Thank you for your consideration. At the age of 12, I experienced a loss that changed me in ways I am still learning to understand. My best friend died by suicide after enduring continuous bullying, even after reaching out to counselors and school administrators for help. I was in sixth grade, and in that moment, my sense of innocence was taken from me. It was the first time I truly understood how deeply people can hurt—and how unseen that pain can be. In the years that followed, I struggled with my own mental health. I battled depression, anxiety, self-harm, and thoughts of suicide. For a long time, I felt isolated in those experiences, unsure of how to ask for help or if it would even make a difference. Reaching out felt harder than carrying the weight on my own. In April 2025, during one of the lowest points of my life, I made an attempt to end my life. Surviving that moment became a turning point. I walked away physically unharmed, but more importantly, with a shift in perspective. I realized I didn’t just want to survive—I wanted to live with purpose. Now, as a senior preparing to begin my undergraduate studies in psychology, I feel a strong sense of direction. My goal is to work in crisis support, particularly in hotline services. I want to be the voice that someone hears when they feel alone, or the listener who gives someone the space they need to be heard. I’ve learned that even a few minutes of genuine connection can interrupt overwhelming thoughts and remind someone they are not alone. My experiences have given me both empathy and understanding, but they have also shown me the importance of proactive support. I know firsthand how difficult it can be to ask for help, which is why I don’t want to wait for people to reach out. I want to be part of creating spaces where support is accessible, visible, and immediate—before someone reaches a breaking point. I cannot change what I have been through, but I can choose what I do with it. Through education, compassion, and lived experience, I hope to contribute to suicide prevention efforts and be a source of support for those who feel unheard. My goal is simple: to help others find a reason to keep going, even in their darkest moments. That is my plan to make a difference in suicide prevention.

Thank you for your consideration. At the age of 12, I experienced a loss that changed me in ways I am still learning to understand. My best friend died by suicide after enduring continuous bullying, even after reaching out to counselors and school administrators for help. I was in sixth grade, and in that moment, my sense of innocence was taken from me. It was the first time I truly understood how deeply people can hurt—and how unseen that pain can be. In the years that followed, I struggled with my own mental health. I battled depression, anxiety, self-harm, and thoughts of suicide. For a long time, I felt isolated in those experiences, unsure of how to ask for help or if it would even make a difference. Reaching out felt harder than carrying the weight on my own. In April 2025, during one of the lowest points of my life, I made an attempt to end my life. Surviving that moment became a turning point. I walked away physically unharmed, but more importantly, with a shift in perspective. I realized I didn’t just want to survive—I wanted to live with purpose. Now, as a senior preparing to begin my undergraduate studies in psychology, I feel a strong sense of direction. My goal is to work in crisis support, particularly in hotline services. I want to be the voice that someone hears when they feel alone, or the listener who gives someone the space they need to be heard. I’ve learned that even a few minutes of genuine connection can interrupt overwhelming thoughts and remind someone they are not alone. My experiences have given me both empathy and understanding, but they have also shown me the importance of proactive support. I know firsthand how difficult it can be to ask for help, which is why I don’t want to wait for people to reach out. I want to be part of creating spaces where support is accessible, visible, and immediate—before someone reaches a breaking point. I cannot change what I have been through, but I can choose what I do with it. Through education, compassion, and lived experience, I hope to contribute to suicide prevention efforts and be a source of support for those who feel unheard. My goal is simple: to help others find a reason to keep going, even in their darkest moments. That is my plan to make a difference in suicide prevention.

Thank you for your consideration. At the age of 12, I experienced a loss that changed me in ways I am still learning to understand. My best friend died by suicide after enduring continuous bullying, even after reaching out to counselors and school administrators for help. I was in sixth grade, and in that moment, my sense of innocence was taken from me. It was the first time I truly understood how deeply people can hurt—and how unseen that pain can be. In the years that followed, I struggled with my own mental health. I battled depression, anxiety, self-harm, and thoughts of suicide. For a long time, I felt isolated in those experiences, unsure of how to ask for help or if it would even make a difference. Reaching out felt harder than carrying the weight on my own. In April 2025, during one of the lowest points of my life, I made an attempt to end my life. Surviving that moment became a turning point. I walked away physically unharmed, but more importantly, with a shift in perspective. I realized I didn’t just want to survive—I wanted to live with purpose. Now, as a senior preparing to begin my undergraduate studies in psychology, I feel a strong sense of direction. My goal is to work in crisis support, particularly in hotline services. I want to be the voice that someone hears when they feel alone, or the listener who gives someone the space they need to be heard. I’ve learned that even a few minutes of genuine connection can interrupt overwhelming thoughts and remind someone they are not alone. My experiences have given me both empathy and understanding, but they have also shown me the importance of proactive support. I know firsthand how difficult it can be to ask for help, which is why I don’t want to wait for people to reach out. I want to be part of creating spaces where support is accessible, visible, and immediate—before someone reaches a breaking point. I cannot change what I have been through, but I can choose what I do with it. Through education, compassion, and lived experience, I hope to contribute to suicide prevention efforts and be a source of support for those who feel unheard. My goal is simple: to help others find a reason to keep going, even in their darkest moments. That is my plan to make a difference in suicide prevention.

