1. I deserve this scholarship because of my ability to make natural foods. It all began when I was maybe six years old. Our backyard had a surplus supply of onion grass. There also happened to be a large stone in the middle of the yard. That was my "cooking stone." I would shred up the onion grass and put it in a bowl for my family. I also specialized in mud pies with worms as a topping. I believe that my career can go far with this talent. 2. My biggest goal is to be the CEO of a fast food restaurant. This restaurant will specialize in my food creations as a child. This included a muddy stew with leaves and rocks and ants I found in the garden. The dessert specialty would be rocks. (When I was little I pretended rocks were food). 3. One time I overcame an obstacle was when my dad mowed over all of the onion grass. Instead of crying because I couldn't make my meal, I just made a mud pudding instead. I was very proud of that pudding. I used the hose all by myself to get the texture.

A year ago, this question would have been very difficult for me to answer. Today, I can proudly state things that make me happy. These things have gotten me to where I am today mentally and physically. In the past year, I learned to get rid of the things that don't make me happy and surround myself with things that make me smile. I have always been an advocate for sports and mental health, and I really do believe that sports can have an enormous positive effect on happiness. For me, rugby is the sport that provided (and is still able to provide) me with genuine happiness. Every time I put on my cleats and step out onto the rugby field, I feel almost giddy with joy and excitement. Although playing the sport exhilarates me, my teammates have helped me through my lowest of lows. The girls on the rugby team have always been there to pick me up when I'm down and to crack a joke when all I wanted to do was cry. Each and every one of them has a distinct personality and they feel like family to me. I am so lucky to be able to say that that team is one of the main sources of my happiness.

I, more than most, understand how much the little things can do for people. Being someone that was in a very bad place a little more than two years ago, I completely recognize the feeling of just wanting to be loved and appreciated by those around you. These last two years have been years of growth and strength for me and as I regain confidence and my mental state improves, I try to help others feel loved and accepted. It does not matter whether they are in a rough patch or if they seem like they are at the highest point of their life. Everyone feels better when they know they are appreciated. The way I show those that I care about that I appreciate them is through little things. It really depends on the person I'm talking to but it could be a long hug, or just sitting there listening to them talk, or even just being in someone's presence can make them feel loved. I have learned that different people accept love differently, so hugging one person may make their entire day better and hugging a different person could make them anxious or uncomfortable. A lot of the time to keep it safe, I'll send a text to people that I care about. Often times it's not a long text. It's just short and sweet to let them know that I'm thinking about them and I'm proud of how far they've come. Take it from me, little things can make a big difference.

I feel that making others happy is my purpose in life. Seeing someone smile because of something I said or did makes my day every time. Being able to give back to those who have helped you is one of the best feelings, and I strive to do just that. I'm not the type of person that picks up trash on the beach every single day and gives back to the environment by planting trees, and I'll be the first to admit that. I just don't have time in my schedule to do that, though I do applaud those that do. I try to give back in a different way. I try to make the rough times just a little bit more bearable for people by cracking a joke or telling a funny story. As they always say, laughter is the best medicine, and I truly believe that. It is incredibly important to give to those who gave to you, and happiness is the best gift.

Last year, I was a sophomore battling the crippling depression that came with Covid-19. School was fully virtual, and I had six zoom classes every day. (I originally had seven but I ended up dropping ceramics because of how difficult it was to do it virtually). Like many other students, I developed a routine of setting alarms to signal the start of every class and to remind myself to join the zoom. Once I joined, I would turn my camera off and fall asleep until the next class. This was an awful way to do things because it meant that I had no idea what was going on in the majority of my classes. I didn't have the confidence to reach out for help from teachers, nor the energy and effort to figure it out myself. Not surprisingly, this lead to a lot of bad grades. Sophomore year crushed my GPA, and it's the reason that my GPA is where it is now. Now that we are back in person, my junior year is going much smoother. I have made a complete 180 on my grades, and have received all As and Bs this year apart from one C in the first marking period. I am beyond proud of myself for coming out of a depression and finding the motivation to elevate my academic performance this year. The fact that I was able to make such a major turnaround in just one year baffles me in the best way possible, and I will continue to work hard in order to achieve my dreams.

