Even the greatest actors can't always act happy all the time. Mental health should be prioritized. Our mental health and mental well-being should be cared for in the same way we care for our hearts. It is essential in how we live our lives, go about our days, how we show up in relationships with others and with ourselves. Mental illnesses and conditions can vary greatly and they can affect anyone from any race, religion, gender, age, or economic status. Additionally, according to SAMHSA, one in five American adults has experienced some sort of mental condition in the past year. The mental health crisis we are experiencing today is seemingly a silent epidemic. I believe my mental health is important because, from prior experience, my intrusive and unwanted thoughts have prevented me from experiencing pure joy and have limited me into believing I can't achieve greater things in my life. When my mental health was not in the best place, I experienced several times when self-doubt and low self-esteem took over. I couldn't envision a future where I would live out my childhood dreams or be happy for myself. This stopped me from pursuing opportunities that could've been fulfilling for me or opportunities that would've helped me further my personal and career goals. Something I've always wanted to do as a kid was to act and to be involved in the theater and performing arts. While this was always a constant dream of mine, growing up I was unfortunately plagued by something I didn't even know could exist. Moments of social anxiety and self-deprecating thoughts consumed my mind before I could even comprehend the possibility of my dreams turning into reality. It took me some time for me to realize what mental health really was. I owe this to my peers for educating me about mental health effects and how to combat them. Unintentionally, talking about our experiences and how we are feeling, gave me an education that I didn't know I needed to learn. Although my peers can not substitute professional help or care, they kickstarted my mental health journey by simply making me aware that these issues exist, that they are common, and that they are something you can get through and make positive progress in. Afterward, I began seeking help from healthcare providers and trusted professionals. I've started to gather help from others, and they have supported me in many, many ways. From the tools and advice I was grateful to be assisted with, I also began to realize that my mental wellness can be something I can control for myself too. I learned to show up for myself and to prioritize my wants and needs, which is something I couldn't comprehend or understand before. Something that is commonly discussed among mental health issues and topics, is the idea of healing your inner child and going back to your experiences and thoughts within your childhood. For me, I was drawn back to my dreams of acting and the theater. What was once a common fear of taking that step and putting myself out there in pursuing this endeavor, I found myself standing on stage my senior year of high school with self-confidence and self-compassion that I am worthy of this moment, and more importantly, that I am capable. While it was really cool to perform for others, I was most proud of how far I had come and that I had finally done something for myself. At that moment, while I acted on stage for the first time, ironically, I also stopped acting in my real life.

My favorite Disney character is Tiana from "The Princess and The Frog". I first watched "The Princess and The Frog" on my kindergarten field trip to the movies. I instantly was drawn to the main character Tiana as she was independent, caring, and able to make her dreams come true. From the first couple of scenes of the movie, Tiana is seen helping out those who are close to her. Tiana would help her close friend get ready for a ball, and it showed a tremendous display of care and friendship. Additionally, when she was little she would help her dad in the kitchen cooking gumbo and help her mom while she worked in the palace. I admired her will to help her parents and as a little girl watching that on screen, it inspired me to want to give back to my parents whenever those opportunities arise. Tiana is also very independent which is something I love most about her. Many other Disney princesses or female heroines may be characterized or seen as being dependent on male figures. While Tiana did have a romantic interest and a male counterpart in Prince Naveen, all her success was because of her own doings. Even when I was growing up I had such strong opinions that Tiana never needed Naveen and that her finding true love was merely a bonus in her own journey. Tiana had her own restaurant business going for her and she already had strong relationships in her life such as her mom and best friend. Tiana had a great life even before Naveen and she achieved it all by being the independent woman she is. Furthermore, Tiana had so much grit in her and despite any hardships that came her way, she was able to achieve her dreams. No matter how long it took her, Tiana knew what she wanted and worked towards her restaurant. As a five-year-old sitting in theaters, I saw myself in Tiana. She had such high ambitions as a little girl and knew the goals she wanted to set for herself. Like Tiana, I hope to start my own business, be independent, and give back to my family and those close to me. Tiana will always be a favorite Disney character of mine, not only because of her personality and storyline but because she has always inspired me in more ways than one.

