To start, I am currently a third-year student at Carleton College, majoring in psychology. I plan to apply to graduate school to earn a Master's in Social Work with a clinical concentration after graduation. My long-term goal is to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and work as a therapist. I plan to support individuals navigating emotional and mental health challenges and create safe, nurturing spaces that focus on their specific needs. Someday, I hope to open my own private practice where I can provide therapy to individuals from underserved and marginalized communities, particularly those who, like me, come from immigrant or low-income backgrounds. My passion for mental health started after my dad’s passing from alcoholism, smoking, poor diet, and maybe other things I wasn’t aware of. He had always been sporadically present in my life, and I never truly forgave him for how he treated my mom or how he neglected my brother and me. Yet, when he left to live with family in Vietnam and eventually passed away there, I caught myself in a complicated mix of emotions. I didn’t know how to respond and, instead of grieving openly, I moved through my days in silence, pretending it never happened. It wasn’t until I had friends in high school who shared their mental health, family struggles, and even deaths of loved ones, that I felt comfortable opening up. With time, I learned how to talk about my dad out loud without having my voice shake or tearing up. His addictions left scars not just in my memories of him, but in how I see substances today. I feel anger, fear, and disgust toward alcohol, smoking, and drugs, but I also feel compassion and sadness for how they can change and harm people. These feelings fueled me and inspired me to become a therapist, so I can help others navigate their concerns and find strength in their stories. Therefore, I feel a deep commitment to mental health advocacy and support, ensuring I create a future where I become a part of the solution. To ensure my passion becomes a reality, I volunteered in several places as a learning opportunity and to determine which area I’d like to work in. Since Spring 2024, I have been volunteering for Hope Center, an organization that supports survivors of domestic abuse. I took on the responsibility of their hotline after completing 40 hours of training on domestic violence advocacy and crisis interventions. During my scheduled shifts, I learned how to remain calm under pressure and simply listen, knowing that what they needed most was to feel heard and not alone. I also spent my current summer volunteering with Compassus, a healthcare company specializing in hospice care services. Every weekend, I sat with patients assigned to me, listened to their stories, and helped with memory recall. I loved being in their presence because it opened my eyes to experiences far outside my own. For example, our age gap meant I was learning about a world that existed long before I was born, such as the struggles of integration in schools, husbands in wars, early marriages, and no electronics. On some weekdays, I visited Compassus’s office to assist with administrative tasks, including printing and preparing documents for volunteer orientations, creating folders of information and sign-up forms for patients and their guardians, and calling patients to check in and see if they needed anything. Through my essay, I hope my words have not only expressed my need for this scholarship but also my commitment to pursuing my goals. Thank you for your consideration.

Recently, during the summer, I applied to be an instructor/tutor at Community Family Centers. When applying, I thought I knew what I was getting myself into, given that my job description seemed straightforward, involving tasks like planning daily activities and academic preparation. But stepping into a center that primarily served low-income families, many from marginalized communities, I found myself stepping into a world far more complex and alive than I had imagined. The environment was often loud, unpredictable, and chaotic, but within that chaos, I also found a community full of potential and resilience. Their mix of personalities and unabashed youth would both test and inspire me. Due to staff shortages and inconsistent management, I was frequently moved between groups, starting with 10-11-year-olds, then to teens ages 12-17, then to younger children aged 6-7, and eventually to a combined class of 4-7-year-olds. Each group had unique needs, and the constant switching felt overwhelming. I had no prior experience working with children, so I found myself learning from them as much as they were learning from me. Due to their wide age range, I realized how vital patience and connection were for each child. For example, the youngest children, ages 4-7, were often curious and impatient, requiring gentle guidance and constant attention. In comparison, teenagers require space and encouragement to take responsibility and action. One boy in particular kept to himself and refused to join activities, assuming he wasn’t good at them. By working beside him and breaking tasks into smaller steps, I saw his confidence grow until he no longer needed me to ask him privately if he’d join. These moments made me incredibly proud of myself and the children because I saw how profound encouragement and kindness are to a child’s self-belief. My ability to adapt quickly improved. I learned to adjust my approach based on their ages, balance discipline with encouragement, and structure a good amount of play and academics. This adaptability helped me survive the chaos and connect meaningfully with children because I knew I needed to be there for them first and foremost. I remember how valuable it was to build their trust and confidence by listening often, encouraging them to break tasks into smaller, manageable steps, and celebrating every success alongside them. Their resilience, love for play, and support of one another showed me that a future is in each of them as long as we, as a community, provide them a nurturing environment where children feel safe and empowered. I am currently a third-year student at Carleton College majoring in psychology, and I plan to apply to graduate school to earn a Master’s in Social Work with a clinical concentration after graduation. My long-term goal is to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and work as a therapist. I aim to support individuals navigating emotional and mental health challenges by creating safe and nurturing spaces that focus on their specific needs. I hope to open my own private practice where I can provide therapy to individuals from underserved and marginalized communities, particularly those who, like me, come from immigrant or low-income backgrounds. This scholarship will help alleviate the financial burden of my undergraduate loans, allowing me to focus more on acquiring the skills and knowledge necessary to serve my community effectively.

