Throughout my life, I have encountered numerous personal challenges that have profoundly influenced my character and aspirations. Growing up in a low-income household, my family faced significant financial hardships that were only exacerbated by a painful divorce. These difficulties weighed heavily on my family, especially on my older brother and me. Over time, we were both diagnosed with various mental health conditions. My brother, Blake, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and ADHD, while I was diagnosed with depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and panic disorder. Navigating these challenges without sufficient support made me acutely aware of the significant impact of mental health issues and the inadequacies of the available support systems—especially for low-income families who already face considerable struggles. Pursuing a college education has been an uphill battle for me, as I do not receive financial support from my family. Thankfully, my education has been made possible through consistent work, student loans, and financial aid, which have helped ease some of my financial burdens. During the summer, I work full-time, and during the fall and winter semesters at the university, I balance two part-time jobs alongside my coursework. As a federal Pell Grant recipient, due to my family’s low-income status, I receive some assistance, but it does not cover all my tuition or living expenses in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I have had to make significant sacrifices to pursue my education and have already accumulated a considerable amount of federal student loan debt as a rising senior at the University of Michigan. A pivotal event that has significantly shaped my education and career aspirations is my older brother’s incarceration. At 22, Blake was convicted and sentenced to a year in Ottawa County Jail in 2022. During his time in jail, he struggled due to the lack of adequate mental health support. The only resource provided to him was access to a pastor, which was challenging for him as a non-religious individual with pre-existing mental health conditions. Witnessing his ordeal and the lack of mental health resources available to him highlighted the urgent need for mental health support within the incarceration system. At the time of my brother’s sentencing, I was a freshman at the University of Michigan. While I had always been passionate about mental health, this experience motivated me to pursue a double major in Psychology and Sociology, with a sub-major in Law, Justice, and Social Change. My brother’s experience inspired me to delve deeper into the psychological and sociological aspects of the criminal justice system, fueling my commitment to justice reform and mental health advocacy. To address these challenges, I have actively participated in initiatives aligned with my academic pursuits and personal mission. One of the most formative experiences has been volunteering for the Girlstown Residential Foundation in Belleville, Michigan. The foundation provides therapeutic residential care for girls aged 10 to 18 who face emotional, behavioral, and familial challenges. My role involved tutoring, mentoring, goal setting, and building emotional intelligence and coping strategies. This hands-on experience demonstrated the transformative power of a supportive, inclusive, and equitable environment for vulnerable populations. It underscored the importance of addressing each individual’s unique background and needs, a principle central to promoting fairness and equity. My academic journey has been crucial in shaping my understanding of systemic injustices. Through my psychology courses, I have gained insights into human behavior, mental health, and the psychological impacts of trauma and marginalization. This knowledge is essential for understanding the individual factors that contribute to criminal behavior and the need for mental health support within the American justice system. Additionally, my sociology coursework has provided a broader understanding of how social systems, including the criminal justice system, perpetuate social inequalities. My sub-major in Law, Justice, and Social Change has allowed me to explore the intersections of law, policy, and social justice, equipping me with the tools to advocate for systemic changes that promote fairness and equality. My brother's incarceration and my subsequent academic and volunteer experiences have profoundly changed me. Watching my older brother, my role model, struggle with pre-existing mental illnesses while developing new ones due to the harsh conditions of our incarceration system was a defining moment for both me and my family. This experience has solidified my ultimate career goal: to work in prison reform, focusing on improving mental health care and resources for incarcerated individuals. I aim to advocate for policies that prioritize treatment and support over punitive measures as a correctional prison psychologist. My goal is to create initiatives that reduce recidivism and promote positive reintegration into society. These are people who are often forgotten about or deemed unable to change, yet at their core, these people are just people. All of us have the ability to grow, change, and contribute positively to our communities. Sometimes, they just need the right person to encourage them to believe in themselves and the futures they can have.

