I felt like a freak as I sat in the chair of the doctor's office, awaiting my results. I had spent the last few months dealing with tics, quickly becoming an outcast among my friends. They would tell me to "knock it off" or that it "creeped them out." But it wasn't my fault; I had no control over it. I spent so much time explaining that to them, but they never listened. I had no idea what to do about it or what may be causing it. I just decided to wait it out, hoping I would simply grow out of it. However, my condition continued to worsen, so I knew it was time to do something about it. So I finally decided it was time to get checked out, hoping there was a cure to whatever was plaguing me. The doctor told me that my tics were a symptom of extremely high anxiety levels, which I had been dealing with as a side effect of the many things happening in my life. I had been taking many challenging classes while balancing my extracurriculars and dealing with issues at home and with my friends. She explained that if I could get my stress under control, my tics would start to disappear. I was so relieved to find out that I would get to be "normal" again. I was then prescribed medication and began therapy to help me manage my anxiety. Shortly after, I saw improvement in my tics and my overall mental well-being. The medication targeted my anxiety, alleviating my stress and no longer triggering my tics, which helped me function better in areas of my life such as a classroom, a soccer field, social events, and more. Currently, I am at a place where I rarely ever experience tics, and I find myself managing stress and mental health in much healthier ways than I used to. My experience with my mental health and therapy made me change the way I see the world. It has helped me so much, and I have come far from where I once was. I believe everybody deserves access to therapy or mental health resources. I also believe that we need to eliminate the stigma around mental illness. Many people with some form of mental illness already struggle to cope, and shaming them can only worsen matters. I want to help others as I once was, and now I aspire to be a therapist. I want to specialize in helping kids and teens. I've begun taking classes to help me plan my career, such as psychology and careers in education. The brain is in such an intense developmental stage, and many teens nowadays struggle with mental health more than ever, while resources and education are minimal. I want to help other young adults entering our society feel and achieve their best and teach them the resources to do so. Because I believe everybody has the right to feel good.

I felt like a freak as I sat in the chair of the doctor's office, awaiting my results. I had spent the last few months dealing with tics, quickly becoming an outcast among my friends. They would tell me to "knock it off" or that it "creeped them out." But it wasn't my fault; I had no control over it. I spent so much time explaining that to them, but they never listened. I had no idea what to do about it or what may be causing it. I just decided to wait it out, hoping I would simply grow out of it. However, my condition continued to worsen, so I knew it was time to do something about it. So I finally decided it was time to get checked out, hoping there was a cure to whatever was plaguing me. The doctor told me that my tics were a symptom of extremely high anxiety levels, which I had been dealing with as a side effect of the many things happening in my life. I had been taking many challenging classes while balancing my extracurriculars and dealing with issues at home and with my friends. She explained that if I could get my stress under control, my tics would start to disappear. I was so relieved to find out that I would get to be "normal" again. I was then prescribed medication and began therapy to help me manage my anxiety. Shortly after, I saw improvement in my tics and my overall mental well-being. The medication targeted my anxiety, alleviating my stress and no longer triggering my tics, which helped me function better in areas of my life such as a classroom, a soccer field, social events, and more. Currently, I am at a place where I rarely ever experience tics, and I find myself managing stress and mental health in much healthier ways than I used to. My experience with my mental health and therapy made me change the way I see the world. It has helped me so much, and I have come far from where I once was. I believe everybody deserves access to therapy or mental health resources. I also believe that we need to eliminate the stigma around mental illness. Many people with some form of mental illness already struggle to cope, and shaming them can only worsen matters. I want to help others as I once was, and now I aspire to be a therapist. I want to specialize in helping kids and teens. I've begun taking classes to help me plan my career, such as psychology and careers in education. The brain is in such an intense developmental stage, and many teens nowadays struggle with mental health more than ever, while resources and education are minimal. I want to help other young adults entering our society feel and achieve their best and teach them the resources to do so. Because I believe everybody has the right to feel good.

I felt like a freak as I sat in the chair of the doctor's office, awaiting my results. I had spent the last few months dealing with tics, quickly becoming an outcast among my friends. They would tell me to "knock it off" or that it "creeped them out." But it wasn't my fault; I had no control over it. I spent so much time explaining that to them, but they never listened. I had no idea what to do about it or what may be causing it. I just decided to wait it out, hoping I would simply grow out of it. However, my condition continued to worsen, so I knew it was time to do something about it. So I finally decided it was time to get checked out, hoping there was a cure to whatever was plaguing me. The doctor told me that my tics were a symptom of extremely high anxiety levels, which I had been dealing with as a side effect of the many things happening in my life. I had been taking many challenging classes while balancing my extracurriculars and dealing with issues at home and with my friends. She explained that if I could get my stress under control, my tics would start to disappear. I was so relieved to find out that I would get to be "normal" again. I was then prescribed medication and began therapy to help me manage my anxiety. Shortly after, I saw improvement in my tics and my overall mental well-being. The medication targeted my anxiety, alleviating my stress and no longer triggering my tics, which helped me function better in areas of my life such as a classroom, a soccer field, social events, and more. Currently, I am at a place where I rarely ever experience tics, and I find myself managing stress and mental health in much healthier ways than I used to. My experience with my mental health and therapy made me change the way I see the world. It has helped me so much, and I have come far from where I once was. I believe everybody deserves access to therapy or mental health resources. I also believe that we need to eliminate the stigma around mental illness. Many people with some form of mental illness already struggle to cope, and shaming them can only worsen matters. I want to help others as I once was, and now I aspire to be a therapist. I want to specialize in helping kids and teens. I've begun taking classes to help me plan my career, such as psychology and careers in education. The brain is in such an intense developmental stage, and many teens nowadays struggle with mental health more than ever, while resources and education are minimal. I want to help other young adults entering our society feel and achieve their best and teach them the resources to do so. Because I believe everybody has the right to feel good.

I felt like a freak as I sat in the chair of the doctor's office, awaiting my results. I had spent the last few months dealing with tics, quickly becoming an outcast among my friends. They would tell me to "knock it off" or that it "creeped them out." But it wasn't my fault; I had no control over it. I spent so much time explaining that to them, but they never listened. I had no idea what to do about it or what may be causing it. I just decided to wait it out, hoping I would simply grow out of it. However, my condition continued to worsen, so I knew it was time to do something about it. So I finally decided it was time to get checked out, hoping there was a cure to whatever was plaguing me. The doctor told me that my tics were a symptom of extremely high anxiety levels, which I had been dealing with as a side effect of the many things happening in my life. I had been taking many challenging classes while balancing my extracurriculars and dealing with issues at home and with my friends. She explained that if I could get my stress under control, my tics would start to disappear. I was so relieved to find out that I would get to be "normal" again. I was then prescribed medication and began therapy to help me manage my anxiety. Shortly after, I saw improvement in my tics and my overall mental well-being. The medication targeted my anxiety, alleviating my stress and no longer triggering my tics, which helped me function better in areas of my life such as a classroom, a soccer field, social events, and more. Currently, I am at a place where I rarely ever experience tics, and I find myself managing stress and mental health in much healthier ways than I used to. My experience with my mental health and therapy made me change the way I see the world. It has helped me so much, and I have come far from where I once was. I believe everybody deserves access to therapy or mental health resources. I also believe that we need to eliminate the stigma around mental illness. Many people with some form of mental illness already struggle to cope, and shaming them can only worsen matters. I want to help others as I once was, and now I aspire to be a therapist. I want to specialize in helping kids and teens. I've begun taking classes to help me plan my career, such as psychology and careers in education. The brain is in such an intense developmental stage, and many teens nowadays struggle with mental health more than ever, while resources and education are minimal. I want to help other young adults entering our society feel and achieve their best and teach them the resources to do so. Because I believe everybody has the right to feel good.

I felt like a freak as I sat in the chair of the doctor's office, awaiting my results. I had spent the last few months dealing with tics, quickly becoming an outcast among my friends. They would tell me to "knock it off" or that it "creeped them out." But it wasn't my fault; I had no control over it. I spent so much time explaining that to them, but they never listened. I had no idea what to do about it or what may be causing it. I just decided to wait it out, hoping I would simply grow out of it. However, my condition continued to worsen, so I knew it was time to do something about it. So I finally decided it was time to get checked out, hoping there was a cure to whatever was plaguing me. The doctor told me that my tics were a symptom of extremely high anxiety levels, which I had been dealing with as a side effect of the many things happening in my life. I had been taking many challenging classes while balancing my extracurriculars and dealing with issues at home and with my friends. She explained that if I could get my stress under control, my tics would start to disappear. I was so relieved to find out that I would get to be "normal" again. I was then prescribed medication and began therapy to help me manage my anxiety. Shortly after, I saw improvement in my tics and my overall mental well-being. The medication targeted my anxiety, alleviating my stress and no longer triggering my tics, which helped me function better in areas of my life such as a classroom, a soccer field, social events, and more. Currently, I am at a place where I rarely ever experience tics, and I find myself managing stress and mental health in much healthier ways than I used to. My experience with my mental health and therapy made me change the way I see the world. It has helped me so much, and I have come far from where I once was. I believe everybody deserves access to therapy or mental health resources. I also believe that we need to eliminate the stigma around mental illness. Many people with some form of mental illness already struggle to cope, and shaming them can only worsen matters. I want to help others as I once was, and now I aspire to be a therapist. I want to specialize in helping kids and teens. I've begun taking classes to help me plan my career, such as psychology and careers in education. The brain is in such an intense developmental stage, and many teens nowadays struggle with mental health more than ever, while resources and education are minimal. I want to help other young adults entering our society feel and achieve their best and teach them the resources to do so. Because I believe everybody has the right to feel good.

