My experiences with mental health, both personally and within others, have profoundly shaped how I understand the world, how I connect with others, and the goals I have set for my future. Growing up, I witnessed the quiet but persistent impact of anxiety and depression within my family. These struggles were not always openly discussed, but they were deeply felt in daily life. I saw mental health struggles show up in moments of overwhelm, during emotional withdrawal, and in the extra effort it took just to get through certain days. Seeing loved ones navigate these challenges helped me recognize early on that mental health is not a distant issue; it is something that touches families, relationships, and communities in deeply personal ways. As I got older, I began to face my own experiences with anxiety. Balancing academic expectations, leadership roles, and future career pressures often led to persistent stress and self-doubt. At times, I felt the need to maintain a sense of control and composure, even when I was struggling internally. Like many students, I initially tried to manage these feelings independently, believing that pushing through was the best option. However, over time, I realized that suppressing anxiety only made it more overwhelming. This understanding marked a turning point in my life. I began to prioritize self-awareness, develop healthier coping strategies, and recognize the importance of seeking support. These experiences have deeply influenced my relationships. I have become more intentional in how I show up for others. This often means actively listening, offering encouragement, or simply being present. I understand that not everyone feels comfortable expressing their struggles, so I try to create a space where people feel safe and supported without fear of judgment. My experiences have taught me that empathy is not just about understanding someone’s situation, but about acknowledging their emotions and validating their experiences. This has allowed me to build stronger, more meaningful connections with friends, peers, and colleagues. My journey with mental health has also shaped my aspirations, particularly my decision to pursue a career in occupational therapy. I am drawn to this field because it emphasizes holistic care, addressing both the physical and mental aspects of well-being. Through my experiences in a pediatric clinic and other clinical settings, I have seen how mental health influences a person’s ability to engage in everyday activities and live independently. I want to be a practitioner who not only helps individuals regain function, but also supports their emotional well-being and sense of identity. Additionally, my experiences have influenced how I view mental health on a broader scale. I recognize that stigma, lack of access to resources, and cultural perceptions can prevent individuals from seeking help. This awareness motivates me to be an advocate for more open conversations about mental health, both in my personal life and in my future career. I believe that by normalizing these discussions and promoting understanding, we can begin to break down the barriers that prevent people from getting the support they need. Ultimately, my journey with mental health has strengthened my resilience, deepened my empathy, and influenced my long-term goals. It has shown me that challenges can be transformed into meaningful opportunities for growth and connection. As I move forward, I am committed to using my experiences to support others and contribute to a world where mental health is acknowledged, respected, and prioritized.

Mental health is deeply important to me as a student because it directly shapes not only academic success, but also a person’s sense of identity, confidence, and ability to engage meaningfully in daily life. Throughout my undergraduate experience, I have come to recognize that the pressures of academic performance, leadership responsibilities, and future career planning can be overwhelming without intentional support and balance. As someone pursuing a career in occupational therapy, I have learned that mental health is not separate from physical health. Instead, it is foundational to overall well-being. When mental health is neglected, it can limit a student’s ability to learn, connect with others, and fully participate in the occupations that give their life purpose. My perspective on mental health has also been shaped by my experiences working with others. During my time as a crew leader at a Vacation Bible School, I was responsible for a young boy with autism spectrum disorder who struggled with emotional regulation and transitions. With guidance from his occupational therapist, I learned how to support him through moments of distress and adapt activities to meet his needs. That experience opened my eyes to the importance of meeting individuals where they are, both emotionally and cognitively. It showed me that mental health challenges are not barriers to success when individuals are supported with patience, understanding, and the right strategies. I actively advocate for mental health within my academic and personal communities by fostering environments where people feel safe, heard, and supported. In my leadership roles within Student Government, I have worked collaboratively with peers to ensure that student voices are acknowledged and valued. Advocacy, in this sense, means listening intentionally and recognizing when someone may be struggling, even if they have not explicitly said so. I strive to lead with empathy, encouraging open conversations and reducing stigma by treating mental health as an essential and normal part of overall health. Additionally, my involvement in the Allied Health Club has allowed me to engage with other students pursuing healthcare careers, where discussions about burnout, stress management, and work-life balance are increasingly relevant. I contribute by sharing strategies that I have learned through my coursework and experiences, such as the importance of routine, physical activity, and meaningful engagement in daily activities. These conversations help normalize the challenges students face and reinforce that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. On a more personal level, I advocate for mental health by being a reliable source of support for my peers. Whether it is checking in on a friend during a stressful time, encouraging someone to utilize campus resources, or simply creating space for honest conversations, I aim to make those around me feel valued and understood. I believe that small, consistent actions can have a significant impact in building a culture of compassion. Mental health advocacy is not limited to large initiatives; it is built through everyday interactions and intentional care for others. As I continue my education and pursue a career in occupational therapy, I am committed to promoting holistic well-being and empowering individuals to thrive both mentally and physically.

