One academic strategy I use to help achieve success is taking time to value and take care of your mental health while studying. Little ways to improve mental health is to not overload yourself with information. Instead take little breaks in between short chapters or just simply get up out of your chair and take a short breather outside. Feeling hungry? Grab a healthy snack like carrot sticks or some peanut butter crackers to keep your brain sharp. I never forget to drink water while studying because dehydration is very bad for you in the long run, especially with studying. Mental health is incredibly important to future success, but can be very challenging to maintain depending on the school and studying you have to do. If possible, why not take a class or two less in a semester instead of overloading yourself? Many people have their reasonings on why they cannot do a few classes less in a semester, but is the constant stress really better than taking care of yourself?

Everyone is used to seeing every other person they walk by as a "normal" person and has no problems in their life just because they have a smile on their face. I always used to hide in the shadows with the cloud of depression and other mental illnesses keeping me from what I love to do. Depression is no joke and many people shrug it off as "no big deal" just because everyone is a little blue every once and a while. Depression makes someone loose motivation to the point where they cannot get out of bed or take care of themselves. Depression also makes you do impulsive and risky choices that could affect you in the long run. I currently struggle with depression, anxiety, ADHD, and many more illnesses that makes it harder and harder for me to work with animals and it even keeps me from continuing my studies for my Bachelors in Biology. I also struggle hard with financial issues that makes it harder for me to attend college and continue my education program. It seems like the only strength I have currently is the little thought of hope that started to shine recently with a new job in animal care. Hopefully, I will continue to grow stronger after coming out of the void of depression and continue my college education with a little bit more ease.

Friendship means protection and trust that is from both sides of the relationship. Friendship is someone you can rely on for personal problems you would not just run to anyone for. To have an amazing friendship with someone means the world for multiple people including me considering the real world outside of us is a very scary place. Those with issues of abandonment or loneliness would value a friend over anything because they make them feel safe and secure from the harsh reality we call human civilization. Losing a friendship with someone also hurts more than anything in the world and losing someone we used to rely on is a scary thought no one wants to think about. I lost a lot of friendships with others and it hurts, but the thought of forming a new relationship with someone also gives me motivation to keep going on the path of life. Nothing means more to me than a good friendship with someone. Someone I can just rely on.