To me, being a leader is by planting a seed of ambition and motivation that will contribute to the betterment of our society. Through perseverance and passion, I plan to represent and inspire my community by enhancing access to quality care and advocating for mental health awareness, so together, we can overcome the stigma of mental illness. Throughout my lifetime, my family has faced prominent mental disorders and structural inequalities that have ultimately inspired me to become the first in my family to graduate college. I live on the Westside of San Antonio, which is an urban, predominantly Hispanic area with my single mother and two younger siblings, Jack and Michael. All of our lives, my brothers and I have experienced the structural inequities embedded within our education system. San Antonio’s school districts are unique because we have a total of 17 school districts within a single city. Many of these districts were specifically formed to preserve the income of wealthier neighborhoods for their own children’s schools, leaving the income of the districts for poorer neighborhoods with far less money per student. As a direct result, students on the Westside of San Antonio receive inferior education in comparison to wealthier neighborhoods. Despite this, I have pushed myself to succeed in every environment over the course of my academic career. I have seen the perseverance and sacrifices a person must make to create a better life, and I am ready to make these sacrifices myself. Despite his challenges with substance abuse, my father immigrated from Nicaragua at 5 years old and never once let his immigration status impede his desire to succeed and provide his children with a better life. Similarly, my mother has suffered from compounding mental illnesses since 1999. For my mother, simply surviving through her mental illness demonstrates immense strength of character and determination, which I hope to harness as I launch into the next step of my academic career. In August 2020, I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder and anxiety. During my time at an inpatient facility, I frequently witnessed abusive behavior towards patients where nurses would verbally abuse, misgender, manipulate, and silence patients. Advocacy is something that I am particularly passionate about, especially the rights of those experiencing mental illness to be treated with care and respect, and I refuse to sit idly by while people’s rights are violated. Though I reported the incidents, I continued to witness abuses. I began encouraging others to come forward, eventually inspiring six people to share their experiences. I value the advocacy aspect of my character because, through advocacy, I am capable of inspiring change. Change begets progress, and progress helps us move towards equity. Furthermore, I am determined to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner, enhancing access to quality care and advocating for mental health awareness to overcome the stigma of mental illness. I hope to use my voice to inspire my community by advocating for my patient’s well-being and spreading awareness of San Antonio’s mental health crisis.

Throughout my life, I have endured many challenges that have made me who I am. Although the troubles that burdened my family and me have been vast, I have found a way to be resilient, independent, and determined. I plan to be the first person in my family to graduate college, and I look forward to continuing my growth and persevering with and through my story to accomplish my goals I am a part of a family that faces prominent mental disorders, structural inequalities, and a lack of institutional support. Throughout my life, I have feared that I may endure the same struggles. My mother was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1999, but she has since suffered from Schizoaffective disorder with Bipolar type. Although she was eligible for VA benefits during that time it took until 2018 for her to start receiving assistance. My father suffered from Depression, Bulimia, and Addiction throughout his life and he was never able to get the help he truly needed and in 2014 he passed away from cirrhosis of the liver. I hope to honor my father’s life and pain by pursuing a career where I can help people dealing with diseases that affect their minds and behavior. I plan to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner and help future patients with mental illnesses, eating disorders, and addiction. I live on the west side of San Antonio which is an urban, Hispanic-dominated area with my single mother and two younger siblings, Jack and Michael. With my mother suffering from Schizoaffective with Bipolar type and both of my brothers suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, I have taken on responsibilities far beyond my expected threshold since elementary school. Every night, I ensure that my mother takes the medication that she needs to function. Every morning I get my siblings ready for school, make them food, wash their clothes, and clean the house. As I have gotten older, my responsibilities continue to build. I now have a job and a license. I can take my mother to her appointments, take my brother to football practice, help my family financially, grocery shop weekly, help my siblings with homework, pay car insurance, and maintain my grades and personal life. I am grateful that I can be there for them, but I have a burning desire to broaden my horizons, travel, and experience all the world has to offer. I worry and wonder about the impact my absence will have on my family, but my drive is pushing me to leave my hometown for college in order to grow on my own. Although being the caretaker for my family is an impasse, it has contributed to my career aspirations of becoming a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. I am currently in the Health Professions pathway at Thomas Edison High School, and I am on track to graduate with a certification to become a Medical Assistant. Since taking health profession courses, I have gained more knowledge regarding medical terminology, vital signs, and structures and functions of the body systems. I am eager to continue furthering my education in the medical field. During high school, I have navigated through different healthcare career options. Multiple factors pulled me towards psychiatry, and more specifically psychiatric nursing, since I know I will be able to improve patient lives through my empathy and advocacy skills. These are skills that I gained during my own experience in an inpatient facility. During my time there I witnessed multiple injustices and encouraged others to come forward. Eventually, I inspired six people to share their experiences. Caring for others and advocacy are natural skills of mine, and my passion for psychiatry has developed from my personal and familial experiences and schoolwork. My story and my family history inspire me to work hard and someday provide quality care and accessible resources to psychiatric patients in San Antonio, Texas.

