My experience with mental health has shaped almost every part of my life, my goals, my relationships, and how I see the world. A lot of it comes from losing my sister. She was autistic, and I helped take care of her like she was my own. When she passed away, it hit me harder than anything I had ever felt. Grief changed the way I thought, the way I acted, and the way I showed up in school. Some days I felt shut down, and other days I felt like I had to hold everything together because I didn’t want my mom to worry. That emotional weight became something I carried quietly for a long time. Going through that forced me to understand myself better. I learned that mental health isn’t just about “being strong,” it’s about giving yourself space to feel and heal. I had to learn how to keep moving forward even when my mind felt heavy. That process shaped my goals because it made me realize that I want a future where I can turn the worst moment of my life into motivation. It’s the reason I push so hard in school and why I’ve committed myself to becoming a mechanical engineer. Working on my AeroMine wind turbine project helped me find direction when everything else felt uncertain. Building something from scratch and watching it work gave me confidence again. It reminded me that I’m capable of creating something meaningful, even when life feels complicated. My mental health journey also changed my relationships. I became more protective of the people I care about, especially my mom. Watching her stay strong while dealing with the same grief taught me what real resilience looks like. It made our bond stronger, and it taught me to be more patient and understanding with others. I started noticing when people around me were struggling, even if they didn’t say anything. Because I knew what it felt like to carry pain quietly, I tried to be someone they could talk to, whether it was classmates, friends, or people who just needed someone to listen. All of this changed the way I see the world. Losing my sister made me realize how short life can be and how important it is to find purpose. Struggling with mental health taught me that everyone is dealing with something, even if it isn’t obvious. It made me more empathetic, more grounded, and more focused on building a future where I can give back. My goal in engineering, especially renewable energy, comes from wanting to build things that make life better for others. I want to create solutions that help families and communities feel more secure and supported. My mental health journey isn’t something I hide. It’s something that shaped me into who I am, someone who works hard, cares deeply, and wants to build a future my sister would be proud of.