I felt like a freak as I sat in the chair of the doctor's office, awaiting my results. I had spent the last few months dealing with tics, quickly becoming an outcast among my friends. They would tell me to "knock it off" or that it "creeped them out." But it wasn't my fault; I had no control over it. I spent so much time explaining that to them, but they never listened. I had no idea what to do about it or what may be causing it. I just decided to wait it out, hoping I would simply grow out of it. However, my condition continued to worsen, so I knew it was time to do something about it. So I finally decided it was time to get checked out, hoping there was a cure to whatever was plaguing me. The doctor told me that my tics were a symptom of extremely high anxiety levels, which I had been dealing with as a side effect of the many things happening in my life. I had been taking many challenging classes while balancing my extracurriculars and dealing with issues at home and with my friends. She explained that if I could get my stress under control, my tics would start to disappear. I was so relieved to find out that I would get to be "normal" again. I was then prescribed medication and began therapy to help me manage my anxiety. Shortly after, I saw improvement in my tics and my overall mental well-being. The medication targeted my anxiety, alleviating my stress and no longer triggering my tics, which helped me function better in areas of my life such as a classroom, a soccer field, social events, and more. Currently, I am at a place where I rarely ever experience tics, and I find myself managing stress and mental health in much healthier ways than I used to. My experience with my mental health and therapy made me change the way I see the world. It has helped me so much, and I have come far from where I once was. I believe everybody deserves access to therapy or mental health resources. I also believe that we need to eliminate the stigma around mental illness. Many people with some form of mental illness already struggle to cope, and shaming them can only worsen matters. I want to help others as I once was, and now I aspire to be a therapist. I want to specialize in helping kids and teens. I've begun taking classes to help me plan my career, such as psychology and careers in education. The brain is in such an intense developmental stage, and many teens nowadays struggle with mental health more than ever, while resources and education are minimal. I want to help other young adults entering our society feel and achieve their best and teach them the resources to do so. Because I believe everybody has the right to feel good.

In the second semester of my sophomore year, I sat in class when someone handed me a flyer for "Mentorship." I read the description and discovered it's a program that pairs high school students with elementary kids who need extra attention. Some friends asked me if I planned on doing it, and I told them I hadn't given it much thought. I came home and mentioned it to my mom. She seemed thrilled by this; she did something similar in high school for her senior project and encouraged me to do it, too. I walked into Lewis and Clark Elementary a couple of training sessions later. As the counselor walked us toward the cafeteria, I felt all sorts of emotions gathering in the pit of my stomach: excitement, nervousness, and confusion. Then, I met Demitri. I remember I sat next to him on the first day, and he sat alone at a huge table. I asked where his friends were because I could sit with them if he wanted me to, and he responded, "I usually just eat alone." My heart ached for this poor boy. He was such a sweet, caring boy who loved his family cartoons and soccer. I remember asking myself, "How could nobody like a sweet kid like him?" I started to help him branch out. We asked other kids if we could sit with them, join soccer games, start tag rounds, and more. By the end of the year, Demetri was like a new person. He was so more confident, smiled more, and was friends with practically the entire fifth grade. I loved watching Demetri grow and helping him through that process. This sparked something in me and inspired me to become a therapist specializing in children who need help, such as Demetri. I have learned that I want to help kids who struggle socially, struggle at home, have behavior issues, and more. I want to impact kids' lives and help them while it's still early so they can navigate the rest of their lives more quickly. Now that I am a leader of the AHS Mentorship Program, my involvement has grown. I have expanded the program from Lewis and Clark Elementary to Astor Elementary. I am in charge of recruiting, training, and organizing new members. I collaborate with the counselor to determine the structure and timeline for students. Every time I stepped into the school, I was reminded of the importance of putting others before myself and giving back to my community. I always believed in the power of serving others and making a positive impact, and this program allowed me to do just that. Working with the children at Astor was a rewarding experience in itself. I saw firsthand the challenges these students faced daily, whether academic struggles, peer conflicts, or personal issues. But despite their obstacles, these young individuals displayed resilience, determination, and a thirst for knowledge that inspired me daily. Through my community service activities at Astor, I dedicated my time, energy, and resources to helping others and positively impacting the lives of these students. I learned the meaning of selflessness, compassion, and empathy, and I will carry these values with me for the rest of my life. As I prepare to graduate and move on to the next chapter of my life, I will always cherish the memories and experiences I gained at Astor. The mentorship program allowed me to give back to my community and taught me valuable lessons about the power of service and its impact on others. I am grateful for the opportunity to have served others.

I felt like a freak as I sat in the chair of the doctor's office, awaiting my results. I had spent the last few months dealing with tics, quickly becoming an outcast among my friends. They would tell me to "knock it off" or that it "creeped them out." But it wasn't my fault; I had no control over it. I spent so much time explaining that to them, but they never listened. I had no idea what to do about it or what may be causing it. I just decided to wait it out, hoping I would simply grow out of it. However, my condition continued to worsen, so I knew it was time to do something about it. So I finally decided it was time to get checked out, hoping there was a cure to whatever was plaguing me. The doctor told me that my tics were a symptom of extremely high anxiety levels, which I had been dealing with as a side effect of the many things happening in my life. I had been taking many challenging classes while balancing my extracurriculars and dealing with issues at home and with my friends. She explained that if I could get my stress under control, my tics would start to disappear. I was so relieved to find out that I would get to be "normal" again. I was then prescribed medication and began therapy to help me manage my anxiety. Shortly after, I saw improvement in my tics and my overall mental well-being. The medication targeted my anxiety, alleviating my stress and no longer triggering my tics, which helped me function better in areas of my life such as a classroom, a soccer field, social events, and more. Currently, I am at a place where I rarely ever experience tics, and I find myself managing stress and mental health in much healthier ways than I used to. My experience with my mental health and therapy made me change the way I see the world. It has helped me so much, and I have come far from where I once was. I believe everybody deserves access to therapy or mental health resources. I also believe that we need to eliminate the stigma around mental illness. Many people with some form of mental illness already struggle to cope, and shaming them can only worsen matters. I want to help others as I once was, and now I aspire to be a therapist. I want to specialize in helping kids and teens. I've begun taking classes to help me plan my career, such as psychology and careers in education. The brain is in such an intense developmental stage, and many teens nowadays struggle with mental health more than ever, while resources and education are minimal. I want to help other young adults entering our society feel and achieve their best and teach them the resources to do so. Because I believe everybody has the right to feel good.

I felt like a freak as I sat in the chair of the doctor's office, awaiting my results. I had spent the last few months dealing with tics, quickly becoming an outcast among my friends. They would tell me to "knock it off" or that it "creeped them out." But it wasn't my fault; I had no control over it. I spent so much time explaining that to them, but they never listened. I had no idea what to do about it or what may be causing it. I just decided to wait it out, hoping I would simply grow out of it. However, my condition continued to worsen, so I knew it was time to do something about it. So I finally decided it was time to get checked out, hoping there was a cure to whatever was plaguing me. The doctor told me that my tics were a symptom of extremely high anxiety levels, which I had been dealing with as a side effect of the many things happening in my life. I had been taking many challenging classes while balancing my extracurriculars and dealing with issues at home and with my friends. She explained that if I could get my stress under control, my tics would start to disappear. I was so relieved to find out that I would get to be "normal" again. I was then prescribed medication and began therapy to help me manage my anxiety. Shortly after, I saw improvement in my tics and my overall mental well-being. The medication targeted my anxiety, alleviating my stress and no longer triggering my tics, which helped me function better in areas of my life such as a classroom, a soccer field, social events, and more. Currently, I am at a place where I rarely ever experience tics, and I find myself managing stress and mental health in much healthier ways than I used to. My experience with my mental health and therapy made me change the way I see the world. It has helped me so much, and I have come far from where I once was. I believe everybody deserves access to therapy or mental health resources. I also believe that we need to eliminate the stigma around mental illness. Many people with some form of mental illness already struggle to cope, and shaming them can only worsen matters. I want to help others as I once was, and now I aspire to be a therapist. I want to specialize in helping kids and teens. I've begun taking classes to help me plan my career, such as psychology and careers in education. The brain is in such an intense developmental stage, and many teens nowadays struggle with mental health more than ever, while resources and education are minimal. I want to help other young adults entering our society feel and achieve their best and teach them the resources to do so. Because I believe everybody has the right to feel good.