Enhancing accessibility to quality care and advocating for mental health awareness to overcome the stigma of mental illness are my goals and ambitions for the future. I want to end the stigma and encourage others to comfortably seek the help needed. Due to the negative stigmas of mental illness, people are afraid of how society will see them and fear they will be treated differently. The most common cause of disability is mental disorders yet there are little to no resources in my area. In August of 2020, I was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and Anxiety. While I was looking for resources in San Antonio I discovered there were only three adolescent mental health clinics. Due to a limited number of psychiatrists and therapists in my city, I had to enter an inpatient facility, Laurel Ridge, rather than receive the outpatient care that I preferred. I want to help my community have access to equitable, quality psychiatric care. During my time at the inpatient facility, I saw frequent abusive behavior. On my very first day, I witnessed a nurse screaming at a 10-year-old. The girl was visibly crying in fear and it did not help her when the nurse responded with “Shut up! No one wants to hear you cry”. That night I expressed my concerns to one of the night shift nurses. She informed me of patient rights and the on-site patient advocate. The next morning I met with the director and told her the time, date, nurse, and patient yet there was no action being done. I began to speak up more which led to the nurses singling me out. These nurses knew I was making their job more difficult and potentially risking their licenses being revoked for their malpractice. One of the days leading up to my release, I witnessed a patient having a tic attack and the nurse's first response was talking and laughing in the nurse's station. Once they finished their solution was to place him in a seclusion room. Furthermore, I met a patient who shared that every morning the nurses would intentionally misgender them. The patient goes by they/them but the nurse would call them by their birth name and she/her. People who are a part of the LGBT+ community are more susceptible to experience discrimination and inequalities. As an ally, I took it very personally when multiple patients told me their experiences. As I continued to tell therapists and nurses, this led to another director coming into my unit with a snide demeanor and suggested I should be “focusing on my own health”. I understand where the director was coming from but I will not be silenced when I see something unethical and morally wrong. After this negative experience, I plan to attend the University of the Incarnate Word to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner with the intention to create accessible resources and quality care. Caring for others and advocacy are natural skills of mine, and my passion for psychiatry has developed from my personal and familial experiences. My story and my family history inspire me to work hard and someday provide quality care and accessible resources to psychiatric patients in San Antonio, Texas.

The Nicaraguan Revolution began in 1978. It led my grandfather and his family to flee Nicaragua out of fear of persecution and the dictatorship forming there. He brought his family to seek asylum in the United States and hoped for a better life. My father was the oldest of 7 children, so he bore the responsibility of helping his siblings and parents as they navigated life in a new country and processed the trauma of leaving home. His familial stress persisted after having 2 children with his wife. He was able to make America his home and created a business called Autoguard Automotives, but I later realized that he was weighed down by the financial and emotional expectations of his family. I didn’t understand the extent of his lifelong adversities until after his passing. He spent the last years of his life battling addiction and passed away in 2014 from cirrhosis of the liver. The struggles one must endure to come to and exist in this country can be overwhelming, as I know they were for my dad. My father’s passing has been a struggle that I still deal with every day. Since he passed at an early age, I was stripped of the opportunity to learn more about his culture since I am not in contact with his family. I fondly remember times we were able to spend together cooking Gallo pinto, nacatamales, sopa de cola, and fried plantains while hearing stories about his life there. I still hope to one day reconnect with my cultural roots, discover more about my family’s history, and visit Nicaragua. Being a child of immigrants, I have endured generational trauma that I still don’t fully understand, but I am learning to heal and rely on myself as I grow into young adulthood. In August 2020, I was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and Anxiety. While searching for resources in San Antonio, I found there were only three adolescent mental health clinics. Due to a limited number of psychiatrists and therapists in my area, I had to enter an inpatient facility rather than get the outpatient care I preferred. During my time at an inpatient facility, I frequently witnessed abusive behavior towards patients where nurses would verbally abuse, misgender, and silence patients. I expressed my concerns with a nurse who informed me of the patient’s rights. Though I reported the incidents, I saw no evidence of action. I began encouraging others to come forward, eventually inspiring six people to share their experiences. I hope to honor my father’s life and pain by pursuing a career where I can help people dealing with diseases that affect their minds and behavior. I plan to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner to create accessible resources and quality care for patients in underserved communities.

