Andrew Michael Peña Memorial Scholarship

Everyday I am reminded of the mental health struggles throughout my school community, society, and worldwide. They can take many forms including substance misuse, anxiety and panic attacks, or suicidal thoughts and actions. At a minimum, mental illness can isolate us from our close friends and family, making each day increasingly difficult. However, these challenges often result in even bigger issues within society itself, for example, substance abuse, homelessness, unjust incarceration, and accidental death or suicide. I have been surrounded by multiple people strongly affected by mental health issues, including my uncles, grandpa, and grandma, for my entire life. I have witnessed first hand their ups and downs: losing their children, fighting in a war, alcoholism and addiction, and bipolar disorder and depression. As a close family member I am deeply impacted by their struggles and the impact it has on my own family, as I love these people dearly. They have greatly influenced my life in many ways, causing me to want to learn more about mental illnesses and form goals to treat and combat them. In many ways they have made me the person I am today; a driven and hardworking person who advocates for myself and others within my community. Someone who puts one hundred percent into pursuing my quest for truth, justice, and change in the classroom and beyond. Having a positive impact on the world around me, both inside and outside of school is incredibly important to me. Currently, I strive to help others as a Peer Resource Counselor. We educate our classmates and community on mental health, sexual health and substance use so they may make more informed decisions now and in the future. Beyond the classroom, I’ve created my own organizational company, Pantries for Purpose, that donates the profits to mental health organizations that help treat, provide resources, and house people with mental illness and to research foundations that work toward finding effective treatments for mental health. As an intern at Humans of San Quentin, I work to denounce stereotypes in my community and humanize incarcerated people while also supporting their mental wellbeing. My work with incarcerated people has taught me that the first step toward changing the world is helping people as individuals. There are many ways this can be attained, for me, improving mental health enables me to make the greatest impact. I am committed to solving these issues as I advocate for others’ mental health and promote inclusivity within my high school community and I hope to use my education in Neuroscience and Psychology to address the mental health crisis. I’m eager to continue my work as an advocate for mental health. My pursuit of the importance of personal connection, something that is much too frequently lost among those with mental health issues, motivates me. Learning and research for the purpose of creating change in our current community systems intrigues and excites me. As a compassionate human and college graduate, I will continue fighting the unending battle for people who struggle with mental illness.