Go Emily!! I can still hear my dads voice. My dad was my biggest fan. Unfortunately when I was only 6.5 years old I lost my dad to cancer. My mom remarried almost 4 years later. My step dad would come to my softball games and volleyball games. He would buy me my sport supplies and always wanted to help me practice. Unfortunately in August of 2020 he got Covid and passed away. I have been so lucky to have two dads that both supported me one hundred percent. I’m hoping to play softball in college. I know my angel father figures are looking down at me and smiling. I just want to make them proud.

Strong, that’s a word people have said to me all 17 years of my life. I’ve had to overcome and persevere obstacles ever since I was born. See I was born 3 1/2 months early! I was 2 pounds and dropped down to 1 pound 12 ozs. The doctors told my parents they didn’t even know if I would make it through the night. I’ve had to be in therapy’s until I was 3. I over came all the obstacles that came my way. Then when I was 6 years old my dad passed away. Then just last year my step dad passed away. That was one of the most difficult situations. I wanted to just curl up in a ball, never get out of bed again. I had to reach down deep and find the strength to go on. I’ve had to overcome so much in the last 17 years. More then most adults. It has shaped me into the person I am today. So yes, I’m strong. You never know just how strong you are, until you don’t have a option to be anything else.

Ever feel like you are drowning? Like you can’t breathe, you can’t even move? Your thoughts racing so fast? Sometimes that’s how I feel when I’m in a panic attack. When my father passed away I was only 6.5 years old. Then when I was 16 my step dad passed away. That’s when the panic attacks started. At first I was ashamed to tell my mom. Some of my classmates knew and they would tell me I just wasn’t strong enough. That I was attention seeking. That couldn’t have been farther from the truth! I finally told my mom. After months of trying to deal with it myself, I realized I needed medical treatment. I lost a few so called friends over it. No one tells you how much your life can change for the better when you seek help. I couldn’t believe how much better I felt after treatment. I went from feeling like I was in a fog, to seeing clearly. There is such a Sigma around mental health. This is something I want to devote my life to changing. I will be graduating May 2022, and I’m looking to peruse a degree in psychology. After living with my own mental health I want to reach out to other teenagers and young adults who feel like they can’t say anything. I would love to be able to go into schools and talk to students about how mental health matters. Create posters to place around schools. Make Sure students know there is help out there for them. I’ll never forget my mom told me, “ I take medicine for my blood pressure, taking medicine for mental health is just as important “. I want to break the stigma. Show people that mental health medicine is just as important as blood pressure medicine or any other medication. I am looking forward to college and really learning how to help people. I’m excited to see where this journey takes me in life. If I can help at least one person, then it will be worth it. So the next time you feel like you are drowning and can’t keep your head above the water. Please remember it’s ok to reach out and get help! It’s ok if you need medicine to help you get though the day. It’s ok if you need a therapist! Let’s break the stigma of mental health together!

Strong, that’s a word people have said to me all 17 years of my life. I’ve had to overcome and persevere obstacles ever since I was born. See I was born 3 1/2 months early! I was 2 pounds and dropped down to 1 pound 12 ozs. The doctors told my parents they didn’t even know if I would make it through the night. I’ve had to be in therapy’s until I was 3. I over came all the obstacles that came my way. Then when I was 6 years old my dad passed away. Then just last year my step dad passed away. That was one of the most difficult situations. I wanted to just curl up in a ball, never get out of bed again. I had to reach down deep and find the strength to go on. I’ve had to overcome so much in the last 17 years. More then most adults. It has shaped me into the person I am today. So yes, I’m strong. You never know just how strong you are, until you don’t have a option to be anything else.

JOY! Just a three letter word but means so much. It’s the feeing inside I get when my baby brother looks at me and smiles. It’s the A grade on a test after studying all night. It’s being able to help those in need and see their faces light up. For me, giving back to my community, helping those who need it. Volunteering at church. Being a pen pal over this past year to a lady in a nursing home; who I’ve never even meet due to Covid restrictions; that brings me joy. In the Bible it says that it’s better to give then to receive. As a young child I didn’t think that was possible. How could you get joy and so much fulfillment out of giving to others? Now as a teenager, I understand! It’s a feeling of great joy when you know you have made someone’s day! I know if I go up to my mom and give her a hug when she doesn’t expect it, and her smile lights up her face; that’s pure joy. That’s the joy I seek every day to put on someone’s face. I hope that today, this essay will put a smile on your face as you read this, and it will give you great joy.

Ever feel like you are drowning? Like you can’t breathe, you can’t even move? Your thoughts racing so fast? Sometimes that’s how I feel when I’m in a panic attack. When my father passed away I was only 6.5 years old. Then when I was 16 my step dad passed away. That’s when the panic attacks started. At first I was ashamed to tell my mom. Some of my classmates knew and they would tell me I just wasn’t strong enough. That I was attention seeking. That couldn’t have been farther from the truth! I finally told my mom. After months of trying to deal with it myself, I realized I needed medical treatment. I lost a few so called friends over it. No one tells you how much your life can change for the better when you seek help. I couldn’t believe how much better I felt after treatment. I went from feeling like I was in a fog, to seeing clearly. There is such a Sigma around mental health. This is something I want to devote my life to changing. I will be graduating May 2022, and I’m looking to peruse a degree in psychology. After living with my own mental health I want to reach out to other teenagers and young adults who feel like they can’t say anything. I would love to be able to go into schools and talk to students about how mental health matters. Create posters to place around schools. Make Sure students know there is help out there for them. I’ll never forget my mom told me, “ I take medicine for my blood pressure, taking medicine for mental health is just as important “. I want to break the stigma. Show people that mental health medicine is just as important as blood pressure medicine or any other medication. I am looking forward to college and really learning how to help people. I’m excited to see where this journey takes me in life. If I can help at least one person, then it will be worth it. So the next time you feel like you are drowning and can’t keep your head above the water. Please remember it’s ok to reach out and get help! It’s ok if you need medicine to help you get though the day. It’s ok if you need a therapist! Let’s break the stigma of mental health together!

Have you heard of the Crown Club? I never had until a few years ago. This club, this family I belong to has given me so many leadership skills. I am able to do public speaking, guide new members into the group. I volunteer at my church. I want to be a role model that young girls can look up to. See for me a great leader, leads by example. I want these young girls to see I’m the same every day. I practice what I preach. I hope people can see the struggles that I’ve been through; and be able to look up to me.

Ever feel like you are struggling to keep your head above water? Like you are drowning? That’s how my mom describes how she feels being in so much debt. After seeing the struggles my mom has, I really want to avoid starting college in debt. I am a High School senior. My dad passed away when I was 6 years old from cancer. He was a big believer in high education. I want to go to college and make him proud of me.

Imagine being 15, you are alone. You are running to freedom. Risking your life to come to the United States. This is exactly what my father did. He was an immigrant from Mexico. He risked everything to come and join the United States Military. He became a citizen. He installed a strong patriotism in myself. For me to be an American means fighting for your country. It means standing for the National anthem. Saluting our flag with pride. My father passed away from Cancer 11 years ago, but his love for our country lives on in me.