My name is Danica Luzak, I am sixteen years old, and I love to smile. I am a junior at Downingtown East High school and planning to major in psychology in college. I want to make others smile, and seeing them happy makes me happy. I am very empathetic in the sense that I base my emotions on those around me. If I am able to change just one person's life for the better, I will be satisfied. I am possibly the most passionate person you'll ever meet, and when I set my heart on something there's no stopping me.

I have a hard time picking out things that I like about myself, because I tend to pick out every single flaw all the time. I constantly stand in the mirror and poke and prod at every bit of skin that looks out of place, and my mind is alway racing with ways I could change myself in order to become a better person. One thing that I do manage to admire about myself is my perseverance. I, like many others, have struggled in my lifetime. The difference between me and others is that I have been struggling from a very young age. I started therapy at age four, and my mental health journey continued from there. I was diagnosed with OCD when I was five or six and started taking medication when I was seven years old. Having OCD as a seven year old made my life incredibly difficult and exhausting. There were nights when I sat at the bottom of the stairs and screamed up at my mom until she came down and checked my heartbeat to make sure it was still beating. I was sure that if my mom didn't check my heartbeat every night, I would die of a heart attack or cardiac arrest. I'm sure I made my parent's lives much harder than they ever expected, and I will forever be sorry for that, but the truth is that I was not in control of my own mind. No matter how many different obsessions I had and compulsions my brain forced me to commit, I was still able to push forward and take the advice of my therapist. I kicked and screamed when it was time to get on the bus, and I spent nearly every day at the nurse in elementary school. I hated going to school, and I was afraid of going to school. But with my parents help, I was able to push through. I was able to get through the day, and for that I am grateful. As I have gotten older, I have encountered many more mentally and physically draining roadblocks. There have been points where I have considered that my family would be better off if I was gone, and there were times when all I wanted to do was curl up in my bed and cry. Yes, I had days where I did just cry, but I'm still here. Some roadblocks stop me for a long time, but I have always been able to take a cinderblock and break the roadblock in front of me eventually. I know that I can persevere and get through anything life throws at me, and I am so proud of myself for how far I've come. I believe that someone who has perseverance will make it far in life. Not only will they have the grit and the push to make it through the day, but they will have the passion and the drive that is required to succeed and go above and beyond in their lifetime. I think that my ability to persevere through some of the toughest moments in my life so far will stay with me throughout my life and help me get through even harder moments.

The little things in life are often taken for granted. Things like sunrises, sunsets, or the smell of your favorite food baking in the oven are often brushed past as a simple every day occurrence. I try my best to take advantage of these little moments because the little things make me so happy. Imagine this; It's a decently warm spring day, around April. You're sitting in the kitchen with the curtains open so you can see the rain fall and streak against the window. As the rain softly plops on the roof, the kitchen fills with the waft of cookies. The heat from the oven is making the room warm and cozy and there are five minutes until the cookies are finished. You're on the final page of your book, and the chapter has a happy ending. The light shines in through the clouds and through the kitchen window onto the pages in front of you and you smile. Now think about this; It's a muggy day in April, and school is not even close to being out for summer. The rain is falling outside and creating a muddy mess where it lands. Cookies are in the oven but the only thing you can think about is soccer practice being canceled later and it puts you in a grumpy mood. The oven is making the room unbearably hot, and you shift in your sweatshirt to try and get more comfortable. The book you're reading has a splotch on the last page from a sandwich you had earlier. The sun pokes through the clouds and gets in your eyes. Both scenarios are exactly the same. The only difference is that in the first one, you are taking advantage of the little things. Focusing on simple pleasures makes life more bearable.

Friendship is something you can turn to when everything else in the world seems like it's going downhill. Having a friend is one of the most important things in life, and it truly helps so much to have someone by your side when you're trying to navigate your way through the world. A friend is somebody who will sit and laugh at the stupidest jokes just because you made them. Someone who will hug you until you can't breathe just because you shed a single tear. Someone who texts you just to tell you how great of a person you are. Someone who will be proud of every accomplishment and celebrate the victories with you no matter how small. A friend is someone who will call you names and make fun of you but still love and cherish you at the end of the day. The people in my life that I am proud to call my friends have made a serious impact on the way I think and feel about things. These people have helped me when the last thing I wanted to do was come to school. They've pushed me to become the best version of myself, and pushed me to achieve the greatness I can achieve. Sometimes, people just need a little push to access their full potential. Because of the significant role that friends have played in my life, I believe that friendship is essential in order to be the happiest version of yourself.

