With all the events that are currently happening in the world, it is safe to say that the mental health of thousands of individuals is declining at the fastest rate that it has in previous decades. In my experience, the topic of mental health is something with which I have a close connection. Mental illness is a disease that can spread from the victim to the ones they love most. Support groups and organizations for youth and adults, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Better Help, and Active Minds, have made a world of difference in how society addresses the topic. Unfortunately, America is notoriously known for its barriers to accessible and affordable health care and all the areas under this field of care, including mental health. To me, the healthcare system in this country seems more like a business than general healthcare, given that most mental health professionals, over 90%, do not provide their clients with the option to use insurance as a way of covering service costs. As an advocate for all things mental health-related, I am passionate about providing information on this topic to raise awareness and decrease the stigma surrounding mental illness. Some unique contributions that I would make to the world to make mental health care more affordable and accessible for those in need would include promoting the use of community organizations, national hotlines, and mental health platforms, all of which are free.

I am a survivor of mental illness and suicidal attempts. The topic of mental health is starting to become a less nuanced subject and has gained more awareness in the past few years. Although I was not able to share my story before due to the negative stigma attached, I feel that I am ready now to speak my truth and talk about the most authentic aspects of my experience. Through multiple therapist interviews, mental hospital visits, diagnoses, and medication adjustments, it seemed that I would never be able to feel that my life was worth living. I’ve experienced some intense bullying and racial tensions that led to an inferiority complex that made me feel as though my life was useless. It wasn’t until the year 2018 that I decided to execute my first suicide attempt. It was one of the lowest points in my life. This was also the year that I first started inflicting self-harm. With the stresses of dealing with racial aggressions and starting the college application process soon, I felt that I couldn’t handle another year of this pain. Even as I type this, it’s evident that it's still a sensitive issue that I try to work through daily. 2018 was the first year that I ever visited a mental health hospital, but I’m glad to say that I received good care and a proper diagnosis of my mental illness that at least allowed me to find more appropriate ways of handling this issue. There have been many sleepless and lonely nights, countless emotional breakdowns, and way too many days missed from school, all due to the battle I had within my mind. As can be assumed, my mental illness created hardship with school, my familial and romantic relationships, and my ability to see a brighter future, or at least one with an ounce of light. Looking back on it, I now view this era in my life as my “ocean view”. One of the therapists that I had helped me to discover ways of creating a sense of balance when dealing with this disease, and she made me discover that I wanted to view life as an ocean because the waves never stay permanently still or permanently unstable. There are always going to be peaceful and calming moments where the waters glisten on the surface and there’s a harmonious rhythm in the push and pull of the waves. Likewise, there are also always going to be hostile and dangerous moments where the waters are unforgiving and swallow any ounce of light that had been present moments or days before. The main takeaway is that I, and anyone on this plane of existence, will never be completely happy every single day or completely crestfallen as well. Life is always changing, and that’s one of the beauties of it that I couldn’t see before. The medicine I am currently taking has made me see life in a whole new light. I can now cope much better than I was able to in the past, and it feels like the difference between night and day. My experiences with my mental health have been extremely challenging but have made me realize that there is nothing I want more than to be an advocate for those who have ever felt that there was no hope, and that’s why I want to pursue a legal career in human rights. Even with one of the hardest mental illnesses to control, I can confidently say that I am handling my mental health far better than I ever thought I would be able to.

In the words of Beyonce, “America Has a Problem.” Growing up in the city of Memphis, Tennessee, I experienced the concept of culture shock when I transitioned from the predominantly African American population to PWIs, or predominantly white institutions, in the Collierville school system. During this time, I experienced an abundance of micro- and macro-aggressions that resulted in me feeling as though I would not be able to succeed in any career that I pursued. This feeling of inferiority was caused mainly by my peers that did not look like me and by authority figures such as teachers and staff that have been reported on local news channels for their lack of action in executing diversity inclusion initiatives. It was not until last year that I discovered that I had been a victim of racial trauma. As an African American female, overcoming adversity is a reality that I must face every single day. African American women, on average, continue to face the bulk of racism, gender discrimination, and socioeconomic stratification compared to other demographics. When pursuing my undergraduate degree in business administration, I decided to take a personality assessment to discover career paths that might be better aligned for me. With that said, I found that I have an INFJ-T personality type, meaning that I have more introverted, intuitive, feeling, judging, and turbulent qualities rather than extroverted, sensory, thinking, and perceiving qualities. After doing some research on this personality type, I was shocked to find that it is the rarest personality type that one could have, with only 1% to 3% of the U.S. population possessing it. Known as the "advocates", certain renowned individuals with the INFJ-T personality type, like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, and Nelson Mandela, left a huge mark on this world. It was interesting to learn this news because I have always wanted to make a huge difference in society the way these role models have. After graduating from the Collierville school district in 2019, I discovered that my experience was unfortunately common in many areas, like the Collierville school system. I want nothing more than to be of service to those who have ever felt discriminated against the way that I was, so I decided recently that I would like to further my education and pursue a career in the legal field for either environmental, human, or civil rights. All three of these legal practices are interconnected and can create a huge positive social impact. My goal after potentially receiving a law degree in one of these areas is to represent all those who are facing hardship from environmental or societal crises and get them the support and protection that we all need. The reason why these areas of law piqued my interest the most was due to how they are meant to provide humanitarian aid at the most basic level. All human beings should have access to air, water, food, shelter, and fundamental rights, and I would love to advocate for those who need them. Being a voice for anyone who does not have proper legal representation is something that has a deep meaning to me, and I will do everything in my power to ensure that no one has to be forced to face that kind of discrimination for an extended period of time.