Whether you are a college student planning a career in a mental health field or a college student who just wants to learn and better themselves and their community, you can create a positive impact. If you reside on your school’s campus you can scan your school’s clubs and see if there are any with a focus on mental health awareness and support. If not, starting a club yourself can show great initiative, and can provide other students and even faculty a way to learn and educate themselves, while allowing them a safe place on campus. Once you join or establish an on-campus organization, you can get in contact with your school’s psychology department, counseling department, and health center to identify programs that may need extra attention or additional resources. With this information, you can create emails, schedule meetings with the administrative system, and advocate for changes such as additional and affordable counselors, the creation of wellness programs, and mental health-focused events for faculty and students. Doing this would allow you to establish yourself as someone who cares about the mental health and wellness of others, and you’d be able to advocate for continued change for your school. But creating a positive impact doesn’t mean that you necessarily have to do something nearly as grand as that to make a difference. Something as simple as educating yourself through online seminars, videos detailing wellness techniques, training on mental health, and much more. You can utilize what you learn in these platforms of education and share what you’ve found with friends, family, and peers. The individuals you discuss these topics with may be able to reflect on their mental health and wellness and they could do their research and spread that information out into the world as well. This would prove to be a fantastic way to reduce the unfortunate stigma found within mental health-related topics. These actions can not only create a positive impact for your community but also yourself. By familiarizing yourself with mental health resources, whether on your campus or in your outside community, you can promote wellness and self-care practices for yourself. You’ll be able to become self-aware of your struggles and reflect on what positive changes may be needed in your life. While it’s amazing that someone would want to help others with their mental health struggles and better their community, it’s vital that you also take care of yourself. I wish everyone luck in making their positive changes, whether it be for their communities on a grand or smaller scale, the absolute best because it’s such an incredible thing.

While I certainly didn’t win a lot of races (but I always gave it my best), Mario Kart 8 holds a special place on my Sunday mornings as a moody teenager. My brother would proudly bring his Wii U upstairs and set up the game in our living room, and would sometimes wake me up to play. Each gameplay would follow the same routine, My dad would choose Toad, my brother would choose Link, my mom would decide between red or black Shy Guy, and I would either be Metal Mario or Dry Bones. Our competition as a family was a bit uneven, my mom and my brother would be about the same level so they would be competing against each other for 1st and 2nd place. My dad and I weren’t exactly do their level and would just be racing each other trying to get to the highest place we could. This was a way for each of us to have a distraction from work, school, and our impending move to North Carolina. While some people might think these games aren’t important or meaningful, they truly have been for me and my family. But I certainly invite those who may not be fans yet to explore the wonders of these games, because they might find out just how magical they can be.

Learning how to manage your finances and becoming financially literate is something that everyone needs to be financially literate and be able to meet your financial goals as you continue through the different stages of life. One of the best money lessons I have received was from my late grandfather who told me that establishing a budget would be the way to go, and you can start creating one while you’re young. Creating a realistic budget allows you to assess your needs (i.e., Tuition, Housing, Food), as well as your wants (i.e., going out with friends, spending money that didn’t necessarily need to be spent on a tattoo but somehow ended up that way and ordering out). I found that it is best to analyze your spending throughout one to two pay cycles, and then separate the data into groups such as Housing, food, transportation, entertainment, and tuition payments. This will give you an idea of where your money is going each month and you’ll be able to figure out your preferred limits that you’d want to spend on each category. Setting limits for each category means that you can take control of your finances and helps you avoid spending too much. I’ve also learned that sometimes things happen, and the budget needs to be adjusted once emergencies or new situations arise. At that point, we can budget in these extra expenses and set new limits for our different categories as needed. But the most important thing about creating and using a budget is making sure that it is realistic to your needs and goals. This is why it is crucial to check and review your budget continuously to determine that it still fits your financial goals. It is a shame that a substantial amount of young people struggle with understanding finances, especially since it is a critical part of living. Taking control of your finances and becoming informed on budgeting and saving will save you. I just hope that as school curriculums change and grow, perhaps students can start receiving financial advice and learn how to budget perhaps as early as junior high, but if that’s not possible, it is very much necessary to have classes in high school that teach financial literacy. High School is just four short years, and with students entering the workforce, getting ready for college, learning about loans, and setting up housing they must understand how money works and how to budget to fit their needs.