As a Filipino-American undergraduate student living in the Bay Area, CA, my AAPI culture means a lot. I grew up with immigrant parents and being surrounded by others who looked like me and had similar cultural backgrounds was instrumental in navigating life. My AAPI culture means being able to lean on community when time's get rough. Throughout my life I have seen an ongoing issue that not only affects the Filipino-American community, but the AAPI community at large. That issue is ongoing racism. I felt a deep calling to address this issue throughout high school, and I hope to continue this work while attending the University of California, Irvine. Witnessing hate crimes targeting those who look look like me and others in my community never sat right with me. I knew I had a voice to speak up about these issues, and I knew I had a community to help support these endeavors. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I became a Stop AAPI Hate Summer Youth Campaign paid intern. While working with Stop AAPI Hate, I tackled issues of racism within the context of the pandemic. I researched various academia and interviewed youth to understand their experiences with racism. I formulated written reports on my findings and designed curricula for the community to educate on racism. I was able to meet and learn from other AAPI youth members on how to combat these issues that pertain to our communities both locally and nationally. I learned the value in using your voice and uplifting others to help and support the AAPI community. Furthermore, my AAPI culture also means carrying on traditions and continuing a legacy of family, community, and heritage. During my sophomore year in high school, I applied and was accepted to partake in the Ethnic Studies and Social Justice Academy (ESSJ). ESSJ is only one of two programs in the country where our curriculum emphasizes an ethnic studies and social justice approach. We are provided with opportunities to learn about our own history and other BIPOC communities' history. I have learned from guest speakers, activists in our communities, and other ESSJ scholars. I have collaborated with others on campaigns and projects such as highlighting our immigrant parents' stories. There was a high emphasis in knowing where you came from and honoring the sacrifices made in your communities. As an ESSJ scholar, I have worked with these intentions in mind by producing multicultural fairs at my high school and creating projects that would later be featured at Ethnic Studies Nights highlighting students' work. Through being in this program, I have learned the importance of keeping our AAPI heritage strong for generations to come and have learned the value in collaborating and sustaining strong connections with the our communities. Experiences with ESSJ and my internship have taught me valuable skills and have allowed me to grow closer with my AAPI community and culture. Firstly, I learned ways to effectively advocate for more anti-racism methods with my Filipino community in mind and with the intent to protect them from discriminant incidents. Additionally, I gained fundamental knowledge and a new-found appreciation of my AAPI culture. I was able to produce projects and campaigns to help preserve the heritage and culture of my Filipino community. I hope to carry my experiences and education as I’m motivated to continue helping my AAPI community to fight against any hardships that may arise while also continuing to honor our heritage.

My parents immigrated to the US for better opportunities, but how they are treated here hasn't been all ideal. Similar to my parents, many Filipino in America deal with racism. As a Filipino-American I hope to make a positive impact on the community by curating preventative measures against racism. An issue that affects the Fil-Am community is ongoing racism. I felt a deep calling to address this issue throughout high school as I would witness those close to me being called slurs and online videos of other Filipinos dealing with hate crimes. I hope to continue the work of ending racism in the the Fil-Am community while studying at UC Irvine. During high school, I was accepted into the Ethnic Studies and Social Justice Academy (ESSJ). Being an ESSJ scholar has provided opportunities for me to learn about my Filipino ancestry. I researched my heritage and issues that pertain to our communities, like racism. I took my findings and collaborated with other students to spotlight the issues of racism through open discussions, campaigns, and web pages. Additionally, I became a Stop AAPI Hate Summer Youth Campaign intern during the summer of quarantine. I chose to become involved with this work after a rise in racist incidents among the Asian-American and Pacific Islander community. I researched various academia and interviewed youth to understand their experiences with racism. I formulated written reports on my findings and designed curricula for the community to educate on racism. Experiences with ESSJ and my internship have taught me valuable skills, and I learned ways to effectively advocate for more anti-racism methods with my Filipino community in mind and with the intent to protect them from discriminant incidents. Additionally, I gained fundamental knowledge from mentors, guest speakers, and renowned activists. I hope to carry my experiences and education as I’m motivated to continue helping my Filipino community to fight against racism. This scholarship would help provide me the resources to be educated on my Filipino ancestry, the issues they face in regards to racism and other related hardships, and how to better connect and serve my community.