When I reflect on the journey that has brought me to this point in my educational pursuits, it’s clear that the support I’ve received has come from unexpected sources. Growing up, my family life was far from stable. When I was 12, my father had an affair, which led to his departure and left me living with my mother. Unfortunately, my mother struggled deeply with depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Her mental health challenges meant that she was often emotionally and physically unavailable, leaving me to navigate much of my adolescence on my own. By the time I turned 16 and got my driver’s license, I knew that if I wanted to achieve my goals, I had to take matters into my own hands. I immediately sought out a job and began working at a pizza and sub shop inside a gas station. This job was more than just a means to support myself financially—it became a place where I found the support and encouragement that was missing from my home life. I worked full-time at the gas station, both to earn enough money to support myself and because I genuinely enjoyed being around my coworkers. The long hours I spent there were not just about making ends meet—they were about being with people who truly cared about me. My coworkers provided the stability and sense of belonging that I desperately needed. Their kindness and encouragement made the shop feel like a second home, and I often chose to be there because it was where I felt valued and understood. My coworkers at the gas station became an unexpected source of strength and motivation. Although they joked about wanting me to stay and work with them forever, they genuinely cared about my future and encouraged me to pursue higher education. They knew I had bigger dreams, and they never let me forget that I was capable of achieving them. Their belief in me was unwavering, even when I doubted myself. In the absence of parental guidance, my coworkers stepped in, offering not only practical advice about life and work but also emotional support during difficult times. They listened when I needed to talk, offered wisdom when I felt lost, and celebrated my successes, no matter how small. Their support helped me stay focused on my goals, even when it would have been easier to give up. Today, as I work toward a career in juvenile correctional rehabilitation, I carry with me the lessons and encouragement I received from those I worked with at the gas station. They showed me that support can come from the most unexpected places and that it’s the belief of others that can help you believe in yourself. Their impact on my life is profound, and I am forever grateful for the role they played in helping me reach my educational goals.

Throughout my life, I have faced a multitude of personal hardships that have shaped my character and aspirations. Growing up, my already low-income family endured a painful divorce, which exasperated our already significant financial struggles. These challenges weighed heavily on all of us, but particularly on both my older brother and I. My brother and I were both later diagnosed with numerous illnesses and disorders. My brother, Blake, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and ADHD. I, Annissa, have been diagnosed with depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and panic disorder. Having to navigate these difficulties without adequate support exposed me to the profound impact of mental health issues and the inadequacies of our support systems – especially for low-income families who already have enough on their plates (or in a more literal sense, too little). Applying to and attending college has been a struggle for me, as I receive no financial support from my family. Fortunately, my education has been made possible due to consistently working, student loans, along with financial aid to alleviate a little bit of my stress and financial hardship. During the summer months, I work full-time, while during the university’s fall and winter semesters, I work 2 part-time jobs along with my courses. I am a federal Pell grant recipient due to my family’s low income status, however, this does not cover the entirety of my tuition nor my living expenses in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I have had to sacrifice a lot in order to pursue my education and I have already accumulated thousands in federal student loans as a current rising senior in my undergraduate career at the University of Michigan. A specific event that has profoundly impacted my life and shaped my current education along with future career aspirations is rooted in my older brother’s incarceration. Convicted at 22 and sentenced to a year in Ottawa County Jail in 2022, my brother faced a lack of adequate mental health support. The only resource provided to my brother, Blake, was a pastor. As a non-religious individual with his prior mental health issues, he struggled immensely during this period of his life. Witnessing his ordeal and transformation was a turning point for me, highlighting the dire need for mental health resources within the incarceration system. At the time of my brother’s sentencing, I was a freshman at the University of Michigan. I always had a passion for mental health and wellbeing, but this drove me to embark on a double major in Psychology and Sociology with a sub-major in Law, Justice, and Social Change. My brother’s experience drove me to delve deeper into the psychological and sociological aspects of the criminal justice system. It spurred my commitment to promoting justice reform and mental health advocacy. These life struggles have solidified my ultimate career aspiration: to work in prison reform, focusing on improving mental health and overall resources for incarcerated individuals. I aim to advocate for policies that prioritize mental treatment and support, rather than punitive measures and punishments, as a correctional prison psychologist. I hope to create initiatives that reduce recidivism and promote positive reintegration into society. My experiences have instilled in me a deep sense of purpose and a commitment to justice reform and mental health advocacy. I am determined to continue my ongoing education and make a lasting impact on the lives of incarcerated individuals and contribute to a more equitable and just society.

