Having a future was not always a reality for me; in fact, it seemed impossible at one point in my life, for I was on the verge of death. At thirteen, I balanced the titles of academically prosperous, varsity track athlete, and competitive cheerleader, while undergoing puberty. I agonized over impressing my teammates, satisfying my peers' expectations, and pleasing my family; I found myself rapidly succumbing to depression and consternation. Unable to control the world around me, I began managing the single aspect of my life exclusively up to me: my appearance. Coveting the ideal body endorsed by society, I consistently reduced my caloric intake and increased my exercise; this desire quickly morphed into a detrimental obsession. Food became a phobia, and expending calories was a priority. My head persistently harassed me with urges to exercise and restrict food. Solitude, fear, and guilt engulfed my identity. My body hastily responded to its deprivation of nutrition: my hair fell out, my stomach caved in, and my bones protruded. Nevertheless, I remained on my self-destructive trajectory—until my pediatrician admitted me into an eating disorder facility. Workers conducted innumerable tests, injecting needles, withdrawing blood, and attaching monitors. I was housed with girls displaying symptoms similar to mine. Strangers surveilled us unceasingly, granting us no privacy while sleeping, using the bathroom, or even showering. Everything I possessed was ripped from my grasp: all communication with my family and friends was terminated, and the sports season continued without me. I wallowed in self-pity and refused to consume the food they served. Two weeks later, a physician who had been monitoring my health met with me. She conveyed the severity of my condition: my nutrient levels were unbalanced, my vitals were inconceivably low, and my body had initiated autophagy—devouring itself for energy. She expressed the feasibility of my death and elucidated the criticality of my compliance with the facility’s mandates. Following this appointment, I comprehended the eating disorder’s adverse impact on my life; I could not let this disorder kill me, permanently nullifying my chance to raise a family or witness my baby sister grow up. Instantaneously, I decided to combat my eating disorder with every morsel of strength I had. The brutal eating disorder persisted in oppressing me; however, I continuously cultivated a recovery-oriented mindset, reminding myself of the possibilities that accompany rehabilitation. After three months, I reattained my vigor and was discharged. More robust than ever, I ascended to the top of my class academically and reclaimed my club and sport positions. My eating disorder embodied multitudes of tribulations and unique experiences that contributed to my identity, broadened my mindset, and exposed me to areas in the medical field that I can improve through my education and future occupation. This is why I aspire to attain a career in medicine. Through my education and occupation, I will compassionately support others by caring for their physical, mental, and emotional health so they can live a limitless life. I will listen to my patients and work with them towards recovery. I will form a genuine friendship with them and care for them without any judgment. Careers in medicine, while worth it, take time and effort, but I am willing to do everything to achieve my goals. Through my education and career, I will advocate for others' health, preventing them from undergoing experiences similar to the one I underwent. Despite the agony it inflicted, my eating disorder has prepared me for my future in ways I never envisioned. I am ready to fulfill my aspiration of enhancing the world for people today and future generations.

