Living in the conservative Bible Belt, fighting for mental health advocacy has been challenging, but I made it my goal to exemplify the spirit of excellence through creating a safe, inclusive environment for all, regardless of ethnicity, religion, sexuality, race, gender, or home life. I founded a school club called “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay”, and through this have organized events such as Mental Health Matters March and participated in suicide awareness walks. These are to help students navigate stress, especially after experiencing a Category 5 hurricane and going through the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to mental health work, I have been a leader in the Social Justice Initiative as both parliamentarian and events coordinator. My work with Social Justice has included raising over $1,600 for the Dove Uganda Children’s Fund to build deep water wells, building cancer bags for patients, and initiating a campus-wide environment initiative. I've had the opportunity to lead approximately 200 students through being band captain of the largest band in Bay County. This put me in the position to problem solve and work with a unique group of students and helped me realize my love and appreciation for the arts. I fueled this love by helping to promote the AP art program at my school after successfully completing AP 2D art and moving forward with this passion my senior year as an AP 3D art student. Using these 3D skills, I began my own service project by starting “Crafted Crochet” where I create octopi for NICU babies as a way for them to successfully transition from the womb. I have even had the opportunity to teach elementary schoolers how to crochet in hopes of continuing this program to help hospitals in areas that are often overlooked. I've taken leadership roles to give back to those around me such as Student Government vice president, where I work with my entire grade to create a classroom environment where all students feel comfortable. I am the Writing Club president, which works to create works that reflect on real student perspectives. We also create children’s stories to inspire the youth at our k-12 school to be creative. I have been on the board of both Mu Alpha Theta and Science National Honor Society for two years where we focus on working together to better each other academically. This started my work as a tutor which I have taught for three years now. Participating in such a variety of activities is what will help me make a difference. I have worked to positively shape my school’s environment and I can use the knowledge towards shaping society for the better. I have knowledge educationally as I have worked through calculus 2 as well as AP and DE science courses, but I also have social awareness and strong leadership skills. The combination of these allows me to thrive in a multitude of different environments and I know would make me a strong candidate for bringing change. I am an aspiring medical professional with a strong passion for giving back to others through mental health advocacy. I am working to become the first in my family to enter the medical field as I will be majoring in neuroscience following graduating with my highschool diploma and associate's degree in psychology this May, marking the beginning of my exploration into the complexities of the human brain. As a Puerto Rican girl, my activism has been primarily driven by my passion for equality and environmentalism. I believe that no one should be limited in their ability to make a positive impact.

I was always told that my mind was “special”, but I didn't realize it could be special in so many ways. I was always complimented on my ability to think fast, yet this abrupt change managed to happen even faster. I had grown used to a monotonous day to day routine. I get up, go to school, go to practice, and start all over again. However, at this moment I wish more than anything to be thrown back into the circular routine I knew on my usual schedule. Instead, I sit in a hospital bed in a room unfamiliar to me, ready to get out, unsure of what happens next. Well next are the wires. Wires everywhere. They start sticking them to my head, bandaging so tight my eyes water. They stick them to my heart, so itchy I scratch away a layer of skin. And somehow, they stick one to my soul, permanently connecting me to the girl in that bed, to a hospital. The memory fuses into my mind as I lay in a bed of wires. After that is the fear. The fear of seizing again. The fear of having one and choking so not eating again. The fear of the idea that I may have spoken to my friends for the last time, spoken to my family for the last time. Then you wait. And wait. And wait. I waited overnight, busying myself with movies, shedding the occasional tear, scanning my mom who waited with me. I sat and wondered if she felt the same way, helpless, miserable, fearful. But then, the waiting was over. “You have a cyst on your brain.” After countless hospital visits, doctors appointments, running monitors, and check ups, I receive the much anticipated news that this will not restrain me from life. I grew used to the small world of the hospital. I grew used to the scent of clean counters and dimness of the weak fluorescents. The place that at one point shook me to my core now feeling like one I could actually miss. I could not shake the feeling. No, not the feeling. The wire that connected me to the hospital. No matter where I went, that wire stuck. I tugged against it and ran but was always dragged back. I tried cutting it away but no blade could tear me away from the place where I was tested so many times. All of this was to tell me that I should be invested in the world of neuroscience. I belong on the floor of a hospital, helping 15 year olds that feel trapped in a bed of wires. I may not belong stuck in the bed of a hospital, but I certainly do belong on the grounds of one and I don’t mind being attached to it. I welcome the feeling of not being able to leave and am excited to make one my home. The mental fight of the brain is one that is more difficult to conquer than one that can be viewed through a CT scan. I want to help others in their battle as a pursue my career as a neuropsychiatrist, becoming the first doctor in my family. I am excited to use my experience to work not only with people but the wires they're connected to. Learning to untangle wires takes practice and everyone creates a few knots before undoing them all. It’s something that should not be feared, but something that should be approached proudly and attentively. Because at the end of the day, wires aren’t so bad after all.

