One well-known mental disorder is Anxiety. We're all anxious. It’s a natural aspect of life. It turns into a disorder when it gets to the point where it interferes with your way of life. Panic attacks, insomnia, excessive worrying, illogical concerns, muscle tension, persistent indigestion, memories of upsetting or traumatic events, and compulsive habits are just a few of the symptoms. I've always had anxiety; in fact, some of my earliest memories include that uneasy, nervous feeling in the pit of my stomach. However, even though I had to struggle with this mental disorder, I still try to put myself out there and make the community a better place. Throughout my life, my friends have always come to me whenever they have their issues to talk about. I'm always by everyone's side and I don't judge them for what they're going through. Life can be difficult for all of us, so why bother judging what a person is going through? I remember when I was in my catholic classes and I was getting ready to do my first confirmation of my religion. To do so, I must do an act of community service for at least 8 hours. To do this, I was assigned to do my community service by packing food for the poor. It was a lot of hard work packaging food for about 13 hours a day, but the thought that I was a part of doing something right for the community always stuck in my mind. Even now in college, I plan on doing community service when I get the chance to continue what I enjoy doing. With all my heart, I enjoy volunteer work. It always makes me feel good about myself that I'm doing a service in changing another person's life. It gives me more motivation to continuously pursue my interest in psychology. I am inspired to raise my standards even higher and pursue success in every area of my academic and professional life because I know that there are people and organizations out there who have faith in my ability. My dream is to become a clinical therapist because I'll support clients using a range of therapeutic modalities as a registered clinical therapist as they struggle with issues like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), drug abuse, and serious mental illness. Yes, I know that I probably don't make a lot of money, but working as a clinical therapist has perks that go above and beyond pay: helping people. I like knowing that I can use my compassion and empathy to help them out when things are hard. I am enthusiastic about pursuing this career so I may assist people with their mental health concerns because I think I have many significant abilities that can help me succeed as a mental health counselor. Volunteering is a powerful way to give back to the community, contribute to meaningful causes, and make a positive impact on the lives of others. I have impacted numerous lives through volunteering, and that is something that I take great pride in. Whether it was reading to children at the library, helping seniors play dominos, giving meals to the less fortunate, or anything else, I made someone’s day better, and that is an amazing feeling. I feel as if I have grown significantly through my community service; it shaped me into a responsible leader. I am grateful for all that volunteering has done for me. It's the most memorable and significant moment in college so far and I hope to do more of this in the future.

In considering the similarities between the problems that the Greatest Generation and Millennials/Gen Z encountered, the essay highlights the potential for the latter group to become "The Greatest Generation 2.0." By highlighting common hardships, social issues, and a sense of responsibility, it calls attention to the particular difficulties that the younger generation faces. Despite criticism from the older generation, the optimism voiced demonstrates a belief in their abilities to face and overcome modern difficulties. For example, the main focus is on economic challenges, drawing comparisons between the high unemployment and low incomes of the 1930s and the current financial struggles faced by Millennials and Gen Z. The weight of student loan debt is acknowledged, and criticisms are leveled at a health insurance system that appears to penalize younger people. The essay also discusses topics like global warming and how societal concerns are allegedly exacerbated by an unfair tax system. As it states it the text, “In the 30s incomes were very low, and unemployment was 25 percent. For Millennials-Gen Z, incomes are very low and underemployment, by some accounts, approaches 25 percent." In this analysis, the economic hardships that the Greatest Generation encountered in the 1930s are compared to those that Millennials and Generation Z are currently facing, which include low earnings and high rates of underemployment. The text highlights the persistent difficulties that differing generations encounter by drawing a contrast between the economic hardships of the Greatest Generation and Millennials/Gen Z. It suggests that financial setbacks are a common occurrence and that every generation faces different financial challenges. Another example in the text was the mention of college loans: "They accept the sickness of school loans that were designed to perpetuate poverty." This illustration highlights a current economic issue that only Millennials and Generation Z face. It suggests that the character of financial hardships changes throughout time, with new problems emerging in the modern day, such the weight of student loans. The expression "designed to perpetuate poverty" conveys a critical viewpoint about the ways in which particular economic arrangements might worsen ongoing financial hardships for the younger population. This example serves to highlight the fact that each generations have different economic challenges that are determined by the current state of society. This viewpoint promotes a more comprehensive social contemplation of the systemic and structural elements impacting economic circumstances over an extended period. Furthermore, by drawing attention to a cyclical pattern of economic difficulties, the text emphasizes how critical it is to address fundamental problems in order to promote more sustainable economic conditions for coming generations. All in all, I believe that it depicts a courteous, compassionate, and strong young person prepared to face their fate. Recognizing this dynamic component promotes a broader understanding of economic hardships and a conversation about how social structures and policies might change to accommodate the changing requirements of successive generations.

The biggest challenge my community faces is discrimination of race. For example, growing up I had a teacher who failed at being the role model I’m meant to look up to. My mother always told me that teachers are there to help students grow and learn, not to be afraid of or ridicule their students. That’s what she did to me, picked on a young six-year-old girl to the point that she became traumatized and feared adults who were there to help her. Why? All because I was Hispanic and I wasn’t capable of doing anything. I started having a mindset that I’m not perfect enough, that I’m not trying hard enough. It got to me from time to time, especially when I was having the worst days of my life. However, that didn’t stop me. That same six-year-old girl grew up with a special mindset, and that “you are more than that”. She was more than just a quiet and shy little girl. She grew up to be an independent and intelligent young woman who’s about to graduate high school and go to college. To me, this shows that not only can a Hispanic be capable of making a difference, but anyone can. My sisters viewed me as their best role model to look up to, considering what they have learned from my past encountering racism and discrimination in school. I would take all the credit, but it was really my mother who put in the hard work in raising the four of us. My mother showed us that we shouldn’t have to hide our true self from the world just because we are Hispanic or they are a little different from someone else. Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, so why disregard someone just because they are a different race from you? My sister has mental problems of her own and my mother did everything she could in her ability to try to understand her. Even when times were difficult when my sister wasn't able to control her emotions, she still didn't give up on helping her, especially when many mental health institutions kept calling her to place my sister in their facilities. Her response to them was always "no". She cared about her daughter, no matter what. That's what inspired me to help others with those same conditions as she did. My mother worked her very best to give us the life she never got to have growing up. She’s what inspired me to pursue a clinical therapist or psychologist. I want to be able to help those who are in need, as well as be an inspiration to many Hispanic children that anything is possible. Who knows, I might be able to help cure my sister one day.