emily.wanamaker

I began my journey to a 4-year university and decided that I would try elementary education as a major, I knew that I would get to help young minds grow and help them to grow into the best possible versions of themselves, and I thought perhaps it would be a good fit for me. Like many other students, I took up a part-time job to help pay for the joyous costs of university. I found a job working at the on-campus daycares at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro during my first year, and I primarily worked with ages 0-2. I loved every minute of the time I continue to spend with these kids. being with the children made me feel like I was doing something at matters, and seeing the children smile and grow up before my eyes truly solidifies that feeling. Also watching a young child take their first steps or make attempts at speaking, and just watching the excitement radiate from their parents is one of the best feelings. If I didn't get involved with this career, I would never know how amazing it is to help infants and toddlers understand who they are, their bodies, emotions, and how to navigate this world. Near the end of my first year, I realized that elementary education wasn’t where I’m supposed to be. I enjoyed being there for the students I worked with at my internship, but I didn't experience the joy and overall fulfilment that early childcare gave me. Switching to an early childhood education major has made me feel needed and feel like I can make a difference right from the start. Since switching majors, I’ve been able to really dive into something I love and learn about how to be the person that these kids need me to be. This is now my second year working with these daycares, and the level of experience I have gained, alongside the training I've gone through, will prepare me and give me a chance to succeed when I graduate and find my own career. I don’t think I could thank them enough for everything they've done for me. Our youth need to be supported from day 1, both emotionally and physically they need to feel safe and supported. I am going to dedicate myself and continue to learn how to be the person and educator that these students deserve.

I began my journey to a 4-year university and decided that I would try elementary education as a major, I mean I would get to help young minds grow and help them to grow into the best possible versions of themselves. Like many other students, I took up a part-time job to help pay for the joyous costs of university. I found a job working at the on-campus daycares during my first year, and I primarily worked with ages 0-2. I absolutely loved every minute of the time I continue to spend with these kids. Of course, I’ve had my lovely extra rounds of sickness, but that comes with working with young children. Near the end of my first year, I realized that elementary education wasn’t where I’m supposed to be. Switching to an early childhood education major has made me feel needed, and has made me feel like I can make a difference right from the start. Since switching majors, I’ve been able to really dive into something I love and learn about how to be the person that these kids need me to be. This is now my second year working with these daycares, and the level of experience I have gained, alongside the trainings I've gone through, will prepare me and give me a chance to succeed when I graduate and find my own career. I don’t think I could thank them enough for everything they've done for me. Our youth need to be supported from day 1, both emotionally and physically they need to feel safe and supported. I am going to dedicate myself and continue to learn how to be the person and the educator that these student deserve.

I wanted to be like everyone else throughout my childhood and early teens. Everyone seemed to know what they wanted and knew what they wanted to be. Dealing with the normal things growing up like figuring out my sexuality, trying to understand mental illness, and what in the world I want to be when my options seem endless. Whenever I started my college tours I had papers from 8 different major options, and I was just unsure about what to do. While I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do during my high school years, I knew college was where I wanted to be. So when the opportunity came where I was able to start an early college program, I jumped right into it. I wanted to get as much done as I could so I could adjust to new terms, get an understanding of college finances, and become aware of the course load a college-level course might demand. I was able to get a head start on my college education while introducing myself to a few different majors and concentrations. I began my journey to a 4-year university and decided that I would try elementary education as a major, I mean I would get to help young minds grow and help them to grow into the best possible versions of themselves. Like many other students, I took up a part-time job to help pay for the joyous costs of university. I found a job working at the on-campus daycares during my first year, and I primarily worked with ages 0-2. I absolutely loved every minute of the time I continue to spend with these kids. Of course, I’ve had my lovely extra rounds of sickness, but that comes with working with young children. Near the end of my first year I realized that elementary education wasn’t where I’m supposed to be. Switching to an early childhood education major has made me feel needed, and has made me feel like I can make a difference right from the start. Since switching majors, I’ve been able to really dive into something I love and learn about how to be the person that these kids need me to be. This is now my second year working with these daycares, and the level of experience I have gained, alongside the training needed, will prepare me and give me a chance to succeed when I graduate and find my own career. I don’t think I could thank them enough for everything they've done for me.

