@a_isfor_ariana

"Books can expand your knowledge and make you smarter", is something my father used to tell me all the time. Throughout my childhood and even now, books have been my number one source of education. Authors such as J.K. Rowling, R.J. Palacio, and Jane Austen have taught me to face my fears, don't judge a book by its cover, and learn from my mistakes. J.K. Rowling is the best-selling author of the Harry Potter series, which includes seven novels. The main character, Harry Potter, makes readers realize that, however scary it may seem, sometimes we have to face our fears to get what we want. Poor Ron had to ‘follow the spiders’ to find the cure for Hermione after her run-in with the Basilisk, and Harry had to deal with his terror of Dementors. Sometimes the only route is the hardest way, and it's in these moments that we discover our true selves. In the novel "Wonder", by R.J. Palacio, the readers are introduced to a little boy named August. Many of the characters we meet in Wonder quickly judge Auggie based on his appearance; as a result, they're frequently cruel to him or avoid him because they've already formed an opinion about him. It's not very respectful or kind. We should never pass judgment on somebody without first getting to know them. This is why you should never judge a book by its cover. The historical eighteenth-century writer Jane Austen has been known for her literary genius. Austen's work is distinguished by its humor, self-awareness, and realistic, comprehensive depictions of characters and their relationships. In her 1813 novel Pride and Prejudice, the readers "see" how we learn from our mistakes. We must sometimes go through heartbreak and humiliation before we learn our lesson. For example, Elizabeth almost loses Darcy because her feelings have been hurt. Books are something that has been heavily influenced throughout my childhood. J.K. Rowling, R.J. Palacio, and Jane Austen, among others, have taught me to face my fears, not to judge a book by its cover, and to learn from my mistakes. These lessons are helping me pursue my goals for my career. I need to face my fears of putting my voice out there so I can get the best position out there. I need to not judge my patients by their first impressions because I will not know what they are going through before talking to them. Lastly, I need to learn from my mistakes because I may not make someone feel comfortable in my first session, and I need to know how to help my other patients in the future.

Being a Hufflepuff means being loyal, patient, and hardworking. These are qualities that are often overlooked in a world that values intelligence and deception above all else. But in the world of Harry Potter, Hufflepuff House is a place where these qualities are celebrated and revered. Hufflepuffs are known for their unwavering loyalty to their friends and family. They are the kind of people who will stand by you no matter what, and who will always have your back. They are also incredibly patient, which makes them great listeners and confidants. Hufflepuffs are the kind of people who will sit with you for hours and listen to your problems without judgment or interruption. I find myself in each of these characteristics. But perhaps the most defining quality of a Hufflepuff is their work ethic. Hufflepuffs are some of the hardest working people you will ever meet. They are not afraid to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty, and they will work tirelessly to achieve their goals. This makes them incredibly reliable and trustworthy, and it's why they are often the backbone of any organization or group. For example, when I got assigned a project for school I work on it restlessly and try to give my all so I can be satisfied with my results. I am often recognized for my hard work. For example, this last semester in my algebra two class I didn’t have to take the final because of all my hard work. I felt so accomplished and happy that all my studying paid off. Being a Hufflepuff is not always easy. In a world that values intelligence and power above all else, it can be hard to stand out as someone who values loyalty, patience, and hard work. But Hufflepuffs know that these qualities are just as important as any other, and they wear them proudly. I always try to do anything with a smile and a positive attitude. For example, at work whenever a customer is being a little difficult I do anything in my power to make them satisfied and If I can’t I still have a good attitude and ask for help. In the end, being a Hufflepuff is about being true to yourself and your values. It's about staying true to your friends and family, and working hard to achieve your goals. It's about being patient and kind, even when the world around you is chaotic and unpredictable. And most of all, it's about embracing your unique qualities and using them to make the world a better place.

Have you ever lost someone from suicide? How you ever wondered how you could have prevented such a loss? In this essay I can to express my desire to become involved in the counseling field of study and how it correlates to mental health. I had a dear friend names Tabitha that decided to end her life during the summer before eighth grade year. I was so heart broken. I didn’t know what to do. I was beating myself up because I thought that maybe I could have prevented it. I would tell myself everyday, “you could have helped her” or “you could have stopped this.” I being this up because during this time, I didn’t really know what mental health was. It wasn’t really talked about and that is why I didn’t know how to comfort my friends when they were feeling sad or even how to comfort myself. I had no clue that someone could feel so lost and stuck in life that they would go to such measures. This event lead me to learn more about mental health and how it impacts your behaviors and lifestyle. I have also learned amazing things from my psychology teacher. I have learned that doing something such as self care or working out can relieve anxiety and get rid of stress. Mental health was not really talked about even back then. They used to put mentally Ill people in prison with criminals because they thought they were bad and evil. Dorthea Dix was the only person who stood up for these people. She is such a role model in the mental health and psychology field. I aspire to be like her. I want to be a voice for the mentally ill. I want to make people happy. I want to pursue a degree in psychology so I can become a therapist. I want to be someone’s shoulder to cry on, someone to vent to, someone to laugh with, or someone to just hang out with. I want to be someone’s comfort. Therapy is such a good way to help with your mental health. I just hate the bad stigma around it. People in our society are so scared and embarrassed to admit they go to therapy because they don’t want to feel judged and discriminated against. I want to break that stigma. Your mental health is so important because it can affect the way you interact with others, yourself, and your lifestyle. It is important to reach out when you need help. Never feel embarrassed. Remember it is okay to not be okay.