Enhancing accessibility to quality care and advocating for mental health awareness to overcome the stigma of mental illness are my goals and ambitions for the future. I want to end the stigma and encourage others to comfortably seek the help needed. Due to the negative stigmas of mental illness, people are afraid of how society will see them and fear they will be treated differently. The most common cause of disability is mental disorders yet there are little to no resources in my area. In August 2020, I was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and Anxiety. While searching for resources in San Antonio, I found there were only three adolescent mental health clinics. Due to a limited number of psychiatrists and therapists in my area, I had to enter an inpatient facility rather than get the outpatient care I preferred. Furthermore, my insurance restricted me to a specific range of specialists. During my time at an inpatient facility, I frequently witnessed abusive behavior towards patients where nurses would verbally abuse, misgender, manipulate, and silence patients. I expressed my concerns with a nurse who informed me of the patient’s rights. Though I reported the incidents, I saw no evidence of action. I began encouraging others to come forward, eventually inspiring six people to share their experiences. Intending to create accessible resources and quality care I plan to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner. The health professions program at my high school has been the first step that is developing and leading me towards my goal. I have been offered classes such as medical terminology and anatomy to learn more about careers in the medical field. After taking part in these classes, I have become stronger and more knowledgeable about my future and what I am going to advocate for.

Throughout my life, I have endured many challenges that have made me who I am. Although the troubles that burdened my family and me have been vast, I have found a way to be resilient, independent, and determined. I plan to be the first person in my family to graduate college, and I look forward to continuing my growth and persevering with and through my story to accomplish my goals I am a part of a family that faces prominent mental disorders, structural inequalities, and a lack of institutional support. Throughout my life, I have feared that I may endure the same struggles. My mother was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1999, but she has since suffered from Schizoaffective disorder with Bipolar type. Although she was eligible for VA benefits during that time it took until 2018 for her to start receiving assistance. My father suffered from Depression, Bulimia, and Addiction throughout his life and he was never able to get the help he truly needed and in 2014 he passed away from cirrhosis of the liver. I hope to honor my father’s life and pain by pursuing a career where I can help people dealing with diseases that affect their minds and behavior. I plan to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner and help future patients with mental illnesses, eating disorders, and addiction. I live on the west side of San Antonio which is an urban, Hispanic-dominated area with my single mother and two younger siblings, Jack and Michael. With my mother suffering from Schizoaffective with Bipolar type and both of my brothers suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, I have taken on responsibilities far beyond my expected threshold since elementary school. Every night, I ensure that my mother takes the medication that she needs to function. Every morning I get my siblings ready for school, make them food, wash their clothes, and clean the house. As I have gotten older, my responsibilities continue to build. I now have a job and a license. I can take my mother to her appointments, take my brother to football practice, help my family financially, grocery shop weekly, help my siblings with homework, pay car insurance, and maintain my grades and personal life. I am grateful that I can be there for them, but I have a burning desire to broaden my horizons, travel, and experience all the world has to offer. I worry and wonder about the impact my absence will have on my family, but my drive is pushing me to leave my hometown for college in order to grow on my own. Caring for others and advocacy are natural skills of mine, and my passion for psychiatry has developed from my personal and familial experiences. My story and my family history inspire me to work hard and someday provide quality care and accessible resources to psychiatric patients in San Antonio, Texas.

February 2020, I joined the health professions pathway at my school. Anatomy and physiology was the class that pioneered my curiosity for science, specifically the healthcare field. Anatomy and physiology explain the fundamentals of the human body and are considered biological science. Taking this course, I became fascinated with the correlation between mental illness and the brain. There are multiple factors of mental illness and one of them is chemical since the brain processes information differently than others. Genetics and environment play a role in how the brain reacts, thinks, and responds to stimuli. I have learned more about my family history of addiction and disease through this class which is why I am interested in STEM. Before my father passed away, he was never able to get the help he needed for depression, bulimia, and addiction. My mother is diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder with bipolar type. Both of my brothers suffer from ADHD and I suffer from major depressive disorder and anxiety. My family's mental complications have provoked curiosity about the chemical imbalances within the brain. Growing up in my family which has a history of prominent mental disorders, I have always feared them. When I was diagnosed, I learned there are environmental and genetic factors that result in mental disorders. Since continuing to look into mental illnesses I have developed an interest in psychology. I plan to learn more about different approaches and effective treatments to aid patients. Furthermore, this combination of interests in the health professions pathway at school and my family’s history of mental illnesses have lead me to become fascinated with chemicals within the brain and to pursuing a STEM major. I plan to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner with the intention to create accessible resources and quality care in underserved urban communities.