Mental health is an incredibly common occurrence that can exist in people for a plethora of different reasons. People close to you, people who you love can have these unfortunate illnesses. Understandably, you want to do whatever it takes to help them through their journey with mental health. But you must also be careful not to make someone do something they don’t want to or something that may be too much for them. In my experience and in my personal history of mental illness, simply being there for someone can be the best possible thing you can do. I don’t remember a time in which I wasn’t struggling with my own issues. The gentle mixture of ADHD and Bipolar disorder has given me a hard time for a large chunk of my life. I’ve been forced to do mental health check-ins that were emotionally painful or have been forced to do things that made me feel less than human. While I truly appreciate those people for trying to help, it made things worse for me. It led me to a point where I didn’t tell anyone about the things I was feeling or doing to myself. It wasn’t until I met some incredible people who I really do credit with saving my life, and still being here. They would sit down with me, encourage me to talk only if I wanted to, and never made me feel ashamed of myself. Having them just be an ear for me, free of judgment, made me feel safe and human. I wouldn’t be treated like a waste of space or a lost cause. Just being there for someone, hearing them, and offering them that safe space can save lives.

I didn’t see a future for myself during much of my mental health journey. I was in a loop, just doing things that everyone else was doing, and hoping I would find meaning for myself. I struggled with finding the motivation to complete work and often found myself not starting assignments until the last minute or skipping some items altogether. I knew I could do better, and hated myself for not having the highest possible marks. I didn’t know who I could talk to, many students around me called me increasingly painful homophobic slurs, and I had a hard time trying to find safety among the members of staff. Upon entering university I found myself struggling with being in a new environment entirely on my own. The safety networks I established weren’t within reach, and I found it harder and harder to pretend. I acted on the feelings I experienced and hurt myself, and because of that, I had to have a few talks with leaders within my university. They gave me options and the opportunity to reach out if needed. I was supported as I talked to doctors and eventually got diagnosed with ADHD and Bipolar disorder. I began to work at an on-campus daycare and fell in love with the idea of working with children. I began to explore what a career in early childhood education looked like, and I finally saw a future for myself. I can’t describe the joy I experienced in feeling that I had a future. I started getting closer to my peers, and certain staff members allowed me the safety and security I craved in an environment. I pledged to be involved with fall 2022 orientation work and be an upperclassman who new students can go to if they need to vent, learn about mental health options at the school, or just be there as they make this journey. Many new students are going to have a hard time with this new environment, and I want to make sure that they know they have unlimited opportunities for growth and happiness. For some, it will be difficult, but I truly believe that they can do it. I still struggle with my anxiety and self-worth, but mental health is a journey, and I now can say that I have some incredible people around me who will help me through it.