I want to build a career and a community impact through occupational therapy that empowers individuals to live meaningful, independent lives. My desire to build this future began unexpectedly when I was a crew leader at my church’s Vacation Bible School and was responsible for the care of a young boy with autism spectrum disorders. With guidance from his occupational therapist, I learned how to adapt activities, support his emotional regulation, and create an environment where he could fully participate. That experience reshaped my understanding of what it means to care for others. It was not just about helping someone complete a task, but about ensuring they felt included, capable, and valued. Since then, I have intentionally worked to build the knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary to pursue this path. Through my studies in exercise physiology, I have developed a strong understanding of the human body and movement, while my coursework in psychology has deepened my appreciation for the mental and emotional aspects of health. My internship in a pediatric clinic and shadowing experiences in neurorehabilitation and hand therapy have allowed me to see how occupational therapy bridges these areas, providing truly holistic care. These experiences have strengthened my commitment to becoming a practitioner who not only treats conditions but also improves quality of life. Beyond academics, my leadership roles in Student Government have helped me build essential skills in communication, collaboration, and organization. I have learned how to advocate for others, manage responsibilities, and work as part of a team. These are skills that are critical in healthcare settings where patient-centered care depends on strong interpersonal connections. Looking ahead, I want to build a future where I can make a tangible difference in both individual lives and the broader community. As an occupational therapist, I hope to create inclusive environments where people of all abilities can thrive. Whether that means helping a child participate in classroom activities, supporting a patient in regaining independence after injury, or educating families on adaptive strategies, I want my work to have a lasting impact. By building a career rooted in compassion, creativity, and evidence-based practice, I will not only fulfill my own purpose but also contribute to a more inclusive and supportive community.

The first time I heard about occupational therapy, I was told it is the best job a person can have. My introduction to occupational therapy happened unexpectedly during high school, while I was serving as a crew leader at a local church’s Vacation Bible School. In this role, I was responsible for guiding five kindergarteners through a week of games, crafts, stories, and songs. Among them was a little boy diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Although I had previous experience working with children, I had never been directly responsible for the care of a child with autism. Luckily, the little boy’s occupational therapist, Margaret, was also a member of the church and offered to meet with me. She shared several strategies for helping him regulate his emotions and redirect his focus, and she instructed me on how to adapt crafts and activities to his needs. I was struck by her compassion, creativity, and dedication to making the environment inclusive for every child. Before that day, I had never heard of occupational therapy. Curious to learn more, I asked her at the end of our conversation what the profession entailed. Margaret smiled and said, “It’s the best job a person can have.” Being introduced to occupational therapy felt like a moment of everything clicking into place. As a deeply empathetic person who is most fulfilled when caring for others, I’ve always known I wanted a career centered on helping people. I spent several years researching in an attempt to find the perfect job, one that allowed me to provide holistic care and truly make a difference in the lives of others. I found that many other healthcare fields felt too limited to only the physical or only the mental aspects of health, whereas occupational therapy brought everything together. Through my internship and shadowing experiences, I have gained a thorough understanding of the scope and impact of the profession. I have seen firsthand how it allows practitioners to form meaningful connections with individuals of all ages and abilities. Occupational therapy directly improves quality of life, restores independence and dignity, and allows people to engage in the activities that are most important to them. I now fully understand what Margaret meant, as it truly is the best job a person can have. In addition to gaining hands-on experience, I have also developed a strong academic foundation. For the past three years, I have pursued a degree in Exercise Physiology with a track in Allied Health Therapies. My coursework has provided me with a solid understanding of the human body and the role of movement in health, which I can integrate into my future practice as an occupational therapist. I have also been a member of the Allied Health Club and have held several leadership positions within the Student Government Association throughout my undergraduate career. These roles have strengthened my communication, collaboration, organizational, and time management skills, all of which are essential to success as an occupational therapist. My experiences have shown me that occupational therapy is a profession that combines creativity, compassion, and problem-solving to help others live meaningful lives. Through my experiences, I have developed the empathy, resilience, and curiosity needed to thrive in graduate school and as a future practitioner. I am eager to take this next step into graduate school, where I can continue learning how to provide holistic, evidence-based care that addresses both the physical and mental needs of clients. I aspire to be an occupational therapist who makes individuals feel empowered, capable, and supported in pursuing the activities that mean the most to them.

