My name is Giana Joyce I attend Souderton High school. I plan to attend Bloomsburg University in the fall to study digital forensics and cybersecurity. I am the drum major of the Big Red Marching band. While this position has been an honor to have been elected into, it has also brought significant struggles. I became drum major my sophomore year and I was the first sophomore drum major for Souderton. The upperclassman became upset by this and decided to treat me badly. They made me feel as if I was not good enough. I tried to step down because of how badly they would speak about me. They influenced the underclassman as well to say extremely harsh things about me as well. After a year of working as drum major, it did not let up. I became increasingly depressed and started to have anxiety attacks. I couldn’t be around anyone who I knew was talking about me because I knew how much they hated me. I turned to drugs I began vaping earlier my sophomore year to cope with my anxiety and depression. While I know now that it was not helping me and it was making it worse I felt like it helped me. I became irritated by everything, I started fights with people who I heard were talking badly about me, I kept purchasing vapes and my appetite depleted. My junior year I realized how much of myself I lost to drugs and anxiety and depression and I turned to my friends for help. I was able to quit vaping and my anxiety attacks lessened. I had to stop being around people that encouraged my destructive behavior. Separating myself from those friends is what helped me push harder to get better and to be a good drum major, sister, girlfriend, and overall person. I have seen mental health struggles take permanent tolls on peoples lives. People that should still be here today. I am able to help others struggling with their mental health to make sure nobody felt like I did and to make sure that their stories do not end. I have made it my personal goal to encourage the members of my band to seek help even if they don’t know they need it. And I share my mental health struggles to show others that it can get better and that there is more to life than drugs and unhealthy coping mechanisms. There are people who care about you and want to help you and see you live the life you deserve. When my band members think of me I don’t want them to see how self destructive and selfish I used to be. I want them to see how I have changed my life for the better and how I have been able to help them as well.