A major obstacle that I continue to manage in my life is anxiety. I started experiencing anxiety in middle school and it had a major impact on my social life and my overall well-being. Anxiety can be so debilitating, making it hard to focus in school, attend social events with friends, or even get out of bed. Through counseling, hard work, faith, and medication, I have learned to manage my anxiety now to an extent that I am able to lead a very full-filling and joyful life. It has not been easy, but I have worked very hard to overcome it. A huge blessing in my life has been music. I feel comforted knowing I can turn to music to soothe me. I have endured some problematic times these past few years, and music has helped me through them. Friends and boyfriends have come and gone over the years, but music has remained constant in my life. The power of music to calm my nerves and lift my spirits during anxious moments is truly remarkable. I am so excited about experiencing college, and I know that music will be there for me through the calmness and the storms, just like it always has been. I am very proud of all that I have accomplished in high school and the resilience that I have shown throughout some very turbulent times and difficult circumstances. I have struggled with my mental health since middle school. It was at this time that my mom urged me to go and speak to a counselor. I didn't know or understand much about mental health until this time. Through therapy and medication, it was like I became alive again. I could finally breathe without the looming feeling of sadness and despair, as well as anxiety. This opened my mind to the fact that I am not the only one who has felt this way. There is a very real need out there for more available mental health services and resources. I've learned to ask for help when I need it and not feel shame about it. I still have my moments of course, but overall, I have so much hope that I will be okay. I want to pursue a career that helps people that struggle with mental health issues. I plan to study criminal justice and psychology as my college major and find a way to merge these interests to make a difference in the world. Due to my struggles with anxiety, I have always wanted to mentor children and teens that experience this disorder as well. I feel that because I understand how it feels and have used many resources to overcome my anxiety to lead a joyful and full-filling life, I could really make an impact helping others with these same struggles. I haven't been able to find an organization that offers these types of opportunities, so it is my dream to start an organization that does just that. I feel that our community is lacking in this type of organized resource. It is still an abstract idea at this point, but I have some friends who are also interested, as well as my mom, who is a school counselor and sees this need first hand. I think with some hard work I can make this dream of helping children and teens come true.

A major obstacle that I continue to manage in my life is anxiety. Many people do not realize it can become so severe, it can cause people to consider taking their own life. That is where I was, until I found help. I started experiencing anxiety in middle school and it had a major impact on my social life and my overall well-being. Anxiety can be so debilitating, making it hard to focus in school, attend social events with friends, or even get out of bed. Through counseling, hard work, faith, and medication, I have learned to manage my anxiety now to an extent that I am able to lead a very full-filling and joyful life. It has not been easy, but I have worked very hard to overcome it. A huge blessing in my life has been music. I feel comforted knowing I can turn to music to soothe me. I have endured some problematic times these past few years, and music has helped me through them. Friends and boyfriends have come and gone over the years, but music has remained constant in my life. The power of music to calm my nerves and lift my spirits during anxious moments is truly remarkable. I am so excited about experiencing college, and I know that music will be there for me through the calmness and the storms, just like it always has been. I am very proud of all that I have accomplished in high school and the resilience that I have shown throughout some very turbulent times and difficult circumstances. I have struggled with my mental health since middle school. It was at this time that my mom urged me to go and speak to a counselor. I didn't know or understand much about mental health until this time. Through therapy and medication, it was like I became alive again. I could finally breathe without the looming feeling of sadness and despair, as well as anxiety. This opened my mind to the fact that I am not the only one who has felt this way. There is a very real need out there for more available mental health services and resources. I've learned to ask for help when I need it and not feel shame about it. I still have my moments of course, but overall, I have so much hope that I will be okay. I want to pursue a career that helps people that struggle with mental health issues. I plan to study criminal justice and psychology as my college major and find a way to merge these interests to make a difference in the world. Due to my struggles with anxiety, I have always wanted to mentor children and teens that experience this disorder as well. I feel that because I understand how it feels and have used many resources to overcome my anxiety to lead a joyful and full-filling life, I could really make an impact helping others with these same struggles. I haven't been able to find an organization that offers these types of opportunities, so it is my dream to start an organization that does just that. I feel that our community is lacking in this type of organized resource. It is still an abstract idea at this point, but I have some friends who are also interested, as well as my mom, who is a school counselor and sees this need first hand. I think with some hard work I can make this dream of helping children and teens come true.

