Books have taught me a lot about life. But the biggest thing they have taught me is that you never really know what is coming next. I have gotten lost in books more times than I can count. It was always hard to get my attention and draw back to my reality. I have loved characters as if I knew them, cried over their heartbreak, celebrated their happiness, and gotten angry when their stories did not go the way I wanted them to. I have watched characters I loved go through grief, loss, heartbreak, mental illness, disabilities, and challenges that seemed impossible to overcome. Some were knocked down again and again to the point where I found myself convinced there was no way to fix the story, only to find their way to a happy ending. Others never got the ending I wanted for them. At first, I hated when a book did not give me the ending I had hoped for. Over time, though, I realized that was part of what made reading so meaningful. Life does not always give us the ending we planned for either. Books have taught me that people are complicated. There have been characters I was sure I would hate from beginning to end, only to watch them grow and slowly understand why they became the person they were. Learning their stories made me look at them differently. It taught me to stop judging someone based only on the one part of their story I happened to see. Everyone has a reason for the way they think, feel, and act, even when I do not understand it at first. In a strange way, fictional characters have taught me real empathy. I have also realized that, in many ways, I reflect the characters I have spent so much time loving. I have experienced heartbreak, grief, love, sadness, change, uncertainty, and moments when I did not know what the next page of my own life would look like. I have not only learned to love these characters, learn their stories, and get lost in their realities. I have learned to love myself, too. Books have taught me to appreciate the mystery of life. I do not know what the next chapter holds, and maybe that is the beautiful part. There will be twists I see coming and others that completely surprise me. There will be chapters I wish I could rewrite and chapters I never want to end. There will be people I meet who change me, moments that break my heart, and moments that remind me why I kept going. So I continue to turn the page. I continue to learn, to grow, to hope, and to get through one chapter until I reach the next. And now, I am learning to love my own story just as much as the stories I bury myself into. Books have given me a place to escape, but they have also taught me how to return to my own life with more empathy, with hope, and with courage. I may never know exactly how my story will end, but I no longer feel like I need to. I just want to keep reading, keep living, and keep discovering what comes next.

I didn’t truly realize the beauty of life until I was 16. I don't know when, how, or where it all went wrong. I don't know when things went downhill or when my mental health started to deteriorate, but it did. 16 years old and admitted into a mental hospital for suicidal ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, severe anxiety/depression, and body dysmorphia. It feels relieving being able to finally type all of that out and accept it, but getting there wasn't easy. After leaving the mental hospital, I received little help from teachers, administration, or peers. I struggled to catch up on missed work and had failing grades in almost every class. The stress of schoolwork compounded my efforts to stay mentally healthy, making recovery even more difficult. I was once a 4.0 student with high expectations for myself, and watching my academic performance decline was painful. I had anxiety attacks every morning, felt constantly overwhelmed, and struggled to get out of bed. The challenges of a breakup, my parents' divorce, racism, and misogyny, all while grieving the loss of a close friend to suicide, made it even harder to keep up with school and daily life. It wasn't until I had a session with my wonderful therapist who asked me one question. What was my goal in life? What did I want to achieve and do? I fought extremely hard internally for weeks over this question, and then it clicked. I wanted to prevent others from experiencing what I had gone through, especially adolescents and young adults. This became my mission and passion: to help people out of the situations their mental health puts them in and to show them that growth isn't linear. With my newfound understanding of my purpose, I knew I had to refocus. With only one week left before the end of the semester and a school system just waiting to see another black woman fail, I pushed myself to succeed. I studied relentlessly, worked through each assignment, and managed to raise my grades from an F average to mostly A's and B's, avoiding summer school and earning back my GPA. Mental health is crucial, and my experience solidified my desire to help others, particularly Bipoc women. We face unique challenges, including systemic racism and sexism, which severely impact our mental health and well-being. My goal is to become an advocate not only for mental health but for mental health in BIPOC women, using my degree and personal experiences to provide support and resources. I plan to engage actively with my patients, listen to their needs, and collaborate on solutions. By building trust and understanding, I aim to become a reliable source of support for all who are suffering. Advocacy will be a critical component of my work. I will offer counseling and use my story to help others navigate personal and systemic challenges. On a broader scale, I will work with advocacy groups to push for policy changes addressing the root causes of inequality and discrimination. I now believe in my ability to achieve anything and want to help others learn the same. My dedication to empowering those with mental illnesses, highlighting Bipoc women, and contributing to social justice and equity drives my actions. Through my work, I hope to create a society where teens with mental illnesses are uplifted and taken seriously, and advocate where we as Black women can thrive and lead fulfilling lives, free from the systemic barriers that have historically held us back and set us up for failure.

I did not truly realize how much I wanted to live until I was 16. I do not know exactly when my mental health started falling apart. I just remember slowly becoming someone I did not recognize. I was struggling with depression, anxiety, anorexia, body dysmorphia, and suicidal ideation. One month before I was admitted to a mental hospital, I lost one of my childhood friends to suicide. Losing them changed something in me. I was already struggling to understand my own pain, and suddenly I was trying to understand how someone I had known for so long could be hurting that badly too. I remember feeling grief, guilt, anger, and fear all at once. Their death made mental health feel real in a way it hadn’t before. It was no longer something I could separate from my own life. A month later, I was admitted at 16 years old. I was terrified. I was surrounded by kids as young as 8 who were carrying stories and pain I never thought someone could experience at that age. Some had been struggling for years, others had just reached a breaking point. I went in thinking I was completely alone, but I quickly realized that I was not. These were people with families, friends, favorite songs, and people who loved them. They were more than their diagnoses or the reason they had been admitted. I started caring about them deeply. I listened to their stories. I shared mine. In a strange way, helping them helped me remember that I was a person too. I remember thinking that I wanted to stay, not just for myself, but because I had finally seen how many young people were hurting and how badly they needed someone to listen. Leaving the hospital did not magically make me better. I came home to missed assignments, failing grades, and a life that had kept moving while I was gone. I had always been a 4.0 student, so watching my grades fall was heartbreaking. I felt like I had failed in another part of my life too. Recovery has not been a straight line. I still have difficult days, but I have learned that overcoming a mental health struggle does not mean never struggling again. It means learning how to ask for help, giving myself grace, and continuing to choose a future even when I cannot see it clearly. One day, my therapist asked me, “What do you want to do with your life?” Suddenly for the first time ever, my answer was simple. I wanted to help people like me. That question changed the direction of my life. I am now studying psychology to become a mental health professional and work with adolescents and young adults who felt how I did. I especially want to support people who are often overlooked, including the black community and help make mental health care feel less scary and more accessible. I also want to use my own story to remind people that asking for help is not weakness. I want to talk openly about mental health, challenge the stigma surrounding it, and make sure people know that their pain deserves to be taken seriously. I cannot change what happened to my childhood friend, and I cannot erase what I went through. But I can carry those experiences with me. I can let them mean something. I can become the person I needed when I was hurting. And I can help someone else realize that their story does not have to end at their lowest point.

My experience with mental health has changed me in ways that I do not think I could fully explain in one answer. It has changed the way I see myself, the way I see other people, my relationship with my family, my faith, and what I want to do with my life. There were times when I did not understand why I was going through certain things, and honestly, there were times when I did not think I would make it to where I am today. But now, I can look back and see how much I have grown. My struggles have not disappeared, but they have given me a different perspective on life and a purpose that I did not have before. One of the biggest parts of my mental health journey has been my relationship with God. During some of the lowest moments of my life, I felt completely lost and like I could not save myself. Looking back, I truly believe that God saved me. I believe He gave me another chance and reminded me that my life has a purpose, even when I could not see it myself. Because of that, my relationship with God has become deeper than it ever was before. My faith is something I hold onto when life feels overwhelming. I have learned that I do not have to understand everything that happens to me to still have faith that something good can come from it. Getting closer to God has also helped me understand that my life is bigger than the things I have struggled with. I do not want my hardest moments to be the only thing I remember about my life. I want to remember how I got through them, who helped me, and how they shaped the person I am becoming. My faith has given me hope, especially during moments when hope was hard to find. My mental health has also changed my relationship with my parents. There were times when it was hard for me to explain what I was feeling, and I know it was not always easy for my parents to understand either. Mental health is not something that every family knows how to talk about. Sometimes people love each other deeply but still do not know how to have difficult conversations. As I have gotten older and learned more about myself, I have also learned how important it is to communicate with my parents instead of keeping everything inside. I have become more open with them, and that has helped us become closer. I have also started to understand my parents in a different way. I have realized that they are people who grew up with their own experiences, struggles, and things they were taught about emotions and mental health. Understanding that has helped me have more compassion for them while also recognizing the things I want to do differently. I love my parents, and becoming closer to them has been one of the most meaningful parts of my growth. This connects closely to one of my biggest goals in life: breaking generational trauma. I do not want to carry unhealthy patterns into my future simply because they have always been there. I want to learn how to communicate better, set healthy boundaries, talk about difficult things, and ask for help when I need it. I want to create a different kind of environment for my future family, where talking about your feelings is not something to be embarrassed about and where asking for help is seen as a strength. I know I cannot change everything that happened before me. However, I can decide what I allow to continue. I want to be the person who starts changing those patterns instead of passing them down. That goal has become even more meaningful to me because of my own experiences with mental health. My experiences have also completely changed what I want to do with my career. I am a Psychology major because I want to become a therapist. This is not just a career that sounds interesting to me. It is something I feel deeply connected to because I know what it feels like to need someone and not know where to turn. I know what it is like to want help but struggle to find the right support. I know how important it is to have someone who will sit with you, listen to you, and not make you feel ashamed for what you are going through. I want to be that person for someone else. I want to help people who remind me of myself, especially people who may feel misunderstood, alone, or afraid to ask for help. I want my future clients to feel safe enough to be honest with me. I want them to know that they do not have to pretend that everything is okay just because it feels easier for everyone else. I also want to use my career to help break the stigma surrounding mental health, especially in communities where talking about it can still be difficult. I want to be part of creating a space where people can talk about their mental health without feeling weak or ashamed. I know how powerful it can be when someone finally feels heard, and I want to give that feeling to other people. My mental health journey has been one of the hardest parts of my life, but it has also helped me discover parts of myself that I may not have found otherwise. It brought me closer to God, helped me become closer with my parents, and gave me a stronger desire to break generational patterns. Most importantly, it gave me a purpose. I want to take everything I have learned and use it to help someone else feel less alone. I cannot change what I have been through, but I can choose what I do with it. I want to use my story to help others find hope, just as I found hope when I needed it most.

I would want to help make mental health care something that is affordable and accessible to everyone, no matter their background or financial situation. As a Black woman and a psychology student, I have seen how much of a stigma mental health care can have in the Black community. There can be pressure to handle things on your own or not talk about what you are going through, which can make it even harder to ask for help. I have also experienced how difficult it can be to get proper mental health support when money is a barrier. Therapy can be expensive, and finding someone who is affordable, available, and actually a good fit can feel almost impossible. I know how frustrating it is to want support but not always have the resources to get it. In the future, I want to be part of changing that. I want to help create more affordable options, connect people with resources they can actually use, and help make mental health conversations feel more normal, especially in communities where there is still a lot of stigma. I want people to feel like getting help is something they can access, not something they have to go without because of money.

I didn’t truly understand my values until I was forced to question everything I believed about myself. For a long time, I believed that being strong meant handling everything on my own. I thought strength meant pushing through pain, staying quiet about my struggles, and continuing to perform well no matter what was happening in my life. I believed that if I just worked hard enough, everything would fall into place. But life does not always work that way. When I was sixteen years old, I was admitted into a mental hospital for suicidal ideation, self harm, an eating disorder, severe anxiety and depression, and body dysmorphia. At the time, my world felt like it was collapsing. I felt ashamed, overwhelmed, and unsure if I would ever feel normal again. During my stay there, I met teenagers from all different backgrounds. I listened to their stories and the reasons they were there. Some of their experiences were similar to mine, while others were almost impossible for me to imagine. Hearing these stories opened my eyes to how many people are struggling silently. That experience helped me begin to understand the values that guide my life today. One of the most important values I hold is compassion. During my time in the hospital, I realized how powerful it can be when someone simply listens without judgment. Many of us had spent years feeling misunderstood or ignored. Being surrounded by people who were willing to share their stories reminded me that everyone deserves patience, understanding, and care. Compassion is something I want to carry into the work I do in mental health. Too often, people who are struggling feel like they are a burden or that their pain is something they should hide. I want to help create environments where people feel safe enough to be honest about what they are experiencing. Another value that shapes my work is resilience. When I returned to school after leaving the hospital, I quickly realized how far behind I had fallen. I had failing grades in almost every class and felt overwhelmed by the amount of work I had missed. I had once been a 4.0 student, and watching my academic performance decline was painful. With only one week left before the end of the semester, I made the decision to try. I studied relentlessly while balancing two jobs and worked through every assignment I could. Slowly, my grades began to rise. What once looked like failure became proof that progress is possible even during the most difficult moments. Resilience does not mean that life is easy. It means choosing to keep moving forward even when everything feels impossible. Advocacy has also become one of my strongest values. As a Black woman who has experienced mental health struggles, I have seen how often mental health is misunderstood or ignored in communities of color. Too many people feel like they have to suffer in silence. I want to help change that. My values of compassion, resilience, and advocacy will guide the work I do in mental health. I want to support people who feel invisible, especially young people who are navigating mental illness while trying to understand who they are. The experiences that once made me feel powerless have helped shape the values that guide my future. I want to use my voice, which once felt so silent and weak, to support others and help create a world where people can speak openly about their struggles and still be seen for their strength.

There was a time when I thought something was wrong with me because school never felt like it made sense in the same way it seemed to for everyone else. I would sit in lectures trying so hard to focus, but my mind would drift without me meaning for it to. I would miss steps, lose track of what was being said, and then spend the rest of the class trying to figure out what I had just missed. For a long time, people just told me I was daydreaming or not trying hard enough. I started to believe that. I thought I was just slow to process or not as capable, even when I was working twice as hard as everyone around me. I would study for hours and still feel like I was unprepared. It made me feel like I was constantly catching up to something I could never fully reach. I did not know until later that I had ADHD. By the time I understood it, I was already used to pushing through everything without support. I did not realize that the way my brain works is different, not less. I learn best when I can see things, do things, or break them down slowly. But in a lot of classrooms, I was just being talked at and expected to keep up in real time. Even when I was doing well on paper, I never felt like it reflected how much effort it actually took. I would turn in assignments on time and get decent grades, but behind that was a lot of stress, confusion, and self-doubt. I often felt like I was not smart enough, even though I was trying harder than I knew how to show. Looking back, one of the hardest parts was not knowing I needed help. I did not know I could ask for accommodations or support. I just thought I had to figure it out on my own. So I kept pushing through, even when it felt like I was mentally exhausted all the time. Over time, that experience started to change me. I began to understand that my struggle did not mean I was incapable. It meant I needed a different way of learning, not less effort or less ambition. That realization helped me start giving myself more patience. It also made me more aware of other people who might be struggling quietly in the same way or feeling like they are falling behind when really they just need support that fits them better. That is part of why I care so much about education and mental health now. I know what it feels like to sit in a classroom and feel lost, even when you are trying your hardest. I know what it feels like to think you are not enough when the real issue is that you are not being supported in the way you need. My ADHD has shaped how I learn, but it has also shaped how I see people. It has made me more understanding, more patient, and more aware that success does not look the same for everyone. Now I am learning how to work with my brain instead of against it. And I want to carry that into my future career. I want to help people who feel like I did, especially students who are trying their best but do not feel seen or understood. I want them to know they are not behind. They just need support that actually fits them.

I didn’t come into education with a clear sense of direction or confidence that it would lead me somewhere meaningful. For a long time, school was something I was simply trying to survive while I was barely holding myself together. I showed up, completed assignments, and did what I was supposed to do on the outside, but internally I often felt like I was just trying to make it through the day without falling apart. I did not yet understand that education would eventually become one of the only steady things in my life, something that would quietly shape my sense of purpose even when I could not see it at the time. At 16, I was hospitalized for suicidal ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, severe anxiety and depression, and body dysmorphia. When I returned to school after that, I was not the same person I had been before. I had gone from a 4.0 GPA to struggling to function in even the most basic ways. Things that used to feel manageable suddenly felt overwhelming. Sitting in class felt unreal, like I was physically present but emotionally somewhere else, watching my life continue without me fully inside of it. I remember trying to focus on lectures while feeling like my mind was carrying something too heavy for my body to hold. At the same time, life outside of school did not slow down to give me space to heal. I was dealing with a breakup, my parents’ divorce, racism, misogyny, and the loss of a close friend to suicide. It felt like everything painful in my life was happening all at once, and I was expected to keep moving forward academically as if nothing had changed. I was grieving while trying to study. I was healing while trying to meet deadlines. I was surviving while trying to pretend I was okay. There were days when I would sit in my room and feel completely overwhelmed by the weight of everything I had not processed yet, and still force myself to open my laptop because I did not want to give up on my future completely. But even in that season, education became something I could not fully walk away from. It was not because it was easy or comforting. It was because it gave me structure when everything else felt unstable. Even when I felt disconnected from myself, school created small anchors in my life, deadlines that reminded me time was still moving forward, assignments that forced me to keep trying even when I did not feel ready. Slowly, those small moments of showing up began to matter more than I realized. Choosing to complete one assignment, then another, then another became a way of proving to myself that I was still capable of rebuilding, even if it was piece by piece. Over time, something in me began to shift. I started to realize that I did not just want to survive my education. I wanted it to mean something. I began paying closer attention to the people around me, to how often others were also carrying invisible pain while still showing up and functioning in their everyday lives. I realized that what I had gone through was not separate from the world around me. It was part of a much larger pattern of people suffering quietly, often without support, often without anyone noticing. That realization is what led me to psychology. I want to understand what happens to people when they are overwhelmed by their own minds but still expected to keep going. I want to understand how trauma shapes behavior, how pain affects identity, and how healing actually happens when someone is finally given space to be fully seen. More than anything, I want to be someone who does not look away from that kind of pain. I want to be someone who can sit with others in their hardest moments and remind them that they are not alone in what they are feeling. As a Black woman, I have also seen how mental health is often overlooked, minimized, or misunderstood in communities like mine. I have seen how strength is expected but support is not always provided. I have seen how many people learn to stay silent about their struggles because they do not feel like there is space for them to be vulnerable. That silence can shape entire lives, and it is something I want to help break. Through my education, I am trying to turn something that once felt like survival into something that creates change. I want to work with teenagers and young adults who feel like they are barely holding on, the way I once did, and remind them that what they are experiencing is real and valid. I want to help create spaces where people feel safe enough to be honest, even when their honesty is painful. I also want to advocate for mental health care that is more accessible, culturally aware, and genuinely responsive to people’s lived experiences, especially in communities that are often ignored or misunderstood. Education has not just given me knowledge. It has given me direction when I did not have any. It has helped me slowly turn my pain into purpose, even when I did not realize that was happening. I am still becoming the person I want to be, but I know that whatever I do with my life, I want it to center around care, understanding, and presence. I want my education to become something that does not end with me, but reaches outward into the lives of others who need to feel seen and supported. If my journey has taught me anything, it is that survival is not where the story has to end. I want to use my education to help others believe that for themselves too.

