Mental health and suicide prevention are extremely critical topics for my generation because the pressures we face academically, socially, and digitally can feel overwhelming. Growing up in a world where social media constantly compares us to others, where expectations for success are high, and where discussions about emotions are often minimized, many of us struggle in silence. For me, these challenges became deeply personal through my cousin, who battled severe depression and suicidal thoughts during high school. Watching someone I love endure such pain opened my eyes to the urgency of addressing mental health and supporting those in need. My own experiences with anxiety and stress have also shaped my understanding of mental health. There were times when I felt isolated, overwhelmed by school and life pressures, unsure of how to process my emotions or reach out for help. These experiences taught me the importance of self-awareness, coping strategies, and most importantly, speaking openly about mental health. Supporting my cousin through her struggles opened my eyes to these lessons. I learned the significance of listening without judgment, being present, and encouraging professional help, and I witnessed firsthand how compassion and understanding can make a real difference in someone’s life. Mental health and suicide prevention are way too normalized and overlooked. My cousin’s journey, along with my own struggles, has shown me that challenges with mental health can be transformative when met with understanding, education, and care. I am committed to carrying these lessons forward, using my voice, actions, and future career to make mental health a priority for my generation. I aspire to work with adolescents who don’t have access to proper mental health care, because I have seen firsthand how a lack of support can intensify feelings of isolation, anxiety, and hopelessness. I want to provide guidance, resources, and a safe space where young people can openly express their emotions without fear of judgment. My goal is to empower them with coping strategies, connect them to professional care, and advocate for systemic changes that ensure mental health services are equitable and accessible. By focusing on adolescents, I aim to intervene at a pivotal stage in their personal and social development—a time when they are forming their identities, values, and coping mechanisms. During this period, experiences can have a lasting impact, making early support crucial. My goal is to help young people cultivate resilience in the face of challenges, develop self-awareness that allows them to understand and manage their emotions, and build confidence in their abilities and decisions. By equipping them with these tools, I hope to foster not only immediate growth but also long-term well-being, empowering them to navigate future challenges successfully and shape meaningful, fulfilling lives.

I am a student at Eureka High School with a passion for being content, serving my community, and growing into the best version of myself. Throughout my time in school, I have been involved in golf and speech, two activities that have taught me discipline, patience, and resilience. Golf, in particular, has been more than a sport; it has shown me how to approach challenges I never expected to face, like physical, mental, and emotional—that make it both rewarding and frustrating. These lessons have shaped the woman I am today, and I carry them with me both on and off the course. Through speech, I have learned to use my voice effectively, to share ideas with confidence, and to advocate for causes I care about. Volunteering has also been central to who I am. I have spent time with organizations like the Red Cross, helping those in need, learning the importance of empathy, and understanding how my effort can create a meaningful change for someone in need. These experiences have shown me the power of service and have strengthened my desire to make a tangible impact on the lives of others. My experiences with reproductive health, alongside my family’s, are a vast medical list of struggles, including endometriosis, cyst ruptures, and uterine issues, which have profoundly shaped my perspective and ambitions. Watching loved ones navigate pain, uncertainty, and the challenges of limited support has inspired me to envision a charity dedicated to women’s reproductive health. The mission of this organization would be to expand research into these conditions while providing direct support to women in critical situations. I would serve women of all ages who face reproductive health challenges, offering access to resources, education, and medical care that can make a real difference in their lives. Volunteers would assist in gathering and distributing medical supplies, providing emotional support, and organizing educational workshops to raise awareness about reproductive health. By combining my experiences in school, sports, and volunteering with a personal commitment to women’s health, I hope to create a community of care, knowledge, and empowerment. My journey has taught me that challenges—whether on the golf course, in a speech competition, or in life—are opportunities to grow, support others, and leave a lasting impact. I am excited to carry these lessons forward as I continue my education and work toward a future where I can make a difference for women facing the struggles my family has known so personally. Fueled by my own experiences and a deep sense of purpose, I am determined to raise awareness, advance research, and provide tangible support for women navigating reproductive health challenges, working continuously to ensure they have the resources, care, and community they deserve.

