My lived experiences and personal advocacy contributed to my overcoming adversity. I was able to give myself and others the opportunity to speak, be themselves, and love others without being afraid. My experiences showed me just how much people are still afraid of the change that the new generations are bringing. I have seen people online and in-person protest against the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. I think that is not a reflection on us, but a reflection on those protestors, who are afraid to change their mindset. They were taught that being LGBTQ+ is wrong, when in fact it isn’t; love has no bounds, rules, or shapes. So, why do we need to suppress those who love others? It doesn’t make sense. I can personally attest to this statement because of my family. My family has been rooted in a religious background that taught them that being part of the LGBTQ+ community is wrong and sinful. Knowing this fact, I was afraid to come out to anyone who was related to me because of the chance that they could disown me or never speak to me again. It took me a while to gain the courage and strength to come out to my mom. She denied that I was bisexual and told me that I was confused, which in hindsight hurt. I didn’t hold this statement against her though, I knew that she believes in a religion that condemns people like me. I didn’t let this situation get to me, I kept moving forward, knowing that I don’t have to be bound by what my family says about me. I gathered support from others in my community. I also know my experience is not as bad as others’ experiences, and some people’s experiences are much worse than mine. This is why I want to help people who feel they can’t be accepted because that simply isn’t true. There are a lot of people in this world who support the LGBTQ+ community. Another hardship that I had was in 2019. I was a freshman in high school and I was getting bullied a lot. This bullying led me to a state of severe depression and I started to become a shell of myself during that period of time. I wouldn’t come out of my room as often and I was pushing people away more at school and at home. I developed a voice that would nag and spew negativities at me. I started to believe that what it said was true because I wasn’t myself. This led to me losing some of my friendships and it made me push away my family members who were worried about me. After this fact, I decided that I needed someone to talk to so I started opening up to my online friends, and they helped me tremendously. They helped me get through my difficulties and convinced me to seek professional help. I took their advice and got a therapist and am getting the help I need to combat this mental illness. I personally advocated for mental health and the LGBTQ+ community by donating to the Trevor Project and Mental Health America. I have also helped friends with their difficulties and I was there for them when they needed it. I want to volunteer for the Trevor Project and attend pride parades when I go to college since I can’t do that while living with my family. I won't have to worry about anyone stopping me.

To start, I was born on October 8th, 2004 in Metairie, Louisiana which is a city right outside of New Orleans. When I was one, my family moved to Arkansas due to hurricane Katrina which devastated my city. I saw how the people of New Orleans came together to help each other out after the hurricane passed, and seeing that unity with my own eyes sparked something inside of me. I decided on that day that I would do the same thing as those New Orleanians did. I wanted to pull myself out of my comfort zone and volunteer for people. When I moved back in 2016, getting acclimated to being in Metairie again was difficult since I knew no one, but as time went on I met diverse groups of people while in school and I saw that some of my classmates weren’t as fortunate as I am which gave me an idea to start a food drive for students who couldn’t afford to eat proper meals. This drive was successful and saved a lot of kids from starvation, but I wanted to do more. I wanted to not only help people but animals as well. This is when I decided to help out the Metairie Humane Society. I would and still do, go there every summer, every week to keep the animals company and find them a loving home. This is what I imagine myself doing throughout my lifetime. I want to keep pushing myself out of my comfort zone and give back to those who aren’t as fortunate as I am. As of this year, I am a senior in Highschool and I have accumulated more than 80 hours of community service, and I plan to keep going. STEM in particular excites me because as a kid I have always been interested in this type of work. I would watch shows such as Bones, Forensic Files, and The First 48. This would cause me to research different types of jobs relating to science. Doing so led me to Forensic Technicians, they would not only work in the lab but would also go out to the crime scenes and work with the police force to solve crimes. I thought that since I wanted to be a detective and a scientist, why not combine the two? For that reason, I decided to become a Forensic Technician. As I grew older though, my reasons changed. I saw how badly the crime and death rates have gotten in the city of New Orleans. There was always a news story about someone being murdered and I had enough of it. I knew that with this path that I have chosen, I’ll be able to bring these dangerous criminals to justice. Therefore, giving the communities that are being affected by this endless violence a sense of peace and safety. After I finish this goal, I want to expand my career and go worldwide, so I can go to other countries and help out with their cases. With this, I’ll be able to contribute to world peace while advancing my experience and knowledge.

The power of diverse voices in public relations cannot be overstated. When public relations professionals bring a diverse range of perspectives and experiences to the table, they can create messaging that is more inclusive and resonates with a wider range of people. This can ultimately have a significant impact on shaping public narratives. One of the key ways in which diverse voices can impact public relations is by better understanding and engaging with diverse audiences. When PR professionals can draw on a wide range of perspectives and experiences, they are more likely to understand the needs and concerns of different communities. This can enable them to tailor their messaging and campaigns to better resonate with these audiences. Moreover, diverse teams can offer a broader range of ideas and solutions. By incorporating different viewpoints and experiences, public relations professionals can come up with more creative and effective campaigns. This can help them to stand out in a crowded media landscape and to capture the attention of their target audiences. Diversity in public relations can also help to avoid blind spots and biases that may inadvertently perpetuate harmful stereotypes or exclude certain communities. By promoting diverse voices, public relations professionals can challenge their own assumptions and become more aware of the biases and assumptions that they bring to their work. This can help to avoid messaging that may be insensitive or offensive to certain communities, and instead create messaging that is more representative and inclusive. Furthermore, promoting diversity and inclusion in public relations can contribute to building trust and credibility with the public. By demonstrating a commitment to representing diverse voices and perspectives, organizations can show that they genuinely care about understanding and addressing the needs of all stakeholders. This can lead to stronger relationships with the public and help to enhance the reputation of the organization and help the organization get better reviews. In conclusion, the power of diverse voices in public relations is significant. By promoting diversity and inclusion, public relations professionals can create messaging that is more representative and inclusive, better engage with diverse audiences, and develop more creative and effective campaigns. Moreover, promoting diversity in public relations can help to avoid biases and perpetuate harmful stereotypes, leading to messaging that is more sensitive and thoughtful. By demonstrating a commitment to diversity and inclusion, organizations can build trust and credibility with the public, ultimately leading to stronger relationships and a more positive reputation.

To start, I was born on October 8th, 2004 in Metairie, Louisiana which is a city right outside of New Orleans. When I was one, my family moved to Arkansas due to hurricane Katrina which devastated my city. I saw how the people of New Orleans came together to help each other out after the hurricane passed, and seeing that unity with my own eyes sparked something inside of me. I decided on that day that I would do the same thing as those New Orleanians did. I wanted to pull myself out of my comfort zone and volunteer for people. When I moved back in 2016, getting acclimated to being in Metairie again was difficult since I knew no one, but as time went on I met diverse groups of people while in school and I saw that some of my classmates weren’t as fortunate as I am which gave me an idea to start a food drive for students who couldn’t afford to eat proper meals. This drive was successful and saved a lot of kids from starvation, but I wanted to do more. I wanted to not only help people but animals as well. This is when I decided to help out the Metairie Humane Society. I would and still do, go there every summer, every week to keep the animal's company and find them a loving home. This is what I imagine myself doing throughout my lifetime. I want to keep pushing myself out of my comfort zone and give back to those who aren’t as fortunate as I am. As of this year, I am a senior in Highschool and I have accumulated more than 80 hours of community service, and I plan to keep going. STEM in particular excites me because as a kid I have always been interested in this type of work. I would watch shows such as Bones, Forensic Files, and The First 48. This would cause me to research different types of jobs relating to science. Doing so led me to Forensic Technicians, they would not only work in the lab but would also go out to the crime scenes and work with the police force to solve crimes. I thought that since I wanted to be a detective and a scientist, why not combine the two? For that reason, I decided to become a Forensic Technician. As I grew older though, my reasons changed. I saw how badly the crime and death rates have gotten in the city of New Orleans. There was always a news story about someone being murdered and I had enough of it. I knew that with this path that I have chosen, I’ll be able to bring these dangerous criminals to justice. Therefore, giving the communities that are being affected by this endless violence a sense of peace and safety. After I finish this goal, I want to expand my career and go worldwide, so I can go to other countries and help out with their cases. With this, I’ll be able to contribute to world peace while advancing my experience and knowledge.

I’m passionate about volunteering for my community and being able to allow myself and others to speak, be themselves and love others without being afraid. My experiences showed me just how much people are still afraid of the change that the new generations are bringing. I have seen people online and in-person protest against the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. I think that is not a reflection on us, but a reflection on those protestors, who are afraid to change their mindset. They were taught that being LGBTQ+ is wrong, when in fact it isn’t; love has no bounds, rules or shapes. So, why do we need to suppress those who love others? It doesn’t make sense. I can personally attest to this statement because of my family. My family has been rooted in a religious background that taught them that being part of the LGBTQ+ community is wrong and sinful. Knowing this fact, I was afraid to come out to anyone who was related to me because of the chance that they could disown me or never speak to me again. It took me a while to gain the courage and strength to come out to my mom. She denied that I was bisexual and told me that I was confused, which in hindsight hurt. I didn’t hold this statement against her though, I knew that she believes in a religion that condemns people like me. This is why I went to volunteer at the Trevor Project. While volunteering there, I’ve helped LGBTQ+ people online who’ve shared their stories of not being accepted. I’ve told these people to be strong because if they let this get to them, it won’t end well. I suggested that if they felt like they needed someone to talk to, they could contact me or call the Trevor project hotline. When they called the said hotline, I would help them with whatever crisis they might’ve been going through. Whether that be with family, friends, personal or anything else. I was glad that I could provide some sort of comfort to these people and they were glad that they had someone to talk to. I’ve also helped friends who weren’t accepted by their families. I provided them comfort and gave them a shoulder to lean on, making sure that they coped with the situation healthily. My volunteerism has taught me that my logical and caring side plays a part in me being able to overcome obstacles. I want to understand the world around me and find the deeper meaning of things. But before I can understand the world, I have to understand myself. I’ve learned that I strive to make others happy by helping with whatever needs they have. Over the years, I’ve developed as a person and realized how important my community is and I’ve also learned not to assume something of others right out of the gate before I’ve gotten to know them thoroughly. I think that volunteerism has impacted my life for the better and I plan to keep helping others in college as well. As I grow older, I want to be able to learn more about myself and the world around me. I want to make the universe a better place. To do such a thing, I’ll keep volunteering for foundations and donating to causes that matter to me. I’ll keep advocating for those who are less fortunate than me. Helping others is what gives me purpose and I hope to pass on my passion to others.

