I come from a family of lower class and I would be the first one in my family to receive a Bachelor's degree. This gives me more motivation to try to pursue a higher degree. A higher education to me means more opportunities and growth as an individual. I have always struggled with school and going back seemed nearly impossible. I work two full-time jobs just to get through life. This would be the opportunity of a lifetime for me. It would allow me to get into a career that I love which would involve helping others in the healthcare field. A higher education would help me have a positive impact on all the people that I would meet. I would be able to be more knowledgeable about current health issues and would research ways to solve them. I want to make a difference in everything that I involve myself with. My passion lies with healthcare and meeting the needs of every individual I come into contact with. I want to prove to myself that I can do this. Pursuing my dreams and goals are of huge importance to me. I am going to work hard and know that I can do anything. College is challenging, however, I know that I can do this through perseverance and a strong work ethic. A higher education would help me to do that.

~WAVES~ one day i will be strong, i will find the place that I belong. the water seems so deep, i will take that next step and leap. my voice will be loud, i will fight and be proud. no matter what anyone thinks, i will not be the one that sinks. my boat may seem weak, it is the strength within me that i seek. my sail may be torn, i will not let my mind be worn. the waves seems so high, the doubts will underlie. fear will overcome me, but i will not flee. this boat is made of dreams, as the storm comes it screams. this storm will come to an end, it will be only I left to defend. the waves settle down, i will swim and not drown. the shore is my goal, and I will gain full control. today i am strong, i found the place that I belong. the water now seems so clear, i took that next step and have no fear.

I quit smoking cigarettes about 2 months ago and feel so much better. I increased going to the gym from three times a week to five times a week and feel amazing. Fitness is definitely a huge passion for me. I love working out and pushing my body to its limits. I have energy to work out more than I have in the past two years. My goal is to begin bodybuilding again. Bodybuilding has always been a huge passion for me. It gives me motivation and the encouragement to reach my fitness goals. The gym has been a huge outlet for me. Whether it be emotionally or physically. My anxiety and stress has decreased with living this healthier lifestyle. I feel stronger and more motivated than ever before. Without the gym, I would not be able to handle all the factors of life. Exercising has been amazing for me and I love the feeling I get after working out. I have been working on my nutrition and have been eating healthy. The endorphins from working out and the energy I have is exhilarating. I have been juggling two jobs and furthering my education. I am excited and love that I can find time in between all the daily stresses of life to give myself the confidence I need. I have cut back on unhealthy habits such as alcohol, cigarettes, and fast food. I feel like a whole new person. Changing your habits is extremely difficult to do. Trying new things will definitely increase your odds of succeeding. Anyone that wants to change habits my advice is that it doesn't happen in a day. You have to be determined and have a strong mindset. Trust me, the end result is the amazing. Feeling healthy and knowing what your body needs is a beautiful thing. Lifestyle changes are extremely hard but if you try you WILL succeed. If you want to change your lifestyle to being healthy, go 100 percent and don't look back. YOU GOT THIS.

I lost my Grandma who was the closest person to me when I was 25. She supported me in everything that I did. She was the most intellectual and the most hardcore italian you would have ever met. She instilled values and morals into me and would assure me that everything was going to be okay. She could make sauce and pasta from scratch that would make you get up for seconds. Her presence would make you feel like you are loved, you are special, and you are surrounded by peace and love. Before she passed she was my hero and my everything. I looked up to her and she would pick me up and take me anywhere I wanted to go whether it was to get an ice cream cone or play cards. When my brother was taken away from DYFS when I was 9 years old, she was there for me. I was so young and she knew everything to say to make me feel better. I didn't have a clue as to what I was supposed to do. My brother was the only person I had in my life to show me how to get through life. She helped raise me and illustrated that no matter what happens in life everything is going to be okay. I lost her five years ago on 7/17/2017. I had just told her I wanted to go back to school to finish school before she died. Her five year anniversary just passed and it has lit a fuel in my fire. I need to finish my education and prove to her and myself that I CAN do this. Since then, I have felt unmotivated and heartbroken. I lost my one of my cousins, two of my uncles, and one of my best friends. I feel like my whole purpose in life is up in the air and I don't know what I what I am going to do moving forward. I want to fight for her. I want to fight for my future and I know she's looking down and is proud of me. Grandma, you are still my guardian angel, my everything, and I will never forget you. Rose Russo -- I love you