I felt like a freak as I sat in the chair of the doctor's office, awaiting my results. I had spent the last few months dealing with tics, quickly becoming an outcast among my friends. They would tell me to "knock it off" or that it "creeped them out." But it wasn't my fault; I had no control over it. I spent so much time explaining that to them, but they never listened. I had no idea what to do about it or what may be causing it. I just decided to wait it out, hoping I would simply grow out of it. However, my condition continued to worsen, so I knew it was time to do something about it. So I finally decided it was time to get checked out, hoping there was a cure to whatever was plaguing me. The doctor told me that my tics were a symptom of extremely high anxiety levels, which I had been dealing with as a side effect of the many things happening in my life. I had been taking many challenging classes while balancing my extracurriculars and dealing with issues at home and with my friends. She explained that if I could get my stress under control, my tics would start to disappear. I was so relieved to find out that I would get to be "normal" again. I was then prescribed medication and began therapy to help me manage my anxiety. Shortly after, I saw improvement in my tics and my overall mental well-being. The medication targeted my anxiety, alleviating my stress and no longer triggering my tics, which helped me function better in areas of my life such as a classroom, a soccer field, social events, and more. Currently, I am at a place where I rarely ever experience tics, and I find myself managing stress and mental health in much healthier ways than I used to. My experience with my mental health and therapy made me change the way I see the world. It has helped me so much, and I have come far from where I once was. I believe everybody deserves access to therapy or mental health resources. I also believe that we need to eliminate the stigma around mental illness. Many people with some form of mental illness already struggle to cope, and shaming them can only worsen matters. I want to help others as I once was, and now I aspire to be a therapist. I want to specialize in helping kids and teens. I've begun taking classes to help me plan my career, such as psychology and careers in education. The brain is in such an intense developmental stage, and many teens nowadays struggle with mental health more than ever, while resources and education are minimal. I want to help other young adults entering our society feel and achieve their best and teach them the resources to do so. Because I believe everybody has the right to feel good.

I felt like a freak as I sat in the chair of the doctor's office, awaiting my results. I had spent the last few months dealing with tics, quickly becoming an outcast among my friends. They would tell me to "knock it off" or that it "creeped them out." But it wasn't my fault; I had no control over it. I spent so much time explaining that to them, but they never listened. I had no idea what to do about it or what may be causing it. I just decided to wait it out, hoping I would simply grow out of it. However, my condition continued to worsen, so I knew it was time to do something about it. So I finally decided it was time to get checked out, hoping there was a cure to whatever was plaguing me. The doctor told me that my tics were a symptom of extremely high anxiety levels, which I had been dealing with as a side effect of the many things happening in my life. I had been taking many challenging classes while balancing my extracurriculars and dealing with issues at home and with my friends. She explained that if I could get my stress under control, my tics would start to disappear. I was so relieved to find out that I would get to be "normal" again. I was then prescribed medication and began therapy to help me manage my anxiety. Shortly after, I saw improvement in my tics and my overall mental well-being. The medication targeted my anxiety, alleviating my stress and no longer triggering my tics, which helped me function better in areas of my life such as a classroom, a soccer field, social events, and more. Currently, I am at a place where I rarely ever experience tics, and I find myself managing stress and mental health in much healthier ways than I used to. My experience with my mental health and therapy made me change the way I see the world. It has helped me so much, and I have come far from where I once was. I believe everybody deserves access to therapy or mental health resources. I also believe that we need to eliminate the stigma around mental illness. Many people with some form of mental illness already struggle to cope, and shaming them can only worsen matters. I want to help others as I once was, and now I aspire to be a therapist. I want to specialize in helping kids and teens. I've begun taking classes to help me plan my career, such as psychology and careers in education. The brain is in such an intense developmental stage, and many teens nowadays struggle with mental health more than ever, while resources and education are minimal. I want to help other young adults entering our society feel and achieve their best and teach them the resources to do so. Because I believe everybody has the right to feel good.

In the future, I hope to impact children’s lives positively. I plan to attend the University of Oregon which has an excellent psychology program. After receiving my bachelor's in psychology, I want to attend graduate school and get my master's in childhood development. Following that, I plan to get my license as a social worker. From there, I would like to become a therapist specializing in helping young children and adolescents. Working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities has been a transformative and rewarding experience for me. It has allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by those with such disabilities. It has inspired me to pursue a career in psychology, focusing on child development. My journey working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities began when I took a class in Careers and Education, where I had the opportunity to work with kids in the counseling department, some of whom experience different intellectual or developmental disabilities. This hands-on experience allowed me to develop close relationships with the children and learn valuable skills in supporting and guiding individuals with diverse needs. It has helped me understand that every child is unique and has different experiences and challenges. Additionally, I created a mentorship program at Astor Elementary School where others and I would spend lunch hours with the kids, engaging in various activities and providing friendship and emotional support. This experience opened my eyes to the unique needs of these children and ignited a passion within me to make a difference in their lives. Furthermore, my struggles with my mental health have given me a unique perspective on the importance of understanding and supporting those facing challenges. I developed a significant tic during a particularly stressful period in my life, which led me to seek help and ultimately learn to manage my mental health effectively. This journey has made me more empathetic and compassionate towards others facing similar struggles. Working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities has given me a multifaceted perspective on the challenges they face. On one hand, I have witnessed the resilience and strength of these individuals, as well as the deep connections and joy that can be found in supporting them. On the other hand, I have also seen the systemic barriers and stigma that continue to exist in society, hindering the full inclusion and empowerment of individuals with disabilities. Looking ahead, I hope there will be continued progress toward creating more inclusive and supportive environments for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. As I pursue a career in psychology with a focus on child development, I am committed to advocating for the rights and well-being of these individuals and working towards a more equitable and compassionate society for all.

Working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities has been a transformative and rewarding experience for me. It has allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by those with such disabilities. It has inspired me to pursue a career in psychology, focusing on child development. My journey working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities began when I took a class in Careers and Education, where I had the opportunity to work with kids in the counseling department, some of whom experience different intellectual or developmental disabilities. This hands-on experience allowed me to develop close relationships with the children and learn valuable skills in supporting and guiding individuals with diverse needs. It has helped me understand that every child is unique and has different experiences and challenges. Additionally, I created a mentorship program at Astor Elementary School where others and I would spend lunch hours with the kids, engaging in various activities and providing friendship and emotional support. This experience opened my eyes to the unique needs of these children and ignited a passion within me to make a difference in their lives. Furthermore, my struggles with my mental health have given me a unique perspective on the importance of understanding and supporting those facing challenges. I developed a significant tic during a particularly stressful period in my life, which led me to seek help and ultimately learn to manage my mental health effectively. This journey has made me more empathetic and compassionate towards others facing similar struggles. Working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities has given me a multifaceted perspective on the challenges they face. On one hand, I have witnessed the resilience and strength of these individuals, as well as the deep connections and joy that can be found in supporting them. On the other hand, I have also seen the systemic barriers and stigma that continue to exist in society, hindering the full inclusion and empowerment of individuals with disabilities. Looking ahead, I hope there will be continued progress toward creating more inclusive and supportive environments for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. As I pursue a career in psychology with a focus on child development, I am committed to advocating for the rights and well-being of these individuals and working towards a more equitable and compassionate society for all.

In the second semester of my sophomore year, I sat in class when someone handed me a flyer for "Mentorship." I read the description and discovered it's a program that pairs high school students with elementary kids who need extra attention. Some friends asked me if I planned on doing it, and I told them I hadn't given it much thought. I came home and mentioned it to my mom. She seemed thrilled by this; she did something similar in high school for her senior project and encouraged me to do it, too. I walked into Lewis and Clark Elementary a couple of training sessions later. As the counselor walked us toward the cafeteria, I felt all sorts of emotions gathering in the pit of my stomach: excitement, nervousness, and confusion. Then, I met Demitri. I remember I sat next to him on the first day, and he sat alone at a huge table. I asked where his friends were because I could sit with them if he wanted me to, and he responded, "I usually just eat alone." My heart ached for this poor boy. He was such a sweet, caring boy who loved his family cartoons and soccer. I remember asking myself, "How could nobody like a sweet kid like him?" I started to help him branch out. We asked other kids if we could sit with them, join soccer games, start tag rounds, and more. By the end of the year, Demetri was like a new person. He was so more confident, smiled more, and was friends with practically the entire fifth grade. I loved watching Demetri grow and helping him through that process. This sparked something in me and inspired me to become a therapist specializing in children who need help, such as Demetri. I have learned that I want to help kids who struggle socially, struggle at home, have behavior issues, and more. I want to impact kids' lives and help them while it's still early so they can navigate the rest of their lives more quickly. Now that I am a leader of the AHS Mentorship Program, my involvement has grown. I have expanded the program from Lewis and Clark Elementary to Astor Elementary. I am in charge of recruiting, training, and organizing new members. I collaborate with the counselor to determine the structure and timeline for students. Every time I stepped into the school, I was reminded of the importance of putting others before myself and giving back to my community. I always believed in the power of serving others and making a positive impact, and this program allowed me to do just that. Working with the children at Astor was a rewarding experience in itself. I saw firsthand the challenges these students faced daily, whether academic struggles, peer conflicts, or personal issues. But despite their obstacles, these young individuals displayed resilience, determination, and a thirst for knowledge that inspired me daily. Through my community service activities at Astor, I dedicated my time, energy, and resources to helping others and positively impacting the lives of these students. I learned the meaning of selflessness, compassion, and empathy, and I will carry these values with me for the rest of my life. As I prepare to graduate and move on to the next chapter of my life, I will always cherish the memories and experiences I gained at Astor. The mentorship program allowed me to give back to my community and taught me valuable lessons about the power of service and its impact on others. I am grateful for the opportunity to have served others.