As a first-generation college student raised in a low-income Vietnamese household, I grew up in an environment where mental health is rarely acknowledged or discussed. I was raised to perceive mental health as an excuse not to resolve my problems–a sign of failure. In Asian cultures, we place a strong emphasis on “perfection” to meet societal expectations. That mindset can lead to underreporting of symptoms and a reluctance to seek help because we fear burdening others and the shame of our elders’ rigid beliefs. It took me several years to recognize how damaging this way of thinking was. It was my friends in high school who confided in me about their mental health that opened my eyes. They told me about their diagnoses, such as clinical depression and social anxiety, and how their mental health affects their daily lives. Their courage to speak up about it helped me realize that mental health was not shameful or something that you can control. Since Spring 2024, I have been volunteering for Hope Center, an organization that supports survivors of domestic abuse. I took on the responsibility of their hotline after completing 40 hours of training on domestic violence advocacy and crisis interventions. This training prepared me for the challenges of working with survivors, ensuring I guide them to resources for safety and support. During my scheduled shifts, I learned how to remain calm under pressure and simply listen, knowing that what they needed most was to feel heard and not alone. I also spent my current summer volunteering with Compassus, a healthcare company specializing in hospice care services. Every weekend, I sat with patients assigned to me, listened to their stories, and helped with memory recall. I loved being in their presence because it opened my eyes to experiences far outside my own. For example, our age gap meant I was learning about a world that existed long before I was born, such as the struggles of integration in schools, husbands in wars, early marriages, and no electronics. On some weekdays, I visited Compassus’s office to assist with administrative tasks, including printing and preparing documents for volunteer orientations, creating folders of information and sign-up forms for patients and their guardians, and calling patients to check in and see if they needed anything. Although I love speaking to patients, I love supporting their behind-the-scenes daily operations, ensuring patients and families receive support without unnecessary stress. I am currently a third-year student at Carleton College majoring in psychology, and I plan to apply to graduate school to earn a Master’s in Social Work with a clinical concentration after graduation. My long-term goal is to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and work as a therapist. I aim to support individuals navigating emotional and mental health challenges by creating safe and nurturing spaces that focus on their specific needs. I hope to open my own private practice where I can provide therapy to individuals from underserved and marginalized communities, particularly those who, like me, come from immigrant or low-income backgrounds. I feel a deep commitment to mental health advocacy and support, ensuring I create a future where I become a part of the solution. This scholarship will help alleviate the financial burden of my undergraduate loans, allowing me to focus more on acquiring the skills and knowledge necessary to serve my community effectively. (I cannot provide images of myself helping patients or survivors due to confidentiality and privacy concerns.)