Thank you for your consideration. At the age of 12, I experienced a loss that changed me in ways I am still learning to understand. My best friend died by suicide after enduring continuous bullying, even after reaching out to counselors and school administrators for help. I was in sixth grade, and in that moment, my sense of innocence was taken from me. It was the first time I truly understood how deeply people can hurt—and how unseen that pain can be. In the years that followed, I struggled with my own mental health. I battled depression, anxiety, self-harm, and thoughts of suicide. For a long time, I felt isolated in those experiences, unsure of how to ask for help or if it would even make a difference. Reaching out felt harder than carrying the weight on my own. In April 2025, during one of the lowest points of my life, I made an attempt to end my life. Surviving that moment became a turning point. I walked away physically unharmed, but more importantly, with a shift in perspective. I realized I didn’t just want to survive—I wanted to live with purpose. Now, as a senior preparing to begin my undergraduate studies in psychology, I feel a strong sense of direction. My goal is to work in crisis support, particularly in hotline services. I want to be the voice that someone hears when they feel alone, or the listener who gives someone the space they need to be heard. I’ve learned that even a few minutes of genuine connection can interrupt overwhelming thoughts and remind someone they are not alone. My experiences have given me both empathy and understanding, but they have also shown me the importance of proactive support. I know firsthand how difficult it can be to ask for help, which is why I don’t want to wait for people to reach out. I want to be part of creating spaces where support is accessible, visible, and immediate—before someone reaches a breaking point. I cannot change what I have been through, but I can choose what I do with it. Through education, compassion, and lived experience, I hope to contribute to suicide prevention efforts and be a source of support for those who feel unheard. My goal is simple: to help others find a reason to keep going, even in their darkest moments. That is my plan to make a difference in suicide prevention.

To be a first-generation student means breaking generational curses. It is a privilege as well as a honor to pave the path for future generations in my family. I am incredibly humble and grateful to my parents for shaping me in a way that I have this opportunity. Thank you for your consideration. At the age of 12, I experienced a loss that changed me in ways I am still learning to understand. My best friend died by suicide after enduring continuous bullying, even after reaching out to counselors and school administrators for help. I was in sixth grade, and in that moment, my sense of innocence was taken from me. It was the first time I truly understood how deeply people can hurt—and how unseen that pain can be. In the years that followed, I struggled with my own mental health. I battled depression, anxiety, self-harm, and thoughts of suicide. For a long time, I felt isolated in those experiences, unsure of how to ask for help or if it would even make a difference. Reaching out felt harder than carrying the weight on my own. In April 2025, during one of the lowest points of my life, I made an attempt to end my life. Surviving that moment became a turning point. I walked away physically unharmed, but more importantly, with a shift in perspective. I realized I didn’t just want to survive—I wanted to live with purpose. Now, as a freshman preparing to begin my undergraduate studies in psychology, I feel a strong sense of direction. My goal is to work in crisis support, particularly in hotline services. I want to be the voice that someone hears when they feel alone, or the listener who gives someone the space they need to be heard. I’ve learned that even a few minutes of genuine connection can interrupt overwhelming thoughts and remind someone they are not alone. My experiences have given me both empathy and understanding, but they have also shown me the importance of proactive support. I know firsthand how difficult it can be to ask for help, which is why I don’t want to wait for people to reach out. I want to be part of creating spaces where support is accessible, visible, and immediate—before someone reaches a breaking point. I cannot change what I have been through, but I can choose what I do with it. Through education, compassion, and lived experience, I hope to contribute to suicide prevention efforts and be a source of support for those who feel unheard. My goal is simple: to help others find a reason to keep going, even in their darkest moments. That is my plan to make a difference in suicide prevention.