I pursued a degree in psychology because I needed to understand what happened to me and because I want to understand what happens to other people when they feel like they are drowning in their own mind. At 16, I was hospitalized for suicidal ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, severe anxiety and depression, and body dysmorphia. I did not recognize myself anymore. I remember sitting there thinking I had somehow become someone who did not want to exist. But that place changed something in me. I met people who were carrying pain that looked different from mine but felt the same in its weight. I started to understand how many people are silently surviving things they never talk about. That stayed with me. It made me pay attention to people in a way I never had before. When I came back to school, I struggled more than I expected. I was trying to function while still healing. My grades dropped. My energy dropped. I was dealing with anxiety attacks, depression, my parents’ divorce, racism, misogyny, and the loss of a close friend to suicide. It felt like I was constantly trying to catch my breath while life kept moving without me. In the middle of that, I started asking myself what I wanted my life to actually mean. I realized I did not want to just get through my own story. I wanted to understand how people survive theirs. I wanted to be able to sit with someone in their worst moments and not look away. That is why I chose psychology. I want to understand the mind, but more than that I want to understand people. I want to learn how trauma shapes someone, how pain gets stored, and how healing actually happens when someone finally feels safe enough to tell the truth. What I hope to do in my career is simple but heavy to me. I want people to feel less alone than I did. I want to work with teenagers and young adults who feel like they are falling apart and remind them that what they are feeling has language, has context, and has a path forward. I also want to challenge how mental health is treated, especially for Black and marginalized communities. I have seen how often pain is ignored, minimized, or misunderstood. I have seen how many people do not get care that actually sees them. I want to be part of changing that, not just by showing up as a professional, but by showing up as someone who understands what it feels like to not be understood. My goal is not just to have a career in psychology. My goal is to build a life where my work is rooted in care, honesty, and presence. I want to be someone who helps people stay, even when everything in them is telling them to leave.

Theatre has always been the place where I feel the most understood. It is where I learned how to step into someone else’s life and tell their story with honesty. But it is psychology that taught me why those stories matter. Being a double major in theatre and psychology is not just about having two interests. It is about understanding people in a deeper way so I can bring truth to the stage. Liberal arts, especially psychology, gives theatre students something that cannot be taught through memorizing lines or following the blocking. It teaches us how people think, feel, and react. When I approach a character, I do not just ask what they say. I ask why they say it. I think about their past, their fears, and what they are trying to hide. Psychology has helped me portray real people instead of just performing roles. I have faced my own struggles with mental health, including depression, anxiety, and being hospitalized when I was younger. At the time, it felt isolating and overwhelming. But as I began to heal, I realized those experiences gave me a different kind of understanding. I know what it feels like to be at your lowest. I know what it feels like to fight to keep going. When I step on stage, I carry that with me. I always say that Psychology helps me process those experiences, while theatre allows me to express them. Psychology also teaches empathy, which I believe is one of the most important skills an actor can have. Theatre is not just about entertaining people. It is about making them feel seen. When I perform, I want someone in the audience to recognize a piece of themselves in the story. I want them to see the character come out of a depression and recognize that they can as well. I want them to see the story where a person follows their dreams, and it works out. I want someone to take what they have seen and apply it to their own lives and their own emotions. Studying psychology helps me see beyond surface-level behavior and understand the emotions underneath. That understanding creates performances that feel honest and human. In today’s world, where STEM fields are often prioritized, liberal arts can be overlooked. But theatre is built on creativity, communication, and emotional awareness. These are all skills that come from liberal arts education. Psychology has taught me how to listen, how to observe, and how to pay attention to small details in human behavior. Those same skills make me a stronger performer. My journey has not been easy. I have faced people who doubted my ability to succeed or told me to stick to a different career path. But through it all, theatre has given me purpose, and psychology has given me understanding. Together, they have shaped who I am becoming. Nagle Jackson believed in the power of liberal arts for theatre students, and I see that truth in my own life every day. Theatre tells stories, but liberal arts gives those stories meaning. It teaches us how to connect, how to feel, and how to understand the world around us. As I continue my education, I want to use both of my majors to create work that is honest and impactful. I want to tell stories that reach people who feel alone, the way I once did. Psychology does not just make me a better student, it makes me a better storyteller, and more importantly, a better human being.

I didn’t truly realize the beauty of life until I was 16. Before that, I was just trying to survive it. I don’t know when things started to fall apart or when my mental health began to take over, but one day everything inside me felt too heavy to carry. At 16, I was admitted to a mental hospital for suicidal ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, severe anxiety and depression, and body dysmorphia. It felt like I had lost myself. I remember wondering how I had become someone who did not want to be alive. But being there changed me. I met people who understood pain in ways I didn’t know were possible. Some of their stories stayed with me. For the first time, I didn’t feel crazy or alone. I realized how many people are silently fighting battles no one sees. That realization stayed with me and lit something in me that mattered. Leaving the hospital was harder than I expected. I thought things would get better, but I felt dropped back into a world that didn’t know how to care for me. I was failing most of my classes and drowning in missing work. The pressure to catch up made it harder to heal. I went from a 4.0 student to someone who could barely get out of bed. Every morning felt like a battle. I had anxiety attacks before school, I was exhausted, and I felt like I was falling behind in every part of my life. At the same time, I was dealing with a breakup, my parents’ divorce, racism, misogyny, and the loss of a close friend to suicide. It felt like everything was happening at once, and I did not know how to breathe through any of it. It felt like the world was waiting for me to fail. Then my therapist asked me a question that changed everything: What is your goal in life now? I did not have an answer. For weeks, I sat with that question, and it frustrated me because I felt lost. Eventually, something shifted. I realized I did not just want to get through life. I wanted to make sure other people did not feel as alone as I did. I found my purpose in that moment. I want to help people, especially teenagers and young adults. I want to be the person I needed at my lowest: someone who listens, sees them, and reminds them they are still worth something even when their mind says they are not. Once I understood that, I knew I had to fight for my future. With only a week left in the semester, I pushed myself harder than ever. While working two jobs and trying to heal, I stayed up late finishing assignments, studying, and doing everything I could to turn things around. I raised my grades from failing to mostly A’s and B’s. I earned back my GPA and proved I was not done. That moment changed how I see myself. It showed me that even when I feel broken, I am still capable of rebuilding. As a Black woman, I have seen how mental health is often ignored or dismissed in communities like mine. There is still stigma, and many people do not have access to care that understands them. My experiences with racism, misogyny, and mental illness have made this personal. I do not just want to be in the mental health field. I want to be part of the change it needs. I am pursuing psychology to create accessible, compassionate health care so no one feels alone.

I didn’t realize the beauty of life until I was 16. I don’t know when, how, or where it all went wrong. I don’t know when things went downhill or when my mental health started to deteriorate, but it did. I was 16 years old when I was admitted into a mental hospital for suicidal ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, severe anxiety/depression, and body dysmorphia. It feels relieving to finally type all of that out and accept it, but it wasn’t easy. Through my stay there, I was able to meet kids of all ages. I was able to hear their stories, the reasons for their stay. I could relate to some, others I couldn’t even bear to think about. I believe that’s where my spark started. After leaving the mental hospital, I received little help from teachers, administration, or peers. I struggled to catch up on missed work and had failing grades in almost every class. The stress of schoolwork ruined my efforts to stay mentally healthy, which made recovery more difficult. I was once a 4.0 student with high expectations, and watching my academic performance decline was painful. I had anxiety attacks every morning, felt constantly overwhelmed, and struggled to get out of bed. The challenges of a recent breakup, my parents’ divorce, and racism, all while grieving the loss of a close friend to suicide, piled up and made it even harder to keep up with school and daily life. It wasn’t until I had a session with my therapist who asked me one question: “What was my goal in life?” “What did I want to achieve and do?” I fought hard internally for weeks over this question, and then it clicked. I realized that I wanted to prevent others from experiencing what I had gone through, especially teenagers and young adults. This became my mission and passion. I wanted to help people out of the situations their mental illness may put them in and to show them that growth isn’t linear. With my newfound understanding of my purpose, I knew I had to refocus on my priorities. With only one week left before the end of the semester and a school system I felt was just waiting to see another Black woman fail, I pushed myself to succeed. I studied relentlessly while managing two jobs, worked through each assignment, and raised my grades from an F average to mostly A’s and B’s. I avoided summer school and earned back my GPA. Mental health is crucial, and my experience solidified my desire to help others, especially Black women. My goal is to become an advocate not only for mental health but for mental health in the POC community. I plan on using my degree and personal experiences to provide support and resources. I now believe in my ability to achieve anything and want to help others learn the same. My dedication to empowering those with mental illnesses and contributing to social justice continues to push me forward.

I didn't truly realize the beauty of life until I was 16. I don't know when, how, or where it all went wrong. I don't know when things went downhill or when my mental health started to deteriorate, but it did. I was 16 years old when I was admitted into a mental hospital for suicidal ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, severe anxiety/depression, and body dysmorphia. It feels relieving being able to finally type all of that out and accept it, but it wasn't easy. Through my stay there, I was able to meet kids of all ages. I was able to hear their stories, the reasons for their stay. I could relate to some, others I couldn't even bear to think. I believe that, that's where my spark started. After leaving the mental hospital, I received little help from teachers, administration, or my peers. I struggled to catch up on my missed work and had failing grades in almost every class. The stress of schoolwork ruined my efforts to stay mentally healthy, which made my recovery even more difficult. I was once a 4.0 student with high expectations for myself, and watching my academic performance decline was painful. I had anxiety attacks every morning, I felt constantly overwhelmed, and I struggled heavily to get out of bed. The challenges of a recent breakup, my parents' divorce, racism, and misogyny, all while grieving the loss of a close friend to suicide, piled up and made it even harder to keep up with school and daily life. It wasn't until I had a session with my wonderful therapist who asked me one question. “What was my goal in life?” “What did I want to achieve and do?” I fought extremely hard internally for weeks over this question, and then it clicked. I realized that I wanted to prevent others from experiencing what I had gone through, especially teenagers and young adults. This became my mission and passion. I wanted to help people out of the situations their mental illness may put them in and to show them that growth isn't linear. With my newfound understanding of my purpose, I knew I had to refocus on what my priorities were. With only one week left before the end of the semester and a school system I felt was just waiting to see another black woman fail, I pushed myself to succeed. I studied relentlessly while managing two jobs, worked through each assignment, and managed to raise my grades from an F average to mostly A's and B's, I avoided summer school and earned back my GPA. Mental health is crucial, and my experience solidified my desire to help others, especially black women. My goal is to become an advocate not only for mental health but for mental health in the POC community. I plan on using my degree and personal experiences to provide support and resources. I now believe in my ability to achieve anything and want to help others learn the same. My dedication to empowering those with mental illnesses and contributing to social justice continues to help me push forward. I want to use my voice which once felt so silent and weak, and speak out and support those who cannot speak for themselves. I am currently advocating for mental health through programs at my University and connecting with students as a Resident Advisor in my dorm. Through my work, I hope to create a society where those with similar situations as myself, can thrive and lead fulfilling lives.

I didn't truly realize the beauty of life until I was 16. I don't know when, how, or where it all went wrong. I don't know when things went downhill or when my mental health started to deteriorate, but it did. I was 16 years old when I was admitted into a mental hospital for suicidal ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, severe anxiety/depression, and body dysmorphia. It feels relieving being able to finally type all of that out and accept it, but it wasn't easy. Through my stay there, I was able to meet kids of all ages. I was able to hear their stories, the reasons for their stay. I could relate to some, others I couldn't even bear to think. I believe that, that's where my spark started. After leaving the mental hospital, I received little help from teachers, administration, or my peers. I struggled to catch up on my missed work and had failing grades in almost every class. The stress of schoolwork ruined my efforts to stay mentally healthy, which made my recovery even more difficult. I was once a 4.0 student with high expectations for myself, and watching my academic performance decline was painful. I had anxiety attacks every morning, I felt constantly overwhelmed, and I struggled heavily to get out of bed. The challenges of a recent breakup, my parents' divorce, racism, and misogyny, all while grieving the loss of a close friend to suicide, piled up and made it even harder to keep up with school and daily life. It wasn't until I had a session with my wonderful therapist who asked me one question. “What was my goal in life?” “What did I want to achieve and do?” I fought extremely hard internally for weeks over this question, and then it clicked. I realized that I wanted to prevent others from experiencing what I had gone through, especially teenagers and young adults. This became my mission and passion. I wanted to help people out of the situations their mental illness may put them in and to show them that growth isn't linear. With my newfound understanding of my purpose, I knew I had to refocus on what my priorities were. With only one week left before the end of the semester and a school system I felt was just waiting to see another black woman fail, I pushed myself to succeed. I studied relentlessly while managing two jobs, worked through each assignment, and managed to raise my grades from an F average to mostly A's and B's, I avoided summer school and earned back my GPA. Mental health is crucial, and my experience solidified my desire to help others, especially black women. My goal is to become an advocate not only for mental health but for mental health in the POC community. I plan on using my degree and personal experiences to provide support and resources. I now believe in my ability to achieve anything and want to help others learn the same. My dedication to empowering those with mental illnesses and contributing to social justice continues to help me push forward. I want to use my voice which once felt so silent and weak, and speak out and support those who cannot speak for themselves. I am currently advocating for mental health through programs at my University and connecting with students as a Resident Advisor in my dorm. Through my work, I hope to create a society where those with similar situations as myself, can thrive and lead fulfilling lives.

Hello. My name is Aniah Warren, and I am a 19-year-old college student majoring in psychology. I chose psychology because I know what it feels like to struggle in ways other people cannot see. I have been through a lot with my mental health, my physical health, and my environment, and those experiences are what pushed me and made me want to spend my life helping others understand themselves and feel less alone. My sophomore year of high school, I went through some very hard mental health struggles that led me to the mental hospital. There were times when just getting through the day felt heavy. I also live with a chronic illness, which has made school and life more complicated and exhausting at times. Missing class, falling behind, and trying to catch up while already feeling tired became normal for me. Still, I kept going. I learned a lot about how the mind and body are connected, and how much support and understanding can change someone’s life. That is a big reason why psychology means so much to me. I do not just want to study it, I want to use it to be there for people who feel stuck, scared, or forgotten. I also grew up in a mostly white school, where I often felt out of place. I faced racism that made me question myself and my worth at a young age. For a long time, I felt like I had to work twice as hard just to be seen the same. Those experiences hurt, but they also made me more aware of how deeply our environments affect our mental health. They made me want to be the kind of psychologist who understands culture, identity, learn about different backgrounds and what it feels like to not always feel safe or understood in the spaces you are in. Growing up, my dad has always worked two jobs to keep us afloat, and I am so grateful for him. But because of our situation, I have mostly been on my own when it comes to paying for college. Last semester, I worked four jobs just to try to cover my expenses. I was proud of myself for doing it, but it also pushed me past my limits. I was constantly tired, stressed, and trying to balance school, work, and my health all at once. It showed me how badly I want this, but also how hard it is to do it alone. Despite all of this, I am still here, still studying psychology, and still holding onto my goals. I want to work with young people, especially those who look like me or come from backgrounds like mine, and help them feel seen and supported. I want to become the person I needed when I was younger. This scholarship would help me more than I can explain. This would mean fewer hours working and more time focusing on my classes and my health. It would mean less stress and a little more room to breathe. It would also remind me that someone believes in my story and in what I am trying to become. I have worked hard to get here, and I am not giving up. This support would help me keep going.

I didn't truly realize the beauty of life until I was 16. I don't know when, how, or where it all went wrong. I don't know when things went downhill or when my mental health started to deteriorate, but it did. I was 16 years old when I was admitted into a mental hospital for suicidal ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, severe anxiety/depression, and body dysmorphia. It feels relieving being able to finally type all of that out and accept it, but it wasn't easy. Through my stay there, I was able to meet kids of all ages. I was able to hear their stories, the reasons for their stay. I could relate to some, others I couldn't even bear to think. I believe that, that's where my spark started. After leaving the mental hospital, I received little help from teachers, administration, or my peers. I struggled to catch up on my missed work and had failing grades in almost every class. The stress of schoolwork ruined my efforts to stay mentally healthy, which made my recovery even more difficult. I was once a 4.0 student with high expectations for myself, and watching my academic performance decline was painful. I had anxiety attacks every morning, I felt constantly overwhelmed, and I struggled heavily to get out of bed. The challenges of a recent breakup, my parents' divorce, racism, and misogyny, all while grieving the loss of a close friend to suicide, piled up and made it even harder to keep up with school and daily life. It wasn't until I had a session with my wonderful therapist who asked me one question. What was my goal in life? What did I want to achieve and do? I fought extremely hard internally for weeks over this question, and then it clicked. I realized that I wanted to prevent others from experiencing what I had gone through, especially teenagers and young adults. This became my mission and passion. I wanted to help people out of the situations their mental illness may put them in and to show them that growth isn't linear. Mental health is crucial, and my experience solidified my desire to help others, especially black women. My goal is to become an advocate not only for mental health but for mental health in the POC community. I plan on using my degree and personal experiences to provide support and resources. I now believe in my ability to achieve anything and want to help others learn the same. My dedication to empowering those with mental illnesses and contributing to social justice continues to help me push forward. I want to use my voice which once felt so silent and weak, and speak out and support those who cannot speak for themselves. Through my work, I hope to create a society where those with similar situations as myself, can thrive and lead fulfilling lives.