There will be many people in your life that try and change you and mold you into a different person, however it is important to remember who you are and where you came from. For me personally, it is important to remember where I started and how far I've come. I have struggled for a long time, with various mental disorders making it very hard to live my life. There have been days when I no longer wanted to be alive. With medication, and therapy, and physical and mental growth, I have been able to climb my way back to the top. Some days, I still feel like I haven't made enough progress, but when I get that feeling I know I have to think about where I started. I was at the lowest of lows, and to see how far I've come from there is absolutely incredible. I advocate for mental health on all social media platforms because it is who I am. I can't forget all of the things that led up to me being where I am today. Instead, I embrace those things and help others to understand those things. By staying true to myself, I am able to help others get through the toughest points. Truly, that is all I want in life; to make people happy.

It is extremely important to care for yourself, in order to maintain good mental and physical health. Many people have different things that they do to take care of themselves, and for me it involves a routine. Having a routine of any kind can help create stability and a sense of control in life. My routine consists of things I do every day in order to keep a level mind, and stay in good physical health. I wake up every morning at seven o'clock and get dressed. I take out my retainer from the night before and brush my teeth until I'm satisfied with the way they look and feel in my mouth. Then I go to school and get to every class on time. When I get home, I get a snack and go upstairs to my bedroom. When I'm in my room, I finish my homework for the day and get ready for rugby if it's a Wednesday or a Friday. If not, I usually take a nap or watch a show. After I get home from rugby, I take a shower and do a final check on my homework. Usually, I'm tired by then so I get in bed and watch Netflix until I fall asleep. Having this routine that I perform every day helps keep my mind and body moving and in shape. I also have self-care days where I do all of my favorite things along with an elaborate skincare routine. Everybody needs some days to just relax and take care of themselves.

Why doesn't anybody ask the "bad guy" how the story went? Ever since Snow White told everybody how I tried to poison her, I've lost followers on Twitter and friends in real life?! Let me tell you what actually happened. It all started way before Snow White was born. I, like any other human being, would wake up and look at myself in the mirror. Naturally, I was disgusted by my ratty hair and smeared makeup from the night before. After I got ready, I would again look in the mirror. This time, trying to convince myself that I looked good. I obviously knew my mirror would never talk back to me but I used to ask it if i was "the fairest of them all" because I thought I looked damn good with my makeup on and hair done. One day, I saw a post on Instagram about this baby that was born. She apparently had "skin as white and fair as snow" according to her mother's caption. And what did they name her? Snow White. What a terrible name for a child. As she grew up, her mother was constantly posting about her and it started to get really annoying. Every time I looked in the mirror, I started to see more and more flaws. The wrinkles on my face were more visible and my hair was getting gray in the back. Eventually, I was fed up with this girl. She was a teenager at this point with her own social media account. I became obsessed. I would compare my pale, worn-out features to her lovely porcelain skin and jet black hair. Although I do admit that I was jealous of her beauty, I didn't actually send someone to kill her. She completely made that part up to make herself look better. She actually was the one that started the battle between us, because I commented on one of her posts. I complimented her dress, even though I thought it was ugly. I thought maybe she would compliment me back and I would feel pretty again, but she did just the opposite. She replied to my comment by saying "thanks hag" and then a laughing emoji and a witch emoji. Now this had me absolutely livid, so I decided to show her what a hag actually looks like. I put on a wig and exaggerated the size of my nose and chin with makeup. I threw an old black cape around my shoulders from a Halloween costume I had and I left the house with some old apples. Everybody knew where Snow White lived, because she constantly posted about the seven men that would do chores for her. I knocked on her door and she exclaimed with disgust as she opened it. Just as quickly as the door had opened, it had been slammed in my face. I was furious, but I remembered that was the reaction I expected. I went over to the window and saw her tweeting something (probably about how ugly I was) and threw the apple right through the glass. It hit her square in the head and she fell down instantly. I cackled and went home. Jealousy got the best of me. Snow White however, being the drama queen she is, made up this whole story about how the apple was poisonous and I was trying to kill her. All I ever wanted was to be pretty, is that a crime? Anyway, Snow White is alive and well and I continue to receive loads of hate mail.