In the dealing with depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicidal ideation, I attempted to end my life life my crashing my car into a tree at 60 mph. By the hand of God, I survived without a scratch. At the age of 15 I received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Two weeks after I received the overflowing and baptism of the Holy Spirit. From this I believe I have gained the power of Heaven to fulfill the call and purpose that God has designed for my life. Since then, I have been an active member in the body of the church I attend (God’s House). Ive learned to play piano for pleasure and services, design flyers, and communicate effectively to and for the body of Christ. After obtaining membership in the National Honor Society, I have had many doors and opportunities open for me to serve my community. I have completed services such as: church event planning, decorating, and advertising, nursing home activities assistance, school shows ushering, tutoring, and much more. These services flow out as a natural work and ability like it was something I was made to do. I am nearing the end of my senior year in high school and I am lined up to begin my psychology studies for my undergraduate degree in the fall. My plan and hope is to set an educational foundation to build my career of crisis support hotline upon. Through this privilege of a job, it is my desire to be of service to those in need. Using my personal experiences and studies, I will be programmed to effectively use empathy and understanding to lead those who are struggling to a new prospective and way of life. I hope to find a clinic/ foundation in which I can work that has biblical moral foundation to help and serve others. It is my end goal to live by example: thriving instead of surviving in life, breaking generational curses, and leaving a legacy for the generations after to pick up and continue to build on. I encourage to never stop working and learning because I believe when those stop, growth stops and when growth stops the more likely you are to stay stuck or backslide rather than striving forward. It is my greatest desire to obey the commands of the Lord, go out and preach the gospel, be like Christ and reach for the mark of the greater calling of Christ. Thank you for your consideration!

Being the first in my family to attend college puts a certain excitement on my chest and pressure on my shoulders. Breaking generational curses is a privileged work. To be more for my family and set the tone for the generation I bring into the world is an opportunity I wish for everyone. From preschool-12th grade I’ve always tried to go above and beyond in my education. Excelling in my performance in the classroom to achieving milestones on the softball field, I have always been motivated. I’ve humbly received countless awards and recognitions such as: Citizenship award x4, reading excellence x2, honor roll x8, mental attitude award, Sports Varsity Letter x2, and obtaining membership to the National Honor Society and National Society of High School Scholars. This has opened doors and paths for me to experience community involvement and volunteer services including but not limited to: church event planning and decorating, nursing home assistance, tutoring and more. I am now nearing the end of my senior year of school and lined up to begin my psychology studies for an undergraduate degree in the fall. It is my hope to become apart of the crisis support hotline field. Going into this career makes education all the more important to me. I need the proper educational foundation to help others as I desire to. To take my personal experiences as well as text books and save, change, and influence lives that deserve more in life. I hope to leave a legacy that can be continued. My parents started where my grandparents ended ( my grandparents couldn’t graduate high school but rather they were taken out to work and help pay bills. They gave the opportunity for their kids/ my parents to graduate high school) and I started where my parents ended (I will be walking the stage in a little over a month and beginning my college career in three months. Having to work to support their families, my parents didn’t get to attempt college). I want to keep pushing the generations of my family higher and higher. Hoping to leave a comfortable, but motivating legacy that encourages others to never stop growing. When you stoping working and learning, you stop growing. I never want to go backwards or stay where I am, but rather I want to leave a legacy that strives to always be moving forward. This is what is important to me. Thank you for your consideration!

Thank you for your consideration. At the age of 12, I experienced a loss that changed me in ways I am still learning to understand. My best friend died by suicide after enduring continuous bullying, even after reaching out to counselors and school administrators for help. I was in sixth grade, and in that moment, my sense of innocence was taken from me. It was the first time I truly understood how deeply people can hurt—and how unseen that pain can be. In the years that followed, I struggled with my own mental health. I battled depression, anxiety, self-harm, and thoughts of suicide. For a long time, I felt isolated in those experiences, unsure of how to ask for help or if it would even make a difference. Reaching out felt harder than carrying the weight on my own. In April 2025, during one of the lowest points of my life, I made an attempt to end my life. Surviving that moment became a turning point. I walked away physically unharmed, but more importantly, with a shift in perspective. I realized I didn’t just want to survive—I wanted to live with purpose. Now, as a senior preparing to begin my undergraduate studies in psychology, I feel a strong sense of direction. My goal is to work in crisis support, particularly in hotline services. I want to be the voice that someone hears when they feel alone, or the listener who gives someone the space they need to be heard. I’ve learned that even a few minutes of genuine connection can interrupt overwhelming thoughts and remind someone they are not alone. My experiences have given me both empathy and understanding, but they have also shown me the importance of proactive support. I know firsthand how difficult it can be to ask for help, which is why I don’t want to wait for people to reach out. I want to be part of creating spaces where support is accessible, visible, and immediate—before someone reaches a breaking point. I cannot change what I have been through, but I can choose what I do with it. Through education, compassion, and lived experience, I hope to contribute to suicide prevention efforts and be a source of support for those who feel unheard. My goal is simple: to help others find a reason to keep going, even in their darkest moments. That is my plan to make a difference in suicide prevention.