If I could have everyone in the world read just one book, it would be "The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness" by Michelle Alexander. This book provides a profound and eye-opening analysis of the American criminal justice system, highlighting how mass incarceration functions as a system of racial control and injustice in response to the Jim Crow laws of the American past. I believe its message is crucial for fostering global awareness and empathy. Alexander presents a meticulously researched narrative that exposes the deep depths of systemic racism, revealing how modern day policing policies and practices disproportionately affect African Americans and other minorities. This book opened my eyes to the reality of our control and that the promise of racial equality remains unfulfilled for many. It challenged me, and I believe would challenge other readers, to reconsider their initial assumptions about American justice and fairness. While we may no longer have such blatant segregation laws that are clearly discriminating against American minorities, it is important for people to look beneath the surface and see that these problems have not entirely gone away and are instead often still in place under the guise of legal justice. In a time when social justice movements are gaining momentum through our increasingly connected technological communities, "The New Jim Crow" equips people with the knowledge and perspective needed to support meaningful change. It's a book that fosters critical thinking and a commitment to true justice, making it an essential reading for everybody.

My ideal bookshelf would be adorned with titles such as the gripping "Playground" by Aron Beauregard, the chilling "The Perfect Child" by Lucinda Berry, and the emotionally powerful "It Ends With Us" by Colleen Hoover. These books have not only captivated my imagination but have also had a significant impact on the "BookTok" community, fostering discussions around crucial themes and encouraging a love for reading among diverse audiences. "Playground" by Aron Beauregard is a must-have for my bookshelf due to its intense and thought-provoking narrative. This book delves into the darker aspects of human nature and societal flaws, providing a raw and unflinching look at the consequences of unchecked behavior. It goes to show the lengths that many low-income families would go to in order to feel financially comfortable in our society - even at the risk of sacrificing safety as a whole. The gripping nature of "Playground" has encouraged readers to explore a genre outside of the typical comfort zone, thereby broadening their literary horizons. "The Perfect Child" by Lucinda Berry is another essential title on my ideal bookshelf. This psychological thriller explored familial bonds, trauma, and the complexities of adopting a child with a troubled past. Berry, the author, has a background as a psychologist that lends authenticity to the characters and their struggles. On #BookTok, "The Perfect Child" has spurred discussions about mental health, the challenges of parenthood, and the importance of empathy and understanding in relationships. "It Ends With Us" by Colleen Hoover is another well-known cornerstone of my bookshelf due to the important issues it addresses. While this book has been receiving many critiques of its writing and its message, and is in the process of being released as a movie starring Blake Lively, it has sparked a crucial conversation about domestic violence and the difficult choices that individuals must make to protect themselves and their loved ones. Hoover's emotional journey of the protagonist has both resonated deeply with and displeased many people of the #Booktok community, leading to a widespread discussion about the complexities of love, abuse, and self-worth. TikTok has become an invaluable platform for fostering widespread discussions about crucial topics that are often difficult to address elsewhere. Its unique blend of short-form content and a diverse, engaged user base allows for the access of complex ideas in a relatable manner. Through hashtags like #BookTok, users can explore important themes from poverty, abuse, and domestic violence with just a few taps from their fingers. These conversations empower individuals to share their experiences and insights, breaking down stigmas and encouraging open dialogue. Ultimately, TikTok's influence extends beyond entertainment, serving as a powerful tool for education, advocacy, and community-building in our increasingly connected world.