The biggest challenge my community faces is discrimination of race. For example, growing up I had a teacher who failed at being the role model I’m meant to look up to. My parents always told me that teachers are there to help students grow and learn, not to be afraid of or to ridicule their students. That’s what she did to me, picked on a young six year old girl to the point that she became traumatized and feared adults who were there to help her. Why? All because I was Hispanic and I wasn’t capable of doing anything. I started having a mindset that I’m not perfect enough, that I’m not trying hard enough. It got to me from time to time, especially when I’m having the worst days of my life. However, that didn’t stop me. That same six year old girl grew up with a special mindset, and that was “you are more than that”. She was more than just a quiet and shy little girl. She grew up to be an independent and intelligent young woman who is currently a first generation college student that’s also Hispanic. To me, this shows that not only can a Hispanic be capable of making a difference, but anyone can. My sisters viewed me as their best role model to look up to, considering what they have learned from my past encountering racism and discrimination in school. I showed them that they shouldn’t hide their true self from the world just because they are Hispanic or they are a little different from someone else. Beauty comes in all shape and sizes, so why disregard someone just because they are a different race from you? I’m apart of the National Honor Society, and my first time doing community service was life changing to me. Seeing the impact on my small act of kindness brings joy to me. Why stop there when I can contribute to the community even more? Throughout my experience, I have learned that every person can find a way to contribute to the society and those in need. I’ve found out that my true calling is to inspire young people to find themselves in a less fortunate position than the majority of the population. My dream is to become a clinical therapist or psychologist and create a positive impact on an international level. We need people who want to make the world a better place and want to make people’s days better. The big reason was because of my sister and my mother. My sister has mental problems of her own and my mother did everything she could in her ability to try to understand her. Even when times were difficult when my sister wasn't able to control her emotions, she still didn't give up on helping her, especially when many mental health institutions kept calling her to place my sister in their facilities. Her response to them was always "no". She cared about her daughter, no matter what. That's what inspired me to help others with those same conditions as she did. Who knows, I might be able to help cure my sister one day. In fact, I might be able to help many other people in the best of my ability. Hispanics are more than just Hispanics: they’re believers who want to make the best of their lives too. That’s why I’m proud to be Hispanic and always will be.

One thing I am fully passionate about is giving back to my community. Because I’m from The Bronx, financial struggles are not new to me. Being connected to my community allows me to understand that people need assistance and that I can be that help. Now here I am, in Connecticut, going to a private university with many volunteer services in store for me. Every freshman who shows their love for volunteer work is awarded to receive the Pioneer Service Grant to help pay off their tuition. Did I do this just to get a grant? No. I had a more better reason for it. I find it rather important to help the needy because it is a loving and judge-free environment, one in which everyone feels connected and tells jokes/funny stories. It is this sense of comfort that urges me to want to continue volunteering while in college. Every day, no matter where in the world, people need help from others; from the disabled to the old, everyone needs help. Unfortunately, not many people do this because they feel that they aren't making a meaningful and purposeful impact. Motivations can vary by age. Younger volunteers are often motivated to get community service hours for school. Older volunteers, with professional jobs and more experience, are looking for personal fulfillment. Because of this, it is vital that we need more motivated individuals to make an impact not just in the world, but in someone's life. Despite the fact that I am not “in the same boat” as the families that come in, I know that I have touched many people's hearts throughout my volunteer work and brought a change to their lives. Furthermore, being able to do this, I learned a valuable lesson about my community: At the end of the day, humans are conventional and it doesn’t take much to put a smile on someone’s face. This is why I will continue to participate in any event throughout college, as I want to be the change in people’s lives. I went to senior centers, food pantries, local farms, afterschool helpings, and even helped pre-schoolers whose first language isn't even English. A lot of people at my school would mostly be doing volunteer work just to get a grant. However, I feel that the whole point of this isn't just to cut back on tuition, but also to show us to be fortunate in where we're at and see what other people are going through differently. Volunteering is a powerful way to give back to the community, contribute to meaningful causes, and make a positive impact on the lives of others. I have impacted numerous lives through volunteering, and that is something that I take great pride in. Whether it was reading to children at the library, helping seniors play dominos, giving meals to the less fortunate, or anything else, I made someone’s day better, and that is an amazing feeling. In addition, I have developed numerous skills through volunteer work. I feel as if I have grown significantly through my community service. Community service has shaped me into a responsible leader. I am grateful for all that volunteering has done for me. It's the most memorable and significant moment in college so far and I hope to do more of this in the future.

Five years from now, I see that I'll be able to have a successful job, either as an intern or as an actual therapist. Working to help mentally ill people is my biggest goal to make the world a better place. I felt that people with mental health problems need the type of people to be around them and tell them that life will get better. The illness doesn't define who that person is and they shouldn't have to feel that their illness is one of the characteristics that make up them. With all that being said, those aren't the big reasons why I wanted to be a therapist. The big reason was because of my sister and my mother. My sister has mental problems of her own and my mother did everything she could in her ability to try to understand her. Even when times were difficult when my sister wasn't able to control her emotions, she still didn't give up on helping her, especially when many mental health institutions kept calling her to place my sister in their facilities. Her response to them was always "no". She cared about her daughter, no matter what. That's what inspired me to help others with those same conditions as she did. Who knows, I might be able to help cure my sister one day. Even though I don’t belong to a millionaire family, still I would never consider trading them for the world. I have been strongly influenced by my family background over the years, as they have taught me to look at the world in an entirely different way. I learned from my family to look at the world compassionately. I try to be readily available to help others and try my best to provide positive impacts on others around me, especially those who are mentally challenged like my sister. Based on my background and experiences, my perception of the people, and situations in the real world has changed tremendously. My sister has had the biggest impact on my view of the world. I couldn’t imagine living with autism and anxiety while not being able to talk my feelings out to anyone. It must be hard to feel as though no one is by your side to help you with this challenge. Sometimes, I put myself in my sister’s shoes. If I could be able to make my sister talk and communicate with us, I would definitely do it. Success is triumphing over hardships, working yourself over anything and everything to achieve the best for yourself and your family. I will fight for what's right, and protect those who don't have a voice to say in all this, just like my mother did with my sister. My dream is to become an educator and create a positive impact on an international level. We need people who want to make the world a better place and want to make people’s days better. And what better way to do so than to experience what it's like to have a mental disorder in the first place?