I didn't truly realize the beauty of life until | was 16. I don't know when, how, or where it all went wrong. I don't know when things went downhill or when my mental health started to deteriorate, but it did. I was 16 years old when I was admitted into a mental hospital for suicidal ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, severe anxiety/depression, and body dysmorphia. It feels relieving being able to finally type all of that out and accept it, but it wasn't easy. Through my stay there, I was able to meet kids of all ages. I was able to hear their stories, the reasons for their stay. I could relate to some, others I couldn't even bear to think. I believe that, that's where my spark started. After leaving the mental hospital, I received little help from teachers, administration, or my peers. I struggled to catch up on my missed work and had failing grades in almost every class. The stress of schoolwork ruined my efforts to stay mentally healthy, which made my recovery even more difficult. I was once a 4.0 student with high expectations for myself, and watching my academic performance decline was painful. I had anxiety attacks every morning, I felt constantly overwhelmed, and I struggled heavily to get out of bed. The challenges of a recent breakup, my parents' divorce, racism, and misogyny, all while grieving the loss of a close friend to suicide, piled up and made it even harder to keep up with school and daily life. It wasn't until I had a session with my wonderful therapist who asked me one question. What was my goal in life? What did I want to achieve and do? I fought extremely hard internally for weeks over this question, and then it clicked. I realized that I wanted to prevent others from experiencing what I had gone through, especially teenagers and young adults. This became my mission and passion. I wanted to help people out of the situations their mental illness may put them in and to show them that growth isn't linear. With my newfound understanding of my purpose, I knew I had to refocus on what my priorities were. With only one week left before the end of the semester and a school system I felt was just waiting to see another black woman fail, I pushed myself to succeed. I studied relentlessly while managing two jobs, worked through each assignment, and managed to raise my grades from an F average to mostly A's and B's, I avoided summer school and earned back my GPA. Mental health is crucial, and my experience solidified my desire to help others, especially black women. My goal is to become an advocate not only for mental health but for mental health in the POC community. I plan on using my degree and personal experiences to provide support and resources. I now believe in my ability to achieve anything and want to help others learn the same. My dedication to empowering those with mental illnesses and contributing to social justice continues to help me push forward. I want to use my voice which once felt so silent and weak, and speak out and support those who cannot speak for themselves. Through my work, I hope to create a society where those with similar situations as myself, can thrive and lead fulfilling lives.

I didn't truly realize the beauty of life until | was 16. I don't know when, how, or where it all went wrong. I don't know when things went downhill or when my mental health started to deteriorate, but it did. I was 16 years old when I was admitted into a mental hospital for suicidal ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, severe anxiety/depression, and body dysmorphia. It feels relieving being able to finally type all of that out and accept it, but it wasn't easy. Through my stay there, I was able to meet kids of all ages. I was able to hear their stories, the reasons for their stay. I could relate to some, others I couldn't even bear to think. I believe that, that's where my spark started. After leaving the mental hospital, I received little help from teachers, administration, or my peers. I struggled to catch up on my missed work and had failing grades in almost every class. The stress of schoolwork ruined my efforts to stay mentally healthy, which made my recovery even more difficult. I was once a 4.0 student with high expectations for myself, and watching my academic performance decline was painful. I had anxiety attacks every morning, I felt constantly overwhelmed, and I struggled heavily to get out of bed. The challenges of a recent breakup, my parents' divorce, racism, and misogyny, all while grieving the loss of a close friend to suicide, piled up and made it even harder to keep up with school and daily life. It wasn't until I had a session with my wonderful therapist who asked me one question. What was my goal in life? What did I want to achieve and do? I fought extremely hard internally for weeks over this question, and then it clicked. I realized that I wanted to prevent others from experiencing what I had gone through, especially teenagers and young adults. This became my mission and passion. I wanted to help people out of the situations their mental illness may put them in and to show them that growth isn't linear. With my newfound understanding of my purpose, I knew I had to refocus on what my priorities were. With only one week left before the end of the semester and a school system I felt was just waiting to see another black woman fail, I pushed myself to succeed. I studied relentlessly while managing two jobs, worked through each assignment, and managed to raise my grades from an F average to mostly A's and B's, I avoided summer school and earned back my GPA. Mental health is crucial, and my experience solidified my desire to help others, especially black women. My goal is to become an advocate not only for mental health but for mental health in the POC community. I plan on using my degree and personal experiences to provide support and resources. I now believe in my ability to achieve anything and want to help others learn the same. My dedication to empowering those with mental illnesses and contributing to social justice continues to help me push forward. I want to use my voice which once felt so silent and weak, and speak out and support those who cannot speak for themselves. Through my work, I hope to create a society where those with similar situations as myself, can thrive and lead fulfilling lives.

I didn't truly realize the beauty of life until | was 16. I don't know when, how, or where it all went wrong. I don't know when things went downhill or when my mental health started to deteriorate, but it did. I was 16 years old when I was admitted into a mental hospital for suicidal ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, severe anxiety/depression, and body dysmorphia. It feels relieving being able to finally type all of that out and accept it, but it wasn't easy. Through my stay there, I was able to meet kids of all ages. I was able to hear their stories, the reasons for their stay. I could relate to some, others I couldn't even bear to think. I believe that, that's where my spark started. After leaving the mental hospital, I received little help from teachers, administration, or my peers. I struggled to catch up on my missed work and had failing grades in almost every class. The stress of schoolwork ruined my efforts to stay mentally healthy, which made my recovery even more difficult. I was once a 4.0 student with high expectations for myself, and watching my academic performance decline was painful. I had anxiety attacks every morning, I felt constantly overwhelmed, and I struggled heavily to get out of bed. The challenges of a recent breakup, my parents' divorce, racism, and misogyny, all while grieving the loss of a close friend to suicide, piled up and made it even harder to keep up with school and daily life. It wasn't until I had a session with my wonderful therapist who asked me one question. What was my goal in life? What did I want to achieve and do? I fought extremely hard internally for weeks over this question, and then it clicked. I realized that I wanted to prevent others from experiencing what I had gone through, especially teenagers and young adults. This became my mission and passion. I wanted to help people out of the situations their mental illness may put them in and to show them that growth isn't linear. With my newfound understanding of my purpose, I knew I had to refocus on what my priorities were. With only one week left before the end of the semester and a school system I felt was just waiting to see another black woman fail, I pushed myself to succeed. I studied relentlessly while managing two jobs, worked through each assignment, and managed to raise my grades from an F average to mostly A's and B's, I avoided summer school and earned back my GPA. Mental health is crucial, and my experience solidified my desire to help others, especially black women. My goal is to become an advocate not only for mental health but for mental health in the POC community. I plan on using my degree and personal experiences to provide support and resources. I now believe in my ability to achieve anything and want to help others learn the same. My dedication to empowering those with mental illnesses and contributing to social justice continues to help me push forward. I want to use my voice which once felt so silent and weak, and speak out and support those who cannot speak for themselves. Through my work, I hope to create a society where those with similar situations as myself, can thrive and lead fulfilling lives.

I didn't truly realize the beauty of life until | was 16. I don't know when, how, or where it all went wrong. I don't know when things went downhill or when my mental health started to deteriorate, but it did. I was 16 years old when I was admitted into a mental hospital for suicidal ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, severe anxiety/depression, and body dysmorphia. It feels relieving being able to finally type all of that out and accept it, but it wasn't easy. Through my stay there, I was able to meet kids of all ages. I was able to hear their stories, the reasons for their stay. I could relate to some, others I couldn't even bear to think. I believe that, that's where my spark started. After leaving the mental hospital, I received little help from teachers, administration, or peers. I struggled to catch up on my missed work and had failing grades in almost every class. The stress of schoolwork ruined my efforts to stay mentally healthy, which made recovery even more difficult. I was once a 4.0 student with high expectations for myself, and watching my academic performance decline was painful. I had anxiety attacks every morning, I felt constantly overwhelmed, and I struggled heavily to get out of bed. The challenges of a breakup, my parents' divorce, racism, and misogyny, all while grieving the loss of a close friend to suicide, made it even harder to keep up with school and daily life. It wasn't until I had a session with my wonderful therapist who asked me one question. What was my goal in life? What did I want to achieve and do? ! fought extremely hard internally for weeks over this question, and then it clicked. I wanted to prevent others from experiencing what I had gone through, especially teenagers and young adults. This became my mission and passion. I wanted to help people out of the situations their mental illness may put them in and to show them that growth isn't linear. With my newfound understanding of my purpose, I knew I had to refocus. With only one week left before the end of the semester and a school system I felt was just waiting to see another black woman fail, ! pushed myself to succeed. I studied relentlessly while managing two jobs, worked through each assignment, and managed to raise my grades from an F average to mostly A's and B's, avoiding summer school and earning back my GPA. Mental health is crucial, and my experience solidified my desire to help others, especially black women. My goal is to become an advocate not only for mental health but for mental health in the POC community. I plan on using my degree and personal experiences to provide support and resources. I now believe in my ability to achieve anything and want to help others learn the same. My dedication to empowering those with mental illnesses and contributing to social justice helps me push forward. Through my work, I hope to create a society where those with similar situations as myself, can thrive and lead fulfilling lives.

I didn’t truly realize the beauty of life until I was 16. I don't know when, how, or where it all went wrong. I don't know when things went downhill or when my mental health started to deteriorate, but it did. I was 16 years old when I was admitted into a mental hospital for suicidal ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, severe anxiety/depression, and body dysmorphia. It feels relieving being able to finally type all of that out and accept it, but it wasn't easy. Through my stay there, I was able to meet kids of all ages. I was able to hear their stories, the reasons for their stay. I could relate to some, others I couldn’t even bear to think. I believe that, that’s where my spark started. After leaving the mental hospital, I received little help from teachers, administration, or peers. I struggled to catch up on my missed work and had failing grades in almost every class. The stress of schoolwork ruined my efforts to stay mentally healthy, which made recovery even more difficult. I was once a 4.0 student with high expectations for myself, and watching my academic performance decline was painful. I had anxiety attacks every morning, I felt constantly overwhelmed, and I struggled heavily to get out of bed. The challenges of a breakup, my parents' divorce, racism, and misogyny, all while grieving the loss of a close friend to suicide, made it even harder to keep up with school and daily life. It wasn't until I had a session with my wonderful therapist who asked me one question. What was my goal in life? What did I want to achieve and do? I fought extremely hard internally for weeks over this question, and then it clicked. I wanted to prevent others from experiencing what I had gone through, especially teenagers and young adults. This became my mission and passion. I wanted to help people out of the situations their mental illness may put them in and to show them that growth isn't linear. With my newfound understanding of my purpose, I knew I had to refocus. With only one week left before the end of the semester and a school system I felt was just waiting to see another black woman fail, I pushed myself to succeed. I studied relentlessly while managing two jobs, worked through each assignment, and managed to raise my grades from an F average to mostly A's and B's, avoiding summer school and earning back my GPA. Mental health is crucial, and my experience solidified my desire to help others, especially black women. My goal is to become an advocate not only for mental health but for mental health in the POC community. I plan on using my degree and personal experiences to provide support and resources. I now believe in my ability to achieve anything and want to help others learn the same. My dedication to empowering those with mental illnesses and contributing to social justice helps me push forward. Through my work, I hope to create a society where those with similar situations as myself, can thrive and lead fulfilling lives.

I didn’t truly realize the beauty of life until I was 16. I don't know when, how, or where it all went wrong. I don't know when things went downhill or when my mental health started to deteriorate, but it did. I was 16 years old when I was admitted into a mental hospital for suicidal ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, severe anxiety/depression, and body dysmorphia. It feels relieving being able to finally type all of that out and accept it, but it wasn't easy. After leaving the mental hospital, I received little help from teachers, administration, or peers. I struggled to catch up on my missed work and had failing grades in almost every class. The stress of schoolwork ruined my efforts to stay mentally healthy, which made recovery even more difficult. I was once a 4.0 student with high expectations for myself, and watching my academic performance decline was painful. I had anxiety attacks every morning, I felt constantly overwhelmed, and I struggled heavily to get out of bed. The challenges of a breakup, my parents' divorce, racism, and misogyny, all while grieving the loss of a close friend to suicide, made it even harder to keep up with school and daily life. It wasn't until I had a session with my wonderful therapist who asked me one question. What was my goal in life? What did I want to achieve and do? I fought extremely hard internally for weeks over this question, and then it clicked. I wanted to prevent others from experiencing what I had gone through, especially teenagers and young adults. This became my mission and passion. I wanted to help people out of the situations their mental illness may put them in and to show them that growth isn't linear. With my newfound understanding of my purpose, I knew I had to refocus. With only one week left before the end of the semester and a school system I felt was just waiting to see another black woman fail, I pushed myself to succeed. I studied relentlessly while managing two jobs, worked through each assignment, and managed to raise my grades from an F average to mostly A's and B's, avoiding summer school and earning back my GPA. Mental health is crucial, and my experience solidified my desire to help others, especially black women. My goal is to become an advocate not only for mental health but for mental health in the POC community. I plan on using my degree and personal experiences to provide support and resources. I now believe in my ability to achieve anything and want to help others learn the same. My dedication to empowering those with mental illnesses and contributing to social justice helps me push forward. Through my work, I hope to create a society where those with similar situations as myself, can thrive and lead fulfilling lives.

I didn’t truly realize the beauty of life until I was 16. I don't know when, how, or where it all went wrong. I don't know when things went downhill or when my mental health started to deteriorate, but it did. I was 16 years old when I was admitted into a mental hospital for suicidal ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, and severe anxiety/depression. It feels relieving being able to finally type all of that out and accept it, but it wasn't easy. I had truly hit rock bottom. Seeing and hearing the lives of those who were admitted under similar circumstances was incredibly daunting. All of these people had lives, people who loved and adored them, and suddenly I realized that I was no different. Within days, I cared deeply about each one of these people. Seeing ages range from 11-17, with all different stories and reasons as to why they got to where we all were, scared me. I made myself promise to stay for them. Every time I told my story or helped another person, it was just another time that I remembered them and their stories. After leaving the mental hospital, I received little help from anyone. I struggled to catch up on missed work and had failing grades in almost every class. This stress ruined my efforts to stay mentally healthy, making recovery even more difficult. I was once a 4.0 student with high expectations for myself, and watching my academic performance decline was painful. It wasn't until I had a session with my therapist, who asked me a question. What was my goal in life? What did I want to achieve and do? Who do I want to be? I wanted to prevent others from experiencing what I had gone through, especially adolescents and young adults. This became my mission: to help people out of the situations their mental health puts them in and to show them that growth isn't linear. I would use my voice for those who couldn't. With my new understanding of my purpose, I knew I had to refocus. With only one week left before the end of the semester, I pushed myself to succeed. I studied relentlessly, worked through each assignment, and managed to raise my grades from an F average to mostly A's and B's, avoiding summer school and earning back my GPA. Mental health is crucial, and my experience solidified my desire to help others, particularly BIPOC women. My goal is to become an advocate not only for mental health but for mental health in women and POC, using my degree and personal experiences to provide support and resources for these communities. I plan to engage actively with my patients and listen to their needs. By building trust and understanding, I aim to become a reliable source of support for those who are suffering. Advocacy will be a critical part of my work. I will offer counseling and use my story to help others navigate personal and systemic challenges. I will also work with advocacy groups to push for policy changes addressing the root causes of inequality and discrimination. I now believe in my ability to achieve anything and want to help others learn the same. My dedication to empowering those with mental illnesses, highlighting women, and contributing to social justice and equity drives my actions. Through my work, I hope to create a society where those with similar situations as myself can thrive and lead fulfilling lives.

I want to use my experiences and skills to help build a more empathetic and understanding world. My own struggles with mental health, adversity, and a chronic illness have taught me a lot about the importance of listening, caring, and supporting people without judgment. Going through depression, anxiety, and even being admitted to a mental hospital has shown me how easily someone can feel alone and misunderstood. It also showed me that everyone has a story, and even small acts of kindness or understanding can make a huge difference in someone’s life. I believe that one of my biggest talents is connecting with people. I am good at listening and making people feel seen. I try to notice what someone really needs and be there for them emotionally. Whether it is friends, peers, or younger students I mentor, I work to create a safe space where they feel comfortable sharing and being themselves around me. When people feel heard and understood, they are more likely to trust and support others in return. I believe this kind of connection is the foundation for empathy and the path towards healing and growth. I also use creativity and storytelling to help others understand different experiences. Through theatre, singing, and writing, I can show emotions and perspectives that people might not have thought about. Performing as a character or sharing a story allows others to feel what someone else is feeling. Art is a powerful way to inspire empathy because it encourages people to imagine life from another person’s point of view. I have seen how a story or performance can make someone pause, reflect, and connect with others in a way that conversation alone sometimes cannot. In the future, I want to combine my personal experience, empathy, and creativity to help others on a larger scale. I plan to study psychology so I can provide emotional support, resources, and guidance to people struggling with mental health, especially young people and BIPOC communities. By listening, teaching, and advocating, I hope to inspire others to care, understand, and take action. I believe empathy starts with connection. By using my talents to listen, share stories, and support others, I hope to help build a world where people feel understood, accepted, and motivated to do the same for others. I want to create spaces where people feel safe to be themselves, and where understanding and kindness are shared across communities and cultures.

I didn’t truly realize the beauty of life until I was 16. I don't know when, how, or where it all went wrong. I don't know when things went downhill or when my mental health started to deteriorate, but it did. I was 16 years old when I was admitted into a mental hospital for suicidal ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, and severe anxiety/depression. It feels relieving being able to finally type all of that out and accept it, but it wasn't easy. I had truly hit rock bottom. Seeing and hearing the lives of those who were admitted under similar circumstances was incredibly daunting. All of these people had lives, people who loved and adored them, and suddenly I realized that I was no different. Within days, I cared deeply about each one of these people. Seeing ages range from 11-17, with all different stories and reasons as to why they got to where we all were, scared me. I made myself promise to stay for them. Every time I told my story or helped another person, it was just another time that I remembered them and their stories. After leaving the mental hospital, I received little help from anyone. I struggled to catch up on missed work and had failing grades in almost every class. This stress ruined my efforts to stay mentally healthy, making recovery even more difficult. I was once a 4.0 student with high expectations for myself, and watching my academic performance decline was painful. It wasn't until I had a session with my therapist, who asked me a question. What was my goal in life? What did I want to achieve and do? Who do I want to be? I wanted to prevent others from experiencing what I had gone through, especially adolescents and young adults. This became my mission: to help people out of the situations their mental health puts them in and to show them that growth isn't linear. I would use my voice for those who couldn't. With my new understanding of my purpose, I knew I had to refocus. With only one week left before the end of the semester, I pushed myself to succeed. I studied relentlessly, worked through each assignment, and managed to raise my grades from an F average to mostly A's and B's, avoiding summer school and earning back my GPA. Mental health is crucial, and my experience solidified my desire to help others, particularly BIPOC women. My goal is to become an advocate not only for mental health but for mental health in women and POC, using my degree and personal experiences to provide support and resources for these communities. I plan to engage actively with my patients and listen to their needs. By building trust and understanding, I aim to become a reliable source of support for those who are suffering. Advocacy will be a critical part of my work. I will offer counseling and use my story to help others navigate personal and systemic challenges. I will also work with advocacy groups to push for policy changes addressing the root causes of inequality and discrimination. I now believe in my ability to achieve anything and want to help others learn the same. My dedication to empowering those with mental illnesses, highlighting women, and contributing to social justice and equity drives my actions. Through my work, I hope to create a society where those with similar situations as myself can thrive and lead fulfilling lives.