Did you know that over 60% of children have experienced bullying or that thousands of deaths are linked to bullying each year? I was almost a casualty due to bullying. My name is Cheyenne Joshi. My father immigrated from India after college, and my mother has lived in America her entire life. Being the only biracial student in my school, I was consistently bullied for my race in person and online. I never understood why my peers could not accept me or my appearance. At thirteen, I began internalizing the disapproval and hatred, believing something was wrong with me; I quickly succumbed to depression. Wanting to please my peers, I felt the need to alter my body and appearance to fit in, prompting the development of an eating disorder. I consistently reduced my caloric intake and increased my exercise; this desire quickly morphed into a detrimental obsession. Food became a phobia, and expending calories was a priority. Solitude and fear engulfed my identity. My body responded to its malnourishment: my hair fell out, my bones protruded, and my stomach caved in. Nevertheless, I remained on my self-destructive trajectory—until my pediatrician admitted me into an eating disorder facility. I refused to consume food and wallowed in self-pity. All I wanted was to belong, and now I was being punished for it. After two weeks of residing at the facility, a physician who had been monitoring my health met with me. She conveyed the severity of my condition: my nutrient levels were unbalanced, my vitals were low, and my body had initiated autophagy—devouring itself for energy. She expressed the feasibility of my death and elucidated the criticality of my rehabilitation. Following this appointment, I comprehended the eating disorder’s adverse impact on my life; I could not allow this disorder to kill me, permanently nullifying my chance to raise a family or witness my baby sister grow up. I decided to combat my eating disorder with every morsel of strength I had. I continuously cultivated a recovery-oriented mindset, reminding myself of the possibilities that accompany rehabilitation. After three months of strenuous work, I reattained my vigor and was discharged. More robust than ever, I ascended to the top of my class academically and reclaimed my sport and club positions. Now, I strive to utilize my experiences and exposure to the medical field to become a pediatrician and ensure that my patients are both mentally and physically healthy, for youth are most vulnerable to bullying. I am involved in numerous organizations, including Future Health Occupants of America, Student Government, and the Federation of Christian Athletes. Through these organizations, I serve in my community, advocate for mental health, and educate others on the adverse impacts of bullying both in person and online. I will continue to raise awareness of bullying in college and my occupation. I strive to prevent others from undergoing the situation I experienced. As I enter higher education, financial assistance will help fund my journey to becoming a pediatrician, for becoming a pediatrician requires many years of schooling. With financial assistance, I can focus on my studies, benefit my community, and spread awareness of the repercussions that accompany bullying. Too many innocent lives are lost to bullying; this must stop. I refuse to let an obstacle hinder my progress towards my goals, and I am ready to proceed to this next phase of life.

Have you ever heard the saying “the influence of a good teacher can never be erased”? Teachers are often overlooked and unappreciated; however, they can significantly influence their students, permanently changing their students' lives. One teacher in particular has had an everlasting impact on my life, altering the way I approach life and its challenges: Major Batson. Before Major Batson became a teacher, he served in the Air Force for 21 years, selflessly defending Americans. Following his time in the military, Major Batson decided to continue serving his country through teaching. Following his employment, he established a JROTC program at my school. Now, Major Batson has taught at my school for 17 years and leads one of the best and largest JROTC programs in America. Some of Major Batson’s accolades include the Air Force JROTC Instructor of the Year award and the designation of his JROTC program as a “distinguished unit” by the Air Force headquarters for multiple years in a row. Upon entering Major Batson’s classroom on my first day of high school, I was intimidated by Major Batson and his accomplishments; however, I quickly learned that Major Batson is anything but arrogant. Despite his JROTC program having over 400 diverse students, he prioritizes getting to know his students and forming friendships with them. Major Batson’s JROTC program runs on two values; one is service. Despite teaching before, during, and after school on weekdays, Major Batson dedicates his weekends to providing us students opportunities to serve in our community. From picking up pollution to delivering goods to those in need, Major Batson ensures that his students are exposed to diverse situations that they can improve. Major Batson’s dedication to helping those in need sparked my passion for becoming a doctor with the hope of enhancing the lives of my patients. The second value Major Batson’s JROTC program thrives on is discipline: self-control to always do the right thing. At first, I struggled to uphold discipline. When faced with a challenge, I succumbed to the pressures and failed to continue working towards my goal; however, this quickly changed once I entered Major Batson’s class, where he posed various obstacles to us students and taught us different ways to persevere, maintain discipline, and overcome setbacks. Through these different activities and Major Batson’s optimism, I built confidence and self-esteem, helping me accomplish my goals. There is no doubt that Major Batson has positively altered my life by teaching me the importance of service and discipline while building my confidence and helping me discover my passion. Now, I approach life with an optimistic and open-minded attitude, refusing to let an obstacle hinder my progress towards a goal; I remain resilient and strive for success, knowing that I am capable and worthy of anything I put my mind to just as Major Batson taught me. As I move to a higher level of education, I will continue to remind myself of Major Batson and his humility, kindness, compassion, and support.