I have a very specific memory of an incident that happened when I was probably no older than eight. My mom had just moved out of my dads house and I was in therapy, so generally it was a very hard time for me. I remember one night, my mom went back to our house to pick up some things. On her way into the house, my dad stopped her and confronted her about stealing something from him. My siblings and I all wanted to say hi to our daddy because we missed him, so we could hear this entire thing play out. My mom started to tell him that she didn't know what he was talking about and that she didn't steal anything. They began to argue about a garage door opener that supposedly belonged to my dad, but since they both still technically shared the house, ,my mom believes that they should each have a garage door opener as means of access. My mom told my siblings and I to go back to the car, but the car was locked. My eight year old self along with my six year old sister and four year old brother hid behind the car door while my parents yelled at each other about things that didn't matter. At one point, both parents were threatening to call the police. Eventually, I called my therapist at the time and was able to get her on the phone with my mom. My mom unlocked the car and took us home. That day, I learned to be the bigger person. I had to protect my younger siblings in the situation and did the best I could to de-escalate the situation. Ever since then, I have tried my best to look out for and protect others.

My parents got divorced when I was in fourth grade. At the time, I remember feeling angry and sad. Those two emotions were the only thing I was able to feel when my mom told me the news. I did not have any place to channel that anger though, because I loved both my parents very much and did not want to put fault on either of them. The next best option in my 11-year-old brain was to blame my mom's boyfriend. I blamed him for everything, for tearing my family apart. I told him things like if he hadn't come along, my family would still be happy and together. He was an outlet for me to take out all of my pent up anger and sadness on. This hate and resentment lasted years. I couldn't stand the thought of him, and I couldn't bear to look him in the eye. As I grew older though, I realized that my family wasn't perfect from the start. My mom and dad never really got along. Looking back, they used to fight all the time and I have vivid memories of my mom sitting behind her bedroom doors and crying. Things just seem so bright and happy all the time to an 11 year old kid, so when I heard about the divorce it felt like my entire childhood was ripped away. The truth is, as much as I didn't want to admit it, that my mom's boyfriend should not have been my punching bag. He was not to blame for my family falling apart. That was bound to happen with or without him. This helped me realize that talking about the things that bother you, rather than having those feelings build up, helps you to have a clearer view.

My greatest talent is playing rugby. I picked up rugby in my freshman year of high school from recommendations by a gym teacher, multiple soccer coaches, and my own dad. I was hesitant to start, but once I met the team I immediately knew it was the sport that I wanted to continue my athletic career in. Soon after I started playing rugby, I quit playing soccer. All I wanted to do was focus on rugby. Unfortunately, my high school athletic experience was cut short due to the coronavirus, however I tried to make the most out of the time I had on and off the pitch. During practice, I was sure to complete every drill to perfection and never give anything less than my best effort. At home, I created a fitness account where I would post my daily workouts and good foods that I was eating. I included photos of progress and reminders to drink water often. It is now my third year playing rugby and I am doing everything I can to become a better athlete, and specifically a better rugby player. Somewhere around September of 2021, I went to a rugby camp held by usarugby to hopefully increase both my skills and my knowledge of the game. I was not picked for the team that they were assembling, however I was able to meet some girls my age who had the same passion for rugby as I do and some fantastic coaches who know the sport inside out. At the end of October, I signed up for a selection camp hosted by rugbypa, and was among 12 girls selected to play in the New York sevens tournament. Since then, I have continued to do everything I can to become a better player and increase my skill.

The first word that popped into my mind when reading this prompt was "awareness." Mental health and mental illness is often covered by a blanket of stigma. Having a mental illness is something that people tend to keep a secret. This leads many people to struggle internally, and struggling alone leads to complications in the future. These complications might even include suicide. In order to prevent mental illness from spreading rapidly, people need to be aware of what they can do to help themselves and others. One way to do this is to provide resources and websites to students at school and staff in the workplace. These resources should provide ways for the viewer to seek help without alerting others of specific details. People should be able to reach out and get the help they need without having to share too much personal information, and without the fear of being judged. The stigma around mental health needs to be broken. Setting up speeches and seminars in public places with free admission can also help spread awareness about the severity of mental health related issues. A lot of the time, hearing somebody talk about issues they have can make others more comfortable to step forward with their stories. This can lead to those people then going out and making speeches and spreading awareness which, over all, creates a cycle of people finding therapy or whatever method works best for them. I try my best every day to spread awareness to mental disorders and the stigma that comes with it. If more people put an effort in to try and make the conversation less awkward, more people would be helped.