I didn’t truly realize the beauty of life until I was 16. I don't know when, how, or where it all went wrong. I don't know when things went downhill or when my mental health started to deteriorate, but it did. I was 16 years old when I was admitted into a mental hospital for suicidal ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, and severe anxiety/depression. It feels relieving being able to finally type all of that out and accept it, but it wasn't easy. I had truly hit rock bottom. Seeing and hearing the lives of those who were admitted under similar circumstances was incredibly daunting. All of these people had lives, people who loved and adored them, and suddenly I realized that I was no different. Within days, I cared deeply about each one of these people. Seeing ages range from 11-17, with all different stories and reasons as to why they got to where we all were, scared me. I made myself promise to stay for them. Every time I told my story or helped another person, it was just another time that I remembered them and their stories. After leaving the mental hospital, I received little help from anyone. I struggled to catch up on missed work and had failing grades in almost every class. This stress ruined my efforts to stay mentally healthy, making recovery even more difficult. I was once a 4.0 student with high expectations for myself, and watching my academic performance decline was painful. It wasn't until I had a session with my therapist, who asked me a question. What was my goal in life? What did I want to achieve and do? Who do I want to be? I wanted to prevent others from experiencing what I had gone through, especially adolescents and young adults. This became my mission: to help people out of the situations their mental health puts them in and to show them that growth isn't linear. I would use my voice for those who couldn't. With my new understanding of my purpose, I knew I had to refocus. With only one week left before the end of the semester, I pushed myself to succeed. I studied relentlessly, worked through each assignment, and managed to raise my grades from an F average to mostly A's and B's, avoiding summer school and earning back my GPA. Mental health is crucial, and my experience solidified my desire to help others, particularly BIPOC women. My goal is to become an advocate not only for mental health but for mental health in women and POC, using my degree and personal experiences to provide support and resources for these communities. I plan to engage actively with my patients and listen to their needs. By building trust and understanding, I aim to become a reliable source of support for those who are suffering. Advocacy will be a critical part of my work. I will offer counseling and use my story to help others navigate personal and systemic challenges. I will also work with advocacy groups to push for policy changes addressing the root causes of inequality and discrimination. I now believe in my ability to achieve anything and want to help others learn the same. My dedication to empowering those with mental illnesses, highlighting women, and contributing to social justice and equity drives my actions. Through my work, I hope to create a society where those with similar situations as myself can thrive and lead fulfilling lives.

I didn’t truly realize the beauty of life until I was 16. I don't know when, how, or where it all went wrong. I don't know when things went downhill or when my mental health started to deteriorate, but it did. I was 16 years old when I was admitted into a mental hospital for suicidal ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, and severe anxiety/depression. It feels relieving being able to finally type all of that out and accept it, but it wasn't easy. I had truly hit rock bottom. Seeing and hearing the lives of those who were admitted under similar circumstances was incredibly daunting. All of these people had lives, people who loved and adored them, and suddenly I realized that I was no different. Within days, I cared deeply about each one of these people. Seeing ages range from 11-17, with all different stories and reasons as to why they got to where we all were, scared me. I made myself promise to stay for them. Every time I told my story or helped another person, it was just another time that I remembered them and their stories. After leaving the mental hospital, I received little help from anyone. I struggled to catch up on missed work and had failing grades in almost every class. This stress ruined my efforts to stay mentally healthy, making recovery even more difficult. I was once a 4.0 student with high expectations for myself, and watching my academic performance decline was painful. It wasn't until I had a session with my therapist, who asked me a question. What was my goal in life? What did I want to achieve and do? Who do I want to be? I wanted to prevent others from experiencing what I had gone through, especially adolescents and young adults. This became my mission: to help people out of the situations their mental health puts them in and to show them that growth isn't linear. I would use my voice for those who couldn't. With my new understanding of my purpose, I knew I had to refocus. With only one week left before the end of the semester, I pushed myself to succeed. I studied relentlessly, worked through each assignment, and managed to raise my grades from an F average to mostly A's and B's, avoiding summer school and earning back my GPA. Mental health is crucial, and my experience solidified my desire to help others, particularly BIPOC women. My goal is to become an advocate not only for mental health but for mental health in women and POC, using my degree and personal experiences to provide support and resources for these communities. I plan to engage actively with my patients and listen to their needs. By building trust and understanding, I aim to become a reliable source of support for those who are suffering. Advocacy will be a critical part of my work. I will offer counseling and use my story to help others navigate personal and systemic challenges. I will also work with advocacy groups to push for policy changes addressing the root causes of inequality and discrimination. I now believe in my ability to achieve anything and want to help others learn the same. My dedication to empowering those with mental illnesses, highlighting women and the Black community, and contributing to social justice and equity drives my actions. Through my work, I hope to create a society where those with similar situations as myself can thrive and lead fulfilling lives.

I didn’t truly realize the beauty of life until I was 16. I don't know when, how, or where it all went wrong. I don't know when things went downhill or when my mental health started to deteriorate, but it did. I was 16 years old when I was admitted into a mental hospital for suicidal ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, and severe anxiety/depression. It feels relieving being able to finally type all of that out and accept it, but it wasn't easy. I had truly hit rock bottom. Seeing and hearing the lives of those who were admitted under similar circumstances was incredibly daunting. All of these people had lives, people who loved and adored them, and suddenly I realized that I was no different. Within days, I cared deeply about each one of these people. Seeing ages range from 11-17, with all different stories and reasons as to why they got to where we all were, scared me. I made myself promise to stay for them. Every time I told my story or helped another person, it was just another time that I remembered them and their stories. After leaving the mental hospital, I received little help from anyone. I struggled to catch up on missed work and had failing grades in almost every class. This stress ruined my efforts to stay mentally healthy, making recovery even more difficult. I was once a 4.0 student with high expectations for myself, and watching my academic performance decline was painful. It wasn't until I had a session with my therapist, who asked me a question. What was my goal in life? What did I want to achieve and do? Who do I want to be? I wanted to prevent others from experiencing what I had gone through, especially adolescents and young adults. This became my mission: to help people out of the situations their mental health puts them in and to show them that growth isn't linear. I would use my voice for those who couldn't. With my new understanding of my purpose, I knew I had to refocus. With only one week left before the end of the semester, I pushed myself to succeed. I studied relentlessly, worked through each assignment, and managed to raise my grades from an F average to mostly A's and B's, avoiding summer school and earning back my GPA. Mental health is crucial, and my experience solidified my desire to help others, particularly BIPOC women. My goal is to become an advocate not only for mental health but for mental health in women and POC, using my degree and personal experiences to provide support and resources for these communities. I plan to engage actively with my patients and listen to their needs. By building trust and understanding, I aim to become a reliable source of support for those who are suffering. Advocacy will be a critical part of my work. I will offer counseling and use my story to help others navigate personal and systemic challenges. I will also work with advocacy groups to push for policy changes addressing the root causes of inequality and discrimination. I now believe in my ability to achieve anything and want to help others learn the same. My dedication to empowering those with mental illnesses, highlighting women, and contributing to social justice and equity drives my actions. Through my work, I hope to create a society where those with similar situations as myself can thrive and lead fulfilling lives.

I didn’t truly realize the beauty of life until I was 16. I don't know when, how, or where it all went wrong. I don't know when things went downhill or when my mental health started to deteriorate, but it did. I was 16 years old when I was admitted into a mental hospital for suicidal ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, and severe anxiety/depression. It feels relieving being able to finally type all of that out and accept it, but it wasn't easy. I had truly hit rock bottom. Seeing and hearing the lives of those who were admitted under similar circumstances was incredibly daunting. All of these people had lives, people who loved and adored them, and suddenly I realized that I was no different. Within days, I cared deeply about each one of these people. Seeing ages range from 11-17, with all different stories and reasons as to why they got to where we all were, scared me. I made myself promise to stay for them. Every time I told my story or helped another person, it was just another time that I remembered them and their stories. After leaving the mental hospital, I received little help from anyone. I struggled to catch up on missed work and had failing grades in almost every class. This stress ruined my efforts to stay mentally healthy, making recovery even more difficult. I was once a 4.0 student with high expectations for myself, and watching my academic performance decline was painful. It wasn't until I had a session with my therapist, who asked me a question. What was my goal in life? What did I want to achieve and do? Who do I want to be? I wanted to prevent others from experiencing what I had gone through, especially adolescents and young adults. This became my mission: to help people out of the situations their mental health puts them in and to show them that growth isn't linear. I would use my voice for those who couldn't. With my new understanding of my purpose, I knew I had to refocus. With only one week left before the end of the semester, I pushed myself to succeed. I studied relentlessly, worked through each assignment, and managed to raise my grades from an F average to mostly A's and B's, avoiding summer school and earning back my GPA. Mental health is crucial, and my experience solidified my desire to help others, particularly BIPOC women. My goal is to become an advocate not only for mental health but for mental health in women and POC, using my degree and personal experiences to provide support and resources for these communities. I plan to engage actively with my patients and listen to their needs. By building trust and understanding, I aim to become a reliable source of support for those who are suffering. Advocacy will be a critical part of my work. I will offer counseling and use my story to help others navigate personal and systemic challenges. I will also work with advocacy groups to push for policy changes addressing the root causes of inequality and discrimination. I now believe in my ability to achieve anything and want to help others learn the same. My dedication to empowering those with mental illnesses, highlighting women, and contributing to social justice and equity drives my actions. Through my work, I hope to create a society where those with similar situations as myself can thrive and lead fulfilling lives.

I'm Aniah Warren. A Freshman at Washington State University, and a 19-year-old black woman who attended a predominantly white high school in Wisconsin. This is my story. I didn’t truly realize the beauty of life until I was 16. I don't know when, how, or where it all went wrong. I don't know when things went downhill or when my mental health started to deteriorate, but it did. I was 16 years old and admitted into a mental hospital for suicidal ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, and severe anxiety/depression. It feels relieving being able to finally type all of that out and accept it, but it wasn't easy. Seeing and hearing the lives of those who were admitted under similar circumstances was incredibly daunting. All of these people had lives, people who loved and adored them, and suddenly I realized that I was no different. Within days, I cared deeply about each one of these people. Seeing ages range from 11-17 with all different stories and reasons as to why they got to where we all were, scared me. I made myself promise to stay for them. Every time I told my story or helped another person, it was just another time that I remembered them and their stories. After leaving the mental hospital, I received little help from anyone. I struggled to catch up on missed work and had failing grades in almost every class. This stress ruined my efforts to stay mentally healthy, making recovery even more difficult. I was once a 4.0 student with high expectations for myself, and watching my academic performance decline was painful. It wasn't until I had a session with my therapist who asked me a question. What was my goal in life? What did I want to achieve and do? Who do I want to be? I wanted to prevent others from experiencing what I had gone through, especially adolescents and young adults. This became my mission: to help people out of the situations their mental health puts them in and to show them that growth isn't linear. I would use my voice for those who couldn't. With my new understanding of my purpose, I knew I had to refocus. With only one week left before the end of the semester, I pushed myself to succeed. I studied relentlessly, worked through each assignment, and managed to raise my grades from an F average to mostly A's and B's, avoiding summer school and earning back my GPA. Mental health is crucial, and my experience solidified my desire to help others, particularly BIPOC women. My goal is to become an advocate not only for mental health but for mental health in women and POC, using my degree and personal experiences to provide support and resources for these communities. I plan to engage actively with my patients and listen to their needs. By building trust and understanding, I aim to become a reliable source of support for those who are suffering. Advocacy will be a critical part of my work. I will offer counseling and use my story to help others navigate personal and systemic challenges. I will also work with advocacy groups to push for policy changes addressing the root causes of inequality and discrimination. I now believe in my ability to achieve anything and want to help others learn the same. My dedication to empowering those with mental illnesses, highlighting women, and contributing to social justice and equity drives my actions. Through my work, I hope to create a society where those with similar situations as myself, can thrive and lead fulfilling lives.

I didn’t truly realize the beauty of life until I was 16. I don't know when, how, or where it all went wrong. I don't know when things went downhill or when my mental health started to deteriorate, but it did. I was 16 years old and admitted into a mental hospital for suicidal ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, severe anxiety/depression, and body dysmorphia. It feels relieving being able to finally type all of that out and accept it, but it wasn't easy. Seeing and hearing the lives of those who were admitted under similar circumstances, was incredibly daunting. All of these people had lives, people who loved and adored them and I unwrapped the blindfold that Mental Health had blinded me with. I was no different. Within days, I cared deeply about each one of these people. Seeing ages range from 11-17 with all different stories and reasonings as to why they got to where we all were, scared me. I made myself promise to stay for them. Every time I told my story or helped another person, was just another time that I remembered them and their stories. After leaving the mental hospital, I received little help from anyone. I struggled to catch up on missed work and had failing grades in almost every class. This stress ruined my efforts to stay mentally healthy, making recovery even more difficult. I was once a 4.0 student with high expectations for myself, and watching my academic performance decline was painful. It wasn't until I had a session with my therapist who asked me a question. What was my goal in life? What did I want to achieve and do? Who do I want to be? I wanted to prevent others from experiencing what I had gone through, especially adolescents and young adults. This became my mission and passion: to help people out of the situations their mental health puts them in and to show them that growth isn't linear. I would use my voice for those who couldn't. With my newfound understanding of my purpose, I knew I had to refocus. With only one week left before the end of the semester, I pushed myself to succeed. I studied relentlessly, worked through each assignment, and managed to raise my grades from an F average to mostly A's and B's, avoiding summer school and earning back my GPA. Mental health is crucial, and my experience solidified my desire to help others, particularly BIPOC women. My goal is to become an advocate not only for mental health but for mental health in women and POC, using my degree and personal experiences to provide support and resources for these communities. I plan to engage actively with my patients, listen to their needs, and collaborate on solutions. By building trust and understanding, I aim to become a reliable source of support for all who are suffering. Advocacy will be a critical component of my work. I will offer counseling and use my story to help others navigate personal and systemic challenges. On a broader scale, I will work with advocacy groups to push for policy changes addressing the root causes of inequality and discrimination. I now believe in my ability to achieve anything and want to help others learn the same. My dedication to empowering those with mental illnesses, highlighting BIPOC women, and contributing to social justice and equity drives my actions. Through my work, I hope to create a society where those with similar situations as myself, can thrive and lead fulfilling lives.

When people see me now, they see a college freshman chasing a degree in psychology. They see someone who works hard and dreams big. What they don’t see is the darkness I had to walk through to get here. My experience with depression and my stay in a mental hospital after a suicide attempt are the hardest and the darkest parts of my life, but they are also the reasons I am still here, learning, growing, and fighting for a future that matters. I was just 12 when depression took hold of me. At first it was quiet. It felt like sadness that wouldn’t go away. Then it grew louder. It became a weight on my chest every morning, making it harder to get out of bed, harder to care about school, harder to care about myself. I smiled in public and tried to be the strong one for everyone else, but inside I was falling apart. I told myself no one would understand and that I was just being weak or tired. The isolation became its own kind of pain. The night of my suicide attempt is honestly still blurry in my mind. What I remember most is the numbness. I didn’t want to die as much as I wanted the pain to stop. Waking up in the hospital afterward was like waking up in a nightmare. I was embarrassed, ashamed, and convinced I had ruined everything. I felt like I had disappointed my parents, my friends, and myself. Being transferred to a mental hospital made those feelings even stronger. I thought going there meant I had failed at life. But something unexpected happened inside those walls. For the first time, I was surrounded by people who understood exactly what I was feeling without me having to explain it. The other patients were my age, older, younger, from different backgrounds, but we all shared a kind of pain that was invisible to the outside world. The nurses and counselors didn’t look at me like I was broken. They looked at me like I was a person worth saving. The days I spent in the hospital changed my beliefs about myself and about my life. I no longer believe that strength means never falling apart. I believe that strength is asking for help, sitting in a circle with strangers, and saying “I’m not okay” out loud. I believe that every person we pass on the street could be carrying a story we know nothing about, and that kindness and patience matter more than we think. I learned that healing is not a straight line, but a series of small steps, setbacks, and goals that are all part of the process. My relationships have also been shaped by that experience. Before the hospital, I kept my depression hidden because I didn’t want to be a burden. I pushed people away and constantly put on a mask of being “fine.” But the people who loved me showed me that I wasn’t a burden. My dad was steady even when I was not. He told me over and over that nothing I could go through would make him love me less. Those moments taught me that real love is not conditional on how well you are doing. It’s about showing up, even in the worst moments. Not every relationship survived that time. Some friends drifted away, confused or uncomfortable with my depression. At first, that felt like another kind of loss. Over time, I learned to see it differently. Losing people who couldn’t handle my truth made room for people who could. It also made me value the ones who stayed even more deeply. That lesson continues to shape how I choose friends, how I show up for others, and how I set boundaries. My time in the mental hospital also gave me my purpose. I want to study psychology so I can work with young people who feel as lost and hopeless as I once did. I want to be the kind of therapist who can sit across from someone after a suicide attempt and say, “I know how dark it feels right now. I’ve been there. But you can survive this.” I want to make mental health care more accessible, and less taboo, especially for communities like mine that don’t always get the support they need. As a Black woman, I know how rare it is to see therapists who look like me and who understand how racism and culture can shape mental health. That lack of representation can make it even harder to reach out for help. Part of my dream is to change that. I want to show young Black children that their pain is valid, that recovery is possible, and that there are people who will understand and support them. At nineteen, I don’t have all the answers. I still have days when depression feels close. But now I also have hope. I have a vision for a life where my story can help someone else survive. I have a belief that my darkest moments don't have to define me; they can guide me toward helping others and toward becoming the best version of myself. My experience with mental health has shaped my beliefs, my relationships, and my career aspirations, but more than that, it has shaped me. It has given me a heart that is soft but strong, a voice that refuses to stay silent, and a purpose. It has taught me that even after a suicide attempt, there can be a future worth living for. It has taught me that pain can be turned into power, and that survival can be the beginning of something beautiful. I am here today because of the people who didn’t give up on me, because of the care I received when I needed it most, and because somewhere deep down I chose to keep going. Now, I want to spend my life being that person for someone else. I want to sit with the broken, listen to their stories, and help them find hope in the places they never thought it could exist. I believe the attempt didn't work for a reason. My mental health journey has been the hardest battle, but it has also been my greatest inspiration. It’s the reason I’m alive, and it’s the reason I know my future can make a difference.