To start, I was born on October 8th, 2004 in Metairie, Louisiana which is a city right outside of New Orleans. When I was one, my family moved to Arkansas due to hurricane Katrina which devastated my city. I saw how the people of New Orleans came together to help each other out after the hurricane passed, and seeing that unity with my own eyes sparked something inside of me. I decided on that day that I would do the same thing as those New Orleanians did. I wanted to pull myself out of my comfort zone and volunteer for people. When I moved back in 2016, getting acclimated to being in Metairie again was difficult since I knew no one, but as time went on I met diverse groups of people while in school and I saw that some of my classmates weren’t as fortunate as I am which gave me an idea to start a food drive for students who couldn’t afford to eat proper meals. This drive was successful and saved a lot of kids from starvation, but I wanted to do more. I wanted to not only help people but animals as well. This is when I decided to help out the Metairie Humane Society. I would and still do, go there every summer, every week to keep the animal's company and find them a loving home. This is what I imagine myself doing throughout my lifetime. I want to keep pushing myself out of my comfort zone and give back to those who aren’t as fortunate as I am. As of this year, I am a senior in Highschool and I have accumulated more than 80 hours of community service, and I plan to keep going. STEM in particular excites me because as a kid I have always been interested in this type of work. I would watch shows such as Bones, Forensic Files, and The First 48. This would cause me to research different types of jobs relating to science. Doing so led me to Forensic Technicians, they would not only work in the lab, but would also go out to the crime scenes and work with the police force to solve crimes. I thought that since I wanted to be a detective and a scientist, why not combine the two? For that reason, I decided to become a Forensic Technician. As I grew older though, my reasons changed. I saw how badly the crime and death rates have gotten in the city of New Orleans. There was always a news story about someone being murdered and I had enough of it. I knew that with this path that I have chosen, I’ll be able to bring these dangerous criminals to justice. Therefore, giving the communities that are being affected by this endless violence a sense of peace and safety. After I finish this goal, I want to expand my career and go worldwide, so I can go to other countries and help out with their cases. With this, I’ll be able to contribute to world peace while advancing my experience and knowledge.

College is an exciting time for many people as it provides opportunities for personal and academic growth, the development of new skills, and the building of long-lasting relationships. The diverse array of classes, clubs, and extracurricular activities is what appeals to me the most, it allows me to explore new interests and discover my passions. However, college can also be challenging and stressful. With the demands of academics, social life, and extracurricular activities, I need to maintain a healthy mind, body, and soul. Some of the tips that I have learned have helped me prepare for college. The first tip is to exercise regularly. Regular physical activity can help reduce stress and improve mental health. Exercise can also improve sleep, increase energy levels, and boost self-esteem. Eating a healthy diet: A well-balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein can help maintain physical health and improve mental clarity. These things are important when it comes to college. Exercising can improve the way you learn and perceive the environment around you. Next, A well-balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein can help maintain physical health and improve mental clarity. A diet that isn’t maintained can seriously affect your body and mind. Poor diets can lead to a lack of sleep which can negatively impact mental and physical health. It is important to get 7-8 hours of sleep each night to feel refreshed and ready for the day ahead. This is especially important when faced with college and its challenges. Then, Finding ways to manage stress, such as meditation, yoga, or deep breathing, can help improve mental health and prevent burnout. Connecting with friends, family, and other support networks can also provide emotional support and a sense of belonging. This, in turn, helps improve mental health and reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation. Taking breaks from academics and social activities to engage in activities that bring joy and relaxation, such as reading, taking a walk, or pursuing a hobby is just as important as the other steps. If stress becomes overwhelming, it is important to seek help from a mental health professional. There is no shame in seeking help, and it can be a positive step toward achieving better mental health and well-being. In conclusion, college can be an exciting time for personal and academic growth, but it is also important to maintain a healthy mind, body, and soul amidst the challenges faced in school. By following these tips, students can thrive academically, emotionally, and physically and make the most of their college experience.

Many problems in the world have to do with the environment. A lot of places in urban areas don’t realize that the inefficient practices they use to manage waste are time-consuming and lead to environmental degradation and health hazards. Knowing this fact, I have come up with a smart waste management system that keeps track of the waste that people create. This system collects the data and then segregates the waste into smart bins which categorize the types of waste collected. To further explain, I have come up with a detailed plan that puts things into perspective. First, the system gathers data on the amount and types of waste generated in a particular area. This can be done through various means such as waste audits, door-to-door surveys, and so on. Then, Once the data has been collected, the waste generated in the area can be segregated into different categories such as organic, recyclable, and non-recyclable waste. This data collection and sorting can help people put waste where it needs to go. This, in turn, can help save the environment around us. Once the first step has been initiated, the system will then deploy smart bins equipped with sensors and GPS devices in various locations in the area. The smart bins would be able to automatically sort the waste into different categories based on the sensors' readings. Afterward, The smart bins would be connected to a central monitoring system that would provide real-time data on the waste levels, types of waste, and location of the bins. The data collected from the smart bins would be used to optimize the collection routes for waste management trucks. This would ensure that the trucks collect waste only from bins that are full, reducing the number of trips and saving fuel and other resources. Next, the waste goes to a recycling and waste disposal facility, where it would be processed and disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner. The last step would be to educate and raise awareness among the citizens about the importance of waste segregation and the proper disposal of waste. This teaching should be spread throughout schools and other communities to promote environmental wellness. These teachings could encourage people to participate in properly categorizing waste and making the world a better place for all of us. This smart waste management system would bring about significant improvements in waste management practices, reducing environmental degradation and health hazards and promoting sustainable waste management practices in urban areas.

Healthy eating habits are important for overall physical health as they provide the necessary nutrients and energy needed for the body to function properly. Consuming a balanced diet that includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats can help individuals maintain a healthy weight, reduce their risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers, and support a strong immune system. In addition to physical health benefits, healthy eating habits can also have a positive impact on mental health. Eating a balanced diet that includes essential nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids and B vitamins, can help improve mood and cognitive function. Proper nutrition can also help regulate energy levels and prevent crashes that can negatively impact mood and motivation. When individuals adopt healthy eating habits, they may also notice positive changes in their overall well-being, such as increased energy levels, improved digestion, and better sleep. They may also experience a boost in self-esteem and confidence as they take control of their health and make positive choices for their body. However, it is important to note that healthy eating habits are not a one-size-fits-all approach and can vary from person to person based on individual needs and preferences. Individuals need to consult with a healthcare professional to determine what works best for them and to ensure they are getting all the necessary nutrients for their health. Seeking advice from a healthcare professional, shouldn't be looked down upon, because as stated above they can help make sure that an individual is on the right track to a healthy lifestyle. This in turn can increase one's lifespan and gives them more time to do the things they want to do. In conclusion, healthy eating habits are important for physical and mental health and can have a positive impact on overall well-being. Adopting a balanced diet that includes a variety of nutritious foods can help individuals maintain a healthy weight, reduce the risk of chronic diseases, and improve mental health and well-being. Individuals need to consult with a healthcare professional to determine what works best for them and to ensure they are getting all the necessary nutrients for their health. If everyone ate healthily and exercised daily then their lifespan would increase as well as their moods. It would also decrease the number of deaths caused by obesity or diabetes that have plagued the world.

Math is a fundamental tool used in various fields and industries, such as science, engineering, finance, and more. It allows us to describe and analyze the world around us and make predictions based on mathematical models. It provides a way to organize information and solve problems systematically and logically. Mathematics also offers a sense of certainty and provides solutions to problems that are definitive and verifiable. This can be especially helpful in fields such as finance, where accurate calculations and predictions are essential. Furthermore, math can be a creative and fulfilling subject for those who are interested in it. There is a sense of satisfaction in solving complex problems and finding elegant solutions. Math can also be a way for individuals to challenge themselves and develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. In addition, mathematics is a universal language that can be understood by people from all cultures and backgrounds. It allows individuals from different countries to communicate and collaborate on mathematical problems and solutions. In conclusion, mathematics is an important subject that has a wide range of applications and can offer a sense of fulfillment and creativity for those who are interested in it. It provides a way to understand and analyze the world around us, solve problems, and communicate with others.