The biggest challenge my community faces is discrimination of race. For example, growing up I had a teacher who failed at being the role model I’m meant to look up to. My parents always told me that teachers are there to help students grow and learn, not to be afraid of or ridicule their students. That’s what she did to me, picked on a young six-year-old girl to the point that she became traumatized and feared adults who were there to help her. Why? All because I was Hispanic and I wasn’t capable of doing anything. I started having a mindset that I’m not perfect enough, that I’m not trying hard enough. It got to me from time to time, especially when I was having the worst days of my life. However, that didn’t stop me. That same six-year-old girl grew up with a special mindset, and that “you are more than that”. She was more than just a quiet and shy little girl. She grew up to be an independent and intelligent young woman who’s about to graduate high school and go to college. To me, this shows that not only can a Hispanic be capable of making a difference, but anyone can. My sisters viewed me as their best role model to look up to, considering what they have learned from my past encountering racism and discrimination in school. I showed them that they shouldn’t hide their true self from the world just because they are Hispanic or they are a little different from someone else. Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, so why disregard someone just because they are a different race from you? Five years from now, I see that I'll be able to have a successful job, either as an intern or as an actual therapist. Working to help mentally ill people is my biggest goal to make the world a better place. I felt that people with mental health problems need the type of people to be around them and tell them that life will get better. The illness doesn't define who that person is and they shouldn't have to feel that their illness is one of the characteristics that make up them. With all that being said, those aren't the big reasons why I wanted to be a therapist. The big reason was because of my sister and my mother. My sister has mental problems of her own and my mother did everything she could in her ability to try to understand her. Even when times were difficult when my sister wasn't able to control her emotions, she still didn't give up on helping her, especially when many mental health institutions kept calling her to place my sister in their facilities. Her response to them was always "no". She cared about her daughter, no matter what. That's what inspired me to help others with those same conditions as she did. Who knows, I might be able to help cure my sister one day.

Nowadays, money has threatened to crush my dreams since starting college. Even by working hard in high school, it still wasn't enough to cover the cost. With all my heart, I enjoy volunteer work. It always makes me feel good about myself that I'm doing a service in changing another person's life. It gives me more motivation to continuously pursue my interest in psychology. I am inspired to raise my standards even higher and pursue success in every area of my academic and professional life because I know that there are people and organizations out there who have faith in my ability. My dream is to become a clinical therapist because I'll provide clients with support using a range of therapeutic modalities as a registered clinical therapist as they struggle with issues like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), drug abuse, and serious mental illness. Yes, I am aware that I probably don't make a lot of money, but working as a clinical therapist has perks that go above and beyond pay: helping people. I like knowing that I can use my compassion and empathy to help them out when things are hard. I am enthusiastic about pursuing this career so I may assist people with their mental health concerns because I think I have many significant abilities that can help me succeed as a mental health counselor. Throughout my life, my friends have always come to me whenever they have their own issues to talk about. I'm always by everyone's side and I don't judge them for what they're going through. Life can be difficult for all of us, so why bother judging on what a person is going through? I remember when I was in my catholic classes and I was getting ready to do my first confirmation of my religion. In order to do so, I must do an act of community service for at least 8 hours. To do this, I was assigned to do my community service by packing food for the poor. It was a lot of hard work packaging food for about 13 hours a day, but the thought that I was a part of doing something right for the community always stuck in my mind. Even now in college, I'm planning on doing community service when I get the chance as a way to continue what I enjoy doing. However being a first-generation college student, my family does not have the money to completely support my education. The price of tuition, books, and other educational costs frequently appears to be an overwhelming barrier. I will be able to concentrate fully on my studies with the help of this scholarship since I won't have to worry about building up debt or working many part-time jobs to make ends meet. I will be able to thrive mentally and make full use of the educational options I have access to thanks to this scholarship. I'll be able to graduate with less debt and financial pressure, allowing me to choose a job that is motivated by my love and objectives rather than only by financial factors. This scholarship will be crucial in helping me realize my dream of becoming a clinical therapist in the field of psychology. It will give me the financial independence I need to take chances, grasp opportunities, and have a significant effect on the industry I choose. We need more therapists and psychologists in this world to embrace and take care of everyone and anyone who is in need of help and I plan on being one of them someday.

People need aid every day, and the only way to see this is to look for individuals who are in need, therefore the potential for helping people is limitless. My personal journey to start truly helping others began in my junior year after I started doing so through school clubs. One of these clubs was the National Honor Society, of which I was the president and would like to recruit more members during my senior year of high school. As club president, I have personally observed people who do not want to participate in service projects because they find the work to be too difficult or simply do not feel like doing it. The inaugural NHS meeting had so many attendees that it hardly fit in the classroom for one minute. Then, as soon as we listed community service as a requirement for membership, the numbers started to decline; just a small proportion of those who actually performed the service were accepted. As club president and a person who enjoys helping others, I want to demonstrate to others that doing good deeds can be enjoyable and gratifying. However, in order to help others and continue my academic studies, I need money to pay for my college expenses, which is why I joined NHS during my junior year of high school. This new way of thinking can even be found in friends and relatives, who act as though assisting others all the time makes them weak, but in reality the most helpful person is just unselfish. Because anyone may have been the person in need of help, helping others is crucial. We assist one another for a variety of reasons. Some people assist because they simply cannot refuse to assist those in need. The assistance provided by the other individuals may be motivated by a desire to spread goodwill or may simply be necessary. Sometimes we are able to assist people because we have faith in their ability to make wise decisions in the future. As we all know, it's crucial to assist others in the neighborhood. It will enhance our lives, introduce us to our neighborhood, and put us in touch with individuals and viewpoints that will benefit our outlook for the rest of our lives. We have the chance to develop as people and gain a greater understanding of how we fit into the world by giving back to our community. Not only does helping others benefit them, but it also improves our own happiness and health. Giving strengthens our ties to one another, our communities, and our society as a whole. And it concerns our time, thoughts, and energies. Many people do not understand how important it is to assist others. Some individuals believe that it takes time to escape their pursuit. Others merely undervalue the influence of compassion. But when we assist others in succeeding, we don't just enhance our own lives. Helping others enhances social relationships, diverts attention away from issues, and boosts one's own strengths and self-esteem. physically healthy Helping others increases social integration, which enables individuals to live more actively. Each of us may make a difference in the lives of others and contribute to the system that can improve our own. Whatever the case, giving to others makes you happier than you were before, and you can be sure that others will do the same for you.

