My desire to understand, uplift, and help people heal has driven me toward a career in psychology. From fourth grade to eighth grade, I faced constant harassment and ridicule from my peers. I questioned if there was something wrong with me that warranted such bullying. I questioned why nobody believed in following the golden rule of treating others how you want to be treated. I would later question why my parents told me not to fight back, and why I would listen. But most importantly, I questioned why my bullies did what they did. This curiosity would lead me to question the general reasons why people do what they do. I believe that it is impossible for human beings to truly understand each other since we can only live through our own individual experiences. The closest we can get is through sympathy and empathy, but we can get even closer to understanding through psychology. I wanted to know more about the human brain and human behavior. In some ways, it is a way for me to cope and heal from my own trauma. But coping is not the primary driving force behind my decision. I strongly believe that the best way to resolve an issue, is to tackle it in its infancy during one's childhood before it can manifest into a bigger issue. As such, I seek to become a child psychologist specializing in the development and behavior of Black youth. Whilst conducting extensive research on the problems that plague Black children, such as access to mental health services, and potential solutions for these problems, I also plan to offer affordable therapy and counseling services, and education as well. It is my ultimate goal to destigmatize the negative beliefs surrounding mental health in the Black community, so that those who are suffering can have a safer and positive space to seek out help. I used to play chess with my father and enjoyed the strategic mindset that chess induces in me. Through chess, my patience and planning skills have severely increased. As of this moment, I have completed three years of college, and preparing for my fourth. I consistently lookup the steps that I will have to take in order to reach the end of my goal. I know that a master's program, residency, and more are in my future. However, I don't stress about the time or energy it will take. Similar to how protecting one's king whilst attempting to capture the opponent's king, I have zero issues when it comes to patiently pursuing my goals.

The day I found out I lost one of my best friends, back in junior year of high school, I declined my parents' offer to pick me up. Instead, I joined my friends in the library and we mourned together. Later that week I invited my closest friends over for us to hangout and try to take our minds off of what had happened. That day, that time period, was one of the single most impactful events of my life. During his funeral services, I made sure to speak at the mic and share our best and funniest memories. The laughter and smiles that those memories brought to my face and the faces of those mourning, helped relieve their pain. But even before that tragic moment of my life, I wished to be a child psychologist. I believe that the best way to resolve an issue before it can get worse, is during childhood. Furthermore, I wish to combat the negative stigma around mental health within Black and male-centered spaces. The over-spiritualization that people of African descent attribute to mental illnesses and the boys don't cry mentality are the two primary attitudes that I wish to combat and resolve. I want to take the comfort, support, and relief that I gave back then, and share it with others that may need it, regardless of how close I am with them. Everyone needs a helping hand and shoulder to cry on, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and any other part of their identity and existence.

I have struggled with my own mental health since middle school. The struggle started when I had a sudden, almost random epiphany regarding my family. I had remembered each of the things and behaviors that my sister, mother, and father had done to hurt me. My relationship with all of them has still been strained to this day. To make matters worse, I was bullied for a total of five years, starting in fourth grade and lasting all throughout middle school. It wasn't until my freshman year of high school, that some changes were made. But this was the result of intercession; one of my friends reported some rather depressing things I was saying, and I ended up having to talk to a counselor. My parents got involved and finally learned about what they had done. Surprisingly, there didn't react in the typical African/Black way that I was expecting. But it didn't matter. The damage was already done. My mental health would improve throughout high school for a short while, due to my faith in God. I didn't "pray away the demons of mental health," but rather complete a series of Bible plans that used specific passages to communicate a message regarding a certain theme. After completing them, I came to understand that my identity was in Christ, and not in my crises, which helped me to achieve a state of peace of mind. I would learn to let go of my grudges and forgive my bullies, realizing that they were immature and I simply matured much faster than them as a result of the bullying. It still hurts, but I try not to reminisce on those memories anymore. I have learned to choose my friends wisely, only bonding with people who I know will take my mental health seriously. If anyone gives me the typical response of reacting to a man talking about his mental health, which unfortunately includes weaponization, invalidation, and down-playment, I cut them off. Seeing how the world reacts to mental health, especially that of men and members of the African diaspora, plays a large factor in my decision to pursue a field of psychology. Initially, I wanted to study the brain because I believed that psychology was one of the few ways for humans to actually manage to understand each other. I also wanted to know the reasons behind certain actions, evident by how I would always ask my bullies why they came for me. Later, when I realized I enjoyed giving people the help that I never received, I knew that I wanted to become a psychologist. More specifically, I wanted to become a child psychologist because I strongly believe that tackling an issue during childhood is the best way to prevent it from becoming an even bigger issue later on. I also want to have a central focus toward Black and African youth. It is my mission to combat the boys don't cry mentality and generate safe spaces, resources, and dialogue for us to discuss the issues of our mental health and destigmatize the taboo nature of the topic; Both within male-centered and Black spaces. I have seen and experienced how our communities, societies, and the world treat and react to our mental health and it sickens me. So, I have chosen to dedicate my life towards improving such conditions. It is my hope, that another light will not be snuffed out due to suicide or losing a battle with their mental health.