In the second semester of my sophomore year, I sat in class when someone handed me a flyer for "Mentorship." I read the description and discovered it's a program that pairs high school students with elementary kids who need extra attention. Some friends asked me if I planned on doing it, and I told them I hadn't given it much thought. I came home and mentioned it to my mom. She seemed thrilled by this; she did something similar in high school for her senior project and encouraged me to do it, too. I walked into Lewis and Clark Elementary a couple of training sessions later. As the counselor walked us toward the cafeteria, I felt all sorts of emotions gathering in the pit of my stomach: excitement, nervousness, and confusion. Then, I met Demitri. I remember I sat next to him on the first day, and he sat alone at a huge table. I asked where his friends were because I could sit with them if he wanted me to, and he responded, "I usually just eat alone." My heart ached for this poor boy. He was such a sweet, caring boy who loved his family cartoons and soccer. I remember asking myself, "How could nobody like a sweet kid like him?" I started to help him branch out. We asked other kids if we could sit with them, join soccer games, start tag rounds, and more. By the end of the year, Demetri was like a new person. He was so more confident, smiled more, and was friends with practically the entire fifth grade. I loved watching Demetri grow and helping him through that process. This sparked something in me and inspired me to become a therapist specializing in children who need help, such as Demetri. I have learned that I want to help kids who struggle socially, struggle at home, have behavior issues, and more. I want to impact kids' lives and help them while it's still early so they can navigate the rest of their lives more quickly. Now that I am a leader of the AHS Mentorship Program, my involvement has grown. I have expanded the program from Lewis and Clark Elementary to Astor Elementary. I am in charge of recruiting, training, and organizing new members. I collaborate with the counselor to determine the structure and timeline for students. Every time I stepped into the school, I was reminded of the importance of putting others before myself and giving back to my community. I always believed in the power of serving others and making a positive impact, and this program allowed me to do just that. Working with the children at Astor was a rewarding experience in itself. I saw firsthand the challenges these students faced daily, whether academic struggles, peer conflicts, or personal issues. But despite their obstacles, these young individuals displayed resilience, determination, and a thirst for knowledge that inspired me daily. Through my community service activities at Astor, I dedicated my time, energy, and resources to helping others and positively impacting the lives of these students. I learned the meaning of selflessness, compassion, and empathy, and I will carry these values with me for the rest of my life. As I prepare to graduate and move on to the next chapter of my life, I will always cherish the memories and experiences I gained at Astor. The mentorship program allowed me to give back to my community and taught me valuable lessons about the power of service and its impact on others. I am grateful for the opportunity to have served others.

In the future, I hope to impact children’s lives positively. I plan to attend the University of Oregon which has an excellent psychology program. After receiving my bachelor's in psychology, I want to attend graduate school and get my master's in childhood development. Following that, I plan to get my license as a social worker. From there, I would like to become a therapist specializing in helping young children and adolescents. Working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities has been a transformative and rewarding experience for me. It has allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by those with such disabilities. It has inspired me to pursue a career in psychology, focusing on child development. My journey working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities began when I took a class in Careers and Education, where I had the opportunity to work with kids in the counseling department, some of whom experience different intellectual or developmental disabilities. This hands-on experience allowed me to develop close relationships with the children and learn valuable skills in supporting and guiding individuals with diverse needs. It has helped me understand that every child is unique and has different experiences and challenges. Additionally, I created a mentorship program at Astor Elementary School where others and I would spend lunch hours with the kids, engaging in various activities and providing friendship and emotional support. This experience opened my eyes to the unique needs of these children and ignited a passion within me to make a difference in their lives. Furthermore, my struggles with my mental health have given me a unique perspective on the importance of understanding and supporting those facing challenges. I developed a significant tic during a particularly stressful period in my life, which led me to seek help and ultimately learn to manage my mental health effectively. This journey has made me more empathetic and compassionate towards others facing similar struggles. Working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities has given me a multifaceted perspective on the challenges they face. On one hand, I have witnessed the resilience and strength of these individuals, as well as the deep connections and joy that can be found in supporting them. On the other hand, I have also seen the systemic barriers and stigma that continue to exist in society, hindering the full inclusion and empowerment of individuals with disabilities. Looking ahead, I hope there will be continued progress toward creating more inclusive and supportive environments for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. As I pursue a career in psychology with a focus on child development, I am committed to advocating for the rights and well-being of these individuals and working towards a more equitable and compassionate society for all.

I felt like a freak as I sat in the chair of the doctor's office, awaiting my results. I had spent the last few months dealing with tics, quickly becoming an outcast among my friends. They would tell me to "knock it off" or that it "creeped them out." But it wasn't my fault; I had no control over it. I spent so much time explaining that to them, but they never listened. I had no idea what to do about it or what may be causing it. I just decided to wait it out, hoping I would simply grow out of it. However, my condition continued to worsen, so I knew it was time to do something about it. So I finally decided it was time to get checked out, hoping there was a cure to whatever was plaguing me. The doctor told me that my tics were a symptom of extremely high anxiety levels, which I had been dealing with as a side effect of the many things happening in my life. I had been taking many challenging classes while balancing my extracurriculars and dealing with issues at home and with my friends. She explained that if I could get my stress under control, my tics would start to disappear. I was so relieved to find out that I would get to be "normal" again. I was then prescribed medication and began therapy to help me manage my anxiety. Shortly after, I saw improvement in my tics and my overall mental well-being. The medication targeted my anxiety, alleviating my stress and no longer triggering my tics, which helped me function better in areas of my life such as a classroom, a soccer field, social events, and more. Currently, I am at a place where I rarely ever experience tics, and I find myself managing stress and mental health in much healthier ways than I used to. My experience with my mental health and therapy made me change the way I see the world. It has helped me so much, and I have come far from where I once was. I believe everybody deserves access to therapy or mental health resources. I also believe that we need to eliminate the stigma around mental illness. Many people with some form of mental illness already struggle to cope, and shaming them can only worsen matters. I want to help others as I once was, and now I aspire to be a therapist. I want to specialize in helping kids and teens. I've begun taking classes to help me plan my career, such as psychology and careers in education. The brain is in such an intense developmental stage, and many teens nowadays struggle with mental health more than ever, while resources and education are minimal. I want to help other young adults entering our society feel and achieve their best and teach them the resources to do so. Because I believe everybody has the right to feel good.

I felt like a freak as I sat in the chair of the doctor's office, awaiting my results. I had spent the last few months dealing with tics, quickly becoming an outcast among my friends. They would tell me to "knock it off" or that it "creeped them out." But it wasn't my fault; I had no control over it. I spent so much time explaining that to them, but they never listened. I had no idea what to do about it or what may be causing it. I just decided to wait it out, hoping I would simply grow out of it. However, my condition continued to worsen, so I knew it was time to do something about it. So I finally decided it was time to get checked out, hoping there was a cure to whatever was plaguing me. The doctor told me that my tics were a symptom of extremely high anxiety levels, which I had been dealing with as a side effect of the many things happening in my life. I had been taking many challenging classes while balancing my extracurriculars and dealing with issues at home and with my friends. She explained that if I could get my stress under control, my tics would start to disappear. I was so relieved to find out that I would get to be "normal" again. I was then prescribed medication and began therapy to help me manage my anxiety. Shortly after, I saw improvement in my tics and my overall mental well-being. The medication targeted my anxiety, alleviating my stress and no longer triggering my tics, which helped me function better in areas of my life such as a classroom, a soccer field, social events, and more. Currently, I am at a place where I rarely ever experience tics, and I find myself managing stress and mental health in much healthier ways than I used to. My experience with my mental health and therapy made me change the way I see the world. It has helped me so much, and I have come far from where I once was. I believe everybody deserves access to therapy or mental health resources. I also believe that we need to eliminate the stigma around mental illness. Many people with some form of mental illness already struggle to cope, and shaming them can only worsen matters. I want to help others as I once was, and now I aspire to be a therapist. I want to specialize in helping kids and teens. I've begun taking classes to help me plan my career, such as psychology and careers in education. The brain is in such an intense developmental stage, and many teens nowadays struggle with mental health more than ever, while resources and education are minimal. I want to help other young adults entering our society feel and achieve their best and teach them the resources to do so. Because I believe everybody has the right to feel good.

I felt like a freak as I sat in the chair of the doctor's office, awaiting my results. I had spent the last few months dealing with tics, quickly becoming an outcast among my friends. They would tell me to "knock it off" or that it "creeped them out." But it wasn't my fault; I had no control over it. I had spent so much time explaining that to them, but they never listened to me. I had no idea what to do about it or what may be causing it. I just decided to wait it out, hoping I would simply grow out of it. However, my condition continued to worsen, so I knew it was time to do something about it. So I finally decided it was time to get checked out, hoping there was a cure to whatever it was that was plaguing me. The doctor told me that my tics were a symptom of extremely high anxiety levels, which I had been dealing with as a side effect of the many things happening in my life. I had been taking many challenging classes while balancing my extracurriculars and dealing with issues at home and with my friends. She explained that if I could get my stress under control, my tics would start to disappear. I was so relieved to find out that I would get to be "normal" again. I was then prescribed medication and began therapy to help me manage my anxiety. Shortly after, I saw improvement in my tics and my overall mental well-being. The medication targeted my anxiety, alleviating my stress and no longer triggering my tics, which helped me function better in areas of my life such as a classroom, a soccer field, social events, and more. Currently, I am at a place where I rarely ever experience tics, and I find myself managing stress and mental health in much healthier ways than I used to. My experience with my mental health and therapy made me change the way I see the world. It has helped me so much, and I have come far from where I once was. I believe everybody deserves access to therapy or mental health resources. I also believe that we need to eliminate the stigma around mental illness. Many people with some form of mental illness already struggle to cope, and shaming them can only worsen matters. I want to help others as I once was, and now I aspire to be a therapist. I want to specialize in helping kids and teens. I've begun taking classes to help me plan my career, such as psychology and careers in education. The brain is in such an intense developmental stage, and many teens nowadays struggle with mental health more than ever, while resources and education are minimal. I want to help other young adults entering our society feel and achieve their best and teach them the resources to do so. Because I believe everybody has the right to feel good.