Soccer. In addition to the fact that it runs in my family, it is one of my all-time favorite sports because of how thrilling it was to simply kick a ball about. This is my first time playing on an actual soccer team. That day, they accepted me. Prior to seeing the team I would be playing on for the entire season, it was my dream to be on an actual soccer team. Birds were chirping in the late afternoon on a Wednesday after a hard day of school, and we had a game the following Saturday. I was among the players who arrived early. They greeted each other as usual and immediately started lamenting how exhausted they were while jogging around the whole field before the coach arrived. Of course being the new player, I was alone. The reason why I was alone…I was the only girl in my team. All of my team members were boys, so they were very surprised when they saw a girl playing on their team. They looked at me and they whispered in Spanish —not thinking I would actually understand Spanish— “how did they let in a girl here? I bet she can barely kick a ball into the goal.” Ouch. I didn’t think that would be my first impression of my team. I kind of got me and made me second guess myself. “What if I’m not good enough? What if they’re right? What if I mess up on game day? They will all hate me for sure.” Those thoughts kept pouring into my brain as I jog around the field. When our coach came, he started by welcoming me into the team and said to the other members to behave when it comes to the new player. Of course I saw some of the boys laughing under their breaths, not like they were trying to hide it anyway. We started doing high knees and lunges as part of our warmup. Along with performing rapid back-and-forth sprints, we also formed a circle and stretched our hamstrings, quadriceps, calf muscles, and hips. Who knew soccer training would be hard work, but totally worth the training if it meant doing well in the game. After we’re done stretching, the coach made us all practice our kicking by trying to kick the ball into the net without him catching it. From what I could tell, the coach was a pretty good goalie based on the number of times he caught the ball. When it was my turn the boys were trying so hard not to laugh, thinking I wouldn’t make it. The coach told me “it’s your first time so it’s ok if you don’t make it the first try.” I took a deep breath and kicked the ball… Goal. I kicked the ball in without the coach catching it. Everyone was shocked and it became silent. The coach was even impressed. “Wow, first time player and actually got it in a goal. Take some notes boys, you should’ve known this since you first got here.” I was very proud of myself. That felt amazing rubbing it into the boys who thought I wasn’t good enough. We continued to kick the ball into the net and I kept doing so much better than the boys. It was very impressive of me to do. During the game, guess who made her team won? It’s me! They said I couldn’t do it, but I proved them wrong. That just shows that just because someone says something about you doesn’t mean it’s true. You can prove them wrong.

I have Anxiety. When people hear such phrase, it typically means they struggle on a regular basis to control their anxiety. It's challenging to manage, particularly when it comes to stressful situations. In high school, I wasn’t known to have a mental health problem since I was known as the “top of our school”. I was valedictorian in our graduating class, president of the National Honor Society, been in honor roll since 9th grade, even being known for her community service around the school. Everyone adored me because I was not only all of those things, but also a supportive and caring friend. In my friend group, I’m known as the “therapist in the group”, meaning whenever my friends needed to let out their feelings to someone, they would go to me. They said I have a good opinion on things they struggled with and gave them good suggestions on how to deal with it. However, with me helping them with their problems, who’s helping me? No one because I barely ever rant at them about my problems. I keep my problems to myself until my boyfriend came along in my life. Currently, I'm in a relationship. I love him so dearly, but sometimes I get so insecure that I constantly fear coming across as needy and clinging. I occasionally also experience a lot of dreams of him abandoning me and finding someone much better. I'm considered a "perfectionist" since I become anxious whenever something seems off or if I do something that I shouldn't have done. I therefore make every effort to be his best girlfriend. I would do all in my ability to let him know how much I care. I feared that if I wasn't the best girlfriend to him, he would leave me for someone else and I wanted him to adore me. I like to think of my anxiety as a sort of pet; one minute it’s small and it wouldn’t do anything to you, but if you don’t train it well it will grow out of control and destroy the new things you got in life. At the time when we started dating, my boyfriend never knew I had anxiety, until one day he found out. I was filling out my FAFSA and CSS Profile for college at the time. My mother has always worked extremely hard to get me into college and to do it at a cost we could afford. Being the concerned parent that she was, my mother insisted that I constantly check to make sure I was filling out those applications correctly. She frequently said phrases like, "You sure you know what you're doing?" “Have you received any response from your college yet? Are you sure you’re able to do this?” All the questions were feeding my anxiety, it made me sweat a lot everyday, breath heavily, and even made me feel nauseous. My boyfriend noticed me panicking one day and hold my hand saying “are you alright? You look pale”. “Yeah I’m ok I’m just tired that’s all”, but of course he didn’t believe that. At lunch, he gave me the look of concern and worry, asking me again “are you sure you’re alright? You can always tell me if something is wrong.”Hearing him say that made me conflicted if I should tell him or not. It was like two sides of my brain were always at war with each other, with one saying “tell him, he’ll understand”, while the other saying “don’t tell him, he will leave you”. Finally, I made my decision on telling him. “There’s something I have to tell you”, I said while holding his hands close. I was shaking my right leg as I said to him the following sentence: “I have anxiety and it’s been making me overthink a lot recently.” I had a feeling that he thought differently of me. However, he just looked at me and hugged me close. “I had a feeling you had anxiety. I knew because…I have anxiety too.” I was shocked when he said this. I knew sometimes he would overthink about stuff that are difficult in school, but I didn’t think he had anxiety too. He just held me close and kissed my cheek. “It’s going to be ok. I’m here for you. I’m going to help you. You’re not alone on this. You helped me now I’m helping you.” At that moment, I knew what he said was the truth. It calmed my nerves, knowing that no matter what he will still be here for me. “We’re both going to help each other. No more hiding your feelings. You’re clearly stressed. Like you always said, holding in your feelings isn’t healthy for your body. Too much stress means you’ll pop like a balloon.” We both laughed a little while hugging each other close. For the first time, I didn’t feel so nervous when I’m with him. He made me feel as if I’m not alone in this world. We both had problems of our own, but now we tell each other what’s wrong and try to make each other feel better. Sometimes I listen and he let out his feelings, other times it’s the other way around, or even the both of us having a mental breakdown and trying to make each other better. That just shows that you’re not alone when it comes to dealing with your mental health, especially in a relationship. When you meet that special someone, that gives you a sigh of relief that you matter to someone and that someone will be there to help you no matter what.