The first time I heard about occupational therapy, I was told it is the best job a person can have. My introduction to occupational therapy happened unexpectedly during high school, while I was serving as a crew leader at a local church’s Vacation Bible School. In this role, I was responsible for guiding five kindergarteners through a week of games, crafts, stories, and songs. Among them was a little boy diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Although I had previous experience working with children, I had never been directly responsible for the care of a child with autism. Luckily, the little boy’s occupational therapist, Margaret, was also a member of the church and offered to meet with me. She shared several strategies for helping him regulate his emotions and redirect his focus, and she instructed me on how to adapt crafts and activities to his needs. I was struck by her compassion, creativity, and dedication to making the environment inclusive for every child. Before that day, I had never heard of occupational therapy. Curious to learn more, I asked her at the end of our conversation what the profession entailed. Margaret smiled and said, “It’s the best job a person can have.” Being introduced to occupational therapy felt like a moment of everything clicking into place. As a deeply empathetic person who is most fulfilled when caring for others, I’ve always known I wanted a career centered on helping people. I spent several years researching in an attempt to find the perfect job, one that allowed me to provide holistic care and truly make a difference in the lives of others. I found that many other healthcare fields felt too limited to only the physical or only the mental aspects of health, whereas occupational therapy brought everything together. Through my internship and shadowing experiences, I have gained a thorough understanding of the scope and impact of the profession. I have seen firsthand how it allows practitioners to form meaningful connections with individuals of all ages and abilities. Occupational therapy directly improves quality of life, restores independence and dignity, and allows people to engage in the activities that are most important to them. I now fully understand what Margaret meant, as it truly is the best job a person can have. In addition to gaining hands-on experience, I have also developed a strong academic foundation. For the past three years, I have pursued a degree in Exercise Physiology with a track in Allied Health Therapies. My coursework has provided me with a solid understanding of the human body and the role of movement in health, which I can integrate into my future practice as an occupational therapist. I have also been a member of the Allied Health Club and have held several leadership positions within the Student Government Association throughout my undergraduate career. These roles have strengthened my communication, collaboration, organizational, and time management skills, all of which are essential to success as an occupational therapist. My experiences have shown me that occupational therapy is a profession that combines creativity, compassion, and problem-solving to help others live meaningful lives. Through my experiences, I have developed the empathy, resilience, and curiosity needed to thrive in graduate school and as a future practitioner. I am eager to take this next step into graduate school, where I can continue learning how to provide holistic, evidence-based care that addresses both the physical and mental needs of clients. I aspire to be an occupational therapist who makes individuals feel empowered, capable, and supported in pursuing the activities that mean the most to them.