These are some ways that my daily choices can impact the environment and how they can strive to live sustainably. To start, one of the ways that I can impact the environment is through energy consumption. Simple choices, such as turning off lights and electronics when they are not in use, can make a significant impact in reducing energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions. Using public transportation, carpooling, or biking instead of driving alone can also reduce emissions. Secondly, What I eat can also have a significant impact on the environment. Eating a plant-based diet or reducing meat consumption can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and land usage, as the production of meat requires more resources than plant-based foods. Choosing locally-sourced, organic foods can also help reduce the carbon footprint associated with transportation and minimize the use of harmful pesticides. Thirdly, Another way that I impact the environment is how I use waste. I always forget to recycle plastics and other items that I use, which can harm the environment if it is left in a landfill. I can prevent this damage from happening by living sustainably and remembering to reduce the amount of waste that I produce. This can be achieved by recycling, composting, and reducing the use of single-use plastics. Bringing reusable bags, water bottles, and containers when shopping or eating out can also help reduce my waste. Fourthly, being mindful of my consumption habits and choosing to buy products made from sustainable and eco-friendly materials can also help the environment. Purchasing products with minimal packaging and choosing products made from recycled materials can also help reduce waste and conserve resources. This method of sustainability helps the environment thrive and stay healthy. Fifthly, Supporting environmentally-friendly initiatives and companies can help drive change and promote sustainability. This can include supporting clean energy, supporting companies that use sustainable materials and practices, and advocating for environmentally-friendly policies. These companies are taking it upon themselves to help better the environment by reducing the amount of waste that they would usually produce if they weren't eco-friendly. In conclusion, my daily choices can have a significant impact on the environment, and making sustainable choices can help reduce our carbon footprint and conserve resources for future generations. Small changes, such as reducing energy consumption, eating a more plant-based diet, reducing waste, being mindful of consumption habits, and supporting sustainable initiatives, can all help individuals live a more sustainable lifestyle.

First, I plan on educating myself to become financially literate by using the many resources available to help people like me learn about personal finance, including books, online courses, and workshops. I think that it is important to seek out reliable and trustworthy sources of information. Next, I would need to understand how much money I earn and how much I spend. This is a crucial first step in becoming financially literate. Creating a budget can help me and others track our spending and identify areas where we may be able to cut back. Secondly, learning about different types of investments would help me on my financial journey. it's important to understand the different types of investments, including stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. I can learn about these investments through online resources, financial advisors, or investment classes. Credit is another important thing to consider. Understanding how credit works, including credit scores and interest rates, can help me make informed decisions about borrowing and managing debt. Thirdly, seeking advice would bring me one step closer to becoming financially literate. I shouldn't be afraid to seek advice from a financial advisor or another trusted expert. This can be especially helpful when making important decisions such as buying a home or planning for retirement. These are the three steps I can take to educate myself on becoming financially literate, but, what about helping other people? Well, I can start by sharing books, websites, and other resources that I've found helpful in my journey toward financial literacy. Demonstrating responsible financial behavior and making sound financial decisions can also be an effective way to inspire and educate others. I think that the most important step, though, is to get involved in financial literacy initiatives and advocate for financial literacy classes in schools and universities. There are many organizations and initiatives focused on financial literacy and education, and getting involved in these efforts can help me make a positive impact in my community. Financial literacy classes should also be taught in schools as part of a comprehensive education. This can help future generations understand the importance of personal finance and make informed money decisions. In conclusion, financial literacy is an important life skill that can help individuals make informed decisions about their finances. By educating myself and others, I can promote financial stability and security for myself and my community. This security would help future generations grow stronger in financial stability.

I’m passionate about volunteering for my community and being able to allow myself and others to speak, be themselves and love others without being afraid. My experiences showed me just how much people are still afraid of the change that the new generations are bringing. I have seen people online and in-person protest against the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. I think that is not a reflection on us, but a reflection on those protestors, who are afraid to change their mindset. They were taught that being LGBTQ+ is wrong, when in fact it isn’t; love has no bounds, rules or shapes. So, why do we need to suppress those who love others? It doesn’t make sense. I can personally attest to this statement because of my family. My family has been rooted in a religious background that taught them that being part of the LGBTQ+ community is wrong and sinful. Knowing this fact, I was afraid to come out to anyone who was related to me because of the chance that they could disown me or never speak to me again. It took me a while to gain the courage and strength to come out to my mom. She denied that I was bisexual and told me that I was confused, which in hindsight hurt. I didn’t hold this statement against her though, I knew that she believes in a religion that condemns people like me. This is why I went to volunteer at the Trevor Project. While volunteering there, I’ve helped LGBTQ+ people online who’ve shared their stories of not being accepted. I’ve told these people to be strong because if they let this get to them, it won’t end well. I suggested that if they felt like they needed someone to talk to, they could contact me or call the Trevor project hotline. When they called the said hotline, I would help them with whatever crisis they might’ve been going through. Whether that be with family, friends, personal or anything else. I was glad that I could provide some sort of comfort to these people and they were glad that they had someone to talk to. I’ve also helped friends who weren’t accepted by their families. I gave them a shoulder to lean on, making sure that they coped with the situation healthily. This is what I imagine myself doing. I want to keep pushing myself out of my comfort zone and give back to those who aren’t as fortunate as I am. As of this year, I have accumulated more than 80 hours of community service and I plan to keep going. STEM in particular excites me because as a kid I have always been interested in this type of work. I would watch shows such as Bones, Forensic Files, and The First 48. This would lead me to find Forensic Technicians, they would not only work in the lab but would also go out to the crime scenes and work with the police force to solve crimes. I thought that since I wanted to be a detective and a scientist, why not combine the two? As I grew older though, my reasons changed. I saw how badly the crime and death rates have gotten in my city of New Orleans. There was always a news story about someone being murdered and I had enough of it. I knew that with this path that I have chosen, I’ll be able to bring these dangerous criminals to justice. Therefore, giving the communities that are being affected by this endless violence a sense of peace and safety.

I’m passionate about volunteering for my community and being able to allow myself and others to speak, be themselves and love others without being afraid. My experiences showed me just how much people are still afraid of the change that the new generations are bringing. I have seen people online and in-person (mainly by the older generations) protest against the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. I think that is not a reflection on us, but a reflection on those protestors, who are afraid to change their mindset. They were taught that being LGBTQ+ is wrong, when in fact it isn’t; love has no bounds, rules or shapes. So, why do we need to suppress those who love others? It doesn’t make sense. I can personally attest to this statement because of my family. My family has been rooted in a religious background that taught them that being part of the LGBTQ+ community is wrong and sinful. Knowing this fact, I was afraid to come out to anyone who was related to me because of the chance that they could disown me or never speak to me again. It took me a while to gain the courage and strength to come out to my mom. While the outcome wasn’t the worst, it also wasn’t the best. She denied that I was bisexual and told me that I was confused, which in hindsight hurt. I knew that what I felt was real and not just me being confused. I didn’t hold this statement against her though, I knew that she believes in a religion that condemns people like me. This is why I went to volunteer at the Trevor Project. While volunteering there, I’ve helped LGBTQ+ people online who’ve shared their stories of not being accepted. I’ve told these people to be strong because if they let this get to them, it won’t end well. I suggested that if they felt like they needed someone to talk to, they could contact me or call the Trevor project hotline. When they called the said hotline, I would help them with whatever crisis they might’ve been going through. Whether that be with family, friends, personal or anything else. I was glad that I could provide some sort of comfort to these people and they were glad that they had someone to talk to. I’ve also helped friends who weren’t accepted by their families. I provided them comfort and gave them a shoulder to lean on, making sure that they coped with the situation healthily. In addition to this, I also regularly volunteer for my local animal shelter. I go there every summer, every week and help clean the cages and rooms. I also play with the cats and dogs that reside there, giving them company. I’ve donated items such as toys, beds, food, cat litter, cleaning supplies and bathing supplies to the shelter as well. These animals deserve a family who’ll love them and a place to call home. This is why I am willing to volunteer for my local shelter even during college. I want to help these animals find happiness. Advocating for my local communities and supporting them brings me so much joy because I know that I am making a difference even if the step or donation is small. It is going towards a cause that is bigger than me. I want to be able to provide comfort and peace to people who need it in their lives. This world needs more people who are willing to be brave, step up for their communities and speak out against hatred and discrimination.

My lived experiences and personal advocacy contributed to my overcoming adversity. I was able to allow myself and others to speak, be themselves and love others without being afraid. My experiences showed me just how much people are still afraid of the change that the new generations are bringing. I have seen people online and in-person protest against the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. I think that is not a reflection on us, but a reflection on those protestors, who are afraid to change their mindset. They were taught that being LGBTQ+ is wrong, when in fact it isn’t; love has no bounds, rules or shapes. So, why do we need to suppress those who love others? It doesn’t make sense. I can personally attest to this statement because of my family. My family has been rooted in a religious background that taught them that being part of the LGBTQ+ community is wrong and sinful. Knowing this fact, I was afraid to come out to anyone who was related to me because of the chance that they could disown me or never speak to me again. It took me a while to gain the courage and strength to come out to my mom. She denied that I was bisexual and told me that I was confused, which in hindsight hurt. I didn’t hold this statement against her though, I knew that she believes in a religion that condemns people like me. Afterward, I gathered support from others in my community. I also know my experience is not as bad as others’ experiences. This is why I want to help people who feel they can’t be accepted, because that simply isn’t true. There are a lot of people in this world who support the LGBTQ+ community. Another hardship that I had was in 2019. I was a freshman in high school and I was getting bullied a lot. This bullying led me to a state of severe depression and I started to become a shell of myself during that period. I wouldn’t come out of my room as often and I was pushing people away more at school and home. I developed a voice that would nag and spew negativities at me. I started to believe that what it said was true because I wasn’t in the right state of mind. This led to me losing some of my friendships and it made me push away my family members who were worried about me. After this fact, I decided that I needed someone to talk to so I started opening up to my online friends, and they helped me tremendously. They helped me get through my difficulties and convinced me to seek professional help. I took their advice and got a therapist and am getting the help I need to combat this mental illness. I want to volunteer for the Trevor Project and attend pride parades in the future since I can't do that because of my family. I’ll also keep donating to these causes that matter to me and volunteer for foundations that I stand with. I’ll keep advocating for those who are less fortunate than me. Helping others is what gives me purpose and I hope to pass on my passion to others.