When I first learned what it meant to be a first-generation college student, I finally understood how to describe my complex feelings of anger, frustration, and shame growing up. It felt like no matter how hard I tried, I was always behind, struggling to catch up to college peers who seemed to know things I had never been taught. My frustration stemmed from a deep sense of hopelessness. I wanted more for myself and my family, but we didn't always have the financial means to afford the same resources or support systems others had. However, as time passed, my perspective began to shift. I realized that my background didn't make me less; instead, it made me resilient. Being first-gen meant navigating through discomfort, learning fast, and advocating for myself when no one else would. It shaped my perspective to be one of empathy and awareness for students in similar positions, ensuring I position myself proudly, stating, 'I belong here, and I've earned a seat at the table because my presence brings something valuable to the space.' My long-term goal is to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and work as a therapist. I aim to support individuals navigating emotional and mental health challenges by creating safe and nurturing spaces that focus on their specific needs. I hope to open my own private practice where I can provide therapy to individuals from underserved and marginalized communities, particularly those who, like me, come from immigrant or low-income backgrounds. This scholarship will help alleviate the financial burden of my undergraduate loans, allowing me to focus more on acquiring the skills and knowledge necessary to serve my community effectively. Financial stress is a constant factor in my academic journey, resulting in a constant juggle between work, studying, and volunteering. Receiving this scholarship would give me the freedom to pursue more unpaid or low-paying internships, thereby gaining valuable experience in the field of social work. I would like your support in my education, and for the future, I am committed to building. I have learned how to work hard and keep going even when resources are scarce. I will pursue these degrees and certifications for myself, my family, and my community to ensure that I can provide access for others and offer the right kind of support.

As a child, I always noticed how small my family was in comparison to other families. Many of my friends come from large families, which include distant cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and more. Like the kind you see in movies, I felt curious about barbecues in the backyard, holidays alternating between one family’s home and another, and meetups with cousins on weekends. It made me feel a subtle sense of shame and isolation because I longed for the bond of a large, close-knit family I had never known. In my small corner of the world, it was just the three of us: my mother, my younger brother, and me. Most of our relatives were far away in Vietnam, separating us by oceans and time zones, and their absence left a quiet space in my life that I never knew how to fill. However, each night as I grew up, I also remember my mom’s laughter and booming voice when she called her family in Vietnam–gossiping to my aunts and uncles, sharing advice with her cousins, and lecturing her nieces and nephews. There existed a love expressed in calls at odd hours, whether in early mornings or late nights, and photos of our daily lives as updates and reminders that we were loved and remembered. I began to understand the quiet strength of my small circle. My mother’s story is that of an immigrant whose English is limited, yet she perseveres in building a life for us despite numerous financial struggles and cultural barriers. She taught me that love is not measured by how many people gather at your table but by how you honor your small circle, both here and far away. My younger brother has also been a source of inspiration. From a young age, he dreamed of building planes. I never saw it as a serious hobby of his when he assembled model planes and collectible figurines until he chose to pursue trade school for aviation mechanics. His fascination with their beauty and speed is endearing, and his hope of making flights more affordable for us to bridge the distance is an ambition rooted in love. Through his passion, I have learned how our ambition can be personal and achievable, as our hopes and longings bring people together. As a witness to my family’s struggle to overcome the challenges of poverty and financial strains, I desired to give back and help others find strength in their own stories. I plan to pursue a Master of Social Work degree after graduating from college and become a licensed clinical social worker. I want to work with individuals who, like my family, have faced poverty, isolation, or the challenges of immigration. I want to help them see that their circumstances do not define them and create a space where they can be seen, heard, and valued. Today, when I look at my small family, I know that numbers do not measure love, but by how deeply you care for one another.