I have written about this many times before, however being optimistic can get a person through even the darkest of times. My freshman year of high school was really rough. The transition between middle and high school was weird and the work load was more than I expected. A lot of external factors played into my admission to an outpatient center that year, but school was one of my biggest stressors. Just as I was getting comfortable going back into the school building and trying to catch up on work, the pandemic hit and schools shut down. Virtual school was not for me. It was very difficult for me to listen to the teacher and comprehend what they were saying on a Zoom. My grades started slipping and my mental health along with them. Despite the fact that I felt like my entire life was falling apart, I was able to continue to push. There were times when I was sure I would be better off dead, yet I still pushed through those thoughts. In my worst moments, I tried to think about the good times ahead. I tried to convince myself that I would get over this and eventually I would get back on my feet. There were times when I did lose hope. I was sure I would never make any more progress and I was a lost cause. The people around me would then take it upon themselves to renew my optimism and my general hope for my future. After struggling and hitting some of my lowest lows in the past couple years, I have learned that optimism can make a difference in your behavior. Having an optimistic mindset can be the thing that pulls you through to the light at the end of the tunnel.

If I had a high amount of followers or had the ability to influence many people, I would be the biggest advocate for suicide prevention and mental health awareness. This topic has been of interest to me for as long as I can remember. Being someone that has struggled with multiple mental health related disorders makes me want to spread the word about how bad those things can really be. On social media and just in daily life, many people do not understand the severity and the importance of recognizing mental health. There are a lot of people who claim to be advocates, yet when somebody is truly mentally ill they are deemed as weird and helpless. If I had a large platform, I would spread the word that mental illness should not be downplayed. It is different than being angry due to a lack of sleep or just having one bad day. Mental illnesses and disorders have to become a lifestyle. Those that are struggling have to figure out a way to work around these obstacles on a daily basis. My biggest goal in life is to make others happy. By advocating for others who suffer with these disorders, I might be able to help them realize that there are other people out there like them. They are not alone and there are people in this world who would be more than happy to help. I would offer my love and support in any situation and just try to over all be there for those that are having a hard time.

Although there is not one specific instance that comes into mind, I love to help encourage others. Every day, I try to do something that makes someone else's day better. For example, yesterday during rugby practice, I encouraged new kids to keep running. Part of preseason is conditioning and running. This involves running twice around the Downingtown Middle School building. Some of the newer kids have trouble finding the motivation to keep running. That is where I step up and cheer the on and give them a reason to keep moving until the end. Little things like being the only one that says "bless you" when somebody sneezes, or complimenting a stranger's outfit can have more impact than you can ever imagine. I don't know what kind of effect this encouragement and kindness has on others, but I do know that it makes me feel good. When others push me to do great things I am very appreciative. I just want others to feel the same sort of gratitude and appreciativeness. It doesn't hurt to offer support and encouragement and I try my best to do that on an everyday basis.

I love my strength. Both mentally and physically. I am proud of myself for how I have been able to push through the hardest times of my life. I have been through times when it took all of my energy to get out of bed. I would put off brushing my teeth and showering for days at a time because it just seemed too difficult. My eyes were swollen and puffy from crying night after night, and yet I still pushed through. There was even a time where I thought I would be better off dead. I felt like my family would be happier without me. Even during those times, I persevered and I have made it through to the light at the end of the tunnel. Not only do I love that I'm mentally strong, I am also physically strong. I started playing rugby my freshman year of high school because I was "too aggressive" during soccer. Of course I fell in love with the sport and I just recently made the rugby PA all-state team. Rugby is the most incredible sport for me because of my strength. I have always been close to the tallest girl in class and many people had recommended the sport to me. I love playing rugby so I love that I'm strong.

