Domestic violence is often treated as a taboo subject or even joked about at times. Some people turn a blind eye and refuse to help victims, even saying they deserve it. However, it is an extremely serious issue that negatively changes lives. On July 5, 2025, at 9:30am, I lost my mother because of domestic violence at the hands of my father, who also took his own life. My worst nightmare came true. He had done something to her, and this time it was permanent there was no going back. My mom was moving on with her life and leaving him behind, but he could not accept that. She was finally happy and starting a new chapter for herself, me, and my siblings and it was all gone in the blink of an eye. During this time, I was extremely depressed; however, I didn't let that stop me. My mom always taught us that no matter what obstacle we face, we should persevere and keep going, so that’s exactly what I did. I continued to excel in my high school and dual enrollment classes. These efforts paid off, and I became the salutatorian of my class. I also got accepted into my dream university. These achievements are very meaningful because, instead of letting my situation consume me, I allowed it to shape me into a strong-minded person who works hard and takes risks because you never know what tomorrow might bring. My dream university is hours away from home, but I took that risk because some opportunities are once in a lifetime. While there, I plan to major in psychology. I want to pursue this for two reasons. First, the human mind has always fascinated me, especially why we feel and behave the way we do. Second, my father suffered from mental health issues. I want to help others who are suffering so they don’t harm themselves or those around them. Mental health has always been a very serious issue to me. Viewing this situation through a mental health lens has helped me find some peace with how things happened. After graduating from college, I plan to attend medical school to become a psychiatrist and eventually open my own practice. I believe serving your community is a very important thing to do. Furthermore, I want to serve as an example for other young girls who may be living through or experiencing domestic violence. Domestic violence doesn’t define who you are; there is hope at the end of the tunnel. Not only do I want to open my own practice, but I also want to start a nonprofit organization for domestic violence victims so they can receive the support my mom, my siblings, and I never had. Pursuing higher education will help me gain the resources and connections needed to make this happen.