Being the only biracial student in my school, I consistently received adversity for my race, ethnicity, and background. Upon graduation, my father immigrated to America with hardly any money. My mother has lived in America her entire life. I never understood why my schoolmates could not accept my financial circumstances, background, or appearance. I began internalizing the criticism. At thirteen, I began seeing myself through the lens of my peers, believing something was truly wrong with me; I succumbed to depression and consternation. Wanting to please my peers, I felt the need to alter my appearance to fit in. Striving for the body endorsed by society, I reduced my caloric intake and increased my exercise; this desire quickly morphed into an obsession. Food became a phobia and expending calories was a priority. Solitude, fear, and guilt engulfed my identity. My body hastily responded to its deprivation of nutrition: my hair fell out in thick wads, my stomach caved in, and my skin flaked off. Nevertheless, I remained on my self-destructive trajectory—until my pediatrician admitted me into an eating disorder facility. Everything I possessed was utterly ripped from my grasp: all forms of communication with my family and friends were terminated, the track and cheer season continued without me, and freedom proved nonexistent. I refused to consume the food served at meals and wallowed in self-pity, empowering my eating disorder and letting it dominate my life. All I wanted was to belong, and I could not control my family’s income, so I changed my looks. Now I felt I was being punished for it. A few weeks later, a physician met with me. She conveyed the severity of my condition: my nutrient levels were unbalanced, my vitals were low, and my body had initiated autophagy—devouring itself for energy. She expressed the feasibility of my death. Following this appointment, I comprehended the eating disorder’s adverse impact on my life; I could not allow this disorder to kill me, permanently nullifying my chance to walk down the aisle or raise a family. I decided to combat my eating disorder with every morsel of strength I had. The brutal eating disorder persisted in oppressing me, reminding me of all the ways I was different from my peers; however, I incessantly cultivated a recovery-oriented mindset, reminding myself of the possibilities that accompany rehabilitation. After three months of strenuous work, I reattained my vigor and was discharged me. More robust than ever, I ascended to the top of my class academically and reclaimed my club and sport positions. Not only this, but I began living confidently, embracing my identity. My eating disorder embodied multitudes of tribulations and unique experiences that contributed to my identity, broadened my mindset, and shaped who I am today. Now, I strive to utilize my experiences and exposure to the medical field to become a doctor and enhance the lives of others. Through this occupation, I will compassionately support children by caring for their emotional, mental, and physical health so they can live a limitless life, regardless of their background or financial situation. I will also educate parents on ways to ensure their child remains healthy and happy. I hope to work with other scientists and engineers to develop technologies to make the medical field more accessible and affordable for everyone. Becoming a pediatrician, while worth it, is an extremely rigorous and lengthy journey, but I am willing to work as hard as it takes to achieve my goals successfully. I am ready to proceed in this next phase of life to better the world.

Being the only biracial student in my school, I consistently received criticism for my skin tone, ethnicity, and background. My father immigrated from India upon graduating from college, and my mother has lived in America her entire life. I never understood why my peers could not accept me or my appearance. At thirteen, I began internalizing the disapproval, believing something was wrong with me; I quickly succumbed to depression. Wanting to please my peers, I felt the need to alter my body and appearance to fit in. Striving for the body endorsed by society, I consistently reduced my caloric intake and increased my exercise; this desire quickly morphed into a detrimental obsession. Food became a phobia, and expending calories was a priority. I covertly exercised at night, discarded food, and deceived my parents. Solitude, fear, and guilt engulfed my identity. My body responded to its deprivation of nutrition: my hair fell out, my legs toiled to carry me, my bones protruded, and my skin flaked off. Still, I remained on my self-destructive trajectory—until my pediatrician admitted me into an eating disorder facility. Doctors conveyed the severity of my condition: my nutrient levels were unbalanced, my vitals were low, and my body had initiated autophagy—devouring itself for energy. Nevertheless, I refused to consume food, and I wallowed in self-pity. All I wanted was to belong, and now I was being punished for it. One night, I entered my room and noticed an ambiguous book on my bed. Upon opening it, I recognized it was a Bible. I flipped to a page and read a verse that happened to be Isaiah 41:10: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Immediately, I felt the Holy Spirit come over me, removing the overwhelming loneliness that had burdened me. Continuing to read, I felt the chains that bound me to my eating disorder break and felt something I lacked for a long time: faith. I continued reading the Bible and listening to sermons daily. I began understanding sin and Jesus’ sacrifice. I comprehended that Jesus loves us, our body is a temple, and we are His children, despite our looks. I decided to combat my eating disorder with Jesus, my Lord and Savior. I had numerous ups and downs, yet I continued to seek the Lord, and He continued to provide for me. After three months, I reattained my vigor and was discharged. More physically, mentally, and spiritually robust than ever, I ascended to the top of my class academically and reclaimed my sport and club positions. Not only this, but I felt happier and prioritized my relationship with the Lord, reflecting Him in all I do. Now, I embrace my identity, living confidently and faithfully with Christ. I am also more compassionate, bringing others a sense of belonging. My recovery taught me not to let challenges or the world dictate my actions or relationship with myself, Jesus, and others. I aspire to work in medicine, utilizing my experiences, knowledge, and faith to help others, no matter their identity. The Lord has equipped me with knowledge and experiences that I can utilize to succeed in my education and career, truly enhancing the lives of others while bringing them to Christ. Through working in medicine, I will help others build positive relationships with themselves and Christ while bettering their physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. I am ready to proceed in this next phase of life with Jesus.