The healthy habit that I will adopt to manage my mental and emotional health is writing down my thoughts and feelings in a journal or diary. I think that journals help with my mental and emotional well-being because it lets me get everything out onto paper. I can read what I put in and understand why I may be feeling a certain type of way. Doing this will help me develop my personality and character. Another way that I will manage my health will be to exercise every day and eat healthily. Exercise and eating healthy foods are proven to increase dopamine levels, “To determine how exercise might bring about its mental health benefits, some researchers are looking at possible links between exercise and brain chemicals associated with stress, anxiety and depression. One theory is that physical activity triggers a release of dopamine and serotonin, which can improve mood,”(American Psychological Association [APA], 2020). In other words, exercising can bring forth positive emotions. I create safe spaces for my friends and others by being there for them when they are going through difficulties. For example, I advocate for my local LGBTQ+ community offline and online by volunteering for the Trevor Project. I’ve helped those online who’ve shared their stories of not being accepted. I’ve told these people to be strong and keep moving forward because if they let this get to them, it won’t end well. I suggested that if they felt like they needed someone to talk to, they could contact me or call up the Trevor project hotline. When they called the said hotline, I would help them with whatever crisis they might’ve been going through. Whether that be with family, friends, personal or anything else. I’ve witnessed people develop major depression because they weren’t accepted by loved ones, and I didn’t want these same people to put themselves in that state because their peers and families denied them. They were thankful that someone understood what they were going through, and I was thankful that I could provide some sort of comfort to them. I’ve also helped friends who weren’t accepted by their families. I provided them comfort and gave them a shoulder to lean on, making sure that they coped with the situation healthily. I think that giving comfort to my friends and my peers also helps me in return. I get satisfaction in knowing that I could help ease their mental and emotional states for some time whether that be short or long. My logical side tends to play into my caring side as well, I think that everyone deserves to be understood and to be given a fair chance. These mental health stigmas that society has created damage us and prevent us from getting the help that we need to live a better and more comfortable life. This is why I want to keep donating to organizations such as the Trevor Project and The National Alliance on Mental Health. Everyone, no matter their background, deserves help and acceptance from others.

First, I am an 18-year-old high school senior who is graduating in May of 2023. I am a person who is very involved in my community and I like to visit my local animal shelter every summer to help out. These animals deserve a family who’ll love them and a place to call home. This is why I am willing to volunteer, I want to help them find happiness. After I graduate high school, I look to volunteer for the Trevor Project. I am a person who identifies as bisexual and I want to help other LGBTQ+ youths feel comfortable in their genders and sexual orientations. My mental health has affected me in a negative aspect in the past and the present. It is something that I have had to deal with for about 6 years now. It all started in 2017 when I was a seventh grader. I wasn’t the most popular kid in school and I tended to get picked on by my classmates a lot. This bullying made me feel like there was something wrong with me and I started to shut down because of it. I decided not to tell anyone about my mental state which consequently allowed my depression to fester and worsen over the next couple of years. In 2019, I was a freshman in high school and I was getting bullied a lot. This bullying led me to a state of severe depression and I started to become a shell of myself during that period. I wouldn’t come out of my room as often and I was pushing people away more at school and home. I developed a voice that would nag and spew negativities at me. I started to believe that what it said was true because I wasn’t in the right state of mind. This led to me losing some of my friendships and it made me push away my family members who were worried about me. After this fact, I decided that I needed someone to talk to so I started opening up to my online friends, and they helped me tremendously. They helped me get through my difficulties and convinced me to seek professional help. I took their advice and got a therapist, but I was still too scared to say anything about my mental issues until I was confronted two years later by my father. In 2021 my depression hit me in full force. I became worse than I was in 2019 and I became bedridden due to the fact that I couldn’t find any motivation to get up. I was filled with anxiety at the time due to taking driving lessons. This anxiety would make my depression worse and I coped with it unhealthily by self-harming. My family saw that something was up with me because like before, I wouldn’t leave my room and I would nap all the time. My dad decided to confront me and I told him everything. This led me to get put on a suicide watch and go to therapy every week. I am truly thankful though for his confrontation because if he didn’t confront me then I wouldn’t have gotten better or recovered. I had to learn that I shouldn’t let my depression control me. I plan to implement change for people affected by mental illness by continuing to contact my senators about preventing bullying and suicides caused by the school system. Too many families and friends are suffering because someone they loved has taken their own life. Everyone deserves to be comforted and heard.

To start, I was born on October 8th, 2004 in Metairie, Louisiana which is a city right outside of New Orleans. When I was one, my family moved to Arkansas due to hurricane Katrina which devastated my city. I saw how the people of New Orleans came together to help each other out after the hurricane passed, and seeing that unity with my own eyes sparked something inside of me. I decided on that day that I would do the same thing as those New Orleanians did. I wanted to pull myself out of my comfort zone and volunteer for people. When I moved back in 2016, getting acclimated to being in Metairie again was difficult since I knew no one, but as time went on I met diverse groups of people while in school and I saw that some of my classmates weren’t as fortunate as I am which gave me an idea to start a food drive for students who couldn’t afford to eat proper meals. This drive was successful and saved a lot of kids from starvation, but I wanted to do more. I wanted to not only help people but animals as well. This is when I decided to help out the Metairie Humane Society. I would and still do, go there every summer, every week to keep the animal's company and find them a loving home. This is what I imagine myself doing throughout my lifetime. I want to keep pushing myself out of my comfort zone and give back to those who aren’t as fortunate as I am. As of this year, I am a senior in Highschool and I have accumulated more than 80 hours of community service I plan to keep going. STEM in particular excites me because as a kid I have always been interested in this type of work. I would watch shows such as Bones, Forensic Files, and The First 48. This would cause me to research different types of jobs relating to science. Doing so led me to Forensic Technicians, they would not only work in the lab, but would also go out to the crime scenes and work with the police force to solve crimes. I thought that since I wanted to be a detective and a scientist, why not combine the two? For that reason, I decided to become a Forensic Technician. As I grew older though, my reasons changed. I saw how badly the crime and death rates have gotten in the city of New Orleans. There was always a news story about someone being murdered and I had enough of it. I knew that with this path that I have chosen, I’ll be able to bring these dangerous criminals to justice. Therefore, giving the communities that are being affected by this endless violence a sense of peace and safety. After I finish this goal, I want to expand my career and go worldwide, so I can go to other countries and help out with their cases. With this, I’ll be able to contribute to world peace while advancing my experience and knowledge.

My mental health has affected me in a negative aspect in the past and the present. It is something that I have had to deal with for about 6 years now. It all started in 2017 when I was a seventh grader. I wasn’t the most popular kid in school and I tended to get picked on by my classmates a lot. This bullying made me feel like there was something wrong with me and I started to shut down because of it. I decided not to tell anyone about my mental state which consequently allowed my depression to fester and worsen over the next couple of years. In 2019, I was a freshman in high school and I was getting bullied a lot. This bullying led me to a state of severe depression and I started to become a shell of myself during that period. I wouldn’t come out of my room as often and I was pushing people away more at school and home. I developed a voice that would nag and spew negativities at me. I started to believe that what it said was true because I wasn’t in the right state of mind. This led to me losing some of my friendships and it made me push away my family members who were worried about me. After this fact, I decided that I needed someone to talk to so I started opening up to my online friends, and they helped me tremendously. They helped me get through my difficulties and convinced me to seek professional help. I took their advice and got a therapist, but I was still too scared to say anything about my mental issues until I was confronted two years later by my father. In 2021 my depression hit me in full force. I became worse than I was in 2019 and I became bedridden due to the fact that I couldn’t find any motivation to get up. I was filled with anxiety at the time due to taking driving lessons. This anxiety would make my depression worse and I coped with it unhealthily by self-harming. My family saw that something was up with me because like before, I wouldn’t leave my room and I would nap all the time. My dad decided to confront me and I told him everything. This led me to get put on a suicide watch and go to therapy every week. I am truly thankful though for his confrontation because if he didn’t confront me then I wouldn’t have gotten better or recovered. I had to learn that I shouldn’t let my depression control me. I plan to implement change for people affected by mental illness by continuing to contact my senators about preventing bullying and suicides caused by the school system. I want the people who represent my community to know how dire this situation is because the teen suicide rate has gone up over the years and it needs to be stopped. Too many families and friends are suffering because someone they loved has taken their own life. I also plan on donating to more charities that are continuing to fight against mental health stigmas. Everyone deserves to be comforted and heard.

