I know first hand about the struggles of mental heath problems. Personally I have struggled with extreme generalized anxiety and social anxiety. I began to struggle around the age of nine. I changed schools when I was ten and struggled so bad with the change. I didn't like change plus I struggled to make friends. I barely slept. Finally halfway through that year my parents took me back to my old school and got me counseling. The counseling helped me tremendously. Eventually I was able to make the school change and be successful. Not only have I struggled, but I have saw my mom's struggle with very debilitating anxiety. Medication and counseling has made all the difference for her. She is so happy and lives her life to the fullest now. It's amazing what treatment for a mental disorder can do in the life of a person. It can greatly improve their life as well as those around them. Black communities face many challenges with mental health. Two of those being the way it is stigmatized and the lack of accessible treatment. The stigma on mental health in the black community has caused them less likely to admit they are suffering and less likely to reach out for help. Black young adults face higher rates of mental health problems than older white and black adults. One reason there is a stigma on seeking treatment is the distrust of the medical community. African Americans have been midiagnosed at higher rates than white patients. The medical community has also exploited the black community in the name of medical advancement. Also, sadly during slavery it was thought that slaves weren't sophisticated enough to experience mental health disorders. This lead many to ignore their mental health problems or dismiss them as just being tired or stressed. Also, through the years in our country all ethnicities were taught that having a mental illness was a sign of weakness. This causes people to keep quiet about their mental pain and never seek help. Unfortunately there is also less access to medical insurance in the black community. There is also a lack of financial means for many in the black community. This leads to this community not getting the mental health treatment they so desperately need. It is my hope that the black community will seek out mental health care and be able to receive it when necessary. There are different ways that there access to mental health care can be improved. One way that our country can take away the stigma in mental health care in the black community is by talking about it in our public schools. When kids learn about something from a young age they are more likely to accept it and realize that they can get help. It makes it more normalized. Children are so understanding and accepting. Another way to promote mental health care and take away the stigma in the African American community is to bring the information to them at community events. Doctors and their staff can reach them by going to them and showing them they care. By doing this they can form relationships and build trust. This will therefore save many lives. I feel like the black community also needs more information on jobs that provide good financial stability and insurance. Good insurance is so important when seeking mental health treatment. I feel like our public schools could help our black youth in this area. Social media can also be a tool in promoting good jobs for the black community.

My field of interest is Aerospace Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. I have had a love for airplanes since I was a small child. I had several toy airplanes and knew their specific names as well as several books on aircraft. I can remember my mother reading several books about all different types of airplanes. Through the years of being read to and reading on my own, I learned the many different parts of an airplane. I also enjoyed and still enjoy going to museums with aircraft. I also have an extreme interest in military machinery and weapons. I plan to get a double major in Aerospace Engineering and Mechanical Engineering so I can possibly work in a field with both of my interests. I hope to make a positive impact in our country with my future career. I feel like I can contribute to the design and building of safer and more efficient aircraft. If I get to design military aircraft I hope to make airplanes that will benefit our military greatly. For example, I hope to build aircraft that is more stealthy, fast, and sturdy. I plan to attend Auburn University in the fall and work hard to obtain my career goals. I hope to be able to live my lifelong dream of working with aircraft and make a positive difference in both military and civilian life.