positive thinking, we can take pride in ourselves and our accomplishments because we know that because we believed in ourselves all along, that is what prompted us to keep moving forward despite the obstacles that come in our way. We can only make differences in the world if we first believe that it can be achieved and then go out to plan and take action.

Growing as human beings

By Alexis Winston

Right now I’d like you to turn on your television or log onto your favorite social media site. What do you see? In between all of the life updates and new photos that have been posted, I see hatred. Technology that was created to bring people together is causing a disconnect that is sickening to watch. I’ve lived in this world for a very short time, yet I’ve already seen the worst in some people. I’ve seen a person spit on someone because of his sexual orientation. I’ve heard someone call a young woman a terrorist because she was wearing a hijab. These hateful actions and comments come from a lack of knowledge about the differences among people. We all have something to offer. Until we learn about new ideas, cultures, and thoughts that are unlike our own, we cannot grow as human beings.
I grew up in a community where everyone was similar. It was shocking to see someone of a different race, different sexual orientation, different religion, and even a different personality. In 2010, I entered high school and was exposed to hundreds of people with various backgrounds and personalities. Along with these differences, I also saw bullying and fighting. I didn’t bother to question why people harassed others based on their identities until my senior year of high school. One of my classes brought to my attention the stereotypes associated with different identities and how they are learned by people. Families, friends, school, and even television are all used to influence individuals. Often, we believe in what has been taught to us without questioning if it is actually true. Sometimes, we are taught to hate or stay away from an individual because of one identity. However, I find it absurd to judge someone because of who they are on the outside. Think about how you’d feel if someone passed judgment on you because of one identity. Personally, I would feel hurt if someone judged me based on the color of my skin because there is much more to me than the color of my skin. I encourage individuals to question what has been taught to them about specific identities. Much of the hatred in this world can be
eliminated if people begin to see others as human beings rather than identities such as skin color, sexual orientation, and religion.
Earlier this year, I began studying at a large university with over 40,000 students on campus. Unlike many other students, my college experience is not centered on simply getting good grades and earning a degree to show a future employer. It is much more than that. College allows me to not only discover more about myself but also to get to know more about the people who breathe the same air that I breathe. Most of all, I want my college experience to be about finding and encouraging others to find what connects us all. Because I wanted to know more about different ideas and cultures in this world, I took advantage of the 48 languages offered on my campus. I found myself becoming more and more intrigued by the Arabic language and Arabic-speaking societies. Before I made the decision to study Arabic, I did not know of anyone who spoke Arabic or anything about Arabic-speaking countries. However, my interest for this language was so deep that I spent hours doing research on it. I encountered one video on YouTube titled “QFI’s ALCI Presents: The Benefits of Learning Arabic.” The first portion of the video was about a diverse group of high school students who experienced problems because of their backgrounds. Once they learned more about the cultures of their peers, they were accepting and understanding of these cultures. These high school students are young individuals like myself who have the power to change the future. It is extremely important for all of us to open our minds to different ideas. Looking back on my first semester, I realize that I’ve encountered many different people. I also realize that there is much more to learn in this world. My understanding of new ideas and new people will allow me to grow as a human being.
I’ve learned that life is not about your career, your education, money, the fancy cars you own, or the large house you live in. Though I am young, I understand that all of our lives
eventually come to an end. Think about how you remember your loved ones that have passed on. Ultimately, how you are remembered depends on how you treat and inspire others throughout your life. I wanted to be remembered as a person who was able to connect with everyone despite my differences with them. People have much more in common than they may know. We can only grow if we open our minds and our eyes to the world around us.

I realized that my life is an aggregation of every choice I make

By Antony Justin

This principle is a tad borrowed; it comes from The Art of Racing in the Rain written by Garth Stein.

“What you manifest, is in front of you.”

The reality that I see in front of me is a direct result of my actions; my choices. The art of racing in the rain gives us the brilliant example of how racing car drivers don’t try and hold the wheel steady. Every moment at speed, a car’s wheels experience a multitude of forces; from the vibration of the engine and gears to the imperfections in the asphalt, everything factors in.

The driver can’t anticipate and respond to all these variables at the rate they’re happening to him. The only control he has is over his actions. As such, what he can anticipate is the result of what he’s about to do. So if he shakes the steering wheel a little to the left, then he knows that to correct for it, he has to turn it a little to the right the next instant. What he manifested; was in front of him. That gave him the ability to see the future and take action as needed.

Have you ever used a pair of Bose active noise cancelling headphones? Notice how they cut out the noise around you so much more effectively than your regular earphones which rely on simple acoustic insulation? So much so that you feel like you’re in your own bubble?

Here’s how the Bose headphones work (without getting too technical); they can’t neutralize the wide variety of noises the environment produces; so they generate their own noise inside the cups of the headphone. This noise drowns out all the exterior noise as far as the listener is concerned. BUT, most importantly, it’s by design, by manifestation. As such, they are predictable and can be cancelled out by more sound waves generated specifically to neutralize them.

Case in point; just now, when I put in my earphones to tune out my 7 year old cousin so that I could concentrate on my essay, she asked why I was listening to music if I didn’t want to be distracted.

The thing is; I can tune the music out; I know the ranges of the music and the emotional responses it can draw from me. Not so with the wide range of distraction a 7 year old is capable of.

Why bother with this obvious truth? We like to get into patterns and routines we call habits. Habit is nothing but a set of realties we manifest and our practiced reactions to them; things we know work.

A habit is a powerful thing in that they are automations of tiny aspects of our life that make our day to day a little more efficient. We gather habits as we grow from children into adults.

In the limit of this; by the time we reach adulthood, a lot of us are just a conglomeration of habits. We hardly if at all react to our environment in new ways and eventually forget how we affect our realities; that what we manifest is in front of us.

BUT, the world around us is constantly changing and over time, when the habits we’ve formed suddenly fall short; we don’t even remember how we formed those in the first place and we’re left scrambling, improvising, guessing at how to go about life; what you manifest is in front of you.

This profound reminder that we alone affect our realities is all around us. “Smile and the world smiles with you” or “Be the change you want to see in the world”; they’re all saying the same thing. They’re all leaves of the same tree; the message is that what you manifest becomes your world.

After I read this book, my first few days were actually reduced to childlike wonder at the world; I’d prod something; friend’s circles with plans on a slow weekend, strangers on the street with a ‘Howdy!’ and the widest smile I could pull off. Once I’d manifested these things, I knew what would be in front of me, I knew what I’d have to react to; the next step was often to ignore their surprise at my actions and follow through with confidence in what I’d manifested.

And just like that, I had new expectations from my friends, a new expectation on how strangers can actually smile back at you and infinite possibilities for affecting my reality.

The crux of the message is simple; its applications however, are endless. I realized that my life is an aggregation of every choice/manifestation I make; whether I should stay up late and watch a movie or grab a good night’s sleep, do the dishes now or leave them for tomorrow, watch another episode or start on that paper.  These decisions weave together to form the fabric of my life.

What I make of my life is the direction this fabric takes. The direction that’s mine to steer towards by what I manifest.

The golden fool

By Shana Douglass
USC

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Sound familiar? It’s most commonly referred to as The Golden Rule, and the essence of the rule can be
found in various cultures, religions, and philosophies around the world. In Luke 6:31, the bible records Jesus as saying “Do to others as you would have them do to you”. Confucianism states “Do not do to others what you would not like yourself. Then there will be no resentment against
you, either in the family or in the state.” Buddhism teaches, “Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.” Islamic text asserts “No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself.” Regardless of religion or belief, there is a common thread of treating our neighbors with kindness, love, and respect.

If you’re anything like me, that’s easier said than done. The Golden Rule is one of those things that most people want to practice in their everyday life (I couldn’t name you a person who wants to be treated like they don’t matter), but which takes a backseat when ambitions and
achievements become stronger desires. People and relationships are no longer the priority, and The Golden Rule goes out the window, making us fools aggressively chasing our goals, either using people and relationship as a means to an end, or completely missing out on human
connections altogether. And as humans we recognize this shortcoming in ourselves. It’s why we’re willing to
donate a few bucks every now and then, or volunteer at a service event for a few hours. In my experience those things aren’t enough. For too many people, those acts merely allow us to fool ourselves into thinking that we are living a life that is consistent with The Golden Rule, a life
rooted in charity and love, when really those acts help our self esteem more than the people or cause that it was intended for. I’ve been guilty of doing this on numerous occasions, absent mindly handing out water bottles at races, boredly sitting at a booths, and dutifully setting up
tables. It’s easy to measure how many hours were spent doing these activities, and at the end of the day I can walk away feeling great about myself and with a few resume fillers. With minimal effort and minimal time commitment I leave the event with a free tshirt proud of myself for
helping out a “good cause”. I myself didn’t value or employ the essence of this universal principle until a few years
ago when I worked with the local chapter of Society of Women Engineers on their Service
Through Engineering Program. The program enlisted high school girls interested in engineering
to design and build developmental tools for disabled children across San Diego County.
Although I initially signed up in order to learn some basic engineering principles and get a little
research experience, the program taught me a lesson in charity, and treating others the way I
would want to be treated.
The first child I had the opportunity to help was a child with mild autism. In order to
design a functional toy for him, I had to get a better understanding of his condition. There was no
way that I could properly serve and treat him if I didn’t understand his unique needs, so my team
and I spent time researching autism. Additionally, we spent time with the child and his mother to
see firsthand what his favorite activities and games were, how he interacted with people, and
what were his specific struggles. At first, he was extremely reluctant to our presence since we
were unfamiliar, and he was the type of child who functioned best when he was in comfortable
and stable environments. For this reason, it was pertinent that I exercised patience, kindness, and
empathy (things that don’t always come so easily to me) in order for him to open up to me. In
doing so, I gained a compassion and understanding for him and his family personally, as well as
others who deal with autism. More than that, my investment into building a relationship with the
boy made me less concerned with what I was gaining from the project, and more concerned with
the toy and if it was exactly what the child would like and need. In fact, my team and I were
disappointed and unsure of our work. The last thing we wanted was to let down the young boy
that we had grown to care for.
But the toy was so much more than a toy. It symbolized our dedication and investment
into something and someone other than ourselves. When we presented him with his toy, he
unexpectedly ran to me and gave me a big hug without even one glance at the toy. Do unto
others as you would have them do unto you. In that moment I knew what it meant, and truly
appreciated the old adage. If I was in a time of need, pain, or struggle, I would want someone to
take the time to understand me, to be patient with me, to be kind to me, and to actively try to help
me without a thought as to how my pain or hurt or even successes could benefit them. In that
moment, I’d like to think that the little boy recognized that the only thing that mattered to me at that time was his wellbeing, and that the toy I had created for him was a reflection of my concern and care for him. I won’t pretend as though I’ve been a walking manifestation of The Golden Rule since that experience. I’m only human. But my experience has made me more aware of how I treat
people, and more importantly my motivations for my actions. Where I used to do activities based
on how it would help my portfolio or my chances for success, I tend to determine my actions on
how they will affect my relationships with others. I’m still ambitious, but I try to be not at the
detriment of others. What’s a bunch of awards, success, and reached goals if I’ve got no one to enjoy them with?

Keep moving forward

By Horace E. McNeil

     Keep Moving Forward. Keep looking ahead. Keep dreaming. I have kept all of this in my head since childhood. These are the things I choose to pass on to my children (three and five years old). I don’t want them to be afraid to fail. I don’t want them to be afraid of success.
     I can remember back to the age of four or five. The arguments every day and night. The constant calls to the police by my mother. My father couldn’t go five minutes without drinking. I still saw him as my hero. Even with all of the chaos, I still wanted his time and attention. My dad was arrested when I turned five, and I have not seen him since.
     My grandmother raised seven children (two boys and five girls). I lost my grandmother at 7 years old. She succumbed to diabetes and high blood pressure. She was my hero. She was stern, but loving. I remember her cooking and her warmth. After my grandmother passed, we moved to a better neighborhood, but could not escape tragedy. My uncle was murdered two years later, and that took away another part of me. It almost broke my mother completely. My mother worked several jobs to support my brother and I. She became bitter and abusive. I remember coming home from school and going straight to my room. Not wanting to be involved with anything. However, I kept dreaming, I kept looking forward. By fourteen years old, I was thrown out of my house. I was homeless for a few days, but managed to convince my older brother to take me in. I worked two part time jobs, and finished high school. During my junior year I met an Army Recruiter. He filled the role of big brother and dad until I graduated. I enlisted into the United States Army, and began a new journey.
    I left my home behind, going to basic training at Fort Dix, NJ. I then trained at Fort Devens, Ma. For ten months. After, I was sent to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii as my first duty station. I spent two years in Hawaii, and then transitioned back home. Once home, I joined the Army reserves and was stationed in New York, and held duty there for several years. I then joined the National Guard in 1997. This revitalized my career as a soldier and inspired me to want to continue serving my country and state. In 2001 I deployed to Germany as a Sergeant. I spent almost a year there. I remember touching down in Frankfurt Germany, and thinking “Poor boy goes from Philadelphia to Germany, what a journey”. I took advantage of my time in Europe, traveling to France and soaking up the culture. Work was interesting, as I provided Force protection for the military police posts at the gates in Vilseck. Our duty was 24 hours on and 24 hours off. I learned to speak German while there and enjoyed closer relationships with the locals. I was truly blessed to have had the exposure.
    Fast forward to 2007. I became an Army Recruiter and was decorated several times for being one of top supervisors. Besides the birth of my children, these were the proudest moments of my life. I was responsible for speaking to high school students.  I now was the motivator. My job was to provide focus and direction for the students I helped enlist, and keep them motivated. I told them many times to “Keep moving forward” , “Keep looking ahead”. I wanted my recruits to own their careers, and be independent. I wanted them to stay focused on what is important. Those things kept me strong, and have continued to keep me strong. I proudly helped over 130 young men and women change the course and direction in their lives as I did as a young man. The importance in direction is movement. Movement is to be appreciated from an inch to a mile. Giving yourself the love and encouragement to keep going. To push ahead. To believe in what you can do. To be consistent even if you get off track.
     Now I look back and sometimes I wonder what kept me looking ahead after all of the storms in my life. In retrospect, I always had one person to look up to. I had a role model. As a child it was my bible teacher who never gave up on me. It was the drill instructor who pushed me to succeed, and never let me fall. It was the instructor in training that believed in me. It is a circle. Find the most positive light and follow it.  For me it has given me inner strength, and the drive to pursue. I still think to myself, “Keep moving forward”, “Keep looking ahead”. 

An adolescents' journey towards abundance

By Joan Sirma
San Jose State University

When we lay down the burden of trying to be anything but exactly who we are, we break through the superficial barriers that surround us and we become our best selves, effortlessly. We connect to our true purpose in life; we live a more fulfilling life and perhaps get closer to the most common goal in all of us, to be happy. Trying to understand my highest purpose and abundance in all forms and accept that purpose and follow my unique paths and share my unique gifts whole heartedly with the people around me has been the living principle that has transformed who I am and who I aspire to be. However, that has not always been the case.

As a child I grew up with no running water, no electricity and endless chores that started at the crack of dawn in a very rural part of Kenya. I never considered my family to be poor; in fact I believed the contrary.  My childhood was filled with laughter that would light my world, food that was plenty to feed my family and stories that would keep me in suspense for days. At an early age I learned gratitude. My parents however felt that they needed to do better and wanted to receive higher education for themselves to provide us with a better life and when the opportunity knocked they jumped on it, which led to our move to the United States. I was 9.  I didn’t quite take a liking to this new cold place, but to my knowledge it was temporarily and maybe if I gave it a chance it would become something amazing. We had nothing but the little savings my parents fundraised and with five people in a little 2-bedroom apartment the reality of the challenges ahead become very realistic.

At school, I was not only the new kid – I was new kid whose English sounded weird, the new kids who dressed funny, whose hair was always frizzy and the new kid who no one really wanted to be friends with. I then became the quietest kid in the class, quite opposite of who I was in Kenya. My home life was not any better; being that everyone was trying to figure out their place in this new world a great distance was placed between us. My parents both balancing two jobs and school were rarely seen, my siblings were juggling their new social lives and I found myself often alone. I was lonely, insecure and very unhealthy being that I found comfort in eating. As I entered middle school I was at a new low, often crying and driving myself towards a depressed state of mind. I had been in America for several years now, and no friends to account for and no one to confide in. I tried to become someone else just to fit it, it worked for some time but I was unable to keep up with it. I just kept to myself, though I found myself wanting to speak. My home life seemed to be filled with drama and negativity, my mom and older sister constantly fighting, suicidal threats being made and discomfort throughout the house. There was nowhere I felt comfortable. I was not doing well in school, and no one noticed and no one cared. Entering high school I was on the verge of a horrible break down, I hated everything around me and I did not want to live the life I lived anymore, I did not want to live at all. Then I met my lifesaver, my counselor who aided me through my hardship in school and at home. She taught me the law of attraction and the power of positive thinking. It had been years since I felt that someone cared about me to that degree. She helped me change my way of thinking, I decided to be healthier and put myself out there to meeting new people and to my surprise it all worked. The way I thought about everything changed and the rest followed. My grades rose, I challenged myself in school, I participated in extracurricular actives and I made plenty of friends.  I was enjoying my life for the first time in years. I actually liked the person I was becoming and I did not have to fake it.  The negative environment that surrounded me affected me so much that I lost the sense of who I was, but with the knowledge of positive thinking everything around me was bright again.

Fourteen years later, not only did I realize that it was not a temporary move but it was a move that I needed to become the person I am. It took me years to realize that I am in control of my own life and I am capable of changing what I am unsatisfied with.  I became open and receptive, which opened doors for me that was once closed. There is so much power in knowing that our lives are ours. As I continue my journey towards abundance, I accept the unique paths I must take to get there. 

A new beginning

By Andrei Irmia

There is an ancient law that governs all we do. This seems so obvious to me today: nine months ago it did not. Nine months ago, my life was going in all the wrong directions. Let me explain.

I was a student at the University of Western Ontario in Canada, and had scraped by with a 2.0 in my junior year. I was already on academic probation as I had failed a number of classes the previous year. Now I was politely asked by the administration to take a year off from school.
It was devastating. My parents had moved to Florida three years ago when I had originally started college, and I now had to tell them the news. They didn’t take it well.

My parents, Romanian immigrants who had grown up in a country where having a college diploma often meant the difference between a moderately paid job or not having a job at all, were at their wits end. In their time, Romania’s communist government made school
mandatory for all non-labor jobs. That meant that if you didn’t go to school you would end up a
state laborer, either farming, mining, or sweeping the streets at night. It was not a future anyone
wanted for their children. In fact, it was for the sake of my future that my parents left Romania
for Canada when I was just eight years old. Communism had been over then for about 11 years,
but opportunity was still scarce.

I had been a good student in high school. I didn’t realize it at the time, but my mind set
changed drastically when I went away for college. In high school I had already read Charles
Haanel’s Master Key system, and even though I did not take full advantage of the text, nor truly
grasp its significance, I did spend 30 minutes a day standing perfectly still and focusing on my
goals, which was one of the exercises the book recommended. I did this because it seemed to
help me de-stress, and I found that I could study for longer periods of time afterwards.

Then it hit me. In high school I had been focused on creating new ventures and helping
others. I had started a debate team, I had been president of the DECA Business Club and coached
my team to place in the regional championship. In college I had been more concerned with being
someone. I wanted to be liked. I had jointed a group of friends that were more concerned with
weekend plans than what their future had in store for them. I was not like them, but I pretended.
It cost me. I began to be more arrogant, caring more about what people thought about me than
what I thought of myself. I would judge too. Instead of wishing the best for others, when I began
to do poorly in school, I secretly began to wish my friends would do worse too. Sure enough,
after three years of mummifying myself in shrouds of negativity, I was out of school and out of
friends.

I came back to Florida with my tail between my legs, staying with my parents because I
had no money to rent a place anywhere else. This was March of 2014. I immediately tried a new
approach. I reopened Charles Haanel’s Master Key system, and this time I did grasp its message.
“It is the combination of thought and love which forms the irresistible force of the law of
attraction.” The words stuck as never before. There in black and white and simple as ever. I
could improve my situation not only by changing my thoughts, but also through the conscious
release of love! So, instead of being negative and pessimistic all the time, I tried to empathize
more with others, to appreciate each and every person without judgement. I began to read all the
self help books I could get my hands on, everything from Tony Robbins, to the “Science of
Success” to the “Secret” to Napoleon Hill’s “Think and Grow Rich.” In different words, they all
basically said the same thing: there is an ancient law that governs all we do, and that is the law of
attraction.

Henry Ford once said “Whether you think you can or think you can’t: either way you are
right.” I had always been passionate about politics and government, so I thought to myself, if I
can offer my services there to help others doing something I enjoy, maybe I can also improve my
present situation. I called my local Congressman’s District Office, and offered to intern for free
for the summer and fall of 2014. At the same time I enrolled in the local community college
(Easter Florida State College) and started taking night classes. Thus in the mornings I would go
to the Congressional District Office, deal with constituent concerns, and in the evening I would
go to school.

I learned a lot. There were so many local citizens who were having trouble with their
pensions, or veterans denied benefits because they did not fill out a form correctly, or even
people who had family in troubled parts of the world that needed help getting visas. This time I
empathized, I tried to see the world from another’s perspective, and more often than not I was
able to help them myself or direct them to the people that could. I took up meditation, and every
night I make sure to spend at least five minutes sending out my positive thoughts and energies
out into the world.

Hearing the many sad stories of constituents made me realize how fortunate I was to be at
an age where my entire future was ahead of me. I started to get good at what I was doing. I even
started going to events with senior staff. I met the Congressman, I got to chat with him, and even
got to do some campaign work. We were in Florida’s 8th district, and suffice to say, the campaign
was won: Congressman Posey is now back in office. Now it is December 2014. I had started
school in May of the same year, and managed to complete 60 credit hours (or 2 years worth of
classes) in just two semesters. My GPA this time: 3.92.

My academic advisor couldn’t believe it.
I was Phi Theta Kappa. I graduated with honors with an Associates Degree and received
my acceptance letter from the University of Central Florida in Orlando. I am going to be
majoring in Economics and Diplomacy there, and I plan on graduating with my bachelors in
early 2016.

In under a year I managed to turn a hopeless situation into a positive one, and all simply
by changing my thought patterns. I now see how projecting an aura of love and confidence out
into the universe can not only help myself, but also others. The universe is designed in such a
way that you only get what you put in. To be good we must do good. There is no way around it.

When my parents ask me about the past, I think back to the opening lines of the Power of
Now: “I have little use for the past and rarely think about it.” I am now focused on the future, on
the positive things in life, on how I can not only help myself, but also improve the lives of those
around me. We get what we give, and how we treat others is how the universe treats us. The
Bible says it best: “Do unto others as ye would have them do unto ye: for this is the law and the
prophets.” I say Amen to that!

The Law of Attraction

By Donte Martinez 

The law of attraction is an amazing and mysterious phenomenon that gives one the ability to steer their own destiny by using their thoughts and energy to create events similar to what one envisions.  In my life this law has helped me pursue the insight, wisdom, mentor and role model that I had wished as a high school student.
            During my sophomore year I decided to become a therapist to change the lives of people in this generation and a psychology teacher to plant good philosophies to the next generation to move humanity closer to peace, but to do that I craved knowledge and wisdom to be able to create the impact I desired.   In my mind I wanted to become sage-like.  So I went to the library to the self-help section and rented the first two books I picked up that had exactly what I wanted and needed to chase wisdom.  I felt drawn to these books by what seemed like an invisible force that urged me to pick these books amongst the other hundreds that laid on the shelf.   One was a guide to meditation, which was very sage-like, and another book titled “Seven Masters One Path” which detailed a combination of the core teaching of seven masters who impacted philosophy, for example, Jesus, Muhammad, Lao-tzu, Buddha and Gandhi. 
            Over the next two years I explored bookshops and libraries to pursue more enlightenment and knowledge.  I still envisioned becoming a person whose rich with wisdom.  With intuitive feelings, along the years I picked up more books, one titled “Personal Power Through Awareness”, which had a detailed explanation on metaphysics and controlling one’s energy.  The next book I ran into by what seemed like destiny was another book on metaphysics, “Soul Stories”, which had people’s life experiences.  Then I stumbled across the book, “The Definitive Guide to Body Language”, learning body language, and “Emotional Intelligence”, studying EQ and neurology.
            As more time past by, I had a feeling that my readings couldn’t prepare me for everything in life, a lot but not all.  I felt like I needed a mentor or master, someone who will be with me one on one and teach me what I needed to know to live life with enlightenment.  When I pictured this someone I envisioned an old man who just knew the answer to everything.  Kind of like a Mr. Miagi from the Karate Kid movie or an old sage. Then when I was signing up for classes for senior year of high school, I signed up for a Transpersonal Psychology class.  However it was filled so I couldn’t get in.  I didn’t let that stop me.  I pictured me getting the knowledge from that special class that only a lucky twenty-five or so student can take once a year.  During lunch I went to the classroom and met who was soon to be my mentor, Jerry McCullough.  I asked him if he can teach me anything during lunch and with open arms and with a pleased smile he said yes.  Again everything worked out perfectly. 
            From that point on I visited Jerry during lunch every Tuesday and Thursday.  Every time we had a session, one on one as I dreamed of, he would teach me and make me experience so much epiphanies about myself that was mind blowing.  A few things he taught me was about people’s acts, the shadow self, more meditation, how to use intuition, how to meditate into the inner world, archetypes, dream analyzing, what a person’s inner child is, family dynamics, religion, how to live in the present moment, rules about reality, how to think, feel, and notice, the seven levels of consciousness, and many more life lessons.
            I didn’t even notice until I was writing this essay was that I was also looking for a friend and remodel at the time, which is what Jerry is to me.
            Growing up there was no one I really looked up to.   There was never a person that was real in my life where I would say, “I want to be just like him or her”.  My dad would go straight to the T.V. after work, I wasn’t social enough for teachers to pay attention to me, and the rest of the adults I didn’t quite admire.  Deep down I wanted a role model who was kind, wise, and was in touch with their greatness that’s deep inside everyone.  That was Jerry.  I focused on having someone to admire then Jerry happened.  
            The law of attraction is very synchronistic.  Thanks to his mysterious force it has helped me move closer to becoming the wise man I wish to be and created my encounter with the man who is my mentor, remodel, and dear friend. 

Work hard for what you want and don't give up

By Jessica Diaz Quiane

            In life, there are many obstacles we face everyday. There are small obstacles that we can conquer with ease, but there are also many other obstacles that need to be work hard to achieve. This is also the case in dreams, aspirations, and goals. A personal development principle I follow is to work hard for what you want and to not give up. That can count as two different principles, but I like to combine them because they support each other. I have followed this personal principle ever since I moved to the United States of America. I am not a citizen, I am a permanent resident and moving to the U.S. has been a great opportunity for my family and me, but it was also a challenge.
            I arrived in the U.S. when I was six years old and was immediately enrolled in the first grade. For my parents, education has always been the main priority. That is the reason why they decided that the best for my brother and I was to move to the U.S.  I was terrified of starting a new school not only because I had no friends, but also because of the language barrier. I did not know how to read or write in English, or in Spanish to say the least. In Mexico, all you were taught in kindergarten was how to color, the alphabet in songs, etc. but I never learned how to read or write. I was enrolled into a bilingual class, and I could communicate a bit more. I struggled in the class because I was the most behind. I had started to become frustrated but then my mom had a talk with me. She made me realize that not everything was going to be easy and that I needed to work hard for what I wanted. By the end of the year I knew how to read, write, speak English, and even surpassed most of my classmates. My teachers were impressed by my ability to learn quickly. Through Middle School and High School I worked hard to get to where I am today. I had honors and AP classes during High School. Now I am the first one, in my entire family, to attend University after graduating high school. Getting to where I am today I faced many obstacles, but not just school wise, but also in life.
            An episode in my life where I used my personal development principle was when I was in Middle School. I was bullied by one of my classmates. He was a friend at first but he was very aggressive. He would hurt others physically, but he considered it all a game. He started to kick me on my bottom every time we had P.E. and he would hurt me. I was very fragile and I have always had back problems, so his kicks would be very painful. I didn't know what to do, but my mother noticed there was something wrong with me. I confessed what was happening and first they tried to talk to him. The day after my parents had talked he mocked me in front of my friends and students passing in the hallway saying I was a "cry baby" and that I went and "told on her mommy on me." After that I couldn’t take it and he was suspended for three days. I was terrified for his return but then I was reminded by my principal to never give up. When he finally returned he mocked me again and I thought that it was never going to end, but then I remembered to not give up and although I was risking it again, I went and talked to the principal. He was suspended once more and never again did he bother me. That wasn’t the only situation I faced where giving up wasn’t an option, I had to fight for what I wanted.
            During my junior year of High School, my mother was diagnosed with fibroids in her uterus. My entire family had a hard time especially because the doctors didn’t know what was wrong at first. She was extremely anemic and a step away from leukemia. She had many procedures done but it was difficult to know what was causing her anemia. She didn’t want to have any more procedures done, but I knew that we had to do something about it, something to help her get better. We didn’t give up, and I convinced to have another procedure done. The doctors finally found the problem and she was able to receive the treatment and medical procedure she needed to get better. Since we as a family did not give up, we saved my mother's life.
            I have always stood by my personal development principle. Now that I am in college I remember it often, because of all the schoolwork and extracurricular activities. I am usually very stressed between the organizations that I am part of, the community service I do, hanging out with my friends, and schoolwork. All of it is very overwhelming but then I think of my goal. My goal is to be a great graphic designer, and focus on my projects. Graphic design is very competitive and there's a long frustrating process to obtaining a piece of work, but I work hard for what I want and I don't give up. 

Offer life a positive attitude and life will give prosperity in return

By Melissa Chong

There is a fundamental law of attraction that revolves around like attracting like and is the underlying power behind all things. This law was expressed by Napoleon Hill when he said, “We become what we think about.” This thought has been stated across the world throughout history in different languages, cultures and religions. In the second century of the Common Era, Marcus Aurelius said “Our life is what our thoughts make it.” Words have been added or deleted but the same central idea remains over time.

Watch your thoughts, for they become words.

Watch your words, for they become actions.

Watch your actions, for they become habits.

Watch your habits, for they become your character.

Watch your character, for they become your destiny.

Our interior world creates our exterior world. We have the possibility to create every one of our experiences. We have the power to make a change. To obtain a different outcome in life one has to make a change in the way we think and act. Our exterior world is created as a reflection of our interior world. One does not achieve greatness by simply wishing upon it. Though most people act this way and question why greatness has not arrived. To attain the life we always wished for one must make internal changes. There are a lot of people who wish to change the world, which is absurd, they do it because it is easier to wait for others to change than to change ourselves. Our lives will not change if one does not change first. The imperfection of this world is a blessing for it allows us to evolve into something better. There is always an opportunity for change.

I am sure everyone wishes to achieve something marvelous in life. Before attaining something one must give something. One must make space for the wonderful surprises that are ahead. One must let go of those things we do not love, those things that bother us, and those things that do not nurture us whether it is emotional or material. Making space for something new is a continuous detox process for life to flow without accumulations. Objects are meant to be used not stored. Chaos is stored energy. One shall start room by room detoxing the stored energy.  A room full of stored objects resembles the mind and therefore our entire life. One must get rid of friendships that do not nurture us and allow other people in who will help build our character. We shall not fear of the empty space those people leave behind for it will be filled by someone better. Socializing with people with a positive attitude will attract positive opportunities. Failure is associated with attachment. When people are attached to fear and insecurities the most possible outcome is failure. Attachment is associated with a chain on the other hand detachment is associated with liberty. In my life I experienced heartbreak and betrayal before attending college. I let go of a three-year relationship and a five-year friendship. People that did not built me into a better person were later on replaced by great friends and a stronger family bond. I was afraid to lose the person I thought loved me, but at the end it turned out to be the best decision I could have taken.

At times it is good to be alone. Reserving time for our thoughts and worries helps us reflect upon our path in life. Quiet your mind, let your thoughts run across your eyes to examine them but do not hold on to them. One has the power to create whatever we wants. Do not doubt for a second of the potential and creativity you withhold. All our thoughts create some kind of result in life, either they strengthen or weaken us. Most people maintain a negative focus by complaining and feeling guilty. There are more people that lament and those who thank. When people change their way of viewing the world the world will change for them. The world pays attention to what we say with our thoughts. Focus on success, love, and prosperity and everything will fall at your feet. Bless and thank for what you possess for many others lack it. Contemplate the world in a positive mind and that is the way you will experience it. When your focus changes your possibilities increase. What do you want to experience? Which mentality should you have? When I finally moved to San Antonio to continue my education, I knew I would be alone with no one to cheer me up in the gloomiest days. I needed to have the mentality of a warrior to overcome the harsh obstacles in college, and the mentality of a juvenile to enjoy the adventure.

Nature works with the least effort and preoccupation. When we watch in detail how nature works, we learn the most precious lesson of our lives. Plants do not try to grow they just grow, fish do not try to swim they just swim. We work hard to attain success, be accepted by society, and rank 1st in every aspect of our lives. Overthinking, excess of effort ruins chances of winning. “Just be you” is often said; people do not realize the great personality they possess within them. It is as easy as saying hi to a stranger, they first step to making a friend. It is as easy as applying for an interview, first step to getting a job. When people dominate this lesson life grants them their reward, which is often known as miracles. I am rewarded with miracles every day- supporting parents, generous boss, helpful roommates, health, and good grades just to name a few. A little work has been put in all these blessings, but life and God have taken charge to multiply them all.

Offer life a positive attitude and life will give prosperity in return. 

Attracting love in life

By Chandni Mehta 

His name was Josh and he was everything, and nothing I would have expected as a partner all at once. Standing on a line at Burger King I noticed him from the corner of my eye. He walked towards me; hands in pockets, and with a deep voice complimented me on my sense of style. He had a smile full of pearly white teeth, and a glare that rendered me defenseless. I responded with a choked “thank you,” and it was in that moment love had once again seemed to come knocking on my door. It would be later on that I would come to realize, it wasn’t Josh that walked up to me that day, but it was I that attracted him into my life.

To fully understand how this all came to be, I’ll rewind the story back to three years ago. To when I was a freshman in college, and I had fallen in love with an international student from Korea. His name was James, and we were inseparable. Being my first love he was my first handhold, my first kiss, and my first step into letting someone into my heart. I loved him with such vigor I found myself fearful of what laid ahead. As the end of school began to approach I started to grow anxious. Anxious for the distance the summer would bring and anxious for our future.

As is mandatory for all Korean men, they must serve two years in the Korean army as a service to their country. Naturally James had plans to enroll into the army as well, and he enlisted for the upcoming year. I had known all along that he was going to leave, but it wasn’t until he left that summer that I began to see the weight of his absence. I would sit around for hours waiting for him to text or call, and all my mind seemed transfixed on was the thought of losing him.