Keeping our minds healthy is essential for mental wellness. In general, men are more concerned about maintaining their physical health. People frequently fail to consider their mental state. Therefore, it becomes crucial for a man to maintain his physical and mental health. Since the human brain serves as the body's command center, it is engaged in making decisions, giving the body instructions, and coordinating a variety of bodily processes. In light of this, it is essential for people to gain more knowledge about mental health, mental disorders, and the steps society can take to eliminate the stigma associated with mental health. The threat of suicide has slowly crept into society, and people's lack of awareness is to blame. One mental disorder that’s well known is Anxiety. We're all anxious. It’s a natural aspect of life. It turns into a disorder when it gets to the point where it interferes with your way of life. Panic attacks, insomnia, excessive worrying, illogical concerns, muscle tension, persistent indigestion, memories of upsetting or traumatic events, and compulsive habits are just a few of the symptoms. I've always had anxiety; in fact, some of my earliest memories include that uneasy, nervous feeling in the pit of my stomach. I was always the quiet one in the class, which you would think I would get over as I got older, but that was not the case at all, especially now that I’m in a relationship. People didn't even consider that I had anxiety; they just assumed that I was shy and anxious. Being nervous or anxious is not the same as suffering from an anxiety disorder that may be properly diagnosed. Anxiety is a frightening concern or interest that is accompanied by physical symptoms (such as perspiration, tension, or an accelerated heart rate), doubt about the existence and nature of the threat, and self-doubt about one's ability to handle it. However, just because I have anxiety doesn’t mean I can’t be in a relationship. Recently, I admitted to him that I had anxiety and to my surprise, he understood and would always help me whenever I have my mental breakdowns or sometimes even my small panic attacks. That just shows that whether you have a mental health issue or not, someone will be there to help you no matter what. Even though I have anxiety, it doesn’t stop me from pursuing my goal of being a clinical art therapist. People would think I was insane if I told them I have a mental illness and am training to become a clinical therapist. It’s well known that people who work in the mental health field are immune to developing mental illnesses themselves. They aren't immune, though, and their worry can spiral out of control and become a much bigger issue for them. However, they know how to control that stress and that’s what I’m aiming for. Usually, to calm my nerves would be talking to someone I trust about my feelings, like to my boyfriend. Other times, I would digitally and traditionally draw or doodle my feelings out if I can’t explain them well, listen to music in my room, read a book, or even just talk to myself in my room. I know that sounds weird, but talking to myself and reflecting on why I’m getting anxious always make me feel better in the end. Mental health disorders like Anxiety can be a struggle, but for those who are struggling, just know that life will get better one step at a time and that’s the biggest relief life will give.

I have Anxiety. When people hear such phrase, it typically means they struggle on a regular basis to control their anxiety. It's challenging to manage, particularly when it comes to stressful situations. Currently, I'm in a relationship. I love him so dearly, but sometimes I get so insecure that I constantly fear coming across as needy and clinging. I occasionally also experience a lot of dreams of him abandoning me and finding someone much better. I'm considered a "perfectionist" since I become anxious whenever something seems off or if I do something that I shouldn't have done. I therefore make every effort to be his best girlfriend. I would do all in my ability to let him know how much I care. I feared that if I wasn't the best girlfriend to him, he would leave me for someone else and I wanted him to adore me. I like to think of my anxiety as a sort of pet; one minute it’s small and it wouldn’t do anything to you, but if you don’t train it well it will grow out of control and destroy the new things you got in life. At the time when we started dating, my boyfriend never knew I had anxiety, until one day he found out. I was filling out my FAFSA and CSS Profile for college at the time. My mother has always worked extremely hard to get me into college and to do it at a cost we could afford. Being the concerned parent that she was, my mother insisted that I constantly check to make sure I was filling out those applications correctly. She frequently said phrases like, "You sure you know what you're doing?" “Have you received any response from your college yet? Are you sure you’re able to do this?” All the questions were feeding my anxiety, it made me sweat a lot everyday, breath heavily, and even made me feel nauseous. My boyfriend noticed me panicking and hold my hand saying “are you alright? You look pale”. “Yeah I’m ok I’m just tired that’s all”, but of course he didn’t believe that. At lunch, he gave me the look of concern and worry, which made me conflicted if I should tell him or not. It was like two sides of my brain were always at war with each other, with one saying “tell him, he’ll understand”, while the other saying “don’t tell him, he will leave you”. Finally, I made my decision on telling him. “There’s something I have to tell you”, I said while holding his hands close. I was shaking my right leg as I said to him the following sentence: “I have anxiety and it’s been making me overthink a lot recently.” I had a feeling that he thought differently of me. However, he just looked at me and hugged me close. “I had a feeling you had anxiety. I knew because…I have anxiety too.” I was shocked when he said this. I knew sometimes he would overthink about stuff that are difficult in school, but I didn’t think he had anxiety too. He just held me close and kissed my cheek. “It’s going to be ok. I’m here for you. I’m going to help you. You’re not alone on this. You helped me now I’m helping you.” At that moment, I knew what he said was the truth. It calmed my nerves, knowing that no matter what he will still be here for me. That just shows that you’re not alone when it comes to dealing with your mental health, especially in a relationship.

In the LGBTQ+ community, there are several obstacles to seeking higher education as a demisexual and bisexual. The inability to access resources, harassment, and discrimination can all hinder academic success. Scholarships can be a huge help in this situation. The first benefit is that this scholarship can help cover the cost of tuition, books, and other educational expenditures. This is crucial for LGBTQ+ students, especially those who may not receive the same degree of financial assistance from their families or communities owing to prejudice or misunderstanding, as I did. Scholarships can lessen the financial burden of going to college, enabling students like myself to concentrate on our studies and professional objectives. Second, this scholarship may give you access to networks and resources. I believe that LGBTQ+ scholarships like this one include networking possibilities, mentorship programs, and other resources that can assist students in overcoming the difficulties associated with being a member of the LGBTQ+ community in the academic setting. Access to LGBTQ+ student organizations, counseling services, and other support networks, which I believe are essential for me to achieve throughout my time in college, are examples of this. Third, scholarships can assist LGBTQ+ students in achieving their professional aspirations. This is significant to me since many LGBTQ+ scholarships are designed expressly for students pursuing careers in industries like STEM, law, or politics where there is a dearth of LGBTQ+ representation. I want to work as an art therapist, and by getting this scholarship, I can encourage other LGBTQ+ students to pursue careers in these professions and take on leadership roles in their communities. Last but not least, this award can support LGBTQ+ students in improving their communities. Scholarships can enable LGBTQ+ students to positively influence their communities and advance equality and acceptance for all, as I would do, by helping them financially with these efforts. I want to make a difference in my campus community and promote equality for all racial groups, genders, and sexual orientations. To make this Dream a reality, there must be change and the proper people must inspire others. Being bisexual and demisexual can be challenging for me since I'm constantly worried about how other people will see me, especially now that I'm dating. I am aware of how challenging it may be to conceal a facet of oneself from others. I was able to inform my partner that I was bisexual and demisexual as a result, and to my amazement, he was too! Therefore, this scholarships can support me as a LGBTQ+ studebt in my academic efforts and help me have a good influence on my communities by giving me access to resources and support networks, employment prospects, financial assistance, and community involvement. Organizations and institutions must acknowledge the particular difficulties LGBTQ+ students experience and offer assistance in the form of scholarships and other resources. By doing this, I can even build a society that is more open minded and inclusive for everyone.