When I first learned what it meant to be a first-generation college student, I finally understood how to describe my complex feelings of anger, frustration, and shame growing up. It felt like no matter how hard I tried, I was always behind, struggling to catch up to college peers who seemed to know things I had never been taught. My frustration stemmed from a deep sense of hopelessness. I wanted more for myself and my family, but we didn't always have the financial means to afford the same resources or support systems others had. However, as time passed, my perspective began to shift. I realized that my background didn't make me less; instead, it made me resilient. Being first-gen meant navigating through discomfort, learning fast, and advocating for myself when no one else would. It shaped my perspective to be one of empathy and awareness for students in similar positions, ensuring I position myself proudly, stating, 'I belong here, and I've earned a seat at the table because my presence brings something valuable to the space.' My long-term goal is to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and work as a therapist. I aim to support individuals navigating emotional and mental health challenges by creating safe and nurturing spaces that focus on their specific needs. I hope to open my own private practice where I can provide therapy to individuals from underserved and marginalized communities, particularly those who, like me, come from immigrant or low-income backgrounds. To write it more concretely, I plan to graduate in psychology, apply to graduate school to earn a Master's in Social Work, and become an LCSW. I will complete internships in community mental health clinics, school-based counseling programs, domestic violence shelters, or hospital settings. These types of environments align with my passion for working with youth and families from marginalized communities, as well as offering hands-on experience. This will help me fulfill the post-graduate requirements to become an LCSW, which requires around 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience. Once I become fully licensed, I plan to offer therapy at clinics or centers, gradually building a private practice behind the scenes. I aim to provide affordable treatment to low-income individuals, youth, and families. My aspirations are deeply rooted in the experiences I've had from learning about and supporting loved ones through their challenges. For example, it was my friends in high school who confided in me about their mental health that opened my eyes. They told me about their diagnoses, such as clinical depression and social anxiety, and how their mental health affects their daily lives. Their courage to speak up about it helped me realize that mental health was not shameful or something that you can control. Additionally, my mother's story is one of resilience; despite her limited English, she persevered in building a life for us despite numerous financial struggles and cultural barriers. My younger brother is also a source of inspiration for me. From a young age, he dreamed of building planes. I never saw it as a serious hobby of his when he assembled model planes and collectible figurines until he chose to pursue trade school for aviation mechanics. As a witness to my friends and family's struggle to overcome the challenges of mental health, poverty, or financial strains, I desired to give back and help others find strength in their own stories. This scholarship will help alleviate the financial burden of my undergraduate loans, allowing me to focus more on acquiring the skills and knowledge necessary to serve my community effectively.

I am currently a third-year student at Carleton College majoring in psychology, and I plan to apply to graduate school to earn a Master's in Social Work with a clinical concentration after graduation. My long-term goal is to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and work as a therapist. I aim to support individuals navigating emotional and mental health challenges by creating safe and nurturing spaces that focus on their specific needs. I hope to open my own private practice where I can provide therapy to individuals from underserved and marginalized communities, particularly those who, like me, come from immigrant or low-income backgrounds. To write it more concretely, I plan to graduate and gain experience to become an LCSW by completing internships in community mental health clinics, school-based counseling programs, domestic violence shelters, or hospital settings. These types of environments align with my passion for working with youth and families from marginalized communities, as well as gaining hands-on experience. This will help me fulfill the post-graduate requirements to become an LCSW, which requires around 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience. Once I become fully licensed, I plan to offer therapy at clinics or centers, gradually building a private practice behind the scenes. I aim to provide affordable and culturally sensitive treatment to low-income individuals, youth, and families. My aspirations are deeply rooted in the experiences I’ve had from supporting loved ones through their challenges. As a first-generation college student raised in an immigrant household, I grew up in an environment where mental health is rarely acknowledged or discussed. I never understood what mental health was. I was raised to perceive mental health as an excuse for not addressing my problems–a sign of failure. It took me several years to recognize how damaging this way of thinking was. It was my friends in high school who confided in me about their mental health that opened my eyes. They told me about their diagnoses, such as clinical depression and social anxiety, and how their mental health affects their daily lives. Their courage to speak up about it helped me realize that mental health was not shameful or something that you can control. Therefore, I feel a deep commitment to mental health advocacy and support, ensuring I create a future where I become a part of the solution. This scholarship will help alleviate the financial burden of my undergraduate loans, allowing me to focus more on acquiring the skills and knowledge necessary to serve my community effectively. Financial stress is a constant factor in my academic journey, resulting in a constant juggle between work, studying, and volunteering. Receiving this scholarship would give me the freedom to pursue more unpaid or low-paying internships, thereby gaining valuable experience in the field of social work. I would like your support in my education, and for the future, I am committed to building. I have learned how to work hard and keep going even when resources are scarce. I will pursue these degrees and certifications for myself, my family, and my community to ensure that I can provide access for others and offer the right kind of support.