In eighth grade, my golf coach, Mr. Troutt, surprisingly recruited me to play high school golf. I had never shown any real interest in the sport, and truthfully, I wasn’t sure I would even enjoy it. But his confidence in me and his gentle encouragement pushed me to step out of my comfort zone. That single decision ended up shaping not only my high school years but also the person I’ve become. Before joining the girls’ golf team, I had never even held a golf club, let alone swung a left-handed one—something some people jokingly call “playing backward.” The game required patience, focus, and precision, all qualities I hadn’t yet developed. Yet, with Mr. Troutt’s guidance and the support of my teammates, I learned quickly—not just how to play golf, but how to embrace growth, mistakes, and persistence. Whenever I got frustrated, slamming a shot or letting a bad mood take over, Coach Troutt would calmly ask, “Well, did you hit the ball?” Somehow, that simple question always lifted my spirits and reminded me to focus on what I can control. I cherished every season on the course, working hard to improve—even when my academic struggles made it difficult to focus elsewhere. Golf became a place where I could measure my progress in personal records and small victories rather than only scores. Over time, the game taught me more than technique; it taught me patience, humility, and the value of consistent effort. Today, I carry that lesson with me beyond the course. I’m learning to be patient with myself and with the process, whether in school, sports, or life. David Breslow, a world-renowned performance coach, once said, “The loss of patience can be the difference between scoring well and not scoring well.” That was certainly true in my early years of golf. Once I learned to calm my mind, focus on each swing with intention, and let go of frustration, everything changed. Golf became less about the score and more about enjoying every moment, every challenge, every success. As a female golfer, I’ve faced moments of doubt, of feeling underestimated, or navigating spaces where women’s voices in sports aren’t always amplified. There have been days when the pressure felt heavier than the swing itself, and times when my own expectations threatened to overwhelm me. But through it all, the values he instilled—staying patient when results weren’t immediate, appreciating every opportunity to play and improve, and sharing encouragement with others—helped me persevere.

My golf coach, William Troutt, is one of my heroes. A proud veteran and gifted history teacher, he is witty, talented, and an incredible speaker—and, growing up without a father, he became a father figure to me. But what I’ll always remember most isn’t just his skill or knowledge—it’s how he taught me to be content and to be a better person to others. His influence extends far beyond the classroom or the golf course; he has shaped the way I approach life. In eighth grade, Mr. Troutt suprisingly recruited me to play high school golf. I had never shown any real interest in the sport, and truthfully, I wasn’t sure I would even enjoy it. But his confidence in me and his gentle encouragement pushed me to step out of my comfort zone. That single decision ended up shaping not only my high school years but also the person I’ve become. Before joining the girls’ golf team, I had never even held a golf club, let alone swung a left-handed one—something some people jokingly call “playing backward.” The game required patience, focus, and precision, all qualities I hadn’t yet developed. Yet, with Mr. Troutt’s guidance and the support of my teammates, I learned quickly—not just how to play golf, but how to embrace growth, mistakes, and persistence. Whenever I got frustrated, slamming a shot or letting a bad mood take over, Coach Troutt would calmly ask, “Well, did you hit the ball?” Somehow, that simple question always lifted my spirits and reminded me to focus on what I can control. I cherished every season on the course, working hard to improve—even when academic struggles made it difficult to focus elsewhere. Golf became a place where I could measure my progress in personal records and small victories rather than only scores. Over time, the game taught me more than technique; it taught me patience, humility, and the value of consistent effort. Today, I carry that lesson with me beyond the course. I’m learning to be patient with myself and with the process, whether in school, sports, or life. David Breslow, a world-renowned performance coach, once said, “The loss of patience can be the difference between scoring well and not scoring well.” That was certainly true in my early years of golf. Once I learned to calm my mind, focus on each swing with intention, and let go of frustration, everything changed. Golf became less about the score and more about enjoying every moment, every challenge, every success. Mr. Troutt didn’t just teach me golf—he showed me how to approach life with patience, gratitude, and generosity. His lessons are woven into who I am today, and I hope to carry them with me for years to come, on and off the course.

I want to work in mental health because I think mental well-being is everything. It’s the foundation for being able to live, connect with people, and handle life without falling apart—but so often it’s ignored. Sigmund Freud once said, "Unexpressed emotions will never die. They are buried alive and will come forth later in uglier ways." People suffer quietly, and I want to be there for them in those moments when they feel the most alone. Mental health has been a part of my life in a very real way—my family has struggled with it, and I’ve seen firsthand how much it can affect someone’s life. It’s been hard to watch, but instead of pushing me away, it made me want to understand it more, to fight for awareness, and to support anyone who feels like nobody really gets them. I feel like I owe it not just to my family, but to my community, to try to make mental health something we can talk about openly, without shame. I try to live that every day. I encourage friends and people I know to get help when they need it, and I do my best to just listen—really listen—without judging. And I’ve been preparing for a future in this field by taking mental health–focused courses in high school. They’ve shown me how complicated mental illness is, and how important it is to approach it with patience, understanding, and care. I especially want to work with kids and teens. I feel like if someone gets support early, it can change the path of their life. So many young people deal with struggles they don’t even have words for yet—they feel lost, isolated, or ashamed. I want to be someone they can turn to, someone who makes them feel safe, understood, and not alone. I want to help them build tools to cope, to understand themselves, and to know that their mental health doesn’t define them—and that asking for help is brave, not weak. It’s extremely important to me to reduce the stigma around mental health, especially for children and young adults, and to help them grow confidence and a sense of self that isn’t weighed down by shame. I don’t just want to help individuals—I want to help families and communities, by addressing mental health struggles early, with compassion and real understanding. I want to make a difference in a way that matters.