To start, I was born on October 8th, 2004 in Metairie, Louisiana which is a city right outside of New Orleans. When I was one, my family moved to Arkansas due to hurricane Katrina which devastated my city. I saw how the people of New Orleans came together to help each other out after the hurricane passed, and seeing that unity with my own eyes sparked something inside of me. I decided on that day that I would do the same thing as those New Orleanians did. I wanted to pull myself out of my comfort zone and volunteer for people. When I moved back in 2016, getting acclimated to being in Metairie again was difficult since I knew no one, but as time went on I met diverse groups of people while in school and I saw that some of my classmates weren’t as fortunate as I am which gave me an idea to start a food drive for students who couldn’t afford to eat proper meals. This drive was successful and saved a lot of kids from starvation, but I wanted to do more. I wanted to not only help people but animals as well. This is when I decided to help out the Metairie Humane Society. I would and still do, go there every summer, every week to keep the animal's company and find them a loving home. This is what I imagine myself doing throughout my lifetime. I want to keep pushing myself out of my comfort zone and give back to those who aren’t as fortunate as I am. As of this year, I am a senior in Highschool and I have accumulated more than 80 hours of community service, I plan to keep going. STEM in particular excites me because as a kid I have always been interested in this type of work. I would watch shows such as Bones, Forensic Files, and The First 48. This would cause me to research different types of jobs relating to science. Doing so led me to Forensic Technicians, they would not only work in the lab but would also go out to the crime scenes and work with the police force to solve crimes. I thought that since I wanted to be a detective and a scientist, why not combine the two? For that reason, I decided to become a Forensic Technician. As I grew older though, my reasons changed. I saw how badly the crime and death rates have gotten in the city of New Orleans. There was always a news story about someone being murdered and I had enough of it. I knew that with this path that I have chosen, I’ll be able to bring these dangerous criminals to justice. Therefore, giving the communities that are being affected by this endless violence a sense of peace and safety. After I finish this goal, I want to expand my career and go worldwide, so I can go to other countries and help out with their cases. With this, I’ll be able to contribute to world peace while advancing my experience and knowledge. The most challenging hardships that I have had were in 2019 and 2021. In 2019, I was a freshman in high school and I was getting bullied a lot. This bullying led me to a state of severe depression and I started to become a shell of myself during that period. I wouldn’t come out of my room as often and I was pushing people away more at school and home. I developed a voice that would nag and spew negativities at me. I started to believe that what it said was true because I wasn’t in the right state of mind. This led to me losing some of my friendships and it made me push away my family members who were worried about me. After this fact, I decided that I needed someone to talk to so I started opening up to my online friends, and they helped me tremendously. They helped me get through my difficulties and convinced me to seek professional help. I took their advice and got a therapist and am getting the help I need to combat this mental illness. Another instance would be in 2021 when my depression hit me in full force. I became worse than I was in 2019 and I became bedridden due to the fact that I couldn’t find any motivation to get up. I was filled with anxiety at the time due to taking driving lessons. This anxiety would make my depression worse and I coped with it unhealthily. My family saw that something was up with me because like before, I wouldn’t leave my room and I would nap all the time. My dad decided to confront me and I told him everything. This led me to get put on a suicide watch and I had to go to therapy every week. I am truly thankful though for his confrontation because if he didn’t confront me then I wouldn’t have gotten better or recovered. I had to learn that I shouldn’t let my depression control me.

My lived experiences and personal advocacy inspired me to get involved in my community and help others gain the opportunity to speak out, be themselves and love others without being afraid. My experiences showed me just how much people are still afraid of the change that the new generations are bringing. I have seen people online and in-person protest against the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. I think that is not a reflection on us, but a reflection on those protestors, who are afraid to change their mindset. They were taught that being LGBTQ+ is wrong, when in fact it isn’t; love has no bounds, rules or shapes. So, why do we need to suppress those who love others? It doesn’t make sense. I advocated for my local LGBTQ+ community offline and online by donating and volunteering to the Trevor Project. I’ve helped those online who’ve shared their stories of not being accepted. I’ve told these people to be strong and keep moving forward because if they let this get to them, it won’t end well. I suggested that if they felt like they needed someone to talk to, they could contact me or call up the Trevor project hotline. I’ve witnessed people develop major depression because they weren’t accepted by loved ones, and I didn’t want these same people online to put themselves in that state because their peers and families denied them. They were thankful that someone understood what they were going through, and I was thankful that I could provide some sort of comfort to them. I have also helped friends feel accepted for who they were by being there for them when they were coming out to their family and peers. Some of my friends weren't accepted by their loved ones and I was there to make sure they were okay and coped with it healthily. I supported them and gave them a shoulder to lean on. In addition to this, I also regularly volunteer for my local animal shelter. I go there every summer, every week and help clean the cages and rooms. I also play with the cats and dogs that reside there, giving them company. I’ve donated items such as toys, beds, food, cat litter, cleaning supplies and bathing supplies to the shelter as well. These animals deserve a family who’ll love them and a place to call home. This is why I am willing to volunteer for my local shelter even during college. I want to help these animals find happiness. Advocating for my local communities and supporting them brings me so much joy because I know that I am making a difference even if the step or donation is small. It is going towards a cause that is bigger than me. I want to be able to provide comfort and peace to people who need it in their lives. This world needs more people who are willing to be brave, step up for their communities and speak out against hatred and discrimination.

I’m passionate about volunteering for my community and being able to allow myself and others to speak, be themselves and love others without being afraid. My experiences showed me just how much people are still afraid of the change that the new generations are bringing. I have seen people online and in-person protest against the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. I think that is not a reflection on us, but a reflection on those protestors, who are afraid to change their mindset. They were taught that being LGBTQ+ is wrong, when in fact it isn’t; love has no bounds, rules or shapes. So, why do we need to suppress those who love others? It doesn’t make sense. I can personally attest to this statement because of my family. My family has been rooted in a religious background that taught them that being part of the LGBTQ+ community is wrong and sinful. Knowing this fact, I was afraid to come out to anyone who was related to me because of the chance that they could disown me or never speak to me again. It took me a while to gain the courage and strength to come out to my mom. While the outcome wasn’t the worst, it also wasn’t the best. She denied that I was bisexual and told me that I was confused, which in hindsight hurt. I knew that what I felt was real and not just me being confused. I didn’t hold this statement against her though, I knew that she was raised in a particular generation and believes in a religion that condemns people like me. This is why I went to volunteer at the Trevor Project. While volunteering there, I’ve helped LGBTQ+ people online who’ve shared their stories of not being accepted. I’ve told these people to be strong because if they let this get to them, it won’t end well. I suggested that if they felt like they needed someone to talk to, they could contact me or call the Trevor project hotline. When they called the said hotline, I would help them with whatever crisis they might’ve been going through. Whether that be with family, friends, personal or anything else. I was glad that I could provide some sort of comfort to these people and they were glad that they had someone to talk to. I’ve also helped friends who weren’t accepted by their families. I provided them comfort and gave them a shoulder to lean on, making sure that they coped with the situation healthily. I think that my logical and caring side plays a part in me being able to overcome obstacles. I want to understand the world around me and find the deeper meaning of things. But before I can understand the world, I have to understand myself. I think that by being able to understand why my obstacles occur, I can overcome whatever the world has to throw at me. Since I am confident in myself and decipher why things happen in the first place, I can move past obstacles that come my way and learn from them. As I grow older, I want to be able to learn more about myself and the world around me. I want to make the universe a better place. To do such a thing, I’ll keep volunteering for foundations and donating to causes that matter to me. I’ll keep advocating for those who are less fortunate than me. Helping others is what gives me purpose and I hope to pass on my passion to others.

The career I want to pursue is a degree in Forensics: Criminal Justice. The reason why I chose this degree is that as a kid I have always been interested in this type of work. I would watch the Forensic Files and other crime-solving television shows. This would cause me to research different types of jobs relating to forensic science, and doing this allowed me to stumble upon Forensic Technicians. These Technicians would not only work in the lab but would also go out to the crime scenes and work with the police force to solve crimes. I thought that since I wanted to investigate things and work as a scientist, why not combine the two? Therefore, I decided to become a Forensic Technician. To achieve this career goal, I would have to find the right college that had a great forensic program. This led me to the University of Southern Mississippi, I saw that they had tons of programs in the forensic realm and they were also ranked extremely high. I knew that this was the college that I wanted to learn from and study at. Luckily for me, I got accepted into the school when I applied. I’ve also met a great roommate who is going to be studying forensics with me. I am hopeful that I will succeed in college and gain the degree that I desire. This degree would allow me to experiment, research, investigate and most importantly, help people who have been wronged. If I win this scholarship, I will use it to help me achieve these dreams that I have had since I was a kid. I’ll also use my degree to help my community by providing evidence, logic, and reasoning to convict these criminals. Therefore, bringing closure and peace to families who have lost someone to the increasing crime rates in my city. After I’ve done these things in my city, I would like to help more people by going worldwide. I want to eventually be able to join an FBI unit, which would help me grow my skill sets and help me not only catch national criminals but also international criminals. Capturing these worldwide criminals would bring peace to so many families that have been harmed by them and seeing people achieve this said peace because of my efforts would make me happy. Even when I retire I want to aid people by donating to foundations and charities. The money that I get from my job would be put to good use, by giving it to not only people but also animals who need help. Volunteering is something that I want to do and achieve throughout my lifetime and I want to make a positive impact wherever I go whether it be on a small or large scale.

