Mia Clingham

My sleep deprivation levels have reached an all-time high, yet I can’t help but reflect fondly on my high school years. Through my perpetual stress, I have learned a lot about compassion. As students struggle with tests, extra curricular activities, and friendships, high school can be an anxiety ridden place. But in this formative time, those who were able to show compassion to me made all the difference. In times when I was too stressed to function or had activities overwhelming my days, it was the compassion that I received from family and friends which allowed me to carry on. So, as I envision my future self, I take the importance of compassion along with me. My love for history and social sciences has pushed me onto a path to law school and hopefully I will pursue a career in immigration law, extending my compassion to those in need. After this, I intend to take a turn in my “wild and precious life” (Oliver) by getting a teaching degree in my later years and returning to school as a history teacher. But most importantly, my future life will be filled with people I love and who show genuine compassion.