I felt like a freak as I sat in the chair of the doctor's office, awaiting my results. I had spent the last few months dealing with tics, quickly becoming an outcast among my friends. They would tell me to "knock it off" or it "creeped them out." But it wasn't my fault; I had no control over it. As my condition continued to worsen, I knew it was time to do something about it. I finally decided it was time to get checked out. The doctor told me that my tics were a symptom of extremely high anxiety levels. I took many challenging classes while balancing my extracurriculars and dealing with issues at home and with friends. She explained that if I could get my stress under control, my tics would start to disappear. I was prescribed medication and began therapy to help me manage my anxiety. Shortly after, I saw improvement in my tics and my overall mental well-being. The medication targeted my anxiety, alleviating my stress and no longer triggering my tics, which helped me function better in areas of my life such as a classroom or soccer field. Currently, I am at a place where I rarely ever experience tics. I find myself managing stress and mental health in much healthier ways than previously. My experience with my mental health and therapy changed the way I see the world. I believe everybody deserves access to mental health resources, and we need to eliminate the stigma around mental illness. The brain is in such an intense developmental stage, and many teens nowadays struggle with mental health more than ever. I want to help other kids feel and achieve their best and teach them the resources to do so. Now, I aspire to be a therapist specializing in helping adolescents. I've begun taking classes to help plan my career, such as psychology and careers in education. I work with many children of very impressionable ages at Astor Elementary through my class and my mentorship program. At Astor Elementary, I spend a lot of time with children, and we talk a lot about bullying and how to work through emotions. I often implement various strategies to address bullying, such as promoting kindness and empathy among students and educating students about the consequences of their actions. I am particularly passionate about advocating for mental health and bullying prevention because all students deserve to feel safe in their learning environment. As a future mental health professional, I am committed to helping children and adolescents struggling with mental health issues and bullying by streamlining the process of obtaining appropriate treatment options. Currently, the process of obtaining the appropriate options for treatment for those struggling with mental health and bullying can be overwhelming. Often, there is a lack of resources, limited access to care, and long appointment wait times. As a future mental health professional, I intend to streamline this process by advocating for increased funding for mental health services in schools, implementing evidence-based interventions for children and adolescents, and collaborating with teachers, parents, and mental health professionals to create a support system for those in need. In conclusion, my advocacy for progress and social change regarding bullying and harassment in K-12 schools stems from my personal struggles with mental health, my passion for mental health, and my commitment to supporting students in need. By streamlining the process of obtaining appropriate options for those struggling with mental health and bullying, I hope to make a meaningful difference in the lives of students and contribute to a more compassionate and inclusive society.

I felt like a freak as I sat in the chair of the doctor's office, awaiting my results. I had spent the last few months dealing with tics, quickly becoming an outcast among my friends. They would tell me to "knock it off" or it "creeped them out." But it wasn't my fault; I had no control over it. As my condition continued to worsen, I knew it was time to do something about it. I finally decided it was time to get checked out. The doctor told me that my tics were a symptom of extremely high anxiety levels. I took many challenging classes while balancing my extracurriculars and dealing with issues at home and with friends. She explained that if I could get my stress under control, my tics would start to disappear. I was prescribed medication and began therapy to help me manage my anxiety. Shortly after, I saw improvement in my tics and my overall mental well-being. The medication targeted my anxiety, alleviating my stress and no longer triggering my tics, which helped me function better in areas of my life such as a classroom or soccer field. Currently, I am at a place where I rarely ever experience tics. I find myself managing stress and mental health in much healthier ways than previously. My experience with my mental health and therapy changed the way I see the world. I believe everybody deserves access to mental health resources, and we need to eliminate the stigma around mental illness. The brain is in such an intense developmental stage, and many teens nowadays struggle with mental health more than ever. I want to help other kids feel and achieve their best and teach them the resources to do so. Now, I aspire to be a therapist specializing in helping adolescents. I've begun taking classes to help plan my career, such as psychology and careers in education. I work with many children of very impressionable ages at Astor Elementary through my class and my mentorship program. At Astor Elementary, I spend a lot of time with children, and we talk a lot about bullying and how to work through emotions. I often implement various strategies to address bullying, such as promoting kindness and empathy among students and educating students about the consequences of their actions. I am particularly passionate about advocating for mental health and bullying prevention because all students deserve to feel safe in their learning environment. As a future mental health professional, I am committed to helping children and adolescents struggling with mental health issues and bullying by streamlining the process of obtaining appropriate treatment options. Currently, the process of obtaining the appropriate options for treatment for those struggling with mental health and bullying can be overwhelming. Often, there is a lack of resources, limited access to care, and long appointment wait times. As a future mental health professional, I intend to streamline this process by advocating for increased funding for mental health services in schools, implementing evidence-based interventions for children and adolescents, and collaborating with teachers, parents, and mental health professionals to create a support system for those in need. In conclusion, my advocacy for progress and social change regarding bullying and harassment in K-12 schools stems from my personal struggles with mental health, my passion for mental health, and my commitment to supporting students in need. By streamlining the process of obtaining appropriate options for those struggling with mental health and bullying, I hope to make a meaningful difference in the lives of students and contribute to a more compassionate and inclusive society.

I felt like a freak as I sat in the chair of the doctor's office, awaiting my results. I had spent the last few months dealing with tics, quickly becoming an outcast among my friends. They would tell me to "knock it off" or it "creeped them out." But it wasn't my fault; I had no control over it. As my condition continued to worsen, I knew it was time to do something about it. I finally decided it was time to get checked out. The doctor told me that my tics were a symptom of extremely high anxiety levels. I took many challenging classes while balancing my extracurriculars and dealing with issues at home and with friends. She explained that if I could get my stress under control, my tics would start to disappear. I was prescribed medication and began therapy to help me manage my anxiety. Shortly after, I saw improvement in my tics and my overall mental well-being. The medication targeted my anxiety, alleviating my stress and no longer triggering my tics, which helped me function better in areas of my life such as a classroom or soccer field. Currently, I am at a place where I rarely ever experience tics. I find myself managing stress and mental health in much healthier ways than previously. My experience with my mental health and therapy changed the way I see the world. I believe everybody deserves access to mental health resources, and we need to eliminate the stigma around mental illness. The brain is in such an intense developmental stage, and many teens nowadays struggle with mental health more than ever. I want to help other kids feel and achieve their best and teach them the resources to do so. Now, I aspire to be a therapist specializing in helping adolescents. I've begun taking classes to help plan my career, such as psychology and careers in education. I work with many children of very impressionable ages at Astor Elementary through my class and my mentorship program. At Astor Elementary, I spend a lot of time with children, and we talk a lot about bullying and how to work through emotions. I often implement various strategies to address bullying, such as promoting kindness and empathy among students and educating students about the consequences of their actions. I am particularly passionate about advocating for mental health and bullying prevention because all students deserve to feel safe in their learning environment. As a future mental health professional, I am committed to helping children and adolescents struggling with mental health issues and bullying by streamlining the process of obtaining appropriate treatment options. Currently, the process of obtaining the appropriate options for treatment for those struggling with mental health and bullying can be overwhelming. Often, there is a lack of resources, limited access to care, and long appointment wait times. As a future mental health professional, I intend to streamline this process by advocating for increased funding for mental health services in schools, implementing evidence-based interventions for children and adolescents, and collaborating with teachers, parents, and mental health professionals to create a support system for those in need. In conclusion, my advocacy for progress and social change regarding bullying and harassment in K-12 schools stems from my personal struggles with mental health, my passion for mental health, and my commitment to supporting students in need. By streamlining the process of obtaining appropriate options for those struggling with mental health and bullying, I hope to make a meaningful difference in the lives of students and contribute to a more compassionate and inclusive society.