Enhancing accessibility to quality care and advocating for mental health awareness to overcome the stigma of mental illness are my goals and ambitions for the future. I want to end the stigma and encourage others to comfortably seek the help needed. Due to the negative stigmas of mental illness, people are afraid of how society will see them and fear they will be treated differently. The most common cause of disability is mental disorders yet there is little to no resources in my area. I plan to attend University of the Incarnate Word to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner with the intention to create accessible resources and quality care. The health professions program at my high school has been the first step that is developing and leading me towards my goal. I have been offered classes such as medical terminology and anatomy to learn more about careers in the medical field. After taking part in these classes, I have become stronger and more knowledgeable about my future and what I am going to advocate. In August of 2020, I was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and Anxiety. While I was looking for resources in San Antonio I discovered there were only three adolescent mental health clinics. Due to a limited number of psychiatrists and therapists in my city, I had to enter an inpatient facility, Laurel Ridge, rather than receive the outpatient care that I preferred. During my time at the inpatient facility, I saw frequent abusive behavior. On my very first day I witnessed a nurse screaming at a 10 year old. The girl was visibly crying in fear and it did not help her, when the nurse responded with “Shut up! No one wants to hear you cry”. That night I expressed my concerns to one of the night shift nurses. She informed me of patient rights and the on site patient advocate. The next morning I met with the director and told her the time, date, nurse, and patient yet there was no action being done. I began to speak up more which led to the nurses singling me out. These nurses knew I was making their job more difficult and potentially risking their licenses being revoked for their malpractice. They would single me out as I was sitting down and not looking directly at them yet I was actively listening . There was a patient that had a tick and this one time the nurses were behind the counter judging and making fun of the patient. The patient began to have a tic attack and their immediate solution was to place him in a seclusion room. Furthermore, I met a patient who shared that every morning they would intentionally be misgendered by a nurse. The patient goes by they/them but the nurse would call them by their birth name and she/her. People who are a part of the LGBT+ community are more susceptible to experience descrimmination and inequalities. As an ally I took it very personal when all of these patients told me their experiences. I continued to tell therapists and nurses. This led to another director coming into my unit with a snide demeanor and suggested I should be “focusing on my own health” because from talking to my psychiatrist she found out that the psychiatrist identified me as a “caregiver” with my friends and family. I understand where they were coming from but I will not be silenced when I see something unethical and morally wrong. I continued to advocate for all the patients and in the end it backfired on me. Nurses refused to let me go to the restroom unless I got a doctor's excuse. They believed I could “just hold it”. After this negative experience, I saw the importance of ethical mental health nurse practitioners and advocacy. Furthermore, this scholarship will help me to pursue my passion of becoming a psychiatric nurse practitioner and create easily accessible resources and quality care for people in San Antonio.