I am an aspiring Latina medical professional with a strong passion for mental health advocacy. I am working to become the first in my family to enter the medical field as I will be majoring in neuroscience following graduating with my highschool diploma and associate's degree in psychology this May, marking the beginning of my exploration into the complexities of the human brain. My long-term goals include becoming a strong advocate for mental health awareness and breaking down the stigmas surrounding mental well-being. Living in the conservative Bible Belt, fighting for mental health advocacy has been challenging, but I made it my goal to create a safe, inclusive environment for all, regardless of ethnicity, religion, sexuality, race, gender, or home life. I founded a school club called “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay”, and through this have organized events such as Mental Health Matters March and participated in suicide awareness walks. These are to help students navigate stress, especially after experiencing a Category 5 hurricane and going through the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to mental health work, I have been a leader in the Social Justice Initiative as both parliamentarian and events coordinator. My work with Social Justice has included raising over $1,600 for the Dove Uganda Children’s Fund to build deep water wells, building cancer bags for patients, and initiating a campus-wide environment initiative. I've had the opportunity to lead approximately 200 students through being band captain of the largest band in Bay County. This put me in the position to problem solve and work with a unique group of students and helped me realize my love and appreciation for the arts. I fueled this love by helping to promote the AP art program at my school after successfully completing AP 2D art and moving forward with this passion my senior year as an AP 3D art student. Using these 3D skills, I began my own service project by starting “Crafted Crochet” where I create octopi for NICU babies as a way for them to successfully transition from the womb. I have even had the opportunity to teach elementary schoolers how to crochet in hopes of continuing this program to help hospitals in areas that are often overlooked. I've taken leadership roles such as Student Government vice president, where I work with my entire grade to create a classroom environment where all students feel comfortable. I am the Writing Club president, which works to create works that reflect on real student perspectives. We also create children’s stories to inspire the youth at our k-12 school to be creative. I have been on the board of both Mu Alpha Theta and Science National Honor Society for two years where we focus on working together to better each other academically. This started my work as a tutor which I have taught for three years now. Participating in such a variety of activities is what will help me make a difference. I have worked to positively shape my school’s environment and I can use the knowledge towards shaping society for the better. I have knowledge educationally as I have worked through calculus 2 as well as AP and DE science courses, but I also have social awareness and strong leadership skills. The combination of these allows me to thrive in a multitude of different environments and I know would make me a strong candidate for bringing change. As a Puerto Rican girl, my activism has been primarily driven by my passion for equality and environmentalism. I believe that no one should be limited in their ability to make a positive impact.

