Taking care of myself both mentally and physically has been and will continue to be a challenge. I injured myself 7 times during my soccer career, one of which was a knee dislocation that makes me more susceptible to knee problems in the future. Also, I suffer from a mental illness that I will have to battle for life. However, over the course of my journey thus far, I have found a few habits and coping mechanisms that have not just gotten me through school but will also provide me with the much-needed balance I will need in order to accomplish my goals and more importantly live a happy life. Boxing- I have found nothing like training in the sport of boxing to release pent-up anger and stress. It provides an intense, goal-oriented physical challenge in which you can improve upon your technique daily and quite literally punch through any tormenting thoughts swirling around in your head. Exercise and Nutrition Tracking- I log everything I eat as well as every workout I complete throughout the week. This practice allows me to track how I treat my body while at school and hold myself accountable anytime I overeat or don’t get enough exercise on any given day. It feels great to know whether I’m getting the nutrients I need to perform the best I can in all of my classes. Self-Education- Reading books on improving your life can be needlessly cliché, but there are most definitely hidden gems out there that can lead to healthier ways of thinking. Some of my favorites are Shoe Dog by Phil Knight, creator of Nike, and Mindset by Carol Dweck Ph.D., professor of psychology at Stanford University. Shoe Dog is the story of how Phil Knight started Nike from the ground up and Mindset is an in-depth guide on breaking the hold of the fixed mindset and developing a growth mindset. Yoga- Yoga is more than simply stretching tight muscles to alleviate soreness. It in fact can be the start to improving things such as stress management, patience, reasoning, and mental flexibility through deep breathing and by connecting the body and mind as one. Meditation- Creating my own unique meditation routine has immensely aided my ability to focus, stay calm, and control my anger, all of which minimize stress and respond to my environment in a more compassionate, holistic way. Adopting these activities in my life while at college, has helped me tremendously with how I feel mentally, physically, and emotionally. In addition, what could have just been short-term hobbies eventually lost in an array of side tracks and distractions have turned into life-changing habits; indeed, habits that will lay the groundwork to live a both healthy and peaceful life after I graduate.

I have played soccer since I was 4 years old. In the beginning, I did not know anything about technique, style of play, or even the name of the positions. However, over time, the encouragement of my first real coach, the camaraderie of my teammates, and my work with the game inspired me to continue playing and learning about the game. I would take on fandom as I grew to love watching the Premier League and supporting the team I hold dear to my heart now, Chelsea FC. In addition, after 13 years of hard work and dedication, I have learned not only how to be a vocal leader of any team, but also how to persevere for the betterment of the unit. Indeed, more than just an intense passion, soccer has by far been the dedication that has taught me the most valuable lessons in my life thus far, providing me with moments that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. More importantly, I believe the game ingrained in me integral values such as work ethic and discipline that will allow me to accomplish any life goal I set. My experience playing soccer is undoubtedly why I wanted to obtain a sport-related degree. However, juggling soccer and academics made me want to also incorporate mental health upkeep while contributing to the sports world (specifically soccer). Taking care of myself both mentally and physically has been and will continue to be a challenge. I injured myself 7 times during my soccer career, one of which was a knee dislocation that makes me more susceptible to knee problems in the future. Also, I suffer from a mental illness that I will have to battle for life. These obstacles have made me realize that I can take my problems and use them to both better myself and others. Therefore, I am double majoring in psychology and human performance with a concentration in sports medicine. I plan on getting a bachelor's degree in both areas and work hard to one day obtain a Ph.D. in clinical psychology after graduate school and obtain a NASM personal training certification while in undergraduate school. I hope to become a sports psychologist and personal trainer to help others with their mental and physical health. Just as I will do in my future professions, I will utilize the communication and leadership skills I acquired from being captain of my club soccer team, working in classes across both my majors, and conducting research that will go towards my honors senior thesis. This scholarship will help me to continue on my journey to one day combine the world of sports and the world of psychology to aid people looking to improve their bodies and mind as one to live healthier, happier lives.

