I spent 5 years volunteering with Best Buddies International. This organization facilitates friendships with people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities. As president of my chapter, I raised over 200,000 dollars for charity, worked diligently with students and faculty to provide resources, assistance and tutoring. My work in this organization introduced me to the Democratic Party which bolstered me to an internship with a congressional campaign shortly after graduating high school. That year, I won Political Science MVP at school for my motivation shown in encouraging others to participate in voting, and for lobbying for increased SUNY funding in order to diversify college enrollment. I was not aware of how this was a distraction from my own mental health problems. When I was a junior in college, a friend committed suicide. This loss left me with so many unanswered questions. Her death shocked me. I never considered suicide but suddenly I began noticing the parts of life that might lead someone to suicide. It was as if the thought was contagious. Suddenly responsibilities seemed heavier on my shoulders. I sought sympathy everywhere I looked and often found none. Instead, I found other people who were struggling with mental health as well. I lost another friend and two close family members to overdose and suicide while I was in college. These experiences weighed heavier on my shoulders and have made me more entrapped in a mental health dilemma of my own. This tension ruined relationships as I felt like I needed to make everyone happy all the time or I was going to lose another friend. This was not good for my mental state and eventually drove me to a breakdown. Fortunately, my support network is strong and now I am getting help from a therapist. However, still I have been labeled with a diagnosis. Despite my advocacy, this makes me feel lesser. It also makes me aware of just how much good I did for others when I do volunteer and how a little bit of help improves someone's outlook on life.

Mental Health advocacy has brought me to amazing places. I first became involved in the democratic system by volunteering with Best Buddies International, a nonprofit organization led by the Kennedy Family. This organization facilitates friendship between people with intellectual and developmental disabilities with regularly matriculated students in order to bridge the divide between segregated classrooms and erase some of the stigma surrounding mental health disorders. My work in this area attracted the attention of my Congressman, Paul Tonko, who came to serve on the Congressional Mental Health Committee and then liaison the work of the committee with the regional Best Buddies presidents during fundraisers and social events. In this role, I raised over 200,000 dollars for charity by partnering with Alix and Ani. I worked diligently with students and faculty in order to provide resources, assistance, and tutoring for special needs students. My work in this organization introduced me to the democratic party which bolstered me to an internship with a congressional campaign shortly after graduating high school. That year, I won MVP in political science at SUNY Adirondack for my motivation shown in encouraging others to participate in voting, and for lobbying for increased SUNY funding in order to diversify college enrollment. While contributing to the political system through advocacy and volunteering, I was not aware of how this was a distraction from my own mental health problems. When I was a junior in college, I lost a best friend to suicide. This loss left me with so many unanswered questions. She was a beautiful and enthusiastic girl during her life. It shocked me to know that she would end her own life. I never considered suicide but suddenly I began noticing the parts of life that might lead someone to suicide. It was as if the thought was contagious. This was a new frame of mind, signaling out areas in my life that caused me less than perfect happiness. Suddenly responsibilities seemed heavier on my shoulders. One time labors of love became burdens. I sought sympathy everywhere I looked and often found none. Instead, I found other people who were struggling with mental health. My background in high school attracted people’s openness and willingness to share their demons with me. I lost one friend and two close family members to overdose and suicide while I was in college. These experiences weighed heavier on my shoulders and have made me more entrapped in a mental health dilemma of my own. I felt helpless but exhausted by taking on everyone else's problems without focusing on my own. This tension ruined relationships as I felt like I needed to make everyone happy all the time or I was going to lose another friend. I was shocked when other people harmed me because the experiences that I had would never permit me to hurt another person in any way. This was not good for my mental state and eventually drove me to a breakdown. Fortunately, my parents and my support network stepped in when they saw how terribly the experiences have weighed on me and now I am getting help from a therapist who listens to all of my concerns and encourages me to get better. However, still I have been labeled with a diagnosis and despite my advocacy, this makes me feel lesser. It also makes me aware of just how much good I did for others when I volunteered and how just a little bit of help improves someone's outlook on life.