As I grow up, I would like to continue to study psychology and major in it in college. I would then like to go through extra schooling in order to become a psychiatrist. After I finish four years of college, I will move to Colorado to finish my schooling there. I will live with my husband and three mastiffs. The house I live in will have eight bedrooms and eight bathrooms with lengthy windows and a spiral staircase. There will be a movie room downstairs along with a workout room. When I finish school, I will either look to see if they need anybody at a place near me. If not, I could start my own practice. I am very passionate about becoming a psychiatrist, so hopefully I will be able to start my own practice in the future if needed. Later down the line, I would like to have two children and send them through school in order to get a good education. I hope to become an advocate for mental health and suicide awareness that is widely known. Of course this is all just a dream, but it would be wonderful to pursue it.

Being kind can go a long way. When I was at my lowest, all I ever wanted was someone to talk to. I wanted somebody to come up to me and ask if I was okay. Because of all of the stigma around mental health based conversations, I would like to help get those conversation started and heard. Being someone that struggles with multiple mental illnesses and disorders, I know how hard it is to reach out for help. The fear that people will judge you or make fun of you is a very real and scary fear. After I was released from an outpatient facility in February of my freshman year in high school, I began to post on social media and talk about how mental health affects people. People with mental illnesses are seen by the general public as lazy people who cry a lot or are crazy. I try my best, mostly through social media, to show that the assumptions they have of these people are wrong. Those that struggle with mental illness just need to get the help they need. Whether that is therapy, medication, or even just more sleep. I believe that once mental health topics are less stigmatized and people can freely talk about their struggles without judgement, the world will be a better place

For me, mental illness has been a lifelong struggle. I started therapy at three years old and medication at seven. Mental illness has a history in my family, at least on my moms side, so my mom and I often struggle with the same types of things. My first diagnosis was OCD when I was four or five years old. OCD stands for obsessive compulsive disorder and it is when the person struggling with it often obsesses over certain things or has compulsions to do the same thing over and over. For example, I was obsessed with the thought of throwing up in school. In first grade, I had a meltdown every time I got on the bus because I was sure that I was going to throw up at school. It was the only thought that took over my mind and it has not happened to this day. Some of my compulsions were turning on and off the lights twelve times (when I was twelve years old) and closing the fridge multiple times to make sure it closed "right". If it didn't close the right way in my mind, I was convinced that my family would die in a car crash. After years and years of therapy and being on medication, I am able to suppress those OCD thoughts but they are still ultimately there. Every once in a while, they come creeping back and I have to push them away. In my freshman year of high school I was diagnosed with GAD and depression. GAD stands for generalized anxiety disorder and it really just means that I have more severe anxiety than most. I get anxious about things that others normally would not care about or even think of. For example, my biggest anxiety is dying in my sleep right now. That fear is sort of an OCD fear, however GAD covers all types of anxiety in general. January of my freshman year I kept a log of how many times I cried. The list consisted of almost every day in the month. Depression is when someone feels overwhelmed with sadness and it feels like a chore to get out of bed and take a shower. Because I have struggled with all of these mental illness issues, I decided that I want to become a psychiatrist. I want to help people struggling with problems similar to mine. If I had never struggled with any mental illness, I definitely would not have chosen the career path I have now. Now, as a junior in high school, I really do believe that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Despite the fact that it sounds incredibly cheesy, it's the genuine truth. I suffered through many years of intrusive thoughts consuming my brain and the feeling of pure sadness. Now, I am doing well in school and taking my meds every day. For the most part, I have my life together and I couldn't be prouder of how far I've come. I believe that the stigma around mental health needs to be diminished so that everybody can get the help they need. Ever since my treatment at an outpatient center in February of freshman year, I have been able to build a relationship with my dad that did not exist before. I have been able to be more open about my illnesses and be there for friends when they need it because I understand what it feels like. Mental illness can be the most draining thing a person will ever have to go through. It will make you feel useless and worthless and just overall sad. Luckily, treatment is available so the suffering does not have to last forever. It is only temporary and now I know there is a better final destination.