I have played soccer since I was 4 years old. In the beginning, I did not know anything about technique, style of play, or even the name of the positions. However, over time, the encouragement of my first real coach, the camaraderie of my teammates, and my work with the game inspired me to continue playing and learning about the game. I would take on fandom as I grew to love watching the Premier League and supporting the team I hold dear to my heart now, Chelsea FC. In addition, after 13 years of hard work and dedication, I have learned not only how to be a vocal leader of any team, but also how to persevere for the betterment of the unit. Indeed, more than just an intense passion, soccer has been the dedication that has taught me the most valuable lessons in my life thus far, providing me with moments that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. More importantly, I believe the game ingrained in me integral values such as work ethic and discipline that will allow me to accomplish any life goal I set. My soccer experience is undoubtedly why I wanted to obtain a sport-related degree. However, juggling soccer and academics made me want also to incorporate mental health upkeep while contributing to the sports world. Taking care of myself both mentally and physically has been and will continue to be a challenge. I injured myself 7 times during my soccer career, one of which was a knee dislocation that makes me more susceptible to knee problems in the future. Also, I suffer from a mental illness that I will have to battle for life. These obstacles have made me realize that I can take my problems and use them to both better myself and others. Therefore, I am double majoring in psychology and human performance with a concentration in sports medicine. I plan on getting a bachelor's degree in both areas and work hard to one day obtain a Ph.D. in clinical psychology after graduate school and obtain a NASM personal training certification while in undergraduate school. I hope to become a sports psychologist and personal trainer to help others with their mental and physical health simultaneously. Just as I will do in my future professions, I will utilize the communication and leadership skills I acquired from being captain of my club soccer team, working in classes across both my majors, and conducting research that will go towards my honors senior thesis. This scholarship will help me to continue on my journey to one day combine the world of sports and the world of psychology to aid people looking to improve their bodies and mind as one to live healthier, happier lives.

My life's goal is to simply put myself in a position to serve others as God calls me to do. Specifically, as a young black man who has a strong passion for the improvement of mental health and a love for soccer, I plan on becoming a sports psychologist and personal trainer working with athletes to help better their overall well-being on and off the field. This scholarship could not only help me reach this goal by supporting my education but could also help me fund my personal training certification to start changing lives as soon as possible.

After my first semester of college, I told my parents I want to be dead. The duality of my bipolar disorder reared its ugly head and came full circle. The little high of happiness from graduating was far removed. Staring at the screen of my MacBook Air in the darkness of my dorm room with less than a handful of friends and no coping mechanisms pushed my depression to its peak pretty early. My circumstances pushed me so far as to think my fresh journey of new beginnings was simply the start of my latest death wish. When I flew home, I quickly realized that even what I perceived to be rock bottom still had a little wiggle room. Even less bored and fulfilled than at school, I knew I had to find something to survive the next 2 months of winter break. But I found nothing. I put insurmountable pressure on myself to find something that gave my life meaning. Something that would allow me to clear my head. Then I realized what was holding me back: the very pressure I put upon myself to be interesting to others enough to be universally loved and desired. The alternative– primarily living life for yourself rather than to fit in or conform– allows you to be your best self and thrive. Moreover, my epiphany led me to begin searching for activities that I wanted to do that were for me and no one else. These are a few of the activities that I found and recommend for those that want to prioritize their mental health and gain self-confidence: Boxing- I have found nothing like training in the sport of boxing to release pent-up anger and stress. It provides an intense, goal-oriented physical challenge in which you can improve upon your technique daily and quite literally punch through any tormenting thoughts swirling around in your head. Self-Education- Reading books on improving your life can be needlessly cliché, but there are most definitely hidden gems out there that can lead to healthier ways of thinking. Some of my favorites are Shoe Dog by Phil Knight, creator of Nike, and Mindset by Carol Dweck Ph.D., professor of psychology at Stanford University. Shoe Dog is the story of how Phil Knight started Nike from the ground up and Mindset is an in-depth guide on breaking the hold of the fixed mindset and developing a growth mindset. Yoga- Yoga is more than simply stretching tight muscles to alleviate soreness. It in fact can be the start to improving things such as stress management, patience, reasoning, and mental flexibility through deep breathing and by connecting the body and mind as one. Drawing/Doodling- For me, drawing (when done for progress over perfection) has been a really helpful distraction from life’s daily pressures. Putting pencil to paper in it is soothing. But, the pleasure of improving the little details and appreciating the work you put in rather than the “beauty” of the piece itself can become a universal principle. Adopting these activities in my life has boosted my confidence and allowed me to cope much better with my stress and loneliness. Although I am still working on believing in myself and not worrying about what everyone else thinks, I strongly feel that by continuing these beneficial pastimes I will be content no matter what obstacles come my way.

