When I was a junior in high school I wrote two lists. One list I wrote was all the reasons I wanted to live. Graduating high school, getting married, and starting a family one day were some of the reasons. There were small reasons too such as going to the beach over summer and taking a trip to Hawaii. The other list I wrote was a list of reasons why I didn’t want to be alive. I was exhausted from working full time and being in school. I was tired of feeling empty all the time. I was tired of feeling like my life has absolutely no purpose. I used to think to myself There are seven billion people on this Earth, why do I matter? I was so so tired. After I finished writing my lists, I compared the two. The list of reasons I wanted to live was four sentences longer. Four sentences longer. That list saved my life. Today, I am happy and I feel truly alive again. I graduated high school. I took that trip to Hawaii and have been to the beach plenty of times since I wrote that list. Struggling with mental health has allowed me to grow as a person and see different perspectives. When I was in high school, I hardly had any goals. My only goal really was to get through the day. I had no career or life goals. I’ve changed that. As I was struggling with my mental health, I had no motivation. This is common for anyone who deals with mental health issues. I have learned over time that goals are necessary. My goals have helped me work harder on my mental health, my schoolwork, and my career goals. I used to feel like I had no passion. I didn’t play sports or play an instrument. I didn’t really have any hobbies. I didn’t realize until now I have a passion for filmmaking. I love the artistic visual expression that film conveys and I want to make a career out of it. After getting my education, I aspire to be a filmmaker. I would like to create documentaries that are inspiring and educational. One day I want to create a film showing the seriousness of mental health and how society can help. Most importantly, I have realized that it DOES get better. The relationships I have with my family and friends helped me realize that there are so many people who truly care about me. In any kind of relationship, it is important for people to be supportive and kind towards those who struggle with mental health. I have learned that the little things in life are beautiful too. Whether it’s going to a local coffee shop or going to the movies with friends. I now find happiness and hope in the simplest things. The world is a beautiful place filled with beautiful people. Life is what you make out of it. In my list, I wrote the pros and cons of being alive. Remember this, the pros will always overpower the cons. No matter what.

When I was a junior in high school I wrote two lists. One list I wrote was all the reasons I wanted to live. Graduating high school, getting married, and starting a family one day were some of the reasons. There were small reasons too such as going to the beach over summer and taking a trip to Hawaii. The other list I wrote was a list of reasons why I didn’t want to be alive. I was exhausted from working full time and being in school. I was tired of feeling empty all the time. I was tired of feeling like my life has absolutely no purpose. I used to think to myself - There are seven billion people on this Earth, why do I matter? I was so so tired. After I finished writing my lists, I compared the two. The list of reasons I wanted to live was four sentences longer. Four sentences longer. That list saved my life. Today, I am happy and I feel truly alive again. I graduated high school. I took that trip to Hawaii and have been to the beach plenty of times since I wrote that list. Struggling with mental health has allowed me to grow as a person and see different perspectives. When I was in high school, I hardly had any goals. My only goal really was to get through the day. I had no career or life goals. I’ve changed that. As I was struggling with my mental health, I had no motivation. This is common for anyone who deals with mental health issues. I have learned over time that goals are necessary. My goals have helped me work harder on my mental health, my schoolwork, and my career goals. Most importantly, I have realized that it DOES get better. The relationships I have with my family and friends helped me realize that there are so many people who truly care about me.I have learned that the little things in life are beautiful too. Whether it’s going to a local coffee shop or going to the movies with friends. I now find happiness and hope in the simplest things. The world is a beautiful place filled with beautiful people. Life is what you make out of it.

Sometimes we don’t realize what we are truly passionate about until later in life. I always thought I never had a passion. I thought I was too “boring” or too “normal”. I won a film contest when I was in fourth grade. It was something that I enjoyed doing but never knew this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. It wasn’t until this past year that I realized I was passionate about film. Creating art through visual expression is something I love to do and learn about. Currently, I am planning to create a documentary-style type of film. In the future, when it is safe again I plan to travel to Hawaii. My childhood best friend moved there a few years ago and I love visiting the beautiful state of Hawaii. When I travel there next, I was to explore the island of Oahu and document the beauty of Hawaii and how we, as a society, can help preserve and respect the beauty of not only Oahu but our planet Earth. I plan to film my experience there and meet people who are passionate about helping the planet and being environmentally responsible. One of the many reasons I love film is because it is so much more than just watching something online or on TV. A film is about artistic expression. A film can allow people to see things from different perspectives. A film allows you to think and analyze what is important in life. A filmshows the beauty and emotions of humanity. In the future, I hope to have a career in film. Whether it be directing, producing, or editing I want to be a part of this creativity. I hope to make a difference in the world with film and change minds for the greater of society.