Everybody has bad days. I, more than most, know how bad those days can actually be. As somebody that struggles with mental illness, I try my best to always treat others with kindness and empathy. All I ever wanted when I was at my lowest was for a friend to reach out and see if I was okay. I spent many hours crying over the fact that I had no close friends looking out for me. I do not want anybody to feel that way, so I try to always be the friend that reaches out. On multiple occasions, I have texted or called friends to see if they are alright. Just yesterday, I reached out to the girl that sits in front of me in German class because I noticed that she was a little bit off. She was not being her normal talkative self, and I figured that it's always better to check in on the little things. She told me that she and her friend got into a fight but everything resolved, so it was not that big of a deal. I like to make sure everything is okay at the slightest sign of change, rather than letting it get to a really bad place. That is how kids start to feel alone and think about suicide. Our school district has had too many student suicides in the past year. Rose was a girl that I did not know well, however I knew her enough. She took her own life When I was in 7th grade and she was in 8th. You would have never been able to tell how badly she was struggling on the inside. I want to be there for people so that they don't lose the fight to the monster in their head.

I am very passionate about helping other people. Friends and family members have actually told me that the amount of care I have for others is overwhelming. I have struggled with mental illness my entire life and I know how it feels to be in a bad place. I want to do my part to make others feel wanted and loved and cared for. I never want somebody to experience the feeling of sitting alone in a dark room and sobbing because they feel unwanted. I want to take care of people in their worst times like I took care of my siblings when my parents got divorced. I want to be able to spread awareness about mental health issues and I want others to feel comfortable and confident that there is truly a light at the end of the tunnel. No matter how far away or how dim the light may seem, it is still there. Some people just need a little bit of help finding it, and that is why I want to be there. To guide them along their path towards happiness.

Generosity can mean a lot of different things. To me, it's the little things. Being generous means giving someone the last skittle in the pack even though you wanted it. Somebody who is generous would offer to stay up all night to offer support even if they had to get up at five o'clock the next morning. Generosity is being kind to others, even if it is at the expense of your own happiness. Generous people make it obvious that they care about others and their well-being more themselves. I would consider myself a generous person, as I would do anything to make others happy or to put a smile on somebody's face. After all, that is the reason I want to become a psychiatrist or a psychologist. I want to give people the peace and happiness they deserve in life, even if I work long hours and it gets hard sometimes. I am very passionate about others and I think that generosity is all about caring about other people.

There have been many funny moments over the course of my lifetime, however one of the funniest moments happened in the parking lot of Brother's Pizza. I used to live pretty close to a Brother's Pizza place. My whole family loved the restaurant due to the cheapness yet deliciousness of the food. They also had an option for kids to draw pictures while eating that they would then hang on a wall in the front of the restaurant. I remember one time we went, I was minding my own business eating pizza and coloring my paper. I guess my dad was on a tight schedule that day because as soon as we finished eating, he was getting up to leave. I wanted to stay and finish my drawing really quick so he took my siblings and told me he'd pull the car around to the entrance. When I finished my drawing, I took it up to the host at the front desk and he told me that it looked great and he would definitely hang it up. Then, I saw a car pull up around to the entrance and it stopped there. I went outside and opened the back door of the car (When I was 7 I sat in the back) and sat down like I normally would. I went to close the door when my dad started speaking Spanish to me. I was confused because I didn't know my dad could speak such fluent Spanish. When he turned around to look at me, I realized that he was not in fact my dad. Then I looked over in the passengers seat and saw a woman. My parents are divorced so seeing any woman would have been startling. This was a Mexican woman looking at me with pure fear. I then looked next to me and saw a baby in a car seat. Both my siblings were well beyond their baby carseat years. I said out loud "Dad who's baby is this" before remembering it was not my dad. I then got out of the car and slammed the door. Taking another look as it drove away, I realized the car was a small white car with four doors. I don't know how I couldn't tell the difference because my dad owns a gray minivan with automatic sliding doors. After the white car left, my actual dad pulled up to the entrance of the pizza place. I quickly got in the car after the door opened and never spoke of what had just happened.