Music Heals the Soul Music feels like an old, trusted friend. Ever since I was a baby, I have enjoyed listening to cartoon songs until I discovered Spotify as a young teen. Some songs feel like they were written just for me. When I think of people, places, and memories, I have songs attached to all those memories. These songs are not just a soundtrack to my life, they are the memories themselves, etched in the melodies and lyrics. It is a way for me to channel all my intense emotions. Music helps soothe my soul and has made my life more enjoyable. One of my favorite things is to get in my car and blast all my favorite songs. My life wouldn’t have as much direction or purpose without music. I started taking piano lessons in first grade and got my first keyboard. I chose that keyboard because not only could I practice my songs from my piano lessons, but it also had a function that made hilarious cat-meowing sounds in all different tones. Then my parents got me an upright piano. It was old and worn, and we had to replace some of the keys, but I love that piano. I took lessons through my senior year in high school and performed numerous recitals each year. I have enjoyed playing for my family and friends, especially the Christmas recitals. My favorites to play include “Silent Night” and “What Child Is This”. Strangely, I love playing classical music on the piano, but I only like listening to modern alternative music. My piano teacher has been a crucial influence in my life, and we have become very close throughout the years. I jokingly call her my therapist, as well as my teacher. I’m the only one in my family who plays piano besides my great-grandma. I love going to her house and playing on her fancy grand piano with her. Her hands are shaky now, but she can still play, and I will cherish those memories forever. Even though my parents don’t play an instrument, they enjoy going to concerts and taking me along whenever possible. My mom took me to Music Midtown in Atlanta for my first real concert when I was in 9th grade, and I had the best time. It was so crowded, but I loved every minute of it. The following year, my parents took me to another music festival in Atlanta, and I got to see one of my all-time favorites, The Lumineers. We also saw the Flaming Lips and got close to the stage. There were these giant balloons filled with confetti that everyone in the crowd was hitting back up into the air. The energy was palpable, and I felt a sense of belonging in that crowd. Since then, I have attended many concerts and hope to see more, each one a unique and unforgettable experience. I feel comforted knowing I can turn to music to soothe me. I have endured some problematic times these past few years, and music has helped me through them. Friends and boyfriends have come and gone over the years, but music has remained constant in my life. Music has also been a key strategy in managing my anxiety, which has been a difficult battle for me most of my life. The power of music to calm my nerves and lift my spirits during anxious moments is truly remarkable. I am so excited about experiencing college, and I know that music will be there for me through the calmness and the storms, just like it always has been.