I felt like a freak as I sat in the chair of the doctor's office, awaiting my results. I had spent the last few months dealing with tics, quickly becoming an outcast among my friends. They would tell me to "knock it off" or it "creeped them out." But it wasn't my fault; I had no control over it. As my condition continued to worsen, I knew it was time to do something about it. I finally decided it was time to get checked out. The doctor told me that my tics were a symptom of extremely high anxiety levels. I took many challenging classes while balancing my extracurriculars and dealing with issues at home and with friends. She explained that if I could get my stress under control, my tics would start to disappear. I was prescribed medication and began therapy to help me manage my anxiety. Shortly after, I saw improvement in my tics and my overall mental well-being. The medication targeted my anxiety, alleviating my stress and no longer triggering my tics, which helped me function better in areas of my life such as a classroom or soccer field. Currently, I am at a place where I rarely ever experience tics. I find myself managing stress and mental health in much healthier ways than previously. My experience with my mental health and therapy changed the way I see the world. I believe everybody deserves access to mental health resources, and we need to eliminate the stigma around mental illness. The brain is in such an intense developmental stage, and many teens nowadays struggle with mental health more than ever. I want to help other kids feel and achieve their best and teach them the resources to do so. Now, I aspire to be a therapist specializing in helping adolescents. I've begun taking classes to help plan my career, such as psychology and careers in education. I work with many children of very impressionable ages at Astor Elementary through my class and my mentorship program. At Astor Elementary, I spend a lot of time with children, and we talk a lot about bullying and how to work through emotions. I often implement various strategies to address bullying, such as promoting kindness and empathy among students and educating students about the consequences of their actions. I am particularly passionate about advocating for mental health and bullying prevention because all students deserve to feel safe in their learning environment. As a future mental health professional, I am committed to helping children and adolescents struggling with mental health issues and bullying by streamlining the process of obtaining appropriate treatment options. Currently, the process of obtaining the appropriate options for treatment for those struggling with mental health and bullying can be overwhelming. Often, there is a lack of resources, limited access to care, and long appointment wait times. As a future mental health professional, I intend to streamline this process by advocating for increased funding for mental health services in schools, implementing evidence-based interventions for children and adolescents, and collaborating with teachers, parents, and mental health professionals to create a support system for those in need. In conclusion, my advocacy for progress and social change regarding bullying and harassment in K-12 schools stems from my personal struggles with mental health, my passion for mental health, and my commitment to supporting students in need. By streamlining the process of obtaining appropriate options for those struggling with mental health and bullying, I hope to make a meaningful difference in the lives of students and contribute to a more compassionate and inclusive society.

I felt like a freak as I sat in the chair of the doctor's office, awaiting my results. I had spent the last few months dealing with tics, quickly becoming an outcast among my friends. They would tell me to "knock it off" or it "creeped them out." As my condition continued to worsen, I knew it was time to do something about it. The doctor told me that my tics were a symptom of extremely high anxiety levels. She explained that if I could get my stress under control, my tics would start to disappear. I was prescribed medication and began therapy to help me manage my anxiety. I saw improvement in my tics and my overall mental well-being. The medication targeted my anxiety, alleviating my stress and no longer triggering my tics, which helped me function better in areas of my life such as a classroom or soccer field. Currently, I am at a place where I rarely ever experience tics. I find myself managing stress and mental health in much healthier ways than previously. I want to help other kids feel and achieve their best and teach them the resources to do so. Now, I aspire to be a therapist specializing in helping adolescents. I've begun taking classes to plan my career, such as psychology and careers in education. I work with children at Astor Elementary through my class and my mentorship program. At Astor Elementary we talk a lot about bullying and how to work through emotions. I often implement various strategies to address bullying, such as promoting kindness and empathy among students and educating students about the consequences of their actions. As a future mental health professional, I intend to streamline this process by advocating for increased funding for mental health services in schools, implementing evidence-based interventions for children and adolescents, and collaborating with teachers, parents, and mental health professionals to create a support system for those in need. My advocacy for progress and social change regarding bullying in K-12 schools stems from my personal struggles with mental health, my passion for mental health, and my commitment to supporting students in need. By streamlining the process of obtaining appropriate options for those struggling with mental health and bullying, I hope to make a meaningful difference in the lives of students and contribute to a more compassionate and inclusive society.

I felt like a freak as I sat in the chair of the doctor's office, awaiting my results. I had spent the last few months dealing with tics, quickly becoming an outcast among my friends. They would tell me to "knock it off" or it "creeped them out." But it wasn't my fault; I had no control over it. As my condition continued to worsen, I knew it was time to do something about it. I finally decided it was time to get checked out. The doctor told me that my tics were a symptom of extremely high anxiety levels. I took many challenging classes while balancing my extracurriculars and dealing with issues at home and with friends. She explained that if I could get my stress under control, my tics would start to disappear. I was prescribed medication and began therapy to help me manage my anxiety. Shortly after, I saw improvement in my tics and my overall mental well-being. The medication targeted my anxiety, alleviating my stress and no longer triggering my tics, which helped me function better in areas of my life such as a classroom or soccer field. Currently, I am at a place where I rarely ever experience tics. I find myself managing stress and mental health in much healthier ways than previously. My experience with my mental health and therapy changed the way I see the world. I believe everybody deserves access to mental health resources, and we need to eliminate the stigma around mental illness. The brain is in such an intense developmental stage, and many teens nowadays struggle with mental health more than ever. I want to help other kids feel and achieve their best and teach them the resources to do so. Now, I aspire to be a therapist specializing in helping adolescents. I've begun taking classes to help plan my career, such as psychology and careers in education. I work with many children of very impressionable ages at Astor Elementary through my class and my mentorship program. At Astor Elementary, I spend a lot of time with children, and we talk a lot about bullying and how to work through emotions. I often implement various strategies to address bullying, such as promoting kindness and empathy among students and educating students about the consequences of their actions. I am particularly passionate about advocating for mental health and bullying prevention because all students deserve to feel safe in their learning environment. As a future mental health professional, I am committed to helping children and adolescents struggling with mental health issues and bullying by streamlining the process of obtaining appropriate treatment options. Currently, the process of obtaining the appropriate options for treatment for those struggling with mental health and bullying can be overwhelming. Often, there is a lack of resources, limited access to care, and long appointment wait times. As a future mental health professional, I intend to streamline this process by advocating for increased funding for mental health services in schools, implementing evidence-based interventions for children and adolescents, and collaborating with teachers, parents, and mental health professionals to create a support system for those in need. In conclusion, my advocacy for progress and social change regarding bullying and harassment in K-12 schools stems from my personal struggles with mental health, my passion for mental health, and my commitment to supporting students in need. By streamlining the process of obtaining appropriate options for those struggling with mental health and bullying, I hope to make a meaningful difference in the lives of students and contribute to a more compassionate and inclusive society.

I felt like a freak as I sat in the chair of the doctor's office, awaiting my results. I had spent the last few months dealing with tics, quickly becoming an outcast among my friends. They would tell me to "knock it off" or it "creeped them out." But it wasn't my fault; I had no control over it. As my condition continued to worsen, I knew it was time to do something about it. I finally decided it was time to get checked out. The doctor told me that my tics were a symptom of extremely high anxiety levels. I took many challenging classes while balancing my extracurriculars and dealing with issues at home and with friends. She explained that if I could get my stress under control, my tics would start to disappear. I was prescribed medication and began therapy to help me manage my anxiety. Shortly after, I saw improvement in my tics and my overall mental well-being. The medication targeted my anxiety, alleviating my stress and no longer triggering my tics, which helped me function better in areas of my life such as a classroom or soccer field. Currently, I am at a place where I rarely ever experience tics. I find myself managing stress and mental health in much healthier ways than previously. My experience with my mental health and therapy changed the way I see the world. I believe everybody deserves access to mental health resources, and we need to eliminate the stigma around mental illness. The brain is in such an intense developmental stage, and many teens nowadays struggle with mental health more than ever. I want to help other kids feel and achieve their best and teach them the resources to do so. Now, I aspire to be a therapist specializing in helping adolescents. I've begun taking classes to help plan my career, such as psychology and careers in education. I work with many children of very impressionable ages at Astor Elementary through my class and my mentorship program. At Astor Elementary, I spend a lot of time with children, and we talk a lot about bullying and how to work through emotions. I often implement various strategies to address bullying, such as promoting kindness and empathy among students and educating students about the consequences of their actions. I am particularly passionate about advocating for mental health and bullying prevention because all students deserve to feel safe in their learning environment. As a future mental health professional, I am committed to helping children and adolescents struggling with mental health issues and bullying by streamlining the process of obtaining appropriate treatment options. Currently, the process of obtaining the appropriate options for treatment for those struggling with mental health and bullying can be overwhelming. Often, there is a lack of resources, limited access to care, and long appointment wait times. As a future mental health professional, I intend to streamline this process by advocating for increased funding for mental health services in schools, implementing evidence-based interventions for children and adolescents, and collaborating with teachers, parents, and mental health professionals to create a support system for those in need. In conclusion, my advocacy for progress and social change regarding bullying and harassment in K-12 schools stems from my personal struggles with mental health, my passion for mental health, and my commitment to supporting students in need. By streamlining the process of obtaining appropriate options for those struggling with mental health and bullying, I hope to make a meaningful difference in the lives of students and contribute to a more compassionate and inclusive society.