Hello. My name is Chase Austin, I am a sophomore psychology and human performance double major at Howard University from Atlanta, Georgia. And unfortunately, I must admit that the old adage: “when the going gets tough the tough get going,” is one that I have not been able to claim. The reason being is that anxiety has plagued almost every aspect of my life for as long as I can remember. At four it came in the form of asking my mom “Is everything going to be okay?” before…well… everything from getting a flu shot to going to the movie theaters for the first time or maybe even the first ten times. As I got older it progressively became more of a catalyst for my dysfunction. The most basic tasks such as sending an email or asking someone new their name without a perpetual stutter can seem as daunting as going skydiving. In fact, personally, I have found interacting and communicating with others to be most anxiety-inducing. I came to believe that I was forever bound to be socially impaired. No matter how much confidence I managed to muster, I would always find a way to fumble, screw up, or worst of all get in my own head so much that I don’t even manage to put myself out there at all. This constant, intrusive narrative directly contributed to a festering depression in which self-loathing and feelings of worthlessness became par for the course. My depression solidified five years ago after having moved to a different high school in a totally opposite environment to where I had been my whole life. I quickly grew to feel completely alone, incompetent and defeated. A pattern began where no matter how successful I was on my path to higher education whether it be getting all A’s or executing on the soccer field I always felt like I had no purpose. I constantly carried with me a disappointment in myself that never failed to boil over in the form of bursting into tears and crying out to God to bring an end to this self-inflicted misery for good. This outcry occurred in many a place whether it be in the counseling office, the backyard, or on the school’s bathroom floor. Only during the summer before my senior year did God give me the explanation I asked for all those years. It turned out that I was facing both generalized anxiety disorder and bipolar disorder. Although identifying my struggle was a start, it was in no way an instant cure that solved all my problems. On the contrary, it meant the next year and a half would mean multiple hospitalizations, being put on a potent rotation of psychotropic drugs, and sometimes feeling worse than ever before. But this peak of my turmoil turned out to be the sign to take control. A sign that with the help of the hardest moment of my life I could finish high school on time, go straight to college, and be everything I thought I couldn’t be. No longer would I let my conditions stop me from achieving my goals and more importantly becoming the person I want to be. My depression would like me to underestimate my accomplishments and my anxiety to try and make me worry about being inferior. But I am happy to say I graduated high school with high honors, currently have a 3.9 GPA, and am blessed to have many newfound friends. I fully plan on continuing to stay in control no matter what other obstacles I may face.

One practical solution that could help people like myself who struggle with mental health is yoga. Yoga is more than simply stretching tight muscles to alleviate soreness. It can be the start to improving things such as stress management, patience, reasoning, and mental flexibility through deep breathing and by connecting the body and mind as one. Yoga can be done anywhere from a large studio to your local park or even a tiny available space such as your garage. The only pieces of equipment needed are a mat that makes you feel comfortable and possibly a yoga block to aid in comfort and balance as you practice. One does not even need to take an expensive class every week. There are hundreds of yoga videos online on Youtube at your disposal provided by accommodating, well-trained, and calming teachers who have years of experience. My suggestion would be to utilize the free Youtube channel: Yoga with Adriene. Adriene posts for all levels of yogi and usually gives easier variations of poses to aid beginners in gradually working their way up to more difficult forms. Her videos are diverse in duration and can be as short as 5 minutes to as long as 50 minutes or any amount of time in between. It would be difficult not to find yoga on her channel that does not address any given specific ailment. One day you could focus on hip pain and on another you can be prepping your body to diminish the jet lag of a 15-hour plane ride. In summary, yoga is a readily available hobby for anyone looking to progressively feel better physically and mentally. Besides being just practical this activity can provide a foundation for an overall healthier lifestyle.