My name is Benjamin Dadson. I am a Ghanaian-American who attends the illustrious Howard University, in pursuit of a degree in Psychology. Back when I was in middle school, I had an epiphany that would dictate the rest of my life. I had come to the realization that I enjoy helping people. Even though I was bullied all throughout middle school, I still took joy and found it fulfilling when I got the chance to help someone. As such, every Tuesday and Thursday that I am available, I engage in volunteer work at my local veteran post. It's simple work: I assist them with their bingo nights, collecting admission tickets and handing prize money to the winners. It's a rather calm environment that I enjoy being in, and I love that I get to be helpful. My interest in Psychology as a career field initially stemmed from a combination of being bullied, and my love for helping people. In regard to the former, I questioned why my bullies targeted me, and by extension, became curious about the human mind and discovering the purposes behind our actions. In regard to the latter, I viewed becoming a therapist or psychologist as a natural progression of my love for helping people. Furthermore, my pursuit of Psychology is also the result of fatherly advice. My dad had told me to find two jobs: One to pay the bills, and one that I am passionate about. For me, becoming a child psychologist satisfies both sets of criteria. I have strong faith that the best way to resolve an issue, is to tackle it during childhood before it can develop and get worse. Furthermore, I would aim for a focus on the Black youth. Children are the future and what happens to them during their development will contribute to who they become as a person. I can see that many of my brothers and sisters are troubled, having lost or never had proper guidance and education. Nonetheless, I know that we are still capable of great things and have faith in our potential. We can do the impossible and achieve the unachievable. We have proven this to be true time and time again. So, I want to destigmatize the negative perceptions about mental health that plague the youth, especially Black boys. I don't just want to help children with any potential issues, but teach them the value in caring for their mental health, and to view it with a positive lens. Boys, in general, need to learn that it is okay to cry. It is perfectly valid to express an emotion that all humans experience. "Boys don't cry," has done more harm than good, as it dehumanizes and restricts the emotions of boys. Joy, anger, and sadness are the three most common human emotions, with the last two having negative connotations. If sadness is restricted, it will more than likely use anger as an outlet to escape, and that rarely has positive consequences. Furthermore, I also want to become an author that creates stories that will inspire and entertain those who read it. I plan to incorporate the knowledge and training I will get from Psychology into my stories, as another form of education. Thus, the impact I plan to make on my community is related to education and mental health. I do believe that knowledge is power, and therefore education is a crucial tool. But above all else, I believe in taking care of every aspect of one's health, especially mental health. So, the legacy I build and pass on will be one of love.

At this moment, I have been volunteering at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1503 since 2021. Whenever I am available on Tuesdays & Thursdays, I assist them with their bingo nights. It's simple work that involves collecting the admission tickets of the participants before the game begins, calling out the sheet cards of possible winners, and handing them prize money. The environment is rather calm, and the people are fun, interesting, and kind, staff and participants included. As such, I enjoy all the time that I spend there and love being able to give back to the community of veterans. As a bonus, I also sometimes get the chance to hear interesting and wise phrases and stories. I strongly believe in the principle of reciprocity and giving back to my community. More specifically, if there is a way to uplift and support my people, then I plan to work towards it. My journey at Howard University is dedicated to this very purpose. I am in pursuit of a degree in Psychology, with the future aim of becoming a child psychologist dedicated to supporting Black youth. I want to combat the negative stigma that surrounds our community and boys when it comes to mental health. I also believe that the best way to prevent an issue from getting worse is to tackle it during childhood. So, after becoming a child psychologist I plan to not only conduct extensive research on the problems that plague my people and ponder potential solutions for them but also teach the youth. If knowledge is truly power, then I wish to ensure that my people are both wise and strong. I would use my degree to teach the youth about the importance of mental health, and ways that they can uphold their states of mental being. Despite what our people and elders may think, mental health is a real and valid aspect of our existence. It is not demonic, it shouldn't be considered "just white people stuff," and more than just prayer should be involved in the healing process. These are just a few of the stigmas surrounding Black mental health, but I strongly believe that if they were resolved then there would be a much higher measure of positive emotions and a decrease in suicides within my community. While I am in pursuit of a degree in Psychology, I am also pursuing a minor in English so that I can become an author. I want to create stories that entertain, inspire, and uplift people in the same manner that the stories I grew up on did for me. Furthermore, I know how powerful and impactful representation is, and my stories will represent as many people as humanly possible. Since members of the African diaspora are often misrepresented and underrepresented, I would have a strong focus on Black characters that break harmful stereotypes. Additionally, As a way of fusing both sets of goals, I plan to use what I learn from my journey in psychology and incorporate them into the books that I write. Doing so would grant an educational element to my stories, ensuring that they not only grant joy and representation but also help in my plan to be a teacher for my community. Even though the process will be long and undoubtedly exhausting, I know that the ends will justify the means and be worth every drop of tear and sweat. Thus, I will give back to my community through education, entertainment, and the most important one of all that is the driving force of my raison d'être: Service.