My maternal grandparents recently celebrated their 70th and 74th birthdays respectively. Although their age has limited them on some physical activity, they make it a point to be active every single day. Their most impressive commitment is walking at least 10,000 steps per day. My grandma has completed this without missing a day for over 2 years, and my grandpa only missed a day when he fell ill to the flu. When I asked my grandmother why her and my grandfather prioritize walking every day to such a high extent, she simply responded, "I want to be healthy enough to enjoy my life and see my grandchildren live theirs." My grandparents' example has set a standard in my life, and it is because of their model that I believe it is important to live a healthy life so you can fully experience the important moments. Whether than means being able to walk up the stairs to get into my sister's apartment, have enough energy to play the sport I love, or live long enough to see my cousins grow up, living a healthy lifestyle will give me the best possible chance of being able to be present, happy, and fulfilled. I do my best to maintain a healthy lifestyle by taking care of my physical, social, and emotional health. To maintain my physical health, I play basketball on my school's varsity team. This allows me to be physically active five to six days a week, and challenges my agility, strength, and drive. Additionally, I try my best to find a balance with what I eat and to get at least 8 hours of sleep per night, and I attend yearly check-ups with a primary care physician. To maintain my social health, I make it a priority to reach out to my friends and family on a daily basis. I also make a point of setting boundaries and cutting off relationships that are toxic. Lastly, to maintain my emotional health, I do all of the things I spoke of before, in addition to adding self care into my routine. For me, self care includes reading, listening to music, journaling, and reaching out to those around me when I am struggling (amongst other things). In conclusion, I believe it's important to live a healthy lifestyle in order to be able to experience life to the fullest. This includes being present, able, and mentally well enough to enjoy the important moments in life. I maintain a healthy lifestyle through making a consistent effort to take care of my physical, social, and mental health. However, I feel that I should make an additional point: I am also able to maintain a healthy lifestyle because I was blessed with good health. I am lucky to be physically well, I have a great support system, and I have had access to many resources to assist in my struggles with mental health. I understand that a healthy lifestyle will look different for every person based on their own health and needs. Because of this, my reasoning for and way of living a healthy life is not universal. However, living a healthy life should be important to everyone.

French poet Anatole France wrote, “Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened.” Since I was a little girl, I have had a deep care for all animals. I joined my school's Humane Society Club in sixth grade, and have remained a part of the club for six years. My involvement within the club is driven by my love for animals and my passion to advocate for them. When the club sponsor left our school prior to my ninth grade year, I took the initiative to propose the club to several teachers and administration, and found a new club sponsor. This action led to me being named Vice President in grades nine, ten, and eleven. As one of the only two remaining members for the original club, I took the responsibility to organize and build the club from the ground up, to where it is now at about 20 members. I ran the advertising booth at club rush, directed fundraisers, and organized supply drives and volunteer dates. The club president often had to be absent from meetings, so I stepped into his position and began running the meetings as well. Although this was a challenging and overwhelming position to undertake, it is a position I cherish, and one that has taught me countless leadership skills. Since I have been a part of the club, we have raised thousands of dollars through fundraisers. One of our most popular fundraisers is the selling of chocolate bars from Old Kentucky Chocolates. My responsibilities within this fundraiser include: working with the treasurer and school administration to purchase the chocolates, picking up the chocolates and distributing them to members, and organizing who has turned in money, as well as the money itself. Another fundraiser we typically do is a bake sale at our school’s Spring Fling, although this has been limited due to coronavirus restrictions the past two years. During my ninth grade year, we were able to successfully run the booth, during which I organized who was bringing goods and the shifts each person would work, decorated the booth, and managed and carried the money. I also stepped in to cover shifts of those who were unable to attend. Currently, I am working with the other club officers to organize events for this year. We are once again organizing a fundraiser selling chocolate and brainstorming other events. This year, we are hoping to return to volunteering directly at the Madison County Humane Society, which we were unable to do for the past two years due to COVID-19 restrictions. This will allow me to give back directly through service instead of just charity. Although when thinking of "humanitarian acts" supporting animals in need may not immediately spring to mind as fitting the definition, I believe that by supporting animals in need I am directly promoting the welfare of my community, both human and animal. I hope that my work in the Humane Society Club inspires my community to care for each individual life, big and small. I know that supporting an organization like the Humane Society positively affects my community by caring for the smallest members: the animals in need of homes. These animals are taken off the streets to create a safer urban area, and in turn bring joy to the families who adopt them. The leadership skills I have gained from this experience include decisiveness, problem-solving, and dependability. These are skills that will allow me to flourish as I continue finding new ways to give back to the members of my community, including those with four legs.