I grew up in a Christian household where being gay meant you were going to hell. Following the Bible was the only thing I was taught. The role of a man was to marry a woman. All of these beliefs instilled into my brain since I was 4. How was I going to live a life hiding who I really was? I realized I was gay at 16 and knew that I had to pursue my own journey without my parents involved. I had to hide who I was for so many years wondering, "Was it wrong to be gay? What did I do to deserve this?" My parents being non-supportive led to negative thoughts about myself and made me think that I was not following the dreams that my parents had for me. This took a tremendous toll on my mental status and I was very emotionally unstable. "Do I live my life for my parents, or do I take the bold move and live my life for me?" I was in and out of mental facilities and even tried to commit suicide. I was at my rock bottom and I needed to seek help. After surviving my attempt at taking my own life, I started to talk with people within the community. Through these difficult experiences, the LGBTQ+ community was my family. I decided that I want to go back to school and make a difference. I am currently majoring in Public Health and want to explore all the issues of today's society from a health standpoint. Tackling key issues in this community is one of my passions. I want to make an positive influence and help other individuals struggling with who they are. Knowledge is power and I have seen several of my friends go through similar situations. It is heartbreaking that you aren't accepted by friends and family. I lost several people from my life when I did come out. You become ashamed and try to hide your true self from the world. I am proud I came out because it showed me it doesn't matter who loves you, it matters that you love YOU. I want to make an impact on the LGBTQ+ community by getting my story out there. It would mean the world to me to help even just one person who is struggling know that there is support all around them. Last year I worked for an HIV/AIDS facility in Austin, Texas administering medications and ensuring safe sex practices. Supporting patients of the community that were going through intense and despairing circumstances. I intend to volunteer at facilities in New Jersey to help support the LGBTQ+ community and make a difference. I would want to show the world that it IS okay to be the way that you are. My story turned out to be amazing, however, for other individuals going through this my advice is stay strong and love yourself. You are special, you are loved, and you WILL make it through this. I recently married the love of my life and I am officially proud to say: " I AM GAY. "

I was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Chronic Anxiety and Panic Attacks two years ago. I couldn't take all the flashbacks and the panic attacks were intense to the point where I couldn't even leave my bed. This illness limited my life in every aspect whether it be going to social events, school, or work. My relationships with friends and family would be a struggle and felt exhausting. I felt like no one understood what I was going through and how come I couldn't just snap out of it. I thought welI maybe if I didn't have this I would be normal. What is being normal anyways? I never thought that I could be "normal" ever again. I felt alone and have struggled mentally since a young age and did not know how to handle or overcome this. This illness has affected me in so many ways. I feel helpless and hopeless at times. It is extremely difficult to get your mind out of a dark place. Everyday I wake up and I fight this huge amount of doubt. I feel guilt like it is my fault that I got diagnosed with this mental illness. Self-doubt and self-worth start to overwhelm you. "Is there a way out of this?" "Will I ever be able to understand how to live with this?" Questions would cross my mind every second. Racing thoughts, elevated heart rate, crying, flashbacks and trembling. How can I make it stop? "Chris just breathe you're going to be okay. You got this, you are a fighter and you will not give up." After these moments, I pick myself up off the floor and try to process what just happened. It's like I blacked out into a huge dark cloud of negative emotion and then all of a sudden I'm okay. I constantly fight to better myself and my PTSD will just kick in the moment I try to succeed. I have several triggers that make it hard for me to do daily tasks. My goals that I wanted to achieve seem to be diminishing right in front of me. I want to do better. I desire a life that is fulfilling and maintains a mindset that I can overcome anything that stands in my way. All of my fears vanish like the clouds leaving the sky. Turning the rain and darkness into a beautiful rainbow that signifies hope and a future. I have grown as a stronger individual in so many ways and understanding what PTSD really is and how it can affect an individual. I know things will get better with time and I am now hopeful that I have a bright future. It is essential to learn how to leave old habits, weak mindsets, and traumatic events in the past. To bring a new light and perspective on my situation was life-changing. Seeking help and communicating what is going on mentally, physically and emotionally is definitely hard, however; I have finally decided to put myself first and not to hold back. There are so many obstacles you have to fight living with PTSD and I want to prove that you can do whatever you put your mind into. I want to go back to school and prove to myself that I can do this. Fight for my dreams and build a future for myself. No matter what mental illness you are struggling with, it WILL get better. You will become stronger and more resilient. Do not let anyone tell you can't because YOU can. Anything is possible if you dream it and believe it. I am loved. I am strong. I am enough.