I have struggled with my own mental health since middle school. The struggle started when I had a sudden, almost random epiphany regarding my family. I had remembered each of the things and behaviors that my sister, mother, and father had done to hurt me. My relationship with all of them has still been strained to this day. To make matters worse, I was bullied for a total of five years, starting in fourth grade and lasting all throughout middle school. The best way I can put it is like this: People in elementary school insulted me for my existence. It was primarily girls, but they constantly made it known that they didn't like my presence. I could simply be walking by, even politely saying excuse me, and they would express disgust. Mind you, I wasn't a dirty, creepy, or misbehaved child. They just didn't like me. People in middle school however, particularly seemed to make fun of my existence. Nothing about my person was excluded from ridicule. But like a good boy, I listened to my parents and turned the other cheek and didn't stand up for myself. I believe it is worth noting that I do believe there is strength in walking away, but not in a world like this and a school system that would rather punish victims for retaliating, than their bullies for harassing them. For a time, I thought there was no point in trying to be happy, when that happiness would just be torn down again. To this day, if anyone who has ever negatively impacted my mental health tries to tell me to get therapy or try it, I get absolutely heated. In my mind, they are the last people that get to tell me that. "Why are you telling me to get therapy when you would be the main thing I talk about? Why do you say I should get help? So you can keep tearing me down?" were the thoughts that ran through my mind. And of course, I didn't talk to my family about my problems until later. In an African household, you just don't express those things. I believe that much is self-explanatory, and a real lived-experience for any person that is African or of African descent reading this. It wasn't until my freshman year of high school, that some changes were made. But this was the result of intercession; one of my friends reported some rather depressing things I was saying, and I ended up having to talk to a counselor. My parents got involved and finally learned about what they had done. Surprisingly, there didn't react in the typical African/Black way that I was expecting. But it didn't matter. The damage was already done. My mental health would improve throughout high school for a short while, due to my faith in God. I didn't "pray away the demons of mental health," but rather complete a series of Bible plans that used specific passages to communicate a message regarding a certain theme. After completing them, I came to understand that my identity was in Christ, and not in my crises, which helped me to achieve a state of peace of mind. I would learn to let go of my grudges and forgive my bullies, realizing that they were immature and I simply matured much faster than them as a result of the bullying. It still hurts, but I try not to reminisce on those memories anymore. I have learned to choose my friends wisely, only bonding with people who I know will take my mental health seriously. If anyone gives me the typical response of reacting to a man talking about his mental health, which unfortunately includes weaponization, invalidation, and down-playment, I cut them off. My mental health reached a critical breaking point during my junior year of high school. The year I lost one of my best friends to suicide. It's been about four years since then, and I can still remember the weeks surrounding his death. The last conversation we had, finding out he had passed, spending time mourning in the school library with friends, and his funeral and memorial services. While we could only speculate the reasons as to why he took his life, we knew that suicide meant he was suffering in silence. And I viewed his death as my greatest failure in being a friend. Seeing how the world reacts to mental health, especially that of men and members of the African diaspora, plays a large factor in my decision to pursue a field of psychology. Initially, I wanted to study the brain because I believed that psychology was one of the few ways for humans to actually manage to understand each other. I also wanted to know the reasons behind certain actions, evident by how I would always ask my bullies why they came for me. Later, when I realized I enjoyed giving people the help that I never recieved, I knew that I wanted to become a psychologist. More specifically, I wanted to become a child psychologist because I strongly believe that tackling an issue during childhood is the best way to prevent it from becoming an even bigger issue later on. I also want to have a central focus toward Black and African youth. I want to generate safe spaces, resources, and dialogue for us to discuss the issues of our mental health and destigmatize the taboo nature of the topic. I have seen and experienced how our communities, societies, and the world treat and react to our mental health and it sickens me. So, I have chosen to dedicate my life towards improving such conditions. It is my hope, that another light will not be snuffed out due to suicide or losing a battle with their mental health.

