Wow, where do I start? My life has changed exponentially in the last year, rooted in a need to understand and make sense of mental health challenges. One would think I already was capable of this, even at the age of 17, since I have already seen 2 classmates commit suicide, a family friend’s son commit suicide, and a friend who was killed by her father in a mental crisis. He then turned the gun on himself and committed suicide. Many people have spoken about how our upstate NY town and my graduation class is cursed because of the crises we have been through. Still, nothing quite prepared me for the day last March when my mom shared she was leaving my father and they were getting divorced, though. Since June 2025, my parents separated and began living apart. One of the most difficult and unexpected challenges that came with this change has been my father’s mental health. Though he hasn’t been officially diagnosed, he’s struggled with what seems to be bipolar disorder. There are times when he’s cheerful and full of energy, and other times when he becomes withdrawn, distant, and even hostile. At first, I didn’t think much of it. But as it continued, I began to wonder if it was something I had done, or if it was related to my mom. Eventually, my family explained that it wasn’t about me—it was something beyond anyone’s control. That realization hit me hard. I felt helpless. All I could do was try to support him, even when his behavior was difficult to understand. Over time, the stress began to affect my own mental health. I became more irritable, more quiet, and started isolating myself. That only made things worse. Eventually, I found someone I could talk to, and for the first time, I began to accept that this wasn’t something I could fix. I had been angry at a situation that wasn’t anyone’s fault—just one of life’s painful realities. What I’ve learned is that while you can’t control everything that happens, you can control how you respond. That lesson has stuck with me and helped me grow in ways I never expected. It’s taught me empathy, patience, and the importance of seeking support when life feels overwhelming.

Where do I start? I’ll never forget being at that wake, kneeling down in front of that shiny red casket with my Sting basketball team. It feels like yesterday, and it also feels like yesterday when I still had the chance to have fun and play basketball with those same friends. That night put friendship and connection in perspective for me. Something that was drifting away since I transferred from Baldwinsville public school to CBA the year prior and lost consistent touch with some of those friends. I vowed not to let that happen while I watched the reel of pictures of Ava and her soccer teams go by. I have made my friends a priority and decided to start coaching with Syracuse Challenger baseball the following summer because of how much this stuck with me. Teams, sports, build friendships and a sense of belonging in the most powerful way, I want that for kids that don’t normally get that opportunity, and coaching children with disabilities through baseball has helped me to give that to some local kids. Creating connection with others is the glue to finding a meaningful life. This is where you find moments of joy and can turn the worst day into something better-even fun!I hope I’ve been able to give that to some of the kids I’ve coached, and will continue to stay with and coach while home from college. As for CBA, this transfer experience also made me who I am today. I took a chance, a chance my parents offered but didn’t try to persuade me on, by switching from my local public school at the end of 8th grade and go to a private college prep school across town where I knew 1 person. I was beginning to notice my academic aspirations were much bigger than what my teachers could support, I had 1 science class with 38 students in it, my teacher didn’t know my name. I felt a little overwhelmed and realized I had an opportunity to experience something very different, I just needed to say yes. Yes meant admitting that I wanted more from my education, something I knew my friends would tease me about, but I also wanted to focus better in class and the thought of wearing a shirt and tie felt good, not stupid! So I agreed, I said yes to leaving all my friends, everything I knew since 1st grade, and transfer to CBA. I will be graduating next month with 8 AP courses completed, high honors 4yrs running, a passion for volunteering with the homeless and food-insecure in my community, a 4.0GPA, and a continued love for playing the game of baseball. I will continue to boldly and unapologetically be me because it’s the only way I’ve gotten to where I am now: an incoming Boston College freshman studying biochemistry and planning to go pre-med. Be proud and never apologize for being special, because we all are. Thank you Ava!