When I was in my junior year of high school I was diagnosed with a generalized anxiety disorder. This disorder can occur to all ages at any time. The symptoms of this condition include constant worry, trouble with concentration, and often restlessness. Before I sought treatment and participated in therapy, this disorder was extremely unmanageable in my daily life and caused many roadblocks to my success. Through therapy, I learned several coping mechanisms, and tips, and found many different resources to help clear my mind when I was having anxious thoughts. Primarily, the most significant change that I made in my life to clear my mind was targeting where the anxiety was coming from. Once I found the source, I could break down my thoughts. Making the gigantic, terrifying thought much more manageable and almost taking away the negative power it held over me. Through this process asking myself questions such as: is this truly something I should concern myself with? Does this problem directly affect me? Why is this bothering me? Is there a source that I can distance myself from to lessen these strong feelings? All of these questions help to break down the overall concern and anxious thoughts. Implementing this way of thinking instead of continuing to let my mind run wild in its anxious state attributed to my clear mind. Additionally, spend time with yourself. This time spent with yourself will help to heal the relationship between your mind and body. Whether it is going for a walk, doing some yoga, diving into a book, or doing acts of self-care time with these acts your mind will clear and calm. Your mental health is your most valued prize possession. Take time to heal and clear your mind.

Toward the end of my first semester of junior year I found myself struggling with my mental health. The dazzling and bubbly personality that I typically held lost it’s vibrance. Terrified, I faced my parents and asked to receive aid with my mental health. My parents were beyond proud of me for being strong in a time where I may not have felt that way. I was later diagnosed with a generalized anxiety disorder and disordered eating. This anxiety was the all consuming roadblock that filled my body. While feeling exhausted and defeated, I was determined to not only bounce back to who I was before but also achieve personal growth. I worked long hours and spent time to reflect, educate myself upon mental health, find ways to overcome my anxiety, and push myself to limits I didn’t know possible all while attending full time school. The longer I put in the work for myself and focused on my personal growth, the pain in my stomach vanished and the weight upon my chest lifted. My spark was regained and I walked away stronger and with an ability to prevent this anxiety from becoming crippling in future years. I seeked help in a time of need, advocated for myself and overcame an obstacle that I did not know was possible to defeat.

As a biracial Filipino Asian Pacific Islander, Swedish and Welsh descent, I am a granddaughter of two sides of immigrants. This is an unusual combination and in my mainly white town, I have the tendency to stand out. I have overcome adversity through inclusion, in many of my schools I was the only biracial woman in the classroom. My family has encouraged me to love my skin color because, in my family, our differences in skin color were never looked down upon but embraced. I am grateful that I was brought up in a family where both sides recognize the importance of diversity and inclusion. I have overcome the tendency to compare myself to my peers and instead embrace my differences. My differences are what make me unique. Additionally, I am grateful that I have received a first-hand education on the importance of an inclusive community through my first-generation grandparents on both sides. Hearing their immigration stories is not only inspiring but motivating for me to work hard to make a life for myself in my chosen field of interest. In my future college career, I will use my education and beliefs that I have learned from my family to contribute to a more diverse and inclusive environment.

When I was in my junior year of high school I was diagnosed with a generalized anxiety disorder. This disorder can occur to all ages at any time. The symptoms of this condition include constant worry, trouble with concentration, and often restlessness. Before I sought treatment and participated in therapy, this disorder was extremely unmanageable in my daily life and caused many roadblocks to my success. Through therapy, I learned several coping mechanisms, and tips, and found many different resources to help clear my mind when I was having anxious thoughts. Primarily, the most significant change that I made in my life to clear my mind was targeting where the anxiety was coming from. Once I found the source, I could break down my thoughts. Making the gigantic, terrifying thought much more manageable and almost taking away the negative power it held over me. Through this process asking myself questions such as: is this truly something I should concern myself with? Does this problem directly affect me? Why is this bothering me? Is there a source that I can distance myself from to lessen these strong feelings? All of these questions help to break down the overall concern and anxious thoughts. Implementing this way of thinking instead of continuing to let my mind run wild in its anxious state attributed to my clear mind. Circling back to what initially cleared my mind – therapy. One does not need therapy in all cases but if your mind is full of all-consuming anxious, and unmanageable thoughts seeking help may be beneficial. Therapy is an important resource for those who struggle with their mental health and can be life-changing to many. Information on therapy and mental health resources can be found in hospitals, schools, online, etc. Even without speaking to a trainer professional talking out your worries that may be clogging your headspace is another tip that I have acquired. Talking to a friend, trusted adult, parent, or teacher and simply just bouncing thoughts off them can help to work through your mental processing. Finally, spend time with yourself. This time spent with yourself will help to heal the relationship between your mind and body. Whether it is going for a walk, doing some yoga, diving into a book, or doing acts of self-care time with these acts your mind will clear and calm. My personal favorite activity to do when my thought processing feels clogged is going for a run. Listening to the pounding of my feet on the ground and getting a rhythm down helps me to feel in control of my actions, thoughts, and feelings. After a long stressful day, yoga is an activity that centers the mind and body. Focusing on your stretch and breathing only can center the mind. Breathing exercises during yoga or even standalone can help to clear the mind and settle thoughts. In today's busy world people often tend to only connect one's value with their productivity but true success comes with your mindset. By implementing self-care routines your mindset will be of optimal strength. Your mental health is your most valued, prize possession. Take time to heal and clear your mind. Healthy mindset, healthy life.

I have been working part-time as a front desk receptionist at women-owned skincare and cosmetic day spa in my hometown of Glen Ellyn, IL. I serve demanding clientele with complex requests. Two months into the job, I earned the responsibility of becoming the inventory manager. I recognized that there was a problem with the spa’s frequent cancellations of client appointments and noticed it was because we did not have enough of the customer’s preferred products. This led me to proactively create a solution by implementing a new inventory management system. By integrating the new system, I helped our company to save money, save time, increase the efficiency of our estheticians, and decrease waste in less appealing products. My efforts saved the cost of 3-4 regular clients per week and 4 hours of calls to reschedule upset clients. This achievement continues to be rewarding because the company owner recognized me for my drive, quick-thinking skills, and resourcefulness. I am proud of myself for thinking outside of the box, and I know I will be able to generate value at my future university.

As a biracial Filipino Asian Pacific Islander, Swedish and Welsh descent, I am a granddaughter of two sides of immigrants. This is an unusual combination and in my mainly white town I have the tendency to stand out. I have overcame adversity through inclusion, in many of my schools I was the only biracial woman in the classroom. My family has encouraged me to love my skin color because in my family, our differences in skin color were never looked down upon but embraced. I am grateful that I was brought up in a family where both sides recognize the importance of diversity and inclusion. I have overcame the tendency to compare myself to my peers and instead embraced my differences. My differences are what makes me unique. I am grateful that I have received a first hand education on the importance of an inclusive community through my first generation grandparents on both sides. Hearing their immigration stories is not only inspiring but motivating for me to work hard to make a life for myself in my chosen field of interest. In my future college career I will use my education and beliefs that I have learned from my family to contribute to a more diverse and inclusive environment.