When I reflect on my life in the past 19-20 years, there have only been two out of three events that severely impacted me and my academic journey. The first "event" was the years of bullying I endured from elementary school to middle school. While the bullying and harassment primarily started in fourth grade, I remember feeling invalidated by my teachers since first grade. My first grade teacher always dismissed any child that was crying or in pain, as if she didn't want to deal with us. My second, fourth, and fifth grade teachers seemed to dislike me, and made it known. Only my third grade teacher was one that seemed to respect and care for me. The bullying that started in fourth grade by my peers was nonsensical to me. This group of girls didn't like my presence and existence whatsoever. Anytime I was placed next to them in a line or desk, anytime I passed by them with a polite "excuse me," any instance that required me to be near them, they expressed distaste and disgust. I never understood why, but once I got to middle school I put them behind me...and endured my next level of bullying for all three years of middle school. If the girls in elementary school didn't like my presence, then several people in middle school made sure to insult everything about my presence. Most if not every day, I was ridiculed. But wanting to adhere to my religious beliefs, parental teachings, and the guidelines of the school system, I didn't stand up for myself. It's a choice I've always regretted. But amidst the harassment, I found myself asking the same type of question: Why? Why me? Why are they doing it? Why are they like this? This curious line of thought is what inspired me to pursue a career in psychology. Studying the brains and behavior of people will lead me to an understanding of people. And with that understanding, I'd gain answers to the questions I asked as a child. The second event that impacted me was the loss of one of my best friends as a result of suicide. I can vividly remember the days following his death. It was undoubtedly the hardest and most painful experience of my life. None of my friends could figure out why he chose to end his life, but we did have each other’s backs. It was the last time I remember being united with a large group of faces, friends, and strangers alike. The trauma from that event led me to many different decisions, but the most prominent one was increasing my determination to become a psychologist; I could stop suicides before they happen, address issues before they become severe, and especially help support and improve the mental health of the African American community, most notably the health of my fellow brothers. As I enter my second semester as a sophomore at Howard University, I've become increasingly worried and stressed about my financial situation. My parents are also paying for my older sister's tuition, in addition to my own far more expensive cost of attendance. This scholarship would be a blessing that not only alleviates the burden and stress on my family, but also ensures I become who I am meant to be. Since Black psychologists are such a rarity, my impact on those around me would be doubled. A psychologist that uplifts, serves, and supports his friends, family, community, and fellow humans. It would ensure that I help to improve our world and help save it from its already fleeting state.

If I had to trace when my interest in space and the observable universe began, I'd proudly tell you it began when I was a humble four-year old boy, just beginning to get into the world of Star Wars. I found the concept and presence of spaceships, lightsabers, and light speed travel to be incredibly fascinating. This love for the unknown world would later expand in 2014, when I watched the first Guardians of the Galaxy film, which takes place in outer space and on various different planets. I recently just finished re-watching the popular trilogy, and I still highly recommend it to anyone who loves the science fiction genre. Although, whether or not these franchises can top the critically acclaimed masterpiece that is Christopher Nolan's Interstellar is a matter of opinion. My own love for the genre inspired me to start writing stories that contained elements of science fiction. In my brainstorming for these stories, I found myself diving more into the workings of our universe, in addition to a few theories and concepts. Later, during my first semester as a Sophomore at Howard University, I got the chance to talk about my love for the universe and what I learned from brainstorming my science fiction stories for a public speaking class. I talked about the theories regarding the moon's formation, the life cycle stages of stars, the differences between a meteoroid, meteorite, and meteor, black holes, the concept of wormholes, the different theories regarding the how the universe will end, and my most favorite aspect of the universe: the four fundamental forces of gravity, electromagnetism, weak nuclear force, and strong nuclear force. Everything I spoke about in my informative speech regarding the universe are all concepts that anyone can understand. If we are to inhabit and preserve our world, then it's crucial we understand it. But even more importantly, if space is truly the "final frontier," as we have dubbed it, then we should seek to understand everything that is within it and outside it. We should seek to further understand what we already know, and what we still don't know, until there are no more theories left about the universe. Until all our knowledge regarding the universe