The Black community is experiencing a mental health crisis that is exacerbated by poverty, racism, and disparities in access to health care. The suicide rate has increased by 55 percent for Blacks between the ages of 13-30. I want to offer free mental health services that help marginalized people in low-income communities heal. I want to be the person to help young Black girls during their toughest times because I was that girl. Middle school was a tumultuous time for me. I was in my early years of adolescence dealing with the weight of loss, grief, and toxic friend dynamics. I had lost my maternal grandparents before I could walk or talk. Allen Dodd was an engineer/poet and Janie Dodd, was the first Black principal in Harrisburg, Pa. I had also lost my paternal grandfather, Ted Mungin, who was a successful salesman. He died after suffering from cancer when I was eight years old. Then, a month later, my father, Lateef Mungin, passed away on February 28, 2014. These heart-wrenching losses caused me to go into a long depressive state. My immediate family was made even smaller. My mother, sister, and I were forced to pick up the pieces together and I still had to concentrate on school. At Ivy Preparatory Academy, we were asked to research occupations and colleges so that we could envision ourselves as successful career women in the future. But in sixth grade, my future looked bleak. My self-esteem was low, and my relationships at school weren’t improving my outlook on life. I met people who were also in bad places, and I became the crutch for them to lean on. That’s when I began to read about psychology. I became greatly interested in the field because of my innate passion for the well-being of others. When I learned that there was a profession in which you spent your days helping others to overcome their problems, heal, and live their best lives, I figured sign me up! At my high school, Atlanta Girls School, I have been able to use my interest in psychology to help fellow students. Since sophomore year, I’ve taught emotional wellness workshops for students in grades 6-12 during pre-semester classes at Atlanta Girls School. I lead meditation and motivational talks about self-love and forgiveness, creating a safe space for students to share their feelings. Creating spaces like these is one of my favorite things to do, it fills my heart with so much joy. Experiences like these paired with my passions and past create the foundation of why I want to be a positive force in people's lives. With a degree in psychology, I can achieve this goal. I know the journey to achieve my goal is not going to be easy, but I have faced and overcome many daunting obstacles at such a young age. I know how to approach them and take them head-on with boundless determination. My future is bright and no obstacle is too big for me to conquer.