At the age of 15, entering the work force was a goal that I achieved with my first job at a sandwich shop. I eventually moved on to work with Panera Bread for a decade, as a shift manager, and ultimately as assistant manager. After my tenure with Panera, I went to culinary school to get my associate's degree and culinary diploma. Unfortunately, the school closed during my attendance and my career in culinary was spent working with companies like Sea Dog, Disney, and Hilton. The experiences from each kitchen I worked in helped shape my open-minded approach to life and work. The skills I learned in kitchen and management work taught me discipline, being perceptive to details, working with a team, leading my team, and keeping it together when the moments got stressful.After my stints in culinary, I moved to take care of my father, who was diagnosed with an aggressive form of bladder cancer. After a ten-month-long fight, my dad succumbed to the dreadful disease. As the great Helen Keller once said, "We bereaved are not alone. We belong to the largest company in all the world -- the company of those who have known suffering". Through the storm, I came out on the other side with drive, focus, and a clear mission for my future. I began attending school to finish my degree in 2022. I am a junior student with about 18 months left in my degree program.Authenticity is something that others sacrifice far too often for potential. Our mind is like a steel blade. If we let it dull, we lose our edge and luster -- leaving us forgotten and "broken". If we continue opening our minds to knowledge, understanding, empathy, and humanity, that blade stays as sharp as it ever was.