When I first learned what it meant to be a first-generation college student, I finally understood how to describe my complex feelings of anger, frustration, and shame growing up. It felt like no matter how hard I tried, I was always behind, struggling to catch up to college peers who seemed to know things I had never been taught. My frustration stemmed from a deep sense of hopelessness. I wanted more for myself and my family, but we didn’t always have the financial means to afford the same resources or support systems others had. However, as time passed, my perspective began to shift. I realized that my background didn’t make me less; instead, it made me resilient. Being first-gen meant navigating through discomfort, learning fast, and advocating for myself when no one else would. It shaped my perspective to be one of empathy and awareness for students in similar positions, ensuring I position myself proudly, stating, 'I belong here, and I’ve earned a seat at the table because my presence brings something valuable to the space.' My long-term goal is to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and work as a therapist. I aim to support individuals navigating emotional and mental health challenges by creating safe and nurturing spaces that focus on their specific needs. I hope to open my own private practice where I can provide therapy to individuals from underserved and marginalized communities, particularly those who, like me, come from immigrant or low-income backgrounds.

I am currently a third-year student at Carleton College majoring in psychology, and I plan to apply to graduate school to earn a Master's in Social Work with a clinical concentration after graduation. My long-term goal is to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and work as a therapist. I aim to support individuals navigating emotional and mental health challenges by creating safe and nurturing spaces that focus on their specific needs. I hope to open my own private practice where I can provide therapy to individuals from underserved and marginalized communities, particularly those who, like me, come from immigrant or low-income backgrounds. To write it more concretely, I plan to graduate and gain experience to become an LCSW by completing internships in community mental health clinics, school-based counseling programs, domestic violence shelters, or a hospital setting. These types of environments align with my passion for working with youth and families from marginalized communities, as well as gaining hands-on experience. This will help me fulfill the post-graduate requirements to become an LCSW, which requires around 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience. Once I become fully licensed, I plan to offer therapy at clinics or centers, gradually building a private practice behind the scenes. I aim to provide affordable and culturally sensitive treatment to low-income individuals, youth, and families. My aspirations are deeply rooted in the experiences I’ve had from supporting loved ones through their challenges. As a first-generation college student raised in an immigrant household, I grew up in an environment where mental health is rarely acknowledged or discussed. I never understood what mental health was. I was raised to perceive mental health as an excuse for not addressing my problems–a sign of failure. It took me several years to recognize how damaging this way of thinking was. It was my friends in high school who confided in me about their mental health that opened my eyes. They told me about their diagnoses, such as clinical depression and social anxiety, and how their mental health affects their daily lives. Their courage to speak up about it helped me realize that mental health was not shameful or something that you can control. It took me years to recognize and understand the impact of mental health on others and later myself. Therefore, I feel a deep commitment to mental health advocacy and support, ensuring I create a future where I become a part of the solution. I also hope to break the cycle and open a door that has been closed to many people in my community. My decision to pursue a Master of Social Work degree is driven by my commitment to work with individuals who, like my family, have faced poverty, isolation, or the challenges of immigration. I want to help them see that their circumstances do not define them and create a space where they can be seen, heard, and valued. For example, my mother's story is one of resilience, and despite her limited English, she persevered in building a life for us despite numerous financial struggles and cultural barriers. My younger brother is also a source of inspiration to me. From a young age, he dreamed of building planes. I never saw it as a serious hobby of his when he assembled model planes and collectible figurines until he chose to pursue trade school for aviation mechanics. As a witness to my family's struggle to overcome the challenges of poverty and financial strains, I desired to give back and help others find strength in their own stories. More than anything, I also want to be proud of myself. In a quiet, personal sense, I have chosen a path that fits me not just because it helps others but because it reflects the kind of person I am and the