As a Hispanic, receiving this scholarship will significantly boost my self-confidence, knowing that I have achieved something that will support me with my current financial condition. This scholarship will create a foundation for getting me closer to my long-term psychological career goals. My dream of having a successful career as a successful art therapist can come true if I am awarded with this opportunity. Even though I don’t belong to a millionaire family, still I would never consider trading them for the world. I have been strongly influenced by my family background over the years, as they have taught me to look at the world in an entirely different way. I learned from my family to look at the world compassionately. We try to be readily available to help others, and try my best to provide positive impacts over others around me, especially those who are mentally challenged like my sister. Based on my background and experiences, my perception of the people, and situations in the real world has been changed tremendously. My sister has been the biggest impact on my view about the world. I couldn’t imagine living with autism and anxiety while not being able to talk your feelings out to anyone. It must be hard to feel as though no one is by your side to help you with this challenge. Sometimes, I put myself in my sister’s shoes. If I could be able to make my sister talk and communicate with us, I would definitely do it. As a child of immigrant parents, I learned to take responsibility for my family and myself at a very young age. Although my parents spoke English, they constantly worked in order to financially support my little sisters and I. Meanwhile, they barely knew English so I became their translator for basically everything. Even until now, I was able to learn more Spanish than I could ever learn. The more involved I became with my family, the more I knew what I wanted to be in the future. My education is another contribution to who I am today. It has helped me to become a more knowledgeable person, ultimately making me a better person. I am a better person not because I have achieved good academic qualification, but because I have developed a strong ability to use my knowledge to help others in making their lives better. I will be able to make wise and educated decisions on the future of my country in elections. Education has provided me with all the required knowledge, skills, and experience to pursue my long-term career dream and will allow me to exploit the opportunities to the fullest extent. Success is triumphing over hardships, working yourself over anything and everything to achieve the best for yourself and your family. With this scholarship, I will use it to continue focusing on my studies in psychology and even visual arts, instead of worrying about extra making money to help my mom pay for my college funds. It will be an investment into myself for my family.

Psychology students are often motivated by personal experiences and a wish for healthier, happier communities. That’s what I passionately wanted to do in college. We live in a world filled with hurt and suffering, and a place that is not equal for all. My dream is to use my unique set of skills, abilities, privileges, resources, and knowledge in a way that increases equality and privilege for all (not just people with white skin). I am pursuing a degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology which combines psychology and business. The biggest inspiration of this path was my sister. My sister was born with autism and anxiety. Despite the hassle and struggle with taking care of my autistic and nonverbal sister, I still cared about her no matter what. My family treats her equally, trying to include her in everything because even though she has a disability, she’s still human. She never asked to be born with autism and develop anxiety afterward. That’s what I see in every child and adult having these mental illnesses/ disorders. It hurts my heart when I see them not getting any further aid or support from the people they should entrust. I strongly believe large scale change happens on the individual level first, and if we want to see a world where we value the earth and all the people living on it, we have to do the work with ourselves first. I want to help people in their transformation towards becoming more unconditionally loving, tolerant, and compassionate people. I think when people are more comfortable with, and accepting of, who they are, they are consequently kinder and more loving towards those around them. However, when life as a student feels exceptionally challenging, I remind myself of the impact that the work I wish to practice has on people’s lives and those around them. I strongly believe large scale change happens on the individual level first, and if we want to see a world where we value the earth and all the people living on it, we have to do the work with ourselves first. It is my hope that, through increased research and advocacy, society can come to understand that extreme distress is often a message about something that is wrong in a person’s world, and as such, is meaningful and can be understood. Furthermore, by understanding the psychosocial origins of distress – trauma, poverty, inequality, etc. – we can refocus upstream and create policies that protect against these stressors in the first place. I believe that I can make people in my environment, as well as myself, healthier by providing some sense of clarity whenever life situations become foggy. My dream is to someday become a successful art therapist, a type of therapist that works with people who are only able to express their feelings through the way of the arts. Why not a clinical psychologist? Working one-on-one with individuals who are struggling would definitely bring me pleasure. However, I believe that I would have a greater impact within my society by helping larger groups. This dream of mine to become an art therapist would allow me to make the environment of common day people the most comfortable and enjoyable one. The struggles and risk of being a therapist is crucial because despite all what I can impact on the person, there are many risks of being one, such as the work environment may feel stressful with difficult patients or an unbalanced schedule. However, I love to take that risk and my first patient will be my own sister.

My dream of having a successful career as a successful art therapist can come true if I am awarded with this opportunity. Even though I don’t belong to a millionaire family, still I would never consider trading them for the world. I have been strongly influenced by my family background over the years, as they have taught me to look at the world in an entirely different way. I learned from my family to look at the world compassionately. We try to be readily available to help others, and try my best to provide positive impacts over others around me, especially those who are mentally challenged like my sister. Based on my background and experiences, my perception of the people, and situations in the real world has been changed tremendously. My sister has been the biggest impact on my view about the world. I couldn’t imagine living with autism and anxiety while not being able to talk your feelings out to anyone. It must be hard to feel as though no one is by your side to help you with this challenge. Sometimes, I put myself in my sister’s shoes. If I could be able to make my sister talk and communicate with us, I would definitely do it. As a child of immigrant parents, I learned to take responsibility for my family and myself at a very young age. Although my parents spoke English, they constantly worked in order to financially support my little sisters and I. Meanwhile, they barely knew English so I became their translator for basically everything. Even until now, I was able to learn more Spanish than I could ever learn. The more involved I became with my family, the more I knew what I wanted to be in the future. My education is another contribution to who I am today. It has helped me to become a more knowledgeable person, ultimately making me a better person. I am a better person not because I have achieved good academic qualification, but because I have developed a strong ability to use my knowledge to help others in making their lives better. I will be able to make wise and educated decisions on the future of my country in elections. Education has provided me with all the required knowledge, skills, and experience to pursue my long-term career dream and will allow me to exploit the opportunities to the fullest extent. Success is triumphing over hardships, working yourself over anything and everything to achieve the best for yourself and your family. I will use those hardships to continue focusing on my studies in psychology and visual arts, as well as better discover myself as an individual. I passed the audition for my show, and now it’s time for me to be the lead of my play called “life”.