My experience with mental health galvanized me to take care of my well-being first above all else. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2020 when I was 17 in the middle of a raging pandemic. On top of that, I was a young black man who had to, at moments, watch an explosion of civil unrest attempting to fight racial injustice while periodically manic. Clothes flying all over my private school bathroom and changing rapidly into outfits I spent hours into the night obsessively hand-picking as I prepped for the biggest day of my life. It started on August 1 with my private photoshoot hosted by my high school. I would be the only student to get an hour compared to the usual 15 minutes. I would have completed the first part of the highly-esteemed test given only to special-powered individuals. The backseat of my dad’s Toyota Venza smelled of the codes written in ink all over the journal pages that were on my arms and hands. Sweat dripping down my whole body, I left the car, heart racing as if fueled by a drug that gave unlimited energy. My parents looked through the window curious to see my progress. After hours of work, the pile of key pieces to a puzzle was stacked in the front of our suburban lawn for everyone in the neighborhood to see. Two hours later my parents coaxed me into the house gazing inquisitively at the look in my eye. Next thing I know we’re off to the final step or in other words the final analysis that would give me the keys to fulfilling my dream of receiving full academic and athletic scholarships to the prestigious college of my choice. When we arrived the test questions came flooding in. Have you been feeling yourself? Are you more confident than usual? Have you gotten less sleep and not missed it? All questions on the long evaluation to glory. Hours later the nurse says, “He needs to check in today,” with a worrisome look at my horrified parents. This was my perspective of that day– the day of my first manic episode. I would not check in that instance because of COVID-19. The racing thoughts continued to invade my head making me feel completely out of control, helpless, and restless. I would go on to face two stints in the psychiatric hospital, a period in IOP treatment, and a month and a half long stay at a residential mental health facility. What will most likely be one of the most chaotic and panicked years of my life or better yet in American history, was made even more of a nightmare because of my mental health. Although bipolar disorder is genetic and I was bound to get it at some point in my life, I often pushed myself to the limit up to that point, getting up early for school and going to bed late doing homework after soccer practice. Every day coming home completely exhausted, often getting physically injured, but also consistently breaking down in tears begging God for death or for anything to lighten the load of anxiety, depression, and mental strife. Now medicine keeps me at bay. However, more importantly, I make sure to get eight or more hours of sleep no matter how many assignments my professors give me. I monitor my feelings and make sure to tell others when I’m depressed and how I feel rather than bottling up my emotions. And I’m still working on it. Being kind to myself and loving myself with bipolar is difficult because I tell myself: “You’re okay,” or “Stop being weak.” But gradually I will work to say: “You’re good enough no matter what the madness in your head tells you or how insane your circumstances are.” Moreover, my mental health experience helped me learn that to thrive and be my best self I must prioritize and love myself first. This philosophy will help me achieve my goal of getting master’s degrees in psychology and sports medicine to aid athletes in elevating themselves physically and mentally.