I have struggled with mental illness my entire life. I was diagnosed with OCD when I was four and GAD and depression when I was fourteen. I appreciate wanting to hide your sadness and fear from the rest of the world. Nobody wants to be seen as vulnerable, and neither did I. I hid all of my troubles away behind closed doors and tried my hardest to go to school every day with a smile. I had to be there for my younger siblings after my parents' divorce and I didn't want them to worry about me. Mental health is something that is not talked about enough. There is so much stigma and secrecy when the topic of mental health is brought up. In reality, more people than we know struggle with mental illness. Your neighbor that greets you with a smile every morning could go back inside every day and lay in bed overwhelmed with anxiety. Your friend at the lunch table who always makes silly jokes could go home, lock the door, and cry because they feel useless or unloved. These things could happen and you wouldn't even know. Mental illness is so stigmatized that people, including me, force themselves to put on a smile and change their whole personality in order to be deemed as mentally stable. They don't want anybody to find out what they struggle with. In the long run however, putting on a happy face won't help much. The thoughts in your head might become too much to handle and instead of asking for help, you might look to suicide. Mental illness is so stigmatized that people would rather end their lives than admit something is wrong and they need help. Being someone that has struggled with those same thoughts, I know that you cannot put on a happy face forever. Eventually you will break. I did in my freshman year. Once I got the help I needed, I was able to get back on my feet and continue with school, make goals for myself, and rebuild relationships. I want everybody to get the help they need. I want everybody to have a recovery story. The reason I fight to de-stigmatize mental health is because I know, more than most, how hard it can be to ask for help. If it's easier and more socially acceptable to ask for help, more people would do it and more people would be on their way to recovery.

My freshman year of high school was absolutely terrible. I've never been great with change and transitions as I struggle with severe anxiety. I was diagnosed with OCD when I was four years old and began taking medicine for it at the age of 7. My whole life has been a shamble of mental illness, but ninth grade definitely hit me the hardest. The beginning of the year wasn't that bad. The work load was light and I was excited to be a high schooler. August through December was mostly okay, however the beginning of January was the roughest. Over winter break, my entire family got sick with the stomach bug. This caused me to have multiple panic attacks because I have a phobia of throwing up and it has been an obsession of mine for as long as I can remember. Going back to school after break is always hard, but in January of 2020, it seemed impossible. I remember keeping a log of the amount of times I cried in 2020 and it included almost every day of January. I felt so overwhelmed and my head was constantly full of what felt like millions of thoughts. I didn't know how to deal with it so I just cried. It got to the point where I refused to go to school and I couldn't even get out of bed. My body was just too tired and exhausted. I felt like nothing was worth it anymore. Soon after I started refusing to go to school, my mom and I took a trip to the crisis center. After I was evaluated there, I was enrolled in an outpatient program at Mirmont. Going to Mirmont was very difficult for me due to the fact that I was already anxious and it was a brand new environment with people I had never met before. While in Mirmont, I adapted to the environment and began to become more at peace with my mind. I learned coping skills to help me when I'm on the verge of a panic attack, my medication dose was bumped up, and on top of that I made new friends. After I got out of Mirmont, I was able to have more of an appreciation for the world around me. I was able to slowly transition back into school and finish out the year. Before I went to outpatient, I thought I would amount to nothing. All I wanted to do was lay under the covers in a dark room and cry day after day. After I was able to get the help I needed, I was able to work harder in school and focus on what I wanted to do later in life. I was able to build a better relationship with my dad (that did not exist before) which made life so much easier. As time went on, I began to realize that life has ups and downs. That's normal. I just had to not let every little thing get to me. I had to adapt, overcome, and come back stronger than ever. It is now January of 2022. Almost two years after I was sent to Mirmont. I am currently maintaining a stable relationship with my boyfriend and my dad and I actually get along. I didn't think that was ever possible for me two years ago. I am getting As and Bs in school and I have a goal to be a psychiatrist set for the future so I have something to work toward. My mental health has affected me for as long as I can remember and I still have bad days, but on those bad days, I have to remember to put my happiness and mental well-being first. Having a clear mind and an optimistic attitude really does make a difference.

People need help even when they don't ask for it. Being somebody that struggles with mental health, I know how easy it is to hide behind closed doors. Because of this, I always make sure to check up on even the happiest of my friends. Somebody could be the brightest person you have ever seen and then go home to curl up in a messy room and cry because they don't have the energy to clean it. Although I am not a licensed psychologist nor do I have any title of the sort, I can still try my best to put a smile on peoples' faces. A high school student like myself has as much ability as anyone else to crack a joke or ask a simple "Are you okay?" if we notice someone looks particularly rough. I know how difficult and exhausting it can be to pretend to be happy all day when your brain is eating away at you and your stomach won't stop turning. Offering someone a break or a drink of water or to go on a walk can really turn their day around. When I am older, I would like to pursue the career of a psychiatrist so that I am able to continue to help people battle through mental illness one step at a time.