kind of life I want to build. I can’t imagine myself in a job that feels disconnected from people, resulting in a need to work where I can offer support and help people feel less alone and more understood. I enjoy listening and encouraging people to sort through their experiences and build the kind of trust that allows them to take their next step forward. If I can sit with people who feel like they’re falling apart and help them feel whole again by providing compassionate support, I will be healing a part of myself who wished she had such support when she was younger. In the future, I genuinely hope to look back someday and know that I chose a career that made sense for me and be able to say so proudly without a hint of regret. This scholarship will help alleviate the financial burden of my undergraduate loans, allowing me to focus more on acquiring the skills and knowledge necessary to serve my community effectively. Financial stress is a constant factor in my academic journey, resulting in a constant juggle between work, studying, and volunteering. Receiving this scholarship would give me the freedom to pursue more unpaid or low-paying internships, thereby gaining valuable experience in the field of social work. These opportunities are often out of reach for students like me who can't afford to work for free or afford the cost of transportation. Beyond financial support, this scholarship would serve as an affirmation that my goals and background matter — that my journey is worth investing in. To conclude, I ask for your support in my education and for the future I am committed to building. I have learned how to work hard and keep going even when resources are scarce. I also know how powerful it is when someone believes in you and offers you an opportunity to grow. I will pursue these degrees and certifications for myself, my family, and my community to ensure that I can provide access to others and offer the right kind of support. I’m ready to do the work, and with your help, I will honor my words and those who have helped me come this far. I will become the kind of therapist I’ve always envisioned myself as: steady, grounded, and kind. Thank you for considering me, and I hope to live up to every expectation possible.

One of my greatest achievements was being selected for the Junior Achiever Scholarship during my junior year of high school. The scholarship offered a fully funded two-week summer program in the United Kingdom for academically gifted high school juniors from low-income families in Texas. At the time, I was part of EMERGE, a program that supports high-performing students from underserved communities in attending selective colleges and universities. EMERGE frequently shared unique opportunities and programs for students to apply to, including this scholarship. When I first applied, it was on a whim, based on another student’s suggestion who had also applied. I never believed I would be chosen because of how selective and competitive it is – only a few students are selected each year out of many applicants across Texas. With only a week left before the deadline, I decided to complete my application after telling myself, “Why not?” Months later, I received a phone call informing me that I had been selected among the other seven applicants. I was shocked and overwhelmed with excitement, screaming as I jumped around my room and called my mom in pure joy. That moment was the first time I truly realized that taking a chance on myself could lead to something life-changing. I traveled abroad alone for the first time and explored several historical landmarks in the United Kingdom. I found myself in an environment surrounded by students from similar backgrounds in Texas, and we shared many conversations about our dreams and struggles. That experience opened my eyes to the vastness of the world and the immense potential I had to be a part of it. More importantly, it taught me I am just as deserving as anyone else to be in those spaces. Coming from a low-income immigrant background, I had often internalized the idea that specific opportunities were for “other people,” who had more money, more resources, or attended better schools. Through this program, I realized that the only thing separating me from those opportunities was often just the courage to apply. That new confidence shaped everything that followed. When it came time to apply to college, I applied to private institutions. I ultimately chose a private college that offered me a generous scholarship and minimal loans, making it financially feasible for me to attend. I pushed myself academically and even studied abroad again for a term in the United Kingdom. If I hadn’t taken that initial leap and applied for the Junior Achiever Scholarship, I don’t think I would have had the confidence to pursue those other opportunities. Looking to the future, I hope to continue to build on my courage and self-belief. I plan to pursue a Master’s in Social Work and become a licensed social worker. My goal is to establish a private practice that provides mental health support to individuals from underserved and marginalized communities. I know how it feels to grow up with limited access to support systems, and I want to create a safe space for others to feel heard and understood.