I didn’t truly realize the beauty of life until I was 16. I don't know when, how, or where it all went wrong. I don't know when things went downhill or when my mental health started to deteriorate, but it did. 16 years old and admitted into a mental hospital for suicidal ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, severe anxiety/depression, and body dysmorphia. It feels relieving being able to finally type all of that out and accept it, but it wasn't easy. Seeing and hearing the lives of those who were admitted under similar circumstances, was incredibly daunting. All of these people had lives, people who loved and adored them and I unwrapped the blindfold that Mental Health had blinded me with. I was no different. Within days, I cared deeply about each one of these people. Seeing ages range from 11-17 with all different stories and reasonings as to why they got to where we all were, scared me. I made myself promise to stay for them. Every time I told my story or helped another person, was just another time that I remembered them and their stories. After leaving the mental hospital, I received little help from anyone. I struggled to catch up on missed work and had failing grades in almost every class. This stress compounded my efforts to stay mentally healthy, making recovery even more difficult. I was once a 4.0 student with high expectations for myself, and watching my academic performance decline was painful. It wasn't until I had a session with my therapist who asked me one question. What was my goal in life? What did I want to achieve and do? I wanted to prevent others from experiencing what I had gone through, especially adolescents and young adults. This became my mission and passion: to help people out of the situations their mental health puts them in and to show them that growth isn't linear. I would use my voice for those who couldn't. With my newfound understanding of my purpose, I knew I had to refocus. With only one week left before the end of the semester, I pushed myself to succeed. I studied relentlessly, worked through each assignment, and managed to raise my grades from an F average to mostly A's and B's, avoiding summer school and earning back my GPA. Mental health is crucial, and my experience solidified my desire to help others, particularly BIPOC women. My goal is to become an advocate not only for mental health but for mental health in POC, using my degree and personal experiences to provide support and resources. I plan to engage actively with my patients, listen to their needs, and collaborate on solutions. By building trust and understanding, I aim to become a reliable source of support for all who are suffering. Advocacy will be a critical component of my work. I will offer counseling and use my story to help others navigate personal and systemic challenges. On a broader scale, I will work with advocacy groups to push for policy changes addressing the root causes of inequality and discrimination. I now believe in my ability to achieve anything and want to help others learn the same. My dedication to empowering those with mental illnesses, highlighting BIPOC women, and contributing to social justice and equity drives my actions. Through my work, I hope to create a society where those with similar situations as myself, can thrive and lead fulfilling lives.

I didn’t truly realize the beauty of life until I was 16. I don't know when, how, or where it all went wrong. I don't know when things went downhill or when my mental health started to deteriorate, but it did. 16 years old and admitted into a mental hospital for suicidal ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, severe anxiety/depression, and body dysmorphia. It feels relieving being able to finally type all of that out and accept it, but it wasn't easy. Seeing and hearing the lives of those who were admitted under similar circumstances, was incredibly daunting. All of these people had lives, people who loved and adored them and I unwrapped the blindfold that Mental Health had blinded me with. I was no different. Within days, I cared deeply about each one of these people. Seeing ages range from 11-17 with all different stories and reasonings as to why they got to where we all were, scared me. I made myself promise to stay for them. Every time I told my story or helped another person, was just another time that I remembered them and their stories. After leaving the mental hospital, I received little help from anyone. I struggled to catch up on missed work and had failing grades in almost every class. This stress compounded my efforts to stay mentally healthy, making recovery even more difficult. I was once a 4.0 student with high expectations for myself, and watching my academic performance decline was painful. It wasn't until I had a session with my therapist who asked me one question. What was my goal in life? What did I want to achieve and do? I wanted to prevent others from experiencing what I had gone through, especially adolescents and young adults. This became my mission and passion: to help people out of the situations their mental health puts them in and to show them that growth isn't linear. I would use my voice for those who couldn't. With my newfound understanding of my purpose, I knew I had to refocus. With only one week left before the end of the semester, I pushed myself to succeed. I studied relentlessly, worked through each assignment, and managed to raise my grades from an F average to mostly A's and B's, avoiding summer school and earning back my GPA. Mental health is crucial, and my experience solidified my desire to help others, particularly BIPOC women. My goal is to become an advocate not only for mental health but for mental health in POC, using my degree and personal experiences to provide support and resources. I plan to engage actively with my patients, listen to their needs, and collaborate on solutions. By building trust and understanding, I aim to become a reliable source of support for all who are suffering. Advocacy will be a critical component of my work. I will offer counseling and use my story to help others navigate personal and systemic challenges. On a broader scale, I will work with advocacy groups to push for policy changes addressing the root causes of inequality and discrimination. I now believe in my ability to achieve anything and want to help others learn the same. My dedication to empowering those with mental illnesses, highlighting BIPOC women, and contributing to social justice and equity drives my actions. Through my work, I hope to create a society where those with similar situations as myself, can thrive and lead fulfilling lives.

Growing up with limited money and on and off again parents has shaped my perspective in many ways. 2023 was a big change in my life. My parents divorced, and my mom moved away, leaving me to navigate life primarily with my father. Now, being the only girl in the household, the transition brought its unique challenges. My father works at two jobs, which means that our time together was limited. While he always provides me unwavering love and support, the realities of his work schedule often meant that I had to navigate some aspects of life independently. Financial restrictions have always been present in my upbringing, shaping me to be more resourceful and value hard work. Witnessing my father's relentless dedication to our family has given me first hand understanding of perseverance. His sacrifices are made not only for our immediate well-being but also to lay a foundation for my future aspirations. My experiences have led me to commit to my journey towards positive change in my community and beyond. Part of this being, improving access to mental health resources, an area deeply personal to me due to my own challenges. Academically, I am focused on excelling despite the adversities, breaking stereotypes and participating in extracurricular activities that bring me joy. My goal is to not only overcome obstacles but also to break and advocate systemic barriers that alter progress for individuals from low-income households. I want to empower people to realize their potential and pursue their dreams, despite their circumstances. In conclusion, my journey has shaped my identity and aspirations in deep ways. I am determined to make a meaningful impact, driven by empathy and my firsthand understanding of adversity.

I didn’t truly realize the beauty of life until I was 16. I don't know when, how, or where it all went wrong. I don't know when things went downhill or when my mental health started to deteriorate, but it did. 16 years old and admitted into a mental hospital for suicidal ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, severe anxiety/depression, and body dysmorphia. It feels relieving being able to finally type all of that out and accept it, but it wasn't easy. Seeing and hearing the lives of those who were admitted under similar circumstances, was incredibly daunting. All of these people had lives, people who loved and adored them and I unwrapped the blindfold that Mental Health had blinded me with. I was no different. Within days, I cared deeply about each one of these people. Seeing ages range from 11-17 with all different stories and reasonings as to why they got to where we all were, scared me. I made myself promise to stay for them. Every time I told my story or helped another person, was just another time that I remembered them and their stories. After leaving the mental hospital, I received little help from anyone. I struggled to catch up on missed work and had failing grades in almost every class. This stress compounded my efforts to stay mentally healthy, making recovery even more difficult. I was once a 4.0 student with high expectations for myself, and watching my academic performance decline was painful. It wasn't until I had a session with my therapist who asked me one question. What was my goal in life? What did I want to achieve and do? I wanted to prevent others from experiencing what I had gone through, especially adolescents and young adults. This became my mission and passion: to help people out of the situations their mental health puts them in and to show them that growth isn't linear. I would use my voice for those who couldn't. With my newfound understanding of my purpose, I knew I had to refocus. With only one week left before the end of the semester, I pushed myself to succeed. I studied relentlessly, worked through each assignment, and managed to raise my grades from an F average to mostly A's and B's, avoiding summer school and earning back my GPA. Mental health is crucial, and my experience solidified my desire to help others, particularly BIPOC women. My goal is to become an advocate not only for mental health but for mental health in BIPOC women, using my degree and personal experiences to provide support and resources. I plan to engage actively with my patients, listen to their needs, and collaborate on solutions. By building trust and understanding, I aim to become a reliable source of support for all who are suffering. Advocacy will be a critical component of my work. I will offer counseling and use my story to help others navigate personal and systemic challenges. On a broader scale, I will work with advocacy groups to push for policy changes addressing the root causes of inequality and discrimination. I now believe in my ability to achieve anything and want to help others learn the same. My dedication to empowering those with mental illnesses, highlighting BIPOC women, and contributing to social justice and equity drives my actions. Through my work, I hope to create a society where those with similar situations as myself, can thrive and lead fulfilling lives.

At 16, I stood in a cold hospital room, stripped of every ounce of hope, wondering if life would ever feel worth living again. The weight of suicidal thoughts, an eating disorder, and severe depression swallowed my mind, and I felt completely alone. Jack Terry’s story reminds me of the moment I decided to fight for myself. It reminds me that even in the depths of unimaginable pain, there is a path forward, and it’s one worth taking. His ability to turn tragedy into triumph inspires me to transform my own hardships into a source of hope, love and care for others. Like Jack, I have faced adversity that has shaped my life in ways I never imagined. For years, I battled severe mental illness while navigating a world filled with racism, rejection, and loneliness. I was diagnosed with chronic migraines, which added another layer to my struggles, forcing me to spend countless hours in hospitals and miss out on school and other teenage milestones. The physical pain was constant, but the emotional toll was just as debilitating. On top of it all, financial hardship has loomed over my family. My father, who works two jobs just to keep us afloat and has sacrificed everything to support my dreams. Despite these challenges, I refused to let my circumstances define me. I’ve taken failing grades caused by medical absences and turned them into A’s. I’ve poured myself into my passions—acting, singing, and storytelling—not just to escape the pain but to find connection, purpose, and joy. I’ve learned that the best and most honest growth often comes from the hardest struggles, and this mindset has driven me to dream bigger than I ever thought possible. I plan to pursue a degree in psychology, with a minor in theatre, to use my experiences to give back to others. My dream is to become a psychologist who specializes in youth mental health, particularly for Black girls who face the dual burden of mental health challenges and systemic racism. Far too often, our voices are dismissed, and our pain is ignored. I want to be the person who listens, understands, and helps them reclaim their sense of worth. I want to be the person I needed when I was at my lowest. My background in theatre will also allow me to incorporate storytelling and creative expression into therapy, providing young people with tools to process their emotions in a healthy way and feel heard and seen. Jack Terry’s story proves that survival is not the end, it’s just the foundation for something greater. Like Jack, I want to use the lessons I’ve learned from my own struggles to inspire and uplift others. Through my education and future career, I hope to help others find hope in their darkest moments and create a legacy of compassion, hope, and change.

Most kids don’t worry about whether there’s enough gas to get them to school or if dinner will stretch through the week. Most kids don’t limit themselves to only asking for new socks without holes for Christmas, or worry about asking for anything at all. For me, those concerns have been part of daily life for as long as I can remember. I’ve stood in grocery store lines, calculating every penny, knowing that the smallest misstep meant putting something back. I’ve watched my dad work two exhausting jobs, not just to keep our house, but to give me the chance to dream of a life bigger than our circumstances. Those moments, etched into my memory, have shaped who I am. Resilient , resourceful, and unshakably determined to make something of myself. But the weight of financial struggles isn’t just about the numbers for me, it’s about the opportunities lost due to something out of our control. Field trips, extracurricular activities, going out with friends— Things that could have shaped my education and social life were often out of reach. Even simple things like lunch at school or paying for exams. Watching my dad give everything he has while we still came up short taught me the value of hard work, but it also lit a fire in me to break free from this cycle. That fire has driven me to push through setbacks that might have derailed me. When chronic migraines left me in and out of hospitals, I learned how to juggle medical appointments with schoolwork. When mental health struggles brought me to the lowest point in my life, I clawed my way back, turning failing grades into A’s and B’s. When I faced systemic racism as one of the few Black students in a predominantly white school, I used those experiences to fuel my passion for advocacy and representation. Now, as I stand on the brink of adulthood, my goal has never been more clear. I will pursue a degree in psychology and help young people—especially Black girls—navigate the challenges I’ve faced. I want to be the person I needed during my hardest moments, showing others that their pain doesn’t define them and that healing is possible. This scholarship isn’t just about easing the financial burden; it’s about creating a future that my dad and I have worked tirelessly to achieve. It’s the chance to focus on my studies without constantly worrying about how to make ends meet. It’s an opportunity to honor my dad’s sacrifices by building the life he’s always believed I could have—a life where my dreams aren’t held back by the limits of our wallet, but are defined by the strength of my determination.

“It takes strength to forgive, but I don’t feel strong.” This is a lyric In Olivia Rodrigo’s song "the grudge," that captures the complex emotions that come with forgiveness and the internal struggle many people face while dealing with the past. This lyric stuck out to me the most amongst every song in the album because I have often found myself being a people pleaser and forgiving too easily. After years of this, I’ve come to realize that forgiveness is not always necessary for someone's healing process. Growing up, I was frequently told that forgiveness was a sign of strength. “Be the bigger person Aniah, just forgive.” This belief was ingrained in me to such an extent that I felt obligated to forgive those who wronged me, even when I wasn’t ready to. As a result, I realized that instead of truly healing, I often forgave others just to keep the peace, avoid conflict, and carry the expectations of being "the strong one." This lyric encapsulates my internal conflict perfectly. It acknowledges that while forgiveness is often portrayed as the option that holds the greatest strength, there are times when one simply doesn’t feel strong enough to extend it. This sits with the hard-earned realization that I don’t always have to be the one who forgives, especially when doing so would compromise my own well-being. There is a significant difference between forgiving because one is truly ready and forgiving out of a sense of obligation or to maintain strength. The journey towards understanding the true nature of forgiveness has been a difficult one. It has involved a great deal of learning, especially focusing on how to set boundaries, which many teenagers—myself included—struggle with. The societal expectation to "forgive and forget" often leads teens to allow others to walk all over them, believing that this is the path to emotional maturity and strength. However, i’ve learned that there is more power in recognizing and asserting one’s own boundaries. Learning that it’s okay to not forgive immediately—or ever, in some cases—has been a liberating growing point for me. It has helped me reclaim my sense of self and understand that my emotions are valid and deserve respect. Olivia Rodrigo’s music, particularly her ability to convey deep and often painful emotions through her lyrics, has had a major impact on me. It has provided a much-needed outlet for my own feelings, especially when words have been difficult for me to say. Songs like "the grudge" have given voice to my internal struggles and have been a source of comfort and validation. I have found a way to articulate emotions that I previously found hard to express through her music, For many teenagers, music becomes a crutch and a form of expression used for when words fail. Olivia’s candid exploration of common themes like pain, betrayal, and the complexity of forgiveness speaks to a generation that often feels misunderstood and pressured to conform to unrealistic standards of emotional resilience. Her music not only captures the essence of our youth, but also challenges the conventional narratives around strength and forgiveness. “It takes strength to forgive but I don’t feel strong”, mirrors my own teenage experiences of grappling with forgiveness and self-acceptance. It sheds light to the importance of acknowledging and respecting one’s own emotional journey and boundaries. For many teens, including myself, this realization is a critical step towards genuine healing and self-empowerment. Olivia’s impact on my life has definitely made its mark, providing a voice to my struggles and a reminder that true strength lies in being patient and true to myself

I didn’t truly realize the beauty of life until I was 16. I don't know when, how, or where it all went wrong. I don't know when things went downhill or when my mental health started to deteriorate, but it did. 16 years old and admitted into a mental hospital for suicidal ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, severe anxiety/depression, and body dysmorphia. It feels relieving being able to finally type all of that out and accept it, but it wasn't easy. After leaving the mental hospital, I received little help from anyone. I struggled to catch up on missed work and had failing grades in almost every class. The stress of schoolwork compounded my efforts to stay mentally healthy, making recovery even more difficult. It wasn't until I had a session with my therapist who asked me one question. What was my goal in life? What did I want to achieve and do? I wanted to prevent others from experiencing what I had gone through, especially adolescents and young adults. This became my mission and passion: to help people out of the situations their mental health puts them in and to show them that growth isn't linear. Mental health is crucial, and my experience solidified my desire to help others, particularly BIPOC women. My goal is to become an advocate not only for mental health but for mental health in BIPOC women, using my degree and personal experiences to provide support and resources. I plan to engage actively with my patients, listen to their needs, and collaborate on solutions. By building trust and understanding, I aim to become a reliable source of support for all who are suffering. Advocacy will be a critical component of my work. I will offer counseling and use my story to help others navigate personal and systemic challenges. On a broader scale, I will work with advocacy groups to push for policy changes addressing the root causes of inequality and discrimination. I now believe in my ability to achieve anything and want to help others learn the same. My dedication to empowering those with mental illnesses, highlighting BIPOC women, and contributing to social justice and equity drives my actions. Through my work, I hope to create a society where those with similar situations as myself, can thrive and lead fulfilling lives.

I didn’t truly realize the beauty of life until I was 16. I don't know when, how, or where it all went wrong. I don't know when things went downhill or when my mental health started to deteriorate, but it did. 16 years old and admitted into a mental hospital for suicidal ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, severe anxiety/depression, and body dysmorphia. It feels relieving being able to finally type all of that out and accept it, but it wasn't easy. Seeing and hearing the lives of those who were admitted under similar circumstances, was incredibly daunting. All of these people had lives, people who loved and adored them and I unwrapped the blindfold that Mental Health had blinded me with. I was no different. Within days, I cared deeply about each one of these people. Seeing ages range from 11-17 with all different stories and reasonings as to why they got to where we all were, scared me. I made myself promise to stay for them. Every time I told my story or helped another person, was just another time that I remembered them and their stories. After leaving the mental hospital, I received little help from anyone. I struggled to catch up on missed work and had failing grades in almost every class. This stress compounded my efforts to stay mentally healthy, making recovery even more difficult. I was once a 4.0 student with high expectations for myself, and watching my academic performance decline was painful. It wasn't until I had a session with my therapist who asked me one question. What was my goal in life? What did I want to achieve and do? I wanted to prevent others from experiencing what I had gone through, especially adolescents and young adults. This became my mission and passion: to help people out of the situations their mental health puts them in and to show them that growth isn't linear. I would use my voice for those who couldn't. With my newfound understanding of my purpose, I knew I had to refocus. With only one week left before the end of the semester, I pushed myself to succeed. I studied relentlessly, worked through each assignment, and managed to raise my grades from an F average to mostly A's and B's, avoiding summer school and earning back my GPA. Mental health is crucial, and my experience solidified my desire to help others, particularly BIPOC women. My goal is to become an advocate not only for mental health but for mental health in BIPOC women, using my degree and personal experiences to provide support and resources. I plan to engage actively with my patients, listen to their needs, and collaborate on solutions. By building trust and understanding, I aim to become a reliable source of support for all who are suffering. Advocacy will be a critical component of my work. I will offer counseling and use my story to help others navigate personal and systemic challenges. On a broader scale, I will work with advocacy groups to push for policy changes addressing the root causes of inequality and discrimination. I now believe in my ability to achieve anything and want to help others learn the same. My dedication to empowering those with mental illnesses, highlighting BIPOC women, and contributing to social justice and equity drives my actions. Through my work, I hope to create a society where those with similar situations as myself, can thrive and lead fulfilling lives.