is objective fact and law. Until science has nothing left to unearth and explain. The day that happens, we might be able to answer any question whether it's about philosophy, morality, mathematics, divinity, et cetera. Furthermore, with understanding comes caution; Our expanded knowledge would grant us the ability to prepare for any potential threats that could be out there. And I will proudly admit that on a personal level, I wish for us to explore space because I entertain the idea of extraterrestrial life, space travel, and the different megastructures that humanity could build if other life hasn't already. Space elevators between planets, warp drives granting faster-than-light travel or even time travel, Dyson spheres, space colonies, the possibilities are endless. On a simpler level, I love and enjoy my home and wish to know more about its neighborhood. About its origins, about its contents, and of course, about its creator. I believe that the universe and its structure is the result of an intelligent design, crafted by an omniscient and omnipotent being. The anatomy of fauna and flora, the positioning of the Earth, the way everything interacts, and much more scream both intellect and intention to me. And while the latter is a case that can further be studied through religion, I view the former as a case that is further studied by science. It's through studying the function and form of the observable universe, and uncovering the unknown, that I believe one can potentially see the intellect of God and even strengthen their faith, as it has for me. As an aspiring psychologist, I seek to understand people. And with that understanding of people, doors that lead to an understanding of the world may potentially open. However, as an aspiring author, I seek to share my passions and lessons with the world. I know this path will undoubtedly open several doors regarding the nature of the universe. I simply need to step through them. Everything that I've learned about the universe, and everything that I haven't learned, I will weave into my stories so that others can enjoy them and be inspired by them the same way that the Star Wars and Guardians of the Galaxy franchises did for me. I look forward to the day when everything I saw in those worlds of science fiction becomes a science reality.

Over two years ago, I lost a man that I considered to be a brother. A man that brought out the best of my personality and allowed me to truly be myself. A man who I was never able to beat in the fighting game Injustice 2. A man that was truly a light in the darkness of the world. What could snuff out such a light? The same thing that has snuffed out many lights like him: Suicide. In addition to grappling with a new identity, my friend was wrongly accused of a crime. These demons haunted him long after he proved the truth of the crime. They haunted him until he made his final decision. I've done my best to carry on his legacy of positivity and check on his family since then. Nonetheless, the scar on my heart remains. A scar that burns like an inferno, as it fights for the mental health of men-my fellow brothers. Of all the social issues that I can think about, this one is possibly the most overlooked and the most laughed at. In modern society, misandry has become acceptable, whereas misogyny is still rightfully condemned. While the LGBT community is celebrated in June during Pride Month, Men's Mental Health Month, which also occurs in June, is heavily dismissed. The world has evolved into a place that openly hates men and gladly silences, invalidates, and weaponizes their emotions whilst generalizing all the bad apples of the tree. How can we tell men that it's not okay to cry, and restrict them from a human emotion? How can we care for them as children, but seemingly lose that care once they pass adolescence? How can we deny them of justice when they are abused? How can we falsely accuse them and ruin their lives, and let their perpetrators escape justice? How can we openly hate men and declare that they are not needed, whilst good fathers and laborers exist? What example are we setting for our young boys? Respectfully, I'd be willing to bet my life that whoever reads this essay, may have been guilty of these crimes against men. The whole world is guilty, and even worse, loves to avoid accountability when it comes to these sins by responding with, "Well, who made the system in the first place?" But a response like that is not the "gotcha!" moment that the world thinks it is. No good productivity has ever come from victim-blaming. Instead of pointing fingers, the world should be working on solutions. I plan to become a child psychologist and an author. With the former, I can help the youth with whatever battles they fight, before they reach a breaking point. With the latter, I can raise awareness and create stories that resonate with men who are suffering from the lack of love and care the world has for them, in addition to their own battles. Until then, I will continue to spread love and kindness, checking on people and sharing facts regarding mental health. I urge whoever reads this to do the same. If our human obligation is to help each other, then that includes everyone who is human. Not just women, children, the impoverished, the ones who suffer from war. But our men as well. It's up to each and every last human to fix the world. If I still haven't convinced you, then allow me to leave you with a question to ponder. What would you do to ensure that your brother, son, father, cousin, or best friend doesn't ever commit suicide?