I believe your mental health is the most important aspect of your overall health and everyone needs to recognize the huge impact it has on your daily existence. Without fully understanding how important your mental health is - you risk your physical health as it will manifest into poor quality sleep, high stress, over or under eating, low energy and depression. That is why my plan is to be a therapist - a plan I have just recently discovered after some real life experiences and the recognition of my skill to listen and show empathy for others. In first grade, I was tested for the gifted program but it wasn't until I was selected for the school district's full time gifted class in third grade that I found my people. These anxious, creative, funny, neurotic, often misunderstood classmates made sense to me. In high school I was a top performer but never seemed stressed out to my peers and often my friends would complain that I made it look easy. I was diagnosed with ADHD but it didn't slow me down in high school. My acceptance into a highly selective and competitive private college is where my ADHD stopped me in my tracks and sent me on a journey of discovery that included soul searching, counseling, and a parade of prescriptions meant to help keep me focused. What I have discovered is everyone has something. An issue that they need to manage, control or to embrace. The pandemic has had (and continues to have) a profound effect on the world, particularly college students. As a freshman in college, during the most influential growth opportunity of our lives, we were asked to distance ourselves to stay safe. This challenge exasperated deep seeded fears and struggles that are typical with young people finding their way. If one positive thing happened because of the pandemic - it was the universal discussion of mental health and ways to address it. In addition to taking advantage of the free counseling on campus, I also recognize the importance of sharing my troubles with my trusted peers, my supportive parents and sister, to help me manage my anxiety when I feel overwhelmed. In addition, this semester I am doing yoga and working out regularly which is great for your mental health. Although I recognize the importance of getting help when needed and staying active -- it doesn't mean it isn't a struggle to follow through sometimes. Working through my own issues led me to apply to be a Resident Assistant on campus. A position I feel puts my interpersonal skills front and center. This opportunity is a crash course in helping people navigate their social-emotional well-being and I take that responsibility very seriously. I have 25 students in my charge, twenty of which are freshmen. I am not that far removed from my own first-year experience and I know the value of a trusted resource, a sounding board and a mentor. Although everyone has something, I do feel like college students put a lot of undue pressure and demands on themselves and I completely understand those pressures. My hope is my experiences would be valuable and helpful to others.

I believe your mental health is the most important aspect of your overall health and everyone needs to recognize the huge impact it has on your daily existence. Without fully understanding how important your mental health is - you risk your physical health as it will manifest into poor quality sleep, high stress, over or under eating, low energy and depression. My plan is to be a therapist - a plan I have just recently discovered after some real life experiences and the recognition of my skill to listen and show empathy for others. In first grade, I was tested for the gifted program but it wasn't until I was selected for the school district's full time gifted class in third grade that I found my people. These anxious, creative, funny, neurotic, often misunderstood classmates made sense to me. In high school I was a top performer but never seemed stressed out to my peers and often my friends would complain that I made it look easy. I was diagnosed with ADHD but it didn't slow me down in high school. My acceptance into a highly selective and competitive private college is where my ADHD stopped me in my tracks and sent me on a journey of discovery that included soul searching, counseling, and a parade of prescriptions meant to help keep me focused. What I have discovered is everyone has something. An issue that they need to manage, control or to embrace. The pandemic has had (and continues to have) a profound effect on the world, particularly college students. As a freshman in college, during the most influential growth opportunity of our lives, we were asked to distance ourselves to stay safe. This challenge exasperated deep seeded fears and struggles that are typical with young people finding their way. If one positive thing happened because of the pandemic - it was the universal discussion of mental health and ways to address it. In addition to taking advantage of the free counseling on campus, I also recognize the importance of sharing my troubles with my trusted peers, my supportive parents and sister, to help me manage my anxiety when I feel overwhelmed. In addition, this semester I am doing yoga and working out regularly which is great for your mental health. Although I recognize the importance of getting help when needed and staying active -- it doesn't mean it isn't a struggle to follow through sometimes. Working through my own issues led me to apply to be a Resident Assistant on campus. A position I feel puts my interpersonal skills front and center. This opportunity is a crash course in helping people navigate their social-emotional well being and I take that responsibility very seriously. I have 25 students in my charge, twenty of which are freshmen. I am not that far removed from my own first-year experience and I know the value of a trusted resource, a sounding board and a mentor. Although everyone has something, I do feel like college students put a lot of undue pressure and demands on themselves and I completely understand those pressures. My hope is my experiences would be valuable and helpful to others.