I had thought of ending our relationship so I wouldn’t prolong the inevitable pain, but I decided against it because I couldn’t bear losing him. My mind began to worry and I would concoct fantasies of him leaving me for other women, or falling out of love with me. It was my mind’s thoughts that fed on the negativity I was creating, and would lead to the creation of negative outcomes. Those constant thoughts of him leaving me, and losing him, lead to me actually losing him.

That summer he ended our relationship, and my world had ended. Coming back to school that year, I would see him in the same classes, walking on the street, and socializing with our mutual friends. I once again would think of sad thoughts, thoughts of being alone. And with these thoughts, I attracted my depression, anorexia, and loss of friends. My grades were slipping and my life was spiraling out of control.

As the years passed, and James left for the army, I came to terms with my thoughts. I realized that I could spend the rest of my life sad and depressed, thinking the worst of others, and myself but it wouldn’t get me anywhere. It was then I shifted my way of thinking. Instead of thinking about what I was missing, I began to think about what I had. Instead of worrying about what could have been, I started to think about what I wanted now. In turn I became a more positive thinker, and I attracted positive people and opportunities in my life.

For the longest time I thought I could never love. I had been hung up on the idea that there was only one person in this world meant of me, and it was James. It was years later I decided to let go, and give myself a fresh start in the realm of love, that’s when I met Josh.

In the end it wasn’t Josh that walked into my life, it was me being open to the possibility of love. My positive thinking and optimistic outlook that I had created, that attracted him into my life. Months later in our relationship I asked him what he saw in me that day, what pushed him to talk to me. “I have no idea. It wasn’t even what you were wearing. I just felt attracted to you,” he said. And from that day on I can happily say that I have loved again. 

Personal Development

By Ivette Torres

What is personal development? In simple terms it is a process of improving yourself through certain activities or through achieving certain goals. Personal development is a lifelong process, people are always striving to better themselves. Abraham Maslow in his theory of self-actualization described that, “What a man can be, he must be. This need we may call self-actualization...It refers to the desire for self-fulfillment, namely, to the tendency for him to become actualized in what he is potentially. This tendency might be phrased as the desire to become more and more what one is, to become everything that one is capable of becoming.”

So how have I, through my life, gone through personal development? For this answer I’d have to start by telling you a little bit about myself. Back about twelve years, when I was six, my family and I moved down to Florida. Only a few months into the move I ended up being diagnosed with type 1 juvenile diabetes. The timing was far off from ideal, not that there ever is a good time to be diagnosed with a chronic illness. I wasn’t upset about the situation, not at first at least. I was a child, and as far as I was concerned there was no illness a visit to the doctor couldn’t fix. It took me a while to finally realize that I was sick, and there was nothing the doctors could do to fix it. After this realization I feel that I acted in a manner any other child would have. I was frustrated with my situation, angry, and I didn’t understand why is was that this had happened to me. On top of the diagnosis, my family ended up moving about five more times within the following two years giving me a drowning sense of instability in my life. I developed a minor form of depression, and ended up being sent to counseling to help me deal with my emotional problems.

You know how people have those big turning points in their lives? Well counseling was mine, just not in the way you would have expected it to be. I hated counseling, with a I want to burn something kind of passion. I felt different enough from the other students as it was, and having to attend counseling felt like another mark on the list. But I suffered through it and hid myself behind a big smile. Either I was an amazing actor, or the counselor was just really bad at her job but after a couple of sessions I was given the green light and allowed to leave. Here is where the real turning point of my life. I did not want to go back to counseling, ever. But it had been made pretty clear to me that if I was caught moping about and wallowing in my own self pitting I would be sent straight back there, two days a week for an hour each day. Just the idea of having to waste my time there filled me with a sense dread. So I came to the conclusion that the only way not to be sent back was to be pretend to be happy.

There is this quote that I got from a cartoon on Disney, Randy Cunningham 9th Grade Ninja to be exact, dorky I know but you’ll understand why I’m using it soon enough. The quote goes, “The mask worn to long becomes the face.” (in Brolateral Damage) it was originally meant as a warning to the protagonist, aka Randy the 9th grade ninja, who at the time was pretending to be a bad guy so that he could spy on another bad guy and a whole bunch of that other entertaining nonsense. What I’m trying to say is that I wore a happy mask, so that I wouldn't be sent back to counseling. I pretended to be happy, and acted like I had the most positive outlook on life, and I smiled so much around everyone to the point where it made my face hurt. I wore the mask for so long that at one point it kind of just became who I was. I became a happy, over all cheerful person who smiled and joked way to much. The law of attraction states that by focusing on negative or positive thoughts, you get negative or positive results. Like attracts like basically. Even though I was faking being happy, doing so made me focus on all the positives around me and as a result I became a positive person. This isn’t exactly sound advice I’d ever suggest to someone, it was one of those things that worked just because of the type of person I am. But the important point here is that it worked, and as result I changed for the better.

Power of Choice

By Brittany Diaz

 I grew up in a family full of addicts. My father, his father, and both of his brothers suffer from addiction to various drugs, and all of them to alcohol. My mother, her father, and 3 of her siblings struggle with addictions to alcohol. I spent my childhood exposed to things most of my peers never knew existed. My childhood had its share of darkness, but the greatest gift was that I lived through it. I wouldn’t be who I am today if it weren’t for the experiences I dealt with as a child.

Some of my days, I remember living in fear. My loving, giving parents would evolve into angry, bitter beings that were unrecognizable. There were people brought into my life who lived paycheck to paycheck. These people, my parents included, would live their weeknights spending their last few dollars at the bar. They would sacrifice food, paying their bills, buying their children clothing so that they could buy drugs. I watched as some destroyed their marriages, abused and neglected their children, and become so entangled with a drug that all their successes withered away. These people, my family, my friends, now have nothing to show for themselves. The saddest part for me was that I saw that their potential was being abandoned. Even as a young child, I knew they were worth more than a drug or alcohol could give them credit for.

I was 9 years old when I made a decision. I was going to make a better life for myself. There were only two people related to me, that I knew, who had graduated from high school. The priority of educating yourself was a rare conversation in my home. Self-development was virtually unheard of. I had no idea how I was going to do better, but the important part was that I knew I could. I understood that the blessing of being born in America was that I had choices.

Someone once told me that there are many primal reactions we have to life, and we learn many of them from how we grew up. The greatest thing about acknowledging it is that you have an opportunity to “break the family curse”. Every person is born into circumstances they cannot change.  I cannot change that I was born with dark hair and hazel eyes. I cannot change that I was born to teenage parents. I cannot change the trend of addiction or heart disease that runs in my family. But I could make a choice. I could choose the person I was going to become.

As I grew into my teenage years, I learned the value of mentorship. There were multiple coaches and teachers. I looked at my home life and realized, though I love my parents very much, they could not offer me much mentorship for the places I wanted to go. The realization that college could be a possibility for me lit a fire. Along came my junior year of high school, and although I had no idea where to begin, I started asking about the process of taking the ACT and applying to college. One incredible teacher walked me through applications and the process of applying for financial aid and scholarships. There I began many hours of volunteer service, extracurricular activities, and campaigning to become a leader in many of those activities. It didn’t matter how hard I had to work, I was going to college. 

A few months into my senior year of high school I received that sacred letter; the one granting me acceptance into my top choice university. My hard work, my sacrifices, my choices, were paying off. The next fall said my goodbyes and drove two days to my new home. My newest journey had begun and I had gotten there on my own. After a few changes of my major and 5 years of working two jobs as a full-time student, I finally walked across a stage to receive that piece of paper I had earned. I became the first person in my family who graduated college.

Looking back, I realize I set a precedence for the younger children in my family. My brother graduated high school, and so far, all of my cousins have graduated high school and all have gone to college. The family curse has been broken and it is was simply because I made different choices than many people I grew up around. I will always feel a sense of responsibility to pass this along to others.

            Throughout my undergrad I found that my passion lies within the youth of our nation. I earned my bachelor’s degree in education, and after a few years in low-income schools, I realize that I don’t want to teach math or reading or science. I want to teach resilience and the power of choice. There are many children who are growing up in situations like mine, and even more who are experiencing worse. I am in the process of earning a master’s degree in psychology so I can work closely with those young children. All children deserve to have someone rooting for them and shining a light on the positive. My deepest desire is to wipe away the fog of circumstances and show children that they have choices.

Take the road less traveled

By Jordan Collins
The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, Orange County

At the tender age of 12, my life shifted in a matter of weeks. After having my first seizure, I missed a week of school to recover. While being on hiatus, a friend found out I was ill and called to check on me. I appreciated her kind words of encouragement and support. When I returned back to school, I quickly realized she was not my friend, because the entire junior high school found out that I had a seizure.

After numerous hours of thinking to myself, I came to the conclusion that having a seizure was a fluke. Unfortunately, it was not. Two weeks later I collapsed down on the bathroom floor while I was washing my hands. After my second episode, I was due for a doctor’s visit. Dr. Le Pichon, my neurologist diagnosed me with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. Shortly after I was given the diagnosis, he went over the foremost details of my case. I was told not to stay up late, drink lots of water, get plenty of sleep, no drinking alcohol, and most importantly, I needed to take my medicine consistently at bedtime every night. I wanted to rebel out of spite, but deep down I knew I could not because of the consequences to follow.

My peers did not want to socialize with me. Rumors about me began to spread like a country wild fire. A boy, who used to have a crush on me, approached me after I returned back to school only to bully me in front of others. One time, coincidentally, a light was flickering above me; he then began to yell “is that light going to make you have a seizure?” I was extremely embarrassed and timidly replied “no”. I could not believe how quickly my peers turned their backs on me. I began to trust nobody, except for my family.

Throughout my remaining years of junior high school, I hid myself from everything so I could avoid being bullied. I stopped engaging in conversations to avoid being the laughing stock.

Eventually, I began to find my outlet which was my interest in fashion. Fashion became my friend when others were not. The same peers, who teased me for my epilepsy, bullied me for my unique fashion sense. In high school, I started to blossom. I started participating in activities that brought joy to my life. I decided I would no longer allow others to dictate my happiness. I began to join numerous clubs while I attended Lawrence Free State High School. I became a member of key club, yoga club, cake decorating club, LINK crew, and “can we talk”. I am most proud of my position as captain of the cheerleading squad and being the women’s basketball team manager. I value leadership roles. I am most comfortable when I am in a position to lead, not following. My view point on Dr. Le Pichon’s medical requirements have changed dramatically over the last seven years. While I was in high school, the social stigma of getting “plastered” with alcohol was entertainment to others. I accepted that I could not experience this. I knew that if I ever gave into peer pressure, I would suffer a seizure the next morning. I am determined to not harm myself for someone else’s joy. I can confidentially say “no, thank you” to social situations involving alcohol. I truly see not being able to drink a blessing because it will come to the aid of taking care of myself. I will get the rest I need. This will support becoming an excellent college student.

As I reflect on my secondary education, I owe a lot to my teachers. One in particular. Epilepsy, the greatest teacher of all. I now live my life by the principle “take the road less traveled by”. Having epilepsy has allowed me fully to embrace myself regardless the consequences. Gone are the seeking approval days or doing what I think might make others accepting. Taking the road less traveled by never is painless however it is worthwhile. The hardest component I have discovered about walking this path involves taking the first step. If I could give a gift to the once bewildered 12 year old girl, it would be authenticity. People often fear what they do not know, therefore it is easier to stick to familiarity. Since taking the scenic route I have inspired others to step out, speak up, and be brave.

The Achieve Today Scholarship is worthy to me in the interest of I will not waste my time nor education. Having epilepsy has taught me that despite what others think of you, you must continue to strive towards your goals. Attending FIDM Orange County has been a dream come true, thus far. I will not let my personal battles triumph. I will rise above.

Live positively to live longer and have a more fulfilling life

By Aubry Shade

Thinking positively has had and continues to have a huge influence on every aspect of my everyday life. It begins with thinking positively, then the thinking part results in speaking positively, acting positively, feeling positively, and finally, living positively. For as far back as I can remember, and from the parts of my young childhood that I can't recall that are given to me by my parents, I was always a very positive individual. Even though I probably didn't comprehend the words 'contract' and 'expand' way back when, I had an inherent understanding of how thinking positively expands you and thinking negatively contracts you. It was a struggle for me to feel mad at someone when it was completely justified. It just didn't feel good to me on the inside to hold onto anything bad emotionally. Negative thoughts and feelings are truly a poison that flows through your body, killing you, until you let it go. Life, both fortunately and unfortunately, is extremely unpredictable, and gets more complicated the older you get, so it becomes harder to think positively. Especially in middle school. The question that I still get asked today began in these awkward, preteen years of self-discovery. "Why are you so happy?", is the consistent inquiry of the people who have a problem with my perky attitude. It confuses me. Wouldn't you rather be around someone who was happy instead of depressed or rude? But the question never fails to be spoken with distaste or annoyance. I was much shyer in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade, so I didn't have much courage to talk back, and I had maintained my dislike of drama from elementary. Being older now, and from gaining a lot of self esteem, the question slides off my skin. At my first job, one of my managers had began our work relationship with the "Why are you so happy?" bit I was too familiar with. As quick as the words had left her mouth, I responded with, "I don't know, why are you so cranky?", all the while smiling. She had nothing to say to that and we actually managed to become good friends, and still are. By living with a positive mind, the world I live in reflects my thoughts and is brighter and more welcoming. It's cliche, but it's accurate when people say, 'The world is as dark as the shades you wear'. I am human though, so of course I can't be happy or uplifting all the time. I wish I could be. The important thing is that I know deep down everything will work out. Difficult times occur and devastating events happen in everyone's lives, but through it all, we should keep that flame of optimism burning, no matter how dim. As long as it's there, that's what matters. I feel like it's simply a waste of time to feel bad. Sometimes I even worry about the possibility of feeling bad for the fear of wasting time not feeling my best. There is so little time we have on this earth to not be happy or feeling good. I know I'm young, but it doesn't mean that I'm going to live until I'm one hundred. I could die tomorrow, or a week from now, or a year from now. We should strive to be positive with every breath we have so all we have to look back on is fond memories and no regrets. I accept the fact that I'm a bubbly woman, perhaps too bubbly at times, but I like that about myself, and I've grown to feel that I don't care at all if people don't like me for that. I'd rather be friends with people who take my bubbliness, and instead of washing themselves clean and drying free of it with a towel, get good and soapy along with me. By not worrying if I'm being overly positive, I have come to meet some nice, true blue friends recently. By being me, I feel better physically and show it outwardly. I feel and look the best I ever have in my entire life. My face is clearer, my skin is softer, my eyes are brighter, my teeth are whiter, and I get compliments I never used to receive based on these things. I don't get sick as often as I used to either. Being positive has had a tremendous impact on my health. I know that being or remaining positive for people with cancer or other major sicknesses has helped them live longer or get over their health issues. In general, people who live positively live longer and have more full-filling lives than those who are more negative. I don't know about the majority, but I'd rather live as long as I can, as happy as I can. I have also read about a genetic positivity level that each and every person has. We are all supposedly pre-dispositioned for a certain amount of happiness. That doesn't mean we can't alter that though. If we want to achieve a higher level of positivity or happiness for ourselves, we just have to want it and work on it. But I was fortunate to grow up having two very happy parents. I inherited an awesome level of dopamine in my brain. My mom is always laughing about something and my dad loves music which he plays constantly in the house. Music leads to dancing and dancing leads to happiness. By continuing on the path of positive thinking, I hope to change the way most of society behaves and thinks one smile at a time.

Living life along moral principles

By Alexandria Wright

I will look for ways to strengthen those who have less than I. The importance of giving strength to others drives and motivates me each day to follow on my career path to be a licensed clinical social worker. With that area of expertise I can fulfill my daily craving to help those in need. Living my life along moral principles has lead me to meet inspiring and intriguing individuals, but it has also changed my outlook on what living life truly means.
            In December of 2012, I was at a football game in Denver, Colorado. My mother called and said I had to come home because they had found my cousin and he was in the hospital. When I arrived in Kansas City, Missouri I had no idea what to expect or how bad the situation was. My cousin was pronounced brain dead on December 31st, 2012. He was seventeen years old. When you have loss and grief terrorize your life it is difficult to live along a morally fulfilled path. It took months for me to get back on track and for other members of my family it still affects them today.
            Now, when I look at life and how precious it truly is, I want to be able to give all that I can to those who feel like they have nothing or no one. I appreciate each and every day I am able to live my life in the hands of helping others. I am grateful for many opportunities people have given me, but most of all I am aware of my faults. I am not perfect, but I try my best to reach out to those who could have been like my cousin. I reach out to hopefully save someone who thought no one would ever listen or help.
            I live my life on a moral map. Benevolence, family, love, and security are all on my list of what I live by. I hope to continue with my education and plan on continuing to learn, grow, and become stronger for others and myself.

How I live the Law of Attraction

By Paul Sebastian
University of Central Florida

I had first come across the law of attraction by watching a movie called “The Secret” and its teachings changed my life forever. After watching the movie I began making connections through synchronicities with my thoughts and the external world and began to think “wow this stuff really works!” Now, ultimately everyone lives through the law of attraction (it’s a universal law), but not many understand how to use it to their advantage. I for one like to use it by living positively and abundantly and I’d like to explain how.
            To commence, I suffer from ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) which causes one’s thoughts to run too fast, which for a long time caused me to drown myself into negative states of being whenever I let something little affect me. However, after watching “The Secret” and listening to renowned spiritual teachers such as Bashar and Abraham Hicks I learned that I was personally responsible for the way I was designing my unsupportive reality. The idea is that you are co-creating your reality with the universe through thoughts, actions, and beliefs. If you think negatively you create conduits in which the universe has no choice but to reflect what you are thinking back to you through painful experiences which parallel the thoughts that created it. In order to remedy this you must have an active desire to want the best for yourself and think positively. Think about what you are grateful for, try to find the good in the bad, and most importantly understand that life always has its ups and downs which are intended to teach you life lessons. A time when I applied this principle in my life was when in a spans of one week I damaged my cell phone, laptop, and car. Each event lead to the next because I let the stress associated with each one to run my life that is, until I took control of my emotions and thoughts. Even though I spent a lot of money, time, and energy with these tasks I had faith that if I stayed positive the universe would support me and a week later, I unexpectedly received a $600 grant from the government which is way more money than I needed! Now I want to explain how this idea of thinking positively can be expanded upon through another concept called abundance.
            “Abundance is doing something you need to do when you need to do it”- Bashar. In my case of misfortune for example, the grant was a source of abundance I manifested. Now to clarify, we are all abundant, but only in which we choose to define it as. If you define abundance as just the money itself then you are holding yourself back because you will only attract one source of it to you. An example of this phenomenon was how I signed a contract to pay $580 for rent every month though I knew I did not have the money to pay the last 3 months of rent. I knew that it was not my problem. All I needed to do was trust the Law of Attraction to somehow bring the solution to me. Later in that same year I received my first internship offer that not only paid me well enough to take care of my rent but also make me financially independent of my parents as well. It is evident here that to be abundant you must not have negative beliefs and expectations, but how does one do that when the reality is that odds are against them? You don’t, you simply give them to the universe. Essentially your job is to do what you can to get what you want, hope for the best, and let the Law of Attraction handle the rest.
            Lastly I want demonstrate my knowledge of this subject through my motivation for creating this video in the first place. I am doing this mainly to supplement my new dream to study abroad. Even though I have nowhere near the financing to do this I have been holding the thought with the belief that the universe would support my wish, somehow, some way. Now this is where it gets crazy. These past few weeks I’ve been noticing the universe align this wish for me. For example, this semester I became an academic peer advisor for the University of Central Florida which then leads me to meet a director of Study Abroad who works in my office! She’s been giving me first hand personal advice and suggested I obtain financing through scholarships. I looked online and was in shock when I came across the Achieve Today scholarship! It is amazingly synchronous for the Law of Attraction to attract this prompt to my attention given that it is my forte. It is almost as if the universe is personally telling me to apply for this opportunity! Regardless if I win this scholarship submission or not I know the universe will manifest my bold dreams someday and I really hope I have educated you all on personal development through the Law of Attraction.

Music and the Law of Attraction

By Sarah Trembly

Music and the Law of Attraction complement each other unlike any other art form. While observing a classic painting or witnessing a professional ballet dancer may certainly evoke an aesthetic experience, I have found that it is music to which I can most closely connect. It is music that excites at a football game, that calms a crying baby, and can evoke tears. It influences every facet of our lives. Imagine a road trip without the radio, a wedding without a processional, or a church service without a single hymn. And what would a movie be without its soundtrack? Upbeat music propels us at the gym, while calming music soothes us to sleep. Music with an angry intent has been proven to increase blood pressure, while a lullaby can lower the heart rate. It affects us physically so much that there is an entire field dedicated to healing through music, music therapy. Musical experiences can produce memories so deep they become imprinted on one’s soul.  

It is for this reason that I currently pursue a Bachelor of Music Education degree. It was through music that I first began to realize the Law of Attraction, although I didn’t know what it was at the time. I began my formal music education at the age of 8, through private piano lessons. Unlike most children, I begged for piano lessons and couldn’t wait to come home from school and practice. It was a positive experience for me, and because of that, my practice sessions were successful. I enjoyed playing simply for the love of music, not for anyone’s benefit. I began playing clarinet at age 10, and started classical voice training at age 12.

At age 13 I joined my first musical ensemble—junior high band. It was at this point the Law of Attraction became increasingly relevant. Students who viewed music as a positive were successful; those who viewed it as a negative were not. This affected the individual musicians as well as the ensemble. Those who loved music and worked hard to master their craft brought positive energy to the ensemble, while those who had negative expectations and sour attitudes brought the group’s energy level down. While this may seem like a basic facet of group dynamics, it affects musical groups much differently. Even if all the correct notes and rhythms are being played, a musical ensemble with negative energy is very difficult to listen to. The music has no life, no purpose. It cannot touch people in the way it should. The audience is not moved by the music, and become bored. They may shift in their chairs and become uncomfortable but not understand why.

A musical ensemble with positive energy is another story. They may cause the audience to laugh and cry within the same piece, even if there are no lyrics. People will hold their breath until the resolution of a chord, and let out a relaxing sigh after the final cut-off. If the energy is truly overwhelming, the audience will simultaneously leap to their feet as soon as the conductor’s baton drops. Do people leap to their feet at the end of a great recorded piece of music they hear on their iPod? No, it is the positive energy of the musical ensemble and the vibrations of the setting that brings them to a standing ovation.

I didn’t understand my first aesthetic musical experience, but I will never forget it. My university music department performed Johannes Brahms’s Requiem. We rehearsed for months: a 60 piece choir combined with a 40 member orchestra. While I certainly enjoyed the rehearsal process of learning beautiful music, it wasn’t until the performance that I truly ‘experienced’ the piece. Despite months of rehearsal, there would only be a single performance. It was a sold-out concert hall, and for the day prior to the performance there was a positive buzz of excitement in the music building. Without realizing it, I tapped into this positive energy and became a part of something incredible.

At first, I was slightly nervous, as it was my first large performance at the university level. But, after imagining myself performing the music successful, my fears calmed. I continued to visualize and audiate a successful performance for myself and the ensemble. I knew the music well, and only wished for our success. I truly wanted the audience to be touched. As we began the first movement, my nerves fell away and I connected with the ensemble. We sang and the orchestra played, and at one point in the piece, a zap of electricity went through my spine and it was all I could do not to stand up on my toes and shout! The feeling of positive energy was so much I felt I might explode! Tears welled in my eyes and I smiled, and continued to sing through the end of the piece.

I couldn’t name the experience, but I knew others had felt it too. It wasn’t until my senior year of college (my current year), that we discussed the psychology of music and the theories of aesthetic experiences. Now, I understand. Positivity begets positivity, which produces experiences that are life-changing.

I begin my final portion of my degree in a few weeks, and I look forward to teaching students and sharing the positivity of music with them. I know that if I envision my success, it will, in turn, lead to the success of my students.

Pay it forward

By KT Rogers

I was six months old the first time I was removed from the custody of my mother. It was the first but far from the last time Social Services intervened. It was not the worst time, nor the most dramatic time, nor the most recent time, but simply one of many times it happened. It was also the beginning of a long parade of custodial guardians that took me from Florida to NY and back again.

My mother was never capable of being a parent, although it did not stop her from having five children with four fathers. She simply did not possess the skills, knowledge, or experience to properly care for a child, or even for herself. She used narcotics and sold them to support her habits. She never read to us, became involved in school activities, or helped us with homework. Meals were occasional. Housekeeping activities were sparse. We were in the custody of others more often than hers. Regardless, she was still my mother and I still love her, it was just an odd sense of relief to be free of relying on her.

 I lived with my father on and off as well. He tried. I can honestly say that I saw his efforts at creating a home and being a parent. He loves me and he tried his very best, however, several motorcycle and car accidents took a toll on his health, and I was a challenging child. When I was about nine years old, he placed me in a Christian Children’s Home due to an ultimatum given by his new wife. My aunt took me in. My father’s sister, she was the only person in the family with a college degree. Although she was educated, employed, and dignified, she had never raised a child. She expected me to be grateful and appreciate the opportunities she could provide, like etiquette classes and private education, but by then I was really only able to feel confusion and anger.

 Other relatives took me in. In between I was sent back to my mother’s home, or to my father’s. I attended at least eleven schools between Kindergarten and Junior High School. I made friends. I lost friends. Teachers just sighed when they looked at my records, I’m sure they were shocked and appalled at all I had endured. I tried to join groups, sports teams, and clubs to make the connections that I so very desperately craved. I just finally accepted that that nothing lasted very long in my world. Along the way I met a few teachers who truly reached out to me. Some, but definitely not all, reached out and nudged me down the right path. They empathized with my situation and recognized my talent for math and writing. They steered me in the direction of the library and encouraged my love of books and knowledge. They listened when I spoke. They appreciated my sarcastic wit that was thinly veiled pain sneaking through tiny cracks in my hard shell. I spent hours in my room reading and learning and less time crying. Somehow, despite everything crazy in my world, I managed to pass. In many classes I was advanced beyond what the other students were doing.

Even though I did not have had the words to express my feelings at the time, I have the ultimate respect and admiration for those teachers and counselors who filled the many voids in my life. Teaching is sometimes a thankless and underpaid endeavor and I wish I could hunt down all of them and tell them just what their attention had meant to me. It was back then that a plan formed in my head and in my heart, that I would pay them all back by paying it forward. I want to be the person that inspires a child to find their path and embrace their spirit. I want to help them find their way through the storms and find their place in the sun. While it was not easy to overcome the feelings of loss, abandonment, confusion, pain and fear that had tormented me throughout my childhood, I discovered that love, stability, patience and communication, will conquer all. I found a non-traditional family who loves me, respects me and believes in me. While they are not my genetic relations, they are the people who made me a priority in their lives. I was able to stay at the same school for most of high school, and I graduated with my friends, while my chosen family cheered me on.

Jack Kerouac wrote “Nothing behind me, everything in front of me”. In order to move forward into the life I have chosen for myself, I must let go of the negativity and pain that is now behind me, focusing only on the positive interactions and happy memories. I look forward to the road in front of me. I know that any obstacles in my path can be overcome because I have already conquered so many others. I am confident that I will make a difference in the eyes of a child. I am convinced I am on the road that I was meant to forge.

"The choices you make dictate your future"

By Shannon Mickey

In today’s fast changing and stressful environment, I stumble across many challenges in my life such as school, social, and family matters, but I strongly believe that keeping a consistent positive attitude and never giving up has made a huge difference in my life. Through my experiences in life, I have learned that keeping a positive attitude has its benefits like learning from mistakes, approaching everything with a hope and desire for success, and maintaining healthy relationships with the people around me.

The most important reason for having a positive attitude is because I am able to learn from my mistakes. I think learning from our mistakes is very important. I always think of the example of Thomas Edison when he was trying to invent the light bulb. As he was testing out different materials, he failed 2,000 times before he could finally get it right. But Edison learned from his mistakes and kept trying. If he had given up by keeping a negative attitude towards himself, who knows if we would have had something like a light bulb.

This leads me to my second reason. I believe in having a positive attitude brings success. This is the achievement of something desired. In school, I go through this every day. For example, while taking a test in a class at school, I have to tell myself that I can do it. This is encouraging to me, and because of this I perform better academically. I persevere and learn from my mistakes so that next time I can be more successful.

Being negative can also lead me to a bad social environment. If I am always sarcastic and pessimistic, I would not have many friends and I would not be very happy with myself. But if I am positive, then my attitude helps me to have better relationships with everyone including my friends, family, or any other person I meet. A quote I really admire states, “the choices you make dictate your future.” I believe this quote is very true. For example, not having a positive attitude may not keep healthy relationships with people.

A positive attitude really helps me learn from my mistakes, be more successful, and have amiable relationships with others. I believe overall, having a positive attitude towards life can not only help one get through things, like the ones I mentioned above, but also keep me healthy.

The power of positive thinking

By Jessica Hice

Phone rings.

 “Hello?”

“Jess, where are you?”

“I’m at work. I can’t talk right now.”

“Jess, you need to come home. Mom and dad were stabbed.”

Silence.

It is unexpected instances such as this where we must make a two second choice about how we will respond. We can calmly ask the necessary questions or we can go ballistic and scream at the top of our lungs. Life occurrences often blindside us, but it is the choice we must make to overcome them that holds a very large challenge. On a dark, rainy evening in March of 2011, I was blindsided by the above phone conversation. My mother and my step-dad simply walked into the wrong place at the wrong time. A large commotion erupted at their neighbor’s house, so my mom and step-dad decided to investigate, assuming someone was in need of help. There was no use in helping the neighbors, as the scene they walked into was that of bloodshed; the neighbors had been murdered. The killer was still lurking in the home. My mother’s throat was slashed and my step-dad was stabbed in several places before their miraculous escape. Since then, we have become soldiers of the “power of positive thinking,” which has enabled us to stay hopeful and happy.

Positive thinking is an important principle that every human should practice. It isn’t quite a social norm, as there is usually an outlet for negative thinking that dwells in hurtful gossip and social media. At times it is hard to maintain a positive outlook, especially when someone tries to swerve their car into our lane or a pesky bounced check rears its ugly head. Regardless, this principle has improved my life and I can see that it has improved my parents’ lives as well. For example, my mom and I are currently the happiest we have ever found ourselves. It is mostly because we have each other to hold on to, but we have learned that happiness is a choice. My happiness comes in many forms, the most ridiculous being comfortable sweaters. So what if they do not hug my body tightly, as fashion seems to dictate? I am completely content with being a creature of comfort. My mom and I share a deep love of animals, which can be seen on our Facebook pages that are strewn with turtle videos and cat pictures. My step- dad is basking in happiness as well, as he now owns a therapeutic horse-riding facility where he offers free classes for children who are mentally disabled, low income, or reside in broken homes. He feels absolutely certain he is making a positive difference in the children’s lives because the pain he went through opened up his heart to others who are in negative situations. Whatever situation we find ourselves in, it is merely a moment. Life is made up of short, flickering moments of “now” that we must fully immerse ourselves in and make the best of. I choose to have a positive outlook on life in every one of these moments instead of dwelling on how awful or negative they are because I know first-hand how short life can be. The world holds a lot of over-sized sweaters and turtle videos for all of us.

“If you have hope, you have everything.” It is ironic that as I write this essay I opened up a fortune cookie that housed a paper that was marked with this quote.  It now resides in a delicate frame that holds a picture of my boyfriend and me; it is a love I have dreamed about for a very long time. After years of being in an abusive relationship, I broke free from it and made the necessary changes to heal and look forward to my future. This strength I have gained from this negative occurrence has assisted me through many things in my life, such as applying to jobs and having the audacity to speak my mind, or even fall in love again. I am so hopeful of my future that I will make it my mission to accomplish everything I want to, which has taken me a very long time to decide. My past may dark and dreary but now I can build my future to be as bright and bountiful as I want. My mother is feeling much the same, as she has decided to become stronger and overcome her fears. Before she was attacked, she wasn’t much of a hopeful person and always assumed the worst in any situation. She now gets up in the morning and makes it her plan to surround herself with positive things, whether it be enjoying a nature walk or visiting with her new friends. She has adopted hobbies such as photography, painting, and other tools to overcome her post traumatic stress. My family and I have hope because we have learned that sometimes that is all we have during certain instances in our lives. Some days our pockets may be empty and our fuel tanks much the same, but we really do have everything.

I have learned a lot about the immeasurable power of positive thinking. I have seen that certain moments and humans have the ability to break us in more ways than one. The most important understanding I have acquired is one that I will forever spread the word about: If there is ever a day that we have lost our pride, happiness, endurance, or even our will to live, we must remember we possess the ability to harness positive thinking. Not one thing on this earth can take that from us.

The Law of Attraction was a part of my understanding at a young age

By Stephanie Damron-Whipple 

My story is very different from most scholars.  I left my home at the age of twelve. A socio-economic statistic reared in a small impoverished town. A product of a broken home, shattered dreams, and a separation-anxiety I still struggle with today.  I was a run-away.  The Law of Attraction was a part of my understanding at a young age.  I am not sure what gave me the drive I have.  I believe it is from the strong military-style home in which my father raised me. My father’s teachings and philosophies caused me to watch, listen, and understand obstacles-and dangers.   He taught me to fight, to hunt, and how to throw knives.  He taught me fitness, mechanics, and to watch a person’s body language.  I remember my father studying a book written by Norman Vincent Peale - “The Power of Positive Thinking.”  Peale impressed my father greatly.  My father spoke frequently of Peale’s teachings.  Peale always caught my attention, laying on the coffee table or somewhere about the house.  I read his book at the age of eleven.  In retrospect, I believe all these things combined is what gave me the ability to over-come issues.  I believe these teachings gave me a heightened sense of what I was wanting from my life.  I chose to leave home, make mistakes, and make a difference. My departure was not because my father did not rear me properly, or with a tender loving heart. He has always been there when I needed him. It was my driven spirit. I was searching to find where and what I was to be.  I knew at a young age I was different.  I would not end up as a statistic. I would not allow the surroundings of this town dictate my successes.  I have spent my life traveling, working, and raising my children.  I stayed in college.  It has taken me decades to get this far.  I knew I could not take the prerequisites for Dental school till the last semesters - they expire. I have come to those last semesters.  I have one semester left of federal funding. This Scholarship will help pay for the classes in which I am enrolling and secure my life's quest.  I would like to thank you for your consideration. I would like to thank you for allowing me to utilize The Law of Attraction.  I would like to accept your award and thank you for it. Presumptuous to some. To me, I truly believe the content of my essay will find you agreeable - I am the best choice for the Achieve Today Scholarship.