It's Okay to not be Okay (IOTNBO). That's what I value. From a young age I have been taught to above all value myself, my family, and my friends. I have valued not only the work of others but the work that I accomplish. I used these values and put them towards my passion, to help others. From the age of two I have felt the medical field is where I belong. From just saying I wanted to be a doctor to being a surgeon to wanting to focus on mental health. Living in a rural community, mental health is often undiscussed and overlooked. I began exploring the importance of mental health when competing through HOSA. I shared my passion for community and mental health awareness, but I knew I had to think bigger. I co-founded the first mental health awareness club in my school and continued to compete in the mental health awareness category, sharing our cause at the state level. My team of two quickly grew to a club with over thirty members. IOTNBO coordinated and hosted the first Mental Health Matters March, a school-wide, week-long initiative. Activities included making fun crafts and sharing treats with the school community. As a club we participated in the SPARE Bridge of Hope Suicide Awareness walk and have planned Claus for a Cuase, a holiday plush gifting event. I hope to continue to grow the organization to include other schools. I plan to harness the same passion that started IOTNBO to complete my associates in psychology before finishing high school. Studying biochemistry and psychology will serve as my educational foundation as I work my way into the world of psychiatry. I will dedicate my life advocating for patients of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds. Being awarded this scholarship will allow me to achieve my dreams and attend college. From books to boarding, winning would change my life. I value working with others and contributing to causes greater than myself. I believe getting with others and pushing the idea that mental health is just as much of a priority as physical health is. I want to better not only myself in my studies but those around me in what we can accomplish. Working in my school is just the beginning of what I believe I am going to achieve. My ultimate value is to work towards creating a world where everyone knows it’s okay to not be okay.

Quiet, I like quiet. No, I LIKED quiet. Hearing I got two extra weeks of quiet had me jumping up and down, all I needed was a quick break. I never imagined how slowly time would pass in the confines of the four walls I call home. I haven’t actually had a normal year since 2018. The pandemic started as my small town was in the midst of recovering from hurricane Michael. The hurricane prepared me to work from home, not see my friends, and not go out. If the most devastating hurricane to ever hit the panhandle didn’t ruin life, then surely neither could Covid. Things started strong, I did my week’s work on Monday, and did whatever I wanted at home the rest of the week. However, nothing prepared me for watching my little brother’s first epileptic seizure. The only person I was able to rely on and have contact with was hospitalized, the scariest place to be during a pandemic. The quiet quarantine taught me about balance and the pressures of isolation. With my brother’s release from the hospital, I had to step up. I learned how to treat seizures and discovered my passion for neuroscience. I learned how much I loved to be around others, especially my friends. I realized I thrive in a world full of sound. I didn’t see it then, but Covid completely changed the trajectory of my life. Studying biochemistry and psychology will serve as my educational foundation as I work my way into the world of psychiatry. I’ll dedicate my life advocating for patients of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds. I have applied to numerous scholarships and hope to be awarded scholarships and grants to try to avoid carrying out loans for my education. Being awarded this scholarship will allow me to achieve my dreams and attend college. From books to boarding, winning would change my life because I now realize…. Quiet, I hate quiet.

Science is green. Math is blue. English is red. History is yellow. I’ve spearheaded the debate of color to subject association since elementary school, but everyone seems to agree science is green. It just so happens that science is my favorite subject and green is my favorite color. I strategically wear green whenever I have a big exam, or need a little extra luck. Some think this is “mental” yet those comments further fuel my interest in all things related to human behavior and the brain. I began investigating the impacts of mental health on my community at 11 when joining HOSA. The hours of research quickly grew into my passion. The color representing mental health awareness? Green. Somehow, my favorite color worked its way into the world I plan to spend my life exploring and analyzing. Green is the color of life, the color of my life. It represents prosperity and ambition. I want to use my own ambition to further my knowledge of the inner workings of the mind. I aspire to leave my small rural town and step into a world where I will grow through self-discovery. Only through winning this scholarship can I pursue my passion for cognitive neuroscience. I hope to continue my intellectual development, expand on my academic interests and prepare for medical school, one of many lifelong goals. My favorite color will forever be green.

