My main goal in life is to make a widespread positive impact on those who need it most. Although this can be accomplished in many different ways, my strengths in neuroscience and unmatched passion for psychology have led me to pursue a career in the field of psychiatry. I am driven by a desire to help others overcome mental illness, a feat I've personally achieved since being diagnosed with autism, ADHD, and MDD in the past. I know how confusing and difficult it can be to deal with mental illness and can empathize deeply with these individuals. My conditions have always posed an extra challenge for me, but I learned how to embrace my individuality and use it to bridge those gaps. I never thought I’d be a people person, having ASD, but I’ve learned so much from others, and I am absolutely fascinated by them. I’m very proud of myself and grateful for those who’ve helped me along the way. I find it beautiful, really, how far I’ve come, and I would love to see that growth in others. I hope to play a major role in this process through various treatment methods such as therapy and medication management. Reaching this goal will require a strong educational foundation that this scholarship can help provide access to. I plan on studying to obtain a Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience while simultaneously completing the Pre-Med requirements. I then plan on pursuing a psychiatric degree after completing the necessary coursework, finally giving me the opportunity to enact my skills and passion on a professional scale. Another reason I chose to apply for this scholarship is that it would open pathways to high end research universities, giving me the opportunity to conduct powerful psychological research on a large scale. I’ve already done some personal research on a few topics, including the correlation between video game dependency and drug addiction, industrial application of psychological theories, the effect of framing on childhood perception, and the benefit of socialization in treating mental illness, all of which I’d be eternally grateful to explore on a much larger scale through the use of these research opportunities. I hope to one day publish my findings, as I feel these are all important topics the public should be aware of, and I see this scholarship as a key step in my journey to reaching this goal. Given my personal experiences, knowledge, and passion regarding mental disorders and psychology in general, I could see my work sparking change throughout society, revolutionizing the public’s perception and understanding of mental disorders while also motivating those struggling with them to seek help.  I'm currently working to destigmatize mental health through the management of a peer support group, in which I seek to understand and advocate for those struggling with mental health issues by promoting unconditional support and acceptance for each other's hardships. According to some of my peers, this intervention has successfully improved their perspective on mental health within themselves as well as others. Although deeply grateful for the success of my group, I would love to apply this dynamic on a much larger scale over the course of my life. My ultimate goal is to build a positive, inclusive society characterized by free self-expression and mutual understanding. Accomplishing this goal through mental health awareness will do so in a way that applies to every single person on the planet, allowing everyone the opportunity to be heard in their own way. My vision is for all members of society to have equal representation, opportunity, and support, allowing everyone to exist as a healthy society whilst fostering their own unique identities. This is the impact I hope to have on the world.

When I’m passionate about something, truly passionate about it, I cry. I cry while the infinite beauty I see in it spills from my lips. I research. I learn everything there is to know about it, and when I run out, I teach myself more by building connections, inferences, and analyzing personal experiences. I write. I document my feelings and findings on the topic in a personal place, sometimes sharing them with others or confirming them through real-life experimentation and observation. I dealt with a lot of emotional trauma growing up, caused by personal and social factors. Being autistic, I’ve had so much trouble understanding and communicating with others properly, which has put me in many dangerous situations due to misunderstandings. I was bullied for many years of my life, which I got used to, but the pain was never numbed fully. I’ve also been diagnosed with ADHD from a young age, which poses some extreme challenges in school, as well as everyday life like relationships and identity. My thoughts can be extremely rapid and overwhelming, making it very difficult to stay focused in the present moment and apply my full potential. I always used to feel like there was something wrong with me, like I don’t belong here. I still feel that way sometimes, I’ve just embraced it and learned to grow around it. I've accepted that there's always going to be a communication barrier between me and others and realized that my unique perspective on life isn't always a bad thing. Especially when I'm working with psychology, I've come up with so many of my own theories and found new ways to depict them. There've been numerous instances where I notice connections and patterns that nobody else has been able to, explaining certain theories in depth that I’ve never seen before. I genuinely feel like my abilities can revolutionize the field of psychology as a whole, revealing missing puzzle pieces that could benefit so many people struggling with mental health today. I hope to one day become a licensed psychiatrist, giving me the opportunity to help people struggling with similar situations to mine. I know how confusing and difficult it can be to deal with mental illness and can empathize deeply with these individuals. I believe my passion, experience, and unique perspective can spark change throughout society as a whole, benefiting people struggling with mental illness and motivating them to seek help as well. Everyone deserves to live. My conditions have always posed an extra challenge for me, but I learned how to embrace my individuality and use it to bridge those gaps. I’m very proud of myself and grateful for those who’ve helped me along the way. I never thought I’d be a people person, having ASD, but I’ve learned so much from others, and I am absolutely fascinated by them. I find it beautiful, really, how far I’ve come, and I would love to see that growth in others. I find my motivation in knowing the impact I can have on others’ lives when I become a psychiatrist one day, being there for the people that feel they have no one. My goal isn't just to help these individuals feel heard, however, but to help them unlock their full potential while gaining insight into the differences that exist within the beauty that is the human mind, hopefully benefiting humanity as a whole.