As a High School senior who has gone through mental health, academic, financial and health struggles, I have found my calling and have become dedicated to making a meaningful impact on others. Despite all of these difficulties, I’ve pursued my interests with determination, and they have become a source of joy, growth, and purpose. From a young age, theater has always been my greatest passion. I love giving life to written characters. I love the ability to transform into a character, telling stories that can move audiences and connect with strangers through shared emotions. I’ve been involved in my school’s theatre department for years and have taken on various roles both on and off the stage. Last year, I was the hair and makeup designer for a production that was nominated for a prestigious Jerry Award and I was also honored to win an award for Outstanding Supporting Actress. I’ve also been passionate in social media design and becoming the social media manager for our theatre department and for our schools Acapella group. Outside of school, I’ve also been involved in community theatre, performing with the Oregon Straw Hat Players. In addition to performing, I’m passionate about mentoring and giving back to my community. I’ve spent over 200 hours volunteering, particularly in mentoring middle school students who share my passion for theatre and building sets for our school’s productions as well as the community theatres productions. I love helping younger kids find their voice and confidence on stage, and it’s incredibly rewarding to be a part of their journey. I’ve also been a part of the Black Student Union, a girls' basketball manager, and I work as a scare actor at Screaming Acres. I balance these commitments with babysitting and nannying weekly, all while maintaining my academics and striving to succeed. After high school, I plan to attend college in the Pacific Northwest, where I will major in Psychology and minor in Theatre. Having faced my own mental health struggles and having a hard time finding the right care for me, I’m passionate about becoming a psychologist who can support adolescents, young adults, and people of color in navigating their own challenges. I want to advocate for greater mental health awareness and provide a safe space for those who often feel unheard or unseen. If I could start my own charity, its mission would be to raise awareness and provide accessible mental health services for teens and young adults, especially those from marginalized communities who can’t afford care. The financial barriers to mental health services are often insurmountable, and my charity would aim to remove those barriers by offering free or affordable counseling to those in need, regardless of their financial situation or insurance status. The charity would connect licensed therapists with individuals seeking care, offering both in-person and virtual support. Volunteers would perform outreach, fundraise, and help facilitate workshops on coping skills, mental wellness, and self-care. Additionally, the charity would offer mentorship programs, matching trained volunteers with children/teens who need emotional support and guidance. Through my personal experiences and involvement in my community, I have learned the importance of empathy, resilience, and advocacy. I am committed to using my education and future career to make a positive difference in the lives of others.

I didn’t truly realize the beauty of life until I was 16. I don't know when, how, or where it all went wrong. I don't know when things went downhill or when my mental health started to deteriorate, but it did. 16 years old and admitted into a mental hospital for suicidal ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, severe anxiety/depression, and body dysmorphia. It feels relieving being able to finally type all of that out and accept it, but it wasn't easy. Seeing and hearing the lives of those who were admitted under similar circumstances, was incredibly daunting. All of these people had lives, people who loved and adored them and I unwrapped the blindfold that Mental Health had blinded me with. I was no different. Within days, I cared deeply about each one of these people. Seeing ages range from 11-17 with all different stories and reasonings as to why they got to where we all were, scared me. I made myself promise to stay for them. Every time I told my story or helped another person, was just another time that I remembered them and their stories. After leaving the mental hospital, I received little help from anyone. I struggled to catch up on missed work and had failing grades in almost every class. This stress compounded my efforts to stay mentally healthy, making recovery even more difficult. I was once a 4.0 student with high expectations for myself, and watching my academic performance decline was painful. It wasn't until I had a session with my therapist who asked me one question. What was my goal in life? What did I want to achieve and do? I wanted to prevent others from experiencing what I had gone through, especially adolescents and young adults. This became my mission and passion: to help people out of the situations their mental health puts them in and to show them that growth isn't linear. I would use my voice for those who couldn't. With my newfound understanding of my purpose, I knew I had to refocus. With only one week left before the end of the semester, I pushed myself to succeed. I studied relentlessly, worked through each assignment, and managed to raise my grades from an F average to mostly A's and B's, avoiding summer school and earning back my GPA. Mental health is crucial, and my experience solidified my desire to help others, particularly BIPOC women. My goal is to become an advocate not only for mental health but for mental health in BIPOC women, using my degree and personal experiences to provide support and resources. I plan to engage actively with my patients, listen to their needs, and collaborate on solutions. By building trust and understanding, I aim to become a reliable source of support for all who are suffering. Advocacy will be a critical component of my work. I will offer counseling and use my story to help others navigate personal and systemic challenges. On a broader scale, I will work with advocacy groups to push for policy changes addressing the root causes of inequality and discrimination. I now believe in my ability to achieve anything and want to help others learn the same. My dedication to empowering those with mental illnesses, highlighting BIPOC women, and contributing to social justice and equity drives my actions. Through my work, I hope to create a society where those with similar situations as myself, can thrive and lead fulfilling lives.

I didn’t truly realize the beauty of life until I was 16. I don't know when, how, or where it all went wrong. I don't know when things went downhill or when my mental health started to deteriorate, but it did. 16 years old and admitted into a mental hospital for suicidal ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, severe anxiety/depression, and body dysmorphia. It feels relieving being able to finally type all of that out and accept it, but it wasn't easy. Seeing and hearing the lives of those who were admitted under similar circumstances, was incredibly daunting. All of these people had lives, people who loved and adored them and I unwrapped the blindfold that Mental Health had blinded me with. I was no different. Within days, I cared deeply about each one of these people. Seeing ages range from 11-17 with all different stories and reasonings as to why they got to where we all were, scared me. I made myself promise to stay for them. Every time I told my story or helped another person, was just another time that I remembered them and their stories. After leaving the mental hospital, I received little help from anyone. I struggled to catch up on missed work and had failing grades in almost every class. This stress compounded my efforts to stay mentally healthy, making recovery even more difficult. I was once a 4.0 student with high expectations for myself, and watching my academic performance decline was painful. It wasn't until I had a session with my therapist who asked me one question. What was my goal in life? What did I want to achieve and do? I wanted to prevent others from experiencing what I had gone through, especially adolescents and young adults. This became my mission and passion: to help people out of the situations their mental health puts them in and to show them that growth isn't linear. I would use my voice for those who couldn't. With my newfound understanding of my purpose, I knew I had to refocus. With only one week left before the end of the semester, I pushed myself to succeed. I studied relentlessly, worked through each assignment, and managed to raise my grades from an F average to mostly A's and B's, avoiding summer school and earning back my GPA. Mental health is crucial, and my experience solidified my desire to help others, particularly BIPOC women. My goal is to become an advocate not only for mental health but for mental health in BIPOC women, using my degree and personal experiences to provide support and resources. I plan to engage actively with my patients, listen to their needs, and collaborate on solutions. By building trust and understanding, I aim to become a reliable source of support for all who are suffering. Advocacy will be a critical component of my work. I will offer counseling and use my story to help others navigate personal and systemic challenges. On a broader scale, I will work with advocacy groups to push for policy changes addressing the root causes of inequality and discrimination. I now believe in my ability to achieve anything and want to help others learn the same. My dedication to empowering those with mental illnesses, highlighting BIPOC women, and contributing to social justice and equity drives my actions. Through my work, I hope to create a society where those with similar situations as myself, can thrive and lead fulfilling lives.

Growing up with limited money and on and off again parents has shaped my perspective in many ways. 2023 was a big change in my life. My parents had divorced, and my mom moved away, leaving me to navigate life primarily with my father. Now, with being the only girl and child in the household, the transition brought its unique challenges. My father works at two jobs, which means that our time together was limited. While he always makes sure he provides me unwavering love and support, the realities of his work schedule often meant that I had to navigate some aspects of my life independently. Financial restrictions have always been present in my upbringing, shaping me to be more resourceful and value hard work. Witnessing my father's relentless dedication to our family has given me firsthand understanding of perseverance. His sacrifices are made not only for our immediate well-being but also to lay a concrete foundation for my future aspirations. Coming from a recent single-parent household has significantly impacted my educational journey. The lack of financial stability meant that I often had to take charge of my own learning. I developed a strong sense of responsibility and self-motivation, understanding that my academic success and college opportunities depended largely on my own efforts. Despite the adversities, I have managed to excel academically, driven by the desire to honor my father's sacrifices and create a better future for myself. My experiences have led me to commit to my journey towards positive change in my community and beyond. Part of this is improving access to mental health resources, an area deeply personal to me due to my own challenges. I hope to take an huge part in psychology. Academically, I am focused on excelling despite the adversities, breaking stereotypes, and participating in extracurricular activities that bring me joy. My goal is to not only overcome obstacles but also to break and advocate against systemic barriers that alter progress for individuals from low-income households. I want to empower people to realize their potential and pursue their dreams, despite their circumstances. In conclusion, I plan on giving back to my community by establishing programs that support mental health awareness and provide resources for adolescents and young adults facing similar challenges. My journey has shaped my identity and aspirations in deep ways. I am determined to make a meaningful impact, driven by empathy and my firsthand understanding of adversity.

Growing up with limited money and on and off again parents has shaped my perspective in many ways. 2023 was a big change in my life. My parents divorced, and my mom moved away, leaving me to navigate life primarily with my father. Now, being the only girl in the household, the transition brought its unique challenges. My father works at two jobs, which means that our time together was limited. While he always provides me unwavering love and support, the realities of his work schedule often meant that I had to navigate some aspects of life independently. Financial restrictions have always been present in my upbringing, shaping me to be more resourceful and value hard work. Witnessing my father's relentless dedication to our family has given me firsthand understanding of perseverance. His sacrifices are made not only for our immediate well-being but also to lay a foundation for my future aspirations. Coming from a recent single-parent household has significantly impacted my personal and my educational journey. The lack of financial stability meant that I often had to take charge of myself and my own learning. Because of this, I developed a strong sense of responsibility and self-motivation, understanding that my academic success depended largely on my own efforts. Me deciding to go out of state has been stressful due to financial difficulties, but I believe that I am strong enough to do so. Despite the adversities, I have managed to excel academically and to trust and never give up. I continue to be driven by the desire to honor my all my dads sacrifices and create a better future for myself. My experiences have led me to commit to my journey towards positive change in my community and beyond. Part of this is improving access to mental health resources, an area deeply personal to me due to my own challenges. Academically, I am focused on excelling despite the adversities, breaking stereotypes, and participating in extracurricular activities that bring me joy. My goal is to not only overcome obstacles but also to break and advocate against systemic barriers that alter progress for individuals from low-income households. I want to empower people to realize their potential and pursue their dreams, despite their circumstances. In conclusion, I plan on giving back to my community by establishing programs that support mental health awareness and provide resources for adolescents and young adults facing similar challenges. My journey has shaped my identity and aspirations in deep ways. I am determined to make a meaningful impact, driven by empathy and my firsthand understanding of adversity.

I didn’t truly realize the beauty of life until I was 16. I don't know when, how, or where it all went wrong. I don't know when things went downhill or when my mental health started to deteriorate, but it did. 16 years old and admitted into a mental hospital for suicidal ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, severe anxiety/depression, and body dysmorphia. It feels relieving being able to finally type all of that out and accept it, but it wasn't easy. Seeing and hearing the lives of those who were admitted under similar circumstances, was incredibly daunting. All of these people had lives, people who loved and adored them and I unwrapped the blindfold that Mental Health had blinded me with. I was no different. Within days, I cared deeply about each one of these people. Seeing ages range from 11-17 with all different stories and reasonings as to why they got to where we all were, scared me. I made myself promise to stay for them. Every time I told my story or helped another person, was just another time that I remembered them and their stories. After leaving the mental hospital, I received little help from anyone. I struggled to catch up on missed work and had failing grades in almost every class. This stress compounded my efforts to stay mentally healthy, making recovery even more difficult. I was once a 4.0 student with high expectations for myself, and watching my academic performance decline was painful. It wasn't until I had a session with my therapist who asked me one question. What was my goal in life? What did I want to achieve and do? I wanted to prevent others from experiencing what I had gone through, especially adolescents and young adults. This became my mission and passion: to help people out of the situations their mental health puts them in and to show them that growth isn't linear. I would use my voice for those who couldn't. With my newfound understanding of my purpose, I knew I had to refocus. With only one week left before the end of the semester, I pushed myself to succeed. I studied relentlessly, worked through each assignment, and managed to raise my grades from an F average to mostly A's and B's, avoiding summer school and earning back my GPA. Mental health is crucial, and my experience solidified my desire to help others, particularly BIPOC women. My goal is to become an advocate not only for mental health but for mental health in BIPOC women, using my degree and personal experiences to provide support and resources. I plan to engage actively with my patients, listen to their needs, and collaborate on solutions. By building trust and understanding, I aim to become a reliable source of support for all who are suffering. Advocacy will be a critical component of my work. I will offer counseling and use my story to help others navigate personal and systemic challenges. On a broader scale, I will work with advocacy groups to push for policy changes addressing the root causes of inequality and discrimination. I now believe in my ability to achieve anything and want to help others learn the same. My dedication to empowering those with mental illnesses, highlighting BIPOC women, and contributing to social justice and equity drives my actions. Through my work and college life, I hope to create a society where those with similar situations as myself, can thrive and lead fulfilling lives.

I didn’t truly realize the beauty of life until I was 16. I don't know when, how, or where it all went wrong. I don't know when things went downhill or when my mental health started to deteriorate, but it did. 16 years old and admitted into a mental hospital for suicidal ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, severe anxiety/depression, and body dysmorphia. It feels relieving being able to finally type all of that out and accept it, but it wasn't easy. Seeing and hearing the lives of those who were admitted under similar circumstances, was incredibly daunting. All of these people had lives, people who loved and adored them and I unwrapped the blindfold that Mental Health had blinded me with. I was no different. Within days, I cared deeply about each one of these people. Seeing ages range from 11-17 with all different stories and reasonings as to why they got to where we all were, scared me. I made myself promise to stay for them. Every time I told my story or helped another person, was just another time that I remembered them and their stories. After leaving the mental hospital, I received little help from anyone. I struggled to catch up on missed work and had failing grades in almost every class. This stress compounded my efforts to stay mentally healthy, making recovery even more difficult. I was once a 4.0 student with high expectations for myself, and watching my academic performance decline was painful. It wasn't until I had a session with my therapist who asked me one question. What was my goal in life? What did I want to achieve and do? I wanted to prevent others from experiencing what I had gone through, especially adolescents and young adults. This became my mission and passion: to help people out of the situations their mental health puts them in and to show them that growth isn't linear. I would use my voice for those who couldn't. With my newfound understanding of my purpose, I knew I had to refocus. With only one week left before the end of the semester, I pushed myself to succeed. I studied relentlessly, worked through each assignment, and managed to raise my grades from an F average to mostly A's and B's, avoiding summer school and earning back my GPA. Mental health is crucial, and my experience solidified my desire to help others, particularly BIPOC women. My goal is to become an advocate not only for mental health but for mental health in BIPOC women, using my degree and personal experiences to provide support and resources. I plan to engage actively with my patients, listen to their needs, and collaborate on solutions. By building trust and understanding, I aim to become a reliable source of support for all who are suffering. Advocacy will be a critical component of my work. I will offer counseling and use my story to help others navigate personal and systemic challenges. On a broader scale, I will work with advocacy groups to push for policy changes addressing the root causes of inequality and discrimination. I now believe in my ability to achieve anything and want to help others learn the same. My dedication to empowering those with mental illnesses, highlighting BIPOC women, and contributing to social justice and equity drives my actions. Through my work, I hope to create a society where those with similar situations as myself, can thrive and lead fulfilling lives.

I didn’t truly realize the beauty of life until I was 16. I don't know when, how, or where it all went wrong. I don't know when things went downhill or when my mental health started to deteriorate, but it did. 16 years old and admitted into a mental hospital for suicidal ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, severe anxiety/depression, and body dysmorphia. It feels relieving being able to finally type all of that out and accept it, but it wasn't easy. After leaving the mental hospital, I received little help from anyone. I struggled to catch up on missed work and had failing grades in almost every class. The stress of schoolwork compounded my efforts to stay mentally healthy, making recovery even more difficult. It wasn't until I had a session with my therapist who asked me one question. What was my goal in life? What did I want to achieve and do? I wanted to prevent others from experiencing what I had gone through, especially adolescents and young adults. This became my mission and passion: to help people out of the situations their mental health puts them in and to show them that growth isn't linear. Mental health is crucial, and my experience solidified my desire to help others, particularly BIPOC women. My goal is to become an advocate not only for mental health but for mental health in BIPOC women, using my degree and personal experiences to provide support and resources. I plan to engage actively with my patients, listen to their needs, and collaborate on solutions. By building trust and understanding, I aim to become a reliable source of support for all who are suffering. Advocacy will be a critical component of my work. I will offer counseling and use my story to help others navigate personal and systemic challenges. On a broader scale, I will work with advocacy groups to push for policy changes addressing the root causes of inequality and discrimination. I now believe in my ability to achieve anything and want to help others learn the same. My dedication to empowering those with mental illnesses, highlighting BIPOC women, and contributing to social justice and equity drives my actions. Through my work, I hope to create a society where those with similar situations as myself, can thrive and lead fulfilling lives.

