I was born in Spanish Town Jamaica to a dad who worked two jobs and a mom who did not finish high school. My dad took care of us though, as my mom had another child from a previous relationship. Then a few months later, we welcomed my baby sister into the world, we lost my father to gun violence. He was coming home late one night, and gunmen waited for him by our gate and robbed him of his life. I watched as they took him away while my mom fought for him even though he was no longer here. It was at that moment, at five years old, that I learned that I would have to do whatever I had to do to make my family happy. Since my mom did not finish high school, she did whatever she could to put food on the table. She sold whatever goods were in demand at that time, and when she needed some extra help, I would go to the market with her. Whenever I did not go with her, I stayed home with my siblings helping with homework and making meals for them even though they would complain about my cooking, as the oldest daughter I had the responsibility of taking care of my three siblings when our mom was away. Eventually, I decided that I wanted to do more for everyone, so, I came here. Then I stumbled upon several obstacles in my path that I was unprepared to deal with alone in a new country. The first was realizing that I would not be able to work or get financial aid to assist with school. So, I did what I knew how to do best, and that was playing sports. I got recruited to play soccer at my university, and since then I have also played flag football and ran track to represent my school. I have joined organizations to give back to my school and community despite the obstacles. This taught me that giving up is not an option, and that I cannot expect doors to open for me in this country. I might have to build that door myself from scratch. I have learned the true meaning of legacy while attending my HBCU. I have learned such a great ordeal that I started to desire to leave a legacy of my own. I want my legacy to show all the strides that I made toward change. There are multiple social issues in today’s world like unemployment, poverty, and environmental issues. Underneath these, you will see a shadowy figure unnoticed by the majority: mental health issues. According to studies, up to fifty million Americans have mental health struggles. So, why are we not taking it more seriously? It is an issue that has taken the lives of over five hundred thousand people. I currently consider myself an advocate for mental health, and I plan to do so much more. The end goal is to join the small percentage of black psychologists because my people need me. Unfortunately, mental health and mental illness are not taken as seriously as they should be in the black community, and that needs to change. “Be the change that you would like to see in the world,” is one of my favorite quotes, because I agree. It makes no sense to stand around and wait for change when you can start working towards that change.

Being athletic enough to compete in track, soccer and flag football has been a blessing. So, I started playing soccer in my junior year of high school and I realized that it would be my way out. After I graduated from high school in 2020, I had no idea how I was going to pay for my college education so, I continued playing soccer for my travel team because I had one year left, and that got me recruited. I was awarded a scholarship, and I started my college career. Unfortunately, I broke my foot freshman year and I had to sit out half of the season, but in the spring, I went on to play flag football in hopes of being awarded a second scholarship to assist with my tuition, and it was granted to me the following year. Going through rehab and coming back from that injury was extremely difficult and frustrating. When I was not able to compete, I felt like I had no identity but eventually, I learned who I was. I learned to be more grateful for the experiences that I was gifted in my sports. I never took them for granted again. Fast forward to my junior year, I struggled with my mental health a lot. I started advocating for student athletes’ mental health as I believe that we are seen only as athletes, which is not fair. Then, I met the new track coach for my university and his energy was so welcoming that I tried out for the team, and I made it. I had always been quick, but I always had the idea that I was not fast enough to be on the track but my coach thought otherwise. My flag football coach had a problem with me running track, and my soccer coach decided to cut my scholarship. So, I dedicated myself to track and field. I started this year right before our conference championship where I competed in the 100m sprint where I earned myself a place in the finals with no experience, and I was the 2nd leg for our 4x100m sprint team which qualified us for the NAIA National Championships in Indiana. The experience has changed my life, and it is like the world of track and field is a different realm. It has been a life lesson more than anything. I learned that the only person that I am competing with is myself because if I ran a better time than I did the last meet then I won. I beat myself. Since I started track, I just feel full of newfound wisdom that I am not able to pass on, and with experience in three sports and my passion for psychology, I am determined to advocate for student-athletes and their rights. My goal is to be a psychologist, either specializing in sports or simply being a Coach myself. I do not tell many people about my goal of being a coach because they simply would not understand. I feel like great coaches change your life, and I plan to be the coach that my coach is to me. He reminds me that I can do anything, and I believe him. I believe that my impact will be enormous because of my own experiences. Even now, I train my create workout plans for my teammates because I love sports, I love coaching. I will always motivate my teammates and the people around me because what we do is not easy, and we all deserve to feel seen and heard.