Quiet, I like quiet. No, I LIKED quiet. Hearing I got two extra weeks of quiet had me jumping up and down, all I needed was a quick break. I never imagined how slowly time would pass in the confines of the four walls I call home. I haven’t actually had a normal year since 2018. The pandemic started as my small town was in the midst of recovering from hurricane Michael. The hurricane prepared me to work from home, not see my friends, and not go out. If the most devastating hurricane to ever hit the panhandle didn’t ruin life, then surely neither could Covid. Things started strong, I did my week’s work on Monday, and did whatever I wanted at home the rest of the week. However, nothing prepared me for watching my little brother’s first epileptic seizure. The only person I was able to rely on and have contact with was hospitalized, the scariest place to be during a pandemic. After that quiet consumed my life, consumed me. I spent countless hours, days, weeks being quiet. I stopped answering my phone, answering to my name, and answering my needs. My quiet place was dark and uncharted, I needed help and didn’t know it. The quiet quarantine taught me about balance and the pressures of isolation. With my brother’s release from the hospital, I had to step up. I learned how to treat seizures and discovered my passion for neuroscience. I learned how much I loved to be around others, especially my friends. This retaliation of the quiet world followed me to highschool. I started a mental health awareness club, It’s Okay to Not be Okay, to teach others about the quiet world I escaped from. I taught people at competitions, winning first in my region two years in a row. I spread the word on what makes mental health so important, its influence spreading through social media. It also inspired me to experiment with new classes and try new things. I decided to graduate with my associates degree in psychology. I felt the urge to learn about the way other people’s brains worked as I was also discovering more about my own. I am getting ready to move to my next chapter and majoring in neuroscience. I want to make a career in neuropsychiatry. I will have the opportunity to meet new people. My patients will have their own life experiences and between research and study, I will be able to help find improvements to mental health disorders. The idea of quiet is one that used to comfort me. However, I find that I have changed just as much as the world has these past few years. I now shrink at the idea of quiet, running towards an exciting future. I realized I thrive in a world full of sound. I didn’t see it then, but Covid completely changed the trajectory of my life. I want to dedicate my life to finding others and hearing their stories. I may not know what I will hear from those strangers but I will listen no matter what because one thing is for sure… Quiet, I hate quiet.

It's Okay to not be Okay (IOTNBO). Living in a rural community, mental health is often undiscussed and overlooked. I began exploring the importance of mental health when competing through HOSA. I shared my passion for community and mental health awareness, but I knew I had to think bigger. I co-founded the first mental health awareness club in my school and continued to compete in the mental health awareness category, sharing our cause at the state level. My team of two quickly grew to a club with over thirty members. IOTNBO coordinated and hosted the first Mental Health Matters March, a school-wide, week-long initiative. Activities included making fun crafts and sharing treats with the school community. As a club we participated in the SPARE Bridge of Hope Suicide Awareness walk and have planned Claus for a Cuase, a holiday plush gifting event. I hope to continue to grow the organization to include other schools. I plan to harness the same passion that started IOTNBO to complete my associates in psychology before finishing high school. Studying biochemistry and psychology will serve as my educational foundation as I work my way into the world of psychiatry. I will dedicate my life advocating for patients of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds. Being awarded this scholarship will allow me to achieve my dreams and attend college. From books to boarding, winning would change my life. My ultimate goal is to work towards creating a world where everyone knows it’s okay to not be okay.