I felt like a freak as I sat in the chair of the doctor's office, awaiting my results. I had spent the last few months dealing with tics, quickly becoming an outcast among my friends. They would tell me to "knock it off" or that it "creeped them out." But it wasn't my fault; I had no control over it. I spent so much time explaining that to them, but they never listened. I had no idea what to do about it or what may be causing it. I just decided to wait it out, hoping I would simply grow out of it. However, my condition continued to worsen, so I knew it was time to do something about it. So I finally decided it was time to get checked out, hoping there was a cure to whatever was plaguing me. The doctor told me that my tics were a symptom of extremely high anxiety levels, which I had been dealing with as a side effect of the many things happening in my life. I had been taking many challenging classes while balancing my extracurriculars and dealing with issues at home and with my friends. She explained that if I could get my stress under control, my tics would start to disappear. I was so relieved to find out that I would get to be "normal" again. I was then prescribed medication and began therapy to help me manage my anxiety. Shortly after, I saw improvement in my tics and my overall mental well-being. The medication targeted my anxiety, alleviating my stress and no longer triggering my tics, which helped me function better in areas of my life such as a classroom, a soccer field, social events, and more. Currently, I am at a place where I rarely ever experience tics, and I find myself managing stress and mental health in much healthier ways than I used to. My experience with my mental health and therapy made me change the way I see the world. It has helped me so much, and I have come far from where I once was. I believe everybody deserves access to therapy or mental health resources. I also believe that we need to eliminate the stigma around mental illness. Many people with some form of mental illness already struggle to cope, and shaming them can only worsen matters. I want to help others as I once was, and now I aspire to be a therapist. I want to specialize in helping kids and teens. I've begun taking classes to help me plan my career, such as psychology and careers in education. The brain is in such an intense developmental stage, and many teens nowadays struggle with mental health more than ever, while resources and education are minimal. I want to help other young adults entering our society feel and achieve their best and teach them the resources to do so. Because I believe everybody has the right to feel good.

I felt like a freak as I sat in the chair of the doctor's office, awaiting my results. I had spent the last few months dealing with tics, quickly becoming an outcast among my friends. They would tell me to "knock it off" or that it "creeped them out." But it wasn't my fault; I had no control over it. I spent so much time explaining that to them, but they never listened. I had no idea what to do about it or what may be causing it. I just decided to wait it out, hoping I would simply grow out of it. However, my condition continued to worsen, so I knew it was time to do something about it. So I finally decided it was time to get checked out, hoping there was a cure to whatever was plaguing me. The doctor told me that my tics were a symptom of extremely high anxiety levels, which I had been dealing with as a side effect of the many things happening in my life. I had been working part-time while taking many challenging classes while balancing my extracurriculars and dealing with issues at home and with my friends. She explained that if I could get my stress under control, my tics would start to disappear. I was so relieved to find out that I would get to be "normal" again. I was then prescribed medication and supplements and began therapy to help me manage my anxiety. Shortly after, I saw improvement in my tics and my overall mental well-being. The medication targeted my anxiety, alleviating my stress and no longer triggering my tics, which helped me function better in areas of my life such as a classroom, a soccer field, social events, and more. Currently, I am at a place where I rarely ever experience tics, and I find myself managing stress and mental health in much healthier ways than I used to. My experience with my mental health and therapy made me change the way I see the world. It has helped me so much, and I have come far from where I once was. I believe everybody deserves access to therapy or mental health resources. I also believe that we need to eliminate the stigma around mental illness. Many people with some form of mental illness already struggle to cope, and shaming them can only worsen matters. I want to help others as I once was, and now I aspire to be a therapist. I want to specialize in helping kids and teens. I've begun taking classes to help me plan my career, such as psychology and careers in education. The brain is in such an intense developmental stage, and many teens nowadays struggle with mental health more than ever, while resources and education are minimal. I want to help other young adults entering our society feel and achieve their best and teach them the resources to do so. Because I believe everybody has the right to feel good.

I felt like a freak as I sat in the chair of the doctor's office, awaiting my results. I had spent the last few months dealing with tics, quickly becoming an outcast among my friends. They would tell me to "knock it off" or that it "creeped them out." But it wasn't my fault; I had no control over it. I spent so much time explaining that to them, but they never listened. I had no idea what to do about it or what may be causing it. I just decided to wait it out, hoping I would simply grow out of it. However, my condition continued to worsen, so I knew it was time to do something about it. So I finally decided it was time to get checked out, hoping there was a cure to whatever was plaguing me. The doctor told me that my tics were a symptom of extremely high anxiety levels, which I had been dealing with as a side effect of the many things happening in my life. I had been taking many challenging classes while balancing my extracurriculars and dealing with issues at home and with my friends. She explained that if I could get my stress under control, my tics would start to disappear. I was so relieved to find out that I would get to be "normal" again. I was then prescribed medication and began therapy to help me manage my anxiety. Shortly after, I saw improvement in my tics and my overall mental well-being. The medication targeted my anxiety, alleviating my stress and no longer triggering my tics, which helped me function better in areas of my life such as a classroom, a soccer field, social events, and more. Currently, I am at a place where I rarely ever experience tics, and I find myself managing stress and mental health in much healthier ways than I used to. My experience with my mental health and therapy made me change the way I see the world. It has helped me so much, and I have come far from where I once was. I believe everybody deserves access to therapy or mental health resources. I also believe that we need to eliminate the stigma around mental illness. Many people with some form of mental illness already struggle to cope, and shaming them can only worsen matters. I want to help others as I once was, and now I aspire to be a therapist. I want to specialize in helping kids and teens. I've begun taking classes to help me plan my career, such as psychology and careers in education. The brain is in such an intense developmental stage, and many teens nowadays struggle with mental health more than ever, while resources and education are minimal. I want to help other young adults entering our society feel and achieve their best and teach them the resources to do so. Because I believe everybody has the right to feel good.

I am applying for this scholarship because I believe in the power of education to change lives. I am dedicated to using this scholarship to fulfill my dreams and aspirations. In the future, I hope to impact children’s lives positively. I hope to attend a college with an excellent psychology program where I can get the best education possible. I have researched universities on the West Coast with the top programs so I can remain close to home while still getting an excellent education. Currently, I am looking at the University of Oregon, the University of Washington, and UCLA, and I have toured each of them to be sure they would be a good fit for me. After receiving my bachelor's in psychology, I want to attend graduate school and get my master's in childhood development. Following that, I plan to get my license as a social worker. From there, I would like to become a therapist specializing in helping young children and adolescents. Throughout my life, I’ve always adored children and wanted a career where I could spend the rest of my life helping people. After taking a psychology class in my junior year of high school, I was hooked and instantly knew this was my calling. Currently, I take courses such as careers in education and gender studies to learn as much as possible about children and the mind. I also participate in and help lead my school's mentorship program, where we eat lunch with elementary school students who need a positive role model. Having worked at the AGCC and playing for the Astoria High School Golf team, one of the most important lessons that golf has taught me is perseverance. I have often faced challenges on the course, but I have learned to push through and never give up - even when it’s pouring buckets of rain and the wind is blowing sideways, as it has for many tournaments throughout my high school golf career. This mindset has translated into other areas in my life, such as academics and personal relationships. Golf has also taught me the value of sportsmanship. These qualities have helped me develop strong relationships with my peers and coaches and have made me a better teammate and leader. I am applying for this scholarship because I believe that my experiences in golf have prepared me for success in college and beyond. With the help of this scholarship, I can continue pursuing my academic goals, all while continuing to grow and develop as a person. I am grateful for the opportunities that golf has given me, and I am excited for the future.

Having worked at the AGCC and playing for the Astoria High School Golf team, one of the most important lessons that golf has taught me is perseverance. I have often faced challenges on the course, but I have learned to push through and never give up - even when it’s pouring buckets of rain and the wind is blowing sideways, as it has for many tournaments throughout my high school golf career. This mindset has translated into other areas in my life, such as academics and personal relationships. Golf has also taught me the value of sportsmanship. These qualities have helped me develop strong relationships with my peers and coaches and have made me a better teammate and leader. I am applying for this scholarship because I believe that my experiences in golf have prepared me for success in college and beyond. With the help of this scholarship, I can continue pursuing my academic goals, all while continuing to grow and develop as a person. I am grateful for the opportunities that golf has given me, and I am excited for the future. In the future, I hope to impact children’s lives positively. I hope to attend a college with an excellent psychology program where I can get the best education possible. I have researched universities on the West Coast with the top programs so I can remain close to home while still getting an excellent education. Currently, I am looking at the University of Oregon, the University of Washington, and UCLA, and I have toured each of them to be sure they would be a good fit for me. After receiving my bachelor's in psychology, I want to attend graduate school and get my master's in childhood development. Following that, I plan to get my license as a social worker. From there, I would like to become a therapist specializing in helping young children and adolescents. Throughout my life, I’ve always adored children and wanted a career where I could spend the rest of my life helping people. After taking a psychology class in my junior year of high school, I was hooked and instantly knew this was my calling. Currently, I take courses such as careers in education and gender studies to learn as much as possible about children and the mind. I also participate in and help lead my school's mentorship program, where we eat lunch with elementary school students who need a positive role model.