Andrew Garfield’s Spiderman will always be my favorite. I enjoyed watching his movements when he would play the character because he looked just like a real spider. He was kind despite losing his Uncle Ben which changed his perspective. He was also just angry at the world because it just seemed like the universe was against him and I could relate to that feeling. He went on to be a hero, he even fell in love with Gwen and then he lost her. In Spider-Man No Way Home, we see all three of the actors that play Spider-Man in the same universe because of Tom Holland’s character’s mistake and Tobey noticed that Andrew Garfield was admiring Tom Holland’s Spiderman and Zendaya’s Mj’s relationship. So, Tobey’s Spiderman asked, “Do you have someone?” With sad eyes, Andrew’s Spiderman tried to explain that he did not have the time because of the Spiderman stuff. The truth was that he did have someone, but she died because of the Spiderman stuff, and he could not save her. He got the chance to save Zendaya’s MJ though, and I know it brought back a lot of memories and he felt like he redeemed himself. He saved someone. I relate to his character in the sense that I do not have a person and that is the excuse that I give as well. I say that I am too busy trying to be great, and that is only have of the reasons. Like Spiderman, I just cannot have it all. Andrew’s Spiderman was also always kind to Max (Electro). He reminded him that he was not “a nobody” and he never was. He offers motivation to those perceived as villains because he sees them for what they are like I do. They are just humans who have been through a lot and are simply misunderstood. And even after everything that he lost, he kept being a hero. He kept lending a hand, and in the real world that is the type of person that I aspire to always be no matter the sacrifices.

I was born in Spanish Town Jamaica to a dad who worked two jobs and a mom who did not finish high school. My dad took care of us though, as my mom had another child from a previous relationship. Then a few months later, we welcomed my baby sister into the world, we lost my father to gun violence. He was coming home late one night, and gunmen waited for him by our gate and robbed him of his life. I watched as they took him away while my mom fought for him even though he was no longer here. It was at that moment, at five years old, that I learned that I would have to do whatever I had to do to make my family happy. Since my mom did not finish high school, she did whatever she could to put food on the table. She sold whatever goods were in demand at that time, and when she needed some extra help, I would go to the market with her. Whenever I did not go with her, I stayed home with my siblings helping with homework and making meals for them even though they would complain about my cooking, as the oldest daughter I had the responsibility of taking care of my three siblings when our mom was away. Eventually, I decided that I wanted to do more for everyone, so, I came here. Then I stumbled upon several obstacles in my path that I was unprepared to deal with alone in a new country. The first was realizing that I would not be able to work or get financial aid to assist with school. So, I did what I knew how to do best, and that was playing sports. I got recruited to play soccer at my university, and since then I have also played flag football and ran track to represent my school. I have joined organizations to give back to my school and community despite the obstacles. This taught me that giving up is not an option, and that I cannot expect doors to open for me in this country. I might have to build that door myself from scratch. I have always felt like I did not fit in with the American students though. Most of them have this unknown privilege. When I realized that, I realized that I would just have to focus even harder and work twice as hard as those who were born in this country. I struggle a lot financially, and it makes me feel isolated from my peers. I struggle with anxiety and depression because of these things. I have not seen my mom and siblings in a few years, and I do miss them a lot, but I cannot take my eyes off the prize. This is all for them. This scholarship will assist me with graduating with my degree in Psychology on time, which will be a big win for my family. I am a first-generation college student and graduating will set an example for my younger sisters. My older brother got a job in air conditioning repairs after high school, and even though he is older he looks up to me, they all do. This scholarship will give us all hope, especially my mom. I want my family to know that their life does not have to be struggle and hardships all the time. Being a college graduate will start a new life for all of us. Where I grew up, dreams were just dreams. Now, I know that that is anything is possible.