After my first semester of college, I told my parents I want to be dead. The duality of my bipolar disorder reared its ugly head and came full circle. The little high of happiness from graduating was far removed. Staring at the screen of my MacBook Air in the darkness of my dorm room with less than a handful of friends and no coping mechanisms pushed my depression to its peak pretty early. My circumstances pushed me so far as to think my fresh journey of new beginnings was simply the start of my latest death wish. When I flew home, I quickly realized that even what I perceived to be rock bottom still had a little wiggle room. Even less bored and fulfilled than at school, I knew I had to find something to survive the next 2 months of winter break. But I found nothing. I put insurmountable pressure on myself to find something that gave my life meaning. Something that would allow me to clear my head. Then I realized what was holding me back: the very pressure I put upon myself to be interesting to others enough to be universally loved and desired. The alternative– primarily living life for yourself rather than to fit in or conform– allows you to be your best self and thrive. Moreover, my epiphany led me to begin searching for activities that I wanted to do that was for me and no one else. These are a few of the activities that I found and recommend for those that want to prioritize their mental health and gain self-confidence: Boxing- I have found nothing like training in the sport of boxing to release pent-up anger and stress. It provides an intense, goal-oriented physical challenge in which you can improve upon your technique daily and quite literally punch through any tormenting thoughts swirling around in your head. Self-Education- Reading books on improving your life can be needlessly cliché, but there are most definitely hidden gems out there that can lead to healthier ways of thinking. Some of my favorites are Shoe Dog by Phil Knight, creator of Nike, and Mindset by Carol Dweck Ph.D., professor of psychology at Stanford University. Shoe Dog is the story of how Phil Knight started Nike from the ground up and Mindset is an in-depth guide on how to break the hold of the fixed mindset and develop a growth mindset. Yoga- Yoga is more than simply stretching tight muscles to alleviate soreness. It in fact can be the start to improving things such as stress management, patience, reasoning, and mental flexibility through deep breathing and by connecting the body and mind as one. Drawing/Doodling- For me, drawing (when done for progress over perfection) has been a really helpful distraction from life’s daily pressures. Putting pencil to paper is soothing. But, the pleasure of improving the little details and appreciating the work you put into your art rather than the “beauty” of the piece itself can become a universal principle. Adopting these activities in my life has boosted my confidence and allowed me to cope much better with my stress and loneliness. Although I am still working on believing in myself as well as not worrying about what everyone else thinks, I strongly feel that by continuing these beneficial pastimes I will be content no matter what obstacles come my way.

My experience with mental health galvanized me to take care of my well-being first above all else. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2020 when I was 17 in the middle of a raging pandemic. On top of that, I was a young black man who had to, at moments, watch an explosion of civil unrest attempting to fight racial injustice while periodically manic. Clothes flying all over my private school bathroom and changing rapidly into outfits I spent hours into the night obsessively hand-picking as I prepped for the biggest day of my life. It started on August 1 with my private photoshoot hosted by my high school. I would be the only student to get an hour compared to the usual 15 minutes. I would have completed the first part of the highly-esteemed test given only to special-powered individuals. The backseat of my dad’s Toyota Venza smelled of the codes written in ink all over the journal pages that were on my arms and hands. Sweat dripping down my whole body, I left the car, heart racing as if fueled by a drug that gave unlimited energy. My parents looked through the window curious to see my progress. After hours of work, the pile of key pieces to a puzzle was stacked in the front of our suburban lawn for everyone in the neighborhood to see. Two hours later my parents coaxed me into the house gazing inquisitively at the look in my eye. Next thing I know we’re off to the final step or in other words the final analysis that would give me the keys to fulfilling my dream of receiving full academic and athletic scholarships to the prestigious college of my choice. When we arrived the test questions came flooding in. Have you been feeling yourself? Are you more confident than usual? Have you gotten less sleep and not missed it? All questions on the long evaluation to glory. Hours later the nurse says, “He needs to check in today,” with a worrisome look at my horrified parents. This was my perspective of that day– the day of my first manic episode. I would not check in that instance because of COVID-19. The racing thoughts continued to invade my head making me feel completely out of control, helpless, and restless. I would go on to face two stints in the psychiatric hospital, a period in IOP treatment, and a month and a half long stay at a residential mental health facility. What will most likely be one of the most chaotic and panicked years of my life or better yet in American history, was made even more of a nightmare because of my mental health. Although bipolar disorder is genetic and I was bound to get it at some point in my life, I often pushed myself to the limit up to that point, getting up early for school and going to bed late doing homework after soccer practice. Every day coming home completely exhausted, often getting physically injured, but also consistently breaking down in tears begging God for death or for anything to lighten the load of anxiety, depression, and mental strife. Now medicine keeps me at bay. However, more importantly, I make sure to get eight or more hours of sleep no matter how many assignments my professors give me. I monitor my feelings and make sure to tell others when I’m depressed and how I feel rather than bottling up my emotions. And I’m still working on it. Being kind to myself and loving myself with bipolar is difficult because I tell myself: “You’re okay,” or “Stop being weak.” But gradually I will work to say: “You’re good enough no matter what the madness in your head tells you or how insane your circumstances are.” Moreover, my mental health experience helped me learn that to thrive and be my best self I must prioritize and love myself first. This philosophy will help me achieve my goal of getting master’s degrees in psychology and sports medicine to aid athletes in elevating themselves physically and mentally.