Hello, my name is Ashley Jimenez. My understanding of mental health and the way it has shaped my life. comes from the most painful experience I’ve ever lived through. In May, I lost my best friend to suicide. To the world, she was joyful, radiant, the kind of person who could make anyone feel seen just by smiling. But I knew the truth behind that smile. I saw the exhaustion in her eyes. I heard the pain in her voice when she told me how invisible she felt at home, how her accomplishments were never enough, how her siblings got all the praise while she was left reaching for affection that never came. She opened up to me because she knew I would listen. I became her safe space. And I tried to hold her together. I took her out to eat, we played games, met new people, and shared dreams about our future. We were going to open a hospital one day, a place where no one would ever feel like they had to hide their pain. And for a moment, I believed I could save her. I believed maybe love, support, and friendship would be enough. But on May 30th, that hope was shattered. She died by suicide, and the world hasn’t felt the same since. That moment changed everything how I think, how I love, what I believe in, and who I want to become. I used to think mental health was something you could fix with positivity or distraction. Now I know it’s deeper than that it’s about being seen, being valued, and feeling safe enough to be vulnerable. I now believe that one of the greatest things we can do for each other is listen not just hear, but truly listen with patience, without judgment, and with love. Losing her made me realize how many people are silently suffering. It’s made me hyper-aware of how often we overlook pain that doesn’t scream out loud. It’s taught me that mental health is not just a personal issue it’s a community issue, a family issue, a human issue. That realization has deeply impacted the way I show up in my relationships. I’ve become more present. I no longer wait for people to reach a breaking point I check in, I ask deeper questions, I sit with discomfort if that’s what someone needs. But perhaps the biggest way this experience has shaped me is through my career aspirations. The hospital we dreamed of? I’m still going to build it. Not brick by brick maybe, but through action by studying mental health, becoming a psychiatric nurse or therapist, and being a voice for those who are afraid to speak. I want to be someone who can sit with people in their darkest moments and not flinch. I want to give others what my friend didn’t receive enough of understanding, validation, and real help. Her life and her loss became my purpose. I carry her memory with me in everything I do. And though she’s no longer physically here, she continues to guide me. Her story is the reason I believe so strongly in the power of empathy, connection, and mental health care. I may not have been able to save her, but I will spend my life fighting to save others. This isn’t just something I went through. It’s something that transformed me and it’s the reason I will never stop pushing for a world where no one feels like their only option is to disappear.

Hello, my name is Ashley Jimenez. My experience with mental health has been deeply personal, especially after losing someone who meant everything to me. In May, I lost a close friend a person who lit up every room she walked into. She had the kind of presence that made people feel warm, welcomed, and seen. Everyone loved her for her kindness, her smile, and her energy. But I knew there was more behind that smile something she didn’t show most people. Behind the laughter and perfect grades, she was quietly suffering. She often opened up to me about her family how no matter how much she achieved, she never felt truly seen by her parents. They praised her siblings constantly, but for her, it was as if she was invisible. I could feel how much that hurt her, even though she tried to hide it. She once told me something that truly scared me something that made me realize she was losing hope. From that moment on, I did everything I could to help her hold on. I took her out, made her laugh, introduced her to new people, and tried to remind her of how much she was loved even if her parents couldn’t show it. For a while, it worked. She smiled more. She felt lighter. I thought maybe things were getting better. But on May 30th, I lost her. She took her life, and I was never the same after that. Her death changed the way I see everything. It broke something in me, but at the same time, it lit a fire. We had a dream together we wanted to open a hospital, a place where people like her could feel seen and supported. A place where mental health wasn’t brushed off or hidden behind smiles, but talked about openly and treated with care. Losing her made that dream even more real to me. I know she would want me to keep going, to turn all the pain into something meaningful. She believed in me, and even though she’s not here anymore, that belief stays with me. Since her passing, I’ve learned how invisible pain can be. I’ve learned how important it is to truly listen to people to see them beyond the surface. My relationships are deeper now. I don’t take things for granted. I try to show up for people the way I wish the world had shown up for her. I’ve also learned how strong I am, even when I don’t feel like it. I carry her memory with me every day, and through that, I’ve grown to understand how powerful love, grief, and healing can be. Mental health is no longer just an issue I care about it’s a mission. My friend’s story fuels my goals, drives my passion, and reminds me that behind every smile could be a silent struggle. I want to be the kind of person who sees that, who acknowledges it, and who does something about it. I owe her that and I owe it to every person like her who is still fighting battles the world can’t see.

