The challenges I have faced throughout my life may not be as bad as others. I lived in a single-parent household, watched and saw a bunch of abuse and death and killings throughout my entire life. My mom tried her best to guide me into the right path but by the time she tried, I already grew adapted to the lifestyle I was living. Therefore she sent me to my dad, who was really never in my life, to begin with, so I knew it wouldn't last. I continued down the same path when I got there, but when I moved to Georgia, that's where I learned I could fight. Eventually, my dad told my mom he couldn't handle me anymore and he was done with me. He told her either let me come back to her or he was going to emancipate me. Out of the blue, my mom allowed me to come home. I ended up getting pregnant at 17 by someone who was very emotionally and physically abusive to me. He controlled everything I did, he used to toss me around when I didn't listen to him. I used to get beat on for everything "wrong" I did. This person kept me away from my family, told me they didn't love me or want me around because I was such a "dirty whore". I believed him, up until I was tossed down a flight of stairs by him and that same day at school he had a girl he was also sleeping with fight me. I was 8 months pregnant at this time. So I did what anybody my age would do if they could, I ran to my mom. She told me she was waiting for me to realize what was going on. I graduated from school early, I set a goal to graduate before my baby was born and that's what I did. Throughout my life, after that, I realized I had some type of mental issues but didn't want to say anything because I didn't want to be looked at as crazy. I didn't want my child taken away from me because I had mental health issues. I ended up getting the help I needed. I wanted to give up right away. I didn't want to keep going for help and leaving stressed about how I could afford that help. What was the point of the help I was receiving if I was just going to leave stressing about it even more? Some lady that became my mentor helped me find ways to pay for the cost of everything. That's what made me want to become a psychiatrist. That's what made me want to create my own practice for people who can't afford the help they need. For people who are labeled as minorities and who are scared to receive help. I want to use my life struggles and troubles and my ENTIRE story to help others. I want to help others realize maybe getting help could be useful, especially if it's affordable. I want to be the one that guides our youth to a better future. I will do whatever it takes to achieve this goal, no matter how long it takes. As long as I get it done I will be happy.