Music Heals the Soul Music feels like an old, trusted friend. Ever since I was a baby, I have enjoyed listening to cartoon songs until I discovered Spotify as a young teen. Some songs feel like they were written just for me. When I think of people, places, and memories, I have songs attached to all those memories. These songs are not just a soundtrack to my life, they are the memories themselves, etched in the melodies and lyrics. It is a way for me to channel all my intense emotions. Music helps soothe my soul and has made my life more enjoyable. One of my favorite things is to get in my car and blast all my favorite songs. My life wouldn’t have as much direction or purpose without music. I started taking piano lessons in first grade and got my first keyboard. I chose that keyboard because not only could I practice my songs from my piano lessons, but it also had a function that made hilarious cat-meowing sounds in all different tones. Then my parents got me an upright piano. It was old and worn, and we had to replace some of the keys, but I love that piano. I took lessons through my senior year in high school and performed numerous recitals each year. I have enjoyed playing for my family and friends, especially the Christmas recitals. Strangely, I love playing classical music on the piano, but I only like listening to modern alternative music. My piano teacher has been a crucial influence in my life, and we have become very close throughout the years. I jokingly call her my therapist, as well as my teacher. I’m the only one in my family who plays piano besides my great-grandma. I love going to her house and playing on her fancy grand piano with her. Her hands are shaky now, but she can still play, and I will cherish those memories forever. Even though my parents don’t play an instrument, they enjoy going to concerts and taking me along whenever possible. My mom took me to Music Midtown in Atlanta for my first real concert when I was in 9th grade, and I had the best time. It was so crowded, but I loved every minute of it. The following year, my parents took me to another music festival in Atlanta. We also saw the Flaming Lips and got close to the stage. There were these giant balloons filled with confetti that everyone in the crowd was hitting back up into the air. The energy was palpable, and I felt a sense of belonging in that crowd. Since then, I have attended many concerts and hope to see many more, each one a unique and unforgettable experience. I feel comforted knowing I can turn to music to soothe me. I have endured some problematic times these past few years, and music has helped me through them. Friends and boyfriends have come and gone over the years, but music has remained constant in my life. Music has also been a key strategy in managing my anxiety, which has been a difficult battle for me most of my life. The power of music to calm my nerves and lift my spirits during anxious moments is truly remarkable. I am so excited about experiencing college, and I know that music will be there for me through the calmness and the storms, just like it always has been. I plan to study criminal justice in college so I can find a way to help others.

It has always been important to me to make a difference in the world. If everyone did their part in helping others I feel the world would be such a better place. I plan to study and major in psychology while in college. I have always known that I want a career in which I can help people. My goal and dream is to accomplish earning a doctoral degree in psychology and to be able to help people that suffer from mental illness. I am also interested in law after participating in an internship at a law office my senior year. I have found it very interesting and hope I can find a way to combine these two interests, possibly focusing on forensic psychology in a graduate program and eventually as a career. I think this would be so fulfilling to be able to earn a living supporting myself and my family, while helping others and giving back to society. Due to my struggles with anxiety, I have always wanted to mentor children and teens that experience this disorder as well. I feel that because I understand how it feels and have used many resources to overcome my anxiety to lead a joyful and full-filling life, I could really make an impact helping others with these same struggles. I haven't been able to find an organization that offers these types of opportunities, so it is my dream to start an organization that does just that. I feel that our community is lacking in this type of organized resource. It is still an abstract idea at this point, but I have some friends who are also interested, as well as my mom, who is a school counselor and sees this need first hand. I think with some hard work I can make this dream of helping children and teens come true.

I plan to study and major in psychology while in college. I have always known that I want a career in which I can help people. My goal and dream is to accomplish earning a doctoral degree in psychology and to be able to help people that suffer from mental illness. I am also interested in law after participating in an internship at a law office my senior year. I have found it very interesting and hope I can find a way to combine these two interests, possibly focusing on forensic psychology in a graduate program and eventually as a career. I think this would be so fulfilling to be able to earn a living supporting myself and my family, while helping others and giving back to society. A major obstacle that I continue to manage in my life is anxiety. I started experiencing anxiety in middle school and it had a major impact on my social life and my overall well-being. Anxiety can be so debilitating, making it hard to focus in school, attend social events with friends, or even get out of bed. Through counseling, hard work, faith, and medication, I have learned to manage my anxiety now to an extent that I am able to lead a very full-filling and joyful life. It has not been easy, but I have worked very hard to overcome it. I would like to find a volunteer program in which I can help mentor teens that are facing these obstacles as well. I feel like I could really help, since I understand what anxiety feels like and know that there is hope to overcome it. If I am not able to find a volunteer programs to help others with mental illness it would be my dream to start an organization that does just that. I feel that our community is lacking in this type of organized resource. It is still an abstract idea at this point, but I have some friends who are also interested, as well as my mom, who is a school counselor and sees this need first hand. I think with some hard work I can make this dream of helping children and teens come true. A huge blessing in my life has been music. I feel comforted knowing I can turn to music to soothe me. I have endured some problematic times these past few years, and music has helped me through them. Friends and boyfriends have come and gone over the years, but music has remained constant in my life. The power of music to calm my nerves and lift my spirits during anxious moments is truly remarkable. I am so excited about experiencing college, and I know that music will be there for me through the calmness and the storms, just like it always has been.