I was born in Spanish Town Jamaica to a dad who worked two jobs and a mom who did not finish high school. My dad took care of us though, as my mom had another child from a previous relationship. Then a few months later, we welcomed my baby sister into the world, we lost my father to gun violence. He was coming home late one night, and gunmen waited for him by our gate and robbed him of his life. I watched as they took him away while my mom fought for him even though he was no longer here. It was at that moment, at five years old, that I learned that I would have to do whatever I had to do to make my family happy. Since my mom did not finish high school, she did whatever she could to put food on the table. She sold whatever goods were in demand at that time, and when she needed some extra help, I would go to the market with her. Whenever I did not go with her, I stayed home with my siblings helping with homework and making meals for them even though they would complain about my cooking, as the oldest daughter I had the responsibility of taking care of my three siblings when our mom was away. Eventually, I decided that I wanted to do more for everyone, so, I came here. Then I stumbled upon several obstacles in my path that I was unprepared to deal with alone in a new country. The first was realizing that I would not be able to work or get financial aid to assist with school. So, I did what I knew how to do best, and that was playing sports. I got recruited to play soccer at my university, and since then I have also played flag football and ran track to represent my school. I have joined organizations to give back to my school and community despite the obstacles. This taught me that giving up is not an option, and that I cannot expect doors to open for me in this country. I might have to build that door myself from scratch. I have always felt like I did not fit in with the American students though. Most of them have this unknown privilege. When I realized that, I realized that I would just have to focus even harder and work twice as hard as those who were born in this country. I struggle a lot financially, and it makes me feel isolated from my peers. I struggle with anxiety and depression because of these things. I have not seen my mom and siblings in a few years, and I do miss them a lot, but I cannot take my eyes off the prize. This is all for them. This scholarship will assist me with graduating with my degree in Psychology on time, which will be a big win for my family. I am a first-generation college student and graduating will set an example for my younger sisters. My older brother got a job in air conditioning repairs after high school, and even though he is older he looks up to me, they all do. This scholarship will give us all hope, especially my mom. I want my family to know that their life does not have to be struggle and hardships all the time. Being a college graduate will start a new life for all of us. Where I grew up, dreams were just dreams. Now, I know that that is anything is possible.

Psychology has always been interesting to me. It is the study of the human mind, and I never understood my own, so I was sold. Even before college, I used to watch those psychology videos one would find on YouTube because I was always interested in understanding why people think and act the way I do. I was also interested in understanding why I do certain things, and why my pattern of thinking is set in a certain way, and the more I learned, the more I wanted to understand. I believe psychology might be the closest thing to reading minds. I plan to use my psychology degree to help those who feel like they are not seen, those who feel like they are stuck, and those who feel like they lack value. I believe that everyone suffers from something, and that we all have our stories and sometimes we all just need someone to speak to and work through things. There is a stigma surrounding mental health, especially in minority communities, and my goal is to play a part in breaking that stigma. After my dad was killed, I struggled with my mental health, and that sparked my interest in Psychology. I wanted to understand why it made me so depressed. Then with the childhood that I experienced, I wanted to know why I was always so anxious. Then, I realized that other people must feel the same, and I felt the need to help. I always felt misunderstood, and I never want anyone to feel like that.

I recently published my first book, and that is currently my greatest achievement. I write poems as a form of self-care. I have always struggled with my mental health, but writing helps me understand my thoughts and feelings. When I started college, it was after a gap year because my family would not support me going as they thought it would be better if I just went and got a job. So, I continued playing soccer for my travel team in hopes of getting recruited since it was my last year before I aged out. I would work around six hours every day before heading to practice in the evenings. My hard work paid off because I got recruited on a partial scholarship which opened the door for me to pursue a degree in Psychology. In my first semester, I started seeing the school therapist as the weight of being a first-generation student-athlete with a job was overwhelming, especially with no support from my family. The therapist requested accommodation for me as the stress was crippling, and I was excused from classes for a few weeks, but luckily, I was still able to finish the semester with a 3.8 grade point average. In my sessions, I did not understand my feelings, so I would read my poetry to our therapist. There they were all my raw emotions on paper. All my anger, sadness, and anxiety were laid out for him to see. He encouraged me that my poems were powerful and that I should have them published. I thought about it long and hard, then I did it. I realized that my book of poems is the first step in breaking the stigma around mental health. I want people to know that their feelings are normal. I want people like me to know that they are valued and that they are seen. My book was the first step in advocating for mental health issues and mental illnesses, as someone currently on antidepressants and medication for an anxiety disorder. This book made me realize that I can do anything, as being a published author was always a dream of mine, but when I told people they would laugh at me. Where I grew up, dreams were just dreams, but now I know that I can accomplish anything if I work towards it. In the future, I plan to write more books on mental health. I plan to become a clinical psychologist, as my goal is to assist people with feeling safe inside their minds. I plan to start a non-profit organization called ‘A Million Dreams” because I think ‘a million’ rhymes with Amealia. My nonprofit will support young adults in their transition from high school to college because so many people emphasize the importance of getting post-secondary education, but what about the kids with no support system? I want to be there to let them know that their dreams matter. In the future, A Million Dreams will offer scholarships, free group counseling, and mentorships. Dreams are not just dreams if you work towards them, I know that now, and I want to open the eyes of those that were once like me.