I first want to state how much I love this question because it doesn’t take more than a second for me to muster up an answer. Though, in the moment, my mental health challenges seemed greater than all, I am thankful, now that I am on the other side of it, that I experienced it. My mental health challenges ranged anywhere from having low self-worth, depression, suicidal ideation, and self-harming. Off and on I would have my trials, but at the ages 16-18, I endured more than I ever thought I could. My thoughts tormented and soul heavy, I ended up attempting to take my life. Driving 60 mph into a tree head-on. At age 15 I accepted Jesus has my Lord and Savior. It wasn’t until after my attempt that I truly understood and accepted the grace and mercy of God. I seen Him in everything during my incident. I seen Him in my bones that weren’t broken, my body that had no injuries, the 5 nurses the were on the same road and came to help me. Having Jesus does not make you immune to life, but it does provide hope and a path for you to take that is higher than being heartbroken and bound by this world. The next few weeks after my attempt were probably the worst I have ever experienced. My mind was in a battle with itself yet trying to heal as well. Fortunately, my will to live for a purpose was stronger and I have come on the other side. This testimony has inspired me to major in psychology and counsel those in need. It is important for me that my education be set on the foundation of God’s Word for I know that is the truth that set me free. I am not quick to say antidepressants or other drugs are the answer to mental trials (having experienced them myself) but rather that there is a need for communication in the world. We don’t need comforting lies, but hard truths that will emerge us from unhealthy habits and cycles. People need a hand to grab instead of thinking the have to carry their burdens all alone. I aspire to be the person I needed when I was going through. I aspire to be a breathing, walking testimony to God’s love and mercy. I wish to help people not just survive in life but thrive. And it all starts with the mind.

Having a relationship with Jesus has turned my whole life around. At the age of 15 I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Two weeks later I was baptized in the Holy Spirit with the physical evidence of speaking in tongues. Since then, I couldn’t imagine being hopeless and bond by the heartbreaks of this world. I don’t say that to present myself as if I’m immune to the trials of life, but rather I will never lose my Faith in Jesus and trust in Him to bring me through it all. At the age of 17 I found my Faith being tested. For months I struggled with depression and suicidal ideation. This was partly due to not accepting that, though I am not worthy of God’s Grace in this flesh, I have been redeemed and made worthy through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. If you let the enemy get to your head, he can get to your Faith. This unfortunately led to me attempting to end my life by driving 60 mph into a tree. Thank God, He put angels around me. Thank God He put 5 nurses on that road that helped me. Thank God He surrounded me with believers as I was in recovery. Not a broken bone, no internal injuries. Just a scare that reminds me I am alive for a purpose. This testimony I plan to use to help the souls that are crying out for hope. I also plan to use this testimony as a way to gain empathy, understanding, compassion, and perspective for when I take psychology and begin to counsel those in need. I am open to the Word of God to shape me and guide to where He needs me to be in order to win souls for the Kingdom of God. I will use my Faith in my education by learning studies that align with the Word of God. Letting His Word be the cornerstone of my education can only bear fruits from Heaven. I hope to find a Christian institution where I could counsel after I graduate rather than working at a place that prescribed medicine to an unknown or guessed ailment. I believe in most circumstances that the world is not in need of more drugs, entertainment, or anything this world could offer, but rather there is a Jesus sized void in people’s hearts that aches to be filled. I am no savior but I know I can lead them to Him.

While I feel like the world is still downplaying mental health, I think we are on track to prioritizing its importance in our daily lives. Having overcome and going through mental health challenges of my own, I have decided to take the course to study Psychology. Through this major I intend to support those struggling around me by becoming a counselor/ therapist. At 17 years old I felt like I was having an identity crisis. After living a life of people-pleasing, I hadn’t a clue of my liked and dislikes, boundaries, or who my real friends (if any friends) were genuine. I entered a friendship that was age inappropriate. Through the course of the “friendship” my mental health declined faster than I could blink. I began to have self-worth issues and suicidal ideation. While this “friend” preached healing and love at me, they emotionally manipulated me and broke all of what boundaries I did not have but needed. This led to self-harming and being hospitalized. I finally asked my parents for help after keeping everyone in the dark for months and got put onto antidepressants. Weeks to months went by with no change, so my doctor upped the dosage. The antidepressants ended up increasing thoughts of suicide and depression. At last the “friend” blew up on me one afternoon, yelling in my face and pushing me away. And that was the last straw. I needed just one more thing to be my fault. I hopped into my dad’s truck and drove 60 mph into a tree head-on, attempting to kill myself. Thank God! Thank God for the angels that were placed around me so that I can be typing this today. I had no broken bones, no internal injuries, nothing but a scar to remember I am here for a reason. When I crashed the truck, I crawled out of the vehicle and lied on the grass. Thank God, He placed 5 nurses on that road that all pulled over to help me. Thank God, He put believers around me while I was in recovery. Thank God I have this testimony so that I can help others and reach out with love, empathy, understanding, and perspective. Through my Faith, my supporting family, and my therapist, I am gaining a mental health healing journey that excites me to be alive. I want to be like those 5 nurses for others who are struggling. I want to be those believers that surrounded me when I was alone. I want to be the person I didn’t have to everyone who is in need.