A major obstacle that I continue to manage in my life is anxiety. I started experiencing anxiety in middle school and it had a major impact on my social life and my overall well-being. Anxiety can be so debilitating, making it hard to focus in school, attend social events with friends, or even get out of bed. Through counseling, hard work, faith, and medication, I have learned to manage my anxiety now to an extent that I am able to lead a very full-filling and joyful life. It has not been easy, but I have worked very hard to overcome it. A huge blessing in my life has been music. I feel comforted knowing I can turn to music to soothe me. I have endured some problematic times these past few years, and music has helped me through them. Friends and boyfriends have come and gone over the years, but music has remained constant in my life. The power of music to calm my nerves and lift my spirits during anxious moments is truly remarkable. I am so excited about experiencing college, and I know that music will be there for me through the calmness and the storms, just like it always has been. I am very proud of all that I have accomplished in high school and the resilience that I have shown throughout some very turbulent times and difficult circumstances. I have struggled with my mental health since middle school. It was at this time that my mom urged me to go and speak to a counselor. I didn't know or understand much about mental health until this time. Through therapy and medication, it was like I became alive again. I could finally breathe without the looming feeling of sadness and despair, as well as anxiety. This opened my mind to the fact that I am not the only one who has felt this way. There is a very real need out there for more available mental health services and resources. I've learned to ask for help when I need it and not feel shame about it. I still have my moments of course, but overall, I have so much hope that I will be okay. I want to pursue a career that helps people that struggle with mental health issues. I plan to study criminal justice and psychology as my college major and find a way to merge these interests to make a difference in the world. Due to my struggles with anxiety, I have always wanted to mentor children and teens that experience this disorder as well. I feel that because I understand how it feels and have used many resources to overcome my anxiety to lead a joyful and full-filling life, I could really make an impact helping others with these same struggles. I haven't been able to find an organization that offers these types of opportunities, so it is my dream to start an organization that does just that. I feel that our community is lacking in this type of organized resource. It is still an abstract idea at this point, but I have some friends who are also interested, as well as my mom, who is a school counselor and sees this need first hand. I think with some hard work I can make this dream of helping children and teens come true.

I feel that there is a massive shortage of mental health resources avaiIable for those in need. I plan to study and major in psychology while in college. I have always known that I want a career in which I can help people. My goal and dream is to accomplish earning a doctoral degree in psychology and to be able to help people that suffer from mental illness. I am also interested in law after participating in an internship at a law office my senior year. I have found it very interesting and hope I can find a way to combine these two interests, possibly focusing on forensic psychology in a graduate program and eventually as a career. I think this would be so fulfilling to be able to earn a living supporting myself and my family, while helping others and giving back to society. Anxiety has been a major obstacle in my life that I continue to manage. I started experiencing anxiety in middle school and it had a major impact on my social life and my overall well-being. Anxiety can be so debilitating, making it hard to focus in school, attend social events with friends, or even get out of bed. Through counseling, hard work, faith, and medication, I have learned to manage my anxiety now to an extent that I am able to lead a very full-filling and joyful life. It has not been easy, but I have worked very hard to overcome it. I would like to find a volunteer program in which I can help mentor teens that are facing these obstacles as well. I feel like I could really help, since I understand what anxiety feels like and know that there is hope to overcome it. A huge blessing in my life has been music. I feel comforted knowing I can turn to music to soothe me. I have endured some problematic times these past few years, and music has helped me through them. Friends and boyfriends have come and gone over the years, but music has remained constant in my life. The power of music to calm my nerves and lift my spirits during anxious moments is truly remarkable. I know that music will be there for me through the calmness and the storms, just like it always has been. I am very proud of all that I have accomplished in high school and the resilience that I have shown throughout some very turbulent times and difficult circumstances. I have struggled with my mental health since middle school. I feel like this was a pivotal time in my life that sent me through some very hard times, but brought me so much self awareness and empathy toward others. Through therapy and medication, it was like I became alive again. I could finally breathe without the looming feeling of sadness and despair, as well as anxiety. This opened my mind to the fact that I am not the only one who has felt this way. There is a very real need out there for more available mental health services and resources. I got involved in community service and focused on my love for playing piano. I've learned to ask for help when I need it and not feel shame about it. I still have my moments of course, but overall, I have so much hope that I will be okay. I want to pursue a career that helps people that struggle with mental health issues.