 My children are raised now. I have finally returned to my father's home – Bittersweet.  He is proud of me, though he never understood why I left.  I have been with him for several months now.  It is my turn to care for him.  I moved back to my home town in 1998.  Everyone I knew was either on drugs, in prison, or a complete mess.  I know I made the right decision.  I saw clearly what my life would have been if I had not left.  It has been hard. I definitely do not fit in here.  I have worked in Dentistry for over twenty years now. I will crush the dental board exams.  I have no doubt of that fact.  I have volunteered at Hermann hospital in Houston Texas, Sullivan Community Mission, and worked with several Federally Funded Dental Clinics. What are my earnest hopes of heart? I want so much to help the under-privileged children in these communities. To nurture and love a child is such a blessing.  I would like my future to include inspiring others in this community to aspire to greatness. To change the negatives in this town.  My desire is the focal point in my life. When you educate a child about their health, when you encourage a child, when they truly understand something benefits them - they start to view life differently. I would like to touch each and every child's life here. My hopes are to educate them about what meth and other drugs do to their teeth. My hopes are that they will see and incorporate their over-all health into their thoughts.  Once a child understands how precious they are, how it feels to respect themselves, they change.

I stayed in school even though I wandered about Missouri.  When I was fifteen, I went to the unemployment office.  A freshman in high school, I took an aptitude test on that field trip. It revealed that Dentistry was where I belonged. I ran with it. I quickly enrolled into my first college courses at the age of sixteen. I have been working towards that since. No matter what life has thrown me I have never quit. It is finally my time, the time, and now - the time crunch.  My father has asked me to stay with him till I am done with professional school.  I accepted.  My visions of him and my mother in the audience at my graduation propels a strong commitment to complete.  I have paid my bills up months in advance.  I have put everything into storage.  I have secured a part time job on weekends.  I am one-hundred percent ready.

 I made a promise to my children.  I promised them, "I will never put myself in front of you." I worked on my education part-time. In the process of that, I have exhausted my Pell Grants and Federal Funds.  Two semesters stands between me and my life goal. The funding is now my hurdle.  I would like to share one more thing with you so that you might understand my dilemma.  In October 2003, I was assaulted, in my home, by a man who pushed his way in.  In 2006, I had to withdraw from all of my classes due to my injuries.  I have over-come four surgeries and a debilitative illness that I keep controlled. That attack cost me eight years of recovery; and, the task of paying the university back for monies borrowed.  Last semester was my first semester back.  I have my advisor Dr. Aronstam, and John Terrill (who is in the collections department) to thank for their patience and faith in me.   Dr. Aronstam and Mr. Terrill have been supportive.  They have walked with me through every question, every field trip there, and every hurdle.  Dr. Aronstam and Mr. Terrill helped me over-come harder obstacles then I was ever prepared for.  Fixing the damage from that attack has solidified my ability to over-come and trust in myself.  Tenacity has never let me down.  Figuring it all out has been difficult.  I want you to know, I truly believe you will choose me as the Recipient.  When I saw this Scholarship and the details, I knew it was meant for me.  There is not a day that goes by that I do not awake and fall asleep to my thoughts of finishing.  It is my life endeavor.  I would like to leave my children and the children of this community this legacy:

1) How important it is not to give up on who you are.
2) Do not give up on what you want.
3) Do not sacrifice your family to do it.
4) Anything is possible when you believe in yourself.

The importance of giving strength to others drives and motivates me each day

By Alexandria Wright

I will look for ways to strengthen those who have less than I. The importance of giving strength to others drives and motivates me each day to follow on my career path to be a licensed clinical social worker. With that area of expertise I can fulfill my daily craving to help those in need. Living my life along moral principles has lead me to meet inspiring and intriguing individuals, but it has also changed my outlook on what living life truly means.
            In December of 2012, I was at a football game in Denver, Colorado. My mother called and said I had to come home because they had found my cousin and he was in the hospital. When I arrived in Kansas City, Missouri I had no idea what to expect or how bad the situation was. My cousin was pronounced brain dead on December 31st, 2012. He was seventeen years old. When you have loss and grief terrorize your life it is difficult to live along a morally fulfilled path. It took months for me to get back on track and for other members of my family it still affects them today.
            Now, when I look at life and how precious it truly is, I want to be able to give all that I can to those who feel like they have nothing or no one. I appreciate each and every day I am able to live my life in the hands of helping others. I am grateful for many opportunities people have given me, but most of all I am aware of my faults. I am not perfect, but I try my best to reach out to those who could have been like my cousin. I reach out to hopefully save someone who thought no one would ever listen or help.
            I live my life on a moral map. Benevolence, family, love, and security are all on my list of what I live by. I hope to continue with my education and plan on continuing to learn, grow, and become stronger for others and myself.

It begins with thinking positively

By Aubry Shade

Thinking positively has had and continues to have a huge influence on every aspect of my everyday life. It begins with thinking positively, then the thinking part results in speaking positively, acting positively, feeling positively, and finally, living positively. For as far back as I can remember, and from the parts of my young childhood that I can't recall that are given to me by my parents, I was always a very positive individual. Even though I probably didn't comprehend the words 'contract' and 'expand' way back when, I had an inherent understanding of how thinking positively expands you and thinking negatively contracts you. It was a struggle for me to feel mad at someone when it was completely justified. It just didn't feel good to me on the inside to hold onto anything bad emotionally. Negative thoughts and feelings are truly a poison that flows through your body, killing you, until you let it go. Life, both fortunately and unfortunately, is extremely unpredictable, and gets more complicated the older you get, so it becomes harder to think positively. Especially in middle school. The question that I still get asked today began in these awkward, preteen years of self-discovery. "Why are you so happy?", is the consistent inquiry of the people who have a problem with my perky attitude. It confuses me. Wouldn't you rather be around someone who was happy instead of depressed or rude? But the question never fails to be spoken with distaste or annoyance. I was much shyer in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade, so I didn't have much courage to talk back, and I had maintained my dislike of drama from elementary. Being older now, and from gaining a lot of self esteem, the question slides off my skin. At my first job, one of my managers had began our work relationship with the "Why are you so happy?" bit I was too familiar with. As quick as the words had left her mouth, I responded with, "I don't know, why are you so cranky?", all the while smiling. She had nothing to say to that and we actually managed to become good friends, and still are. By living with a positive mind, the world I live in reflects my thoughts and is brighter and more welcoming. It's cliche, but it's accurate when people say, 'The world is as dark as the shades you wear'. I am human though, so of course I can't be happy or uplifting all the time. I wish I could be. The important thing is that I know deep down everything will work out. Difficult times occur and devastating events happen in everyone's lives, but through it all, we should keep that flame of optimism burning, no matter how dim. As long as it's there, that's what matters. I feel like it's simply a waste of time to feel bad. Sometimes I even worry about the possibility of feeling bad for the fear of wasting time not feeling my best. There is so little time we have on this earth to not be happy or feeling good. I know I'm young, but it doesn't mean that I'm going to live until I'm one hundred. I could die tomorrow, or a week from now, or a year from now. We should strive to be positive with every breath we have so all we have to look back on is fond memories and no regrets. I accept the fact that I'm a bubbly woman, perhaps too bubbly at times, but I like that about myself, and I've grown to feel that I don't care at all if people don't like me for that. I'd rather be friends with people who take my bubbliness, and instead of washing themselves clean and drying free of it with a towel, get good and soapy along with me. By not worrying if I'm being overly positive, I have come to meet some nice, true blue friends recently. By being me, I feel better physically and show it outwardly. I feel and look the best I ever have in my entire life. My face is clearer, my skin is softer, my eyes are brighter, my teeth are whiter, and I get compliments I never used to receive based on these things. I don't get sick as often as I used to either. Being positive has had a tremendous impact on my health. I know that being or remaining positive for people with cancer or other major sicknesses has helped them live longer or get over their health issues. In general, people who live positively live longer and have more full-filling lives than those who are more negative. I don't know about the majority, but I'd rather live as long as I can, as happy as I can. I have also read about a genetic positivity level that each and every person has. We are all supposedly pre-dispositioned for a certain amount of happiness. That doesn't mean we can't alter that though. If we want to achieve a higher level of positivity or happiness for ourselves, we just have to want it and work on it. But I was fortunate to grow up having two very happy parents. I inherited an awesome level of dopamine in my brain. My mom is always laughing about something and my dad loves music which he plays constantly in the house. Music leads to dancing and dancing leads to happiness. By continuing on the path of positive thinking, I hope to change the way most of society behaves and thinks one smile at a time.

Throughout my life, positivity has always been key to success

By Courtney Huellen
Illinois State University
 
Who am I? I am the healthy one in my family of six. I have two sisters who both suffer from Usher Syndrome, a recessive genetic disorder affecting their hearing and vision. They were both born profoundly deaf and now are progressively losing their vision to Retinitis Pigmentosa. Cochlear Implants have been a blessing to my family, giving my sisters the ability to hear the world around them. We communicate without the use of sign language, but getting to this point was not easy. When a child is implanted with a cochlear implant, they undergo an expensive surgery followed by an audiology appointment a few weeks later to activate the equipment. After the initial stimulation, a speech-language pathologist goes through an intensive therapy with the child to help them interpret the new sounds and turn those sounds into language. Watching the transformation of my sisters as they developed spoken language sparked my interest to pursue a career in speech-language pathology. My career goal is to work with a pediatric cochlear implant team and change the lives of children with hearing loss.

My family’s story has come with extreme hardships because of this adversity. My sisters' disabilities make it impossible to keep up financially. Cochlear implants are a miracle but not a quick fix for hearing. Benefitting from an implant involves paying for pricey external equipment, costly speech therapy sessions, and expensive audiology visits. To complicate things, my mom had emergency surgery for a life threatening tumor a couple years back. She is doing well today, but the tumors can reoccur which threatens her ability to support our family. Both my parents work demanding jobs; my mother being a nurse, and my father repairing computers. They try not to burden me with their financial difficulties, but it is not hard to identify. There is always a new bill to be paid every time I open the mailbox. All through high school, my friends shopped at high end stores, but I learned to appreciate a good bargain at the local Goodwill resale shop. Our home has gone into foreclosure, and when I get into bed at night, I thank God we still have a place to sleep.

Once I turned 16, I immediately began searching for jobs because I knew that if I wanted to pursue a higher education, I was on my own. , I started working twenty hours a week at Boston Market to pay for my own expenses. I enjoy my job and have learned to be more self-reliant. The struggles at home are out of my control therefore, I pour my heart into my academics because it is one thing I control. My perseverance toward school paid off resulting in excellent grades. I continued to achieve the highest honors, I attended extracurricular activities, and volunteered regularly to better my community. I became confident in my leadership skills. My first service project involved packaging seeds to feed the hungry in Africa. Volunteering has followed me to my college campus. Here, I volunteer at the Children’s Discovery Museum doing different activities around the museum such as leading tours and cleaning. I was also a team captain for the 2014 St. Jude’s Up ‘Til Dawn event. As a team, we raised eight-hundred and fifty dollars. My professional organization, The National Student Speech Language Hearing Association organization, allows Communication of Sciences and Disorders majors to get acquainted with our professors while also performing community service.

This year, I began my journey to achieving my career goal. I am on the road to acquiring my undergraduate degree in Communication of Sciences and Disorders. Knowing my parents were unable to support me financially, I worked extremely hard to apply for scholarships to cover the costs of my first year. One year almost under my belt, five more to go. Since my parents are unable to cosign a loan for me, loan options are limited and I need to look elsewhere to make my Speech Pathology dream a reality. Furthermore, wishes to save my sisters' sight may be granted through a clinical trial in Portland, Oregon. The treatment will be a series of trips that are expensive and not covered by medical insurance. This is our only hope to save their vision and will be a higher priority than my college education. I would not want it any other way. Throughout my life, positivity has always been key to success. Life has thrown a few curve balls my way, but that does not necessarily mean they need to be dodged. I have learned to face problems head on and always keep a smile on my face. I am in desperate need of assistance if I want to continue my education here at ISU, but I am a strong believer in miracles.

We will always be faced with challenges and the way we react is what matters

By Barbara Skubisz

This year I did a community based learning(cbl) course where I went to the Port Ministries in Chicago. I worked in the clinic, tutoring center, the food truck and took a few things away from the course. Inequality sticks out to me due to the nonviolence workshop, discussions in class, and the community that I entered into. I feel that in a way history is mocking us, because we are supposed to have equality and be this great country that prides itself in equality among other thing. The lower class is struggling while the rich keep getting richer and many issues are still unresolved from the past. CBL helped me recognize that we live in a diverse society and that we as society need to strive for just relationships between individuals, and honor /value each human being. Change toward a more just and democratic society doesn’t just happen; it depends on people stepping up as leaders to make that change. Being in the clinic was one thing I looked forward too and I realized how much depended on the clinic for basic medications like for the cold and flu. You were able to tell the gratitude that the patients had at the clinic and for the help but also even on the food truck some people were grateful while others just expected the help. I didn’t feel really helpful in the clinic because I don’t have the skills that the doctors/nurses have to help treat people; which made me really excited to be in the nursing program because one day I can go back and actually be more hands on and help diagnose/treat people. Thich Nhat Hanh practices the spirituality of openness; the willingness to accept diversity and to approach others with an open heart and mind. I feel that the spirituality of openness is important because the world is so diverse and we will always be faced with challenges and the way we react is what matters. We should try and leave this world a better place than what we came into. When thinking about things/issues it shouldn’t just be all about yourself; it should include other people because other people are impacted by our own decisions one way or another. I liked how Hanh wrote ,” your child is an extension of yourself, a continuation of your blood and your spirit”(pg 151). I agree with that statement and that children learn from us on how to react and behave; what is right and what is wrong. We need to teach children to be open and treat people with kindness and respect; that nonviolence is greater than violence in itself. Communication is definitely the key among having an open mind/ heart to creating true peace among yourself, your family, the community, and even the world at large.

Living the Law of Attraction; Insights from daily practice

By Ash Ashtora
Salt Lake Community College

In one infinite moment, about ten years ago, I was changed forever, by an experience so vast and multi-dimensional, that my very thoughts, consequently my beliefs, were transformed. That experience was what Colin Tipping refers to as Radical Self-Forgiveness. Although I had studied and facilitated classes on the Law of Attraction, and was applying this principle daily, the
experience of self-forgiveness made living the Law of Attraction easy and effortless. In that moment which continues to hold me, I understood that absolutely everything happens for us; no matter how it looks or what it feels like, the truth is, we are not separate from
the multiverses or its inhabitants. This unity makes it impossible for anything to happen which is not for us.
At 59, I gave in to the thought that I wanted to go back to school. Stanford University’s Compassion Cultivation Course resonated with me and I knew it was the direction I wanted to go. I actually drove to Stanford University from Salt Lake City, in order to explore the campus. I
had no doubt I would go to classes there. I could so, see me there. I could see me teaching the course to others afterwards. The classes were limited in the number of students which Stanford would accept; nonetheless, I applied and reapplied…repeatedly. Though I was never accepted, I was undaunted. I knew everything was happening for me. Soon, I discovered there are individuals in my area who had actually completed the Compassion Cultivation Training Course and are teaching it here in Salt Lake City. I still intend to take this course; but in the meantime, I enrolled in Salt Lake Community College to complete my Associates Degree in General Studies. I also met with advisors from the University of Utah, in preparation for transferring there to complete Bachelor’s degrees in Peace & Conflict Studies ACHIEVE TODAY SCHOLARSHIP !1 and in Communications (photojournalism). I intend to stop only after earning my Ph.D. in Communications. Salt Lake Community College just informed me that after my first twelve-credit semester
with them, my GPA is 4.0, and that I passed my CLEP exam for College Composition. All of this was accomplished in eight weeks at age 59 (I turn 60 this Saturday). The energy to accomplish all of this in only eight weeks came directly from the Law of Attraction. When you know what your direction is, you just orient yourself (point) and go—it’s all synergy! When you give the energy you want, that same energy multiplies and returns to you in infinite magnitude! If I had been accepted by Stanford’s Compassion Cultivation department, I may never have pursued this course of study; most certainly, not being accepted helped to create the impetus for the Full-Monte. The fact is, radical self-forgiveness caused me to fall in love myself, life, and the whole of creation. It has instilled the principle of the Law of Attraction in me so deeply that I never question why anything happens, I never judge it, never fear it, never challenge it—what I do
instead, is acknowledge how I feel about what is happening, acknowledge that it is happening for
me, rather than to me, and trust I am guided to cooperate with the Law for my highest good, and for the purpose of all our oneness. I have discovered that we don’t need to know the outcomes before they happen, but we can always know that whatever the outcomes, they are the right outcomes—because there can be no wrong outcomes. What I am coming to understand, while it
is true that my vision is great, and it is also true that my desires burn hot, it is also true that what I actually attract is far more resplendent. None of us know how long we have to live, but we can give ourselves fully to each moment of each and every day. My husband is a few years older than I am, and has been living with
challenging health issues for well over half of his life. Out of respect for my husband’s choice to keep private his health issues, I can only share with you that despite the truth of his challenges, it is also true that he devotes many hours to his participation on many boards—giving non-profit and state organizations the benefit of his architectural expertise. Personally, I served as mentor to
several youth who have aged out of Utah’s foster care system; and together, we provided a home for my granddaughter so she could complete high school and go on to college. We continuously bring awareness to the moment, looking for ways in which we can model the Law of Attraction. We see our children and grandchildren beginning to reap the fruits; demonstrating gratitude and
joyful living—can there be any greater reward?
ACHIEVE TODAY SCHOLARSHIP !2 Inspired by the words of architect, Daniel Burnham: “Make no small plans; they have no magic to stir [our] blood,” I take these steps toward completing my Ph.D. in Communications, in order
that I will one day equip others to fearlessly enter into their conflict, in order to move toward compassion, toward forgiveness, toward peace and resolution—with the Law of Attraction embedded in their souls—and producing documentaries of the process and the transformation to
share with the world—two of my friends have decided they too, can go back to school. When my transcript came in, I printed it and wrote, “Thank You” across it, then gave it to
my husband. He looked at it and said, “I knew the moment you decided to go back to school, this was going to happen.” Oh, the joy burgeoning in every moment of consciously living the Law of Attraction, Loving What Is, and Radical Forgiveness! It is BOLD, it is magic, and it stirs our blood.

The more you believe something will work in your favor, regardless of whether it really will or not, WILL change the outcome you receive. 

By Wess Marks
Clark College

This scholarship program caught my attention when the criteria was to explain how the laws of attraction have shaped how I live my life. This will pretty much include my life story and future plans.

My name is Wess Lee Marks, and I have had a rather rough childhood. Living in a household of neglect and going to school to continue being isolated. I started having friends in highschool and I have no clue how. I was pretty much socially inept and a very hostile and negative individual. I barely graduated high school fighting mental disorders and was inspired by my Anatomy and Physiology teacher to become a surgeon. This was a rather blind goal due to my dissections being very high quality and nothing more. 

My parents spent any money my grandfather had saved for my education fund and I have never liked the idea of buying anything with money I did not have, so a college loan was never an option for me. Becoming a surgeon or simply going to college to get perquisites even was not an option due to finances.

I started to get severely messed up my senior year of highschool. Insomnia consumed my life and my cognitive function was completely destroyed. This only spiraled the rest of the stress because I once could read anything and understand it and remember the exact page it was on. After insomnia became intimate with me, I could not read a paragraph and know what I read. If my brain stopped working, I would not want to be alive.

Somehow I managed to enlist in the United States Armed Forces, Active Army as a "Health Care Specialist" also know as a Combat Medic. I throw myself into things I know I can not handle and march on blindly in the hopes that one day I can see again. The GI bill will pay for my first three years of college or so and it appears to be my only option. I really should have not been allowed to enlist but my recruiter hooked me up. I weighed 125lb, 5'11" and mentally unstable. 

I always had this idea about the placebo effect. I treated boot camp and my combat medic school as an experiment in this regards. The more you want something to happen, the more likly it will happen. I merged the laws of attraction with the placebo effect. The more you think what you are doing will work, the more likely it will work. I convinced myself that I would become physically fit, mentally stable AND highly social.

Highly social is a very abstract trait for who I used to be. I made sure I talked to every individual in my platoon in boot camp. In medic school I changed my goal up a bit to influence every individual in my platoon. Somehow I developed leadership and motivational skills and could change the atmosphere into a positive one, regardless of the miserable things we were doing. 

I expressed this further when I arrived at my unit. I essentially convinced myself that I will master everything that I do in every way possible. "There is a trick to everything, you just have to find it first" is something I would reference quite often when teaching people things.

Deployment was a cruel and miserable experience but regardless of this, I kept my platoon in high spirits. It doesn't matter what you are doing, if you can treat it so ridiculous as though you are having fun with it, it becomes a less grueling experience. 

The one factor that cemented my idea of the placebo effect was physical fitness. I was approximately 140lb when deployment started and on the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) I would score about 240/300 which is average. Everyone would complain about our fitness training program that we are mandated to do every morning, stating that it sucks and doesn't do anything for you. I went from essentially scoring deep in the negatives to barely passing using this program, and now I am around average. I kinda focused on the fitness program out of spite of everyone else.

The more you believe something will work in your favor, regardless of whether it really will or not, WILL change the outcome you receive. Every morning I would participate to my fullest in our physical training time. Everyone else would go to the gym during lunch and after dinner. I would be on my laptop on what little free time I had and essentially nothing more. 

I was one of the 12 soldiers out of 400 that received an APFT Badge for scoring above 290 on our fitness test. My platoon had conspiracies that I was sneaking out at night to hit the gym. My bunkmate would be red in the face and shout "He doesn't do anything! He's always on his computer!". Mind you, this guy would go to the gym constantly in his free time, would do pullups before entering the dining facility, pushups every hour, ect. I scored a good 30 over him during the APFT. 

I believe the laws of attraction apply to everything, along with the placebo effect. Simply convincing yourself to true heartedly believe something regardless of whether it is true or not with dynamically change your outcome. My memory used to be completely destroyed thanks to insomnia, and now it is significantly better. My cognitive function is through the roof. There is not a single thing I can not figure out. This kinda spiraled into me becoming a mad scientist, which completely changed my future goals.

I am currently enrolled in Clark College, Vancouver WA to receive my prerequisites to attend the registered nursing program. This is just a stepping stone. Working 3-4 years as an RN will allow me to afford to attend college for a 4 year degree in engineering, 2 year degree in business management. 

This will allow me to start up a few businesses I have in mind and return to college for a 2 year degree in bio-mechanical engineering and 2 year degree in prosthetic engineering. More college will likely be required to become a bio-mechanical prosthetic engineer but my end goal is to make human equivalent mechanical anatomy that is affordable. Currently a prosthetic hand with basic functions costs about 50 thousand US dollars. Prosthetic limbs are way too expensive for the people that need them and I want to change that.

The only way to change the world is to blind side it, and there is nothing in this world that I can not do. Confidence, Efficiency.

Law of Attraction essay

By Obioku B Obotette

When considering the concept of the “law of attraction”, I simply reduce it to the exercise of unity progress.  As you find something that peaks your interest, you may start to assimilate in its direction to get nearer.  It could be a natural affinity or be developed and wrought over a span of time.  I feel the initial attraction starts in the mind.  To think of what draws me to something already begins the aforementioned process.  Whether it is thoughts of something you desire or what you want to be more like, you primarily analyze what that thing is first.  You think about what it is that you find so fascinating.  The notion sometimes cannot be explained with words but you know what the feeling is.  You even understand your reaction to it.  It could be a person, an idea or an object.  One then can sense possession of that indescribable quality that you enamor and cannot get enough of.
            What are some of these qualities and how do we experience them every day.  Being a college student, I think one of the first to discuss is the thirst for knowledge.  The idea of college was just magnetic to me when considering options for after high school.  It is something that I always wanted to do.  I was happy to complete applications and even more excited when I started to get responses.  If you were to ask me why was I so jovial about this process, I could tell you that I felt it was the logical next step for me.  If you were to ask me why I thought that was my main option, I am not sure I can answer that with absolute certainty.  One part of me will say that education has been a lifelong process where the completion date is always to be announced.  I do not know if there is ever a point where you could not learn new information about how to be better than you were before.  When we are young children, we are introduced to the conceptions of pre-school and kindergarten.  At that point we are taught to recreate our interpretation of what is being presented and you will be critiqued by authority for it.  You do this repeatedly and the degree of difficulty becomes greater as you age or rather as you succeed.  The ancillary lesson for most students is that acceptance can have many forms but excellence is favored.  Though I was not the best high school student, I wanted to be a graduate at the university level.  Walking across the stage was an accomplishment that I intrinsically craved and felt like I had to do.  A task I had to go through.  That had to be completed as part of defining who I am and who I wanted to be. 
            Another habit that I appear to be obsessive about is writing.  As of late, this can specifically apply to manufacturing essays for scholarship entries.  Like many college students, I could use the additional help with affording college.  It is an added bonus that I really relish the opportunities to express myself through writing.  One viewpoint of it is that someone actually values your perspective and requests insights into.  Another vantage point is the rare chance to generate the new wave of thought that others would begin to adopt.  In a world of billions of individuals and the advancements seen in communications, the probability of finding like-minded people has become ubiquitous.    The converse side, however, means the ability to conjure an inclination that can penetrate the mainstream and comes to be pervasive is definitively extraordinary.  Writing is one of the most common talents that we can share as a society.  When one is able to impress through an apparent skill that is not readily seen in others proclaims a sense of separation from what is considered normal.  It’s received by the reader as an accepted invitation to what you have to say.  Then you can captivate an audience not only by what is said but by how it is articulated. 
            The two examples discussed were of different outlooks per se.  The excitement for education, college especially, is one of introversion.  There was a goal to enhance myself and be gratified by what I have done.  The system of education is principally self-propelled for every student involved to their own satisfaction.  The line of progression could be based on your capabilities and comprehension of previous material.  The challenge of gaining advancement and approval has its own sort of allure for whoever seeks such effects.  Writing to garner the admiration of others would seemingly be an extroverted stance.   When there is a piece of writing that is truly brilliant and refreshing, the demand for others to have access to it and experience it will arise.  There will be a reason to share what you have read.  The author becomes the proverbial hot commodity.  Not only will the transformative opus be celebrated but the following composition will be on the list of many to get a copy of.  The heights of written work starts from the writer’s mind and get embraced as what’s been missing from the lives of countless readers.  Whether it is being an excellent student or becoming an exceptional writer, both could be tales of a manifest destiny for a person and both can make that person a lodestone for anyone who values those achievements. 

"The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude."

By Kaitlyn Danielson
Sweden

I have always had a strong belief in the power that the mind has over the physical body, and even on
the outcome of one's own future. Statements have been made all throughout history by great
philosophers, scientists, and leaders agreeing on the power of positive thinking.
The Bible states in Proverbs 17:22 that “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries
up the bones.”
The Greek philosopher Epictetus said, “Nothing truly stops you. Nothing truly holds you back. For
your own will is always within your control. Sickness may challenge your body. But are you merely
your body? Lameness may impede your legs. But you are not merely your legs. Your will is bigger
than your legs. Your will needn’t be affected by an incident unless you let it.”
Perhaps this statement by Mahatma Ghandi is one that rings most true in my life - “Man often
becomes what he believes himself to be. If I keep on saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing,
it is possible that I may end by really becoming incapable of doing it. On the contrary, if I have the
belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the
beginning.”
Time and time again, I have personally witnessed the beneficial changes that a positive attitude has
made in my life and in the lives of those around me. Unfortunately, I have also seen the damage that a
negative attitude can cause in someone's life, both physically and circumstantially.
A few years ago, I started having daily conversations with a coworker of mine who was particularly
down and feeling consistently negative about life. The more I got to know her, the more I noticed that
her negative attitude was not only having an effect on her physically, but also seemed affect her life in
general. She was unlucky in relationships, struggling financially, and complained daily of physical
pain in various parts of her body. I knew that all of these struggles could be transformed by a change
of attitude, and decided to help and challenge my new friend in having a more positive outlook. I
knew that it was really up to my friend to switch her negativity into positivity, but I was committed to
helping and encouraging her in this while simultaneously challenging myself to do the same.
The first thing I challenged my coworker with was to start a daily workout and healthy eating routine
with me. Both of us struggled with low self image, and I knew that regular exercise and healthy
eating would immediately create a more positive view on our physical bodies, and be a catalyst for
positive thinking in other areas of our lives. I couldn't have been more right with my prediction! The
instant change I saw in my friend was almost unbelievable. After a few weeks of daily training, her
confidence was soaring. So much so, that even the way she carried herself changed. In the past, she
would slouch her shoulders and shuffle timidly through the corridors of our workplace. Now, she
walked with her head held high, her steps radiating determination and spirit.
Not only was my friend changing physically, but I also saw a change in her mental and emotional
state. Our conversations became more positive and uplifting. I no longer heard her complaining of
any physical pain, which was once a daily routine. Instead, I heard my friend challenging others to
think more positively and change their attitudes!
I was not surprised when only a year later my friend was out of debt, in love, and moving into a
beautiful new house. She had completely transformed her circumstances by the simple act of
changing her attitude. It was incredible and inspiring to see.
Witnessing that beautiful transformation in the life of my friend really forced me to examine my own
life more critically, and check where I need to change my attitude. Admittedly, it is not always easy to
stay positive, and I often find myself sinking back into frustration, gloom, and negativity. It is
something I will struggle with and be confronted with on a daily basis. Choosing to be positive no
matter the circumstance is both incredibly challenging and rewarding. The freedom that comes from
knowing that I have the power within me to control my own destiny is something I do not take
lightly. Not only must I continue to cultivate and care for my mind, I now have the responsibility to
share with others what I have learned, which ultimately comes down to this: My future is a choice.
“The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his
attitude.” – Oprah Winfrey

When we let ourselves believe that everything will result for the worst over the good, we are setting ourselves up for that fate.

By Tara Santos
Arizona State University

“Everything is energy and that’s all there is to it. Match the frequency of the reality you want and you cannot help but get that reality. It can be no other way. This is not philosophy. This is physics.” - Albert Einstein 

Love - affection, appreciation, devotion, emotion, friendship, lust, passion. Love has several forms in which it can be used, all of which possess positive feelings towards one another, object, idea, place, sense, etc. Commonly the feelings of love can be felt between two, sometimes more, but can love felt by one bring the return of love by the beloved? Is it possible that one who only projects love will only bring love in return? With that being said, does the same work for the negative? Yes, in respect to the laws of attraction, which affirms the idea that positivity attracts the positive and negativity attracts the negative.The laws of attraction hold meaning for several aspects of the universe and go as far back as Pre-Socrates philosophy. The laws of attraction were first studied in scientific form, and like quoted above by Albert Einstein the laws of attraction are simply a force of physics.
    The ancient Greek Philosopher Empedocles began his theory of the physics behind the laws when he came across the four elements: water, fire, air, and earth. These four elements were believed to be indestructible and unchangeable and only the combination or separation of all of the elements would lead to an increase or decrease, no physical change to the composition; no substance added or removed. Thus, Empedocles then believed that the only forces responsible for the changes among the elements were love and strife. Love causing an attractive force and strife causing a repulsive force.
    While Empedocles’ theories have continued to expand and hold truth by many scientists and philosophers, the laws of attraction also hold a significant role in everyday life for those not studying philosophy and physics, but simply living amongst their peers and loved ones. Some may not even know that they are under the laws of attraction and perhaps if more people were aware of what the laws can do for their lives, they would find greater joy and happiness.
    “Don’t profess the negative!” I grew up hearing this from my mom anytime she would hear me doubt myself. “I’m going to fail this test,” “Everyone is sick, I’m probably going to catch the cold,” or “What if I don’t get the job?” My mother’s words still ring in my ears, maybe because she still tells me all the time, but now I find myself telling her the same thing along with everyone in my life, and it makes so much sense. When we let ourselves believe that everything will result for the worst over the good, we are setting ourselves up for that fate. Sure, we can study harder for the test, we can take extra precautions to not get sick, but the psychological aspect of telling ourselves that it may not work out allows us to begin accepting that we failed, thus we may give up faster or not care so much thinking that, “oh, I’m probably going to fail anyways.” The negative thought crashes our energy. Moreover thinking you’ll fail the test may not always make you fail the test, but setting your expectations lower can definitely result in careless attempts to succeed.
    So, how does telling yourself you’re going to get an A+ play into the rest of our lives? Well, take the girl who isn’t good enough for the cute guy in her class; he’s handsome, out going, and smart while she’s quiet, reserved, and border-line hermit crab until you get to know her and then one can see she is intelligent, witty, and very sweet. However, she sees the girls he talks to; they’re confident, out going, and very pretty and the girl thinks that she’ll never be like them. Problem 1: She already doubts herself, telling herself she has no chance. Problem 2: She is too reserved, she doesn’t go out of her way to chat it up with people or put herself out there. We receive what we perceive. Therefore, why would anyone approach or want to start talking to an individual who sits in the back of the class and doesn’t talk to anyone? The girl in the back of the class may wish she could talk to the cute guy in class, but doesn’t plan to approach him in the near future hence they may never talk.
    We tend to bring those into our lives that we are most similar to. Most people who love exercise don’t look for friends who eat fast food everyday and play video games; they choose people who share the same interests that they can enjoy together. Or bubbly, outgoing girls don’t look for friends who are quiet and prefer to be alone, their interests would conflict and they essentially wouldn’t have much in common. With that being said, we bring people into our lives based on how we live our lives. So while personalities and lifestyles may attract those of similar ones, our attitudes also do the same. When people are positive, upbeat, and optimistic, then tend to find friends and significant others who hold the same characteristics, and vice versa with those who are negative, downers, and pessimistic.
    When it comes to my life personally, I am one of those strong believers in everything happens for a reason and I encourage positive thoughts to create a positive life for myself. I myself am married and when I met my husband, I would’ve never thought we would be where we are today. We met by fate and became the best of friends while we were dating.
    When we first met I had a whole new outlook on relationships having went through a recent break-up, so I was just myself from the beginning, and I wasn’t even looking for a relationship. I wasn’t overly shy, uncomfortable, or awkward like we all tend to be when we first start dating someone. I had come to the realization that being myself would attract a person that was not only like me, but who would appreciate the real aspects of which I was. I began to find that he would tell me he liked the little corky things I did or said, or stupid comments I would make, or even little things I didn’t even realize about myself. He genuinely was attracted to me for me in everyway.
    Today having been together for a while and newly weds; we often find each other in one another’s heads, thinking exactly what one just said or saying the same thing at the same time. We tend to pick up on each other’s moods and have learned to always be optimistic to one another’s worries. We get through so much more together because we are so similar in that when one of us is down, we have the other to pick us back up. We are always in sync.
    Therefore, in my everyday life, I can say that I practice the laws of attraction, but I know that there is always room for improvement. I occasionally catch myself when I am feeling down and have to reassure myself that everything will workout. Being a Christian I also believe that God has my best interest in store for me and He serves as most of my positive energy. I have learned that when I am positive about a new day, a new encounter, meeting new people, starting a new job, etc. I control the outcome of each of these situations. Furthermore, I am excited for my future career in which I plan to help others into a healthy lifestyle through diet and exercise by encouraging them and showing them the positive in all their efforts.