I believe that every person has the potential to make a significant impact on another individual. This impact can alter another person’s life and trajectory for the better, encouraging them to attain their goals successfully. The one individual who has inspired and supported me to achieve my goals is Mrs. Lucinda. Mrs. Lucinda embodies compassion, selflessness, generosity, and trustworthiness. She is a mother of three high-achieving students, a dedicated community church leader, head of the neighborhood committee, and my Girl Scout troop leader. Through each of her positions, Mrs. Lucinda enhances the community and serves as an example to others like me. As a church leader, Mrs. Lucinda establishes a variety of activities, engaging everyone in the community despite our differences. For example, she initiated and grew the church’s trunk-or-treat, summer kick-off, and Christmas festival. Each of these events provides the community with something to look forward to and opportunities to fellowship, interact, and form new relationships. As head of the neighborhood committee, Mrs. Lucinda gives each resident autonomy, addresses concerns, and advocates for mandatory needs such as safer bus stops, community pool safety, and maintenance of vegetation and roads. Mrs. Lucinda leads my Girl Scout troop of 90 girls to build critical values, broaden our knowledge, and experience new things. Despite the rigor and time commitment, Mrs. Lucinda has led my troop to complete the Bronze Award, where we constructed a sensory trail for special education community members. We continue to maintain and add to this trail. Some of our other accomplishments, all led by Mrs. Lucinda, include collecting 2500 lbs. of food for families in need, making 535 sandwiches for homeless shelters to distribute, creating over 200 cards for community nursing and hospice homes, fundraising 2360 cookie boxes for St. Jude patients, baking 180 cookies for foster shelters, and making 4700 candy bags for military members passing through the CLT airport over Christmas week. Mrs. Lucinda has taught me the importance of serving others, challenging myself, and striving for personal growth. Though she remains busy, Mrs. Lucinda is always approachable and willing to offer advice. I have often expressed my concerns or doubts, and she always motivates me not to let my fears restrict my experiences and achievements. Through her encouragement and leadership, Mrs. Lucinda has helped me recognize my full potential. I refuse to allow an obstacle or setback to hinder my progress toward a goal. I confidently seek ways to challenge myself, learn, and develop. Going into college, I will utilize the skills, motivation, and experiences Mrs. Lucinda has equipped me with to pursue my goals of higher education and becoming a doctor, where I can support others and improve their lives, just as Mrs. Lucinda has done for my community and me. Mrs. Lucinda embodies success because she constantly seeks strives to improve herself and make the most of every situation. She finds pure joy in everything she does despite the people or amount of work involved. I am forever appreciative of Mrs. Lucinda and her influence on my life, and I diligently persevere to make a positive impact and attain success like as she has.

