Elizabeth Schalk Memorial Scholarship

Two years ago, my life was forever changed when my sister attempted suicide. I was consumed with feelings of confusion, helplessness and pain. I've learned from her attempt that people suffer in silence. Someone can look happy and be energetic on the outside when in reality they are in a dark, inescapable place on the inside. I hated myself for the way I treated Maggie. I yelled at her almost every day, never once trying to sit down and talk to her. It was just fighting left and right to no avail, and it led to us hating each other. I wish I could take it all back and simply talk to her, sit down with her and help her. I wish I had been there for her from the start. My sister has been hospitalized three times now, visited several therapists, and is under the care of a psychiatrist. This ordeal has been rough on my family, but it has made us closer. My sister knows she can talk to me if she needs anything, and I will always be there to help her. She no longer needs to suffer in silence. I am not sure what I would have done if things turned out differently that day. I love her so much, and I am extremely glad she is here. I know she is still battling and I pray that she keeps up her fight. As a result of my experience, I have chosen a career in the mental health field. There is such a great need for psychiatrists and despite the amount of time it will take to complete my studies, I am dedicated. I want to work in a psychiatric hospital providing help to those in acute crisis. I want to help someone find hope in the face of hopelessness. There has been a sharp rise in depression and suicide in the past three years because of the Covid-19 pandemic. There was such social isolation and fear during the lockdown that many people, especially teens, suffer from depression. I believe that social media is also negatively impacting people and creating increasing anxiety, body image issues, and low self-esteem. Mental health awareness and suicide prevention programs need to be implemented in today’s schools and workplaces. I've been active in trying to get a support group at my school for suicide prevention. The majority of teens with suicidal thoughts never seek help and feel isolated. I plan to create a program of mental wellness that focuses on healthy habits and self-love. It would be amazing if I could be the reason that someone chooses to live and thrive. I hope to one day make a difference and create a ripple effect of positivity that touches many lives. My relationship with my family and friends; especially my sister, has grown during this experience. I have learned to always be present and available, even when I am having a bad day. I always try to observe others and listen so that I can help when needed. During college, I plan to create a safe and cozy place for friends in my dorm by adding soothing lighting and warm comforting objects. I will try to apply what I have learned from my experience with Maggie and always ask questions about how someone is and never assume they are fine. People don't always show they are hurting and I will encourage my friends to be open and feel like they are safe confiding in me. I want to prevent another teen or family from dealing with the pain that suicide can cause.

I felt like a freak as I sat in the chair of the doctor's office, awaiting my results. I had spent the last few months dealing with tics, quickly becoming an outcast among my friends. They would tell me to "knock it off" or that it "creeped them out." But it wasn't my fault; I had no control over it. I spent so much time explaining that to them, but they never listened. I had no idea what to do about it or what may be causing it. I just decided to wait it out, hoping I would simply grow out of it. However, my condition continued to worsen, so I knew it was time to do something about it. So I finally decided it was time to get checked out, hoping there was a cure to whatever was plaguing me. The doctor told me that my tics were a symptom of extremely high anxiety levels, which I had been dealing with as a side effect of the many things happening in my life. I had been taking many challenging classes while balancing my extracurriculars and dealing with issues at home and with my friends. She explained that if I could get my stress under control, my tics would start to disappear. I was so relieved to find out that I would get to be "normal" again. I was then prescribed medication and began therapy to help me manage my anxiety. Shortly after, I saw improvement in my tics and my overall mental well-being. The medication targeted my anxiety, alleviating my stress and no longer triggering my tics, which helped me function better in areas of my life such as a classroom, a soccer field, social events, and more. Currently, I am at a place where I rarely ever experience tics, and I find myself managing stress and mental health in much healthier ways than I used to. My experience with my mental health and therapy made me change the way I see the world. It has helped me so much, and I have come far from where I once was. I believe everybody deserves access to therapy or mental health resources. I also believe that we need to eliminate the stigma around mental illness. Many people with some form of mental illness already struggle to cope, and shaming them can only worsen matters. I want to help others as I once was, and now I aspire to be a therapist. I want to specialize in helping kids and teens. I've begun taking classes to help me plan my career, such as psychology and careers in education. The brain is in such an intense developmental stage, and many teens nowadays struggle with mental health more than ever, while resources and education are minimal. I want to help other young adults entering our society feel and achieve their best and teach them the resources to do so. Because I believe everybody has the right to feel good.