I didn’t truly realize the beauty of life until I was 16. I don't know when, how, or where it all went wrong. I don't know when things went downhill or when my mental health started to deteriorate, but it did. 16 years old and admitted into a mental hospital for suicidal ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, severe anxiety/depression, and body dysmorphia. It feels relieving being able to finally type all of that out and accept it, but it wasn't easy. Seeing and hearing the lives of those who were admitted under similar circumstances, was incredibly daunting. All of these people had lives, people who loved and adored them and I unwrapped the blindfold that Mental Health had blinded me with. I was no different. Within days, I cared deeply about each one of these people. Seeing ages range from 11-17 with all different stories and reasonings as to why they got to where we all were, scared me. I made myself promise to stay for them. Every time I told my story or helped another person, was just another time that I remembered them and their stories. After leaving the mental hospital, I received little help from anyone. I struggled to catch up on missed work and had failing grades in almost every class. This stress compounded my efforts to stay mentally healthy, making recovery even more difficult. I was once a 4.0 student with high expectations for myself, and watching my academic performance decline was painful. It wasn't until I had a session with my therapist who asked me one question. What was my goal in life? What did I want to achieve and do? I wanted to prevent others from experiencing what I had gone through, especially adolescents and young adults. This became my mission and passion: to help people out of the situations their mental health puts them in and to show them that growth isn't linear. I would use my voice for those who couldn't. With my newfound understanding of my purpose, I knew I had to refocus. With only one week left before the end of the semester, I pushed myself to succeed. I studied relentlessly, worked through each assignment, and managed to raise my grades from an F average to mostly A's and B's, avoiding summer school and earning back my GPA. Mental health is crucial, and my experience solidified my desire to help others, particularly BIPOC women. My goal is to become an advocate not only for mental health but for mental health in BIPOC women, using my degree and personal experiences to provide support and resources. I plan to engage actively with my patients, listen to their needs, and collaborate on solutions. By building trust and understanding, I aim to become a reliable source of support for all who are suffering. Advocacy will be a critical component of my work. I will offer counseling and use my story to help others navigate personal and systemic challenges. On a broader scale, I will work with advocacy groups to push for policy changes addressing the root causes of inequality and discrimination. I now believe in my ability to achieve anything and want to help others learn the same. My dedication to empowering those with mental illnesses, highlighting BIPOC women, and contributing to social justice and equity drives my actions. Through my work, I hope to create a society where those with similar situations as myself, can thrive and lead fulfilling lives.

I didn’t truly realize the beauty of life until I was 16. I don't know when, how, or where it all went wrong. I don't know when things went downhill or when my mental health started to deteriorate, but it did. 16 years old and admitted into a mental hospital for suicidal ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, severe anxiety/depression, and body dysmorphia. It feels relieving being able to finally type all of that out and accept it, but it wasn't easy. Seeing and hearing the lives of those who were admitted under similar circumstances, was incredibly daunting. All of these people had lives, people who loved and adored them and I unwrapped the blindfold that Mental Health had blinded me with. I was no different. Within days, I cared deeply about each one of these people. Seeing ages range from 11-17 with all different stories and reasonings as to why they got to where we all were, scared me. I made myself promise to stay for them. Every time I told my story or helped another person, was just another time that I remembered them and their stories. After leaving the mental hospital, I received little help from anyone. I struggled to catch up on missed work and had failing grades in almost every class. This stress compounded my efforts to stay mentally healthy, making recovery even more difficult. I was once a 4.0 student with high expectations for myself, and watching my academic performance decline was painful. It wasn't until I had a session with my therapist who asked me one question. What was my goal in life? What did I want to achieve and do? I wanted to prevent others from experiencing what I had gone through, especially adolescents and young adults. This became my mission and passion: to help people out of the situations their mental health puts them in and to show them that growth isn't linear. I would use my voice for those who couldn't. With my newfound understanding of my purpose, I knew I had to refocus. With only one week left before the end of the semester, I pushed myself to succeed. I studied relentlessly, worked through each assignment, and managed to raise my grades from an F average to mostly A's and B's, avoiding summer school and earning back my GPA. Mental health is crucial, and my experience solidified my desire to help others, particularly BIPOC women. My goal is to become an advocate not only for mental health but for mental health in BIPOC women, using my degree and personal experiences to provide support and resources. I plan to engage actively with my patients, listen to their needs, and collaborate on solutions. By building trust and understanding, I aim to become a reliable source of support for all who are suffering. Advocacy will be a critical component of my work. I will offer counseling and use my story to help others navigate personal and systemic challenges. On a broader scale, I will work with advocacy groups to push for policy changes addressing the root causes of inequality and discrimination. I now believe in my ability to achieve anything and want to help others learn the same. My dedication to empowering those with mental illnesses, highlighting BIPOC women, and contributing to social justice and equity drives my actions. Through my work and this scholarship, I hope to create a society where those with similar situations as myself, can thrive and lead fulfilling lives.

I didn’t truly realize the beauty of life until I was 16. I don't know when, how, or where it all went wrong. I don't know when things went downhill or when my mental health started to deteriorate, but it did. 16 years old and admitted into a mental hospital for suicidal ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, severe anxiety/depression, and body dysmorphia. It feels relieving being able to finally type all of that out and accept it, but it wasn't easy. Seeing and hearing the lives of those who were admitted under similar circumstances, was incredibly daunting. All of these people had lives, people who loved and adored them and I unwrapped the blindfold that Mental Health had blinded me with. I was no different. Within days, I cared deeply about each one of these people. Seeing ages range from 11-17 with all different stories and reasonings as to why they got to where we all were, scared me. I made myself promise to stay for them. Every time I told my story or helped another person, was just another time that I remembered them and their stories. After leaving the mental hospital, I received little help from anyone. I struggled to catch up on missed work and had failing grades in almost every class. This stress compounded my efforts to stay mentally healthy, making recovery even more difficult. I was once a 4.0 student with high expectations for myself, and watching my academic performance decline was painful. It wasn't until I had a session with my therapist who asked me one question. What was my goal in life? What did I want to achieve and do? I wanted to prevent others from experiencing what I had gone through, especially adolescents and young adults. This became my mission and passion: to help people out of the situations their mental health puts them in and to show them that growth isn't linear. I would use my voice for those who couldn't. With my newfound understanding of my purpose, I knew I had to refocus. With only one week left before the end of the semester, I pushed myself to succeed. I studied relentlessly, worked through each assignment, and managed to raise my grades from an F average to mostly A's and B's, avoiding summer school and earning back my GPA. Mental health is crucial, and my experience solidified my desire to help others, particularly BIPOC women. My goal is to become an advocate not only for mental health but for mental health in BIPOC women, using my degree and personal experiences to provide support and resources. I plan to engage actively with my patients, listen to their needs, and collaborate on solutions. By building trust and understanding, I aim to become a reliable source of support for all who are suffering. Advocacy will be a critical component of my work. I will offer counseling and use my story to help others navigate personal and systemic challenges. On a broader scale, I will work with advocacy groups to push for policy changes addressing the root causes of inequality and discrimination. I now believe in my ability to achieve anything and want to help others learn the same. My dedication to empowering those with mental illnesses, highlighting BIPOC women, and contributing to social justice and equity drives my actions. Through my work, I hope to create a society where those with similar situations as myself, can thrive and lead fulfilling lives.

I didn’t truly realize the beauty of life until I was 16. I don't know when, how, or where it all went wrong. I don't know when things went downhill or when my mental health started to deteriorate, but it did. 16 years old and admitted into a mental hospital for suicidal ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, severe anxiety/depression, and body dysmorphia. It feels relieving being able to finally type all of that out and accept it, but it wasn't easy. Seeing and hearing the lives of those who were admitted under similar circumstances, was incredibly daunting. All of these people had lives, people who loved and adored them and I unwrapped the blindfold that Mental Health had blinded me with. I was no different. Within days, I cared deeply about each one of these people. Seeing ages range from 11-17 with all different stories and reasonings as to why they got to where we all were, scared me. I made myself promise to stay for them. Every time I told my story or helped another person, was just another time that I remembered them and their stories. After leaving the mental hospital, I received little help from anyone. I struggled to catch up on missed work and had failing grades in almost every class. This stress compounded my efforts to stay mentally healthy, making recovery even more difficult. I was once a 4.0 student with high expectations for myself, and watching my academic performance decline was painful. It wasn't until I had a session with my therapist who asked me one question. What was my goal in life? What did I want to achieve and do? I wanted to prevent others from experiencing what I had gone through, especially adolescents and young adults. This became my mission and passion: to help people out of the situations their mental health puts them in and to show them that growth isn't linear. I would use my voice for those who couldn't. With my newfound understanding of my purpose, I knew I had to refocus. With only one week left before the end of the semester, I pushed myself to succeed. I studied relentlessly, worked through each assignment, and managed to raise my grades from an F average to mostly A's and B's, avoiding summer school and earning back my GPA. Mental health is crucial, and my experience solidified my desire to help others, particularly BIPOC women. My goal is to become an advocate not only for mental health but for mental health in BIPOC women, using my degree and personal experiences to provide support and resources. I plan to engage actively with my patients, listen to their needs, and collaborate on solutions. By building trust and understanding, I aim to become a reliable source of support for all who are suffering. Advocacy will be a critical component of my work. I will offer counseling and use my story to help others navigate personal and systemic challenges. On a broader scale, I will work with advocacy groups to push for policy changes addressing the root causes of inequality and discrimination. I now believe in my ability to achieve anything and want to help others learn the same. My dedication to empowering those with mental illnesses, highlighting BIPOC women, and contributing to social justice and equity drives my actions. Through my work, I hope to create a society where those with similar situations as myself, can thrive and lead fulfilling lives.

I didn’t truly realize the beauty of life until I was 16. I don't know when, how, or where it all went wrong. I don't know when things went downhill or when my mental health started to deteriorate, but it did. 16 years old and admitted into a mental hospital for suicidal ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, severe anxiety/depression, and body dysmorphia. It feels relieving being able to finally type all of that out and accept it, but getting there wasn't easy. After leaving the mental hospital, I received little help from teachers, administration, or peers. I struggled to catch up on missed work and had failing grades in almost every class. The stress of schoolwork compounded my efforts to stay mentally healthy, making recovery even more difficult. I was once a 4.0 student with high expectations for myself, and watching my academic performance decline was painful. I had anxiety attacks every morning, felt constantly overwhelmed, and struggled to get out of bed. The challenges of a breakup, my parents' divorce, racism, and misogyny, all while grieving the loss of a close friend to suicide, made it even harder to keep up with school and daily life. It wasn't until I had a session with my wonderful therapist who asked me one question. What was my goal in life? What did I want to achieve and do? I fought extremely hard internally for weeks over this question, and then it clicked. I wanted to prevent others from experiencing what I had gone through, especially adolescents and young adults. This became my mission and passion: to help people out of the situations their mental health puts them in and to show them that growth isn't linear. With my newfound understanding of my purpose, I knew I had to refocus. With only one week left before the end of the semester and a school system just waiting to see another black woman fail, I pushed myself to succeed. I studied relentlessly, worked through each assignment, and managed to raise my grades from an F average to mostly A's and B's, avoiding summer school and earning back my GPA. Mental health is crucial, and my experience solidified my desire to help others, particularly BIPOC women. We face unique challenges, including systemic racism and sexism, which severely impact our mental health and well-being. My goal is to become an advocate not only for mental health but for mental health in BIPOC women, using my degree and personal experiences to provide support and resources. I plan to engage actively with my patients, listen to their needs, and collaborate on solutions. By building trust and understanding, I aim to become a reliable source of support for all who are suffering. Advocacy will be a critical component of my work. I will offer counseling and use my story to help others navigate personal and systemic challenges. On a broader scale, I will work with advocacy groups to push for policy changes addressing the root causes of inequality and discrimination. I now believe in my ability to achieve anything and want to help others learn the same. My dedication to empowering those with mental illnesses, highlighting BIPOC women, and contributing to social justice and equity drives my actions. Through my work, I hope to create a society where teens with mental illnesses are uplifted and taken seriously, and advocate where we as Black women can thrive and lead fulfilling lives, free from the systemic barriers that have historically held us back and set us up for failure.

I didn’t truly realize the beauty of life until I was 16. I don't know when, how, or where it all went wrong. I don't know when things went downhill or when my mental health started to deteriorate, but it did. 16 years old and admitted into a mental hospital for suicidal ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, severe anxiety/depression, and body dysmorphia. It feels relieving being able to finally type all of that out and accept it, but it wasn't easy. Seeing and hearing the lives of those who were admitted under similar circumstances, was incredibly daunting. All of these people had lives, people who loved and adored them and I unwrapped the blindfold that Mental Health had blinded me with. I was no different. Within days, I cared deeply about each one of these people. Seeing ages range from 11-17 with all different stories and reasonings as to why they got to where we all were, scared me. I made myself promise to stay for them. Every time I told my story or helped another person, was just another time that I remembered them and their stories. It wasn't until I had a session with my therapist who asked me one question. What was my goal in life? What did I want to achieve and do? I wanted to prevent others from experiencing what I had gone through, especially adolescents and young adults. This became my mission and passion: to help people out of the situations their mental health puts them in and to show them that growth isn't linear. I would use my voice for those who couldn't. Mental health is crucial, and my experience solidified my desire to help others, particularly BIPOC women. My goal is to become an advocate not only for mental health but for mental health in BIPOC women, using my degree and personal experiences to provide support and resources. I plan to engage actively with my patients, listen to their needs, and collaborate on solutions. By building trust and understanding, I aim to become a reliable source of support for all who are suffering. Advocacy will be a critical component of my work. I will offer counseling and use my story to help others navigate personal and systemic challenges. On a broader scale, I will work with advocacy groups to push for policy changes addressing the root causes of inequality and discrimination. I now believe in my ability to achieve anything and want to help others learn the same. My dedication to empowering those with mental illnesses, highlighting BIPOC women, and contributing to social justice and equity drives my actions. Through my work, I hope to create a society where those with similar situations as myself, can thrive and lead fulfilling lives.

I didn’t truly realize the beauty of life until I was 16. I don't know when, how, or where it all went wrong. I don't know when things went downhill or when my mental health started to deteriorate, but it did. 16 years old and admitted into a mental hospital for suicidal ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, severe anxiety/depression, and body dysmorphia. It feels relieving being able to finally type all of that out and accept it, but getting there wasn't easy. After leaving the mental hospital, I received little help from teachers, administration, or peers. I struggled to catch up on missed work and had failing grades in almost every class. The stress of schoolwork compounded my efforts to stay mentally healthy, making recovery even more difficult. I was once a 4.0 student with high expectations for myself, and watching my academic performance decline was painful. I had anxiety attacks every morning, felt constantly overwhelmed, and struggled to get out of bed. The challenges of a breakup, my parents' divorce, racism, and misogyny, all while grieving the loss of a close friend to suicide, made it even harder to keep up with school and daily life. It wasn't until I had a session with my wonderful therapist who asked me one question. What was my goal in life? What did I want to achieve and do? I fought extremely hard iternally for weeks over this question, and then it clicked. I wanted to prevent others from experiencing what I had gone through, especially adolescents and young adults. This became my mission and passion: to help people out of the situations their mental health puts them in and to show them that growth isn't linear. With my new found understanding of my purpose, I knew I had to refocus. With only one week left before the end of the semester and a school system just waiting to see another black woman fail, I pushed myself to succeed. I studied relentlessly, worked through each assignment, and managed to raise my grades from an F average to mostly A's and B's, avoiding summer school and earning back my GPA. Mental health is crucial, and my experience solidified my desire to help others, particularly BIPOC women. We face unique challenges, including systemic racism and sexism, which severely impact our mental health and well-being. My goal is to become an advocate not only for mental health but for mental health in BIPOC women, using my degree and personal experiences to provide support and resources. I plan to engage actively with my patients, listen to their needs, and collaborate on solutions. By building trust and understanding, I aim to become a reliable source of support for all who are suffering. Advocacy will be a critical component of my work. I will offer counseling and use my story to help others navigate personal and systemic challenges. On a broader scale, I will work with advocacy groups to push for policy changes addressing the root causes of inequality and discrimination. I now believe in my ability to achieve anything and want to help others learn the same. My dedication to empowering those with mental illnesses, highlighting BIPOC women, and contributing to social justice and equity drives my actions. Through my work, I hope to create a society where teens with mental illnesses are uplifted and taken seriously, and advocate where we as Black women can thrive and lead fulfilling lives, free from the systemic barriers that have historically held us back and set us up for failure.

I didn’t truly realize the beauty of life until I was 16. I don't know when, how, or where it all went wrong. I don't know when things went downhill or when my mental health started to deteriorate, but it did. 16 years old and admitted into a mental hospital for suicidal ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, severe anxiety/depression, and body dysmorphia. It feels relieving being able to finally type all of that out and accept it, but getting there wasn't easy. After leaving the mental hospital, I received little help from teachers, administration, or peers. I struggled to catch up on missed work and had failing grades in almost every class. The stress of schoolwork compounded my efforts to stay mentally healthy, making recovery even more difficult. I was once a 4.0 student with high expectations for myself, and watching my academic performance decline was painful. I had anxiety attacks every morning, felt constantly overwhelmed, and struggled to get out of bed. The challenges of a breakup, my parents' divorce, racism, and misogyny, all while grieving the loss of a close friend to suicide, made it even harder to keep up with school and daily life. It wasn't until I had a session with my wonderful therapist who asked me one question. What was my goal in life? What did I want to achieve and do? I fought extremely hard iternally for weeks over this question, and then it clicked. I wanted to prevent others from experiencing what I had gone through, especially adolescents and young adults. This became my mission and passion: to help people out of the situations their mental health puts them in and to show them that growth isn't linear. With my new found understanding of my purpose, I knew I had to refocus. With only one week left before the end of the semester and a school system just waiting to see another black woman fail, I pushed myself to succeed. I studied relentlessly, worked through each assignment, and managed to raise my grades from an F average to mostly A's and B's, avoiding summer school and earning back my GPA. Mental health is crucial, and my experience solidified my desire to help others, particularly BIPOC women. We face unique challenges, including systemic racism and sexism, which severely impact our mental health and well-being. My goal is to become an advocate not only for mental health but for mental health in BIPOC women, using my degree and personal experiences to provide support and resources. I plan to engage actively with my patients, listen to their needs, and collaborate on solutions. By building trust and understanding, I aim to become a reliable source of support for all who are suffering. Advocacy will be a critical component of my work. I will offer counseling and use my story to help others navigate personal and systemic challenges. On a broader scale, I will work with advocacy groups to push for policy changes addressing the root causes of inequality and discrimination. I now believe in my ability to achieve anything and want to help others learn the same. My dedication to empowering those with mental illnesses, highlighting BIPOC women, and contributing to social justice and equity drives my actions. Through my work, I hope to create a society where teens with mental illnesses are uplifted and taken seriously, and advocate where we as Black women can thrive and lead fulfilling lives, free from the systemic barriers that have historically held us back and set us up for failure.