I separate my life into before and after. This is due to an event that significantly impacted my life and influenced who I am today—my eating disorder. At the age of thirteen, I balanced the titles of academically prosperous, varsity track athlete, and competitive cheerleader, while undergoing puberty. I agonized over pleasing others and found myself quickly succumbing to depression and anxiety. Unable to control the world around me, I began managing the single aspect of my life exclusively up to me: my appearance. Coveting the ideal body endorsed by society, I consistently reduced my caloric intake and increased my exercise; this desire rapidly became a detrimental obsession. My head persistently tortured me with urges to exercise and restrict food. Solitude, fear, and guilt engulfed my identity. My body hastily responded to its lack of nutrition: my hair fell out, my legs struggled to carry me, and my bones protruded outward. Nevertheless, I remained on my self-destructive trajectory—until my pediatrician admitted me into an eating disorder facility. Workers conducted innumerable tests, injecting needles, withdrawing blood, and attaching monitors. I was housed with girls displaying symptoms similar to mine. Strangers surveilled us unceasingly, granting no privacy. Communication with my family and friends was nullified, the sport season persisted without me, and freedom was terminated. I refused to consume the food served at meals and wallowed in self-pity. Two weeks later, a physician met with me. She conveyed the severity of my condition: my nutrient levels were precariously unbalanced, my heart rate, bone density, and pulse were inconceivably low, and my body had initiated autophagy—devouring itself for energy. She expressed the feasibility of my death and elucidated the criticality of my compliance with the facility’s mandates. Following this appointment, I comprehended the noxious eating disorder’s adverse impact on my life; I could not allow this disorder to kill me, permanently nullifying my chance to raise a family, walk down the aisle, or witness my baby sister grow up. Instantaneously, I decided to combat my eating disorder with every morsel of strength I had; unfortunately, this proved extremely arduous. The brutal eating disorder persisted in oppressing me; however, I incessantly cultivated a recovery-oriented mindset, reminding myself of the possibilities that accompany rehabilitation. After three months of strenuous work, I reattained my vigor, and the facility discharged me. More robust than ever, I ascended to the top of my class academically and reclaimed my varsity sport and club positions. My eating disorder embodied multitudes of tribulations and unique experiences that contributed to my identity, broadened my mindset, and exposed me to areas in the medical field that I can improve through my education and future occupation. Peers battling eating disorders confide in me; I advocate for them and share my testimony, encouraging them to recover. I learned not to let challenges or others’ opinions dictate my actions or relationship with myself and others; instead, I remain steadfast, doing what is right. Despite the tribulations and agony it inflicted, my eating disorder has prepared me for my future in ways I never envisioned; I am ready to pursue my academic journey, ameliorate the medical field, and fulfill my aspiration of enhancing the world—bettering it for future generations.

At the age of thirteen, I succumbed to the pressures around me and developed an eating disorder—a detrimental disease that derailed my health. Food and weight gain became a phobia, causing me to restrict calories and increase my exercise consistently. My head harassed me with unhealthy urges. Shame, guilt, and fear became my identity. My body hastily responded to its deprivation of nutrition: my hair fell out, my legs struggled to support me, my bones protruded, and my skin peeled. Nevertheless, I remained on my self-destructive trajectory—until my annual pediatrician appointment. My pediatrician officially diagnosed me with anorexia nervosa. She conveyed the severity of my condition: my nutrient levels were unbalanced, my heart rate, bone density, and pulse were extraordinarily low, and my body had initiated autophagy—consuming itself for energy. She expressed the feasibility of my death. I recognized the cruciality of recovery. I desired to defeat this eating disorder and the health repercussions it caused so I could grow up and have a family. My pediatrician introduced the idea of holistic health to my family and me—a type of healing that prioritizes all aspects of a patient’s health, including physical, mental, spiritual, and social. Willing to try anything to recover, my family and I agreed to attempt this technique. My pediatrician connected us with multiple contacts who helped me with different areas of my health. Rather than solely focusing on my weight restoration, we worked to mend my relationship with myself, my peers, and God. I learned the value of mindfulness, healthy exercise and nutrition, integrity, and emotional intelligence. For the first time in years, I found peace in my surroundings and within myself, leading me to recover from my eating disorder and improve my way of life. Without holistic healing, I could have plausibly died or lived a life of turmoil and stress; instead, I am living life to its fullest. My experiences have enlightened me on the advantages of holistic healing and health, encouraging me to dedicate my life to it. I aspire to make an impact on others, as my pediatrician did on me, by becoming a pediatrician so I can guide families toward holistic approaches that will benefit their lives in numerous ways. I will educate them on the criticality of concentrating on every aspect of health and teach them ways to achieve this. They will then show others these techniques, generating a chain reaction that will enhance the lives of countless people. I will advocate for holistic healing practices by sharing my testimony and serving as an example of someone whose life is forever ameliorated due to holistic healing. This scholarship will assist me in positively altering the world through holistic health by funding my education, which will allow me to focus on my studies, well-being, academic trajectory, and improving the world, rather than stressing over finances. I refuse to let any obstacle hinder my progress toward attaining my goals. Holistic healing has the potential to save thousands of lives, just as it saved mine. Therefore, I will diligently endeavor to endorse holistic health, challenge traditional medicine, and employ holistic healing to better the lives of humans today and in future generations.