In August of 2020, I was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and Anxiety. While I was looking for resources in San Antonio I discovered there were only three adolescent mental health clinics. Due to a limited number of psychiatrists and therapists in my city, I had to enter an inpatient facility, Laurel Ridge, rather than receive the outpatient care that I preferred. During my time at the inpatient facility, I saw frequent abusive behavior. On my very first day I witnessed a nurse screaming at a 10 year old. The girl was visibly crying in fear and it did not help her, when the nurse responded with “Shut up! No one wants to hear you cry”. That night I expressed my concerns to one of the night shift nurses. She informed me of patient rights and the on site patient advocate. The next morning I met with the director and told her the time, date, nurse, and patient yet there was no action being done. I began to speak up more which led to the nurses singling me out. These nurses knew I was making their job more difficult and potentially risking their licenses being revoked for their malpractice. They would single me out as I was sitting down and not looking directly at them yet I was actively listening . There was a patient that had a tick and this one time the nurses were behind the counter judging and making fun of the patient. The patient began to have a tic attack and their immediate solution was to place him in a seclusion room. Furthermore, I met a patient who shared that every morning they would intentionally be misgendered by a nurse. The patient goes by they/them but the nurse would call them by their birth name and she/her. People who are a part of the LGBT+ community are more susceptible to experience descrimmination and inequalities. As an ally I took it very personal when all of these patients told me their experiences. I continued to tell therapists and nurses. This led to another director coming into my unit with a snide demeanor and suggested I should be “focusing on my own health” because from talking to my psychiatrist she found out that the psychiatrist identified me as a “caregiver” with my friends and family. I understand where they were coming from but I will not be silenced when I see something unethical and morally wrong. I continued to advocate for all the patients and in the end it backfired on me. Nurses refused to let me go to the restroom unless I got a doctor's excuse. They believed I could “just hold it”. After this negative experience, I saw the importance of ethical mental health nurse practitioners and advocacy.I plan to attend University of the Incarnate Word to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner with the intention to create accessible resources and quality care. The health professions program at my high school has been the first step that is developing and leading me towards my goal. I have been offered classes such as medical terminology and anatomy to learn more about careers in the medical field. After taking part in these classes, I have become stronger and more knowledgeable about my future and what I am going to advocate. Furthermore, this scholarship will help me to pursue my passion of becoming a psychiatric nurse practitioner and create easily accessible resources and quality care for people in San Antonio.

Enhancing accessibility to quality care and advocating for mental health awareness to overcome the stigma of mental illness are my goals and ambitions for the future. I want to end the stigma and encourage others to comfortably seek the help needed. Due to the negative stigmas of mental illness, people are afraid of how society will see them and fear they will be treated differently. The most common cause of disability is mental disorders yet there is little to no resources in my area. I was recently diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and Anxiety. While searching for resources in San Antonio, I found there were only three adolescent mental health clinics. Due to a limited number of psychiatrists and therapists in my area, I had to enter an inpatient facility rather than get the outpatient care I preferred. Furthermore, my insurance restricted me to a specific range of specialists. During my time at an inpatient facility, I frequently witnessed abusive behavior towards patients where nurses would verbally abuse, misgender, manipulate, and silence patients. I attempted to advocate for other patients, but the director of the facility told me to focus on my own mental health because from talking to my psychiatrist she found out that the psychiatrist identified me as a “caregiver” with my friends and family. I understand where they were coming from but I will not be silenced when I see something unethical and morally wrong. After this negative experience, I saw the importance of ethical mental health nurse practitioners and advocacy. I plan to attend University of the Incarnate Word to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner with the intention to create accessible resources and quality care. The health professions program at my high school has been the first step that is developing and leading me towards my goal. I have been offered classes such as medical terminology and anatomy to learn more about careers in the medical field. After taking part in these classes, I have become stronger and more knowledgeable about my future and what I am going to advocate.

Enhancing accessibility to quality care and advocating for mental health awareness to overcome the stigma of mental illness are my goals and ambitions for the future. I want to end the stigma and encourage others to comfortably seek the help needed. Due to the negative stigmas of mental illness, people are afraid of how society will see them and fear they will be treated differently. The most common cause of disability is mental disorders yet there is little to no resources in my area. I plan to attend University of the Incarnate Word to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner with the intention to create accessible resources and quality care. The health professions program at my high school has been the first step that is developing and leading me towards my goal. I have been offered classes such as medical terminology and anatomy to learn more about careers in the medical field. After taking part in these classes, I have become stronger and more knowledgeable about my future and what I am going to advocate. In August of 2020, I was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and Anxiety. While I was looking for resources in San Antonio I discovered there were only three adolescent mental health clinics. Due to a limited number of psychiatrists and therapists in my city, I had to enter an inpatient facility, Laurel Ridge, rather than receive the outpatient care that I preferred. During my time at the inpatient facility, I saw frequent abusive behavior. On my very first day I witnessed a nurse screaming at a 10 year old. The girl was visibly crying in fear and it did not help her, when the nurse responded with “Shut up! No one wants to hear you cry”. That night I expressed my concerns to one of the night shift nurses. She informed me of patient rights and the on site patient advocate. The next morning I met with the director and told her the time, date, nurse, and patient yet there was no action being done. I began to speak up more which led to the nurses singling me out. These nurses knew I was making their job more difficult and potentially risking their licenses being revoked for their malpractice. They would single me out as I was sitting down and not looking directly at them yet I was actively listening . There was a patient that had a tick and this one time the nurses were behind the counter judging and making fun of the patient. The patient began to have a tic attack and their immediate solution was to place him in a seclusion room. Furthermore, I met a patient who shared that every morning they would intentionally be misgendered by a nurse. The patient goes by they/them but the nurse would call them by their birth name and she/her. People who are a part of the LGBT+ community are more susceptible to experience descrimmination and inequalities. As an ally I took it very personal when all of these patients told me their experiences. I continued to tell therapists and nurses. This led to another director coming into my unit with a snide demeanor and suggested I should be “focusing on my own health” because from talking to my psychiatrist she found out that the psychiatrist identified me as a “caregiver” with my friends and family. I understand where they were coming from but I will not be silenced when I see something unethical and morally wrong. I continued to advocate for all the patients and in the end it backfired on me. Nurses refused to let me go to the restroom unless I got a doctor's excuse. They believed I could “just hold it”. After this negative experience, I saw the importance of ethical mental health nurse practitioners and advocacy. Furthermore, this scholarship will help me to pursue my passion of becoming a psychiatric nurse practitioner and create easily accessible resources and quality care for people in San Antonio.

