Sleep. Sleep. Sleep. Sleep. Sleep. Sleep is my mental care. It can be quite easy for the average college student to give up time from one area to give more time to study. My dad calls it " stealing from Bob to give to Jim". I am no stranger to doing the same. In my junior semester especially I had biochemistry and physics both classes were very time-consuming to study. I basically lived in the physics building that semester with how long I stayed there. I often stayed at school to study from 8 am to 8 pm sometimes 10. I still had this study schedule for some days this last semester, but I was much better to myself in regards of self-care. When I give up time I often choose to give up my sleep as it was quite easy for me when I was in high school. Now I'm older and I can't "hang" as my dad would say. I talked to my counselor this semester and told her about my habits, and she said that I should 'really focus on my sleep and go out and enjoy everything while I can during my undergrad' because I would be on a time crunch constantly in medical school. I thought about it and I realized how clouded my rationale and memory were, as well as, how easily I would get emotional or stressed when I gave up sleep. I since then focus more on getting at least 7 hours but I do try for 8. I also take naps after class or after large emotional events. I find that naps often ease my mood and help me feel relaxed, less stressed, and less panicked. I now advocate to all my peers the importance of sleep and often recommend naps.

Access to information and today's youth will change the world for the better. I am a strong proponent of how we need change within the: education, medical/healthcare, STEM, environment, and socioeconomic systems. I believe that if we make certain changes within these systems we can improve the world for the better. Today's youth and young adults really care about many of these topics as well, and today there are technology and apps like Tiktok and YouTube where people can share information easily as well as band together and rally for a cause they believe in. I'm most excited and hopeful to see and be a part of what the future holds in regards to evoking change. Overall, I think what we all really want is for all people to have equal rights, rights over their own bodies, to be treated fairly in every aspect of society, to have all be provided equal opportunities, and for everyone to be able to live without worry of where their next meal is going to be or where they will live. Life can often seem bleak, worrying if I will be able to make ends meet, If I will be able to find and own a home, If I will be in debt, If I will be able to reach my educational goals, find a job or if certain aspects such as being LGBTQ+ or women in STEM will affect my ability to get a job, If I can even fathom of having a family of my own due to the rising costs of everything in the world as well as will I have to work myself to death just to live. I imagine many others feel the same way, I know it's something I talk about often with my peers. As well as listening to the news about the War in Ukraine, situations, where people are discriminated against just for being who they are, are also quite downing and concerning. With today's technology, we are able to share information in second, as well as, have access to a lot more information. The world can always benefit from more educated people. With more informed and educated people in the world, we can come up with ideas to change systemic issues and make innovations to improve our world. Knowledge, communication, and compassion are powerful and compassion is something that today's youth embodies. The youth of today have so much compassion for socioeconomic, environmental, and human rights and that gives me hope. Along with the advancement of technology and the spread of information, and the compassion of the youth we have a strong setting for systemic change. Change is something I believe we strongly need in order to continue functioning as a society, and some changes are fundamental human rights that everyone deserves to have. With information being easily accessible and the compassion of the youth, we can make today's world better for all and that is what gives me hope.