As a Hispanic, receiving this scholarship will significantly boost my self-confidence, knowing that I have achieved something that will support me with my current financial condition. My dream of having a successful career as a successful art therapist can come true if I am awarded with this opportunity. Even though I don’t belong to a millionaire family, still I would never consider trading them for the world. I have been strongly influenced by my family background over the years, as they have taught me to look at the world in an entirely different way. I learned from my family to look at the world compassionately. We try to be readily available to help others, and try my best to provide positive impacts over others around me, especially those who are mentally challenged like my sister. Based on my background and experiences, my perception of the people, and situations in the real world has been changed tremendously. My sister has been the biggest impact on my view about the world. I couldn’t imagine living with autism and anxiety while not being able to talk your feelings out to anyone. It must be hard to feel as though no one is by your side to help you with this challenge. Sometimes, I put myself in my sister’s shoes. If I could be able to make my sister talk and communicate with us, I would definitely do it. As a child of immigrant parents, I learned to take responsibility for my family and myself at a very young age. Although my parents spoke English, they constantly worked in order to financially support my little sisters and I. Meanwhile, they barely knew English so I became their translator for basically everything. Even until now, I was able to learn more Spanish than I could ever learn. The more involved I became with my family, the more I knew what I wanted to be in the future. My education is another contribution to who I am today. It has helped me to become a more knowledgeable person, ultimately making me a better person. I am a better person not because I have achieved good academic qualification, but because I have developed a strong ability to use my knowledge to help others in making their lives better. I will be able to make wise and educated decisions on the future of my country in elections. Education has provided me with all the required knowledge, skills, and experience to pursue my long-term career dream and will allow me to exploit the opportunities to the fullest extent. Success is triumphing over hardships, working yourself over anything and everything to achieve the best for yourself and your family. With this scholarship, I will use it to continue focusing on my studies in psychology and even visual arts, instead of worrying about extra making money to help my mom pay for my college funds. It will be an investment into myself for my family.

The biggest challenge my community faces is discrimination of race. For example, growing up I had a teacher who failed at being the role model I’m meant to look up to. My parents always told me that teachers are there to help students grow and learn, not to be afraid of or to ridicule their students. That’s what she did to me, picked on a young six year old girl to the point that she became traumatized and feared adults who were there to help her. Why? All because I was Hispanic and I wasn’t capable of doing anything. I started having a mindset that I’m not perfect enough, that I’m not trying hard enough. It got to me from time to time, especially when I’m having the worst days of my life. However, that didn’t stop me. That same six year old girl grew up with a special mindset, and that was “you are more than that”. She was more than just a quiet and shy little girl. She grew up to be an independent and intelligent young woman who’s about to graduate high school and go to college. To me, this shows that not only can a Hispanic be capable of making a difference, but anyone can. My sisters viewed me as their best role model to look up to, considering what they have learned from my past encountering racism and discrimination in school. I showed them that they shouldn’t hide their true self from the world just because they are Hispanic or they are a little different from someone else. Beauty comes in all shape and sizes, so why disregard someone just because they are a different race from you? I’m apart of the National Honor Society, and my first time doing community service was life changing to me. Seeing the impact on my small act of kindness brings joy to me. Why stop there when I can contribute to the community even more? Throughout my experience, I have learned that every person can find a way to contribute to the society and those in need. I’ve found out that my true calling is to inspire young people to find themselves in a less fortunate position than the majority of the population. My dream is to become an educator and create a positive impact on an international level. We need people who want to make the world a better place and want to make people’s days better. And what better way to do so than to help your community by volunteering in your free time?

Everyone experiences stress, everyone has fears, and phobias. Anxiety and fears aren’t unnatural, from an adult to a young child. Anxiety isn’t something that is fun to have either. To children these certain “feelings” they aren’t just normal; they are essential. You should feel comfortable at school knowing that others will watch out for you and prevent bullying and harassment. You might be wondering how I overcame my fear of being bullied by other kids my age. I was bullied by an adult, not a child, as it happens. Unbelievable, I know. I never knew why my first-grade teacher disliked me so much. I was a quiet but respectable child who always did my best to complete the assignment on my own. Who knows: whether I did something to cause her to behave this way toward me…perhaps she did this because I was the only Hispanic kid in her class… or perhaps she saw me as an easy target because of how quiet I was—after all, I wouldn't tell anyone what she did to me…right?- whatever it may be, that doesn’t give her the right to mentally damage me. She always picked on me whenever I got an answer wrong, and gave me work without explaining what to do while she sat near the window, having her face glued onto her phone all day. As she does this, a little bit of my innocence slowly breaks piece by piece everyday. I felt unmotivated, scared and alone, especially when all the other kids made fun of me whenever my teacher picked on me. One day, it was parent teacher conference and this was before my mom understood English, so she needed a translator. The janitor had to help my mom with translation since there weren’t any translators available. My teacher told me to go play by the blocks while they chat. As I did so, my teacher was just slandering me to my mom, telling me how I was the worse student and I was “incapable of anything”. My mom didn’t take that lightly and started to argue back at her in Spanish. Surprisingly, the janitor was on my mom’s side saying stuff like “she is capable, you’re just unable to see that. She’s only a little girl, she doesn’t deserve this treatment”. I was scared as I heard them all argue about me because I never witnessed an argument so intense at school. After what seem like hours, my mom and the janitor weren’t going to let this slide. They decided to make a report to the principal to get this teacher fired for good. Everyone in the office took this to consideration and did everything they could to help me out. One day, all that work paid off because she was immediately fire after that. What a triumph! The evil teacher is fired at last…but the damage to me was already done.. From that point, I’ve always been a worrier after that; constantly worrying about things left and right. Worrying about my grades in school, worrying about how to please my parents, and of course worrying about my future. I wanted to be the “perfect child” my parents deserve to have. Nowadays, I try to openly talk about anxiety, in the hope of being able to help others who have had similar symptoms to me and in effect reduce stigma around mental illness. Overtime I learned that I didn’t need to be perfect or to worry a lot, because I’m not alone and I never will be.

As a Hispanic, receiving this scholarship will significantly boost my self-confidence, knowing that I have achieved something that will support me with my current financial condition. This scholarship will create a foundation for getting me closer to my long-term psychological career goals. My dream of having a successful career as a successful art therapist can come true if I am awarded with this opportunity. Even though I don’t belong to a millionaire family, still I would never consider trading them for the world. I have been strongly influenced by my family background over the years, as they have taught me to look at the world in an entirely different way. I learned from my family to look at the world compassionately. We try to be readily available to help others, and try my best to provide positive impacts over others around me, especially those who are mentally challenged like my sister. Based on my background and experiences, my perception of the people, and situations in the real world has been changed tremendously. My sister has been the biggest impact on my view about the world. I couldn’t imagine living with autism and anxiety while not being able to talk your feelings out to anyone. It must be hard to feel as though no one is by your side to help you with this challenge. Sometimes, I put myself in my sister’s shoes. If I could be able to make my sister talk and communicate with us, I would definitely do it. As a child of immigrant parents, I learned to take responsibility for my family and myself at a very young age. Although my parents spoke English, they constantly worked in order to financially support my little sisters and I. Meanwhile, they barely knew English so I became their translator for basically everything. Even until now, I was able to learn more Spanish than I could ever learn. The more involved I became with my family, the more I knew what I wanted to be in the future. My education is another contribution to who I am today. It has helped me to become a more knowledgeable person, ultimately making me a better person. I am a better person not because I have achieved good academic qualification, but because I have developed a strong ability to use my knowledge to help others in making their lives better. I will be able to make wise and educated decisions on the future of my country in elections. Education has provided me with all the required knowledge, skills, and experience to pursue my long-term career dream and will allow me to exploit the opportunities to the fullest extent. Success is triumphing over hardships, working yourself over anything and everything to achieve the best for yourself and your family. With this scholarship, I will use it to continue focusing on my studies in psychology and even visual arts, instead of worrying about extra making money to help my mom pay for my college funds. It will be an investment into myself for my family.