Hunter x Hunter is my comfort show, I have seen it countless times. It was the reason that I got a Crunchyroll membership and got into anime. There are several reasons why I love this specific anime, and the biggest one is Gon and Killua’s friendship and how they force growth in each other. I also see a lot of myself in Killua, and that is why I got his Hunter Exam badge number tattooed on my ankle and why I dressed up as him for Halloween two years ago. He came from a family of assassins where he was tortured in order to become stronger, so he was not exactly the friendly type, but then he met Gon who was bright and bubbly, and he just wanted to be around him. I am like Killua, an introvert who has trouble connecting with people because of my past, but when I am around the right people I seem to light up. Gon and Killua were just two kids, nobody expected them to have the abilities that they did, and that is one of the things that I love so much about this anime. They defied all the odds as they were trying to survive, and they got stronger along the way. It is inspiring to someone like me who was not always very strong; someone who did not come from a great family. Nobody expected me to get as far as I did, but I started my journey on my own, then I met my friends and they motivated me to keep going, they made me want to be a better person. The most interesting part of the anime for me was when Gon and Killua entered Greed Island to find Gon’s dad. Most adults do not even make it out of that game alive if they get in, but not only did they get out alive, but they flourished while inside the game. Then, there was the Chimera Ant arc which took the lives of multiple hunters, but Gon and Killua survived. When I first started that arc, I was so worried for them. I mean, they were two kids just walking into a disaster, but they stood face to face with death, and they survived. Their story just made me feel like I could do anything. They sought out training on their journey when they knew that they needed to be better. Even as kids, they were self-aware enough to know that if they were going to succeed, they needed to get stronger, and they did just that. Even with the odds against them, they persevered, and that is a life lesson. Every time I look at my little tattoo, I remember that life really is just like the Hunter Exams, and all I have to do is believe in myself, go through the phases, and surround myself with good company and I will cross the finish line.

I have learned the true meaning of legacy while attending my HBCU. I have learned such a great ordeal that I started to desire to leave a legacy of my own. I want my legacy to show all the strides that I made towards change. There are multiple social issues in today’s world like unemployment, poverty, and environmental issues. Underneath these, you will see a shadowy figure unnoticed by the majority: mental health issues. According to studies, up to fifty million Americans have mental health struggles. So, why are we not taking it more seriously? It is an issue that has taken the lives of over five hundred thousand people. I currently consider myself an advocate for mental health, and I plan to do so much more. Currently, I am a part of my university’s suicide initiative on campus where I hold an active role creating awareness on mental health. I use my social media platforms to express myself freely, I speak about my struggles in hopes of reaching at least one person. In hopes of letting them know that my page is and always will be a safe space for them if they ever need a listening ear. I also recently published my first book of poetry on mental health titled ‘During the Storm’. My book consists of poems that I wrote when I was going through my storm, and I hope that it lets people know that they are not alone in this world. I am also a psychology major currently set to graduate next spring. My goal is to join the low percentage of black mental health professionals in the United States. My people need me. Unfortunately, mental health and mental illness are not taken as seriously as they should be in the black community, and that needs to change. “Be the change that you would like to see in the world,” is one of my favorite quotes, because I agree. It makes no sense to stand around and wait for change when you can start working towards that change. I am also currently planning on getting an organization called NAMI- National Alliance on Mental Illness, started on my university campus, as I think that will be another safe space for my peers. I want them to know now that their mental health is important before they go out into a world that will tell them otherwise. Everything that I am doing now is setting the foundation for change, and hopefully, with my psychology degree, I can go on to further educate myself to assist my people on our healing journey as we heal as a race from generational trauma. The change starts now.

I am currently pursuing psychology as I aspire to become a psychologist in the future. This has been my goal for as long as I can remember because growing up being. black, I noticed the stigma around mental health. I realized that mental health is completely ignored, and we are told to just be strong. The older generation tells us that we survived slavery, and they will tell us that depression is for the white folks. My goal is to be a part of the very low percentage of black psychologists in the country. I want to help my people heal from generational traumas, I want them to feel acknowledged and safe because when we heal, we will be so much stronger. My goal is to also write books for black people that will provide guidance on taking care of their mental health. I will provide my own experiences for them and bring attention to the importance of taking care of their mental health and breaking the stigma. I believe that we have to be there for each other as a race instead of fighting against each other, which is why I chose to attend an HBCU. Being at my university has shown me what people mean when they speak about black excellence. I never really had positive role models growing up, and being black you start to believe that the cards are stacked against you and that here is no way out. Being around people that look like me and are in leadership roles at my university has given me people to look up to, it gave me hope. It showed me that despite what they tell us, there is a way. I am currently set to head into my senior year at my HBCUs, but unfortunately, my athletic scholarship was suddenly cut, which is what helps the most with my tuition. This scholarship would help alleviate the financial burden of paying my tuition so that I can graduate on time with my degree. This scholarship will give me hope that there is a way to reach my goals despite my financial struggles, despite coming from nothing. This scholarship would be a great assistance as it will not only help me but my family. It will give my younger siblings the role model that I did not have growing up. It would bring me joy to know that they would be able to see the world in a different light because if their big sister did it, then it can be done. This scholarship would assist in giving my family its first college graduate. My degree will be their degree as much as mine.