I plan to attend University of the Incarnate Word to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner with the intention to create accessible resources and quality care. The health professions program at my high school has been the first step that is developing and leading me towards my goal. I have been offered classes such as medical terminology and anatomy to learn more about careers in the medical field. After taking part in these classes, I have become stronger and more knowledgeable about my future and what I am going to advocate. Enhancing accessibility to quality care and advocating for mental health awareness to overcome the stigma of mental illness are my goals and ambitions for the future. I want to end the stigma and encourage others to comfortably seek the help needed. Due to the negative stigmas of mental illness, people are afraid of how society will see them and fear they will be treated differently. The most common cause of disability is mental disorders yet there is little to no resources in my area. I was recently diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and Anxiety. While searching for resources in San Antonio, I found there were only three adolescent mental health clinics. Due to a limited number of psychiatrists and therapists in my area, I had to enter an inpatient facility rather than get the outpatient care I preferred. Furthermore, my insurance restricted me to a specific range of specialists. During my time at an inpatient facility, I frequently witnessed abusive behavior towards patients where nurses would verbally abuse, misgender, manipulate, and silence patients. I attempted to advocate for other patients, but the director of the facility told me to focus on my own mental health. After this negative experience, I saw the importance of mental health nurse practitioners. With this being said, If I was given the opportunity to receive this scholarship I will use it for college to further my education. I want to destigmatize reaching out for help by spreading mental health awareness and quality care for people in San Antonio, Texas.

In August of 2020, I was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and Anxiety and from seeking treatment I was able to change my perspective on life. Enhancing accessibility to quality care and advocating for mental health awareness to overcome the stigma of mental illness are my goals and ambitions for the future. I want to end the stigma and encourage others to comfortably seek the help needed. Due to the negative stigmas of mental illness, people are afraid of how society will see them and fear they will be treated differently. The most common cause of disability is mental disorders yet there is little to no resources in my area. While I was looking for mental health resources in San Antonio I discovered there were only three adolescent psychiatric clinics. Due to a limited number of psychiatrists and therapists in my city, I had to enter an inpatient facility, Laurel Ridge, rather than receive the outpatient care that I preferred. This specific experience is the reason why I want to be a psychiatric nurse practitioner. During my time at the inpatient facility, I saw frequent abusive behavior. On my very first day I witnessed a nurse screaming at a 10 year old. The girl was visibly crying in fear and it did not help her, when the nurse responded with “Shut up! No one wants to hear you cry”. That night I expressed my concerns to one of the night shift nurses. She informed me of patient rights and the on site patient advocate. The next morning I met with the director and told her the time, date, nurse, and patient yet there was no action being done. I began to speak up more which led to the nurses singling me out. These nurses knew I was making their job more difficult and potentially risking their licenses being revoked for their malpractice. They would single me out as I was sitting down and not looking directly at them yet I was actively listening . There was a patient that had a tick and this one time the nurses were behind the counter judging and making fun of the patient. The patient began to have a tic attack and their immediate solution was to place him in a seclusion room. Furthermore, I met a patient who shared that every morning they would intentionally be misgendered by a nurse. The patient goes by they/them but the nurse would call them by their birth name and she/her. People who are a part of the LGBT+ community are more susceptible to experience descrimmination and inequalities. As an ally I took it very personal when all of these patients told me their experiences. I continued to tell therapists and nurses. This led to another director coming into my unit with a snide demeanor and suggested I should be “focusing on my own health” because from talking to my psychiatrist she found out that the psychiatrist identified me as a “caregiver” with my friends and family. I understand where they were coming from but I will not be silenced when I see something unethical and morally wrong. I continued to advocate for all the patients and in the end it backfired on me. Nurses refused to let me go to the restroom unless I got a doctor's excuse. They believed I could “just hold it”. With this being said, I saw the importance of ethical mental health nurse practitioners and advocacy. I plan to pursue this career because I want to create easily accessible resources and quality care for people in San Antonio.