I am applying for the this scholarship because I believe in the power of education to change lives. I am dedicated to using this scholarship to fulfill my dreams and aspirations. Having worked at the AGCC and playing for the Astoria High School Golf team, one of the most important lessons that golf has taught me is perseverance. I have often faced challenges on the course, but I have learned to push through and never give up - even when it’s pouring buckets of rain and the wind is blowing sideways, as it has for many tournaments throughout my high school golf career. This mindset has translated into other areas in my life, such as academics and personal relationships. Golf has also taught me the value of sportsmanship. These qualities have helped me develop strong relationships with my peers and coaches and have made me a better teammate and leader. I am applying for this scholarship because I believe that my experiences in golf have prepared me for success in college and beyond. With the help of this scholarship, I can continue pursuing my academic goals, all while continuing to grow and develop as a person. I am grateful for the opportunities that golf has given me, and I am excited for the future. In the future, I hope to impact children’s lives positively. I hope to attend a college with an excellent psychology program where I can get the best education possible. I have researched universities on the West Coast with the top programs so I can remain close to home while still getting an excellent education. Currently, I am looking at the University of Oregon, the University of Washington, and UCLA, and I have toured each of them to be sure they would be a good fit for me. After receiving my bachelor's in psychology, I want to attend graduate school and get my master's in childhood development. Following that, I plan to get my license as a social worker. From there, I would like to become a therapist specializing in helping young children and adolescents. Throughout my life, I’ve always adored children and wanted a career where I could spend the rest of my life helping people. After taking a psychology class in my junior year of high school, I was hooked and instantly knew this was my calling. Currently, I take courses such as careers in education and gender studies to learn as much as possible about children and the mind. I also participate in and help lead my school's mentorship program, where we eat lunch with elementary school students who need a positive role model.

I felt like a freak as I sat in the chair of the doctor's office, awaiting my results. I had spent the last few months dealing with tics, quickly becoming an outcast among my friends. They would tell me to "knock it off" or that it "creeped them out." But it wasn't my fault; I had no control over it. I spent so much time explaining that to them, but they never listened. I had no idea what to do about it or what may be causing it. I just decided to wait it out, hoping I would simply grow out of it. However, my condition continued to worsen, so I knew it was time to do something about it. So I finally decided it was time to get checked out, hoping there was a cure to whatever was plaguing me. The doctor told me that my tics were a symptom of extremely high anxiety levels, which I had been dealing with as a side effect of the many things happening in my life. I had been taking many challenging classes while balancing my extracurriculars and dealing with issues at home and with my friends. She explained that if I could get my stress under control, my tics would start to disappear. I was so relieved to find out that I would get to be "normal" again. I was then prescribed medication and began therapy to help me manage my anxiety. Shortly after, I saw improvement in my tics and my overall mental well-being. The medication targeted my anxiety, alleviating my stress and no longer triggering my tics, which helped me function better in areas of my life such as a classroom, a soccer field, social events, and more. Currently, I am at a place where I rarely ever experience tics, and I find myself managing stress and mental health in much healthier ways than I used to. My experience with my mental health and therapy made me change the way I see the world. It has helped me so much, and I have come far from where I once was. I believe everybody deserves access to therapy or mental health resources. I also believe that we need to eliminate the stigma around mental illness. Many people with some form of mental illness already struggle to cope, and shaming them can only worsen matters. I am applying for this Scholarship because I believe in the power of education to change lives. I am dedicated to using this scholarship to fulfill my dreams and aspirations. I plan to attend the University of Oregon which has an excellent psychology program. After receiving my bachelor's in psychology, I want to attend graduate school and get my master's in childhood development. Following that, I plan to get my license as a social worker. From there, I would like to become a therapist specializing in helping young children and adolescents. Throughout my life, I’ve always adored children and wanted a career where I could spend the rest of my life helping people. After taking a psychology class in my junior year of high school, I was hooked and instantly knew this was my calling. Currently, I take courses such as careers in education and gender studies to learn as much as possible about children and the mind. I also participate in and help lead my school's mentorship program, where we eat lunch with elementary school students who need a positive role model.

I felt like a freak as I sat in the chair of the doctor's office, awaiting my results. I had spent the last few months dealing with tics, quickly becoming an outcast among my friends. They would tell me to "knock it off" or that it "creeped them out." But it wasn't my fault; I had no control over it. I spent so much time explaining that to them, but they never listened. I had no idea what to do about it or what may be causing it. I just decided to wait it out, hoping I would simply grow out of it. However, my condition continued to worsen, so I knew it was time to do something about it. So I finally decided it was time to get checked out, hoping there was a cure to whatever was plaguing me. The doctor told me that my tics were a symptom of extremely high anxiety levels, which I had been dealing with as a side effect of the many things happening in my life. I had been taking many challenging classes while balancing my extracurriculars and dealing with issues at home and with my friends. She explained that if I could get my stress under control, my tics would start to disappear. I was so relieved to find out that I would get to be "normal" again. I was then prescribed medication and began therapy to help me manage my anxiety. Shortly after, I saw improvement in my tics and my overall mental well-being. The medication targeted my anxiety, alleviating my stress and no longer triggering my tics, which helped me function better in areas of my life such as a classroom, a soccer field, social events, and more. Currently, I am at a place where I rarely ever experience tics, and I find myself managing stress and mental health in much healthier ways than I used to. My experience with my mental health and therapy made me change the way I see the world. It has helped me so much, and I have come far from where I once was. I believe everybody deserves access to therapy or mental health resources. I also believe that we need to eliminate the stigma around mental illness. Many people with some form of mental illness already struggle to cope, and shaming them can only worsen matters. I want to help others as I once was, and now I aspire to be a therapist. I want to specialize in helping kids and teens. I've begun taking classes to help me plan my career, such as psychology and careers in education. The brain is in such an intense developmental stage, and many teens nowadays struggle with mental health more than ever, while resources and education are minimal. I want to help other young adults entering our society feel and achieve their best and teach them the resources to do so. Because I believe everybody has the right to feel good.

"I'm on the outside of the greatest inside joke." The lyric panged me. It was September 8th, the release date of Olivia Rodrigo's Guts. As a long-time fan of Olivia's, I was eager to listen to it as soon as possible. I had already been to one of her concerts and was beginning to plan a way to memorize all the lyrics in Guts as fast as possible so I could scream every line at the next one. I drove in my car on the way to work, blaring the new songs at maximum volume. My mood shifts back and forth with the tone shifts between songs on the album, very reminiscent of how life as a teenage girl can feel. Listening to "love is embarrassing" and thinking about my very new and recent breakup, or listening to "lacy" and thinking about the girls I've always felt jealous about. When "ballad of a homeschooled girl" came on next. Instantly, the drums and guitar caught my attention, as they felt very similar to the rock songs I usually listen to and have for most of my life. At first, I rocked my head back and forth to the beat, enjoying the high-paced and aggressive energy the song held. However, when I really began to listen to the lyrics, I realized how closely I related to Olivia's situation. Lines like "Feels like my skin doesn't fit tight over my bones" or "Made it weird, then made it worse" felt so familiar to me. I had always been a little weird, especially compared to my friends. I never entirely understood a lot of social cues; I was always too loud, wore strange clothes, and had a disorder that made me have tics. People never hesitated to tell me when something I did was off-putting to them. Over time, this made me very insecure, and I became very closed off. I wasn't loud and excited anymore, and I kept my interests to myself. I was no longer the bubbly, quirky, unique girl anymore. I stayed this way for a decent amount of time until quarantine hit. Being away from everyone else gave me so much freedom to express myself without judgment from others. I realized it didn't matter what others thought as long as I did what made me happy. Olivia and her music have inspired me so much, too. She's very authentic, and while she's genuine and transparent about her insecurities, she doesn't let that slow her down. I aspire to be like her, and her music reminds me how far I've come.

I felt like a freak as I sat in the chair of the doctor's office, awaiting my results. I had spent the last few months dealing with tics, quickly becoming an outcast among my friends and others in the community. They would tell me to "knock it off" or that it "creeped them out." But it wasn't my fault; I had no control over it. I spent so much time explaining that to them, but they never listened. I had no idea what to do about it or what may be causing it. I just decided to wait it out, hoping I would simply grow out of it. However, my condition continued to worsen, so I knew it was time to do something about it. So I finally decided it was time to get checked out, hoping there was a cure to whatever was plaguing me. My doctor, a beloved community member, told me that my tics were a symptom of extremely high anxiety levels, which I had been dealing with as a side effect of the many things happening in my life. I had been taking many challenging classes while balancing my extracurriculars and dealing with issues at home and with my friends. She explained that if I could get my stress under control, my tics would start to disappear. I was so relieved to find out that I would get to be "normal" again. I was then prescribed medication and began therapy to help me manage my anxiety. Shortly after, I saw improvement in my tics and my overall mental well-being. The medication targeted my anxiety, alleviating my stress and no longer triggering my tics, which helped me function better in areas of my life such as a classroom, a soccer field, social events, and more. Currently, I am at a place where I rarely ever experience tics, and I find myself managing stress and mental health in much healthier ways than I used to. My experience with my mental health and therapy made me change the way I see the world. It has helped me so much, and I have come far from where I once was. I believe everybody deserves access to therapy or mental health resources. I also believe that we need to eliminate the stigma around mental illness. Many people with some form of mental illness already struggle to cope, and shaming them can only worsen matters. I want to help others as I once was, and now I aspire to be a therapist. I want to specialize in helping kids and teens. I've begun taking classes to help me plan my career, such as psychology and careers in education. The brain is in such an intense developmental stage, and many teens nowadays struggle with mental health more than ever, while resources and education are minimal. I want to help other young adults entering our society feel and achieve their best and teach them the resources to do so. Because I believe everybody has the right to feel good.