It has always been important to me to make a different in the world. If everyone did their part in helping others I feel the world would be such a better place. I plan to study and major in psychology while in college. I have always known that I want a career in which I can help people. My goal and dream is to accomplish earning a doctoral degree in psychology and to be able to help people that suffer from mental illness. I am also interested in law after participating in an internship at a law office my senior year. I have found it very interesting and hope I can find a way to combine these two interests, possibly focusing on forensic psychology in a graduate program and eventually as a career. I think this would be so fulfilling to be able to earn a living supporting myself and my family, while helping others and giving back to society. I also plan to keep up with my love for playing piano, working a part time job, joining a sorority, and continuing to participate in volunteer work as I enter this new chapter in my life. I have enjoyed volunteering for community service opportunities my whole life. This has always been important to my parents. Ever since I was in elementary school, my family volunteers with an organization called Caya(Come as you are). It is a holiday tradition of ours to sort and bag Thanksgiving meal donations and deliver them to families in need. At Christmas time, we sort and deliver toys for children in need so they can experience the magic of Christmas. I look forward to these events every year. It gives me a sense of purpose and makes me feel good to help others, making them feel good. I have also volunteered for various other charities through my school and church. These include: Books for Africa, Calvary Children's home, and senior adult communities. Due to my struggles with anxiety, I have always wanted to mentor children and teens that experience this disorder as well. I feel that because I understand how it feels and have used many resources to overcome my anxiety to lead a joyful and full-filling life, I could really make an impact helping others with these same struggles. I haven't been able to find an organization that offers these type of opportunities, so it is my dream to start an organization that does just that. I feel that our community is lacking in this type of organized resource. It is still an abstract idea at this point, but I have some friends who are also interested, as well as my mom, who is a school counselor and sees this need first hand. I think with some hard work I can make this dream of helping children and teens come true.

Music feels like an old, trusted friend. Ever since I was a baby, I have enjoyed listening to cartoon songs until I discovered Spotify as a young teen, listening to my current preferences of Deftones, Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, Lumineers, and Red Hot Chili Peppers, to name a few. Some songs feel like they were written just for me. When I think of people, places, and memories, I have songs attached to all those memories. These songs are not just a soundtrack to my life, they are the memories themselves, etched in the melodies and lyrics. It is a way for me to channel all my intense emotions. Music helps soothe my soul and has made my life more enjoyable. One of my favorite things is to get in my car and blast all my favorite songs. I started taking piano lessons in first grade and got my first keyboard. I chose that keyboard because not only could I practice my songs from my piano lessons, but it also had a function that made hilarious cat-meowing sounds in all different tones. Then my parents got me an upright piano. It was old and worn, and we had to replace some of the keys, but I love that piano. I took lessons through my senior year in high school and performed numerous recitals each year. I have enjoyed playing for my family and friends, especially the Christmas recitals. My favorites to play include “Silent Night” and “What Child Is This”. Strangely, I love playing classical music on the piano, but I only like listening to modern alternative music. I’m the only one in my family who plays piano besides my great-grandma. I love going to her house and playing on her fancy grand piano with her. Her hands are shaky now, but she can still play, and I will cherish those memories forever. Even though my parents don’t play an instrument, they enjoy going to concerts and taking me along whenever possible. My mom took me to Music Midtown in Atlanta for my first real concert when I was in 9th grade, and I had the best time. It was so crowded, but I loved every minute of it. The following year, my parents took me to another music festival in Atlanta, and I got to see one of my all-time favorites, The Lumineers. We also saw the Flaming Lips and got close to the stage. There were these giant balloons filled with confetti that everyone in the crowd was hitting back up into the air. The energy was palpable, and I felt a sense of belonging in that crowd. Since then, I have attended many concerts and hope to see many more, each one a unique and unforgettable experience. I feel comforted knowing I can turn to music to soothe me. I have endured some problematic times these past few years, and music has helped me through them. Friends and boyfriends have come and gone over the years, but music has remained constant in my life. Music has also been a key strategy in managing my anxiety, which has been a difficult battle for me most of my life. The power of music to calm my nerves and lift my spirits during anxious moments is truly remarkable. I am so excited about experiencing college, and I know that music will be there for me through the calmness and the storms, just like it always has been.