Though my past holds many tribulations, it has prepared me for college and bettering the world while also providing me a platform to empower other females. My name is Cheyenne Joshi. I was born and raised in South Carolina. My father is a brilliant data analyst from India who moved to America upon completing college. My mother is a benevolent woman of European descent who works diligently in the technology industry. In my youth, I developed an eating disorder—a detrimental disease that derailed my health. Food and weight gain became a phobia, causing me to restrict calories and increase my exercise consistently. My head harassed me with unhealthy urges. Shame, guilt, and fear became my identity. My body hastily responded to its deprivation of nutrition: my hair fell out, my legs toiled to sustain me, my bones protruded, and my skin peeled. Nevertheless, I remained on my self-destructive trajectory—until my annual pediatrician appointment. Following numerous tests, my pediatrician officially diagnosed me with anorexia nervosa. She conveyed the severity of my condition: my nutrient levels were unbalanced, my heart rate, bone density, and pulse were extraordinarily low, and my body had initiated autophagy—consuming itself for energy. She expressed the feasibility of my death. I recognized the cruciality of recovery. I desired to defeat this eating disorder, grow up, and have a family. My pediatrician, family, and I worked to conceive a plan. My pediatrician connected with a therapist and dietitian. Together, they supported me through recovery, rehabilitating me and allowing me to live life fully. Due to my pediatrician’s impact on my life, I aspire to become a pediatrician, keeping children healthy, enhancing the medical field, and preventing others from undergoing experiences like mine. Pediatrics is a compelling career because it ensures the wellness and safety of younger generations so they can be successful in adulthood. Additionally, pediatricians face innumerable people, illnesses, and circumstances that broaden their knowledge and challenge them to discover ways to care for their patients—ultimately generating a healthier world! As a pediatrician, I hope to contribute to the lives of patients, ensuring they are robust, happy, and able to pursue their ambitions. When an obstacle interferes with my progress, I will intently work to conquer it and accomplish my goal. I will endeavor to serve as an example and empower other women, showing that despite background, ethnicity, or gender, everyone is capable of fulfilling their dreams and improving the world. Currently, I am supporting women's empowerment through the presidency of my school’s Future Health Occupants of America (HOSA) chapter. As president, I educate and prepare other female students to achieve their aspirations of pursuing a degree and attaining a medical occupation. I also assist members in developing courage, leadership, integrity, and communication. As a group, we advocate for women's health within the community and teach women how to care for themselves properly. In the future, I hope to expand my impact by working with other communities and women so I can uplift and stand up for them too. As a pediatrician, I will guarantee that no woman's concerns go unheard and all women recognize their potential. In all, I strive to employ my experiences and education to become a pediatrician. I will utilize my occupation to ensure all of my patients are healthy while empowering women like me to live life to the fullest and not limit themselves, for they are capable of anything they put their minds to.