The loss of a family member can affect someone in many different ways. I for one know how it feels because I have lost multiple in my life. I have lost my friend Tabita, my great-grandpa, my cousin, and my great-grandma. These losses affected my mental health tremendously. When you are first dealing with the experience of losing someone, you don't want to do anything. You feel like you were responsible even though it was something out of your control. I always feel more guilty because I didn't get to say my last goodbyes. The thing is though, you never expect them to leave. These losses have made me fight for a happy and successful life. I realize that life is very fast and you can leave at any moment. I want to pursue higher education and just live life. When I pass I want to look at my life and feel a sense of fulfillment. I am currently fighting for my future by applying for scholarships, taking advanced placement classes, taking dual credit classes, joining a community service club, and doing good in school. I hope my family members and friends from up above are proud of me and my achievements. Overall, I am fighting for my future. As they say, tomorrow is not promised so I advise everyone to do something they love. Even if someone is not supporting your dreams, I will believe in and support you. As long as you want better for yourself, you will get it.

This was a tricky question. I mean, just one book. I have read a wonderful amount of books in my life that I think everyone should read. In all honesty, I think everyone should read the book "Wonder" by R.J. Palacio. This book is so amazing and brings awareness to feeling like an outcast or "weirdo". The first time I read this book was in 5th grade. I read the description and instantly wanted to learn more about august and his difficulties. I felt instantly connected to August because of the bullying and harassment he faced. I know having a facial deformity cannot compare to my insecurities but, it still hurt when people pointed them out or even judged me on them. I have always been on the thinner side because of my genetic makeup but, my peers would laugh and say harsh remarks such as, "try eating a burger" or "you're a walking stick". This book made me realize that you will find people that will love you for you. Another reason people should read this book is because of the different points of view. I liked knowing what Agustu's family thought about it. Despite his facial deformity, August was not the only one facing problems. His sister goes through many issues herself such as, losing touch with her best friend and having no one else to talk to. This book also made me realize you never know what someone is going through. Everyone, in their lifetime, should read the novel "Wonder" by R.J. Palacio. This book makes you realize that someone will love you for who you are and you never know what someone is truly going through. Kindness, even a simple act of it will turn someone's day or even life around. A small, simple, act of kindness can make a huge difference, and we can choose KIND.

My experience with mental health has changed my life in many ways. Mental health is a big topic that isn't talked about enough. Mental health has influenced my beliefs, relationships, and career, and aspirations. Mental health affects how we communicate, act, or it even affects our personality. Mental health is a very important topic for me because sometimes people misinterpret it as a bad thing. Mental health has influenced my beliefs. I used to think mental health or mental illnesses made people crazy or distraught. I know, know that mental health does affect the brain, but, it doesn't make someone crazy. When an individual says they go to therapy people automatically assume that person is deranged but the majority of people go to therapy so they can have someone to talk to, whether it be about school, family, or social issues. The mind is an interesting thing to study and we can learn a lot from it. Mental health has affected my relationships. I was very young when I experienced and learned what mental health can cause someone to do. One of my friends committed suicide and I didn't understand why. I know now that an individual , such as my friend, could want to commit suicide for family , school, or personal issues. In my friends case, it was bullying. I never knew she was being bullied because she held her head up high and she was someone I looked up to. Mental health has affected my career. My main goal after high school is to become a NICU nurse. Another goal that has come up recently is to minor in psychology. Psychology is a very cool topic and career; it can be used in many different ways and you can learn about human behaviors and mental illness from this topic. I have recently been thinking about minoring in psychology because I am currently in an advanced placement psychology class and this class has really opened my mind to the different occupations and life skills I could experience with psychology in my life. Mental health has influenced my aspirations. I used to struggle with self- esteem because I didn't fit society's standards. I understand now the importance of taking care of yourself mentally and physically. My aspirations for myself are to be more confident, take mental health, and to journal more, to spill out my thoughts instead of keeping them bottled up. Anyone can experience a moment or lifetime of a mental illness; they just need to learn how to cope with it and make themselves a better person from it. Mental health has opened my eyes in various ways. Mental illness has influenced my beliefs, relationships, career, and aspirations. Mental health was never really talked about in the past because it was frowned upon, but, in these new coming years, such as this ear of 2022, mental health is more openly talked about and it is seen as a thing to educate people and the youth on. My experience with mental health has bettered me as a person. I am more considerate about people's feelings and even my own.

My bucket list consists of places to travel, education, and even pursuing a positive mentality. One of my dream places to travel was Mexico and during the summer me and my family went to Mexico and it was an even better experience than i could have imagined. In mexico there are a ton of downtown shops with the most unique souvenirs and the food is on a whole other level. The food in mexico is full of amazing flavor and different variety of spices and chili. My family and i even got to experience the ocean water which , ws very salty and not the best to swim in but , it was still a fun experience. My mental state has been better these past years whether it be self love or a good body image. I had a heartbreaking experience during the summer of 2019. My dear friend was in a tough place which resulted in them taking their own life at a very young age. This experience opened me up into the world of mental health and why it is so important. i would often believe that i was never capable of doing anything good in my life but this year has taught me that i can do anything i want if i put my time and dedication into it. I have also learned to have a positive body image during my years of highschool. All Through elementary and middle school i was bullied for a numerous amount of things whether it be my height or my weight and i was never truly satisfied with myself. I would bottle up these motions and hide them from everyone i loved. This coming school year i have learned to accept myself for who i am and i am happy.