I don't want just any job that pays the bills, I want to do something that makes me happy and can help others. I believe that teaching is the most important thing I could do, for the children, and for myself. All I want to do is help future generations discover a love of learning, and so that they can do so in a place that will help them thrive. I promise that I will try my best to change the lives of as many students as I can, they deserve to be cared for and be valued. I’ve had educators throughout my life who have made me despise the thought of ever being involved in teaching. I never felt like I could talk to anyone about my mental health or any troubles I was facing. It wasn’t until I entered high school and met certain teachers, that I knew I could finally open up to people and be safe. My School became my safe place, and I realized that there are quality teachers in the world. I realized just how much a quality teacher can impact a student’s life, but just watching how some of my friends and I were able to open up. It made me wonder how much it could benefit students to have someone show that they care about them right from the start of their studies: Elementary School. I began discussing future college plans with advisors, and the pathways I thought were my dreams before just didn’t feel right. That’s why I began looking at being an elementary school teacher. Just hearing how much teachers are involved in the lives of students and dedicating themselves to the empowerment of children gave me so much hope. They understand that children need to be raised and taught in an environment that nurtures them, and teaches them how to succeed. I dream of working towards a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education for that reason. Getting my degree would allow me to prepare for life in my own classroom one day, and that just would mean the absolute world to me. I want to help children discover a love of education while in a supportive environment that allows them to communicate their feelings. I believe that it is crucial that students learn to communicate what they are feeling so they can develop certain skills such as self-regulation, self-awareness, and empathy. These things would allow students to build the necessary communication skills to succeed when they become teachers and when they go off into their careers. I wish I could have learned how to communicate effectively when I was younger, it would have prevented me from bottling up my emotions and I could have been a lot happier. As a teacher, I would want to create an open environment for students to develop quality communication skills and have a place where they can be themselves.

I don't want just any job that pays the bills, I want to do something that makes me happy and can help others. I believe that teaching is the most important thing I could do, for the children, and for myself. All I want to do is help future generations discover a love of learning, and so that they can do so in a place that will help them thrive. I promise that I will try my best to change the lives of as many students as I can, they deserve to be cared for and be valued. I’ve had educators throughout my life who have made me despise the thought of ever being involved in teaching. I never felt like I could talk to anything about my mental health or any troubles I was facing. It wasn’t until I entered high school and met certain teachers, that I knew I could finally open up to people and be safe. My School became my safe place, and I realized that there are quality teachers in the world. I realized just how much a quality teacher can impact a student’s life, but just watching how some of my friends and I were able to open up. It made me wonder how much it could benefit students to have someone show that they care about them right from the start of their studies: Elementary School. I began discussing future college plans with advisors, and the pathways I thought were my dreams before just didn’t feel right. That’s why I began looking at being an elementary school teacher. Just hearing how much teachers are involved in the lives of students and dedicating themselves to the empowerment of children gave me so much hope. They understand that children need to be raised and taught in an environment that nurtures them, and teaches them how to succeed. I dream of working towards a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education for that reason. Getting my degree would allow me to prepare for life in my own classroom one day, and that just would mean the absolute world to me. I want to help children discover a love of education while in a supportive environment that allows them to communicate their feelings. I believe that it is crucial that students learn to communicate what they are feeling so they can develop certain skills such as self-regulation, self-awareness, and empathy. These things would allow students to build the necessary communication skills to succeed when they become teachers and when they go off into their careers. I wish I could have learned how to communicate effectively when I was younger, it would have prevented me from bottling up my emotions and I could have been a lot happier. As a teacher, I would want to create an open environment for students to develop quality communication skills and have a place where they can be themselves.

https://www.instagram.com/emily.wanamaker/ As time has passed, women have come together and have become louder and louder about how we are no different or less special than a man. The fact that so many women of color and women within the LGBTQ+ community have paved the way for me to have a chance. And, the fact that our spirits will never be broken, and that we will always fight for the equality and things we deserve.