For as long as I can remember, I have struggled with my mental health. I have always felt like something was broken inside me and that I would never be able to fix it. How does one undo childhood trauma? I am not sure that I can, but if I never heard my dad be killed, I probably would not currently be on antidepressants. If I had not been sexually assaulted as a kid by my family members, maybe I would not need Buspirone for my anxiety. If my mom did not punish me for crying, maybe I would be better at regulating my emotions. Unfortunately, I cannot change the past. I felt so alone growing up, which is ironic because physically I had no space. The house my family lived in was simply too small for all of us. There was a point in my life though, that I realized that despite my past, I am still responsible for my future. I know what it is like to be hopeless. I always saw the world through black and white lenses, and I do not want people like me to grow up seeing the world as a game that they have been sentenced to lose. I started my journey by majoring in Psychology. My family tried to get me to change it, as they do not view mental health as a serious issue, but they failed to change my mind. My goal is to be the voice for those who have had theirs stolen. My goal is to help people feel safe inside their mind and their bodies, because I understand. I understand what it is like to be unheard. I am a published author of a book titled “During the Storm” which features poems that I have written to help me express myself. When writing these poems, I had no intention of publishing them because they were for me, and for my therapist to understand my thoughts. Then I realized that sharing my raw emotions would make others know that they are not alone and that their feelings are normal. I want people to feel understood. My own experiences have led me to understand that everyone is living their own life. Everyone has a story. I want to be someone whom society labels as troubled. My struggles have opened my eyes in such a way that I just understand. With dealing with people, I have a certain level of peace because I understand that their actions are a reflection of who they are, so I am never too hard on myself because of how they treat me. I understand that people raise their voice when they feel like they are not being heard. I understand that people hide the parts of themselves that they deem to be ugly. That is partially because I never felt understood. Think of life like a story, and how boring it would be if it was perfect. Life is full of ups and downs, and I used to think that when I was down it was the end of the world. I learned that is not true at all. Now I try to see the positives in all situations, and I hope that I can help people see that someday as well. There is a stigma surrounding mental health, and we need more people to care. I believe that this is a fight no one can win on their own, which is why I am studying to be a psychologist. In the future, I plan to write more books on the topic of mental health, simply because I want people to know that they are not alone in this world.

Adversity can be defined as difficulties and misfortune you could say my life was filled with more difficulties than everything else, but I believe adversity is life's best teacher. I am the person that I am today because of the challenges that I have faced growing up, and being a black, lesbian woman did not help much. My father was murdered when I was five years old, so you could say that is where my struggles begun as my mom did not finish high school it was difficult to provide for me and my siblings. I did what I had to do though. I went with her to the market so she could sell whatever products were in demand at the time, while keeping my grades up because she expected nothing less. And when I did not go with her, I watched my younger siblings while she was away. This was how it was for most of my life. One month before my sixteenth birthday, I moved to the United States to live with family. Unfortunately, my mom and siblings are still in Jamaica, but I moved here in search of new opportunities. I am currently majoring in Psychology simply because I would like to give back to my community in the future. I am extremely passionate about mental health, and I believe that it is not acknowledged enough in the black community and I intend on changing that. I believe that even a small difference would be a great start. With everything going on in the world today, I think our mental health should be our top priority. I believe in being the change that I want to see in the world, and in order to do that, I plan to raise awareness to mental health and mental illnesses. There is this stigma surrounding mental health which I am hoping to reduce by publishing books that are designed to teach everyone about the different symptoms of mental illnesses and even how to assist their relatives and friends who are experiencing these symptoms, because I believe that the suicide rates are way too high, and can be lowered if we just paid more attention to those struggling. I also intend to be there as an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. It is my goal to represent all the queer children who are suicidal and scared because of the judgement cast onto them for something that they cannot control. I want them to know that they are normal, that we are normal. And for the black kids in the LGBTQ community, I plan to teach them self love. The world probably will not make it easy for them, but if they learn how to love themselves and be confident, then they will never have to hide. I want them to be their truest selves, and it is my goal to create a future where that is possible.