I serve others well because I have been deeply served by others. Though my 18 years of living have not been easy, the benevolence of strangers, family, friends, and healthcare providers carried me through. Every challenge and encounter has shaped my heart for serving others and my future aspirations. My mental health struggles began at the age of 12 when my parents unexpectedly divorced. For the next couple of years, I grew up packing my life in a duffle bag and alternating from house to house every weekend. Their split left a lasting impression, triggering long-term depression and anxiety. Soon, visits to the psychologist became an addition to my schedule. While therapy helped at first, anxiety still overwhelmed my life. I was consumed by “what if” scenarios clouding my brain and everlasting panic attacks haunting my nights, leaving me desperate for a sense of control. Seeking that control, I became hyper-fixated on my weight and appearance, developing an eating disorder during my freshman year of high school. Anorexia consumed me without compassion. After months of starvation, my bones began deteriorating, my menstrual cycle ceased, my heart beat slowed down, and I was diagnosed as dangerously underweight. My protruding ribs and gaunt face became my twisted version of success, but the harm I was doing to my body was undeniable. During the months that followed, I confided in my family and friends about my disordered eating and commenced the process of recovery. I attended therapy frequently to mend my relationship with food and worked closely with a dietitian to restore my weight. The process was grueling and took over two years. Each day was a battle to nourish my body while condescending voices echoed in my brain, but with a strong community behind me, I was not alone. A major part of that support system was Young Life. My Young Life leaders walked alongside me, strengthened my faith, and showed me grace, persistence, and a deep understanding of my situation. Their unwavering goodness that changed my life inspired me to give back and become the kind of leader they were for me. My senior year, I joined Wyldlife, a Young Life ministry for middle schoolers, where I serve as a mentor and leader to young girls. Every month, I help organize gatherings, support kids in their extracurricular activities, and lead Bible studies. Guiding girls through their own social and mental health struggles and uplifting them in their faith like my leaders once did for me has been one of the greatest honors of my life. Serving in Wyldlife has helped me to lead by example, become an empathetic listener, and grow in humility as I support those around me. Furthermore, the professional support that I received while overcoming my own struggles has inspired my future education and career paths. I want to major in psychology and pursue child psychology, with the goal of supporting children facing the pain I once knew. With one in six children in the U.S. experiencing mental, developmental, or behavioral disorders, I am passionate about combating these statics, normalizing mental health struggles, and providing the inviting and comforting therapy experiences I once longed for. I never want another child to cry into as many tear-soaked pillows or spend as many days questioning their worth as I once did. From unbearable pain to great purpose, mental illness has shaped me to serve, lead, and heal. Just as others once served me, I will serve others deeply with the hope that they, too, might be encouraged to do the same for someone else.