My siblings and I were raised by a single mother who had to work three jobs simultaneously just to provide the bare minimum for us. Although we've always struggled financially, my family is fortunate compared to many others. My mother always gave everything she could, whether it was time or money, even if she didn't have it to spare. Even now that she's on permanent disability, she gives every penny she has to help others. Growing up struggling exposes you to the reality of society, in which most people are facing similar if not worse situations. When I was nine, I lost one of my friends to cancer. This prompted my devotion to childhood cancer, which I organize toy drives through my school and community to bring to the children in the hospital. I have witnessed parents give up their houses and go into debt to pay for treatments, and yet i'm worried about paying for college. Giving back is the bare minimum we owe to the world, it grounds us and informs us we aren't the center of the universe. To overcome our individual struggles, we need the help of others. After the loss of my first friend in college to her battle with mental health, I understood the importance of a support system as I struggled with my own battle. The little moments and gestures do the most. Bringing costumes to kids in the hospital for Halloween is Christmas to them. Spending an hour with one of them after their treatment distracts them from the pain. Giving them a toy gives them a friend to always have to protect them from the terrifying needles and machines. Giving back is important to me because, i'd hope that if my child needed a friend, someone would do the same.

Dedicating my time to others is the most rewarding feeling, especially when I bond with those I am helping. I attained over 1500 service hours throughout high school with various organizations, but the Mystic Force Foundation has impacted my character the most. After working with this childhood cancer foundation throughout elementary school, I decided to make a bigger difference in the lives of these children. As a leader of NJHS in middle school, I organized a school-wide drive, raising hundreds of toys for the foundation. I was astonished by the positivity and support of my peers and community, I never would have imagined we would fill an eighteen-foot trailer with toys! My favorite part was seeing the children’s reactions when we bought them to the hospital. Meeting with these endlessly smiling kids who pardon their unimaginable hardship, has altered my perspective on life. The hold they had on my heart led to my request for Halloween costumes and candy from my friends instead of birthday gifts. I excitedly brought them to the hospital when I Trick or Treated with them. I continued expanding my project when I joined NHS in high school, eventually running for president so I could share my experiences with my peers. We had a holiday drive to ensure these kids could celebrate the end of the chaotic year and difficulties the pandemic had on their treatments. I strive to continue my efforts in college and share the feeling of warmth that these children radiate, changing other lives the way it has mine. Meeting these kids and families has had a euphoric effect on my life, as well as everyone else involved with the foundation. As someone who has struggled with mental health, I know the impact and ripple little acts of kindness have.

I am a first-generation student who has ADHD, General Anxiety Disorder, depression, and insomnia. Despite the mental and physical strain, I often advocate that these have helped me emerge and succeed, but I am faced with the new hindrance of independence and distance with college. I was valedictorian and although I worked vigorously I didn’t I necessarily desire the title. I remember always smiling in high school, often getting called out by my peers and teachers for it. I was proudest of receiving the “Most Service Hours Award” with 1538 hours because helping others is what made me happiest. My favorite part of high school was definitely organizing toy drives through my school and community for the Mystic Force Foundation for childhood cancer research. I coordinated three drives, the first filling an eighteen-foot trailer with toys to bring to the children in the hospitals. I was elated to receive a full ride as an out-of-state and honors student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and even courageous enough to try out and play club lacrosse for the school with the #1 ranked lacrosse team. After the loss of my first friend in college to her mental health battle, I struggled with my own mental health and faced months of absolute numbness. My anxiety and depression had worsened to the point that I couldn’t even get out of bed most days, and for which my first semester grades took a hit. Now, academically, I am thriving at UNC but realized the importance of a support system, for which mine remains at home in Florida. Transferring is an extremely difficult decision as is, and any scholarships I would’ve received as a freshman are no longer applicable. Even as an in-state student, I am unable to afford college and the living costs given my single mother’s own disability and inability to provide financial support for my education. Although transferring is putting me in a difficult financial situation, I know it is the right choice to be closer to my friends and family. Now I will never choose anything over my mental health, something my freshly graduated senior self, from less than a year ago, would never have said. A new door has opened for me, making me passionate about combating the stigma around having mental health issues. I want to work throughout my college years with adolescents through their struggles and help stop the increasing suicide rates. I am currently double majoring in neuroscience and psychology in hopes to attend Physician's Assistant school. Growing up I had always dreamed of serving in the military, as my father had, and plan on working there as a PA. I think this is the best way to help those with their mental health while fulfilling my dream to work in the medical field. I completed my EMT certification at Barry University last year and it confirmed my passion for this field. I also hope to continue my efforts with the Mystic Force Foundation at the university I attend and maybe even start my own scholarship or foundation for students struggling in college as well. In the end, I am grateful for the opportunities I have been gifted, even with the hardships some of them have brought me. I am a proud advocate for mental health awareness and hope to help as many people as I can in my lifetime.