I didn’t truly realize the beauty of life until I was 16. I don't know when, how, or where it all went wrong. I don't know when things went downhill or when my mental health started to deteriorate, but it did. 16 years old and admitted into a mental hospital for suicidal ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, severe anxiety/depression, and body dysmorphia. It feels relieving being able to finally type all of that out and accept it, but getting there wasn't easy. After leaving the mental hospital, I received little help from teachers, administration, or peers. I struggled to catch up on missed work and had failing grades in almost every class. The stress of schoolwork compounded my efforts to stay mentally healthy, making recovery even more difficult. I was once a 4.0 student with high expectations for myself, and watching my academic performance decline was painful. I had anxiety attacks every morning, felt constantly overwhelmed, and struggled to get out of bed. The challenges of a breakup, my parents' divorce, racism, and misogyny, all while grieving the loss of a close friend to suicide, made it even harder to keep up with school and daily life. It wasn't until I had a session with my wonderful therapist who asked me one question. What was my goal in life? What did I want to achieve and do? I fought extremely hard iternally for weeks over this question, and then it clicked. I wanted to prevent others from experiencing what I had gone through, especially adolescents and young adults. This became my mission and passion: to help people out of the situations their mental health puts them in and to show them that growth isn't linear. With my new found understanding of my purpose, I knew I had to refocus. With only one week left before the end of the semester and a school system just waiting to see another black woman fail, I pushed myself to succeed. I studied relentlessly, worked through each assignment, and managed to raise my grades from an F average to mostly A's and B's, avoiding summer school and earning back my GPA. Mental health is crucial, and my experience solidified my desire to help others, particularly BIPOC women. We face unique challenges, including systemic racism and sexism, which severely impact our mental health and well-being. My goal is to become an advocate not only for mental health but for mental health in BIPOC women, using my degree and personal experiences to provide support and resources. I plan to engage actively with my patients, listen to their needs, and collaborate on solutions. By building trust and understanding, I aim to become a reliable source of support for all who are suffering. Advocacy will be a critical component of my work. I will offer counseling and use my story to help others navigate personal and systemic challenges. On a broader scale, I will work with advocacy groups to push for policy changes addressing the root causes of inequality and discrimination. I now believe in my ability to achieve anything and want to help others learn the same. My dedication to empowering those with mental illnesses, highlighting BIPOC women, and contributing to social justice and equity drives my actions. Through my work, I hope to create a society where teens with mental illnesses are uplifted and taken seriously, and advocate where we as Black women can thrive and lead fulfilling lives, free from the systemic barriers that have historically held us back and set us up for failure.

“It takes strength to forgive, but I don’t feel strong.” A lyric In Olivia Rodrigo’s song "the grudge," captures the complex emotions that come with forgiveness and the internal struggle many people face while dealing with the past. This lyric stuck out to me amongst every song in the album, particularly because I have often found myself in the role of a people pleaser, forgiving too easily. After years of this, I’ve come to realize that forgiveness is not always necessary for someone's healing process. Growing up, I was frequently told that forgiveness was a sign of strength. “Be the bigger person Aniah, just forgive.” This belief was ingrained in me to such an extent that I felt obligated to forgive those who wronged me, even when I wasn’t ready to. As a result, I recognized that instead of truly healing, I often forgave others just to keep the peace, avoid conflict, and to carry the expectations of being "the strong one." This lyric encapsulates this internal conflict perfectly. It acknowledges that while forgiveness is often portrayed as the option that holds the greatest strength, there are times when one simply doesn’t feel strong enough to extend it. This sits with the hard-earned realization that I don’t always have to be the one who forgives, especially when doing so would compromise my own well-being. There is a significant difference between forgiving because one is truly ready and forgiving out of a sense of obligation or to maintain strength. The journey towards understanding the true nature of forgiveness has been a difficult one. It has involved a great deal of learning, especially focusing on how to set boundaries, which many teenagers—myself included—struggle with. The societal expectation to "forgive and forget" often leads teens to allow others to walk all over them, believing that this is the path to emotional maturity and strength. However, i’ve learned that there is more power in recognizing and asserting one’s own boundaries. Learning that it’s okay to not forgive immediately—or ever, in some cases—has been a liberating growing point for me. It has helped me reclaim my sense of self and understand that my emotions are valid and deserve respect. Olivia Rodrigo’s music, particularly her ability to convey deep and often painful emotions through her lyrics, has had a major impact on me. It has provided a much-needed outlet for my own feelings, especially when words have been difficult for me to say. Songs like "the grudge" have given voice to my internal struggles and have been a source of comfort and validation. I have found a way to articulate emotions that I previously found hard to express through her music, For many teenagers, music becomes a crutch and a form of expression used for when words fail. Olivia Rodrigo’s candid exploration of themes like pain, betrayal, and the complexity of forgiveness speaks to a generation that often feels misunderstood and pressured to conform to unrealistic standards of emotional resilience. Her music not only captures the essence of our youth, but also challenges the conventional narratives around strength and forgiveness. In conclusion, “It takes strength to forgive but I don’t feel strong”, mirrors my own teenage experiences of grappling with forgiveness and self-acceptance. It sheds light to the importance of acknowledging and respecting one’s own emotional journey and boundaries. For many teens, including myself, this realization is a critical step towards genuine healing and self-empowerment. Rodrigo’s impact on my life has definitely made its mark, providing a voice to my struggles and a reminder that true strength lies in being patient and true to myself.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, otherwise known as ADHD, has had a significant impact on not only my life, but my schooling. I was diagnosed when I was 13, where I initially managed to cope with the symptoms and their impact on my life. However, in the past two years, my ADHD has become more prominent, presenting numerous challenges that have affected both my academic performance and personal life. One of the greatest struggles I face is staying organized. The chaos in my mind often translates into my physical reality, making it difficult to keep track of assignments, deadlines, and notes. This disorganization has a direct impact on my ability to complete school work efficiently. For instance, I often find myself procrastinating until the last minute. I can’t focus enough to complete a single assignment, so I brush it off until later, which results in stressful situations with a daunting countdown and stacked up work. My inability to focus in class worsens this issue, as I scramble my thoughts, missing crucial information and falling even further behind on my work. This cycle of disorganization and procrastination contributed to a noticeable decline in my grades, causing immense frustration and self-doubt. Additionally, living with ADHD also affects my social interactions. I struggle to maintain a smooth and steady flow in conversations, which causes me to frequently jump from one topic to another or unintentionally interrupt others. This tendency can make it challenging to form and maintain meaningful connections, which plays into my anxiety of being liked. Furthermore, I often find myself dissociating during conversations, which hinders effective communication and deepens my feelings of isolation. One of the most continuous aspects of my ADHD is the constant racing of my mind. It feels as though a million thoughts are ziplining through my head, making it impossible to focus on one task at a time. This mental chaos not only affects my schoolwork, but also plays a significant role in my insomnia. The inability to quiet my mind is already hard enough, but it also leads to restless nights and exhaustion during the day, hindering my academic performance and my overall well-being. Despite these challenges, I have learned to persevere and develop strategies to manage my ADHD. The turning point came during my junior year when I was failing all of my classes due to my lack of motivation and focus. Realizing the need for change, I got help from my teachers, family, and therapists. With their support, I implemented several strategies that transformed my approach to school and life. Through determination and the support of those around me, I transformed my academic performance. By the end of my junior year, with only a week left, I had achieved mostly A’s and B’s, a testament to my resilience and hard work. This journey taught me the importance of seeking help, adopting effective strategies, and maintaining a positive mindset in the face of adversity. In conclusion, ADHD has undeniably impacted my education, my teachers can attest to that. However, by developing coping mechanisms and seeking support, I have been able to overcome these obstacles and achieve academic success. This experience has not only shaped my educational journey but also instilled in me a sense of determination that will continue to guide me in all aspects of my life. ADHD is something I may have to live with, but it’s also something that has taught me so much. I will continue working at trying to tackle my day to day life even with everything going on in my head. I have learned to continue to power through.

As an African American teenager living in America, women's rights and Black rights are my most highlighted issues that I advocate for. Historically, Black women have often been at the forefront of social justice movements, yet we are many times tossed aside due to our race and gender. This duality resonates with me on a personal level, as I navigate the challenges and biases present in the United States. Understanding this difficult reality, I am committed to advocating for both women's rights and Black rights, recognizing that progress in one area cannot be truly achieved without addressing the other. The murder of George Floyd was a pivotal moment in my life, leading me to engage and learn more deeply about issues of racial injustice. Given that I was still young and pretty uneducated due to living in a predominantly white town, I knew that my knowledge needed to stretch farther. This moment kick-started my commitment to racial justice, which inspired me to educate not only myself but others. Similarly, the fight for women's rights is something I have been true to for quite some time. Growing up, I've witnessed and experienced misogyny that affects both women and girls, particularly within the Black community. Issues such as gender-based violence, pay inequality, and limited access to reproductive health services, hugely impact women of color. My own experiences with mental health challenges, including body dysmorphia, have made me more aware of how societal pressures and unrealistic standards of beauty can damage the self-esteem and mental well-being of young girls. Being a young Black woman, I understand the importance of intersectionality in activism. This term encapsulates how various forms of discrimination—such as racism, and sexism—intersect and compound the challenges faced by individuals. For me, advocating for Black rights inherently includes fighting for the rights of Black women, who often face the brunt of these oppressions. My dedication to improving mental health awareness and support, particularly for adolescents and young adults, is another critical aspect of my advocacy. Mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and eating disorders, are often stigmatized within the Black community. My own journey, which included me being admitted to a mental hospital at 16, has shown me the urgent need for accessible mental health resources. I strive to break the silence surrounding mental health, encouraging open conversations and support for those who are struggling. In conclusion, my identity as an African American teenager deeply shapes my commitment to both women's rights and Black rights. These issues are deeply interconnected, and addressing one without the other would be incomplete. Through my activism, I aim to honor the legacy of those who have fought before me, while striving to create a more just future for all. By raising awareness, and supporting mental health, I hope to contribute to a world where everyone, regardless of their race or gender, can be successful and be treated with dignity and respect.

My family and I watched the movie "Blindspotting" in 2020, shortly after the murder of George Floyd. Tears were running down our faces as we sat on our living room couch together. We realized the impacts the movie had as it echoed through us, capturing the raw, painful truths of racial injustice that have been a part of our lives for generations. "Blindspotting," is a movie that was directed by Carlos López Estrada that addresses police brutality, gentrification, and systemic racism mostly through the character Collin -an African American man. The movie's depiction of these issues struck something deep within me. Watching it during such an emotional time when the world erupted with BLM protests triggered by the senseless murder of George Floyd, made the experience even more intense and transformative. As a black teenager living in America, the themes in this movie were not just solely cinematic portrayals; they were reflective of my daily life. The movie's exploration of identity and survival in a racially divided society aligned deeply with my own experiences. Growing up, I faced racism and the constant fear of being judged or mistreated because of my skin color while living and attending a predominantly white school. These feelings have only grown stronger since 2020, and the movie brought them to the surface in a way that was both therapeutic and painful. The most impactful scene in the movie for me, is when one of the characters, Collin, is stopped by the police. The tension and fear in that moment are so striking and reflect the real-life anxiety that many black people feel when encountering law enforcement. This scene really hit home for me. I have an overwhelming fear of being pulled over, a fear that has shaped my behavior and decision-making. I am overly cautious in everything I do, refusing to engage in any risky behavior, especially when I am with my (white) friends. If caught, I know that in the eyes of others, I am more likely to be blamed, judged, or even harmed than they are. Like the friendship of Collin and Miles, being in interracial relationships have added another layer of complexity to my life. Platonic or romantic. My friends and boyfriend are white, and while our bonds are strong, they are not immune to the societal pressures and prejudices that come with our different racial backgrounds. Walking through life in my brown skin, I am painfully aware of the stares, the whispered judgments, and the racism that I encounter. "Blindspotting" captures this tension, portraying how deeply ingrained biases and systemic racism affect relationships and individual lives. Watching "Blindspotting" with my family was a deeply emotional experience. We sat in awe, not just because of the powerful storytelling, but because it mirrored our own pain and struggles. It was a moment of bonding and a collective acknowledgment of the challenges we face. “Blindspotting" has stayed with me every day since I first watched it. The film’s message of resilience and the necessary measures of confronting uncomfortable truths have inspired me to speak out against racism and to advocate for not only myself but for change. In conclusion, "Blindspotting" is more than just a movie to me; it’s a reflection of not only my life but the lives of so many black people in America. It captures my fear, my pain, and my hope that comes with living in a society that often devalues our existence. Watching this movie during the height of protests made it a notable moment in my life, one that continues to influence my world to this day.

Growing up with limited money and on and off again parents has shaped my perspective in many ways. 2023 was a big change in my life. My parents divorced, and my mom moved away, leaving me to navigate life primarily with my father. Now, being the only girl in the household, the transition brought its unique challenges. My father works at two jobs, which means that our time together was limited. While he always provides me unwavering love and support, the realities of his work schedule often meant that I had to navigate some aspects of life independently. Financial restrictions have always been present in my upbringing, shaping me to be more resourceful and value hard work. Witnessing my father's relentless dedication to our family has given me first hand understanding of perseverance. His sacrifices are made not only for our immediate well-being but also to lay a foundation for my future aspirations. My experiences have led me to commit to my journey towards positive change in my community and beyond. Part of this being, improving access to mental health resources, an area deeply personal to me due to my own challenges. Academically, I am focused on excelling despite the adversities, breaking stereotypes and participating in extracurricular activities that bring me joy. My goal is to not only overcome obstacles but also to break and advocate systemic barriers that alter progress for individuals from low-income households. I want to empower people to realize their potential and pursue their dreams, despite their circumstances. In conclusion, my journey has shaped my identity and aspirations in deep ways. I am determined to make a meaningful impact, driven by empathy and my firsthand understanding of adversity.

I didn’t truly realize the beauty of life until I was 16. I don't know when, how, or where it all went wrong. I don't know when things went downhill or when my mental health started to deteriorate, but it did. 16 years old and admitted into a mental hospital for suicidal thoughts, ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, severe anxiety/depression, and body dysmorphia. It feels relieving being able to finally type all of that out and accept it, but it wasn't easy. After leaving the hospital, I received little help from teachers, administration, or peers. I struggled to catch up on missed work and had failing grades in almost every class. The stress of schoolwork compounded my efforts to stay mentally healthy, making recovery even more difficult. I was once a 4.0 student with high expectations for myself, and watching my academic performance decline was painful. I had anxiety attacks every morning, felt constantly overwhelmed, and struggled to get out of bed. The challenges of a breakup, my parents' divorce, racism, misogyny, and the loss of a close friend to suicide made it even harder to keep up with school and daily life. It wasn't until I had a therapy session with my wonderful therapist who asked me one question. What was my goal in life? What did I want to achieve and do? I thought extremely hard for weeks about this question, and then it clicked. I wanted to prevent others from experiencing what I had gone through, especially adolescents and young adults. This became my mission and passion: to help people out of the situations their mental health puts them in and to show them that growth isn't linear. With this newfound purpose, I knew I needed to refocus. Despite having only one week left before the end of the semester and a school system just waiting to see another black woman fail, I dedicated myself to improving my grades. I studied relentlessly, worked through each assignment, and managed to raise my grades from an F average to mostly A's and B's, avoiding summer school and earning back my GPA. Mental health is crucial, and my experience solidified my desire to help others, particularly BIPOC women. We face unique challenges, including systemic racism and sexism, which severely impacts our mental health and well-being. My goal is to become an advocate not only for mental health, but for mental health in BIPOC women, using my degree and personal experiences to provide support and resources. I plan to engage actively with my patients, listen to their needs, and collaborate on solutions. By building trust and understanding, I aim to become a reliable source of support for BIPOC women. Advocacy will be a critical component of my work. I will offer counseling and use my story to help others navigate personal and systemic challenges. On a broader scale, I will work with advocacy groups to push for policy changes addressing the root causes of inequality and discrimination. Continuous learning and self-reflection are essential to my approach. I am committed to ongoing education about the issues affecting BIPOC communities. By staying informed and reflective. I now believe in my ability to achieve anything and want to help others learn the same. My dedication to empowering those with mental illnesses, highlighting BIPOC women and contributing to social justice and equity drives my actions. Through my work, I hope to create a society where we as Black women can thrive and lead fulfilling lives, free from the systemic barriers that have historically held us back and set us up for failure.

I don't know when, how, or where it all went wrong. I don't know when things went downhill or when my mental health started to deteriorate, but it did. 16 years old and admitted into a mental hospital for suicidal thoughts, ideation, self-harm, an eating disorder, severe anxiety/depression, and body dysmorphia. It feels relieving being able to finally type all of that out and accept it, but it wasn't easy. Coming out of the mental hospital, I had barely any help from teachers, administration or my peers. In every class, I was struggling to catch up from the weeks that I was gone and the missing assignments piled up. I had F's in almost every single class, and it felt almost completely worth it to keep going. I was already trying so hard to not get back into the dark place that I had been stuck in, and adding on constant schoolwork stress felt unfair. It felt useless and I felt powerless. I was once a 4.0 student. I had high expectations for myself and watching it all slip away was honestly the most painful thing in my recovery. I couldn't make it out of bed in the morning. I feared learning new things and getting ready for new assignments when I still struggled to complete a missing one from months prior. I had anxiety attacks every morning. My breathing felt nonexistent, and my hands shook. I had a constant migraine for months and couldn't even drive myself to school let alone focus. I was going through a breakup, my parent's divorce, racism, misogyny, and the loss of a close friend due to suicide. Yet I was still expected to go to an 8-hour school day and then come home after theatre rehearsal and do more homework. I laughed at this lifestyle I had. Feeling stuck, never being able to catch up, never going back to the student or person I was. Everything felt so useless and I admitted defeat and gave up. It wasn't until I had a therapy session with my wonderful therapist who asked me one question. What was my goal in life? What did I want to achieve and do? I thought extremely hard for weeks about this question, and then it clicked. I wanted to prevent others from going through what I had just experienced. Especially teenagers-young adults. My mission, my passion, the missing piece in my life, I figured out. I want to help people out of situations that their mental health puts them in. I want to allow them to grow and know that growth isn't linear. That it's not as easy as people say. I knew from this that if I wanted to complete my goal if I wanted to help others and change the mental health world; I would need to lock back in and focus. By this time, I had one week left before the last day of school. One week left to change a whole semester of bad grades and missing assignements. I studied every single day. Throughout lunch, at home, at friends houses. I worked through each assignment while plowing through the roughness of mental health. I worked down to the T untl the last day came. It striked midnight and I stepped back from my laptop. I did it. I went from a F average to mostly A's and B's. I avoided summer school and earned back my GPA. I know I can do anything now. And I want to help others learn the same.