Quiet, I like quiet. No, I LIKED quiet. Hearing I got two extra weeks of quiet had me jumping up and down, all I needed was a quick break. I never imagined how slowly time would pass in the confines of the four walls I call home. I haven’t actually had a normal year since 2018. The pandemic started as my small town was in the midst of recovering from hurricane Michael. The hurricane prepared me to work from home, not see my friends, and not go out. If the most devastating hurricane to ever hit the panhandle didn’t ruin life, then surely neither could Covid. Things started strong, I did my week’s work on Monday, and did whatever I wanted at home the rest of the week. However, nothing prepared me for watching my little brother’s first epileptic seizure. The only person I was able to rely on and have contact with was hospitalized, the scariest place to be during a pandemic. After that quiet consumed my life, consumed me. I spent countless hours, days, weeks being quiet. I stopped answering my phone, answering to my name, and answering my needs. My quiet place was dark and uncharted, I needed help and didn’t know it. The quiet quarantine taught me about balance and the pressures of isolation. With my brother’s release from the hospital, I had to step up. I learned how to treat seizures and discovered my passion for neuroscience. I learned how much I loved to be around others, especially my friends. This retaliation of the quiet world followed me to highschool. I started a mental health awareness club, It’s Okay to Not be Okay, to teach others about the quiet world I escaped from. I taught people at competitions, winning first in my region two years in a row. I spread the word on what makes mental health so important, its influence spreading through social media. It also inspired me to experiment with new classes and try new things. I decided to graduate with my associates degree in psychology. I felt the urge to learn about the way other people’s brains worked as I was also discovering more about my own. I am getting ready to move to my next chapter and majoring in neuroscience. I want to make a career in neuropsychiatry. I will have the opportunity to meet new people. My patients will have their own life experiences and between research and study, I will be able to help find improvements to mental health disorders. The idea of quiet is one that used to comfort me. However, I find that I have changed just as much as the world has these past few years. I now shrink at the idea of quiet, running towards an exciting future. I realized I thrive in a world full of sound. I didn’t see it then, but Covid completely changed the trajectory of my life. I want to dedicate my life to finding others and hearing their stories. I may not know what I will hear from those strangers but I will listen no matter what because one thing is for sure… Quiet, I hate quiet.

Quiet, I like quiet. No, I LIKED quiet. Hearing I got two extra weeks of quiet had me jumping up and down, all I needed was a quick break. I never imagined how slowly time would pass in the confines of the four walls I call home. I haven’t actually had a normal year since 2018. The pandemic started as my small town was in the midst of recovering from hurricane Michael. The hurricane prepared me to work from home, not see my friends, and not go out. If the most devastating hurricane to ever hit the panhandle didn’t ruin life, then surely neither could Covid. Things started strong, I did my week’s work on Monday, and did whatever I wanted at home the rest of the week. However, nothing prepared me for watching my little brother’s first epileptic seizure. The only person I was able to rely on and have contact with was hospitalized, the scariest place to be during a pandemic. After that quiet consumed my life, consumed me. I spent countless hours, days, weeks being quiet. I stopped answering my phone, answering to my name, and answering my needs. My quiet place was dark and uncharted, I needed help and didn’t know it. The quiet quarantine taught me about balance and the pressures of isolation. With my brother’s release from the hospital, I had to step up. I learned how to treat seizures and discovered my passion for neuroscience. I learned how much I loved to be around others, especially my friends. This retaliation of the quiet world followed me to highschool. I started a mental health awareness club, It’s Okay to Not be Okay, to teach others about the quiet world I escaped from. I taught people at competitions, winning first in my region two years in a row. I spread the word on what makes mental health so important, its influence spreading through social media. It also inspired me to experiment with new classes and try new things. I decided to graduate with my associates degree in psychology. I felt the urge to learn about the way other people’s brains worked as I was also discovering more about my own. I am getting ready to move to my next chapter and majoring in neuroscience. I want to make a career in neuropsychiatry. I will have the opportunity to meet new people. My patients will have their own life experiences and between research and study, I will be able to help find improvements to mental health disorders. The idea of quiet is one that used to comfort me. However, I find that I have changed just as much as the world has these past few years. I now shrink at the idea of quiet, running towards an exciting future. I realized I thrive in a world full of sound. I didn’t see it then, but Covid completely changed the trajectory of my life. I want to dedicate my life to finding others and hearing their stories. I may not know what I will hear from those strangers but I will listen no matter what because one thing is for sure… Quiet, I hate quiet.