Dedicating time to others is the most rewarding feeling, especially when you make connections with those you're helping. Out of my 1500 volunteer hours, those from The Mystic Force Foundation is the one that has impacted me the most. I grew up volunteering with this childhood cancer foundation, but decided in middle school I wanted to make a bigger difference in their lives. As an NJHS leader, I commenced a school-wide toy drive, raising hundreds of toys. I was astonished by the positivity and support from my school and community, I never would have imagined that we would fill an entire 18-foot trailer with toys. My favorite part was seeing the children's reactions when we gave them the toys at the hospital. Meeting with these smiling children, who forget they bare an unimaginable hardship, has changed my perspective on life. The hold they have on my heart led me to starting a drive specifically for Halloween costumes and Trick or Treating with them at the hospital. I continued expanding my toy drives when I joined NHS in high school, eventually running for president so I could further share my experiences with my peers. My senior year, I organized a holiday toy drive through my community and school to ensure these kids could celebrate the end of the chaotic year with the difficulties the pandemic has had on their treatments. I strive to continue similar efforts in college to share the feeling of warmth and joy that these children radiate, changing other lives the way it has for mine. Meeting these kids and families has a euphoric effect on everyone involved. I was offered a new perspective on hardships and was ensured that I can make a difference in the lives of others if I am persistent and dedicated.

My first day in college, at a school unreachable in my hometown, in a state I had never been. My first day brought me excitement and hope… and Remi. I spent my first night at UNC with this energetic girl sprinting floor to floor in our building to pop her head into any room with an open door. Never would I have fathomed that leaving my door open on that first day would lead to the downfall of my health. 4 am. Sunday, October 10th, my friend and I went down to the lobby so she could catch her early bird flight home. An eerie silence pierced as we walked out of the elevator. I can’t decipher whether the trauma falsified my recollection, but the lobby was undeniably cold despite the assembly of police and RAs I vaguely recognized. We were startled by the hushed activity, but justified it with the stress of that weekend's events. As if cotton was removed from my ears when I returned to the lobby, the tranquility turned into terror. I caught the bleach blonde hair of her roommate sobbing and embraced in the arms of a cop. I texted her to see if she was okay, and sat by my phone waiting for a response I didn’t know I would never receive. Given the state of our school that weekend, I couldn’t help but think of the worst possible outcome. There was absolutely nothing. No response, no news, no whispers. The next day a police report for a suicide attempt was released. The word “attempt” gave me hope for the next two days, until it was taken away. The morning I received that message is when the numbness started. I couldn’t even get out of bed for class because I'd have to cross the road she greeted me at every morning and I couldn’t eat at the dining hall because it's where we used to eat. I was relieved when I had finally felt something, but it was anger. I was furious with the school for minimizing the situation and enraged that everyone else’s life seemed to be untouched by her loss. I despised myself for not seeing the signs, but I was guiltily furious at Remi for taking herself away from us. I had lost all perspective. All I could see was pain in people's faces, when they talked I heard struggle and when they laughed it just felt fake and barren. I questioned if happiness was even achievable, or if it was just something people faked because thats what society required. I convinced myself that happiness wasn't real. Until a laugh escaped my throat a couple months later. I felt so guilty for it, but it felt right. I was always the person who made the team run extra laps because I was smiling and laughing at practice, yet the vibration felt so foreign. Although I am still healing and will never be the same I was before I met Remi, but I am extremely thankful to have bonded with her in the few months I was gifted. A new door has opened for me, making me passionate about combating the stigma around having mental health issues. I want to work throughout my college years with adolescents through their struggles and help stop the increasing suicide rates. I struggled deeply throughout my freshman year of college and was on the verge of giving up, but I have realized through my experience as a bystander that this decision impacts so many more people than just yourself. I am also first-generation student who has ADHD, General Anxiety Disorder, depression, and insomnia, all of which I am being medicated for. Despite the mental and physical strain, I often advocate that these have helped me emerge and succeed, but I am faced with the new hindrance of independence and distance with college. I was valedictorian and although I worked vigorously I didn’t I necessarily desire the title. I was always smiling in high school, often getting called out by my peers and teachers for it. I was proudest of receiving the “Most Service Hours Award” with 1538 hours because helping others is what made me happiest. My favorite part of high school was definitely organizing a toy drive for the Mystic Force Foundation for childhood cancer research. I coordinated three drives, the first filling an eighteen-foot trailer with toys to bring to the children in the hospitals. I was elated to receive a full ride as an out-of-state and honors student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, for which I love playing Club Lacrosse for but after my friend passed, my mental health was left completely shattered. I’ve had periodic depressive episodes throughout middle and high school, but nothing compared to the 6 months of numbness I faced with my loss this year. My anxiety and depression had worsened to the point that I couldn’t even get out of bed most days, and for which my first semester grades took a hit. Now I am academically thriving at UNC but realized the importance of a support system, for which mine remains at home in Florida. Transferring is an extremely difficult decision as is, and any scholarships I would’ve received as a freshman are no longer applicable. Even as an in-state student, I am unable to afford college and the living costs given my mother’s own disability and inability to provide financial support for my education. Although transferring is putting me in a difficult financial situation, I know it is the right choice to be closer to my friends and family. Now I will never choose anything over my mental health, something my freshly graduated senior self from less than a year ago would never have said. I am a proud advocate for mental health awareness and hope to help as many people as I can in my lifetime.