Growing up in an Asian household, I never understood what mental health was. I was raised to perceive mental health as an excuse not to resolve my problems–a sign of failure. It took me several years to recognize how damaging this way of thinking was. It was my friends in high school who sought me out in confidence about their mental health that opened my eyes. They told me about their diagnoses, such as clinical depression and social anxiety, and how their mental health affects their daily lives. Their courage to speak up about it helped me realize that mental health was not shameful or something that you can control. Nevertheless, despite being close to them, I could never truly grasp the depths of their struggles until I experienced it myself during my senior year of high school. In the first half of the year, I was under a lot of pressure from college applications, maintaining my grades, and participating in various programs. I often compared myself to others and felt that, no matter what I did, it wasn’t enough. The stress became overwhelming, and I started sleeping less to study more, only to find myself unable to focus or care about anything. The frustrating part was knowing my state and hating myself for feeling so exhausted. The anxiety of wasting time consumed me, making me feel trapped in a vicious cycle where I couldn’t work because I was anxious, yet anxious because I couldn’t work. In the second half of the year, I fell into a downward spiral where my emotional, mental, and physical state struggled to cope and began to break down. Many nights, I stayed up until 4 a.m. doing nothing except staring at my screen, frozen. Desperately, I tried to join study calls with friends, hoping their presence would motivate me, but I made no progress. I began oversharing, confessing how anxious I felt, and how I couldn’t see the point in anything anymore. I feared being seen as the mess I believed I had become, so I started to withdraw from everyone around me. I dreaded speaking to anyone and began asking my mom on school mornings if I could stay home from school. At least once or twice a week, I found myself retreating, explaining briskly, “I’m tired” or “I don’t feel well.” Surprisingly, my mom accepted those shallow justifications as if understanding that pressing me would only deepen my unease. Her quiet support, both then and now, meant a great deal to me, and I am profoundly grateful for it. Many mornings, I ended up crying, overwhelmed and empty at the same time. On other days, I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, sometimes with music, sometimes in silence, wishing I could disappear. Each day blurred into the next, and sleep became my only refuge from everything I couldn’t handle awake. Eventually, I began to question whether I could handle attending college after graduation. The thought of diving headfirst into more rigorous academia felt unbearable. For the first time, I considered the idea of taking a gap year. I imagined resting, staying close to my family, finding a job, learning how to work and breathe again. After months of feeling stagnant, this possibility sparked a sense of movement within me, and I met my academic advisors and friends. My advisors were less convinced and urged me to head straight to college. In comparison, my friends encouraged me to follow what felt right for my mental health. Deep down, I knew I had to take a gap year because I was only harming myself by pushing forward without pause. Fortunately, Carleton College allowed students to formally request a gap year and hold their place, which gave me immense reassurance. Submitting the form meant I didn’t have to abandon my college goals, and I could approach them at a pace that honored my limits. I wish I could say my gap year was productive, and I made a sudden recovery at the start. The reality is that for the first couple of months, I rarely left my room. I had to remind myself to eat more often, learn to sleep less, and find the will to start some of my hobbies again. I had to remember to keep in contact with my close friends instead of withdrawing. I applied for many jobs in search of a reason to get out. Eventually, I did get one at a fast food place, which was physically arduous work, but it got me out of bed and funded my hobbies. As the months passed, I grew more confident in myself as I took on other jobs and hobbies. By the end of my gap year, I was deeply grateful to my friends and family for sticking by me, waiting, and listening to my concerns. I was particularly thankful to my mom, who was supportive of my gap year, despite her reservations and questions, which she never voiced, and allowed me to find my own pace. When I started college, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in psychology, and now, halfway through, I am sure that I want to pursue a master's degree in social work with a focus on clinical psychology to become a therapist. I hope to establish a private practice and help others address their mental health needs. Although my experience may not have been a clinical diagnosis, but rather symptoms of burnout, I wish I had someone to speak to, especially a professional who could help me navigate and answer all the questions I had. I want to help others who may even be in families like my own, whose views on mental health are critical and narrow-minded. I was fortunate that my mom gave me space and understanding despite her own beliefs, knowing not all families can. I want to show how mental health is something you can slowly recover from, and that you are not broken but human.