The biggest challenge my community faces is discrimination of race. For example, growing up I had a teacher who failed at being the role model I’m meant to look up to. My parents always told me that teachers are there to help students grow and learn, not to be afraid of or to ridicule their students. That’s what she did to me, picked on a young six year old girl to the point that she became traumatized and feared adults who were there to help her. Why? All because I was Hispanic and I wasn’t capable of doing anything. I started having a mindset that I’m not perfect enough, that I’m not trying hard enough. It got to me from time to time, especially when I’m having the worst days of my life. However, that didn’t stop me. That same six year old girl grew up with a special mindset, and that was “you are more than that”. She was more than just a quiet and shy little girl. She grew up to be an independent and intelligent young woman who’s about to graduate high school and go to college. To me, this shows that not only can a Hispanic be capable of making a difference, but anyone can. My sisters viewed me as their best role model to look up to, considering what they have learned from my past encountering racism and discrimination in school. I showed them that they shouldn’t hide their true self from the world just because they are Hispanic or they are a little different from someone else. Beauty comes in all shape and sizes, so why disregard someone just because they are a different race from you? I’m apart of the National Honor Society, and my first time doing community service was life changing to me. Seeing the impact on my small act of kindness brings joy to me. Why stop there when I can contribute to the community even more? Throughout my experience, I have learned that every person can find a way to contribute to the society and those in need. I’ve found out that my true calling is to inspire young people to find themselves in a less fortunate position than the majority of the population. My dream is to become an educator and create a positive impact on an international level. We need people who want to make the world a better place and want to make people’s days better. And what better way to do so than to help your community by volunteering in your free time?

I use challenges as a learning experience and try to turn the small mistake into a huge positive, rather than dwelling on it as a negative. I don’t let my past take control of my life. I write a new chapter in my life and remember my old memories as an old issue to my book series. Growing up, I had a teacher who failed at being the role model I’m meant to look up to. My parents always told me that teachers are there to help students grow and learn, not to be afraid of or to ridicule their students. That’s what she did to me, picked on a young six year old girl to the point that she became traumatized and feared adults who were there to help her. I started having a mindset that I’m not perfect enough, that I’m not trying hard enough. It got to me from time to time, especially when I’m having the worst days of my life. However, that didn’t stop me. That same six year old girl grew up with a special mindset, and that was “you are more than that”. She was more than just a quiet and shy little girl. She grew up to be an independent and intelligent young woman who’s about to graduate high school and go to college. I can’t change my past, but I’m able to change my future. That’s why I’m proud to have that mindset that my challenges are more than just obstacles, but just learning experiences that I’m capable to learn one step at a time. To me, community is not just a word. I am that person in the group who always wants to take part in activities that make a huge impact on the community. My contribution may be small on a global scale, but I take pride in my daily actions that help to create a positive impact. For example, I’m apart of the National Honor Society, and my first time doing community service was life changing to me. Seeing the impact on my small act of kindness brings joy to me. Why stop there when I can contribute to the community even more? Throughout my experience, I have learned that every person can find a way to contribute to the society and those in need. I’ve found out that my true calling is to inspire young people to find themselves in a less fortunate position than the majority of the population. My dream is to become an educator and create a positive impact on an international level. We need people who want to make the world a better place and want to make people’s days better. And what better way to do so than to help your community by volunteering in your free time?

Autumn Silent as they drift down with the wind And come to rest on the ground Beneath the trees without a care, They lay on a blanket, rich and rare The colors gleamed in the sun With colors warm as they glistered The wind blew its strong breath on the leaves, As they danced and fly wildly on that breezy day Twisting, whirling, and turning through the air Til at last they touch the ground The trees stayed stiff and still With their bodies naked and bare It was a sign to let everyone know That autumn was finally here And summer was taking a snooze. Now we all wait, like children, for First Frost to come

When the pandemic rose rapidly during my 9th-grade year, it caused many unfortunate upbringings to my plans. For instance, transitioning to remote learning was nerve-racking yet accessible to me. One being I wasn't used to the idea of classes being online, I had to multitask many jobs around the house (such as helping my sisters with their courses while maintaining my classes), and I had to keep my grades as high as -B. I was concerned about my future because I felt I couldn't be a clinical therapist due to the pandemic ruining my chances. What did make remote learning work was the idea that every assignment given to me was online. It was easier not to lose important papers I needed for each class. However, those struggles didn't stop me. I knew that life as we knew it wouldn't be as normal as we all expected it to be this decade, but I still try to remain optimistic. I knew the wind blowing me like a leaf to my fate wasn't the solution. I needed to continue to work hard to have a successful future of my own, the future that my parents wanted me to have. They've worked for many hours to sustain the needs we need to survive in this world. I wanted to repay them for all they have done for me. They raised me to be a successful, intelligent, and respectable young lady in this society. As I keep up my studies in school and get my GED at the end of my year in high school, I can see that even though my future may have some challenges to face along the way, I'll be able to defeat them. Five years from now, I see that I'll be able to have a successful job, either as an intern or as an actual therapist. Working to help mentally ill people is my biggest goal to make the world a better place. I felt that people with mental health problems need the type of people to be around them and tell them that life will get better. The illness doesn't define who that person is and they shouldn't have to feel that their illness is one of the characteristics that make up them. With all that being said, those aren't the big reasons why I wanted to be a therapist. The big reason was because of my sister and my mother. My sister has mental problems of her own and my mother did everything she could in her ability to try to understand her. Even when times were difficult when my sister wasn't able to control her emotions, she still didn't give up on helping her, especially when many mental health institutions kept calling her to place my sister in their facilities. Her response to them was always "no". She cared about her daughter, no matter what. That's what inspired me to help others with those same conditions as she did. Who knows, I might be able to help cure my sister one day.