The power of thought is much stronger than many people may think.

By James Turner 
University of Central Florida

The power of thought is much stronger than many people may think. I believe in the Law of Attraction one hundred percent and I believe that I am living proof of it. After I graduated from The University of Central Florida with my bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering I took a little time before I started applying to jobs. I wasn’t having very much luck and developed a negative attitude. I was convinced that I was never going to get a job and be a server for the rest of my life. I realized that with an attitude like that I was not going to get anywhere. After almost two years I decided to go back to UCF and pursue my Masters degree in Engineering Management. I had a positive attitude about it and was excited to further my education. Sure enough I was accepted three weeks later.
     It is believed that the law of attraction is very powerful with health as well. When someone is diagnosed with a terminal illness it is easy to automatically think the worst. There are proven cases where individuals have lived longer than expected when they have a positive outlook on life. I was raised by my grandparents and looked at them like my own parents. About four years ago my grandfather passed away from cancer. It had a huge impact on my family and there was a consistent sadness is my household. My grandmother went into depression and could not find a way to live her life normally again. She went from baking cookies and working in her garden to laying in bed and watching television all day. She wasn’t the same and almost exactly a year later my grandmother passed away. She was diagnosed with liver cancer and passed away in a month. I believe that her sadness and negative outlook on life for her last year had an impact on her health. She went from my smiling, healthy grandma to depression and she lost her life because of it. I miss my grandparents with all my heart but I will not let their death impact me the way it did my grandmother. I think of them every day and pray to them every night. I now try to take the good with the bad. It is always hard to find the good in a situation when a family member passes away. However, it makes me happy knowing that they are together again and my grandmother feels complete again. I find comfort in knowing my grandparents are both at peace. I could very easily be bitter and dwell on the fact that life isn’t fair. However, there is always someone out there who is worse off than I am. I try to think that I am lucky to have my grandparents to watch over me and keep me safe. Since the passing of my grandmother my attitude towards life has changed completely. I now do things that I’ve been wanting to do like go on a cruise, go back to school, and I even had an internship with an Engineering Company for a while. Life is short and having a negative attitude will do more harm than good.
     Having a positive attitude does not automatically mean that only good things will happen to you. Bad things do happen to good people, and sometimes good things happen to bad people who don’t deserve it. Ones mindset is how that person will get through the situation. I believe that everything happens for a reason, even if I don’t understand what that reason is at the time. I have many friends who have already started their careers in the Engineering world. Sometimes I feel like I am behind in life and that I should have a job by now. I just think to myself that I am doing the right thing by getting my Masters and that it will only benefit me in the future. Thinking about the future and the things I want in my life are my motivation. I also surround myself with other people and friends who have the same mindset. A positive attitude and want to be successful, I feel like we encourage each other.
     All in all nobody is going to be positive one hundred percent of the time. The key to success is to be able to bounce back from the hard times. I believe that I have done a good job with this so far in my life and I plan to continue to do so. I have grown up over the years and my outlook on life has grown as well. I plan to do well in graduate school and I know I will have a job in the Engineering field waiting for me once I graduate. This way of thinking has been my motivation and the reason why I have kept my grades up so far. If everyone would have the same out look on life the world would be a much better place.        

Positivity begets positive outcomes as much as negativity begets negative outcomes.

Ashley R. Williams
College: Arizona State University

Self-help author Stephen Richards once stated “[T]he true measure of success is how many times you can bounce back from failure.” Success can be measured in many different aspects such as being successful financially and spiritually. Success connotates achievement and progress; which are both attributes to a healthy and productive life. The only block between an individual from being successful in any aspect of life is their own frame of mind and the confines of a negative attitude. Positivity begets positive outcomes as much as negativity begets negative outcomes; “like attracts like.” I have found that having this frame of mind, knowing that my attitude holds the key to my success, has allowed me a very powerful tool I use every day of my life.
            I have found that people who harbor over negative experiences become entangled in a web, a web of what seems to be a never ending trial of negative and unfortunate events. On the other hand people who uphold a positive attitude and speak on positive things have the opposite effect. This is because they expect these things to occur as oppose to those misfortunate individuals I have made mention of.  Not only does the law of attraction work as a “New Thought” belief for occurrences but also for relationships. People want to be around other people that emit a positive aura because it tubs off on them as well. My mother used to say that if you build relationships with people who are continuously being blessed than your blessings will become inevitable. This has been proven true on countless occasions.
            During my freshman year in college I had an incident in one of my classes and  that resulted in me receiving a failing grade that dropped my grade point average and I lost my academic scholarships. I have always been a very determined person as well as student and I took a major blow to my confidence because I did not understand why this was happening at me. It was my first year in college and I was determined, my goals where: actively stay on the dean’s list and graduate summa cum laude. As it may be apparent to see the drop in my grade point average and loss of scholarship damaged my confidence and attitude; I was desperate and thought of what negative thing will happen next. And it did.
            In the summer before my sophomore year in college my mother was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer. It would seem that a dark cloud was following but I found inspiration from unusual arenas. During this span of time my mother continued to remind me that “like attracts like”, “praise will return blessings.” My mother underwent aggressive chemotherapy and radiation and not once did she complain. Somehow she knew she would pull through; and it was with that attitude she made it through by persisting and becoming stubborn with positivity.
            This experience transformed my mind completely. I realized no matter if negativity harbors over you, you do not have to harbor over it which changes the entire game. My mother showed me that when you speak positivity, “I’m going to be cancer free,” by the law of the attraction it was confirmed and happened. When it was time for me to return to my sophomore year Spring 2014 semester I set my mind to see certain things happen over the course of the semester. I said to myself, “My name will have its place on the dean’s list, I will have a chance to redeem my chance to replace my failing grade, and I will have my academic scholarship reinstated.”
            The power to control outcomes is in the tongue. I am a firm believer that with speaking and thinking positive things that it is inevitable they will happen through the law of attraction. This is why I will continue to think and live positively in that it will attract success in my life in the future as it has presently. My path has been paved on the basis of prosperity and I find that it is important to stay on the path to incur future success in my life financially, physically, mentally and spiritually.
            I have found that living under this principle has proven itself to be most beneficial to me and can be that to mankind as well. Being that the Law of Attraction holds the principle of attraction: “like attracts like,” then by being beneficial my success will cause others around me to be successful. I see my future is bright because I view it through a confident scope and believe that that is the path I was meant to be on and will order my footsteps to direct me there. Rhonda Byrne, author of New Thought book The Secret, once wrote “Thoughts that bring about good feelings mean you are on the right track. Thoughts that bring about bad feelings mean you are not on the right track.” I am determined to stay on the right track by knowing positive outcomes are results of what positive thinking attracts.       

When a dream seems impossible to achieve, the only way to keep your hopes up is to be positive.

By Armin Riazian

I have always been a confident person, who was always hopeful to achieve his biggest dreams. No matter how big they were, I was positive towards my goals.        
     When a dream seems impossible to achieve, the only way to keep your hopes up is to be positive. All the big movements in history started from small people who had big positive thoughts and never gave up.
    Law of Attraction can be a big help to anyone on the different aspects of their lives. What we see, what we believe in, and all of our feelings relates to our mind, so if we learn to improve our positive thoughts we can also improve our lives. The happiness we want in life, our goals and the motivation we need to achieve them all can improve with our simple positive thinking. If we focus on the things we have or we like, rather then the things we do not have or we hate, we will be happier. Being happy leads us to less stress and more focus towards our goals. Finally when we achieve our goals, we will be happier. They all come together in a circle, and if you follow one correctly, you can achieve others.
    I strongly believe anyone can achieve what he or she has in mind as long as they are hungry enough for it! You can never finish something you never started, and that is why you should start moving towards your goals!
     People are scared to start moving towards their dreams because of the fear of failure they have. I believe life is a journey with many risks in it. You cannot possibly fly high if you are not willing to take those risks. Maybe people will not achieve what they exactly want in life, but any small steps they take towards their goals teaches them something, That is why believing the fact that your efforts will pay off, actually helps you to stay focused towards your goals.
     To be honest, I do not know whether god exists or not. In fact no one knows! What I know though, is the fact that there is a higher power that makes sure we get what we deserve. Efforts do not go unanswered. In fact, it is a simple concept to believe every single action we do in this world is not going to be unanswered! Whether it is a good action we do, which comes back to us in the form of happiness, or a simple positive thought that motivates us towards our goals, they all are the consequences of our own actions. We humans are like little machines that can do anything once they focus on a task and put their efforts into it. That is why we need to believe in the Law of Attraction.  To start improving, we have to believe we are capable of any kind of success we have in mind, and only then we will be focused enough to achieve what we set our minds to.
     Let’s dig a little bit deeper. I said, what we do is not going to ever be unanswered. Well, the reason is simple. Every step we take towards our dream, is a step taken closer to our dream and further from our starting point. This can be illustrated easily when we are traveling towards our destination. All actions are like that too.  Once we take a small step towards our goals, that is a step already taken, which frees up our time for us to take our next step. This is exactly why once we believe that we actually are going to be successful and work hard for it, we will be successful. This is not something that only lucky people experience; this is a simple concept that everyone can experience once they believe in what they do.
    Many people keep a diary in which they keep their memorable moments. In an interesting attempt, I tried to create a “future is certain” notebook.  “Future is certain” is the name I gave to my notebook in which I keep my success stories in it. I always focus on the single most important thing in my everyday life that I want to achieve. This can be a college assignment, or even as simple as a workout session. I call this my planning process. Then in my notebook, I assume I have already done what I am planning to do, and I write about it in my notebook. For example, I write, “today’s workout was intense, but I managed to do it well.”  In other words, I talk about the joy of completing the task that I am going to do later. This way not only I encourage myself to do the task, but also I provide the grounds and motivate myself to do the task. This actually helped me a lot, and makes me to stick to my plans most of the time.

The Law of Attraction essentially denotes energy as being both exceptionally powerful and abundant as it exists naturally.

By Megan George

The Law of Attraction is a fundamental recipe for one’s ability to attain success. Encompassing aspects of social psychology and metaphysical belief systems, this theory seeks to equate interplay occurring among power and energy within the universe as proportionately relative to
one’s status or measure of personal success--including a lack there of. In addition, The Law of Attraction also emphasizes being accountable for the content, quality and quantity of thoughts and beliefs existing from one’s consciousness. Two of the most basic principles of The Law of Attraction are rooted within the dichotomy that exists between “positive” and “negative” and upon one’s ability to abandon the well known electrical charge theory of “Opposites Attract”-- all in favor of adopting a new disparate ideology to govern one’s individual behavior, thought processes and actions. More specifically, the resulting ideology of The Law of Attraction converge from the following principles: “like attracts like” and increasing focus will inevitably cause growth in terms of potential energy and power, ultimately determining the nature of one’s experiences and one’s ability to reach their personal success. In a sense, the The Law of Attraction can be compared to the concept of holism; similar to the holistic theory in medicine, both theories demand a  multidimensional or multidisciplinary approach in order to reach optimum function and to improve one’s human condition. Each of these theories are notably designed to incorporate emphasis upon the value of spirituality, while
concomitantly focusing upon specific goals of  improvement. In order to illustrate this concept, we can consider a cancer patient; one who has been afflicted with a devastating disease and whom has had their once prosperous quality of physical health progressively deteriorate from multiple rounds of aggressive radiation and chemotherapy treatments. Assume this patient is a female in her early twenties; thus she is not only devastated by her physical condition but is seemingly horrified by her physical appearance--as her once lustrous long, healthy locks of hair have been replaced with only a few brittle strands remaining on her scalp. Suppose that as a result of her 30lb weight loss, significant loss of hair and dramatically reduced strength, this woman is constantly focused on each individual negative aspect of her illness, overwhelmed from the devastation that has transpired within her life. Because the patient is experiencing multiple circumstances of trauma, she may be particularly vulnerable to enabling the negative thought processes to overcome her consciousness; subsequently further resulting with development of irrational thought processes that threaten damage upon her fragile state of health and negatively influencing her potential to heal and recover.
Furthermore, consider that this patient may undervalue her survival in favor of overemphasizing her numerous struggles, essentially allowing negativity prevail by becoming consumed with despair. Scientifically, it is well known from a biopsychological perspective that stress can strain one’s immune system and weaken natural defense mechanisms that are responsible for preserving and maintaining one’s overall health; thus, if the threshold of negative thoughts reaches a severity level in terms of the nature of content and frequency, the resulting   complications can become devastating for a recovering cancer patient--as their immune system and energy is
already severely depleted from the disease mechanisms and treatments. According to a holistic centered approach to medicine, this situation would likely be perceived by her treating clinical provider. While continuing treatment targeted specifically at eliminating or reducing the activity
of the underlying physical disease, a holistic practitioner would also likely refer this cancer patient to a spiritual counselor or religious authority. In choosing to do so, these referral’s will likely address the patient’s spiritual and/or psychological needs, with the aims of improving the
patients overall quality of healing. Underscoring the inherent value that multidisciplinary features of holistic theory contribute when applied to healing medical conditions similarly shapes principles that the Law of Attraction utilize in order to remedy or “heal” the status of one’s overall quality of life. This theory suggests critical to understanding the concept “likes attract likes” is the necessity of defining energy and power---both within one’s individual self and within the context of their existence
or universe. More specifically, the application of this theory is carried out by one’s ability to gravitate towards exercising positive, productive and creative thought processes--as they are believed to contribute to development of positive energy. Abandoning and rejecting any negative or adverse thought processes or behaviors helps to minimize the existence of negative energy. Supporters of the Theory of Attraction advise individual’s who may be experiencing adverse circumstances to intently focus upon their goals, encouraging one to  intercept one’s own negative thoughts and transform them into positive affirmations or focus upon visualizing the very success that they want to achieve. The resulting  psychological process involves intercepting negative thoughts before they flourish and converting them to positive energy, thereby increasing one’s potential energy to succeed in reality. The Law of Attraction essentially denotes energy as being both exceptionally powerful
and abundant as it exists naturally. In order to harness this power and channel it toward accomplishing one’s personal goals, The Law of Attraction encourages us to abandon negative thoughts by remaining consciously concerned with one priority: achieving whatever it may be that we have designated among our goals. By directly correlating the quality, quantity and content of positive thoughts with availability of “potential energy” that one may possess to
achieve measured success, supporters of The Law of Attraction feel that they are consciously and actively creating their individual path to happiness. As a supporter of the Law of Attraction, I strive to embody the principles of promoting positive energy for both myself and for others through participating in meaningful and fulfilling experiences. I make it my personal goal to articulate and demonstrate my passion for helping others by seeking out each and every viable opportunity to do so. Whether it’s a simple gesture like holding the door for someone who is entering a store or by taking time away from my other
priorities to help one of my friends conduct research for an important paper; I never discriminate an opportunity to engage in a positive, productive experience. I feel particularly connected to this theory because I am an extremely passionate person--deeply attached to my spiritual and ethical beliefs. Furthermore, I consider my faith to be exceptionally powerful because I feel that
I have experienced a significant quantity and quality of life experience, thereby allowing me to critically examine and challenge my faith at a relatively young age. Ultimately, I genuinely believe that although learning by experience of certain challenges and adversity is often difficult--if we are able to strengthen our faith by learning, we are fortunate
to enjoy life more fully by embracing and appreciating each positive feature that our life has to offer, from a  multidimensional perspective. Instead of viewing myself as a damaged, bitter only child who experienced a dynamic set of challenges when my parents divorced at the age
of 18, I chose to embrace the fact that they were both happier with their individual situations when they were separate. Alongside appreciating their individual happiness, I calculated my personal growth from experiencing those circumstances at a young age, valued independence that I gained and vowed to learn from and apply any resulting constructive lessons regarding marriage and relationships to my own interpersonal relationships one day. Another, more recent set of circumstances that others may have regarded as completely negative have continued to propel me towards my career path in medicine by inspiring me and providing with an opportunity to gain wisdom in that career first hand as a patient. Since April 4, 2013 I have been disabled due to cervical and lumbar injuries that I sustained when I was rear ended in a car accident; thus, I have been unable to work, unable to make substantial progress towards
my goal of pursuing my education to prepare me for a career in healthcare. In place of allowing myself to become “victimized” by my circumstances, I drew upon inspiration from additional physical health challenges that I previously experienced during the pursuit of my undergraduate
degree, a Bachelor of Arts. Once again, governed by the principles of The Law of Attraction, I have conceived that my faith has only been reinforced by allowing my time spent recovering to serve as an opportunity to research matters of medicine--such that when I finally enter
the field of medicine, I will have even more passion and knowledge regarding my intended specialty:psychiatry.
By focusing upon the positive aspects of each and every situation, one is able to effectively and rationally disconnect their psychological awareness of that problem; thus, preventing that problem from taking over and invading their life. The truth about adversity is, no one particularly
enjoys experiencing a difficult situation! While it is both beneficial and healthy to release feelings of negative emotions, focusing upon them only serves to enable an undesirable set of circumstances or situation prominently settle and occupy a greater proportion of your current
reality. If your goal is to exceed your present  circumstances, The Law of Attraction can help guide you in the direction of accomplishing your goals by encouraging your focus as follows: less emphasis upon negativity stemming from others or from yourself and a greater focus upon utilizing positive, creative thinking to realize a potential for success that you never thought
possible.

The law of attraction in my life.

By Andres Enrique Forero Guzman

I come from a town a little bigger than Austin, in the middle of the Andes mountain chain called Bucaramanga; it is located in the region of Santander, Country of Colombia. It is a nice town with many parks and surrounded by the majesty and greatness of the Andes. People there are known countrywide by their honesty and their strange ability of being able to argue constantly but still remaining in good terms with each other. I was born in 1995, so I am a kid that grew with cable television and the internet, went to a private school (very common amongst middle class people in Colombia) and I graduated as the best of my class. However, my life has not been that easy. My parents divorced when I was 5 and it was a very traumatic experience, I grew up without my mother and sister. In School I was not understood by many and it was mainly because I would always find that I would be interested in things that elementary and High school kids are not usually so fond about. My father is a very strict one, and he has a very volatile humor, so living with him alone has been very hard. Regardless, there is something that has always been with me and that I will never let go, something that is not dependent in what other people do or think, but rather in what I do and think. Those are my dreams.
     For me the law of attraction is not only a fuzzy concept with mystical connotations that few people really believe in. The law of attraction is an attitude towards life and other people. The law of attraction has worked on my life and the mere fact that I am studying here, The University of Texas at Austin, testifies that. It was not easy though.
     Coming from Colombia and aspiring to be a student in any US University is already a high goal. Not only is extremely uncommon but, it was also very hard for me being Colombia a Spanish speaking country. Since I was 9 years old, I promised to myself that I was going to study in the US. Still, you might ask, why? Well, it all starts with me watching the film “Life is beautiful”. I was three years old but I remember it’s ending like if it was yesterday. The little kid comes out from a mailbox in the concentration camp of Auschwitz and all those evil soldiers disappear, then a murmur, and finally you see it; a tank in all its glory accompanied by American soldiers, liberating the camp from their former oppressors.  Since then, I started having a particular interest in history, and along all these years I developed a particular admiration and love for the USA.
     This entire story is great, however, what about the law of attraction? Well, there was not a single day in which I planned or thought about how I was going to make it here, the land of the free and the home of the brave. I actually developed such a great passion that nowadays my room is filled with banners, flags and the four most important documents in US history. It was as many people say it, my north star. 
     I knew it was not going to be easy, and I knew that I had to refrain myself from many luxuries and comforts that many teens have, especially in 11th grade (our senior year). I had to find several Universities, complete the application processes, present the SAT, TOEFL and SAT subject test and all while I studied my last year and while I prepared to present the ICFES (another test). It was a very stressful year, extremely busy and hard. But I always kept in my mind the goal, I kept going, I would go to bed and be surrounded by all these beautiful flags that reminded me of why was I doing all of this, and at the end it worked out.
    In all honesty, I believe that if it worked once it is going to work again. And after a lifelong experience of wishing for it, and putting all my faith in reaching a goal that seems very hard I can testify that the law of attraction is a fact. However, I am not done; I still have a life ahead of me and goals such as going to law school and eventually forming a family. I am a first generation immigrant in America, with a visa status that technically does not allow me to stay after school worries me. But as all previous goals in my life I know that if I have confidence in myself and the law of attraction, all will work out.

Knowledge Is Power

By Morgan Taylor Smith
University of Central Florida

We are born into this world as blank slates, soaking up everything around us.  We spend so much energy trying to master our lives, however, our egos often get in the way of our success.  Little do we know how powerful we truly are!  We are capable of more than we understand.  We can have, do, and be everything we want in life.  We have the power to manifest our own reality.  There is a secret to life, and it is the Law of Attraction.  There is an infinite power--it is the Universe.  There is a Universal Law-- and it is the Law of Attraction. 

We attract everything in our life through the vibrations of our thoughts.  We are ultimately a magnet that attracts our thoughts through a frequency.  We can invite the good and the bad into our life--it all depends how you choose to apply the energy of thought.  If you can become the ruler of your own feelings and thoughts, of what you want your life to be, you will witness an absolute phenomenon; that you are the deliberate creator of your life.

Being human, initially, this concept seemed bigger than me, and beyond my understanding.  But when I witnessed the Law of Attraction unfolding in my life, I finally experienced for myself how powerful I really am.   

Throughout high school, I was into athletics.  I believed soccer would get me wherever I wanted to go.  School was never a top priority on my to do list.  My plan was to have college paid for with an athletic scholarship.  This actually came to pass, as I received a full athletic scholarship to play soccer for Brevard Community College.  I attracted exactly what I had intended. 

 In my sophomore year of college, I was at my highest peak in life and I couldn’t have been happier.  I was awarded captain of the Women’s Soccer team, and my team was headed toward a National Title.  I was committed to a serious relationship and sharing a room with my best friend.  This was going to be a great year! 

Then, in a sudden turn of events, I discovered the universe had a different plan for me.  Apparently, there were other lessons for me to learn.  Six games into the season, I tore my ACL.  That was the last soccer game I ever played.  My relationships with my boyfriend, as well as my best friend were dissolving before my eyes.  This turned into one of the lowest points in my life.  I was feeling a new side of “blue.”  I remember thinking to myself, “Did I create this? Is all of this somehow my own doing?

After spending countless nights feeling sorry for myself, focusing on everything that was going wrong in my life, I knew I needed a change.  I finally decided that I was no longer going to be a victim of my circumstances.  I needed a plan B, and that plan involved making academics my priority for the first time in my life--and that terrified me!  I often asked myself how academics were going to get me through college, when soccer had always been my ticket to success before. 

I began to visualize and meditate on my goal of completing college through academic success.  It was then that I began to truly feel the sensation of accomplishment wash over me.  Every positive thought I attached or drew to myself was predicting my future.  That same semester I earned a 4.0 GPA.  I was on the Dean’s List, and invited to join Phi Theta Kappa’s Honors Society.  For the first time in my life I fell in love with learning.  For the first time in my life, I realized how truly powerful I am.  I became even more determined to change my life completely. 

I choose to see a counselor to help me cope with some residual feelings about my shifting priorities.  Being an athlete and performing well on the field had been part of my identity since elementary school.  I was having trouble letting go of old core belief systems, which might interfere with embracing my new direction.  In therapy, I learned to surround myself with positive affirmations, and wore a bracelet everyday to remind myself of the new me.  I began to open my heart up to new possibilities, and fully understand that I was in control of my own happiness.  I was taught how to meditate and visualize all that I wanted, while at the same time, letting go of all the negatives weighing me down.  I came to recognize that I had evolved into a better version of myself when friends and family began to tell me I looked different--that an aura of light was surrounding me!

I became the creator of my life. I graduated with my AA degree with honors, and I was awarded a $13,500 academic scholarship to the Florida Institute of Technology for my junior year.  After my first semester at FIT, I received an additional academic scholarship of $4,000 for the spring semester.  Last year changed my life forever.  I learned my most valuable lessons.  I understood, that I am capable of manifesting my deepest desires.

As a student of psychology, I am always excited whenever I discover research-based evidence, which supports various aspects of the Law of Attraction, such as the power of thought to influence the longevity of red blood cells, the positive structure of water molecules, and the practice of meditation or mindfulness to improve physical and mental health.  I look forward to being able to incorporate these and other related concepts and modalities into my future therapeutic practice to share with others.  Because this is what I know: As Humans, we are limitless.  We hold the inner key to success.  It is simple. Focus on whatever resonates in your heart, visualize it as accomplished, and watch as the Universe responds with whatever you aspire to.  The moment you begin to think positively while accepting the power within you, your life can be transformed. 

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AUGUST 31 DEADLINE SUBMISSIONS BEGIN HERE.
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The law of attraction became important to me because of my past experiences involving school.

By Brandon Trotter
Arizona State University

I believe there is power in our consciousness rather being positive or negative will have an affect on our lives. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it” (King James, Prov. 18. 21).  For the law of attraction, I can relate this to a Bible scripture which explains the theory. The theory being we attract whatever we think about, good or bad. Whether or not you believe in the power of the universe. Now there is a process that leads up to a conclusion of having negative or positive affects on our lives. Proverbs 18:21 reveals “Death and life are in the power of the tongue…” letting us know our mindsets and attitudes has a part in this. To premeditate on the negatives or positives will lead to speaking through the power of our tongue which produces the fruit in which we indulge in. Then will manifest in our lives and ultimately have some type of affect on us.             How am I living the law of attraction and how does it manifest in my life? I can recall being in my communication class at Mesa Community College and learning about goals. This subject was life changing for me teaching me to be more focus in whatever I pursue in life. My teacher told us a story of a graduating class at Harvard University and how only a few students wrote out their goals for their careers. They had a ten year college reunion and those few students who wrote out their career goals had achieved them. Hearing this story, I knew right away how powerful it was to write the vision down and strive for my goals. I live my life by speaking positive into my trials and tribulations. Not allowing myself to get into a pity party or letting myself to look at the negatives in my life. I notice when you’re facing adversity, it’s easy to submit to being negative with your situation. This will lead to more frustration, lack of focus and overall, it will be a struggle in an already difficult situation. With my goals I have for myself, I focus on the good things that the law of attraction can provide. Everyday I read my goals that consist of striving to be a better Christian and putting God first in my life. Attending Arizona State University to obtain my bachelor’s degree in exercise and wellness, aim for terrific grades in all my classes consisting of straight A’s, enter graduate school and one day become a physical therapist for my career job.

            The law of attraction became important to me because of my past experiences involving school. In elementary school and high school I didn’t have the best attitude when dealing with school. I would not understand or comprehend some material and would jump to conclusion that I couldn’t pass the class. My patience when it came to school was not where it needed to be. This had my mindset that I didn’t care about school and I didn’t put in the time to grasp it. Automatically getting angry with myself and criticizing that I could not do the material. I wanted to change my attitude about school and see all the opportunities it provided. Teaching myself on how to get the most out of my classes and also pass my courses. I started picking up good study habits such as, rereading my notes later that day to keep the lesson fresh in my mind. Also, I would join study groups with students from my class, to get a different perspective on how they viewed the lesson. Training my mind to become a better listener also ready to grasp new information from my fellow classmates.

            The benefits of living the law of attraction increased my faith after those trials and tribulations. “For we walk by faith not by sight or appearance” (2 Cor. 5. 7). This verse is saying that as a Christian, we should strive towards having complete trust in God daily. No matter what the situation is, already knowing He will work it out if we obey and trust Him. Doing so taught me lessons on becoming a better Christian, growing a stronger relationship with God. Teaching me patience, courage, gratitude and compassion for others overall building my character. It’s a process that doesn’t come over night and I’m okay with that. I see the progress and change in myself over the last year and I love where I’m headed. I’m holding myself accountable to reaching a successful life through Christ and striving for greatness. Staying focused, I know I will improve my future and reach my goals I have set for myself.

Comprehending how the Law of Attraction functions can be of great advantage for any person who wishes fulfillment and happiness.

By Fernando M. Valbuena
University of Central Florida

The image of two people holding hands, kissing, or displaying some sort of affectionate behavior is, perhaps, the most ubiquitous thought correlated to the concept of attraction in human culture. It is not difficult to imagine the possible reasons why this is so. Considering that, as an animal species, our instincts of survival and reproduction play a dominant role in our reasoning, and granting that physical attraction is an universal constant, it is only expected from most humans to limit the concept to its most conspicuous outcome: physical contact. Albeit an excellent example of how attraction works at a primal level, the scope of this notion transcends the boundaries delineated by human perception and expands beyond the plain of primordial physical appeal. The law of attraction extends its influence across the entire universe; we witness it in phenomena such as the gravitational force, electromagnetism, and atomic interactions. Yet, the role of the law in the outcomes of our psychology-driven actions is not as clearly understood and is usually mistakenly disregarded.

It is now common knowledge that living organisms are nothing but pure energy existing in different states. Consequently, life is an intricate collage of chemical, electrical, and potential energies converging into an incredibly vast array of conformations. Of all life forms, however, human beings stand out due to our inherent ability to reason. As we attempt to discern the mechanisms by which our existence is ruled, new theories and laws are generated, and their foundations become a main influence in the lives of many. The Law of Attraction is one of these beliefs. Taking the concept of energy as its main stage, the law shines a new light over the act of thinking and its impact on our everyday life. It defines thoughts as energetic entities able to attract other energies of similar frequency, thus generating states of mind that are either “positive” or “negative” depending on the initial “thought input.”

Generally conceived as constructive, positive energies propel one’s personal growth and enhance one’s moral edifices, therefore tremendously improving one’s quality of life. According to the law, “like attracts like;” hence, positive thoughts attract new ideas that gravitate around self-accomplishment, confidence, understanding, and acceptance. At the same time, positive energy –taking the form of ideas— promotes connections between individuals who share similarities in their conceptions of the world and spiritual beliefs, serving as a catalyst that enhances genuine social interaction and friendship. In contrast, negative thoughts— those rooted in destructive notions and detrimental feelings such as pessimism and apathy— serve as a beacon for other damaging attitudes, which create antagonistic sentiments and lead to adverse situations.

Comprehending how the Law of Attraction functions can be of great advantage for any person who wishes fulfillment and happiness. Once the underlining influence of the law in one’s life is perceived and analyzed, individuals can consciously direct their psychic energy toward the formation of positive notions. By actively and continuously focusing on thoughts of success and contentment, for example, people will find themselves attracted to situations whose outcome will be highly rewarding. Consequently, these outcomes will serve as reservoirs of more positive ideas that can be further utilized to bring about greater satisfaction. It is important to note, however, that for most people maintaining such a state of mind is often difficult. Everyday life can be hectic, physically exhausting, and psychologically taxing. Our bodily needs frequently interfere with the relaxation of the mind, a process of vital importance when trying to benefit from the law. Furthermore, the energies of individuals we interact with on a daily basis are easily transmitted on to us. If these are mostly detrimental, they will infect our minds and involuntarily trigger the generation of negative thoughts. Since avoiding every disagreeable person or stressful situation is nearly impossible, those who seek to exploit the law of attraction must improve their ability to deflect undesirable energies. The key to mastering this skill resides in learning to convert unfavorable energy into positive thoughts. In order to accomplish this goal one must express politeness, kindness, and sympathy toward all people—even those radiating harmful feelings— as well as preserving one’s self control in the face of upsetting scenarios.

Although the Law of Attraction has always influenced my life, it was not until recently that I fully understood its significance in my overall psychological and physical development. Being an inherently happy, optimistic individual, I have been able to attract positive situations and ideas that have greatly shaped the way my life has evolved. These constructive energies have presented themselves in the form of outstanding academic and scholastic success, musical talent, a loving and caring family, and a group of intelligent, genuine friends who support my goals and dreams. I used to believe human accomplishment was solely based on hard work, diligence, and loyalty. But as I became more acquainted with the principles of the law, I was able to elucidate the connection between positivity and increasing personal advancement. Even though my life has not been absent of unfortunate and disagreeable situations, I have been capable of transforming them into learning experiences, assimilating into my moral precepts and intellectual conceptions the lessons I believe will aid me reach a higher state of being. By applying this analytical process I have integrated the law of attraction to my passion for learning, becoming more aware of the benefits it provides as I grow up mentally and spiritually. I often think of my future professional success and how I will become someone that will contribute to humankind. Every day I wake up feeling grateful for being alive and having the opportunity to further cultivate myself. Seeking harmony in nature when experiencing stressful times has aided me tremendously to fight negative energies; during these moments of meditation I concentrate on filtering damaging thoughts and connecting more intimately with my surroundings. This has allowed me to become more self-aware and to better understand the Law of Attraction. The process of reaching a complete state of positivity requires vast amounts of mental work. But just like the athlete grows accustomed to his training to the point where it becomes an integral part of his lifestyle, so do the principles of the law develop into a fundamental way of living.

Thinking of one’s future can be incredibly frightening. Insecurities can be so strong that an individual might never develop his full potential due to fear of failure and shame. However, if I have learned something from studying the law of attraction is that confidence and drive are the most constructive energies one can utilize to achieve success. Moreover, realizing that happiness begins with one’s notions and attitudes toward life can open the doors to an infinite array of fulfilling opportunities and experiences. Many choose to dwell on negative thoughts because it is much easier to fall down the abyss of conformism than to climb the Olympus of self-accomplishment. Yet, accepting defeat in the face of adversity is not what human beings are made for. We are strong psychical and physical entities able to take our existence to incredibly high levels of attainment. All we need to do is maintain positivity in our lives, learn from our mistakes, and appreciate the beauty of the world we live in. Acknowledging the power of our thoughts is the first step towards success, choosing the path to follow then becomes the next great adventure.

The Lessons From My Mother.

By Miguel Chuapoco
Stanford University

Year in and year out I would return to visit her as she lay in her hospital bed. At first it was just the hospital, where I was under the impression that she would only be there for a few weeks. But eventually she was moved to an extended care facility. Then she moved again. And again. And again, finally settling into her most recent location at the A Grace Sub ACute and Skilled Care.

To this day, the details are still murky, but what I do know is that a heart attack occurred, and that my mother has been in a comatose state without life support for over 15 years as a result. What I do know is that from that moment on, I made the conscious decision to control my own destiny. Losing my mother was heartbreaking to say the least, and continuing to grow without her has not been easy. However, it was this early adversity that has without a doubt put me in the position I am today.

I quickly learned that positivity was the key, and that any kind of negative thought or action held me back, and was immediately tossed aside. In fact, shortly after the accident, life continued on as normal for me. I returned to school the following day, and though the first couple of days may have been tough, I learned not to focus on the bad, and instead would look forward to the good. All before the first grade, I learned the value of putting myself in a calm and peaceful state in order to achieve my goals.

I taught myself to reduce my challenges into smaller and simpler parts, focusing on the tasks at hand and moving on with the confidence so that I could accomplish my goals. Through grade school, into middle school, throughout high school and up until this day, I refuse to let any unfortunate hand play against me, and refuse to let any bad moment as a handicap . Everyday, I live my mantra to think positively, and thus far this strategy has worked for me.

