"YOU ARE WHAT YOU ALLOW YOURSELF TO DREAM" I have written this quote when I have realized that many of us don't accomplish great things in life only because we believe that we are incapable. Many of us think that our talents are not good enough to be recognized, and therefore we leave them to rot, never reaching our potential. Believing in your abilities sets you up for success while believing that you're incompetent ensures your failure. After I have realized this for myself and taken in this message, I have done many great things that I never thought were possible! If people would recognize their strengths and realize how much they can do, the world would benefit greatly.

My favorite scientist is the Psychologist Sigmund Freud. He believed that many problems stem from the unconscious mind and therefore developed the psychoanalytic theory. It focuses on the role of a person’s unconscious, as well as early childhood experiences. He realized that understanding the unconscious mind was critical to understand conscious behavior. He is my favorite scientist because of his contribution to the study of psychology, and I've found his theory to be true in all areas of my emotional brain.

Many people are suffering mentally. And they need help. But they're not getting it! Only because they are afraid of being labeled. My closest friend has finally agreed to be evaluated. She is clearly suffering from a mood disorder or depression but refused to seek help. She was afraid of being diagnosed. Afraid of being stigmatized. Afraid of being labeled as "crazy" or "psycho". This fear of others held her back from receiving the help she so desperately needed. As her best friend, I have seen her suffering tremendously. Her moods are seriously interfering with her daily life. And this has been going on for more than a year! It has taken her so long to agree and has finally booked an appointment with a psychiatrist. Who knows what the ramifications of ignoring mental health issues are? How much needless suffering are people being forced through? Just because of a stigma??? Why can't people be accepting and understanding? Mental illness can happen to anyone and isn't the person's fault! They are not deranged or lunatic. They are regular people! Just like a physical illness, the person isn't at fault, it's uncontrollable, and can happen to anyone, so too is a mental illness! It doesn't make the person bad. This lack of understanding is bothering me tremendously. I believe that we have to separate the illness from the person. The person isn't crazy. Their illness is not who they are. Their illness is making them act psychotic, but that's not their essence. They are regular people who have a disease. And diseases have cures! Once stabilized, they are no different than other "normal people". Don't believe me? Start bringing such people into your life, and will see the proof for yourselves. My experience has taught me to be nonjudgmental and accepting. I hope to use my awareness in the future to help others. I plan to continue fighting against this stigma. It has also shown me the ramifications of not seeking psychological help. I hope to encourage many people to get the help they need.

There's an event that has stayed clear in my mind. And its lesson will remain etched in my heart forever. The moment I realized to love myself, and my faults. The moment that I resolved to stop self-criticizing. I was lying face down in bed, burying my tear-streaked face in my pillow. My body heaving from pain, and my breath ragged in a choking sensation. I just underwent yet another taunting session, at the hands of my wonderful older sister. And no one stopped it! Not one person stood up for me! I was stuck in the car with my family for 2 hours with no escape route when she started her verbal attack. She made a laughingstock of me, by making jokes at my expense. She called me all sorts of names. Ranging from outrageous like “piggy” and “downy”, to “stupid” and “slow”. This torment session was one of the worst because I couldn’t get out. It was so painful! I even had to put my head down in the car, because the tears suddenly came down without my consent. This was way before I was aware that I was being verbally abused. Lying in bed, I realized that I was on her side in the fight against me. I realized that I had started name-calling – myself! I’d tell myself that I was “stupid, dumb, and slow”. And I was even repeating her very own words! I was joining the opposing side! I wasn’t even on my own side at all. I had been so self-critical! I had been so self-loathing! At that moment, I resolved to be on my own side no matter what. I can make the biggest mistake, and remain self-compassionate. I can choose to love myself unconditionally. I can be aware of my faults, and still love myself the same. I have developed a technique that I call “reflect and let go”. If I did something that I regret, I would first reflect on it and decide what my mistake was, and what lessons were there to be learned for next time. Then, I would let go. I would stop obsessing over the incident, telling myself I had already learned my lesson. Rather than hate myself, and call myself “stupid”, I’d practice self-compassion. I have gained a new perspective on life. I’m so happy for finding this new way of thinking. The benefits of this perspective have already proved themselves. I am a much happier person than I used to be. I have so much more confidence than I used to have. Practicing self-love is the best thing I could have ever done for myself, and will remain beneficial for the rest of my life. This perspective will remain with me forever and will allow me to make many accomplishments. Because as I always say, “I am only what I have the power to believe”. If I believe that I am “stupid, dumb, and slow”, where will I get in life? Only by remaining on my own side, and believing in my abilities, I will get to places. Hating myself and being self-critical will just leave me stuck. The only way to be successful in life is to remain on my side. As a first generation college student my determination for a real carrier is exceptional. I know I'll overcome whatever hurdles come my way, because I finally have the ability to believe in myself.

Many people have interests and talents that they may never make use of. Their individual gifts won't contribute to the world. It will just go to waste. How different would the world look today, if every human being would reach their true potential??? There are many reasons for this issue. People think they aren't capable enough, or lacking time, but most of all there's a lack of money. Finances tend to hold you back in every endeavor you'd wish to undertake. I too suffer from this problem. I know that I have so many talents that can contribute to the world, but they will never make a dent! If only money weren't the issue, I'd fulfill all my capabilities! I love to write music, and have a knack for playing new instruments. Picking up a violin for the first time, I played a song after only knowing the instrument for an hour! I can sit at the piano at home for hours, not realizing how much time is passing! I have also recorded many tunes, waiting to be edited by a music arranger. My writing abilities has contributed greatly toward my music path. I have an entire file of written songs waiting for their tune to be composed. And I have an amazing singing voice, and have been part of choirs my entire school years. I don't want to be in a choir anymore. I want to be a singer in my own right. But I am lacking the resources I desperately need to make this into a career. I have never received voice lessons or music lessons, due to lack of funds. I feel that this is holding me back tremendously. My dream is to attend a top music school and to turn this into a full-time career. I want to be a songwriter. I want to be a singer and sing the very music I composed. I need money for all this. But if I don't receive the funds I desperately need, all this talent will go to waste! There will never be any use of it. I will regret this lost opportunity for the rest of my life.