As a terrified and timid freshman student I was so confused as to what I could become, and too shy to admit what I was capable of. My class advisor, who was also my career education teacher, encouraged me to take my health battles and turn them into passion. Mrs. Ovitz not only helped me find my voice in leadership by sending me to conferences and being there for advice, she became family. Without Mrs. Ovitz I’m not sure where I would be. She’s has encouraged me to step out of my shell and embrace parts of myself I didn’t even know I had. I now know that I want to go into women’s health, and not just because of my health battles, but because Mrs. O helped me discover my voice. I believe my voice needs to be heard, and it needs to uplift women to get the answers they need with their health. By fostering a personal and positive environment, Mrs. Ovitz has made me who I am today.

The man in this picture is my dad. Not only is he beside me for every one of my surgeries, he’s also my biggest inspiration. He’s gone all summer working on the California wild fires as a correctional sergeant, he’s the definition of hard work. He’s been through so much on the job, yet he still stands tall. I don’t know what I would do without my dad. He makes me laugh when I’m sad, he’s so understanding, he’s so strong, very empathetic, and his energy is infectious. I miss him so much when he’s gone for the summers, but when he comes home it’s a million times better. I’m so thankful for all that he does for our family, and how he does it with a smile on his face despite all that he’s been through.

My journey with self love has been a long one. I’ve undergone six surgeries to remove scar tissue from endometriosis, leaving scars all over my body. I would be disappointed in the way I looked all the time, or if I couldn’t get back into the pool and race as well as I once had. I would hide my stomach while changing in PE, or being a swimmer I would avoid bikinis at all costs. Then, one day, I accepted that I was special. That my scars were symbols of all that I had endured. I began to embrace them as beauty in a way, and forgive myself for not performing as great as I once had. Beginning to accept myself made it easier to bring others into my life. My relationships are stronger and my quality of life is a million times better. I’ve found who my true best friends are, gotten to be even closer with my mother, got a wonderful boyfriend who loves me for my scars and everything, and it’s easier to bring other people into my life. Self love has been a long journey, and needless to say a very hard one for me. I still struggle from time to time, however our differences are what make us beautiful. My relationships have also been impacted by acknowledging the fact that everyone in this world has probably struggled with self love at some point, so you’re not alone whether you believe that in the moment or not. Self love has completely changed my aspirations in that the best way to achieve something is with forgiveness for yourself, because no one is perfect. It’s a clique you always hear: “no one is perfect”, but you say it so often it almost loses its meaning. I once found a quote from a mental health advocate, Katie Reed, that said “self care is giving the world the best of you, not the rest of you”, and it really resonated with me. Self love comes with self care, and you must treat yourself with kindness in order to see results. Now, here I am. Putting on that bikini to catch some sun, bringing myself out into the world with the best I can do with everything I do, and no longer striving for the textbook definition of perfection. In my heart, everyone is their own definition of beauty and perfection; and self love helps you realize that.

My experience with mental health has quite literally made me who I am today. I struggle with endometriosis, a reproductive disease that causes your body to produce mass amounts of scar tissue. With pain comes anxiety and depression. I thought it was something I had to hide. I felt so alone. When I was in search of my diagnosis I had doctors even tell me that I just had anxiety and I wasn’t actually in pain. It brought me deeper into a sadness. One day, when I got my diagnosis, I swore to go into a field of work to where I could help other women not feel so isolated the way I did. As a nurse practitioner for gynecology, I believe that I would truly and deeply listen to my patients. My battle with pain and mental health have taught me that listening to someone is honestly one of the most amazing things you can do for them. My experience with mental health has also taught me that it’s okay to not be okay. It isn’t shameful to struggle, and I think that’s a common misconception that mental health is something to hide and be ashamed of, when really the ice needs to be broken and people need to break the stigma. We live in a hard time currently, and many people are suffering. That’s why we have to open our ears and our hearts and listen to our family and friends and whomever you may meet.

Gynecology Nurse

Teenage years are known to be difficult enough, but I’ve done mine while battling chronic pain and illness. All of these activities that I love such as archery, swimming, soccer, and hiking; I’ve done while sick or in pain. I have had five, soon to be six, surgeries to remove scar tissue. However, I don’t ever want to stop doing what I truly love. I have learned that being bold means taking your fears and struggles and turning them into experiences and stories of events you have overcame. Adversity makes us stronger, brighter, and bolder.