I don't want just any job that pays the bills, I want to do something that makes me happy and can help others. I believe that teaching is the most important thing I could do, for the children, and for myself. All I want to do is help future generations discover a love of learning, and so that they can do so in a place that will help them thrive. I promise that I will try my best to change the lives of as many students as I can, they deserve to be cared for and be valued. I’ve had educators throughout my life who have made me despise the thought of ever being involved in teaching. I never felt like I could talk to anything about my mental health or any troubles I was facing. It wasn’t until I entered high school and met certain teachers, that I knew I could finally open up to people and be safe. My School became my safe place, and I realized that there are quality teachers in the world. I realized just how much a quality teacher can impact a student’s life, but just watching how some of my friends and I were able to open up. It made me wonder how much it could benefit students to have someone show that they care about them right from the start of their studies: Elementary School. I began discussing future college plans with advisors, and the pathways I thought were my dreams before just didn’t feel right. That’s why I began looking at being an elementary school teacher. Just hearing how much teachers are involved in the lives of students and dedicating themselves to the empowerment of children gave me so much hope. They understand that children need to be raised and taught in an environment that nurtures them, and teaches them how to succeed. I dream of working towards a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education for that reason. Getting my degree would allow me to prepare for life in my own classroom one day, and that just would mean the absolute world to me. I want to help children discover a love of education while in a supportive environment that allows them to communicate their feelings. I believe that it is crucial that students learn to communicate what they are feeling so they can develop certain skills such as self-regulation, self-awareness, and empathy. These things would allow students to build the necessary communication skills to succeed when they become teachers and when they go off into their careers. I wish I could have learned how to communicate effectively when I was younger, it would have prevented me from bottling up my emotions and I could have been a lot happier. As a teacher, I would want to create an open environment for students to develop quality communication skills and have a place where they can be themselves.

I don't want just any job that pays the bills, I want to do something that makes me happy and can help others. I believe that teaching is the most important thing I could do, for the children, and for myself. All I want to do is help future generations discover a love of learning, and so that they can do so in a place that will help them thrive. I promise that I will try my best to change the lives of as many students as I can, they deserve to be cared for and be valued. I’ve had educators throughout my life who have made me despise the thought of ever being involved in teaching. I never felt like I could talk to anything about my mental health or any troubles I was facing. It wasn’t until I entered high school and met certain teachers, that I knew I could finally open up to people and be safe. My School became my safe place, and I realized that there are quality teachers in the world. I realized just how much a quality teacher can impact a student’s life, but just watching how some of my friends and I were able to open up. It made me wonder how much it could benefit students to have someone show that they care about them right from the start of their studies: Elementary School. I began discussing future college plans with advisors, and the pathways I thought were my dreams before just didn’t feel right. That’s why I began looking at being an elementary school teacher. Just hearing how much teachers are involved in the lives of students and dedicating themselves to the empowerment of children gave me so much hope. They understand that children need to be raised and taught in an environment that nurtures them, and teaches them how to succeed. I dream of working towards a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education for that reason. Getting my degree would allow me to prepare for life in my own classroom one day, and that just would mean the absolute world to me. I want to help children discover a love of education while in a supportive environment that allows them to communicate their feelings. I believe that it is crucial that students learn to communicate what they are feeling so they can develop certain skills such as self-regulation, self-awareness, and empathy. These things would allow students to build the necessary communication skills to succeed when they become teachers and when they go off into their careers. I wish I could have learned how to communicate effectively when I was younger, it would have prevented me from bottling up my emotions and I could have been a lot happier. As a teacher, I would want to create an open environment for students to develop quality communication skills and have a place where they can be themselves.

The Danish Girl has always been one of my favorites. It describes the struggles that face every person that has gone through or deals with sex-reassignment surgery and the process of being who they really are. Everyone who goes through the same process has different stories about how those around them act and about their overall support system. I personally love Lili Elbe's story about realizing who she really was, even in a time where there weren't really any resources and text available for her. It's a really beautiful story about self-acceptance and love. Elbe had a great support system and people who were willing to do anything to make her happy. While she dealt with severe complications during her journey and sadly didn't survive, her story will forever remain inspiring to those who have the chance to hear it. This film, and novel of the same name have always been a favorite of mine because of how powerful and strong Elbe was to be able to go through such a difficult path to understanding herself. When comparing her journey to those of this modern time, it is easy to see that there is still a lot of work needed to achieve true equality and peace for everyone. But I know that with enough work and compassion, we can achieve it.

("Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible. -Francis of Assisi") My mother and I share the same chronic illness called lupus. It challenges me because sometimes I struggle to complete some everyday tasks, and can feel randomly ill. This quote by Francis of Assisi motivates me because it encourages me to keep trying no matter how much I struggle. The quote tells me that by just simply doing little by little when I'm feeling unwell, I'm still valid and succeeding. It can be hard to walk sometimes, but I know that using mobility aids or limping sometimes is a huge step for me, and I'm still a valid human being. I know that I won't let my illness stop me from doing what I need to, and what I want to do. This quote lets me know what's possible and shows me that as long as I try, I can do great things. I will be attending university in the fall for elementary education, I know that it is possible and that I won't let my illness stop me from helping children succeed in this world.

I don't want just any job that pays the bills, I want to do something that makes me happy and can help others. I believe that teaching is the most important thing I could do, for the children, and for myself. All I want to do is help future generations discover a love of learning, and so that they can do so in a place that will help them thrive. I promise that I will try my best to change the lives of as many students as I can, they deserve to be cared for and be valued. I’ve had educators throughout my life who have made me despise the thought of ever being involved in teaching. I never felt like I could talk to anything about my mental health or any troubles I was facing. It wasn’t until I entered high school and met certain teachers, that I knew I could finally open up to people and be safe. My School became my safe place, and I realized that there are quality teachers in the world. I realized just how much a quality teacher can impact a student’s life, but just watching how some of my friends and I were able to open up. It made me wonder how much it could benefit students to have someone show that they care about them right from the start of their studies: Elementary School. I began discussing future college plans with advisors, and the pathways I thought were my dreams before just didn’t feel right. That’s why I began looking at being an elementary school teacher. Just hearing how much teachers are involved in the lives of students and dedicating themselves to the empowerment of children gave me so much hope. They understand that children need to be raised and taught in an environment that nurtures them, and teaches them how to succeed. I dream of working towards a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education for that reason. Getting my degree would allow me to prepare for life in my own classroom one day, and that just would mean the absolute world to me. I want to help children discover a love of education while in a supportive environment that allows them to communicate their feelings. I believe that it is crucial that students learn to communicate what they are feeling so they can develop certain skills such as self-regulation, self-awareness, and empathy. These things would allow students to build the necessary communication skills to succeed when they become teachers and when they go off into their careers. I wish I could have learned how to communicate effectively when I was younger, it would have prevented me from bottling up my emotions and I could have been a lot happier. As a teacher, I would want to create an open environment for students to develop quality communication skills and have a place where they can be themselves.

Amazon.com, Shein.com, and Walmart.com. I also use the extension Honey to find good deals online, but usually the 3 shops I chose have some sort of deal going on. The places I chose also have some good-quality items that I can reuse and recycle when I need to. :)

I enjoy using EveryDollar, Robinhood, Trim. These resources allow me to become knowledgeable about how to budget after I graduate college in a way that allows me to spend wisely on the things I need and want. I hope that I can budget well enough so that I can keep my student-loans intact and to have money set aside if my SLE Lupus leads to me becoming fairly ill and requires rest and time away from work. These tools have made me far more knowledgeable about repairing my financials for the future than any other tool I have tried. I am very grateful for being given access to them, and I look forward to learning more about personal financing from them.

Pikachu meme: When you forget how many costs go along with college, make sure you look for scholarships! Happy-Sad meme: You got into your dream school! And you also got the bill... Chris Farley meme: The horror stories of forgetting your homework

These are my fur-babies. We have Hades, Angel, Demon, Pandora, Fauna, Shiva, Himmel, and Medusa. We started out with one, and went forward. They are all rescues, ranging from abuse, hoarding, feral-domestication situations, euthanasia escape, and otherwise having nowhere else to go. My family has always loved Roman and Greek mythology and decided to work that into their names, some act the opposite of their names, and others are exact matches. My first photo is of our twins cats Himmel&Shiva, the second is our abuse-escapee hades, and the third is of the whole lot. The strawberry blonde(Persephone), passed in April.