Hello, My name is Audrey Comer and I am affected by mental illness. I have noticed symptoms of mental illness in my life since I was in the 6th grade. Mental illness runs on both sides of my family. It's mostly on my mother's side. My father was a police officer. On the job, officers hold in a lot of emotions since they get in the way of the job. Growing up, I've felt the effects that mental illness has had on my parents. Unfortunately, It has had very negative side effects on me growing up. As time has gone on I am making progress. As I said in the first paragraph, I started feeling the effects of mental illness in 6th grade. But, I was not on medication until 9th grade. For 3 years, I was unmedicated. That time was a struggle for me. I struggled with self-harm and suicidal ideations. I have been struggling with self-harm ever since. Growing up I was taught that antidepressants were bad. It took a lot of convincing to even get me on an antidepressant. But, I have noticed a difference ever since and it has changed my life completely. I don't know where I would be if I never made that change. However, things changed for the worse in my sophomore year in high school. 2 days before my birthday, My parents decided to separate. I was struggling very hard and I stopped caring for myself, other people, and my grades. My self-harm started picking up and I was struggling to shower and take care of my teeth. One unfortunate night, I decided to attempt my life. I went to a home football game shortly after and played in the band. Fortunately, I did throw up the pills and I am still standing here today. Now, we are in my senior year of high school. I have decided to make changes in my life and started caring more for my mental health. Today I am happy and involved in many school activities. I'm even making more friends which is unheard of for me. I'm focusing more on my studies as well. I'm giving myself a second chance in life. I have never been more proud of myself. Though I have struggled, I'm not letting my past define who I am as a person today. I'm a fighter and I am not letting depression take control of my life anymore.

The dream version of my future self is performing in new york on broadway.

This text is extremely powerful. Gen X is very reckless with our world. We have issues with money, climate change, human rights, etc. They want us to “fix it” but we are only a prodigy of their world. They tell us to fix it but call us stupid. They want us to do more but call us lazy. They ask what we think but when they don't like what they hear they call us sensitive. They tell us to go to work but don't care to make our wages livable. We have been raised by Gen X, taught by gen x, and nurtured by Gen X. But yet they still want to put us down for things we have learned from them. Gen X only acknowledges us if we aren't poor. They want to get rid of free school lunches, complain about people needing food stamps, and constantly complain about people getting disability checks. According to aecf.org, 23% of Gen Z were living in poverty during 2010-2011. Some still live in poverty to this day. The torch is about to pass on who runs the world. Gen Z will receive the world in ruins. We will have to build it from the ground up. I dread when that day will come.