When I did not score well on my SAT scores when applying for college, I refused to let that defer me from applying to the top institutions in the country. I was confident enough in myself and how I had grown up to take on the challenge of attending a college that typically required SAT scores more than 600 points higher than what I had scored.

            All on the same day I had received my college admissions letters from Johns Hopkins, Columbia, Duke and Stanford. One by one I opened the letters to read their decisions. One by one, I read their letters of rejection, until I had reached the letter from Stanford. I remember holding the letter in my hand, saying to myself “I know for sure that this one will be a good one.” Sure enough, once I opened the letter, I read the word “Congratulations” and I knew I had achieved my goal.

            My positivity was the key: I never told myself that my effort was futile or useless, and tried hard in all parts of my application. I made sure to work hard throughout high school, in the classroom, wrestling room and on the football field, putting my past behind me, and focusing on being the best student-athlete I can be. I spent hours on end working on my essays, never being satisfied with result and always telling myself that I can do better--and I did. A culmination of my hard work in high school, fueled by my positive attitude learned from my past, put me into the position of a lifetime.

            Needless to say I have continued to adhere to the Law of Attraction in college as well, dedicating myself to be a ruthlessly hard worker, applying myself in every class and every moment, and most importantly, seeking to find the value of every experience I encounter. Whether it be a fluid mechanics problem set, an process modeling midterm, or a biochemistry project, I find that I work at my best when I consciously make an effort to get the most of my experience. It does not necessarily mean that I have to be the smartest in the class, but if I find the deeply rooted and genuine interest in the topics I am learning, and approach my classes with the desire to learn something new and interesting, I know I can produce positive results.

            With this hindsight on my life experiences, I can learn from the past to apply to the present, and set myself up for the future. My childhood taught me to grow up with a positive attitude, and applying that in college has been successful thus far. Moving forward however, having positivity in my life will be instrumental to my success. As my history has shown me, thinking positively about your actions can make your life that much more successful.

Psychological envisioning of the goal you desire though an aura of positivity.

By Brian Gandara

Positivity attracts the stepping stones to help create bridges for you in the path of life, negativity or indifference will have the stones move in the wrong direction or simply remain where they are. The Law of Attraction has allowed me to cross the path from impoverished family with very little educational background to being a student of medicine and future physician.

Collecting cans to recycle for money and standing in food donation lines at a local church may have seemed like a source of hopelessness to some but it motivated me for a brighter future and encouraged me to envision it and made the law of attraction relevant to my life. I come from a poor family in a low-income community with a significant homeless population in Los Angeles, but my goal was to attend university. I envisioned going to college. Not just any college but UCLA, the most applied to university in the country and one which countless students hope of attending. I was so convinced I would attend I envisioned myself driving to school walking into the buildings for classes and studying on campus I almost assumed I would be accepted. A sense of positivity and connection to what I wanted allowed those around me to know what my goal was and made them want to help me. From writing letters of recommendation to helping me study for exams. I attracted them to help me by thinking positively and I was accepted.
            I implemented the law of attraction specifically the law of positive attraction in my life because it was something I kind of knew about and because it just felt like common sense to me, but I didn't learn about it more thoroughly until I spoke with a friend and when I was introduced into some books the featured the law of attraction. One of my friends who studied religion and philosophy talked about the importance of the law of attraction in religion and philosophy particularly in the New Thought movement and how it had helped his own life. Additionally through a mentorship program for students of disadvantaged backgrounds entering health fields I was given a copy of a few books including The Secret and The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. In the book The Secret the law of attraction and positive thinking are the central ideas and I found it to be important themes in the second book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.
    My next goal in life was to become a doctor. I applied to medical schools and knew I wanted to attend school in southern California. My family is located here and I wanted to stay close-by. Through positive thinking I was able to reduce stress from tests and get the internship experiences and grades I needed to fall into place, though it was not always easy. Positivity makes you feel good, and people want to help others who feel good feel even better because it makes them feel good, a good example of a positive feedback mechanism at work in life. Positive thinking allowed me to envision driving to hospitals studying and going back home all in the same day and telling my mom how the day went over dinner. Ultimately I was accepted to the University of Southern California medical school the closest medical school to my family’s home. I didn’t believe that it would be too difficult or could never happen because it would have created a negative energy that would have helped attract that as an outcome, rather I positively confided that it would happen but was more a matter of when and where.
    My story is one that anyone with a similar experience will tell you doesn't simply come from hard work or luck but through a psychological envisioning of the goal you desire though an aura of positivity and a confidence that you will reach your goal. For students like me who grew up in impoverished families your circumstances can lead you to believe there is no escape and to accept the hand you have been dealt but it can also serve as one of the best motivators that can allow you to say this is where I started and I will be able to rise above it. The critical aspect is using a positive mindset to work with you motivation and implement the law of positive attraction and through the help of personal mentors who reinforce the reality of attaining your goals. But every student has their own personal story, perhaps you may be from a comfortable middle class family but because you had a learning disability some people assumed or expected you wouldn't be able to achieve a bachelors degree, or because you are a female attending college was discouraged even if it was your dream. Every student is an individual with unique goals but the ways they think about and envision those goals are critical.
    From family in poverty to medical student ready to become a doctor it was a goal I was able to attract into reality through consistent positive reinforcement and it happened just as it had played out in my mind! The stones have fallen into place for me. Now here I am ready to accept a scholarship on the Law of Attraction further exemplifying the very Law of Attraction that has been so useful for achievement in my life and will be useful in yours.

The Law of Attraction past, present and Future.

By Semena Charles
University of Arkansas Pine Bluff

The Law of Attraction is a philosophical concept that positive thought invites positive energy and vice versa. Manifestation is the key to everything in life. Once I set my mind on a goal. I know it will be accomplished simply by thinking that I can do it means I’ve already done it. I set my mind on a goal and my conscious mind helps me complete it. I’ve always heard of speaking your destiny into existence. Lately that is all I have been doing. Sometimes it has been negative and sometimes positive. The law of attraction has proven itself to be real. Before I applied to college I wondered if it was really for me. After a year of applying to college thinking I wasn’t going to be accepted I realized I was hindering myself with my negative thoughts. I was getting in my own way. I was overweight and depressed, then one day it just clicked. Everything external starts internally. You need to think positively to live positively.

There have been plenty instance where thinking positively has yielded a great outcome. I started my first semester at my new college thinking I’d do well and study every night and for the past three semesters I’ve maintained a 3.9-4.0 GPA. I’ve been at my institution for nearly two years and it has been a great experience. It is a great environment for me. The Law of Attraction is not an overnight process. It is all about believing and working hard day after day, even when certain aspects of your life aren’t working collectively. Three and a half years ago I was about 40 pounds overweight and severely depressed. So, I told myself everyday that I would work hard to shed the pounds and acquire a better attitude about my life. I was losing weight slower than I had planned. But I kept telling myself that I would not let that be the source of my depression. I was two months into my weight loss journey and I had only lost about ten pounds, but I didn’t let that discourage me from losing weight. I trusted the process and eventually I lost more than I planned and gained a better attitude about life and myself.

When I was younger right before a test I would get extremely anxious even if I had study weeks prior to the exam. I would second guess myself and tell myself that I would do poorly. I’d get to the test and completely freeze up and forget everything I studied. One day my dad told me that second-guessing myself and being negative would ensure that I would be average in class and ultimately, in life. As I have gotten older I have noticed some changes that have occurred. After changing my mindset about certain things in my life I’ve been doing much better in life. It has been a complete turn around. If I go into a test knowing that I studied weeks ahead of time I know for sure I’ll do well. Law of attraction has worked for me outside of the classroom as well. If I’m going in for a job interview with a calm attitude knowing that I can impress the interviewer then I will. Even if I don’t get the job I always congratulate myself for doing better than I did in a previous interview. Because after all any progression is good.

Using the Law of Attraction will improve my future because it has worked in the past. It is something I live by. I feel that many of my accomplishments in the past three years have happened because of the Law of Attraction. Upon graduation I plan on going to medical school and specializing in oncology. Being an oncologist will require tremendous positivity. I will have to maintain a system of positive thinking in order to ensure that my patients will be healthy and get better. I understand that it will be a hard task, but it is something that I am prepared to do. Like will always attract like, so I will continue to use that to my advantage. If I go into work thinking I cant help someone then I wont. I wouldn’t be a good fit for the health profession. But if I go in and expect changes in their condition then they will get better. Manifesting positivity has worked for me continuously and I know it will help me in my future. I might be able to come up with better solutions to help my patients with pain management. Positive thinking can aid me in finding a cure for cancer or a better solution than radiation and chemical methods. I could be the person to have a solution to something that has become increasingly destructive in this world. I know I will maintain this attitude, because it easier to be positive and to say “I will” as opposed to “I can’t.”

Living of the law of attraction will be an example to others that manifesting is not just a dream, it is an attainable experience that can live in people’s favor.

By Sara Ackatz

The laws of attraction can be very simple but at the same time a bit confusing.  We all live by these laws even if we do not realize it or know what they are. The law of attraction is something that more and more people are learning about.  Many authors speak about these laws even if they do not come straight out and state them. Have you ever heard Suze Orman discuss standing in your truth or manifesting? These are parts of the laws. How many of your friends or family members know about these laws? I recently (about a year ago) learned and have been trying to live by the laws of attraction daily.                 The laws of attraction are all about the positive. What you put out in the world, either by words, thoughts, or action, comes back to you. If you believe you are worthy, you are. If you are a good friend, you are. You attract what you are. So when you believe and focus on being that good friend then more people like you come in to your life. When a person arrives at work feeling that they are successful at their job they send out the vibe that they are. The laws are not only about believing in yourself but you need to live it as well. The laws of attraction are seeing the beauty all around you. The beauty includes people, animals, nature, and your environment. Every one of us has a goal and/or mission. We are not here to judge each other. We are here to fulfill what we need to do and be. When we lose our positive thoughts we still attract what we send out. So, if your thoughts are similar to I will not get promoted, the other person is more knowledgeable than I am; than that is exactly what you will get. You sent those thoughts out and the vibes are felt. The negative thought took over and you lost the promotion. When you live by the laws it is seen by all. You walk taller, you shine, and your self-esteem is high because you are thinking, doing, and living positive. Have you noticed many successful people in the world have self-help books on the book store shelves? What is the one rule many of these books list? Believe in yourself! How does a person believe in oneself? With a positive outlook and following the laws of attraction is how. Did you ever hear the saying “when it rains it pours”? The cliché means a point in your life that everything seems to go wrong. I have been there. I manifested this terrible time all by myself. One little thing went wrong and my outlook went down, more and more things went wrong and my thoughts and actions were negative. I would think how this would never happen to this person or I wish I had luck like that person. I was judgmental. I compared myself and my life to others. There was jealousy, envy, and thoughts that I could not do anything right. I was sending out negative vibes to the world. The world responded with the same type of negativity. What could I have done differently? I could have brushed off that first thing as tomorrow is a new day. I could have realized that there was a reason for that first obstacle. If I looked at it differently it was a blessing that it happened. So, need to go back to the positive. Have you noticed whenever you are in need of help and you ask for it, some way somehow you receive it? When you notice the good things around you it only seems to become better. When you have loyal, faithful friends it is because you were a loyal and faithful friend first. By living the laws of attraction you need to give to receive. If you give and believe that you have love and opportunities then that is what you will have. When you are negative, judgmental or jealous of others you will not be able to move on in your own life. Your life will keep going in circles and you will not be able to move forward. To succeed in whatever you need; you need to focus on what you are giving. For instance when you walk in to that interview with the positive outlook, you have studied the position and company, you believe and are focused on what you know, people notice because you sent out that vibe. You are successful in love and life. You not only talked the talk but you walked the walk. Your future is in front of you. Grab on to it and believe you deserve everything that is coming to you. If you want it bad enough you will find a way to achieve it.

Living of the law of attraction will be an example to others that manifesting is not just a dream, it is an attainable experience that can live in people’s favor.

By Jacob Duenas
Arizona State University

I was sitting in a dark room, lit only by the glow of the television where a man spoke to me.  The man on the TV was speaking directly to me.  It was as if something I had heard a thousand times I was truly hearing for the first and only time.  “Everything in your life, you have attracted.”
This is when my knowledge of the Law of Attraction began.  I couldn’t believe it.  All this time, I was trying to make sense of how I failed my dreams and aspirations and how a Type A personality can fall into a rut.  None of that matters, until this point.  My realization.  My awakening.  “Ask.  Believe.  Receive.”

The Law of Attraction is important to every aspect of my life.  It is what I live on a day to day basis, whether I realize it or not.  For me, the key is to keep remembering to use it to my advantage and to better the good.  I have created everything in my life up to this moment.  I have accepted that.  I have created moments of using the Law of Attraction and witnessing its power within an instant.  I didn’t understand how the entire human race is not aware of this magical, yet simple gem.  It’s completely true. 

I quickly learned to embrace manifesting.  I made four dream boards of magazine cut outs of the life I wanted to live.  They were hung beside my bed so I would see them when I woke up and before I went to sleep.  Out of all four boards, I knew I always gravitated toward a few pictures.  One being floating suits.  Floating, because I refused to have a mannequin head or a model wearing my suit.  Since I haven’t achieved my college degree, I lacked the confidence to achieve a career in a corporate world or a career that demanded you to wear a suit.  In my mind the suit portrayed respect and wealth.  My sister and I would have conversations of how we have manifested things and forgetting to manifest the details.  So we would end up with what we asked for, but skewed.  In this case, within a year, I manifested myself to wear a suit to work every day, but not in the sense I asked for.  I was hired as a security guard that was a lobby ambassador for a biotech conglomerate. Oddly, I learned the importance of manifesting required substantial amounts of detail. 

I have watched myself fill an entire 8.5” by 11” blank sheet of paper, in fine print, of the description of the type of relationship and the kind of woman I wanted in my life.  This was of course after a recent heartache, I was so upset that I didn’t realize the potency of my energy.  I went about my life and three months later, I was dating a lovely woman.  It wasn’t until our second year of dating that I was cleaning up my boxes and stumbled upon that sheet and she was 90% of all the fine printed descriptions I wrote.  I was in awe of my attraction.

I’ve been employed with Starbucks for over 8 years and am grateful the company has decided to reimburse the partners on school tuition through Arizona State University.  I’ve been searching for an opportunity, a way to complete my degree without having to borrow another loan.  This is the Law of Attraction at its finest, for me.  This experience will increase my confidence and allow me to be one step closer to my highest being. 

Living of the law of attraction will be an example to others that manifesting is not just a dream, it is an attainable experience that can live in people’s favor.  I believe I need to be the best me and the best me is what will help change this world.  I am only best at being myself and not someone else. 

I have shared this knowledge and my experiences with people that needed to hear it the most.  I have shared that if they can just imagine the impossible and live it as if it were in present it would gravitate towards them.  Every thought, whether it be negative or positive, I attract.  Especially, when I am not asking for it.  I am one matter of energy connected to every other being around me.  We are connected in such a way that we can simply attract through our hearts, thoughts and energy.  The stronger I release these energy waves the stronger I am able to attract. 

At the end of last year, I sharply felt I deserved more and needed guidance.  I searched for personal growth and a life coach online and happen to stumble upon achievetoday.com.  I was discouraged not being able to afford the coaching, but admired the site and the company’s purpose.  I will continue to be an advocate of the Law of Attraction in the continuation of my life’s journey.  Thank you for this experience.

Law of Attraction in My Life.

By Jarvis Curry

I don’t think about the law of attraction. I don’t think about the law when I wake up in the morning. I don’t think about the law when I exercise. I don’t think about the law when I am with friends or studying for a test. And I don’t think about the law when I approach a woman who I like to ask for a date. I do not think about the law during any of the myriad important occasions in my day and in my life, but I live the law of attraction each day of my life. With every action that I take and every decision I make, I live the law of attraction to influence my life.            
    I know the law of attraction; I have read the James Allen’s seminal work and I understand the theory that positive thoughts lead to positive responses. But my introduction to the law of attraction was not structured or planned; it was a reaction to a pivotal event in my life – watching an episode of Seinfeld. In the episode, George Costanza repeats the affirmation “Serenity Now” as a method to control his blood pressure when he encounters stress. While this affirmation fails to help George, the idea of words influencing the behavior of the human body intrigued me. As a teenager in high school, before the ease of access to the internet, library research was my best option to gain the knowledge I sought. I stumbled into New Thought literature and after learning of Thomas Troward, I found Allen’s “As a Man Thinketh.”
            I read about the power of creative visualization and how it can be used to transfer the thoughts of my mind into my waking world. I poured through volumes detailing the benefits of positive thinking. What started out as a simple task to understand the potential of George’s affirmation, led to my understanding of principles upon which my life was built. Though I could never put a name to it, though I did not understand what I was doing or why, once I began reading the thoughts of thinkers and writers who could best express these ideas, I knew that I practiced creative visualization and positive thinking in my life. The law of attraction was living through me.
            I have since been conscious of my use of the law of attraction in all aspects of my life. When I awake in the morning, I consider how fortunate I am to be in my place in life, to have good friends, family, a home, and a purpose in life. I feel gracious for my good fortune and I am energized to achieve more. When I exercise, I consider how much energy I will have throughout the day following a good workout. This energy empowers me to approach new people and make new relationships.
            When with friends, I consider how fortunate I am to know so many interesting people. I tell my friends how appreciative I am to know them, how interesting and important I believe them all to be. My sentiments are met with varying responses. When my friends realize that my words are sincere, they feel good about themselves and their relationship with me. I can see them smile or hear them laugh. I sometimes get heartfelt responses from friends who feel so connected with me because I can see in them what they felt about themselves, but were unsure it truly showed in their actions. Through the law of attraction, I see my friends in their best light and reaffirm their best perception of themselves.
            When I meet a woman I like, I am visualize a time when we are not strangers, when we know each other well enough to laugh at unimportant things. The law of attraction helps me to be at ease in situations where my emotions are on the line and I could be at my most vulnerable. However, positive thinking leads me to imagine the best for the encounter and through that positivism in my mind, my reality is created. Where I could feel vulnerable, the law of attraction helps me feel unsusceptible.
         This is how the law of attraction has affected my life.

The law of attraction has taught me to focus on positive thoughts.

By Kyle Koiner

The on-line encyclopedia Wikipedia indicates that “The law of attraction is the name given to the belief that "like attracts like" and that by focusing on positive or negative thoughts, one can bring about positive or negative results”.
    All through high school, I have kept a positive attitude in all of my classes. I took mostly advanced-placement and dual-credit math, science and engineering classes to prepare for college, which required a great deal of study time. It was even harder to keep a positive attitude in the other required classes I had to take that I did not feel were necessarily needed for the career I had in mind. I played on the varsity football which also required a lot of time. I remember many conflicts between activities for my time, but I simply chose to focus on positive thoughts, buckle down and just pursue each task to completion, to get the job done. The result is that I graduated 27th out of 386 students with a 4.325 GPA, became a member of the National Honor Society and of the Workforce Industry Training (sponsored by the Nuclear Power Institute). For sports, I was awarded the Football Academic All-State Award by the Texas High School Association and the Ike Thomas Award for “Excellence and leadership in the classroom and on the field”. I still made time to tutor other students that were struggling in math, science and english classes. I believe these achievements were accomplished in large part to the law of attraction of keeping a positive attitude, even in the crunch times.   
    The law of attraction has taught me to focus on positive thoughts. During my senior year of 2013, an F-4 tornado destroyed close to one hundred homes in our county (Hood). I participated in helping to retrieve these neighbor’s property and possessions. It was very sobering to see homes, appliances, furniture, clothes, toys and so many other personal possessions scattered all over the neighborhood and nearby fields. I still tried to stay positive while carefully and respectfully gathering up salvageable items and trying to return them to the owners, along with listening to these poor people’s stories. I believe that the law of attraction I applied here was listening with a caring heart, donating my time and helping in fundraising activities. I matured much during this ordeal and have become much more thankful and appreciative.
    Other extracurricular activities that I participated in were Habitat for Humanity where I cleaned, repaired, painted and performed yard work on homes for people that were physically or financially not able to. For Operation Santa, I donated and delivered Christmas packages to underprivileged children. My heart really went out to all of these people and I focused on positive thoughts to so that I did not just perform the tasks, but talked and more importantly, listened to the people of all ages. This helped keep me from becoming a selfish, uncaring person.
    The law of attraction helped me succeed in entering Texas A&M University, completing my freshman year with a 3.571 GPA, enter the Honors Program, and be placed on the Dean’s List. The A&M engineering program is a grueling path requiring a great amount of study time. Focusing on positive thoughts has helped me not only excel in all of projects, exams, labs and homework, but have also participated in extracurricular activities such as tutoring other students in math and science, take part in building our traditional bonfire, work in fundraising activities and even make time for recreation with other students. The law of attraction has helped me make some very good and understanding friends that I can trust.
    I am beginning my sophomore year at Texas A&M University now. I will continue to live the law of attraction through all of my courses. I will focus on positive thoughts during class, while participating in labs, projects and while working through homework problems. I am very confident that this year will be as successful as my freshman year. I will also continue to offer tutoring sessions and participate in many of the other activities available as time will allow. There is no need to worry if there will be time for recreation. The law of attraction always seems to come through with a little extra time when it is needed. My freshman year has proven the success of the law of attraction, and will continue to for the next three years or perhaps more.
    I am really looking forward to applying the law of attraction after I have graduated and move into the work force. I am familiar with many examples of where focusing on positive thoughts has brought success to those who have applied this law. I will work hard gaining as much knowledge and understanding in the engineering program at A&M and will apply this knowledge with the law of attraction in my career.
    Thank you for your consideration and your generous financial help.

The law of attraction is powerful in its way to be somewhat indefinable, yet personally self-defined.

By Quan Vo
Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts
Arizona State University

Before this, honestly, I really did not know what Law of Attraction really is. However, after having done some research, I really have good impression on this belief and believe that it will make a huge differences on our lives if we know how to apply it.
    As the way I understand, law of attraction, which is a belief from New Thought Movement, is the way people act have a huge impact on the outcomes they might get from their actions. When they have positive thoughts, attitudes or approaches to something, they will likely get positive results. On the other hands, if negative thoughts are on their mind when they do something, the results cannot be as good as it can be.
    Like I mentioned, before this essay, I had no idea about what Law of Attraction is, however, luckily, Law of Attraction is not something that people need to know it clear in order to utilize it. It is really obvious actions that you somehow do it every day without your realization. For example, when you are about to do a test, final test in particular, you will either be nervous and overthinking about the result, or be confident and all you do is focusing on reviewing lectures. As you can see, being nervous and overthinking about the result are negative actions. It will prevents you from doing the right thing, in this situation is reviewing lectures. From that wrong action you make, it leads you to the bad test results. In the other hand, you are confident and you spend a reasonable time to review and relax before the test. The good news is that is all you need to do in order to get the best result as you want. When you trust yourself and are not overthinking about the result, it frees you from many obstacles in your mind and leads you to the right path that you need to be on. However, if you are over confident, it will be a different story. Being confident is a positive action, but, being over-confident is a negative action. Because when you are over confident, chance is you will stop yourself from reviewing lectures for the test. In this case, the negative result is born from doing positive action too much and in the wrong way.
    About five months ago, I was doing some small projects for my major’s milestone. My major is graphic design and after the freshman year, I have to pass the milestone so I can keep continue being in the program. Because I got a C for my studio class the first semester so, I worked very hard in the second semester to make sure I would have a spot in the program.  After the first-half of the second semester, I was very well with all my classes’ projects and somehow I was really confident that I am one of the students who can make it to the program this year. However, like I said before, being confident and over-confident are different actions. At that moment, I could be over-confident about my chance to the program because I would say I am a few people who had done everything well. Lucky for me, that C I got from the first semester was what keep me down to the ground, what keep me from being over-confident and what keep everything true for myself. I acknowledged that I was in disadvantage position since that C, but also, it was also my advantage. Because of that C, I would try hard even more. I knew that if I stop myself from trying harder that moment, my chance to the program would be 50-50, and it was so dangerous to me. I am international student so I need to make sure that everything I do, I will do it the best and leave no regrets later when I look back. 50-50 is still dangerous because if I fail, I have to wait one more year to re-apply again. One more year means waste of money and waste of time, so I decided to keep my feet on the ground and strive more and more, push it to another level. That positive actions I made that moment led me to the best result I wanted: now, I am in graphic design program. Now, when I look back, I have to say “thank you” to the C from the first semester for being my motivation and keep me working harder.
    I cannot imagine what would happens if at that moment, instead of focusing on my school projects, I spent my time worrying about my chance to the program or what would happens next, or even worst, stopped trying harder because I satisfied with myself about what was happening at that time, I may not be in the position I am right now and regret if I have another chance to do it again.
    The important thing in life is being confident and work hard. Those positive actions will give you a positive rewards which you deserve. Negative thoughts and actions give you no good things but failure and regret.

Being positive and work hard. Remember that.

The law of attraction is powerful in its way to be somewhat indefinable, yet personally self-defined.

By Laura E. Silver

Considering that my entire college experience has been balanced on eggshells, I am among one in many in the line of figuring things out for life. Besides frugal priorities in receipt collecting, price managing, coupon using, and overall budgeting, characteristics of persistence, dependence and dedication have conquered sometimes, insurmountable defeats in my life thus far. I’ve determined that along with these key characteristics, my top strategy of energetic proportions is my default for moving forward. In this response, I will share that strategy that has defined my path. My journey has been lead by the law of attraction, or as I call it, “radiating potential”. Its power conjures strength to events for me in arrangements I find desirable. If that’s not impressive, I don’t know what is. It has been my guide towards progress and optimism in whatever scenario I find myself.  Knowing confidently that what feelings I exert will be reciprocated with an energetic outcome of internal discovery, growth and stamina, the law of attraction has given me my chance to discover and expand my fullest potential. Following, I’ll share what it means for me as a human being to perceive the visionary expectations of this law. 
     The destination is not as important as the journey. I’ll explain what I mean. You’ve reached an elevation of 4,000 feet, 2 hours into your 6-mile hike, wanting to reach another 4,000 in altitude before calling it good. You’ve experienced too much to stop. At that point a convenient overcast blows through your path and it flows around you in waves, sprinkling you with mist while blending with your sweat. Getting closer to the peak, the clouds are clearly visible in opaque sheets, causing the temperature to drop, moistening the air with the scent of moss and pinecone sap.  As you pull through the last step of your journey, you look down. There’s an open plain with hills tumbling one on top of another, rooted with trees in tandem surrounding the trail from which you came. The sun rays peak through the overcast, leaving you breathing, motionless and to your thoughts on what it meant to have gotten this far. Now, remind yourself what feelings you felt right as you made that last step. Imagine being able to apply your intrinsic reaction of success to every second of your life with the serenity of knowing that you enjoy what you do while you do it, as time, seemingly transparent, ticks on. I could have focused on the three blisters formed on my toes, the wetness of my clothes, the aches felt on my joints & knees, or the heaviness of my shoulders, but I moved on knowing that would have been a waste of my time. My focus was on finishing what had serendipitously occurred, and I found the outcome much more rewarding. When I look forward to such experiences/opportunities, the outcome leads to receiving knowledge, growth and dependability. This constant perception in life is my motto in living the law of attraction.
     The older we get, the more growth we receive in many areas of our lives and in return, life decides what’s proper to take as compensation. I could relate this simply to the cycle of life and death. We grow, we expand our thoughts, we give and then we move on as a form of passing. The law of attraction defines your successes in the world, summarized by your willingness to grow in life every time you were consciously present to the present. Professor Robert Saplosky from Stanford University studies the human condition and its physiological structure that is seen universally in the human species. He specializes in studying primates and human behavior. He’s a supporter that everyone has the capability of change in the plasticity of his or her brain. Most importantly, plasticity is available at any stage of their lives. He explains that humans have a genetic makeup that is affected by neuronal impulses causing people to test unclear solutions to life problems while focused on the hindsight of success. In other words, he claims that regardless of environmental or current circumstances, people have possession of changing their inner thoughts towards betterment by conjuring up answers/solutions that aren’t crystal clear to their fate, yet are positively focused on their outcome. The law of attraction gives anyone wanting to relearn and to grow the ability to do so who accepts life for what it is, and nothing more. I believe that the state of mind supported by the law of attraction gives the beholder an edge towards moving forward, when they don’t know what the next step in life, no matter how difficult it gets. And based on that action, I’ve personally learned and benefited in growing wiser to its working ways. If people accept my proposition, life can take away all the unwanted traits that stemmed from problems, such as anger, jealously or cynicism. When a refocus of life is established, then, and only then, anyone can reanalyze his or her conditions and efforts in changing for the better, and for the wiser.
     The law of attraction is powerful in its way to be somewhat indefinable, yet personally self-defined. It may be different for everyone. But I can only summarize it by the efforts in implementing this law that solely reminds me in its functionality by the complementary benefits. Until you try this for yourself, life will remain in the same condition you lie in, happy or not. Life’s reciprocity is managed by what parts the individual continuously provides, conditions and maintains. The law of attraction provides a wholesome solution to such efforts on the idea of what you put in life, is what you’ll get out of it. This isn’t false idealism, metaphysics, or some new age exercise; the law of attraction gives an individual a perspective to a life that works with it and in return shares the power to attract the things you most want out of it. Considering the components I’ve expressed conjuring the law, its up to each of us to empower ourselves to see that we live, and what we focus on towards the future. Sometimes your best chances in life are left best with knowing that no matter what, your going to succeed instead of just forgetting, disbelieving and becoming disloyal in life’s journey.

I am too awake to go back to sleep—that negative life is much too painful, too constricting.  I have tasted freedom.  This is my future.

By Laura E. Silver

When I was younger, I knew nothing about the law of attraction.  It was still operating in my life.  My family’s motto was something like, “Why is life always so hard?”  I attracted a great deal of negativity-- poverty and debt, homelessness, abusive relationships, being fired from jobs, depression, poor health, accidents….  It was all very painful and tiring.  Something deep within me knew I had to break free.  I started looking to self-help books and courses in Reiki and shamanic healing, attempts to heal my life.  Little did I realize that as I was opening myself to positive ideas, energies and compassion, I was beginning to use the law of attraction to shift my world.
    Over the last thirty plus years, a great variety of teachers and situations (both light and dark) have come into my life.  Looking back over it, I can see how every person, every book, every class was an attracted step on MY path.  I started seeing that every step I took was connected to the prior one and led me to the next one.  I started feeling that I was moving for some purpose bigger than me, and with that came a sense of trust.  I attracted a partner who taught me to see my own spectacular light by agreeing to show me their darkness.  I attracted a job many states away.  The mechanic who took care of my car after the journey told me that there was no way I should have gotten all that way in a vehicle with so many things wrong with it, that “someone” had to be watching out for me.  I knew I was supposed to be there, and ended up saving several lives because I was.  By being there, when I needed delicate neurosurgery, I attracted one of the best neurosurgeons in the country.  Because of him, I remain independent.
    Success can be measured in many ways.  I measure mine based on a poem by Emily Dickinson.  “If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain; If I can ease one life the aching, Or cool one pain, Or help one fainting robin Unto his nest again, I shall not live in vain.”  I understand now that that “one” is ME.  The entire journey of life, using the law of attraction as a compass, has been about healing me, about awakening me, the “I am.” 
    This is where I get excited.  I am the Creator!  My thoughts create everything! I have created love and hatred, night and day, pleasure and pain.  Without darkness, light does not exist.  I have created duality so that I can learn to find my own rhythms and balance.  Now to bring it all from “knowing” it to living it!

Being involved with the Achieve Today Personal Development program is helping me do just that!

The clearing techniques my wonderful coach taught me have given me focus and determination.  I have learned to direct my faith to the things I want, instead of fearing the things that I don’t want. (Thank you, Elinor Moody!)  I am blessed in that I now create more positive lessons to dare myself to shine and be who I really am.  My mind is no longer “at war” with my heart or my soul.  I recognize my remaining programming as it comes up and am excited to hear the lessons it brings as I clear the programming.  My mind is quieter, my heart more compassionate, and my soul is more peaceful.  I see programs and patterns more clearly in those around me, and I am gaining strength in validating my own and others’ emotions without engaging negativity.  And I am learning to be still and calm in the face of negativity, silently creating a new face with love and forgiveness.  
    My coach asked me what it would be like to be emotionally free.  I thought about it a minute and realized that I had no idea because I never have been in this lifetime.  Living the law of attraction sets me free.  In my freedom, there is only peace, love, joy, forgiveness, compassion, abundance, gratitude……  I am free to assist others in finding the light of creation within themselves.  Living the law of attraction, I am free to claim my destiny as a healer, as a leader in raising our vibration.  I am a living example of the journey from darkness to light.  I help and inspire others to stay the course on their journey to light.
    I like to imagine that my grandchildren and great-grandchildren and their great-grandchildren will share a legacy of abundance and gratitude, that they will know the value of consciousness and see their own light, that they will be living examples of the law of attraction, that what I do today will improve their tomorrows.  To heal one heals us all.
    I get to be part of this. I get to break free of the illusions and myths.  I get to know and love myself, recognize my own value and power, shower myself with abundance and joy, and soar with the angels!  I am too awake to go back to sleep—that negative life is much too painful, too constricting.  I have tasted freedom.  This is my future. 

In life, I didn’t always live by the Law of Action. As I advanced, I would do it more and more often. I didn’t even know there was a name for it.