Each song has a certain meaning. 1.This song gives me comfort when I'm feeling hopeless. 2.This song gives me nostalgia when I'm cruising on the highway. 3.This inspires me to keep loving. 4. This song encourages to hope for the future. 5.This song makes me sad, artist died. 6.This song makes me want to find my dreams. 7. This beat is a vibe, makes me happy. 8.This song inspires me to forgive my dad, He died because he was an addict. 9. I play when I'm angry. 10. I love this song when I'm in pain.

I am the first generation of a Nicaraguan immigrant. My dad was 5 years old when he fled his country to come the America. He was able to get a green card by seeking asylum with his parents. I was the first child born of 3 and the only girl. Growing up my parents told me I always needed to work 100x harder to get where my white peers are. I knew everything is against me for being a girl, child of an immigrant, and living in poverty. I went to school knowing that the only way to get afford college is by getting scholarships and by working harder than anyone in the room. My father died when I was 11 years old due to cirrhosis of the liver, I saw first handed how alcoholism had been his way of releasing the stress of being the oldest of the family. The death of my father made me want to work harder and strive to be successful in life. He was the oldest in his family and I'm the oldest in mine. Although I don't struggle with addiction I do struggle with depression and anxiety. Being the oldest you have an added stress especially from an immigrant family. I will be the first in my family to go to college and that gives me motivation too but I still find myself overworking and trying to find a work-life balance. My parents never taught me what a work-life balance and I had to teach myself to give time to hang out with friends and do things that I enjoyed so I am not overwhelming myself like how my dad did. My younger brothers do have an advantage since they were not the first born and did not have to be almost like the "lab rat" of the family. I was the one with the most expectations to be successful. I had to raise my brothers when my dad was at work and could not see us. I had to raise my brothers when my mom could not get out of bed because she was depressed. I had to raise myself to overcome all these challenges that are set against me. I think being the first generation, first born child has given me independence, grit, and perseverance and for that I am grateful and lucky to be a first- generation, first born child.

I have always heard from an early age that "suicide is the easy way out". For people who do not battle with mental illness they may think that but the truth is, it's not. In August 2020, I admitted myself into the hospital because I was planning on killing myself that day. For my loved ones it was a complete shock because I never showed any signs of self harm and suicide attempts. I was 16 at the time, I had a job, I just bought my car 2 months ago, I saw all my friends, I had a loving family... yes, you can say my life was going great during this time but I was battling depression and anxiety. Mental illness is very stigmatized in the hispanic community, I remember my grandpa saying if you kill yourself you will go to hell and my mother saying depression is not real. I was ashamed, embarrassed, and worried of how others would view me if they knew I went to the hospital. In August, I planned to die in a car accident, I remember the week before I planned the attempt I was seeing all my loved ones so when I did kill myself they would have one last memory with me. The night before my attempt I texted my best friend and she told me to call a suicide hotline and at first I was skeptical because I didn't think they could help. That next morning I was schedule to go into work( I work at Marble Slab, an Ice cream shop) and while I was driving to work I was crying. I knew this would be my last day and I once I got to the parking lot infant of the shop I had a gut feeling to call the hotline. The hotline was very comforting and helpful, they helped me find a hospital to go to. Before I drove myself to the hospital I had to call my boss and let him know I couldn't make it to work. He was understanding but he was also upset since he had to find someone to cover my shift. When I got to the hospital I was met with a front desk worker and I told him what was going on and they gave me a mental health assessment, they admitted me into the ER and called my mother. When my mom got to the ER we had an argument because she felt like I didn't need the help and I just needed a break from work. I remember crying and having a panic attack, I found the courage to seek help and now I am not being supported by my own mother. It took my mom awhile to understand my mental illness and why I went to the hospital. After a day in the ER they admitted me to Laurel Ridge in San Antonio, TX. I spent 5 days in the inpatient psych ward, I was able to get diagnosed with MDD and Anxiety, meet with a psychiatrist and therapist, meet patients who attempted/ had suicide ideations, and live away from the "real world". The psych ward was like a bubble that took you away from technology and so you could focus on your mental health. When I got out of inpatient I sent myself to an outpatient program to give me more support and resources to help me. I went to the outpatient program at San Antonio Behavioral, I was able to learn about grounding skills, breathing skills, helping my family understand mental health, etc. The outpatient program was a day program unlike the inpatient program where you live there for a few days. My friends were very supportive and understanding about my situation. Many felt bad that they never knew I was battling mental health. I always told them, "Don't blame yourself if I ever die, If I die it was because I wanted to end the pain. I will always love you no matter what." I never want anyone to think I killed myself because of them. I feel like mental health is an issue that you are constantly having to fight and work with. I have been incorporating exercise and healthy eating into my lifestyle to help with my MDD and anxiety. My goals recently have been to swim everyday and to plan to get off my antidepressants in march. I swim everyday because It gives me motivation to live another day. My mental health shaped my relationships in a positive way, I am more open to my loved ones and they have become more understanding. I would always tell them that " The difference between sadness and depression is that sadness is a mood but depression is more complex, someone could offer you 1 million dollars to get out of bed but you still choose not to." My depression feels like a big storm that does not end and almost nothing can change it. My experience with mental health that shaped my understanding of the world is that live each day like it is your last. I have met some amazing people along my journey and if I had killed myself back in August I would have never met them. I am grateful that I was able to seek treatment and I got the help I needed. I understand that is not the case for many and for those who lost a loved one to suicide I want you to know that they were suffering and suicide was a way to end it. Suicide is not a pretty picture but it is the reality for many, If I committed suicide I would want someone to tell my loved ones that It's not their fault and that I wanted to end the pain, not cause pain to anyone. If you can take one thing from my experience I just want you to know that you don't have the struggle in silence, you are loved.