My lived experiences and advocacy contributed to my overcoming adversity. I was able to allow myself and others to speak, be themselves and love others without being afraid. My experiences showed me just how much people are still afraid of the change that the new generations are bringing. I have seen people online and in-person protest against the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. I think that is not a reflection on us, but a reflection on those protestors, who are afraid to change their mindset. They were taught that being LGBTQ+ is wrong, when in fact it isn’t; love has no bounds or shapes. So, why do we need to suppress those who love others? It doesn’t make sense. I can personally attest to this statement because of my family. My family has been rooted in a religious background that taught them that being part of the LGBTQ+ community is wrong and sinful. Knowing this fact, I was afraid to come out to anyone who was related to me because of the chance that they could disown me or never speak to me again. It took me a while to gain the courage and strength to come out to my mom. She denied that I was bisexual and told me that I was confused, which in hindsight hurt. I didn’t hold this statement against her though, I knew that she was raised in an older generation and believes in a religion that condemns people like me. I didn’t let this situation get to me, I kept moving forward, knowing that I don’t have to be bound by what my family says about me. I gathered support from others in my community. I also know my experience is not as bad as others’ experiences, and some people’s experiences are much worse than mine. This is why I want to help people who feel they can’t be accepted, because that simply isn’t true. Another hardship was when I was a freshman in high school and I got bullied a lot. This bullying led me to a state of severe depression and I started to become a shell of myself during that period. I wouldn’t come out of my room as often and I started to push people away. I developed a voice that would spew negatives at me. I started to believe that what it said was true because I wasn’t in the right state of mind. This led to me losing friendships and it made me push away my family members who were worried about me. After this fact, I decided that I needed someone to talk to so I started opening up to my online friends, and they helped me tremendously. They helped me get through my difficulties and convinced me to seek professional help. I took their advice and got a therapist and am getting the help I need to combat this mental illness. I advocated for mental health and the LGBTQ+ community by donating to the Trevor Project and Mental Health America. I have also helped friends with their difficulties and I was there for them when they needed it. They were thankful that someone understood what they were going through, and I was thankful that I could provide some sort of comfort to them. I want to volunteer for the Trevor Project and attend pride parades when I go to college since I can’t do that while living with my family. Advocating for both communities has brought me so much pride and joy because I know that I am helping people who are going through rough periods.

My lived experiences and personal advocacy inspired me to get involved in my community and help others gain the opportunity to speak out, be themselves and love others without being afraid. My experiences showed me just how much people are still afraid of the change that the new generations are bringing. I have seen people online and in-person protest against the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. I think that is not a reflection on us, but a reflection on those protestors, who are afraid to change their mindset. They were taught that being LGBTQ+ is wrong, when in fact it isn’t; love has no bounds, rules or shapes. So, why do we need to suppress those who love others? It doesn’t make sense. I advocated for my local LGBTQ+ community offline and online by donating and volunteering to the Trevor Project. I’ve helped those online who’ve shared their stories of not being accepted. I’ve told these people to be strong and keep moving forward because if they let this get to them, it won’t end well. I suggested that if they felt like they needed someone to talk to, they could contact me or call up the Trevor project hotline. When they called the said hotline, I would help them with whatever crisis they might’ve been going through. Whether that be with family, friends, personal or anything else. They were thankful that someone understood what they were going through, and I was thankful that I could provide some sort of comfort to them. I have also helped friends feel accepted for who they were by being there for them when they were coming out to their family and peers. Some of my friends weren't accepted by their loved ones and I was there to make sure they were okay and coped with it healthily. I supported them and gave them a shoulder to lean on. In addition to this, I also regularly volunteer for my local animal shelter. I go there every summer, every week and help clean the cages and rooms. I also play with the cats and dogs that reside there, giving them company. I’ve donated items such as toys, beds, food, cat litter, cleaning supplies and bathing supplies to the shelter as well. These animals deserve a family who’ll love them and a place to call home. This is why I am willing to volunteer for my local shelter even during college. I want to help these animals find happiness. As I further my education, I want to be able to donate to my local communities and businesses. Even if I might not be able to be there physically because of school, I can still have some type of impact by funding their causes. Helping people, even if it is small, is all that matters to me. Advocating for my local communities and supporting them brings me so much joy because I know that I am making a difference even if the step or donation is small. It is going towards a cause that is bigger than me. I want to be able to provide comfort and peace to people who need it in their lives. This world needs more people who are willing to be brave, step up for their communities and speak out against hatred and discrimination.

First, I am an 18-year-old high school senior who is graduating from Jefferson Virtual High school in May of 2023. I am a person who is very involved in my community and I like to visit my local animal shelter every summer to help out. I would clean the dogs' rooms, walk them, feed them, bathe them, and play with them. I would also donate items such as toys, beds, food, cleaning supplies and bathing supplies to the shelter. These animals deserve a family who’ll love them and a place to call home. This is why I am willing to volunteer, I want to help them find happiness. After I graduate high school, I look to volunteer for the Trevor Project and their hotlines. I am a person who identifies as bisexual and I want to help other LGBTQ+ youths feel comfortable in their genders and sexual orientations. Doing this would bring me so much joy because I would be helping a cause that I truly believe in. In addition to volunteering, I also find enjoyment in helping people develop servers in an app called discord. I would help them set up all the channels, roles, rules, and bots, and help train the staff on how to operate the server correctly. I also provided them with ways to advertise their servers and gain more members. If anything needed to be done whether it be developmental-wise or just moderating, I stepped up and helped. Seeing the owners of these servers succeed made me extremely happy. I want to continue this developmental hobby as I grow older. This scholarship would help me financially because I come from a low-income household and I need all the help I can get to afford college and my dream career. I’ve been working to help pay for college, but even that won’t be enough to cover everything. My family is helping with college and winning this would get me one step closer to not having to pay for any student debt. I am glad that these types of scholarships exist because it gives people who are in the same situation as I am, a chance to thrive and prosper. It also gives me a chance to share the work that I am proud of. Volunteering has given me purpose and I want to continue this passion of mine as I get to college and even beyond that.

One technological example that can help the world become a better place is environmental sensors. These sensors help us regulate temperatures, keep the air safe, provide security, and detect particulate matter. Keeping these things in check matters because it provides an environment that is cleaner and safer to live and work in. For example, the sensors can provide motion detection which can be extremely helpful with security. These passive infrared sensors can detect the change in temperature that’s caused by a person walking through an area. Therefore, this can detect someone in the building, even when they’re not moving. This will then trigger an alarm or send a notification to the security team when there’s someone in an area that they aren’t supposed to be in. Additionally, motion detection can help preserve energy by turning off lights or other appliances when no one is in the room. Sensors also clean the air. For instance, these sensors can detect particulate matter which is one of the major pollutants in cities. These particles can easily be inhaled and cause health problems, which is why it is important to have environmental sensors in buildings. It can detect these said particles by using a laser scattering optical sensor. This sensor can measure the concentration of these particles and inform you about them. Therefore, providing a chance for you to reduce the number of pollutants in the building. Finally, environmental sensors can help detect other problems such as vaping. Vaping can lead to other health problems, such as lung problems and cancer. It can also cause problems for people with asthma and other respiratory conditions. This is why it is important to have environmental sensors in buildings, it helps you to identify the source of the vaping and take steps to address the issue. This is vital to safety. As you can see, there are countless reasons why using these environmental sensors are important. An environmental sensor utilizes various sensors to detect each of these categories in a single device to protect buildings and their occupants.

The song that has the most important message to me is The Fragile by Nine Inch Nails. To me, this song is about trying to save someone who is severely depressed and hopeless. I can personally relate to the lyrics,” She reads the minds of all the people as they pass her by…Hoping someone can see…” I relate to this because my depression and anxiety make me think that people are talking about me, and I wish some of these people could see what I've been going through and help me. The comfort I desire is perfectly described in this song. I want someone who’ll keep me afloat and understands what these mental illnesses are like. Another lyric in this song that brings me comfort is, “It's something I have to do…I won't let you fall apart…I was there, too... Before everything else… I was like you…” In other words, the artist is saying that he understands and has even dealt with depression before and won’t let us go down that road of destruction. He wants to be there for us when we need it the most and this fact alone helps me be at peace with myself. Last but not least, the most important lyrics in this song to me are” In a world full of ugliness...She matters…When everything is meaningless…” This relays the message that the listeners matter in a world that rejects and takes everything from us. He’s also saying that even when he sees everything as meaningless, we come in as a light and give him purpose again. It just shows how much we benefit from each other. The listeners gain comfort while the artist gains purpose. I hope that this song that I've shared, brings others comfort as it did to me.

Volunteering and advocating have changed my mindset by showing me that being caring and at service to others brings a joyous feeling. I used not to care as much for others when I was younger, and when I started volunteering I saw that I was missing out on a great opportunity. This allows me to help and get to know different types of people. I feel good knowing that I am helping others who are not as fortunate as I am. I think that if we all helped each other out in times of need, the world would be more peaceful and a better place. For instance, I volunteered for the Trevor Project. While volunteering for them, I’ve helped people online who’ve shared their stories of not being accepted. I’ve told these people to be strong because if they let this get to them, it won’t end well. I suggested that if they felt like they needed someone to talk to, they could contact me or call the Trevor project hotline. When they called the said hotline, I would help them with whatever crisis they might’ve been going through. Whether that be with family, friends, personal or anything else. I was glad that I could provide some sort of comfort to these people and they were glad that they had someone to talk to. This organization was the main component of my mindset changing, this experience showed me that kindness and volunteerism can go a long way. In addition to this, I also volunteer for my local animal shelter. I go there every summer, every week and help clean the cages and rooms. I play with the cats and dogs that reside there, giving them company. I’ve donated items such as toys, beds, food, cat litter, cleaning supplies and bathing supplies. These animals deserve a family who’ll love them and a place to call home. This is why I am willing to volunteer for my local shelter during college. This scholarship would help me financially because I come from a low-income household and I need all the help I can get to afford college and my dream career. I’ve been working to help pay for college, but even that won’t be enough to cover everything. I am glad that these types of scholarships exist because it gives people who are in the same situation as I am, a chance to thrive and prosper. It also gives me a chance to share the work that I am proud of. Volunteering has given me purpose and I want to continue this passion of mine as I get older.