Growing up in a household where money was always tight has taught me many things the value of hard work, the strength of perseverance, and the importance of dreaming big even when the odds feel stacked against you. I’m an 18-year-old with a strong academic drive and a deep passion for helping others, but my journey hasn’t always been easy. Financial struggles have shaped the way I live, learn, and plan for the future. These challenges haven’t broken me, but they’ve certainly made things more difficult, especially as I work toward my dream of attending college and building a meaningful career. Choosing which college to attend was one of the biggest decisions I’ve ever faced. While many of my peers based their choices on programs or campus life, I had to think about what my family could afford. After careful thought and research, I set my heart on UMass Lowell. It offers a strong academic foundation, particularly in the sciences, and it’s a place where I believe I can truly grow and succeed. I want to pursue a career in pharmaceutical science because I’ve always been fascinated by how medicine works and how it can be used to improve or even save lives. But more than that, I want to make healthcare more accessible to people who, like my own family, have often had to choose between getting help and paying the bills. One of my long-term goals is to open a hospital or clinic where healthcare is affordable or even free for those in need. I’ve seen firsthand how difficult it can be for people without insurance or money to get basic medical care. It breaks my heart to think about how many lives are lost or affected simply because people can’t afford treatment. That’s why I want to be part of the change to use my education in pharmaceutical science to bring affordable care and medication to underserved communities. Receiving the Khai Perry All Star Memorial Scholarship would be a life-changing opportunity. It would allow me to attend UMass Lowell without the overwhelming burden of financial stress. It would give me the chance to focus fully on my education and career goals, and take one step closer to making a real difference in the world. With your support, I can continue to chase my dreams and work toward a future where healthcare is not a luxury, but a basic human right. Thank you for considering me

For me, selflessness isn’t always about doing something huge it’s about the little moments when you put someone else first just because you care. I try to live that way every day, whether it’s helping out friends, family, or even people I barely know. I think selflessness is about listening, showing up, and doing what you can, even when no one asks you to. One moment that really sticks with me happened during my junior year of high school. A friend of mine had recently come out and was having a really hard time with their parents not accepting them. They felt totally alone and were starting to shut down emotionally. I noticed they stopped showing up to class and weren’t talking to anyone. Even though I was dealing with my own stuff at the time like school stress and my own family problems I made it a point to check on them every day. I’d text them in the morning, bring them their favorite snacks, and sometimes just sit with them in silence if that’s what they needed. Eventually, they opened up, and we had some really deep talks. They told me later that just having one person who didn’t give up on them made a huge difference. That meant everything to me. Another time was when a classmate I didn’t know very well fainted during lunch. Everyone was freaking out, but I rushed over and helped them sit up and called for a teacher. I stayed with them until help came, even though I didn’t know them personally. I think moments like that show what kind of person you are not when you're helping your best friend, but when you're helping someone just because it's the right thing to do. Even at home, I try to be selfless. My family doesn’t have a lot, so I help out by cooking, watching my younger siblings, cleaning, and making sure things are okay when my parents are working late. I don’t mind doing it I know we’re all trying our best, and if I can make things a little easier, I want to. To me, selflessness is just about love. It’s about caring even when no one’s watching. It’s about giving without expecting something back. And honestly, it just feels right. Helping others reminds me that we’re all connected, and sometimes the smallest act of kindness can mean the world to someone.

As an 18-year-old pansexual person, being part of the LGBTQ+ community has shaped so much of who I am. It’s taught me how important it is to love yourself, stand up for others, and speak out when something isn’t right. My identity has given me strength, but it’s also opened my eyes to the struggles a lot of us go through whether it’s bullying, discrimination, or just feeling like we don’t belong. That’s why I want to be someone who gives back to the community that’s helped me grow. In high school, I was involved in my school’s GSA (Gender and Sexuality Alliance), and I helped plan events during Pride Month to educate others and bring us together. I made it a point to be someone that others could come to for support, especially younger students who were still figuring themselves out. Even just having someone to talk to can make a huge difference, and I want to keep doing that kind of work in college and beyond. One of my biggest goals is to be a role model for other LGBTQ+ youth someone who proves you can be successful, confident, and proud of who you are. Academically, I’m planning to study pharmaceutical science in college because I’ve always been interested in medicine and how it helps people. My dream is to one day open my own hospital or clinic and find ways to make healthcare more affordable for people who really need it. I know that’s a big dream, but I truly believe that with hard work and passion, it’s possible. I especially want to help underserved communities, including LGBTQ+ people, who often face unique challenges when it comes to healthcare access and feeling safe in medical spaces. I want to be able to learn and understand the life of what we cannot see. Financially, college is a huge challenge for me and my family. We don’t have a lot, and I’ll likely have to work while going to school just to help cover basic costs like books, housing, and food. Getting a scholarship would mean more than just money it would be peace of mind. It would allow me to focus on school, take on leadership opportunities, and continue helping my community instead of constantly stressing about how I’m going to make ends meet. This scholarship would truly be life-changing and help me move one step closer to my dream of making healthcare better for everyone especially people like me.