Having been diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder nearly a decade ago, I am deeply familiar with the importance of living a balanced life. After being prescribed multiple medications that did not work, I was told that my depression was treatment-resistant and left to my own devices. I was in high school, and while this conversation with my psychiatrist initially made me feel hopeless, I decided that I would not let my diagnosis define my entire life. I found a new therapist, took up distance running and went vegan, all of which worked for some time. I graduated high school, started college, and grew so much as a person. I had a routine that made me feel full of life and joy. Unfortunately, the pandemic hit and life collectively stopped when we went into quarantine. All of the progress I had made crumbled- I was alone in my apartment with only my depression to keep me company. Eventually, after the seemingly universal pandemic weight gain and self-cut bangs, I realized that if I did it then, I could do it again: I knew how to get better. It took some time and a lot of effort, as all good things do. I started by focusing on eating nutritious, filling meals: homemade curry with seared tofu, bone broth soups with fresh vegetables, savory quinoa with ginger and turmeric. Eating these meals mindfully, I reflected on what I was grateful for and on my short and long-term goals. Knowing from experience that exercise has a huge impact on mental health, I began doing yoga in my apartment and started running in a nearby deserted parking lot, regularly logging 11-12 miles. These practices helped me survive the quarantine and the new online and asynchronous normal that ensued. Now, I make sure to follow my routine and frequently revisit what is and is not contributing to my growth. My partner and I take a new hiking trail and cook a new recipe once a month. I try my best to stay up to date on new health information, and recently began incorporating magnesium into my supplement routine (after reading a study which hypothesized that treatment-resistant depression could be alleviated with the addition of magnesium in the case of deficiency). I make sure to exercise frequently, taking walks and doing low-impact workouts when I need a pick-me-up. Though I will always struggle with my mental health, I find it is so useful to reflect on the progress I have already made and to be grateful for all of the lovely "things" that surround me: supportive friends that I can reach out to, a loving partner who helps me stay on track, a future career that I am so excited to pursue. College is a lot of work. Though I love what I study, I'm very often short on time, up much later than I'd like to be, and stressed about juggling so many responsibilities. Learning to manage my time more wisely and working hard to make enough time in my schedule to breathe, heal and relax has been vital to maintaining my mental, physical and emotional well-being. I will continue to learn and grow in every way that I can to become the best possible version of myself. Health is a process and I am proud of my journey so far.

I aim to make a tangible difference in the material reality of houseless folks in my community. My goal in this life is to ensure that every single human has a home to sleep in, food on the table, and the physical and emotional security necessary to make progress in their lives. When my time comes to leave this earth, I want to be able to truthfully say that I made a positive difference in the lives of the people around me.

Reflecting on my childhood is difficult. There were an incredible amount of very tall hurdles that I had to jump, seemingly one after another. After surviving the trials of my youngest years, I was adopted into a military family at age nine. My father was in the Navy and went on long deployments, leaving my sister, mother and I home for six to nine months at a time. I don't have many memories of my father until I was about sixteen years old. Throughout this time, between my adoption at nine to the development of a real relationship with my father at sixteen, I was quite troubled. My adoptive mother and I never quite ended up getting along, and my sister, who was adopted before me and isn't of blood relation, wasn't particularly friendly to me. I felt very alone. The saving grace of these years was my grandmother. She, like the bulk of my extended family, isn't actually related to my parents, but is a family friend who became a mentor to me. I struggled deeply with my identity, with behavioral issues, and with my mental heath and had very little support at home. My grandmother became the motherly figure that I needed during those years, teaching me everything my mother didn't. I spent my summers with her, learning how to cook delicious meals, do basic taxes and payroll, shop for groceries, keep a clean home, run a business. She instilled the image of a powerful, capable woman into me. My father eventually retired and I finally was able to form a relationship with him. He is a strong-willed man who lives to help others. He is a man of action and seeks to support our family in any way he can, often asking, "what do you need? Tell me how I can help." I love him, and appreciate everything he has done for me, even though it meant being away for more time than I can count. Together, my father and my grandmother serve as my guides in life. My father is my moral compass, he taught me by example to care for those around me and help through service. He often gives me his unworn clothing and donates funds to the non-profit I run to feed and clothe my local houseless community. My grandmother taught me to find power in my feminine identity, that I can devote myself to my family and still succeed as an entrepreneur or businesswoman. That not having the mother I needed while growing up does not mean I will repeat the cycle, instead I can work to overcome it. They both show me every day that I am more than capable of creating the life I want to live, and that progress begins with my actions. My mentors have given me the best gift of all: the confidence within myself to go forward in life with big dreams and the tools to bring them to fruition.

The light of the last decade of my life has undoubtedly been my dog Deli. All dogs are puppies, and Deli, who is now in her old age, is no exception. Despite having cancer that has spread to multiple areas in her body, she still has bursts of puppy fever and loves to chew through stuffed animals. She is a German Shepard mix and is golden in color with fluffy hair that sheds more than I thought was even possible. We adopted her from the pound a week before she was set to be put down, and I couldn't be more grateful: Deli is truly the most pure-hearted, love-filled dog on the planet. As a child, my father would leave on long deployments. My sister and I didn't get along then, and didn't have many friends as I was new to the area. I was adopted by my family about a year before we adopted Deli, which gave us a very special bond. Even though she was adopted as the family pup, everyone calls her mine. It wasn't unusual for my parents to find me asleep in her bed or under the dinner table where she liked to nap. We even have the same favorite passtime: suntanning. Deli and I have spent countless summer afternoons soaking up the sun together on the grass in the yard. Anyone who has a pup knows the lasting impact they have on you. Deli was my childhood best friend, she was practically my sister as I grew up. She taught me to be kind and patient- she has never once even tried to bite or snap at anyone, including the little chihuahua-beagle mix my human sister brought home one day, Moochi. That little guy liked to climb all over Deli, and she took it with poise and grace, letting him hide under her belly when was cold or scared. My father and I call Deli an angel spirit, and I whole-heartedly believe she is. She came into my life when I was a lonely, terrified child who had just been adopted, trying to adjust to a new life. She loved me more than I thought was possible, and I love her more than I could ever explain. Now, as she's slowed down some, and has grey hair on her face, she still looks up at me with beautiful, golden eyes that hold the love of a thousand mother's hearts. My adoptive mother and I never did quite end up getting along, and as much as it hurts me to reflect on my childhood, Deli is the shinning light that makes it seem rosy and okay. Life doesn't always go the way we hope and usually isn't fair, but I do know one thing: a dog like Deli will always make it better.

My best back-to-school tip is one I give often: Romanticize Your Life. Perhaps its because I am a Pisces or because I'm majoring in philosophy and Aesthetics and Value Theory really caught my attention, I truly believe that romanticizing your surroundings, circumstances, and your upcoming semester will help you succeed. That means reorganizing your room or study area, printing out inspiring pictures and pasting them on the wall, color-coding your materials to make your courses more aesthetically pleasing, and creating a routine that makes you excited to learn! Make a playlist that embodies the attitude you want to have this semester- classical music for that dark academia vibe, instrumental versions of your favorite songs so you feel like "that girl/boy/human"! Treat yourself to a cute snack while you study or invest in a lovely room spray to makes you and your space feel luxurious. Anything that helps YOU romanticize your day-to-day routine will surely help you succeed because you'll actually be happy doing the little things and putting in the work that gets you to the finish line!