essay

Who Am I?

I am a daughter, sister, friend, girlfriend, cousin, granddaughter, great

granddaughter, niece, and great niece. I am a believer, beach lover, soccer player,

fashion enthusiast, mentor, marketer, business connoisseur, hip hop and R&B

listener, thrift store shopper, fitness fanatic, sushi consumer, and In N Out specialist.

I am creative, determined, driven, and committed. Creative is making pants into

shorts, painting, bleaching, and selling them through an Etsy shop. Determined is

being fully financially responsible at age 20, not knowing how to finish college

without the funds, and finding a way to finish. Driven is working 5 days 35-40 hours

a week, interning for 10 hours a week, and taking 16-24 units 2-3 days a week all at

the same time in order to obtain a Bachelors of Science Degree in Business

Administration with a Major in Marketing Management and a Minor in Fashion

Merchandising. Committed is not having a reliable car for 6 months and having to

take the bus in the bitter cold from Costa Mesa to Fullerton in order a kind sister to

drive from Fullerton to Pomona. Committed is humbling yourself and asking your

loving boyfriend to drive from Costa Mesa to Pomona to help his girlfriend fulfill her

educational promises.

I am an extravert. Extraversion is being outgoing and energetic, but assertive

and aggressive at times. Aggressive to those I care about. Aggressive to those who

don’t deserve it. Aggressive through extremely caring intentions and wanting those I

care about to fulfill their highest potential in life. Seeing what you don’t see. Seeing

what needs to be seen. I am open, conscientious, and agreeable. Openness is being

inventive, being intellectually curious, having a preference for variety over routine,

and seeking fulfillment in intense experiences. Conscientiousness is being highly

efficient and organized. Agreeableness is not always having to be right (no matter

how much my boyfriend and my sister think so). Agreeableness is being

compassionate, cooperative, and trusting. Compassion for those who don’t deserve

it. Cooperative towards those I need to tolerate. Trusting with any secret.

I am motivated. I feel the need to constantly grow and exist. Growing is

developing from a minimum wage job fitting uniforms for cop and firefighters to

winning over 4 awards as a Sales Associate and Aqua Specialist at Bloomingdale’s to

holding keys to a beautiful Rebecca Taylor boutique where my visual

merchandising, marketing, and writing skills are recognized and encouraged.

Growing is making each step better than the last. It is supporting myself first so I can

support everyone else. Existing is making a difference. I desire to make an impact in

my dream career where my legacy will remain when my soul departs. Existing is

becoming a marketing director, a product developer, a buyer, any position that

comes my way next. Existing is taking my grandmother out to dinner for her 71st

birthday all to see her smile. Existing is giving that homeless man $5 just because I

can and should.

I am a competitor, compromiser, and collaborator. Competing is winning in

soccer games by playing 60-80 minutes straight because I could not stand to be on

the sidelines. Competing is becoming Queen of the court in handball at D.W. Long

Elementary. Compromising is going through a stack of DVD’s with my sister and

deciding who gets to keep what. Compromising is having patience because God will

get me to where I need to be in His time. Collaborating is calling on God to help me

take care of my family and friends.

I am a believer. I believe everything happens for a reason. I believe that I am

here for a purpose. I believe that God gave me life to help others in such a different

way. Different than I have ever seen or heard of. I am here to help others with their

confidence. I am here to help others find beauty within themselves by being

confident in walking down the street. Whether you dress in a Prada dress or in that

thrifted top and pants, it does not matter. If you are secure in your image on the

outside and feel it inside, you have developed confidence. Confidence will carry us

through life. Confidence in God will get you through every obstacle.

I am confident. Confidence is walking through those 8th grade halls in an all

yellow head-to-toe outfit because it felt good doing it. Confidence is finishing school

when it feels impossible at times. Confidence is helping your mom see her amazing

set design talent and encouraging her to pursue it as a career. Confidence is telling

your sister everything is going to be okay. Confidence is knowing you and your dad

will rekindle your relationship soon. Confidence is knowing your worth on this

Earth. Confidence is relying on God to help you find your way. Confidence is hard.

Confidence is achievable. Confidence is happiness. Confidence is and will always be

me.

I am Mackenzie Faith Hopkins.