My experience with my mental health has affected my beliefs, relationships and career aspirations in a negative aspect. I suffer from severe depression, anxiety, ADHD and mild Tourettes which makes living life even harder than it should be. These things first started to affect my relationships with my past friends, who either took advantage of the fact that I wasn’t normal or simply pushed them away. Luckily, the ones who took advantage of me, are no longer my “friends” nor do I see them at all anymore. But, the other half was my fault, my brain has a funny way of thinking and I thought to myself that these people that I called friends, didn’t truly care or see me as their friend. It was always the voice that nagged at me in the back of my head and sadly I believed it for a good while. This belief in the voice caused me to push a lot of people away and made me feel lonely. I was losing all my friends because of the state that I put myself in. The good part is that I am slowly starting to make relationships with new friends and I am learning that not everything the voice tells me is true. It is not only relationships with friends though, I started closing myself off from my family as well. They were worried about me when I didn’t talk to them at all, staying in my room. They had to confront me so I could snap out of whatever state I was in, and I am glad they did because I feel better about myself now. Another struggle I had was with my beliefs and career aspirations. My depression made me think that I wasn’t good enough to do anything or I was too late when doing something. These thoughts made me rethink the career I wanted and It took me a while to figure out what I liked because I lost the motivation to pursue anything. My positive beliefs about myself shifted to negative beliefs and I started to become a shell of myself. It took me a while to admit that I had a problem with my mental state, but when I did admit it, I got a therapist and she has been wonderful and understanding of what I am going through. I still get anxious a lot, but the medication I’ve been taking has been helping me tone it down a lot. My depression still affects me daily, more days than I’d like it to, but I am finally learning how to combat it and how to cope with it healthily. I am glad that this scholarship exists because it gives people like me, a chance to grow and prosper despite the circumstances that we are going through. This scholarship helps get rid of the mental health stigmas that a lot of people still have and still experience. We should not be afraid to speak up about the mental health crisis that is increasing and we should find a viable solution to this crisis.

Integrity to me means being trustworthy, reliable, and decent in our dealings with others. It means being true to ourselves. When we are guided by integrity our actions align with our principles; our thoughts and words are in sync with each other. It becomes the basis for our reputation as well as our self-esteem. I have shown examples of this by volunteering and standing up for my community. I advocated for my local LGBTQ+ community offline and online by donating and volunteering to the Trevor Project. I’ve helped those online who’ve shared their stories of not being accepted. I’ve told these people to be strong because if they let this get to them, it won’t end well. I suggested that if they felt like they needed someone to talk to, they could contact me or call the Trevor project hotline. They were thankful that someone understood what they were going through, and I was thankful that I could provide comfort to them. I have also helped friends feel accepted for who they were by being there for them when they were coming out to their families. Some of my friends weren't accepted by their loved ones and I was there to make sure they were okay and coped with it healthily. In addition to this, I also volunteer for my local animal shelter. I go there every summer, every week and help clean the cages and rooms. I play with the cats and dogs that reside there, giving them company. I’ve donated items such as toys, beds, food, cat litter, cleaning supplies and bathing supplies. These animals deserve a family who’ll love them and a place to call home. This is why I am willing to volunteer for my local shelter even during college. Advocating for my local communities brings me so much joy because I know that I am making a difference even if the step or donation is small. It is going towards a cause that is bigger than me. I want to be able to provide comfort to people who need it in their lives.

The change that I want to see everywhere is getting rid of the discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community. My lived experiences and personal advocacy inspired me to get involved in this fight and help others gain the opportunity to speak out, be themselves and love others without being afraid. My experiences showed me just how much people are still afraid of the change that the new generations are bringing. I have seen people online and in-person protest against the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. I think that is not a reflection on us, but a reflection on those protestors, who are afraid to change their mindset. They were taught that being LGBTQ+ is wrong, when in fact it isn’t; love has no bounds, rules or shapes. So, why do we need to suppress those who love others? It doesn’t make sense. I advocated for the LGBTQ+ community offline and online by donating and volunteering to the Trevor Project. I’ve helped those online who’ve shared their stories of not being accepted. I’ve told these people to be strong and keep moving forward because if they let this get to them, it won’t end well. I suggested that if they felt like they needed someone to talk to, they could contact me or call up the Trevor project hotline. I’ve witnessed people develop major depression because they weren’t accepted by loved ones, and I didn’t want these same people online to put themselves in that state because their peers and families denied them. They were thankful that someone understood what they were going through, and I was thankful that I could provide some sort of comfort to them. I have also helped friends feel accepted for who they were by being there for them when they were coming out to their family and peers. Some of my friends weren't accepted by their loved ones and I was there to make sure they were okay and coped with it healthily. I supported them and gave them a shoulder to lean on. In addition to this, I also regularly volunteer for my local animal shelter. I go there every summer, every week and help clean the cages and rooms. I also play with the cats and dogs that reside there, giving them company. I’ve donated items such as toys, beds, food, cat litter, cleaning supplies and bathing supplies to the shelter as well. These animals deserve a family who’ll love them and a place to call home. This is why I am willing to volunteer for my local shelter even during college. I want to help these animals find happiness. Advocating for these communities and supporting them brings me so much joy because I know that I am making a difference even if the step or donation is small. It is going towards a cause that is bigger than me. I want to be able to provide some sort of comfort to people and animals who need it in their lives. This world needs more people who are willing to be brave, step up for their communities and speak out against hatred and discrimination.

First, I am an 18-year-old high school senior who is graduating in May of 2023. I am a person who is very involved in my community and I like to visit my local animal shelter every summer to help out. These animals deserve a family who’ll love them and a place to call home. This is why I am willing to volunteer, I want to help them find happiness. After I graduate high school, I look to volunteer for the Trevor Project. I am a person who identifies as bisexual and I want to help other LGBTQ+ youths feel comfortable in their genders and sexual orientations. Doing this would bring me so much joy because I would be helping a cause that I truly believe in. Most of all, I wanted to pursue a degree in Forensics: Criminal Justice. The reason why I chose this degree is that as a kid I have always been interested in this type of work. I would watch Forensic Files and other crime-solving television shows. This would cause me to research different types of jobs relating to forensic science, and doing this allowed me to stumble upon Forensic Technicians. These Technicians would not only work in the lab but would also go out to the crime scenes and work with the police force to solve crimes. I thought that since I wanted to investigate things and work as a scientist, why not combine the two? Therefore, I decided to become a Forensic Technician. To achieve this goal, I would have to find the right college that had a great forensic program. This led me to the University of Southern Mississippi, I saw that they had tons of programs in the forensic realm and they were also ranked extremely high. I knew that this was the college that I wanted to learn from and study at. Luckily for me, I got accepted into the school when I applied. I’ve also met a great roommate who is going to be studying forensics with me. The staff was also extremely friendly and answered any questions that I had about the forensic programs they offered. Given these points, I am hopeful that I will succeed in college and gain the degree that I desire. This degree would allow me to experiment, research, investigate and most importantly, help people who have been wronged. If I win this scholarship, I will use it to help me achieve these dreams that I have had since I was a kid. I’ll also use my degree to help my community by providing closure and peace to families who have lost someone to the increasing crime rates in my city. I wish to make my state a better and safer place.

My experience with my mental health has affected me in a negative aspect. I suffer from severe depression, anxiety, and ADHD which makes living life even harder than it should be. My depression especially started to affect my relationships with my past friends, who either took advantage of the fact that I wasn’t normal or simply pushed them away. Luckily, the ones who took advantage of me, are no longer my “friends” nor do I see them at all anymore. But, the other half was my fault, my brain has a funny way of thinking and I thought to myself that these people that I called friends, didn’t truly care or see me as their friend. It was always the voice that nagged at me in the back of my head and sadly I believed it for a good while. This belief in the voice caused me to push a lot of people away and made me feel lonely. I was losing all my friends because of the state that I put myself in. The good part is that I am slowly starting to make relationships with new friends and I am learning that not everything the voice tells me is true. It is not only relationships with friends though, I started closing myself off from my family as well. They were worried about me when I didn’t talk to them at all, staying in my room. They had to confront me so I could snap out of whatever state I was in, and I am glad they did because I now have a wonderful therapist who understands and helps me with what I am going through. My depression still affects me daily, more days than I’d like it to, but I am finally learning how to combat it and how to cope with it healthily. Another struggle I had was with my anxiety. My anxiety would hold me back from doing a lot of things because I didn’t want to fail. I tend to overthink things a lot which sometimes leads me to have anxiety attacks. These attacks would make me shiver and make me feel deathly scared for no reason. It got to the point where I couldn’t function properly, so I decided to talk to my doctor and I got help for it. I am thankful to these professionals because they helped me gain some type of normalcy in my life. I currently use these said experiences to help online communities and my friends whenever they are going through rough patches. I provide comfort to these people, share mental health resources with them and provide hotlines. I donate to local and national mental health campaigns to get rid of the stigmas surrounding these issues. I am also glad that this scholarship exists because it gives people like me, a chance to grow and prosper despite the circumstances that we are going through. This scholarship helps get rid of the mental health stigmas that a lot of people still have and still experience. We should not be afraid to speak up about the mental health crisis that is increasing and we should find a viable solution to this said crisis.