I have been passionate about becoming a neurologist ever since my grandfather was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. His movement, ability to talk, and control of his body became increasingly restricted. My grandfather was in debilitating pain. Terrified, my family took him to a neurologist, who informed us that this disease had no cure, but there were ways to lessen the symptoms. Through diligent work with his neurologist, my grandfather’s health and level of pain have significantly improved. Through my education and occupation, I will resiliently research, discover, study, and resolve neurological issues such as Parkinson’s disease, enhancing the way of life for society and future generations. I aspire to raise awareness of these neurological issues, encouraging others to maintain a healthy lifestyle and seek help promptly if they have symptoms. I will utilize this scholarship towards the cost of my college tuition and fees, allowing me to focus on my education and bettering the world rather than finances. Becoming a neurologist, while fulfilling, is extremely rigorous. I am willing to do everything it takes to achieve my goals of becoming a neurologist, broadening society’s knowledge, and bettering the world; nevertheless, this scholarship will provide me financial relief when it comes to college, easing my journey.

At the age of thirteen, I balanced the titles of academically prosperous, varsity track athlete, and competitive cheerleader, while undergoing puberty. I agonized over impressing my teammates, satisfying my peers' expectations, and pleasing my family; I found myself rapidly succumbing to depression and consternation. Unable to control the world around me, I began managing the single aspect of my life exclusively up to me: my appearance. Coveting the ideal body endorsed by society, I consistently reduced my caloric intake and increased my exercise; this desire quickly morphed into a detrimental obsession. Food became a phobia, and expending calories was a priority. My head persistently harassed me with urges to exercise and purge any food I ate. I covertly exercised at night, discarded food, and deceived my parents. Solitude, fear, and guilt engulfed my identity. My body hastily responded to its deprivation of nutrition: my hair fell out in thick wads, my bony legs toiled to carry me, my stomach caved in, my hip bones and ribs protruded outward, and my skin desquamated like skin sheds off a snake. My friends distanced themselves from me, and my parents expressed their concerns. Nevertheless, I remained on my self-destructive trajectory—until my pediatrician admitted me into an eating disorder facility. Workers conducted innumerable tests, injecting needles, withdrawing blood, and attaching monitors. I was housed with ailing girls displaying symptoms similar to mine. Strangers surveilled us unceasingly, granting us no privacy while sleeping, using the bathroom, or even showering. Everything I possessed was utterly ripped from my grasp: all communication with my family and friends was terminated, the track and cheer season continued without me, and freedom proved nonexistent. I refused to consume the food served at meals and wallowed in self-pity, empowering my eating disorder to command my emotions and actions. After two weeks of residing in turmoil at the facility, a physician who had been monitoring my health met with me. She conveyed the severity of my condition: my nutrient levels were precariously unbalanced, my heart rate, bone density, and pulse were inconceivably low, and my body had initiated autophagy—devouring itself from the inside out for energy. She expressed the feasibility of my death and elucidated the criticality of my compliance with the facility’s mandates. Following this appointment, I comprehended the noxious eating disorder’s adverse impact on my life; I could not allow this disorder to kill me, permanently nullifying my chance to raise a family, walk down the aisle, or witness my baby sister grow up. Instantaneously, I decided to combat my eating disorder with every morsel of strength I had; unfortunately, this proved extremely arduous. The brutal eating disorder persisted in oppressing me relentlessly; however, I incessantly cultivated a recovery-oriented mindset, reminding myself of the possibilities that accompany rehabilitation. After three months of strenuous work, I reattained my vigor, and the facility discharged me. More robust than ever, I ascended to the top of my class academically and reclaimed my varsity sport and club positions. My mental health battle encompassed multitudes of tribulations and unique experiences that contributed to my identity, broadened my understanding of the world, and refined my relationships with others and myself. I learned not to let challenges or opinions dictate my actions; instead, I remain steadfast--doing what is right. Through my exposure to others undergoing mental disorders and friends confiding in me, I recognize that everyone struggles with something in their life. Therefore, we must all treat each other with kindness and compassion. I embody these traits and strive to achieve my goal of enhancing society through my daily actions, education, and future occupation. I have founded mental health awareness campaigns within my school and community with the aspiration to bring awareness to the mental struggles that inflict too many innocent humans today. I have also created a support group where anyone can share their story, listen to others’ testimonies, and receive support in a safe environment. Mental health is a critical aspect of life that must be addressed and handled properly. I have dedicated my life to helping resolve the mental health battles society faces today, educating others on mental health, and preventing others from undergoing life-threatening experiences like the one I went through.