This is Rocco!!! His name was created because he looks like rocky road ice cream. He is a Chihuahua/Terrier and just like many terriers he's feisty and energetic. Our family makes the joke that he is like a short Mexican man trying to be "macho". We bought him from our neighbor when her dog had puppies. He always wakes up in the morning and when we go outside he see's his mom. Rocco was brought into our lives when our family was dealing with a family lost. He has brought happiness to everyone in our household.

Hello, my name is Dominga Perez and I have been working out 6 times a week to become a lifeguard for 2021 summer. I wake up Monday-Friday at 5 am and stretch for about 15 minutes. Stretching helps me not be sore and improves my overall mood. After stretching I drink a glass of water and eating fruit. My favorite fruit is pomegranates. I usually have 1 pomegranate a day. Afterwards I go to the military base and go to their aquatic center. I swim for about 30 minutes and I get home since at 8:45 I have school. After school I schedule a 45 minute session to do lap swims at my local natatorium. I usually do them with my brother so he can help motivate me. some benefits I have achieved in stamina, in the beginning I could only go 25 meters but now I am able to do 100 meters. My goal is to go 300 meters consequently. Another benefit I achieved an increase in serotonin , I struggle with depression and swimming is a coping mechanism to help when I am having a depression episode. Since swimming I have been mindful of the type of foods I put in my body and so I stay away from process foods and carbonated beverages. I use to drink a monster a day but since swimming I made a goal for myself to drink only once a week. I believe you can still have foods you like but you need to have small portions of them and eat healthy alternatives from them.

COVID-19 has put a lot of stress and uncertainty to my family. My 2 brothers and I have asthma, and my mother has type 2 diabetes. We fear that one us of may give our mother COVID-19 and she will die. She is a single mother and a disabled vet. During the pandemic I have been working and I would talk with my customers and I learned that although it has been a stressful time for everyone people still had compassion and generosity. During the pandemic I have been diagnosed with Depression and Anxiety. For the first time in 17 years I started focusing on my mental health. I learned labels do not define you regardless of what people think. It is important to tell people about your experience and give support. My time at the psych ward I noticed how COVID-19 had affected everyone. Our "normal" was not the same anymore, we had to adapt to our new "normal". I am hopeful that in 2021 we will have a vaccine and our new president will have a national quarantine. A national quarantine will help our first responders, nurses, doctors, and other healthcare profession flatten the curve. My city is a hot spot at the moment and in September I was at school. Everyday I feared I would expose my mother and family with the virus. In October I started doing remote learning and I was doing really good academically. I currently have straight A's, I feel like remote learning has helped me since I could prioritize my mental health, work, and academics.