My experience with my mental health has affected my beliefs, relationships and career aspirations in a negative aspect. I suffer from severe depression, anxiety, and ADHD which makes living life even harder than it should be. My depression especially started to affect my relationships with my past friends, who either took advantage of the fact that I wasn’t normal or simply pushed them away. Luckily, the ones who took advantage of me, are no longer my “friends” nor do I see them at all anymore. But, the other half was my fault, my brain has a funny way of thinking and I thought to myself that these people that I called friends, didn’t truly care or see me as their friend. It was always the voice that nagged at me in the back of my head and sadly I believed it for a good while. This belief in the voice caused me to push a lot of people away and made me feel lonely. I was losing all my friends because of the state that I put myself in. The good part is that I am slowly starting to make relationships with new friends and I am learning that not everything the voice tells me is true. It is not only relationships with friends though, I started closing myself off from my family as well. They were worried about me when I didn’t talk to them at all, staying in my room. They had to confront me so I could snap out of whatever state I was in, and I am glad they did because I feel better about myself now. Another struggle I had was with my beliefs and career aspirations. My depression made me think that I wasn’t good enough or I would never amount to anything. These thoughts made me rethink the career I wanted and It took me a while to figure out what I liked because I lost the motivation to pursue anything. My positive beliefs about myself shifted to negative beliefs and I started to become a shell of myself. It took me a while to admit that I had a problem with my mental state, but when I did, I got a therapist and she has been wonderful and understanding of what I am going through. I still get anxious a lot, but the medication I’ve been taking has been helping me. My depression still affects me daily, more days than I’d like it to, but I am finally learning how to combat it and how to cope with it healthily. I currently use these said experiences to help online communities and my friends whenever they are going through rough patches. I provide comfort to these people, share mental health resources with them and provide hotlines. I donate to local and national mental health campaigns to get rid of the stigmas surrounding these issues. I am glad that this scholarship exists because it gives people like me, a chance to grow and prosper despite the circumstances that we are going through. This scholarship helps get rid of the mental health stigmas that a lot of people still have and still experience. We should not be afraid to speak up about the mental health crisis that is increasing and we should find a viable solution to this said crisis.

I can personally attest to this question because of my family. My family has been rooted in a religious background that taught them that being part of the LGBTQ+ community is wrong and sinful. Knowing this fact, I was afraid to come out to anyone who was related to me because of the chance that they could disown me or never speak to me again. It took me a while to gain the courage and strength to come out to my mom, but eventually, I did. While the outcome of my coming out to her wasn’t the worst, it also wasn’t the best. She denied that I was bisexual and told me that I was confused, which in hindsight hurt because I knew that what I felt was real and not just me being confused. I didn’t hold this statement against her though, I knew that she was raised in a generation and believes in a religion that condemns people like me. My stepmother was more accepting of me than my mother was, which I am extremely thankful for. I didn’t let this situation get to me, I was able to move forward because I realized just how many people related to my story and were accepting of me. I had to convince myself that loving the same gender was okay and that I shouldn't be ashamed of it. It took me a while to view myself in a positive light and accept myself for who I was. Another hardship that I had was in 2019. I was a freshman in high school and I was getting bullied a lot. This bullying led me to a state of severe depression and I started to become a shell of myself during that period. I wouldn’t come out of my room as often and I was pushing people away more at school and home. I developed a voice that would nag and spew negativities at me. I started to believe that what it said was true because I wasn’t my normal self. This led to me losing some of my friendships and it made me push away my family members who were worried about me. After this fact, I decided that I needed someone to talk to so I started opening up to my online friends, and they helped me tremendously. They helped me get through my difficulties and convinced me to seek professional help. I took their advice and got a therapist and am getting the help I need to combat this mental illness. This isn’t the only instance of hardships with my mental health. Another instance would be in 2021 when my depression hit me in full force. I became worse than I was in 2019 and I became bedridden due to the fact that I couldn’t find any motivation to get up. I was filled with anxiety at the time due to taking driving lessons, which ultimately affected the score that I got on my driving test. This anxiety would make my depression worse and I coped with it unhealthily. My family saw that something was up with me because like before, I wouldn’t leave my room and I would nap all the time. My dad decided to confront me and I told him everything. This led me to get put on a watch and I had to go to therapy every week. I am truly thankful for his confrontation because if he didn’t confront me then I wouldn’t have gotten better or recovered. I had to learn that I shouldn’t let my depression control me.

My lived experiences and personal advocacy contributed to change for me and others by allowing me and other people to speak out and not be afraid of being themselves and loving others. The experiences that I lived showed me just how much people are still afraid of the change that has been brought on by the new generations. I have seen people online and in-person protest (mainly by the older generations) against the rights of the LGBTQ+ community and I think that it is not a reflection on us, but a reflection on those protestors, they are afraid to change their mindset. They were taught that being LGBTQ+ is wrong, when in fact it isn’t, love has no bounds, rules or shapes. So, why do we need to suppress those who love others? It doesn’t make sense. I can personally attest to the statement I just made because of my family. My family has been rooted in a religious background that taught them that being part of the LGBTQ+ community is wrong and sinful. Knowing this fact, I was afraid to come out to anyone who was related to me because of the chance that they could disown me or never speak to me again. It took me a while to gain the courage and strength to come out to my mom, but eventually, I did. While the outcome of my coming out to her wasn’t the worst, it also wasn’t the best. She denied that I was bisexual and told me that I was confused, which in hindsight hurt because I knew that what I felt was real and not just me being confused. I didn’t hold this statement against her though, I knew that she was raised in a generation and believes in a religion that condemns people like me. I didn't let this bring me down, I kept moving forward, knowing that I don’t have to be bound by what my family says about me. I also know my experience is not as bad as others’ experiences, and some people get it way worse than I’ve got it. This is why I want to help people who feel as though they can’t be accepted because that simply isn’t true. There are a lot of people in this world who support the LGBTQ+ community. I advocated for the community by donating to the Trevor Project and helping people online who’ve shared their stories of not being accepted. I’ve told these people to be strong and keep moving forward because if they let this get to them then it won’t end well. I suggested that if they felt like they needed someone to talk to, they could contact me or call up the Trevor project hotline. They were thankful that someone understood what they were going through. I have also helped friends feel accepted for who they were by being there for them when they were coming out to their family and peers. Some of my friends weren't accepted by their loved ones and I was there to make sure they were okay and coped with it healthily. I supported them and gave them a shoulder to lean on. I wanted them to know that it was okay to be themselves and love others. I want to volunteer for the Trevor Project and attend pride parades when I go to college since I can’t do that while living with my family. Advocating for this community has brought me so much pride and joy because I know that I am helping people who are not as fortunate as I am.

My experience with my mental health has affected my worldviews, relationships and goals in a negative aspect. I suffer from severe depression, anxiety, ADHD and mild Tourettes which makes living life even harder than it should be. These things first started to affect my relationships with my past friends, who either took advantage of the fact that I wasn’t normal or simply pushed them away. Luckily, the ones who took advantage of me, are no longer my “friends” nor do I see them at all anymore. But, the other half was my fault, my brain has a funny way of thinking and I thought to myself that these people that I called friends, didn’t truly care or see me as their friend. It was always the voice that nagged at me in the back of my head and sadly I believed it for a good while. This belief in the voice caused me to push a lot of people away and made me feel lonely. I was losing all my friends because of the state that I put myself in. The good part is that I am slowly starting to make relationships with new friends and I am learning that not everything the voice tells me is true. It is not only relationships with friends though, I started closing myself off from my family as well. They were worried about me when I didn’t talk to them at all, staying in my room. They had to confront me for me to snap out of whatever state I was in, and I am glad they did because I feel better about myself now. My worldviews and goals are different now because of my mental health struggles. I see more of the negative sides of the world now than I use to. I think that my negative thoughts towards myself cause the thoughts I have had about the world to become negative too. I realized how corrupt people can be and how evil they can be toward others. I distinguish the bad more than the good. These views have also affected my goals because I see that there is more competition which makes me feel as though I won't make it or I won't have a chance to succeed which causes my anxiety to spiral. These thoughts make me lose motivation for everything and cause my goals to dwindle. The big dreams that I have had in the past started to become smaller because of my mental health struggles. I have learned that I may not be able to handle these things on my own and I have and am continuing to get professional help for my issues, which is helping me get better. I am glad that this scholarship exists because it gives people like me, a chance to grow and prosper despite the circumstances that we are going through. This scholarship helps get rid of the mental health stigmas that a lot of people still have and still experience. We should not be afraid to speak up about the mental health crisis that is increasing and we should find a viable solution to this crisis.

My experience with my mental health has affected my beliefs, relationships and career aspirations in a negative aspect. I suffer from severe depression, anxiety, ADHD and mild Tourettes which makes living life even harder than it should be. These things first started to affect my relationships with my past friends, who either took advantage of the fact that I wasn’t normal or simply pushed them away. Luckily, the ones who took advantage of me, are no longer my “friends” nor do I see them at all anymore. But, the other half was my fault, my brain has a funny way of thinking and I thought to myself that these people that I called friends, didn’t truly care or see me as their friend. It was always the voice that nagged at me in the back of my head and sadly I believed it for a good while. This belief in the voice caused me to push a lot of people away and made me feel lonely. I was losing all my friends because of the state that I put myself in. The good part is that I am slowly starting to make relationships with new friends and I am learning that not everything the voice tells me is true. It is not only relationships with friends though, I started closing myself off from my family as well. They were worried about me when I didn’t talk to them at all, staying in my room. They had to confront me to snap me out of whatever state I was in, and I am glad they did because I feel better about myself now. Another struggle I had was with my beliefs and career aspirations. My depression made me think that I wasn’t good enough to do anything or I was too late when doing something. These thoughts made me rethink the career I wanted and It took me a while to figure out what I liked because I lost the motivation to pursue anything. My positive beliefs about myself shifted to negative beliefs and I started to become a shell of myself. It took me a while to admit that I had a problem with my mental state, but when I did admit it, I got a therapist and she has been wonderful and understanding of what I am going through. I still get anxious a lot, but the medication I’ve been taking has been helping me tone it down a lot. My depression still affects me daily, more days than I’d like it to, but I am finally learning how to combat it and how to cope with it healthily. I am glad that this scholarship exists because it gives people like me, a chance to grow and prosper despite the circumstances that we are going through. This scholarship helps get rid of the mental health stigmas that a lot of people still have and still experience. We should not be afraid to speak up about the mental health crisis that is increasing and we should find a viable solution to this crisis.