By Vyanah Bennett Campbell

I always knew college was going to be expensive. There is no way to get around it. No matter what college you go to, it will cost a lot.  When I first decided I wanted to go to college to major in Illustration and Graphic Design, I had a goal set in mind. I would get this education and graduate in four years, no matter what. I am currently working hard on gaining the funds I need for college. With scholarships, grants, and maybe even loans I am getting through college. I even plan to get a job in my second year.
            As stressful as everything involving college is, I’m still going strong. I didn’t even begin yet, and I’m prepping myself for everything that’s going to take place. I have been doing loads of scholarships, all for my education. Yes, it can bit overwhelming, but that’s just too bad. I keep reminding myself, this money is for me. I will get through all four years of college. Scholarships aren’t always guaranteed mind you.  I could miss every sing one of them. They could be a waste of time, but how would I know? I’m not sure I’ll win any of these scholarships. All I can do is work hard and hope. Think positive and maybe good things will happen. Think positive, and I could just win $10,000. Thinking positive and acting on those positive thoughts is the Law of Attraction.
            When my mother pushes me to do scholarships everyday, yes it annoys me, but she’s just trying to help me. It’ll all pay off in the long run. I could just not do it, which will only just hurt me. Instead I get up extra early and I go to work. I think positive on the scholarships and believe that by chance they could like my essay and I could win. That would be so great. I work hard on these scholarships. I am getting that education, no matter what. On the contrary, I could be worrying like I usually do. I could worry about not having enough money to finish college. I could worry about not succeeding in my major and failing. I could worry about showing up on the first day, and not having anyone to talk to.  I could just worry about everything, but I choose not to. I choose to think positive and act on these positive thoughts. Usually when I do act on these thoughts something good comes out of it. I would’ve never have made that friend if I didn’t smile, or I m so glad I decided to talk to him about our relationship, it’s better now.
            In life, I didn’t always live by the Law of Action. As I advanced, I would do it more and more often. I didn’t even know there was a name for it. I just learned what it was called today. Now that I know what it is called, I can relate to it. In the 5th grade I would be very self-conscious. I would worry all the time if my hair looked okay, or if my outfit was stylish enough. That time in my life was bad and clearly, I did not live by the Law of Attraction. Now that I’m older I certainly do live by the law of attraction. I don’t worry about what the next person will say, or if someone doesn’t like the way I look. Instead, I think about, I’m going to make someone’s day today by saying hello or I’m going to turn heads when I walk in. I look on the bright side because it makes me feel good. I like to think of the good that can happen, not the bad.
            Constantly thinking about the bad that could happen is what I call a pessimistic. Noting positive ever comes from a pessimistic. I’m a happy person who likes to live life and laugh, because I live the law to the fullest. Ever since I began living the law, things got better. I became happier and at peace. In a way, it was like spiritual enlightenment. When you worry about the things in life you become stressed and depressed. When u think about good things that can happen you become optimistic. Living the law can really change one’s way of living. They may take more opportunities, stop being so anxious and have a good time in life.
            I’m glad I live the law. I think positive about my future career. I know I can become a successful illustrator and or graphic artist. Others may have failed in that line of work, but not me. I know I can make it. As I have mentioned my goal earlier I plan on graduating. With positive thinking I will go far.

Change Your Mind and Change Your Life.

By Margaret LaPrade
Arizona State University

Today is August 12, 2014. Let’s rewind to exactly one year ago today: August 12, 2013. I was working as a paralegal for a criminal defense attorney and hanging out with friends on the weekends. Not a bad existence, but I just couldn’t help but feel I needed something more.
    I needed something in my life that I could be proud of, something to focus on. One day, a friend of mine said she had signed up to run a marathon. My first response was, “Good for you! I could never do something like that!” For some reason, I kept thinking about my friend running this marathon. I started to think “If she can do it, why can’t I?” I could easily list nearly a thousand reasons why I could not run a marathon.  Most notably, I had never run more than three miles in my entire life. But I realized a person can come up with a million reasons not to do something. I made the decision, however irrational it may have seemed at the moment, to run a marathon.
    The first step I needed to take was to erase any doubt in my mind that I wouldn’t be able to run this marathon. All negative thoughts needed to be banished! From that point forward, I was a marathon runner. I would cross that finish line. I would run 26.2 miles. I would need to be cognizant of the Law of Attraction. My unwavering positive thoughts and consistent visualizations of myself completing this arduous task would be paramount to my success.  However, this wouldn’t make training for a marathon a walk in the park. I began my training on Monday, August 12, 2013. My marathon, the Surf City Marathon, located in Huntington Beach, California, was scheduled for February 2, 2014. Therefore, I had 26 weeks of training ahead of me--half a year!
    As the weeks went by, there were many times I didn’t feel like running. There were many cold, dark nights when the last thing I wanted to do after working an eight-hour day was run ten miles. There were blisters and there were sore muscles. But, I didn’t let that stop me. I kept my focus on Huntington Beach and the 26.2 miles I would run on February 2, 2014. During those long, painful runs, I would think to myself about all of the things I had to be grateful for—mostly my strong, working legs, which would power me through another mile. But I was also grateful for the cool December air filling my lungs and the moon and the stars in the sky, keeping company on those long, lonely runs.
    “When we become intentional creators, we learn that we are a part of something much greater than ourselves. All the forces of the universe are on our side and draw to us seemingly mystical and magical experiences” (“Our Course” n.d.). I am proud to say that I became an intentional creator. Day in and day out, I watched my body change and my endurance increase. To see the physical manifestations of my positive thoughts and intentions was awe-inspiring. The power to attract what you want in life and to achieve is humbling, allowing you to realize the true power of the universe, as well as empowering.
    When February 2, 2014 finally arrived, I was ready. Nervous, but ready! I visualized myself completing each and every one of the 26 miles I would run, as well as that not-so-insignificant .2! I found myself at the starting line at 6:00 a.m. As I looked out at the dark, vast ocean to the left of me, I took a moment to reflect on everything I had done to bring myself to that very moment. All the hours of training and all the miles logged began simply with a thought. The small seedling of an idea that had sprouted in my mind six months ago had grown into something much more powerful than I could have ever imagined. I was ready. There was no doubt in my mind that I would complete this marathon. Nothing short of a tidal wave would stop me!
    Four hours, 51 minutes, and 25 seconds later, I accomplished what I set out to do: I ran a marathon! All 26.2 miles of it! Those last six miles were a true testament to mind over matter. Everything in my body was telling me to stop—or more accurately, my body was yelling at me to stop! But I remained positive and I remained grateful. I also fed off the energy and vibrations of all those around me, many of whom were seeking to accomplish the same thing as I, and many simply there to show support. When I finally crossed that finish line, I cried a few tears of joy (and pain!). I have never been more proud of myself than I was in that moment.
    When I first began training for this marathon, I was expecting to get in great shape. I was not expecting the reshaping of how I think, act and feel. The marathon itself was an exhilarating experience; however, in hindsight I feel the journey to that finish line, the journey that took from August to February, was in some ways the real marathon. I learned that we are so much more powerful that we can ever imagine. If we dare to dream, we truly can achieve anything. Positive thoughts and visualizations, coupled with determination and action, can lead us to wherever it is we want to be.
    Experiencing first-hand what can be achieved in a short period of time through the power of our thoughts has really changed my life. In fact, it brought to this very moment. The moment where I sit here, writing an essay in the hopes of earning a scholarship for graduate school. Graduate school. A year ago, those words were not on my radar. Graduate school was for people smarter than me. Graduate school was for people younger than me. I felt I had missed my chance. Now I think differently—now I know that I am smart enough and that there is no time like the present. I now know the universe is just waiting for us to see the potential in ourselves, to truly believe in ourselves. I see great things in my future. I plan on earning a Masters in Early Childhood Education. I am now following a lifelong dream I once thought was out of reach. I have always wanted to be an educator, and now, in a few short years I will be. Through the Law of Attraction, I know how to achieve goals that may seem daunting or even impossible. Change your mind, and change your life.

I strongly believe that this way of living can help anyone and everyone in their lives.

By Megan Bishop

The most basic definition for the Laws of Attraction is defined as “attractive, magnetic power of the Universe that draws similar energies together. It manifests through the power of creation, everywhere and in multiple ways.” (Sasson, R.) The idea, first conceptualized by Empedocles and then built upon by Plato and Newton, stated that like objects are attracted to other like objects. It was not until the 20th century that scientists began applying this toward human behavior; people being attracted to each other based on similar demographics, circumstances, or personal characteristics.
     I myself have lived my entire life using the visualization and affirmation methods before I even knew there was such a thing as the Laws of Attraction, and have yielded many positive results from it. An example of how I have used and benefited from these methods in my personal life would be how I ended up with my fiancé, Brian. We met in our early college years and began as friends. I always felt an attraction to him both physically and mentally/emotionally due to how much we had in common but at the time we were dating other people. Then, after a few years both of our relationships went downhill and he ended up moving across the country. We remained in contact on and off over the years and dated other people, but in my head I always knew we would end up together one day somehow. I would lie in bed every night and repeat the same thoughts over and over until I fell asleep; thoughts about him moving back or me finding the means to move closer to him. Sometimes it would be scenarios of us seeing each other again for the first time at the airport or train station or situations I wanted us to experience together like a concert or a vacation to an exotic location. I strongly believed in the power of positive thinking and that fate or some other force would one day bring us back together in the romantic sense I wanted and not just as friends as we had always been. Well almost 10 years later, as my marriage was declining due to external reasons, I knew Brian had moved back to my state only a few hours away. I took a huge leap of faith and on a whim decided to drive to the city where he lived and basically profess my love for him not caring what the outcome would be. Much to my delight, but not really my surprise, I finally got the response I was waiting for. There was just one more hurdle we had to cross.
     Due to the circumstances in my marriage I was already set and scheduled to go with my husband to Japan and had no immediate way of getting out of it. Brian promised he would wait for my return and that we could be together once I left my husband. After only a few months overseas I successfully left my failed marriage and was finally reunited with Brian at the airport as I had always dreamt and imagined in those late night visualizations. It had all happened exactly as I imagined! It may have taken almost a decade but the saying is true, the best things are worth waiting the longest for, and no matter how many times I got discouraged I never gave up. In my head and in my heart I believe that by practicing the teachings of what the Laws of Attraction represent, I made my wish come true.
     I strongly believe that this way of living can help anyone and everyone in their lives, whether it in relationships, careers, and even the most seemingly simple aspects of life such as something you really want to purchase or trip you want to take. Always filling your mind with positive thoughts, positive outcomes of scenarios that have you worried, and positive feelings toward those around you will leave you feeling like a stronger, happier individual. Positive energy in your mind and body attribute to positive health over all. Conversely, harboring negative thoughts and a negative attitude about life can and will affect your health and mental state in a negative way. I am a huge advocate for the way of thinking that you are the only one who has the power to control your own life, your own destiny, your own happiness. And why wouldn’t you want to make it as happy and enjoyable as possible? Anytime my friends complain about something they think they have no control over I remind them how much control they really do have, I tell them to be strong, imagine what they want, really see it in their mind, and go after it. If your mind is always filled with positive, there will be no room for negative.

Living with the Law of Attraction, it works both ways.

By: Kelly Foraker
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
 
I live my life with the law of attraction in mind by trusting, being grateful and knowing myself. Learning to trust was difficult for me because I thought it would take away my  sense of control; however, learning to trust actually gave me control over my life which I realized I didn’t have.  I found I was happier with my life once I put my trust in others.  This happiness and trust attracted pleasant experiences and opportunities into my life.   For example, I use to feel like the odd person in the group at work or in my personal life.  In large meetings I would feel left out or as if I didn’t belong, with friends I always had one friend where others had many close friends.  I found by trusting other people to be kind and accepting, I easily felt part of the group.  I told myself to trust this group of people to be friendly and I told myself they would include me in conversations.  By trusting  I automatically started talking to others and relaxing in the usually scary atmosphere.  I believe others sense my trust and they felt comfortable approaching me in return.
                Learning to be grateful was also difficult at first because I was use to expecting the worst therefore I wasn’t as let down as if I hoped for the best and did not get it.  This way of thinking did not allow for me to be grateful for anything but failure.  A few years ago, I visited the nursing home where my mother worked, I saw many people worst off than me.  Immediately I was thankful for having the ability to walk, I realized how much I took for granted.  At that moment I realized how much I can be grateful for and not one thing was material.  I found a reason to be grateful for looking at grass, or even being able to see.  One thing lead to another and feeling grateful put me in a different mindset.  Soon I found myself helping others, meeting people with similar interests just by opening my eyes and seeing things I’ve never seen before; this attracted me to new interests and a happier well being. 
                The law of attraction unknowingly led me to get to know myself.  Once I knew what I liked, foods, activities, people and places I found I was attracted to these things.   I am happy when I eat chocolate and peanut butter; I always went to Hershey Park during the summer.  These are tiny examples but demonstrate the law of attraction.  The chocolate peanut butter person I am attracted me to Hershey Park, the ride through the city of Hershey makes me happy because it smells like chocolate.  I talk to people in the store who are deciding which variety of peanut butter they want.  Another example, I found I am a thrifty person but have expensive taste in clothing.  These two qualities do not go well together; however, being thrifty I am attracted to thrift stores and The Goodwill.  Shopping in these stores I found a huge variety of designer clothing.  Of course you have to know what you like but this is not always easy or apparent for some people.  Going to thrift stores is a hobby of mine, I find great deals, have beautiful unique clothing and this attracts others to give me compliments, conversation and on and on which lead to more positive experiences not to mention designer clothing which I had always wanted but could never afford. 
                The law of attraction is around everyone all the time; however I never saw it, felt it or was aware of it until I began to trust, be thankful and know myself.  As I said above, positive experiences   can be the result of  law of attraction working for me daily.  Of course all of the above working together causes this law of attraction to be at its strongest.  I find happiness and things I like just be allowing myself to think of them.  Being grateful, thankful makes me feel good. Feeling good makes me happy, being happy enables me to smile and laugh.  Smiling and laughing brings others into my life, others with similar likes, wants and feelings.  I relate this experience as a circle, sort of “paying it forward” or others may call it “Karma”.  I call it the law of attraction.  I tell people, if you want to have lots of money, think about money, see money, pretend you have lots of money.  All of these thoughts and feelings make you act a way in which you being to have money.  You save money because you think about wanting it.  You look into a new job because you think about having more money.  You get the job, if you think about the good things to come from the money so you have a positive attitude.  Some people say the law of attraction doesn’t exist.  Well my point exactly, if you believe it doesn’t exist you are attracting nothing…you are going to attract what you trust, and know and are grateful for.  If you don’t trust or know yourself you will think negative and as the law of attraction works for good, it also works negatively and “wishing you had money” but thinking  you will never have it, will attract  never having money.  The law of attraction works on everything we are attracted to positive and negative. 

Achieving our dreams is reality to me. There is nothing we can’t do because we all have the power within our minds and within our souls.

By: Alyssa Romney
Arizona State University 

The law of attraction can affect everyone's lives. Have you ever noticed how moods are so easily transferred? I have. Imagine a room full of people, everyone is having a good time and nobody is in a bad mood. This creates a very joyful atmosphere for everyone, but when somebody who is having a bad day or is in a bad mood, walks into the room, the happy atmosphere can go south quickly. People who see the aggravated look in the person's face start to experience a mood shift. This is an example of the law of attraction. Those who tend to be in a good mood more often than not, usually have more people hanging out with them. Whereas those who maintain a grumpy and hostile mood do not have as many friends. This demonstrates the “like attracts like” proponent of the law of attraction. Its like a magnet. Those who have bad moods repel people away from them. This has been true for me. I have never been a very socially inclined person, but I have found when I start a conversation and have a smile on my face, I become a person who others want to be around instead of the opposite, which I experienced in the earlier part of my life. I have found when I am having a great day, there are things that can destroy my morale, and things that can, “make my day”. Sometimes, I am told to do something, and immediately I think to myself, “why do I have to do that?” This is a mood shifter. Although it is not as obvious, whatever the person said pushed my buttons just right.
     The law of attraction can also play a role in your thoughts. So far, I have only discussed it as it relates to moods. But when you think bad thoughts, bad things happen. But when you have good thoughts, good things happen. This relates to the mood part of the law. If you are happy and joyful, things tend to be better off for you then those who are always moody. I have an uncle who is always dwelling on the bad things in life. Whether it is a wanting to be better at softball, or finally quit his job. The funny thing is that there are easy solutions to his problems, but he can't see that because his degrading thoughts are keeping him from acting. It is important to have confidence in ones self, but to not be too prideful so as to lose your friends. Instead of looking at life as enslaving you, we should be living life freely.
     The law of attraction can be comparable to faith. Some things are just out of our control, but when we have faith that a certain outcome can be achieved the chances of this occurring will increase considerably. I recently purchased a new car. I wanted to have one before the school year began. I firmly believed I could achieve this, and I ended up getting a really great car for a real good value, more than a month before the semester began. I have had to have faith in a lot of my endeavors to get ready for this semester. For instance, I missed the application deadline to get into CSU for the fall 2014 semester. I filled out the late application form. At one point they asked me to tell them why I missed the deadline. I decided that telling the truth would be the best option. So I told them I was not paying attention and was being lazy during the application process. They ended up accepting my application and here I am today.
    As you can see, there are many personal applications for the law of attraction in my life. I believe a positive attitude will benefit everyone in a good way. I am striving for a big goal, to go through college debt free. Scholarships are key for me. I believe that by applying the law of attraction, I can better increase my chances at achieving this goal. However, if I sit around being lazy and wondering how this goal would ever be realized, well... I would not be typing this essay out right now. The law of attraction has not been scientifically proven, but the concept can be life changing. This law has helped me make new friends easier, and to keep those friends and not lose them. I want to be the guy everyone likes to be around, not the one that everyone avoids. To do this I must have a positive attitude. In fact, without this positive attitude and mentality, I know you can not a be successful in your life.
     There is one more thing I think is important. Having a positive attitude not only helps you achieve success, but it can also help you through the tough times in life. All in all, the point is that the law of attraction can help you achieve anything and get through anything life brings your way.

There are many personal applications for the Law of Attraction in my life.

By: Colin Geminden

The law of attraction can affect everyone's lives. Have you ever noticed how moods are so easily transferred? I have. Imagine a room full of people, everyone is having a good time and nobody is in a bad mood. This creates a very joyful atmosphere for everyone, but when somebody who is having a bad day or is in a bad mood, walks into the room, the happy atmosphere can go south quickly. People who see the aggravated look in the person's face start to experience a mood shift. This is an example of the law of attraction. Those who tend to be in a good mood more often than not, usually have more people hanging out with them. Whereas those who maintain a grumpy and hostile mood do not have as many friends. This demonstrates the “like attracts like” proponent of the law of attraction. Its like a magnet. Those who have bad moods repel people away from them. This has been true for me. I have never been a very socially inclined person, but I have found when I start a conversation and have a smile on my face, I become a person who others want to be around instead of the opposite, which I experienced in the earlier part of my life. I have found when I am having a great day, there are things that can destroy my morale, and things that can, “make my day”. Sometimes, I am told to do something, and immediately I think to myself, “why do I have to do that?” This is a mood shifter. Although it is not as obvious, whatever the person said pushed my buttons just right.
     The law of attraction can also play a role in your thoughts. So far, I have only discussed it as it relates to moods. But when you think bad thoughts, bad things happen. But when you have good thoughts, good things happen. This relates to the mood part of the law. If you are happy and joyful, things tend to be better off for you then those who are always moody. I have an uncle who is always dwelling on the bad things in life. Whether it is a wanting to be better at softball, or finally quit his job. The funny thing is that there are easy solutions to his problems, but he can't see that because his degrading thoughts are keeping him from acting. It is important to have confidence in ones self, but to not be too prideful so as to lose your friends. Instead of looking at life as enslaving you, we should be living life freely.
     The law of attraction can be comparable to faith. Some things are just out of our control, but when we have faith that a certain outcome can be achieved the chances of this occurring will increase considerably. I recently purchased a new car. I wanted to have one before the school year began. I firmly believed I could achieve this, and I ended up getting a really great car for a real good value, more than a month before the semester began. I have had to have faith in a lot of my endeavors to get ready for this semester. For instance, I missed the application deadline to get into CSU for the fall 2014 semester. I filled out the late application form. At one point they asked me to tell them why I missed the deadline. I decided that telling the truth would be the best option. So I told them I was not paying attention and was being lazy during the application process. They ended up accepting my application and here I am today.
    As you can see, there are many personal applications for the law of attraction in my life. I believe a positive attitude will benefit everyone in a good way. I am striving for a big goal, to go through college debt free. Scholarships are key for me. I believe that by applying the law of attraction, I can better increase my chances at achieving this goal. However, if I sit around being lazy and wondering how this goal would ever be realized, well... I would not be typing this essay out right now. The law of attraction has not been scientifically proven, but the concept can be life changing. This law has helped me make new friends easier, and to keep those friends and not lose them. I want to be the guy everyone likes to be around, not the one that everyone avoids. To do this I must have a positive attitude. In fact, without this positive attitude and mentality, I know you can not a be successful in your life.
     There is one more thing I think is important. Having a positive attitude not only helps you achieve success, but it can also help you through the tough times in life. All in all, the point is that the law of attraction can help you achieve anything and get through anything life brings your way.

The law of attraction states that for every positive thought or action a person takes, the more likely good things will come his or her way.

By: Emily Sievert
University of Central Florida 

The law of attraction states that for every positive thought or action a person takes, the more likely good things will come his or her way – and the same goes in the case of negative thinking (more negative thoughts lead to more negative outcomes). Think of it this way: each affirmative work is like a solar panel. For every additional positive action or thought the number of panels increases, giving a greater output of energy. Even when rainy days come there still remains enough energy from previous days to weather the storm out – if one builds enough panels from positive thinking that is. However, like their real life companions, the equipment gained can be damaged by the product of negative actions that crack and smother the surface. And without a little clean-up of lifestyle, the panels will all but deteriorate; forcing the process back to square one.
    Basically, so long as one remains in the realm of positivity, he or she may still achieve success. Indeed, I’ve personally applied this in my life by turning seemingly tragic and minor events into stepping stones for success. Throughout much of my middle school and high school years, I’ve experienced deaths of family and friends, natural disasters, divorce, regular police visits to my house, as well as the normal stresses of keeping up grades for a future academic career in college. Despite all the downhill turns, maintaining a positive outlook allowed me to move on and get to the places I am currently. And to be honest, it actually helped turn my view around. Those ‘tragedies’ now stand as a reminder that scars may be left behind in painful events, but in the end they only make one stronger, wiser, and kinder than ever before.
    Not giving up is also a key tool that I used to get through the years and occasional tough grades in classes. Simply by accepting the fact that I needed help in some areas (often in the field of calculus – more specifically integration) and that not everything would be easy took a large burden off my shoulders. Rather than mulling over a bad grade, positive thinking allowed me to move forwards and excel later on in the course and on the final where it really mattered. Additionally, it encouraged me to never give up – even in the face of failure – and has yet to let me down.
    Others may doubt the effectiveness of thinking in a good light, dubbing it naïve and unrealistic, but the truth couldn’t be any different. Instead of a groaning, complaining person, wouldn’t an upbeat, encouraging one not only appear better but also work harder? After all, without a little hope or purpose, even the most ambitious have a tough time getting motivated. However, recent events in both local and international news has brought about great distress in thinking positively – and I personally have felt the blow to the extent where I almost avoid watching or reading the current events on BBC or CNN. Still, the hope remains that so long as one retains even the slightest amount of positivity and keeps focus on a bright future in place of Armageddon, things will look up to the point where a quick peek at the day’s news isn’t such a bad thing any longer. As I’ve found, hope is indeed hard to kill, and the benefits of keeping myself moving forwards, past those obstacles and mud pits, has led to priceless friends, experiences, and so much more than I could have ever imagined.
    Granted, though, it was no simple task – but then nothing worth having in life is ever truly that easy. Assuredly, it is only when knocked down does one hold the opportunity to arise from the ashes and become stronger, and without hope, that task is all but impossible. The path may be a strenuous one – after all, even Moses and the great legends had to endure a long period ‘in the desert’ before reaching the promise land – but it is always worthwhile. In fact, the lessons learned in those times of trials often prove on par with the end result, if not better. I personally can assent to it, seeing as through my parents’ divorce I gained valuable insight into what really matters and have become the person I am today. I regret nothing and look back with a smile because I was able to see the sun through the storm. Had I not, I definitely would not be the person I am today.
    Finally, I wish to offer my deepest regards and gratitude to Achieve Today. From the time I began this essay until now I have gone through the many ups and downs of freshman year. By assigning this essay, I’ve been able to refocus my attention on the positive and ground myself to the point where even getting turned down by employers and not making a very good start in calculus only holds minor effects my attitude and hopes. I truly cannot thank you enough for reminding me that even though the world is getting darker, it doesn’t matter since any light, regardless of the size or strength, can breach and surpass anything thrown its way.

The Law of Attraction can be a key point in many lives by allowing people to choose the path that they wish to choose in life.

By: Ramon Melendez
Arizona State University

As an incoming freshman at Arizona State University, I look forward to becoming successful with my goals. Unfamiliar with the Law of Attraction, I have come to realize that it takes a major role in the lives of many who choose how to live their lives. The Law of Attraction is a theory that is simply put out as how we have complete control of our lives. Whether we choose to think something good or bad, our actions will follow up on those attracted thoughts. As for many, the Law of Attraction can be a double edged sword, in which many can use this theory to their advantage by only allowing positive thoughts to stay in the mind or by simply allowing negative thoughts to rise and possibly lead to a negative output. In this new chapter of my life, I for one will use this Law of Attraction to my benefit of success. I am a first generation college student who has now set an example for many generations to come. To be accepted into a university is one thing, whereas graduating is another. I plan on being successful in obtaining a degree in Mechanical Engineering by utilizing the many services on my campus as well as maintaining a positive attitude no matter how many issues obscure my path to success. It is also my dream to become a professional baseball player and I plan on being successful with a lot of hard work and dedication. Throughout high school I have been involved in several extracurricular activities such as marching band, baseball, and cross-country and I do plan on trying out for Arizona State's top-ranked baseball team so I know plenty as far as maintaining a positive attitude. I have a strong passion for baseball and although there is much competition during tryouts, I look at being optimistic with my chances to making the team because being optimistic with that, along with many other variables in life, can lead to the actual outcome of my success. Throughout the earlier years of my life, I have been put down with many disappointments as far as school and baseball. For school, I was not exactly academically satisfied which led me to believe how it was my fault in a way that was out of my reach and how I could not do much about it because I was led to believe how I was not exactly the smartest child. I have also faced many instances where I have had opportunities in baseball where I could have came out to success. I can recall a time where the Law of Attraction took a toll on me at such an early age. It all happened during my Little League years of baseball. It was the championship game for the All-Stars in which I participated in. As I remember, my team was losing by one run and I had an opportunity to bring in the tying run at third base with two outs. Nervous as I was, I somehow allowed that to take over my state of mind and made me think that I was going to somehow strikeout which resulted in me actually striking out. Looking back as a child, I may not have realized that I caused my own failure for that championship game, but as a young adult, I have used that championship game as an example as to how I can control my own success. After realizing that, I took it upon myself to make some serious changes in my life resulting in my academic and athletic success all throughout high school where I am now about to attend a four year university. I have always been reminded by my family that being at a four year university is a privilege and although we are not what is considered financially stable, I have taken it upon myself to apply to scholarships with the mindset that I would receive financial aid to ensure my academic success. I have also come to realize that being successful at Arizona State University is not only a huge deal for me, but for all those around me. It is now my job to not only represent myself, but to also represent my family, friends, and the community that I come from. I feel honored to be able to have the privilege to do that and my success all starts with my mindset; it all starts with the Law of Attraction. Ever since high school I have found myself to be a very positive person to always leave a positive feeling with those around me, even those who lives were filled with negativity. By keeping a positive attitude, the Law of Attraction will help me be successful in maintaining a future job on campus as well as a career and a happy life. The Law of Attraction can be a key point in many lives by allowing people to choose the path that they wish to choose in life. I wish to give back to my community as well as those who have helped me on my journey to success. I am destined for greatness and I will achieve my goals. I know that by my attitude and the Law of Attraction. That being said, the Law of Attraction, theory or not, plays a vital role in my life.

The law of attraction influences others around us to see us more positively, while at the same time making us feel more positive about ourselves.

By: Christopher Mills
Arizona State University

The Law of Attraction is an idea that has been around for centuries predating even the Roman Empire and as far back as ancient Greek civilizations. The Law of Attraction at its most basic states that something will attract something of similar characteristics, or “like attracts like,” a concept introduced by the Greek philosopher Plato around the year 400 BC. It is believed that the Law of Attraction can be used to change the way that people can interact with the world; this works by individuals attracting the same nature of feedback that they put out into the world. It is believed that many of the greatest historical figures such as Alexander the Great, Benjamin Franklin, and Sir Isaac Newton may have recognized this potential and used it to drive their lives. While relatively new to the ideas offered by Law of Attraction I have still come to recognize its power and potential both in my own life and in the world around me.
                I was first introduced to the Law of Attraction by the 2006 film “The Secret,” which featured several prominent cast members such as Dr. Joe Vitale, Bob Proctor, and Michael Beckwith. The Secret served the purpose of introducing the viewer to the idea of the Law of Attraction by describing it as a sort of metaphysical force which will attract a person’s wants or worries depending on both their conscious and subconscious focus. While an interesting proposal the portrayal of the Law of Attraction in “The Secret,” is a bit too fantastical and unbelievable for myself. Upon researching the topic I learned the Law of Attraction is actually much simpler than it was described in the film. The Law of Attraction is simply a different way of looking at and interacting with the world. The Law of Attraction has nothing to do with a spontanious metaphysical force that drives the world, but instead is a simple case of cause and effect. For the most part everyone largely has control over their day to day actions such as moving, speaking, and interacting with others; but at the same time the manner in which we carry out these actions can be partially or wholey influenced by our thoughts both concious and subconcious. If an office worker goes to work every morning worrying about how his career isnt progressing his thoughts may be private in his own mind, but the actions that he takes during his day will reflect those thoughts to which he feels most passionately or worried about; he may work sluggishly, he may react anti-socially, and none of these behaviors will help him change his current predicament. If the same office worker returned to work thinking of what he does want, be it a better position, a raise, etc. could be projecting an air of positivity which not only helps with his emotional well-being, but will be apparent to all of those he works with, and may even help him to achieve the goals which he strives for. The law of attraction when properly applied influences other around us to see us more positively, while at the same time making us feel more positive about ourselves.
                In my own life the law of attractions serves as a foundation for all that I do. I do my best not to worry about things that are beyond my control, and when someing of worry is within my control I do not worry, but instead I look at it to see what can be done in order to achieve the outcome that I need. Going to Arizona State University it is rather easy to get lost in the sheer number of students that roam around campus, and it may seem easier to just blend in and go about ones day quitely; that’s what I did during my first semester at ASU. This semester since learning of the law of attraction I’ve come to enjoy my brief time here thus far greater than any I remember from the previous year. When I enter my classes I don’t worry about what others think of me, but instead I look at them as a potential friend and approach them as such. Sure some arent quite the sort of individual I would be friends with, but others are exactly what I hope they will be and I gain something that I would not have otherwise. The law of attraction also serves me in my endeavors such as my participation in the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps. In NROTC confidence is a key requirement when it comes to leadership, and never do I feel more confident than when I do not worry about the rigorous challenges that await me, but instead look forwad to facing them and overcoming them. Last year I would worry that I would ache and be sore after my physical training sessions, and afterwards I always was. This year I don’t worry about the pain and soreness, but instead strive to improve, and at the end of the day I may still ache, but I will be more focused on the fact that I am doing my best and trying my hardest.
    The law of attraction is no magical power that will bring upon people who understand its secrets all that they desire, but it does inspire a way of thinking that prevents people from holding themselves back by inspiring them to strive for their goals. Whether their goals are realted to their careers, their clubs and organizations, their schooling, or even just their sociality the law of attraction can inspire and instill confidence into anyone that will but try to expel the negativity from their lives and attract into it the positivity of their hopes and dreams.

Everything is just an attraction away

By: Anima Sahu
Arizona State University

The Law of Attraction is a profound concept which is not quite understood by many. There are numerous things in this universe which we do not understand, but does that nullify their existence? No, obviously not. In a similar way, the Law of Attraction is embedded in each and every
minute fragment of our lives and of course, the universe. Consciously or unconsciously, we use it all the time. But, really understanding it and utilizing it towards our success, is what we all should learn.
    The Law is all about what we want and what we get. It tells us that they are actually directly proportional to each other. The more intense are your thoughts about wanting something, the more the universe plans to make that yours. In other words, I can say it tells us to practice the art of affirmative thinking, i.e. to think positive, to believe in positive things happening to you and hence reap the positive benefits of it. As easy as it seems to read in this essay, it might be a little difficult to actually execute it in reality.
    Our thoughts are based on numerous objects, images, sounds, and incidences. Our mind is in a constant process of thinking about some or the other thing all the time. When we think nice and positive things, we feel happy from inside. Then, we are sending the positive vibrations to the universe which in turn gives us more positive things in return. And when we have the “not so nice” emotions, the universe lines up the “not so nice” things for us. I have experienced it a million times.
But, I will like to stress on the fact that it is not very easy to not think about anything negative. When I am all dressed going for some event or party and  it suddenly rains, I cannot stop myself from thinking, “I hate when it rains, like this” and it  rains even more. So, instead of cursing the rain, thinking that the rain will stop in a mere moment is a better option. But then, the human brain is not perfectly wired to think about good things exclusively.
    I came across this theory when I first watched the movie, “The Secret”. I would not accept the fact that I became a sincere follower of the Law of Attraction immediately after watching it. At that point of time, it was a kind of illusion. Believing such an abstract theory was at first quite difficult for my pragmatic mind. Even though I had my own doubts about it, I would definitely admit that the concept had somehow housed inside a corner of my heart. I had started to think about the Law of Attraction.
    The next step was the experimentation and research about it. Yes, I did experiment it. Just to ensure the sanctity of the law and yes, it did work. I will let you know about some of my encounters with the law and the universe in a while. In due course of time, I realised a noticeable change in my perspective towards everything. Things that would have usually made me upset had somehow become more acceptable and the answers to some of my worries seemed to be at hand.
    When we are kids, we all imagine what we want to become in life. Some say pilots, some doctors, some professors etc. I had always imagined myself as a scientist doing some amazing research. But then, my dreams got buried under the  burden of competition. I did my bachelors degree in engineering like every other sane student does in India. By the end of my degree, I had two job offers in hand. But, none to my satisfaction. I still had the dreams and aspirations to become a scientist. My mind was somewhere hovering around in a limbo of emptiness where I did not understand what to do, whether to accept one of the jobs or to proceed towards my dream.
    I had about a month’s time to make the decision. It was then I decided to sincerely practice the Law of Attraction. After all, there was no harm to think positively about achieving my dream to be a scientist. I started practicing my affirmations everyday and not allowing any bad thought to enter into my realm of positivity. One fine day, I spotted this application in the newspaper calling for the post of research scientists. I applied for it. Even though there were thousands and thousands of other candidates, some much better than me, I never ever allowed pessimism creep into my thoughts. Instead of getting cold hands about the results, I dragged my thoughts towards the job description and imagining about the workplace. My thoughts had made a clear and lucid picture of myself working as a scientist. 
    And as you would have already guessed, I got the offer. Yes, I became a scientist. Oh, my god! I was on the top of the world. This really got me a new direction in my career and in my life. From then on, I have never left the side of the Law of Attraction and never has it left me. I did great research for about four years and now I am doing my masters to do further and greater research.
    There are many many incidents in my life where the  Law of Attraction has made its significant mark and I can really write a book about it, and some time I may. But, at present, I would proudly say that I am an avid follower of the Law of Attraction. I have complete faith in it and
sometimes I even advice my friends in distress to follow the same. It is not something to agree or disagree; rather it is just a belief. If you believe in it, you get what you want, If you don’t, you don’t. Take a pick.

I realize that changing the way I think is not going to be an easy process, but I also know that I can do it.