My name is Ella Brown and I am currently a high school senior. I plan to study and major in psychology while in college. I have always known that I want a career in which I can help people. My goal and dream is to accomplish earning a doctoral degree in psychology and to be able to help people that suffer from mental illness. I am also interested in law after participating in an internship at a law office my senior year. I have found it very interesting and hope I can find a way to combine these two interests, possibly focusing on forensic psychology in a graduate program and eventually as a career. I think this would be so fulfilling to be able to earn a living supporting myself and my family, while helping others and giving back to society. I also plan to keep up with my love for playing piano, working a part time job, joining a sorority, and continuing to participate in volunteer work as I enter this new chapter in my life. A major obstacle that I continue to manage in my life is anxiety. I started experience anxiety in middle school and it had a major impact on my social life and my overall well-being. Anxiety can be so debilitating, making it hard to focus in school, attend social events with friends, or even get out of bed. Through counseling, hard work, faith, and medication, I have learned to manage my anxiety now to an extent that I am able to lead a very full-filling and joyful life. It has not been easy, but I have worked very hard to overcome it. I would like to find a volunteer program in which I can help mentor teens that are facing these obstacles as well. I feel like I could really help, since I understand what anxiety feels like and know that there is hope to overcome it. Another blessing in my life has been music. I feel comforted knowing I can turn to music to soothe me. I have endured some problematic times these past few years, and music has helped me through them. Friends and boyfriends have come and gone over the years, but music has remained constant in my life. The power of music to calm my nerves and lift my spirits during anxious moments is truly remarkable. I am so excited about experiencing college, and I know that music will be there for me through the calmness and the storms, just like it always has been.

I am so excited about beginning this next chapter of my life in college! I am very proud of all that I have accomplished in high school and the resilience that I have shown throughout some very turbulent times and difficult circumstances. I have struggled with my mental health since middle school. I made a very bad decision in 7th grade that resulted in leaving that middle school and beginning a new school mid year. I feel like this was a pivotal time in my life that sent me through some very hard times, but brought me so much self awareness and empathy toward others. Two months after starting my new school, the world shut down due to Covid 19. This made if very difficult to get involved and make new friends. I felt very isolated and alone during this time. When school finally resumed the following Fall, I found it hard to make new friends since it seemed like everyone else already knew each other. As high school began, I did make some friends, but that all fell apart my sophmore year when some of them did not want to be friends anymore. Once again, I felt very alone and depressed. I found it difficult to even get out of bed for months. It was at that time that my mom urged me to go and speak to a counselor. I didn't know or understand much about mental health until this time. Through therapy and medication, it was like I became alive again. I could finally breathe without the looming feeling of sadness and despair, as well as anxiety. This opened my mind to the fact that I am not the only one who has felt this way. There is a very real need out there for more available mental health services and resources. I got involved in community service and focused on my love for playing piano. I've had a best friend, Katie, for the past few years that I know I can always count on. I've learned to ask for help when I need it and not feel shame about it. I still have my moments of course, but overall, I have so much hope that I will be okay. I want to pursue a career that helps people that struggle with mental health issues. I plan to study criminal justice and psychology as my college major and find a way to merge these interests to make a difference in the world.