By: Karla Benitez
Arizona State University

My brother always told me that emotions are ruled by the way we think. The way we think and feel rule the way we behave, and the way we behave rule the way others behave toward us. This philosophy is part of the Law of Attraction. If I think this way then it is easy to believe that everyone, whether they believe it or not, lives with the law of attraction. This can be a positive thing or a negative thing depending on the person. My understanding of the Law of Attraction is that the way we think about things attracts those specific things to us. For example, if I believe that I am going to get a car then if I keep thinking this and have it constantly in my mind I will get a car. However, if  I think pessimistically and do not believe that I am going to get something or am very doubtful of something then the law states that I will not get it. The key is to think positively and believe that I am going to get or do whatever I wish to have.
    I have had several instances where the Law has worked in my favor. Once when I was in eighth grade I had no idea what high school I was going to attend. Everyone in my middle school was going to Central High School but I never really felt like I wanted to go there. One day, my mom drove by North High School and I stared at the buildings as we drove further and further away from it. In that moment I knew that that was the high school I was going to attend. In the spur of the moment, I didn’t even get a chance to see the name of the school and eventually I forgot about it. Once the eighth grade teachers started preparing us to sign up for high schools they told us all about the different high schools and their respective Magnet Programs where different high schools specialized in one area. My English and Math teachers told me that I should apply for North High School’s Magnet Program, which was the International Baccalaureate Program. I went along with it, applied, and worked hard to get in. When my mom and I went to visit the high school I was stunned. The high school with the prestigious IB Program in which I was now enrolled in was the same high school that my mom drove past that day I swore I was going to attend this school. That was when I realized that it was meant to be. Now that I think about it, I realize that it was thanks to the Law that I attended North and graduated with the International Baccalaureate Diploma.
    I am majoring in Theatre with a focus on Acting. For as long as I can remember I have been performing in front of anyone. My mom even says that I have been performing when I was in preschool and I don’t really remember that time of my life. I love performing and my conviction is that I am going to be financially secure from my future career as an actress. In order to keep doing what makes me happy I need to get my degree from Arizona State University. Then I am going to apply to graduate school at RADA in London. For that, I need scholarships to pay for my tuition because just like the Law of Attraction has worked in my favor it has also worked against me.
    I must admit that it is hard for me to think positively all the time because I have both depression and anxiety. I love thinking positively but sometimes it feels as if it is simply impossible. It should simply be possible. I almost did not graduate high school due to my extreme levels of stress, depression, and anxiety. My freshman year at ASU I failed a class and lost my scholarship due to a low GPA. I am now actively working toward correcting my mistakes. I am applying for this scholarship because I need help. I want to learn how to use the Law of Attraction more effectively. When I read that by winning this scholarship I could get the money I need to pay my tuition and that I would receive guidance to help me change my habitual thought process I became excited and started this essay immediately. I realize that changing the way I think is not going to be an easy process, but I also know that I can do it. I want to achieve today the dreams of my life. I want to achieve today the goals of my past. I will achieve today the life I want to live.

Positive thinking allowed me to  excel and...it encouraged me to never give up even in the face of failure and has yet to let me down.

By Emily Sievert
University of Central Florida

The law of attraction states that for every positive thought or action a person takes, the more likely good things will come his or her way – and the same goes in the case of negative thinking (more negative thoughts lead to more negative outcomes). Think of it this way: each affirmative work is like a solar panel. For every additional positive action or thought the number of panels increases, giving a greater output of energy. Even when rainy days come there still remains enough energy from previous days to weather the storm out – if one builds enough panels from positive thinking that is. However, like their real life companions, the equipment gained can be damaged by the product of negative actions that crack and smother the surface. And without a little clean-up of lifestyle, the panels will all but deteriorate; forcing the process back to square one.
    Basically, so long as one remains in the realm of positivity, he or she may still achieve success. Indeed, I’ve personally applied this in my life by turning seemingly tragic and minor events into stepping stones for success. Throughout much of my middle school and high school years, I’ve experienced deaths of family and friends, natural disasters, divorce, regular police visits to my house, as well as the normal stresses of keeping up grades for a future academic career in college. Despite all the downhill turns, maintaining a positive outlook allowed me to move on and get to the places I am currently. And to be honest, it actually helped turn my view around. Those ‘tragedies’ now stand as a reminder that scars may be left behind in painful events, but in the end they only make one stronger, wiser, and kinder than ever before.
    Not giving up is also a key tool that I used to get through the years and occasional tough grades in classes. Simply by accepting the fact that I needed help in some areas (often in the field of calculus – more specifically integration) and that not everything would be easy took a large burden off my shoulders. Rather than mulling over a bad grade, positive thinking allowed me to move forwards and excel later on in the course and on the final where it really mattered. Additionally, it encouraged me to never give up – even in the face of failure – and has yet to let me down.
    Others may doubt the effectiveness of thinking in a good light, dubbing it naïve and unrealistic, but the truth couldn’t be any different. Instead of a groaning, complaining person, wouldn’t an upbeat, encouraging one not only appear better but also work harder? After all, without a little hope or purpose, even the most ambitious have a tough time getting motivated. However, recent events in both local and international news has brought about great distress in thinking positively – and I personally have felt the blow to the extent where I almost avoid watching or reading the current events on BBC or CNN. Still, the hope remains that so long as one retains even the slightest amount of positivity and keeps focus on a bright future in place of Armageddon, things will look up to the point where a quick peek at the day’s news isn’t such a bad thing any longer. As I’ve found, hope is indeed hard to kill, and the benefits of keeping myself moving forwards, past those obstacles and mud pits, has led to priceless friends, experiences, and so much more than I could have ever imagined.
    Granted, though, it was no simple task – but then nothing worth having in life is ever truly that easy. Assuredly, it is only when knocked down does one hold the opportunity to arise from the ashes and become stronger, and without hope, that task is all but impossible. The path may be a strenuous one – after all, even Moses and the great legends had to endure a long period ‘in the desert’ before reaching the promise land – but it is always worthwhile. In fact, the lessons learned in those times of trials often prove on par with the end result, if not better. I personally can assent to it, seeing as through my parents’ divorce I gained valuable insight into what really matters and have become the person I am today. I regret nothing and look back with a smile because I was able to see the sun through the storm. Had I not, I definitely would not be the person I am today.
    Finally, I wish to offer my deepest regards and gratitude to Achieve Today. From the time I began this essay until now I have gone through the many ups and downs of freshman year. By assigning this essay, I’ve been able to refocus my attention on the positive and ground myself to the point where even getting turned down by employers and not making a very good start in calculus only holds minor effects my attitude and hopes. I truly cannot thank you enough for reminding me that even though the world is getting darker, it doesn’t matter since any light, regardless of the size or strength, can breach and surpass anything thrown its way.

Reality is Hopelessness

By Brianna Nicole Thorpe  
 
Reality is hopelessness, and it took me nineteen years to realize that. I entered college overwhelmed by that voice telling me that I had no friends in high school, no
academic success, and that I had spent every day struggling with depression and anxiety. The reality of
the situation was that my future would follow my past. I would spend the next four years, if not the rest
of my life, alone and dreaming of a bright future which was never meant for me. 
    But what is reality, really? From the way most of the people in the world talk, reality is the dark stuff, the pain, the failure, the ever looming, never changing, cloud of everything-that-never-worked-out. Reality is the odds that are stacked against you each and every day. It’s the odds saying that you won’t pass that class; that you won’t go to college; that you won’t get a job; that you’re doomed to a life failed relationships and naïve dreams gathering dust in the corner. 
      It’s that moment when I was fifteen that I lay alone in my bed, staring at this icon of the Virgin Mary. I had tears in my eyes as I repeated to myself over and over, “There’s no escape from the bad stuff. No matter how hard you try to be happy, you’ll always be sad again. That’s the big secret that everyone’s too afraid to tell you. The default state of life is pain, and everything will always decompose
into that.”  
    It’s all those times I sank to the bottom of my pool, watching the air from my lungs bubble to the surface, knowing I didn’t have the guts to stay down there forever. Reality is all those stories, and novels, and poems which I poured every last drop of my pain into, hoping against hope that somebody, anybody, would read between the lines. It’s the 500 calories a day, the struggle to get below 120
pounds, the lump rising in my throat as I watched all the other girls get asked to every dance while I sat alone and wondered what the hell was wrong with me. It’s the boy whose parents hurt him, the girl who lost everything over and over again. It’s the kid that no one cared about, stuck in some backwater town where everyone ignores the sobs and screams, where the only relief is drugs and booze. It’s losing a child, losing a friend, losing yourself. 
    Reality is hopelessness. I decided during my first week of college that if that’s what reality is, if that’s what we’re all going to accept it as, then I was going to check out. For every time that voice in my head told me that I couldn’t, I did. For every time that voice said that I wasn’t good enough, smart enough, pretty enough, I stepped up and tried. 
    I replaced the Voice of Reality with the Voice of Attraction. Doors began opening as my positivity forged a path. I was voted onto the executive board of an
organization in the physics department which promotes diversity and builds a community in the sciences. Suddenly, I had transformed from the girl who never believed she was worthy of as much as friendship to the only female and the only undergraduate leader in a revolutionary organization. I found the encouragement there which drove me to finally pursue my dream of being a particle physicist. Where once the Voice of Reality would scoff at that idea, the Voice of Attraction reminded me why I loved the power that a particle accelerator represents. My brain was filled with that love, and within three weeks of beginning my freshmen year, I was offered a position in a particle physics research lab. I never applied for it. I didn’t even ask for it. But my new attitude gave me the courage to accept the offer which would transform my life. 
    I met my brothers in that lab. There were four of them, each typing code furiously into their computers, oblivious to the chorus of clicking keys and the fans of thirty six motherboards. They didn’t notice me when I stepped into the lab. Perhaps to them I was an unknown freshmen with a supposed interest in particle physics. It isn’t until now that I realize I didn’t notice them either. I saw them for what
they were: two undergraduates, a graduate student, and a research professor. I saw them as four highly intelligent individuals. I did not see them for who they were, nor did I for many months. I can’t recall the exact moment I really noticed them, but at some point these men became my brothers. There came a day when the undergraduates became Todd, whose wife bakes excellent cookies, and Ben, who can program a computer better than any fictional hacker. The graduate student became Ross, the most
generous and genuine human I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. And the research professor became Mike, our tenacious leader who is well versed in the art of terrible movies. 
    Whenever that day was, we became a family, thrown together through the most unrelated yet relatable circumstances. Each of us had been kicked around by life. We had suffered through the Voice of Reality. But we began believing that there we were meant for something greater, and it was only when I recognized that greatness in myself and my coworkers that I saw particle physics as something far more powerful than I had ever imagined. The five of us were doing what would have been considered the impossible at any time prior to the twentieth century. We were, as I like to say, creating supernovae in our particle accelerator, proving to others and to ourselves that the value of particle physics lies not in its application, but in the power which humans have given themselves to create,
control, and use supernovae on earth. And none of this, not the particle accelerators, not the world shaking discoveries, would have happened if we chose to accept the Voice of Reality.
    Exactly a year later, the Voice of Attraction has led me on a fantastic journey. I have been paid to spend my summer doing research at another university, have given talks about believing in yourself, and have accomplished more as a freshmen than I hoped to as a graduate student. It wasn’t until recently that I discovered that I had been living the Law of Attraction. Now I want to learn more. I want to forge my own future with this law, and show others how to do the same. I want to show the world that there is something greater than the dark reality; that life can become a fantastic adventure if only you empower yourself with positivity. I strongly believe that I can become both a science communicator and a motivational speaker, and in doing so I can show those who believe that there is nothing other than reality that there is a new world of unimaginable success and happiness. In the end, I want to change lives. My past has now proven that the future holds great things. It’s time to see just what those things are.  

Implementing the Law of Attraction into your life is more of a state of mind than anything else. It’s a choice one makes.

By Reilly Price
Arizona State University
 
To begin, it should be noted my personal feelings on the “Law of Attraction”: I do feel that it is a true concept, however I believe that many people who parade or try to implement the Law of Attraction don’t fully understand, or altogether completely misunderstand, the concept of the law. Believing that one can simply will into existence never-ending abundance, peace, prosperity, and bliss is a false
concept. The concept that one can choose to be successful, happy, or prosperous however, I do believe
to be correct. I believe that the term “Law of Attraction” is synonymous with words or terms like “Faith”; “Will”; “Motivation”; “stick-to-itiveness”; “Determination”; “Hard Work” and so on.
    To illustrate this personal feeling, I give my personal experience with a summer sales job. I worked for a home security company that will be referred to as “Company X”. A family member knew the regional sales manager for Company X and had recruited me to do the summer sales position. It was located across the country from where I was living at that particular time.  I had just graduated from a two year college and wanted to make some extra money to help move me forward for school. I was promised that one could make “bank” doing this kind of door to door
sales. So, I moved my family across the country, and I went to work doing door to door sales. To make a long story short, it was not a successful business venture for me doing door to door sales 6 days a week. I made less than $2,000 over 5 months. As a husband and father of a newborn, I was not able to make enough money to support my family and we were running out of resources. Times
were tuff. However, the real trial started when the move back home was imminent. My wife, child, and I had to move from Maryland to Arizona relying solely on our only $270 and our Faith in God. What a miracle it was that we made it!
    From the moment that we made it back to Arizona things started moving forward. I was not going to be a failure. I positively pushed forward and was able to acquire a job that gave me gainful employment. This provided me opportunity to transition into a better job that gave good benefits and additional ways for monetary gain. Making another transition possible to a job has given me a financial security and time to allow me to return to school. Now I can pursue the degree that will open many doors to the future, for not only more gainful employment, but pursuing a lifelong passion! All because a choice was made to not give up and trust in God to get me across the country with only $270.  
    My point, as stated earlier, is that what some people call “Law of Attraction” others call Faith in God or a Higher Power. Essentially, it is the same thing. The above mentioned process of getting back to school from being in Maryland took the space of over four years. But in that four years, we got back on our feet, and were blessed with another beautiful child to our family. Other difficult trials continued to happen during this time as well. Yes, they were hard. Life is hard. I did not have a crystal ball to tell the future. But what I did have was “faith” and a “determination” to get where I wanted to be, not to end up
where the “winds of change” decided to blow me.  
    Implementing the Law of Attraction into your life is more of a state of mind than anything else. It’s a choice one makes. When a trial comes your way you can choose from one of two positions to be in.
    You can be the Victor or the Victim. The Victor, proverbially speaking, will look that trial in the face, and say “bring it on!”  The Victor may have the thought of “this is hard. This is difficult.” However, they follow that statement with; “I can get through this! It will work out the way I want.” The Victor may even get discouraged, wondering for a moment why this may be happening, but then will say something along the lines of “When I get through this, I will have a great story to tell, and a whole lot of knowledge gained!” The Victor will not give up.
Even if a mistake is made, large or small, he will say: “What is done is done, I can’t change that. I must move forward and fix it, or move past it and learn from it!” The Victor will use the positive side of the law of attraction by making the choice to be positive, and get through that trial, and be ready for the next one.  He moves forward into the future not dwelling on the past and the “what ifs.” He becomes all the better for the things he has been through and the experience he has gained.
    The Victim is using the Law of Attraction, just in the reverse manner. The Victim will put blame on virtually everyone or everything else as to why they are in the position that they are in, feeling that they are being cheated out of success due to the actions of others. The Victim will say something along the lines of “why does life have to be so hard? Why does God hate me? If I only had more money things would be better. If I only had that promotion that I got overlooked for, I would be happy. If I only had that nice car things would be better. If I only had… if I only had…” The Victim will neither take
responsibility for his condition, nor learn anything from it.
Trials are going to happen. If you breathe air, and your heart beats, you will face a trail of some sort. It will happen! Trials come as part of the Human condition. No matter how much we put our faith in God or into the concept of the “Law Attraction”, we cannot “will” trials out of existence in our life. No amount of financial wealth or social esteem can prevent them from occurring.
    The catalyst of it all is the perspective one has and the choice of how to react in the face of trials. We make the choice to do nothing at all or do the best we can and keep moving forward. I understand that more trials will come in
one form or another in the future. I also understand that as long as I keep moving positively toward my goals I will be successful in all aspects I am seeking. I choose to be the “Victor”.

I Changed my thinking so I could somehow fund my college and achieve my dreams which is what I believe the law of attraction is all about.

By: Terese Minton
Arizona State University

Wow! This is amazing. Just yesterday I was searching through a book to see which direction I should go in life to help me pay for my higher education.  I always seem to doubt myself, believing that I cannot win scholarships and continue, only to find more misfortune and debt in my life. Money seems to be everything and it became the single most thing I fixated on. As my last resort I did turn to this book for one last outlet. This book I read was Rhonda Byrne’s “The Secret” and the quote I had read that stood out to me by a random page flip was:

“Many of us were taught to put ourselves last, and as a consequence we attracted feelings of being unworthy and undeserving. As those feelings lodged within us, we continued to attract more life situations that had us feel more unworthy and not enough. You must change that thinking.”

That is exactly what I did. Change my thinking that I could somehow fund my college and achieve my dreams which is what I believe the law of attraction is all about. To show proof of the power of the law of attraction is the example I have experienced these past two days leading me to write this essay. I stopped believing that I was underserving of a scholarship and sought out and deeply desired my visions and dreams.

The law of attraction is like a catalog of good and bad to me. When I focus on the bad, and expect to receive the bad, it is like I am picking certain events from the universal catalog and its mailed and sent directly to my life. I have realized that my successes have come to me when I used this catalog for “good” intentions. In a prime example, I had great faith in the academic part of my college career. I knew that I would be successful after having a bad high school career. I went from being a 2.3 GPA student (in high school) to a 3.9 GPA student in college. I had the vision to become a psychologist and hopefully one day a spiritual psychologist that would use the basic principles of “The Secret”/Law of attraction to help my patients (almost similar to a humanistic/positive psychologist). This law got me to succeed to meet the requirements of a graduate school for psychological teachings. However, one thing that I attracted to me was the fear of college debt and the inability to afford college. I am sure that what you desire is what you get, so I did.  

This essay is me illustrating that the law of attraction is in effect and that I am changing the course of my misfortune to success. I have to believe it, want it, and desire it and I will receive. Although this is easier said than done I will continue to try and work the law of attraction. The more you use it, the easier it becomes to apply its principles in your life.

So far, I learned that the law of attraction is NOT a prayer or a wish on a star. It is a higher universal energy that, although I cannot explain how it works or how to use it, it is just there and has always been there. That even though there may be a God that somehow ties in this it is not easily understood to me yet.

The examples above are what is manifesting in my life right now. Fear of debt will give you debt. Although I have known about the law of attraction for a little over a year, I just recently have learned how to somewhat work it. I won’t lie, manifesting good thoughts and wants are hard when there is so much doubt from the world. Just like I knew I could be successful in school, I knew I would incur debt because debt is real and factual. However, what helps me get through factual doubt is to understand that the law attraction works beyond the realm of physical facts. Knowing this, I can succeed because I believe and desire the good. It is not about the bad you want to avoid but the good you want to receive and so far I have been benefiting from it. Of course I still need more practice.

In conclusion, I believe that anyone can succeed as long as they manifest the law of attraction in their lives. Although I believe in it, it is so complex that I even have trouble wondering if it exist. However, when events happen in life you wonder so much why it’s happening and what you did to deserves this. I realized that the frequency, whether negative or positive, can determine the course of one’s life. As of today for myself, I have gotten confirmation that the law of attraction does exist and is there for me anytime I need it or want it. Honestly, I was quite surprise that there would even be a scholarship for this topic since many people do not even know about its presence in the physical world. Just knowing that there are others like me who believe in it make me feel like anything is possible.

Post discovery of the Law of Attraction, I came to my senses and recognized that it was perfectly okay to be optimistic.

By: Stephanie Raphael Adelson

Albert Einstein once said, “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” Albert was definitely up to something when he made that very simple, but profound remark. The law of attraction has worked for me, but then again, it has definitely worked against me.
     It was 1:53 pm when I pulled into the bus station. The bus was scheduled to leave at 2:00 pm. Just five minutes earlier, I had decided that I would disturb every nerve in my mother’s soul by pretending I hadn’t purchased her bus ticket. “Mom, do you have the confirmation for your bus ticket?” I knew that she hadn’t purchased her ticket because my mother prefers not to handle anything, which requires use of a computer. And so, I had taken care of our bus tickets several days earlier. Immediately after tormenting her, I checked my email to make sure that I had confirmation for the both of us. Anxiety had started creeping in and I thought, “Wouldn’t that be something if I didn’t have the email, but I’m sitting here harassing my poor mom?” So, I told her, “Just kidding! I have the email. Our tickets are already paid for.”
     In my haste and fleeting moment of anxiety, I’d misplaced the email somewhere in my phone because when I unlocked the device to present the email, which should have been right there at the forefront of all things, it was gone! I started to pray. I frantically searched my email folders. I logged into the bus company’s website and there was no trace of the transaction, as the time of boarding had already passed. It was 1:58pm. I prayed again. “Why is this happening?” This was the last bus from Tampa to Miami International Airport, where my mom and I would be boarding a flight to the Dominican Republic. We were doomed. The time was now 1:59pm. I looked over and my poor mom was standing there a few feet away next to our luggage, her face blank. She was probably dismissing all of the thoughts of home, of seeing my father and my aunt, sipping coconut water at our leisure, eating our meals straight from the backyard. Bye, bye dreams. Bye, bye vacation. I assumed that these were her thoughts, because those were mine. It was 2:01. Most everyone had boarded the bus and we were hopelessly standing there. Time wouldn’t stop for me. I prayed. Only, my prayer wasn’t a prayer at all. It was a shudder. That despondent shudder incited a change in me and I soared outside of my frantic self. Just maybe, maybe, he’ll have mercy on me. I believed it! 
     “Sir, I can’t find my confirmation, but I can show you my online bank statement, which shows record of payment for our trip.”
     “I’m sorry,” he said. “I can’t allow you to board without the confirmation number.”
     My face transformed into a raisin and I died, twice.          “Just kidding! You seem to have an honest face and I’ve been watching you squirm for too long,” he said.
    We boarded the bus. I realized later that the entire few minutes of agony I suffered that day was motivated by my thoughts. Because I was anxious and worried, I’d stored the email in my “Important” folder, but failed to check that very folder; instead, I was suspended in hopelessness and negative thoughts. My negative thoughts had summoned this moment. And I was suffering because of it. What is amazing is that I hadn’t realize that I needed to change my perspective until I gave up completely, when my prayer wasn’t even a prayer anymore, when it was now past 2:00pm, when the wheels on the bus should have been going round and round down I95.
    When I finally underwent the transformation of attitude, my situation improved as well. I believed that just maybe the bus driver was goodhearted and merciful. I believed that talking to him could solve my problems. In retrospect, I could have absconded the very thought of asking if I had not chosen to think positively. I could have simply taken a seat on the bench next to where my mother stood and watched in agony as the wheels of the bus left us behind. But, I chose to change my thinking and became triumphant as a result.
    This seemingly minor experience caused me to ponder much about my life. Before then, I had been what I call a “realist,” when really I had been traveling across the line of negativity and positivity. I would often itemize the reasons that something would or wouldn’t occur. Often, my final thought was negative. I would avoid thinking positively because I didn’t want to be disappointed. I mean, who wants to be disappointed? Thinking back on my successful moments, I realize that the feeling of being on top of the world wasn’t just present after I succeeded, it was there BEFORE I even began, which means the very notion of succeeding before taking the steps is just as important. In juxtaposition, I also recall feeling crappy, low and negative the semester I performed poorly.
    Post discovery of the Law of Attraction, I came to my senses and recognized that it was perfectly okay to be optimistic. I realized that negative thoughts distort focus, which subsequently causes a lack of expectation. And so, my perspective changed. I opened up to better welcome impending success; I realized my potential and learned that my potential has no bounds. So, in a Law of Attraction fashion, I’m thinking that I am the winner of this scholarship.

We are all seemingly in search of truth, a place where there is an absolute or close to it.

By: Steven Bair
Universal Technical Institute

I am applying for this scholarship because I am a very determined student at Universal Technical Institute. I believe I have excelled to the point where I will keep continuing on my dream of working at Mercedes-Benz.  I have been awarded an advanced training scholarship at Mercedes-Benz.During my steps into the automotive field I have grew up with 2 disabilities. One physical and one learning. I have Perthes Disease(Avascular Necrosis of the hip)and ADHD which creates an inability to focus. Yet here at UTI I have accomplished a 3.89 GPA and an excellent attendance record.I have been into cars since I was a small child. As a child made my own name for them “Nun Nun”. I have always brought a lot to the table: honesty, integrity, and dependability. I believe I deserve this scholarship because I meet the criteria for an absolutely great investment and a great worker. I strive to go beyond and be the best at what I do. This is me in a nutshell. I have had hard times and I’ve done my best to get through them. My Perthes Disease has limped me to the point of being immobile as a child to the present, but I keep striving and get back on my feet without complaint. My ADHD has given me various struggles in high school, some severe and some minor, but I was able to accomplish a 2.5 GPA.  It also gave me the opportunity to experience what I can and will be. It has shown me that I have the drive to complete all the things that I LOVE doing, and finally it has shown me that if I REALLY want something, I CAN get it.

We are all seemingly in search of truth, a place where there is an absolute or close to it.

By:Chelsey Tellez
Arizona State University

We are all seemingly in search of truth, a place where there is an absolute or close to it. For myself, I found that my quest for truth and questioning of what is, and what is not, led me down a path that brought me into the world of science. The science world was an unfamiliar place for me full of strange wonders and unfamiliar names and faces, but the magic of it was more than captivating.  I found that science is derived from facts and these facts lead to laws theories and a sense of an accepted understanding; this is what I wanted to be my truth, it was the truth I saw for myself.
            I initially sought to pursue a science degree in order to take a medical route, but this was primarily in part to my lack of knowledge of the other avenues that were available within the science field. The medical route was not for me though; even so I pressed forward through my classes when I felt a disconnect from some crucial parts. I found this disconnect would widen when I would go home at the end of the day and although my family had an interest in my school they had no idea what questions to even ask to engage in a conversation with me about my classes.  This separation of home and school made me want to find a way to unify my worlds. I live on an acreage where we do a lot of organic gardening as a family. I wanted to take this passion at home and see if it could be carried into the academic realm. I have found a passion in conservation ecology, and have spent the last year working with a professor of ecology at Arizona State University to gain both lab in field experience. I spent my summer in Costa Rica investigating endangered species such as jaguars and clown frogs interactions with their environment. Since i returned I have been working dauntingly at creating a blog based website titled Abre los Ojos, that will interactively show current research and ecological adventures. I feel the more I understand the more I am able to share and explain to others and make it evident that science is not limited to the academic world and that the application of the scientific method can be carried into our daily lives. I have also been planning an art show to serve as interactive art platform to bring awareness to environmental issues.

Success Is A State Of Mind

By: Larissa Piazzi Scholtz
Miami Dade College

Some people constantly feel sorry for themselves and believe their dreams and hopes are never going to happen. If you think you can't do something, complain about unachieved goals and really believe life is not treating you well, your future is not going to get any better. Negativity attracts negativity the same way that positivity attracts positivity. And that's what Law of Attraction is about.
         Success is not about money, neither about fame. Success is a state of mind. A state of mind that you are able to control yourself. If you believe you are able to do something, who is going to stop you? Many people can say (or simply think) you are not going to succeed, but the only person responsible for your success is yourself.
         We constantly hear different stories about people that started their life with really bad beginnings, but instead of felling sorry and giving away their dreams, they just kept fighting. Why did they succeed? Because they believe in themselves and had positive thoughts about life. They were not different than any of us. They just made it happen.
        That is no better example than the famous and successful Oprah Winfrey. She passed through many obstacles in life that could had easily made her give her dream away. During an interview in 1986, she publicly admitted that she was sexually abused by different men during her childhood. And if this was not enough to low her self esteem, when starting in her first television job as a reporter, Oprah was turned down once again when her boss fired her because she was “unfit for TV”, as he said. However, she never gave up and now Oprah is a synonymous of triumph and achievement.
        It was not only Oprah who heard countless “no” in the beginning, other incredibly successful people like Walt Disney – who was told a mouse would never work -, Steven Spielberg – who was rejected from a film school three times - and J.W. Rowling – who was a divorced single mother struggling and attending school before any “Harry Potter” success – also had difficult first steps. However, these hard moments didn't stop these people from fighting and eventually succeeding. So why should a bad day stop you?
        When you have a bad experience, you have the power to choose what you are doing with it. Are you going to stop dreaming and give everything you have already done away because of this moment? No! You should use your bad experience to grow and avoid these same mistakes again. Bad moments and bad feedback doesn't mean you are in the wrong way. They mean you are doing something. And if you are doing something about what you care and what you want, you are definitely in the right way.
       Less than two years ago I discovered that what fulfills me is to bake. So I decided to follow my dream. First, I opened a company called “Made With Love Brigadeiro” (brigadeiro is a delicious Brazilian truffle). I created twenty five different brigadeiros' flavors and started selling my sweet treats by order and in farmer's markets. My goal had always been to have a place where people can have a break and enjoy a coffee and have a delicious treat.
        In order to grow faster, I decided that my company should open a kart – a model of business a bit smaller than a kiosk – at the mall. My husband and I came up with a business plan and convinced our family to invest. In the first month we were extremely tired but thrilled. People were coming to the mall specially to try our treats. We were interviewed by local newspapers and television channels and Brazilian magazines. It was such an honor to have all this recognition.
        However, we did everything such in a hurry to open as fast as possible that we didn't study the mall's traffic and the profile of the mall's average customers very well. After three months we lost a lot of money and had to close the kart – we didn't calculate our expenses, costs and production very well either. I can't lie. After that, I felt very frustrated.
       So, after a good thinking, I decided to absorb the best of this experience. I learned so many things out of this. Now I can say I know how to plan, execute, run and manage a business. I know what I'm capable of and, most important, I know this is what I really want to do. Then, I decided it was time to work my weaknesses. I enrolled for Culinary Arts Management because I want to learn more before opening a new store front.

        Because I know I'm very good in what I do I'm going to keep fighting for my future. I've taken a step back but it is alright. I'm sure I'm in the right way. I have to keep walking, with the difference that now I'm stronger. Life is good for me. I'm having amazing experiences and I'm thankful for what I had achieved. I'm sure even better things are coming my way because I'm positive and I believe and love what I do. Because I know success is a state of mind I can guarantee you I'm already very successful.

By: Trish Martin

The Law of Attraction asserts that the energy and/or thoughts that one has will attract success or failure, depending on what types of energy or thoughts are expressed within oneself.  When one focuses on positive things then that positivity will be reflected back into one’s life.  Negative thoughts or energies work in the same way, any negativity that becomes focused on will reflect back into that person’s life.  If the Law of Attraction is true, then a person can become successful if they focus enough energy and positive thinking toward this goal.
    The Law of Attraction makes one’s actions and outcomes the responsibility of that person.  Life can be compared to a machine, whatever kind of energy and actions that you put into the machine will cause it to put out a similar product; success or failure.  A person that puts negativity out into the world constantly will only receive negativity back into their life.  Damaging, toxic, and undermining thoughts can sabotage a person; these thoughts cause a person to become unsure of themselves and their goals.  This further proves the idea of the Law of Attraction and how it fits into one’s life.
    I have been through very much in my life; I was born with a heart condition and had to have surgery when I was just a baby, I lost my mother when I was seven years-old, had mother-figures come and go within my life, and have continued to deal with illnesses that have caused me much pain and stress.  I spent much of my time growing up feeling sorry for myself, wondering why these things had happened to me, why had I gotten the hand that I was dealt? It wasn’t until I got older that I realized that although I had had a bad run in the beginning of my life, I was not doing myself any favors by dwelling in these negative thoughts and feelings.
    I began to focus my energy in a more positive direction and had decided that I didn’t need a relationship or a man to be happy.  This is, of course, when I met my husband whom I love dearly and have now spent ten years with and been married to for eight years.  My husband actually put it this way when we met; he said that he’d cashed in all of his karma points when he met me, a very sweet thing to say but also quite true.  The good energies that we put out there and the positive things that we had done had finally paid off when we found each other.
    I found myself going back to college when I lost my marketing job at Comcast and had no college experience to put on my resume.  The Office of Employment offered me a way to go back to school on the government’s dime; I was put into the WIA program which enabled me to get my Associates in Human Services.  After a brief internship with the rape crisis center, I decided that I did not want to continue into the Social Work program; that career, in itself, deals in enough negative energy to wear a person down.
    I wanted to continue on with my education and enrolled at Arizona State University with their online program; this program transferred nearly all of my previous credits over so that I would not have to repeat most of the basic classes.  Making this jump, I decided to go into the Liberal Studies program as I wanted something that would give me a broader scope of learning.  I have excelled pretty well in this program and have gone into it with a positive attitude and an excitement for learning new things.  There have been some bumps in the road in the past few years and my husband and I have struggled with our financial situation, however I have kept a positive attitude and tried to focus on my goals.  I believe in myself and my husband and I know that as long as I continue to put positive energy out there, that I will eventually find the success that I desire.
    There will always be someone or something there to get in your way and make you second guess yourself but you must move past this you must encourage yourself to keep positive.  You must focus on your goals and put everything you have into them, or else what use is having a goal?  Too many times people talk about their regrets, about their failures, and they focus their energy on them; focusing on such things will only cause more of the same.  I try to remember that as long as I let go of my regrets and failures, that I can become a more enlightened and successful person.

Law of Attraction: The Outcome

By: Fariraishe Muzondo

            The law of attraction can be defined as the outcome of one’s thoughts. Additionally, the law is the opposite of the “opposites attract” rule. In this law, a positive attracts a positive while a negative attracts a negative. The positives and the negatives refer to one’s thoughts, words, and views.

             Is the law that simple to understand? Yes, it is. If a person is negative toward an aspect of his or her life then he or she attracts a negative outcome. For example, a girl wants to audition for an advanced level dance class. That same girl has completed all the prerequisite dance classes, so she is well prepared to audition for the class. Days before the audition, she spends her time coming up with reasons why she won’t make the class even if she auditions. Some of the reasons are she has not been dancing for that long, she can’t land a double pirouette turn, she can’t do a switch leap, she’s not as skinny as the other dancers, etc. Instead of using that time to practice her pirouettes or switch leaps, she’s wasting it by bringing herself down. When audition day approaches, her negative thoughts somehow find a way to keep her from auditioning. Those negative thoughts produced a negative outcome. Would she have made the class if she tried out? The truth is she will never know because she did not try out. The point of the story isn’t to say that if you try something you will succeed. The point is that going for something, no matter the odds, leaves you with no regrets. Not making the dance class would’ve upset the girl, but she would’ve picked herself up sooner than later because failure is an inevitable part of life.

            I am the girl in the story mentioned above and to this day I can say that I regret not trying out for advanced dance technique. Regret is worse than failure; and if I had not gotten another chance to try out for the advanced level class, I probably would’ve hated myself for not trying out when I had the chance. Although I regret not trying out the first time, I do not regret undergoing that experience of giving up before trying because it made me who I am today. After that event, I began to insert positivity in my life. I realized that thinking and speaking negatively of myself kept me from being happy, being confident, and reaching my goals. The only way to turn my attitude, toward life, around was to constantly teach myself to be positive. A new confident and happy Fariraishe was evolving; and honestly, it was not easy at first, but with time it became second nature to me.

            There is something special that comes from being positive; the special ability to see the light even when you’re in the blackest hole. Positivity allows a person to look at failure as a good thing. Positive people are able to pick themselves up because they know that their story ends only when they decide to end it. Somehow a failure motivates them to improve their performance the next time. While most people spend their time counting the times they have failed, positive people know that a win is worth twice more than a fail. Because they spend more time speaking good things in their life, positive people are always prepared for whatever life throws at them. A positive mind has no room to panic because that room is filled with solutions. Thinking and speaking positivity in one’s life shapes the outcome of his or her decisions.

            In the darkest moments of my life, it always seemed like the whole world was against me; on top of that, I was negative toward myself which meant that I was against myself too. It is easy to win a battle against the world, but the battle against self is a whole different story; because when you are against yourself, no one can for you. That is where you have to decide to live the law. Deciding to live according to the law of attraction is the best decision I’ve ever made. Since then, I’ve been happy and confident. The kind of happy and confidence that is not pretend. The law allows me to take opportunities without the fear of failing. It allows me to count my blessing rather than my mishaps. I’m my biggest fan because I cheer the loudest for myself. The law allows me to stand tall for my dreams especially when everyone else refuses to believe in my dreams. The law allows me to look at a brighter future. Because of the law, I am confident in who I will be in ten years. I know that I will fail at times; however, I won’t let those failures keep me from reaching my goal. Living the law helps me understand that failure is a part of life and in order to be successful in the future, I will fail more than once. But, the outcome of my future depends on how many times I get up after I fall.

Thoughts are energy and flow into the universe to attract like energy and similar thoughts

Denise Ebony Dantzler
MidAmerica Nazarene University

A main belief for the Law of Attraction is that positive thinking and positive thoughts are the cornerstone for a person’s greatest desires to manifest into reality. In addition to this foundational premise, it is a core belief that thoughts are energy and flow into the universe to attract like energy and similar thoughts. Positive thoughts and positive energy attract positive thoughts, energy and physical results in return. Negative thoughts and energy attract undesired results like pain, misery, suffering, disappointment and a lack of wealth. Thus, likes attract likes. The past should not limit or detract from the future, so following the Law of Attraction usually requires a fresh start.
     Taking the Law of Attraction a bit further, there is a prescribed set of specific steps and actions to be followed in a specific order, so that one’s mind and behaviors are consistent with the results they want to achieve. Those steps include:

·         Establishing a plan or roadmap and then making a very conscious decision to move toward accomplishing those goals.

·         Preparing your mind so you can accomplish your goals. This includes loving yourself unconditionally, having positive visualizations, meditating and constantly speaking positively and supportively to yourself.

·         Letting go! Release any resistance from your mind that may hinder your progress in meeting your goals and maintain a mindset characterized by appreciation.

·         Entering into your desired state using positive affirmations, meditation and visualizations to remain there. Imagine what your emotional and physical state would be like if you accomplished your plan, then visualize yourself in that state and stay there. In other words, you essentially fake it until you make it!
    Practically speaking, some basic components of the Law of Attraction include positive thinking, maintaining a positive demeanor and showing happiness outwardly in a genuine fashion to others. It also involves promoting a positive self image through positive affirmations to one’s self and positive self-talk. When a person exhibits an external aura of positivity, then others will be attracted to that person, like or favor that person, implicitly trust that person, want to be around that person, and also want to support that person.
    I was unaware until recently that I have been implementing some components of the Law of Attraction. I noticed during my summer job that people responded favorably to me when I maintained a positive attitude, smiled at them, asked them about themselves, and remembered and used their first name in conversations. In my customer service role at the welcome desk of a not-for-profit community center, there were times when I provided assistance to some very upset people. When those irate customers walked up to me, and I smiled at them genuinely and let them know I was there to help, their face, demeanor, tone of voice and even their posture softened. By the end of our interaction, they would even apologize to me for their initial behavior or they would indicate they were not really mad at me, per se, but upset with the situation. I learned over the summer that smiling and using a positive demeanor makes all the difference in the world, and can turn an "enemy" into a friend.
    I also used the positivity approach when conducting tours with potential members of the community center. I was one of the youngest members on staff and only worked part-time during the summer, yet I was a consistent overall leader in the sale of new memberships at my location. I believe my positivity had a lot to do with this, as I saw others conducting the same tours and explaining the same information, but not experiencing sales results anywhere close to mine. I also received several positive member comment sheets where members took the time (wholly unprompted and spontaneously) to recognize my smile, positive attitude, professionalism and helpfulness.
    People do respond well to positivity! They respond with more positive behaviors, a more positive demeanor, more positive language, and they also respond with their wallets through increased sales. Understanding and emulating the principles prescribed within the Law of Attraction really does pay off. I unconsciously followed a limited number of Law of Attraction principles and the payoff with my work performance and sales was tremendous. With the right training and coaching in the formal Law of Attraction practices, I believe I will be unstoppable in achieving my academic goal of graduating with an advanced degree in chemistry, and career goal of becoming a chemical researcher who develops new pharmaceutical products and medicines and solves health related issues that contribute to mental illness.
    Thank you for allowing me to explore this very intriguing topic, and for considering me for this tremendous scholarship opportunity.

I could talk for days about my passion for the Law of Attraction

By: Madeleine Hall

I have to begin with exclaiming my pure excitement to be writing this essay. Not because I am money hungry or competitive by nature, but because I could talk for days about my passion for the Law of Attraction. This ultimate secret of the universe has honestly transformed my life, and added within me a deep-seeded excitement seeking what’s next in this crazy journey. This is the the first time I was ever drawn to search for a scholarship, and the Achieve Today Scholarship was the first one that popped up on my screen, which is is further proof of how thoughts become things. I would have submitted a video if it hadn’t seemed too hard to fit everything I have to say into it, getting jumbled in my words because I have so many ideas which want to get out at the same time. So here’s my story…

Let’s start with just before I first found out about the Law of Attraction. I was working at The Gelato Spot in Phoenix, Arizona for nearly five years. It was my first job and there were many negative influences on me resulting in a poor perception of life. I was a person who made decisions based on what others thought of me; overall I was an extremely pessimistic, dramatic, and depressed being. I continued in the same pattern of attracting repetitive and negative things and people into my life, without realizing I had any control over it. Then, slowly, I began to wonder: if some people can be happy and confident, why can’t I? This thought led to other thoughts, thoughts that began to break through the dark clouds that I unknowingly accumulated over my head. The light began to break through. One day soon after, someone introduced me to the movie The Secret. This is how I first was presented to the Law of Attraction. Although this specific rendering of the Law was created to show how one may use it to satisfy their materialistic cravings, I applied it my character, and therefore my quality of life.

What I understood of the Law of Attraction is that what you think, you manifest. The universe gives you what you think about, or surrounds you by things that cause you the same sort of feelings that you are currently feeling. Your thoughts become things; whether you are actively monitoring your thoughts or not. I could clearly see how this Law was fact and not fiction; hence, I actively set out to harness its power. I began spending my time increasing my positive energies by visualizing, reading inspiring books of compassion written by The Dalai Lama, doing yoga, watching documentaries that further explored the Law, and I also began monitoring my own thoughts. Before I knew it I had saved enough money working at The Gelato Spot to move myself to Seattle, Washington, to be reunited with my best friend from high school, and moreover to get passage out of Phoenix. I continued my college courses online so as to keep up with school while pursuing my dreams. I had already planned what life would bring me once in Seattle: close proximity to nature, unlimited muse for my artwork, my dream job to be a children’s art instructor, and overall more opportunities for happiness. Since I have already established that the Law is fact, it pretty much goes without saying that EVERY single one of these wishes came true.

Once you get up to the level in your life you once dreamed about, it is time to dream new and bigger dreams. I decided it was about time to meet my soul mate. I made a list of every characteristic that was important to me in a man and started visualizing. One trick about visualization that I had learned is that you have to believe you already have something, whole-heartedly, in order to attract it in the quickest possible manner. Within about a month of making that list, and a couple weeks after joining PlentyofFish.com, I had met Alex. Our profiles were almost identical when describing ourselves and what we were looking for. As I started dating Alex I could clearly see that he possessed not only exactly every characteristic that I had visualized but even his family reflected where my thoughts were at that time. Oh, and he just so happened to live a 5 minute walk away from the apartment I was living in as that time. Needless to say, we ended up falling in love.

The next time I decided to actively utilize the Law of Attraction is when I realized that, although I loved teaching art to children, I was not specific enough when manifesting that specific job. Eventually the bad began to outweigh the good of the job and it was time to write a new list to visualize on. I decided I would like a nannying job that: was within short walking distance of the new apartment Alex and I shared, provided increased hourly compensation, as well as being during the hours of Monday through Friday from 8-2pm. Lo and Behold, within a short amount of time I actually found EXACTLY that job that was only an eight minute walk from our place. This job not only enabled me to save up enough money to decide what was to come next, but I also got to spend a lot of quality time with a sweet three-year-old boy, his thirteen-year-old brother with autism, and his ten-year-old sister.

Alex is in the United States Coast Guard; a few months ago he had to decide where to request to be stationed next. We discussed that both our long-time dreams included living on the northern Oregon coast, in a smaller city than Seattle. As of July 1 we are now in our dream apartment living in Astoria, Oregon with our four-year-old dog, Kailo. Unfortunately, not all in life is dream, after dream, after dream come true. Without the bad, there would be no good. On July 23, Alex’s mother passed away from lung cancer. We are gradually working towards being able to move past this event by relying on our spirituality and faith in the universe. Maria, Alex’s mother, was an avid believer in the Law of Attraction! She and I discussed the power of thought and the infinite possibilities presented to us each time we spoke. Maria once revealed to me that if she ever were to pass away, she would have nothing to worry about because her son was in good hands. As I mentioned above, the nanny job I manifested with the Law added a bit of income to my savings account. This, along with remembering Maria and how she always encouraged me to pursue my passion as an artist, leads me to my current dreams. Right now in my life, I am realizing just how important it is to stop waiting and planning, and instead to start doing. Life is too short to keep waiting for the perfect time to make things happen. I am currently visualizing my success as an artist, the completion of my Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology, and the continued health and happiness of everyone I love. Though tough times make it more difficult to see the light of opportunities, with the Law of Attraction I always know they are still within reach if I choose them to be.

Overall the most important thing that the Law of Attraction has taught me is the vital significance of maintaining a positive attitude. Lastly, I express my gratitude for having the opportunity to submit my application for this scholarship, and moreover, to you the reader of this essay, for listening to my journey of working with the Law of Attraction. Thank you for letting me share my insights and experiences with you.

The Law of Attraction Is Universal And Existent In This World

By: Carli Kimball
University of Central Florida

The Law of Attraction states, “That which is like unto itself, is drawn”. In other words, we attract whatever we think about, good or bad. By focusing on something, you can make it happen. The saying, “birds of a feather flock together” is another example of The Law of Attraction.
    Around campus, I notice many diverse clusters of people. There are fit bodied people, the academic geniuses, the fashionable, the sororities and fraternities, and the nonconformists. Although all these people fall under The Law of Attraction, each of them focuses on something they want to be and allows it to happen. For example, the fit bodied people focus on working out daily, eating healthy, and making sure to keep their body as healthy as possible. Also, the academic geniuses, they work hard in school, studying, and participating so much that they succeed and make the finest grades possible. These are all mere examples of The Law of Attraction and how I am surrounded by it as a student.
     As for myself, I attract people that love to have fun; yet, can sit down and study. I maintain respectable grades and attract similar people. Also, I love exercising and my friends do as well, so we will go to the gym after studying. I practice The Law of Attraction by being respectful of my elders, friendly to everyone I meet, having a positive attitude, and cooperating with my peers. I try to live by these four simple influences because I want to attract people who are the same as I. The Law of Attraction helps my friends and I become more optimistic and understanding of others.
     The Law of Attraction is universal and existent in this world. Growing up, I never understood the concept fully until now as a young adult. The Law of Attraction is part of a way of thinking. Positive thinking and thinking of encouraging outcomes will help create realistic positive outcomes. The Law of Attraction reacts to your thoughts and makes it become actuality. For example, thinking negatively before a test can help you fail, but if you think positively you have a better chance of passing because you made it happen. No one else has the power to make a situation about you occur, only you do. This is yet another way how The Law of Attraction is compelling.
     During high school, I played three years of softball on the Varsity team. I spent one year on Junior Varsity. During my freshman year on Junior Varsity, I was not satisfied that I made Junior Varsity. So I decided to work hard, attend every practice, had my own practices with my dad and a hitting coach, and played travel ball for the summer. When tryouts for the 2012 team came around, I had a positive mindset about the sport and believed in myself. I strained every tryout day and when my coach posted the list, I was ecstatic to have made Varsity. Confident thinking, being optimistic, and working hard had prevailed.
    During middle school, I wore a back brace to help prevent my scoliosis from worsening. I was close to surgery but fortunately the doctors caught it just in time. I was only bullied by one particular girl and everyone else accepted me. During this experience, I cried a lot and detested myself. When it was getting close to going to doctor’s appointments, I would pray that this forsaken brace would be taken off for good; however that was never the case. Until I finally learned to accept myself, my condition, and when I became confident of myself wearing the brace outside of my clothes, I then learned that it wasn’t so horrendous. I made more friends than ever when I accepted myself. I made jokes about wearing the brace, “I have rock hard abs!” and “I can color on my brace, who wants to color on me?” By the time I reached eighth grade, I was able to only wear it at night and not to school anymore. Although I still had to wear it, I became the happiest teenager in the world. If it wasn’t for my confident mindset, being optimistic about the back brace, and surrounding myself with accepting people, I would’ve never have gotten the significance of The Law of Attraction and what it really means.
    The Law of Attraction will improve my future because of how it taught me so much over the years, and for the rest of my life. I am certain that I will leave an encouraging, progressive, and happy life. The Law of Attraction has helped me learn that thinking positively has a great impact on your actions and outcomes. The Law of Attraction has also taught me how important it is to surround yourself around the right people. I never want to be surrounded by people who are wicked, cruel, and selfish. I only want to be around people who are blissful, supporting, and propitious. When I am old enough to marry, I want a man that lives the same life style as I and would support us through our hardships. In my career, I plan to be a guidance counselor. Besides giving guidance and counseling, I want to spread my positivity into the students and teach them how to live by The Law of Attraction and the benefits of doing so. This way The Law of Attraction and its theories will spread for decades and possibly give assistance adolescents through their own personal struggles.
    The Law of Attraction to my understanding is a way of thinking, believing, and achieving. You must think of something to benefit your life positively, believe and work at achievement, and eventually achievement. Focusing and positive thinking impact on the outcomes of situations and can affect your life greatly. Surrounding yourself with positive people, creates an optimistic environment, and in turn makes many people happy. Although I have been through some rough times in my life, I would’ve never understood the concept as great as I did without them. Learning from these experiences helps me benefit myself and prepare for a more sanguine life.

Time Is Precious And Once Allocated It Is Never Redeemable

By: LaGuerre, Sandra

As a child, it is expected that someone will grab your hand ever so tenderly and guide you through the darkness that in turns is revealed to light. As we get older we are molded and take on various characteristics and share our personality with those around us. It is outlined that every positive or negative event that has occurred with an individual was magnetized by that very being; this is known as the law of attraction. The law becomes a part of your everyday use, I for one thinks that it stems from an individual’s childhood.

While younger, I was often told that perception is reality and that if I ever foreseen the worst of a situation, that is bound to be the true occurrence. If I ask something, believe that it will occur, and then indeed I am bound to receive it. I look at this law as a will power and motivational piece. For example, I am a first generation college student; I am not surprised, from the very time that I was going through my high school years it was almost as though I projected myself into the future of what my collegiate experience would be like. I would imagine the classrooms, taking a walk on the school grounds and projecting myself to as far as graduation. During that time, I understood that no one in my family carried the blueprint to a successful college experience, but I told myself that I would design the map and those younger than I would have a smooth line road to follow on a once old dirt filled road. At an early age, through the positive use of this law, I was able to assess what I wanted without a drop of doubt. I would think of an exact picture of what I wanted, a degree in biology and criminology, reluctant to changes from other individual’s suggestions, a complete perpetuation of my career as a criminal behavior analyst.

This mindset refrain me from wasting my time; time is precious and once allocated it is never redeemable at a later date. With this in mind, I must make decisions with complete clarity and positivity and stick by them with will power so I do not create a shift or exert confusion to my universe. I often ponder walking by a building and stating to myself that, within June this is where I am going to work, speaking something into existence is crucial, if you do not believe that you have strong capabilities of being in a certain position of positive gain… why should someone else believe that you have what it takes to be the headhunter of that area? People often get things confused with arrogance, no, let me explain that it is a tactful rubric. If I place myself in a position of control, I will be left as the only individual who could block myself from being a recipient. With this method, it is a vision, a vision of trust that the prophecy will be fulfilled, and with this, it can be left in the hands of the universe- in your mind it is already complete and you are simply awaiting your reward.  Essentially, whatever it may be that one reflects on, the universe responds to it in the way that we emotionally connect to it.

Think of the constant notion of “like attract like”, during my undergrad, I was taking a heavy amount of science courses, would it be surprising to say that most of my friends were like minded science individuals, what I thought was important, they thought was important. If I thought the test was easy, they thought the test was easy; you are who you are in company of. We have been hearing these opinions for years, this is not new. Think of the time that you were having a bad day, it all started with one thing, maybe you started off by having a flat tires, then you were late to work, and then you discovered that you forgot your lunch, are these all coincidental? Perhaps it all started with you thinking that the day merely starting off poor is only subject to go from bad to worst. The negativity becomes more of an expectation, a part of your life that is being waited upon to occur. This simply holds you back from taking control of your capabilities and blinds you from focusing on planting your seeds of success. Now, placing yourself on a battlefield of destruction, the main attraction truly being you against yourself. When I focused on the positive things of life in terms of my education, I told myself how fortunate my children will be, how special I am to be honored with such a position as first generation; this allowed me to put myself up, it built upon my pride and character, I became stronger. Your thoughts and beliefs are a powerful, I often believe it is that lack of that sustains the cycle of poverty in the ghettoes. There is an expectation that this is all that life has to offer and that as individuals they are unworthy or incapable of much more which in all reality is undoubtedly incorrect… I was once an inner city child, you can create a shift in your life but it all starts with a shift in your way of thinking, locating the resources for power. My father always told me that knowledge was power; living with the law of attraction allows me to channel my power.

An Eye For An Eye

By: JEAN-LUC PURSE
University of Central Florida

Basically the law of attraction in the ‘new thought’ sense not Isaac Newtons law, states something very similar to Hammurabi’s law — an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. This ‘new thought’ states that if you think or want something positive then it shall be positive, conversely, it does go the other way stating that if you think or want something negative then it shall be negative. I had not heard of this law till I found this scholarship, but after researching the subject it does make sense and I can see why it could be important in some lives as it is always better to focus on the positives in any situation and not the negative. If you are always negative more negative things will tend to happen to you, again it does work for the other side of the argument, such as, if you think of the positives you will always tend to see more positives occurring in your life which can ultimately lead to a healthier life overall (i.e less depression and such). “One example used by a proponent of the law of attraction is that if a person opened an envelope expecting to see a bill, then the law of attraction would "confirm" those thoughts and contain a bill when opened. A person who decided to instead expect a cheque might, under the same law, find a cheque instead of a bill”(csicop.org). I throughly believe that the law of attraction could make a difference in someones life as of this moment it has not in my life, because I have just recently learned about this law. 

My career goal, after attending the University of Central Florida, is to get a commission into the United States Air Force as an officer and as a pilot. As an immigrant from the United Kingdom I felt obligated to assist the nation that so willingly allowed myself and my nuclear family to move to this country. Now that I am a citizen I combined my love of aviation with this obligation. Hence, I decided to attempt to get into a military academy. I was positive about the United States Air Force Academy because of my pilot ambition Subsequently, I made it to the final selection of the United States Air Force Academy selection process, however, I was not accepted with the only reason supposedly being the sequestration to the services. If this law was know to me before this then it possibly would have helped. I was positive therefore according to this law I should have been accepted.

This, however, did not demotivate me from joining the service and now plan to attend Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of Central Florida to get that commission as an officer. Additionally, I will be implementing the Law of Attraction as I continue forward in my life as well as with this scholarship. Living this law should get me scholarships such as this one. If I think positively about this scholarship then according to this law then I should get the scholarship. I need funding to get through this next step of my life and I’d greatly appreciate your scholarship. It would be a great asset in my pursuit of a further education and to serve the country.

Some tips I found: (http://www.wikihow.com/Use-the-Law-of-Attraction)

- If you experience an event that makes you so happy and overjoyed that you want to attract more into your life then try and remember your inner emotion you had (your heart beating faster/ stomach jumping) whatever it was try and replicate that by remembering the event and then if your vibrational energy is the same as you felt in that joyous moment then the it will manifest and you will attract it into your life.

- Focus as often as you can on what you DO want rather than on what you don't want. For example, if you are angry or upset about a war/conflict that has been going on, do your best to be 'pro-peace' rather than 'anti-war' - focus on the peace, and the kinds of solutions that you would like to see, instead of whatever it is that you do not like about the situation.

- Have a vision board or a picture from a magazine to help you see and feel what you want, look at that picture everyday (better to do this in the morning since this will help you to feel better throughout the day), and focus on emitting happy feelings to the Universe.

- Good feelings = good reality. Feel GOOD. Put on your favorite song, paint a picture, have fun with your pet, or think of someone or something that you love, something that makes you happy, and just shut your eyes and dwell on this. These can be called Frequency Shifters, so have a few up your sleeve. Different thoughts work for different situations, so think of a few now you can use later.

Like Flow Attracted To Like Flow

By: Amiya Chakraborty

The Law of Attraction  simply says that you attract into your life whatever you think about.    Your 
dominant thoughts will find a way to manifest.  The  law of attraction  is the name given to the 
belief that "like attracts like" and that by focusing on positive or negative thoughts, one can bring 
about positive or negative results. This belief is based upon the idea that people and their thoughts 
are both made from "pure energy", and the belief that like energy attracts like energy.  One example 
used by a proponent of the law of attraction is that if a person opened an envelope expecting to see 
a bill, then the law of attraction would "confirm" those thoughts and contain a bill when opened. 
A person who decided to instead expect a cheque might, under the same law, find a cheque instead 
of a bill. However, there is no scientific basis to the assertions fabricated by law of attraction. The 
law  of  attraction  is  a  natural  law  which  claims  that  as  we  think  and  feel,  a  corresponding 
frequency is sent out into the universe that attracts back to us events and circumstances on that 
same frequency.  For example, if you think angry thoughts and feel angry, it is claimed that you 
will attract back events and circumstances that cause you to feel more anger. Conversely, if you 
think and feel positively, you will attract back positive events and circumstances. Besides, the law 
claims that desirable outcomes such as health,  wealth, and happiness can be attracted simply by 
changing one's thoughts and feelings. For example, some people believe that using the Secret can 
cure cancer. 
Quite simply, the whole concept revolves around like  attracting like.  If like attracts like, put the 
north poles  of two magnets together  and tell me what they do. They  obviously repel each other 
quite strongly. What is really  going on? If  this so-called Law of Attraction is a LAW, then that 
means that it would apply to magnets as well. For instance,  if you take two magnets and put the 
north  sides  of  each  magnet  together,  they  repel.  Why  do  they  do  this  if  the  universal  law  of 
attraction supposedly states that like attracts like? So when the north of one magnet is connected 
to the south of another magnet, like IS attracted to like. You think that is opposite attraction don't 
you? Like flow is attracted to like flow. On one magnet, the flow is from south to north and in the 
other magnet, the flow is from  south to north as well. Both of these like flows are in  alignment 
with each other. Therefore, when looking at the  whole picture, like is still  attracted to like even 
though  virtually every human being  that knows about magnets will  still tell you that opposites 
attract.

To give another example, if there is a teenager who is a car freak and loves to fix up his hotrod and race around, chances are that a good percentage of his friends are also a bunch of car freaks. If they all have something in common, they will obviously have a tendency to group together. In this instance, it is easy to see that like attracts like and the attraction law seems to hold true as claimed. The Law of Attraction (LoA) is a life-changer. Because the LoA is all about goals and achievement. It contains a well-known truth: that the difference between those who succeed and those who fail is often a very slim margin. The ones who succeed were willing to stay with a goal for just a little bit longer; and the ones who failed gave in. This propound truth can be expressed popularly as:
“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”
Manifesting our reality is about “learning” to use the hidden power of our mind. Untapping this power is easier than you might think and can be activated by three powerful forces. Firstly, Clarity; most people, when asked what they want from their life, respond in general terms, such as: “I just want to be happy”. But, it is important to define what your idea of “happiness” is. By taking the time to define and describe exactly what you would like in the different areas of your life, you will fill your mind with those thoughts and images and be more likely to attract the right people, places and resources to make those thoughts a reality. As stated by the great French Mathematician and Philosopher, Blaise Pascal, in 1623: “Clarity of mind means clarity of passion, too; this is why a great and clear mind loves ardently and sees distinctly what it loves.” Indeed, I took a moment to define and clarify at least one “goal - publish a research paper in an international journal” for myself for the next year. I had fun with this and described my goal in as much detail as possible. I activated all my five senses to determine what I will see, feel, hear and experience when this goal is my reality. The emotional vibrational state generated from this experience created a strong magnetizing affect for my goal. Secondly, The Written Word; research recently conducted by Professor Dr. Gail Matthews at the Dominican University Of California shows that people who wrote down their goals were on an average 33% more successful in accomplishing their stated goals than those who merely formulated goals. Personally, I have pleasantly shocked myself on countless occasions during my under-graduation studies, when I found old notebooks containing my presently accomplished goals written down in them. It almost seems that the written word may by your own personal toll free order-line, lead to the quantum field of possibilities. Why not take five minutes to write down your most inspiring goal in clear and detailed terms and boost your manifesting power by 33%! Thirdly, Attitude of gratitude; the fastest way to attain an “abundance mind-set” and align your emotional vibration with the flow of prosperity and joy. Start the simple practice of writing down
five people, things or situations that you are grateful for, every night before you go to bed. Gratitude will positively shift your energy instantly and clear out any negativity that has accumulated during the day. Individualistically, I sincerely ape this act and have eventually fallen into a positive spiral where everything seems righteous at once.
The LoA encompasses Conscientious Action Law. According to this law, as I sow, so shall I reap. I have to be dignified in my action and only this will bring in plenty of rewards. Moreover, LoA embraces Delicate Balance Law: Do not be desperate under any circumstances, as I know that desperation is actually a negative emotion. It will send wrong signals. I must always balance between my dream life and the present. I should not center my desires only towards the goal and neglect everything else. This will not help me. Be content with what I have for the present while holding on to my dreams. Additionally, LoA encloses Unwavering Desire Law. In obedience to this law, if I feel that I am the right person to get what I want, then with pure heart and complete concentration, I should wish to have it. This unwavering desire will send vibrations to the universe and I will receive what is mine. I should not fear or have any doubts, because that may hold me back. Finally, LoA encircles the Manifestation Law: Whatever I think and how much energy I spend on those thoughts will manifest into reality. I will create my reality through my own thoughts. If I want to succeed, then I have to think intensely about success, and it will be mine. At the same time, if I think hard of failure, then failure will come my way. So I have to be careful with my wish. It will happen if I concentrate on it hard enough.
Living my life harmonizing the aforementioned Laws of Attraction shall always make me think and feel positively and purposefully. I will attract only the best things. Success and felicity will be mine.

Living Rose’s Law Of Attraction

By, Roseanna St.Pierre

The law of attraction is that our thinking creates and brings to us whatever we think about. It's as every time we think, every time we speak a word, the universe is listening and responds to us. Focusing on what you wish to experience instead of what you wish NOT to experience is living in the law of attraction. Living in the now with a strong attraction to positive events is the key to success. If you experience an event that makes you so happy and elated that you want to attract more into your life then remember the inner emotion you had. Focus as often as you can on what you DO want rather than on what you don't want. Success comes to those who work hard and attract positive situations to them. Anytime you feel negative emotions, you are in the state of resisting something that you want, and that resistance takes its toll on you. It takes its toll on your physical body, and it takes its toll on the amount of wonderful things that you are allowing to come into your experience.

 I have a vision board with the pictures from magazines to help me envision and feel what I want, I look at that picture every morning, and this helps me to feel better throughout the day. I can focus better on emitting happy feelings to the Universe by doing this and writing in a journal to record my best memories; Good feelings = good reality. Feel GOOD about being you, put on your favorite song, paint a picture, have fun with your pet, or think of someone or something that you love, something that makes you happy, and just shut your eyes and imagine this. If you have tried using the law of attraction before and you have said, "this stuff isn't working" then the universe will give you more of 'this isn't working.' "Be careful what you wish for because you just may get it," is not a statement to joke around with. This law is so powerful your request could instantly and powerfully create your own hell without warning. Remember, this Law could be used to create or destroy. If you are constantly worried about bad things happening, or negative outcomes, then you are using the law of attraction AGAINST yourself. To worry is to apply most of the above steps, towards a NEGATIVE outcome. You can't use the Law of Attraction to control people either, but you can wish for them to appear.

I am living in my own law of attraction by making a vision board, writing positive notes to myself in a journal, thinking happy thoughts, and applying them to my family’s life. My son and I make a happy wish before bed with the classic “Goodnight, sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite, and have a happy dream for tomorrow”. For my fiancé and me, we say, "I am wealthy have lots of money." Instead of saying “we need to get out of debt.” We’ve read different books about the Law of Attraction and watching how you word things is a key to success as well. Making a positive statement is the only way around the negative situations; being proud and confident in a positive manner will help avoid the alternative. We also use several steps from the Law of attraction on a daily basis: Relax your mind by meditating or yoga class, be sure of what you wish for, ask the universe, feel it, be thankful, and don’t stress.

I like to tell myself a few key quotes to get my day off to a great start, like, 'I love who I am. I love life. Life loves me. It's going to be smooth and easy. Life works for me.' I feel like I am Jack planting that magic bean that creates the beanstalk, but I am planting it to grow to a better life. I have planted the seed to grow into a more positive lifestyle for my family to share with me. We experience life to the fullest, even when we have our bad days. We appreciate each other for who the individual is, we laugh about silly things, and we ask every day for the universe to keep us together. It is a simple truth that we are what we think about, we create our own lives based on our thoughts and beliefs, being positive will create positive outcomes. Considering the Universe is one thing and life is a part of the Universe, what do you think is happening when we all think and believe positively? We are changing the world’s future for a brighter tomorrow. The main key to success is believing the Laws of attraction work. Each and every component that makes up your life experience is drawn to you by this powerful Law. Response to the thoughts you think and the story you tell about your life is the key to your money and financial assets; your body’s state of wellness, clarity, flexibility, size, and shape; your work environment, how you are treated, work satisfaction, and rewards is all happening because of the story that you tell.

The Law of Attraction is Mine

By: Kimberly Stafford

When someone mentions the law of attraction, one might think it involves the art of love or other such ventures, considering attraction’s colloquial use in the wooing of a mate. But when it comes to philosophical debate, attraction can mean something entirely inconsistent with this expression. Attraction, while still meaning to have two objects or forces pulled toward each other, can sometimes deal with invisible entities. In a simpler way, Karma is a bit like the law of attraction. Every action has an equal, opposite reaction. Karma, the ancient Hindu principle which virtually decides one’s fate, is all based on their attitude or actions. When someone commits a crime or sin, the action they take will ultimately decide their future, whether in the present or a future life. The law of attraction is similar in that if you expect something bad to happen to you, it more likely will, while the opposite also holds true. Karma can be confusing when paired with the law of attraction so to keep it straight, Karma is when present actions affect future consequences. The law effects present circumstances based on the attitude or mindset given in each situation.

Basically, the law means to stay positive and positive things will happen. Looking at the bad parts does not mean that things will automatically turn out worse. The bright side, as I like to call it, can get on people’s nerves. My sister, for example, is pessimistic and under values my intellect. She constantly bombards me with insults such as “nerd”, “geek”, “freak”, and the occasional curse words. Yet even after all the barrages, she asks me for help on her homework because she does not understand math as well as the teachers think. Despite the names, I actually assist her, not because I involuntarily forgive her immediately, but because I have to live with her for another year and I live by the law. The brandings wane and she becomes calmer as I constantly watch her back, and she realizes, startlingly, that I do care about her and only want her to succeed. She has stopped calling me vulgar names and we like to hang out now, sharing many interests. It’s all because I followed the law and remained positive, rather than sulking over every god forsaken alias she decided to assail me with. She doesn’t realize how I felt on the inside, slowly dying from a lack of respect from someone a foot shorter, whereas I kept my outer appearance hopeful.

Karma is a good principle to follow, but I’d rather stay with the law of attraction because its results are more immediate, rather than waiting for a next life that some don’t even believe in. Volunteering is idealistically rewarding because you can feel the importance of your work almost instantaneously. Holding the door open for someone is instant gratification and easily done. A positive flow courses through the body, brightening the world around. It doesn’t have to be for ten people either. It can be just one person which you positively affect that flows right back to you. There’s always the possibility that the person you held the door open for was having a bad day, got fired, arms were full, screaming kids, anything that would bring negativity into one’s life could’ve been effecting that person. But through the haze of depression, you offered something good and whole that didn’t require repayment, and it seeped into that person, so they passed it on and helped someone else, maybe also holding the door open or just donating some change in a bucket. The thing is, it gets passed on, an endless cycle that goes on and it starts with something simple, a kind act from staying positive and selfless.

I constantly roam the internet on all sorts of sites like Tumblr or Facebook. Every so often, I stumble across an uplifting or even just a funny picture and share it with friends online. I attract positive friends because I stay positive myself, which tends to rub off on people. This rubbing off can be simply sending a funny picture to brighten their day. When I am working on a paper and haven’t got any ideas, I get so frustrated and stuck on certain negative emotions. If my friend, Emily or my mom know I’m stuck, they send me pictures portraying motivational quotes or even just a hilarious show reference I like, anything that gets my mind off the grueling work. This ultimately gives me good ideas and I can finish my project and send them a reply picture back. Such miniscule things seem so positive that they can immediately change your mood are common, maybe just a show you watch with your friends can lift low spirits.

The point I am trying to make is that the law of attraction is basically to keep positive and good things will happen. I use this positivity to pass on to others a good day and I will continue to brighten peoples’ lives in the future.

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