I first noticed I felt different from other kids in elementary school. Words never seemed to come out right, and nothing I did was good enough in my opinion. Staring at myself in the mirror in dance class, I never saw a body worthy of praise. Struggling with thoughts such as these starting at this young age had a meaningful impact on every aspect of my life. Mental health has continued to feel like a steep mountain to climb that takes intention and dedication every day. So many conflicts arise when searching for how to best escape your own mind. Don't stew in the bad thoughts or they'll overtake you, but thinking perfectly positive is unrealistic. Love and accept yourself as you are, but hurt people hurt people so maybe you are the problem? I haven't yet found therapy to be something I enjoy, yet that is the solution that is pushed. Because I often have trouble valuing my own sense of worth, I strongly believe in lifting up others. Don't comment on peoples' bodies, children deserve respect, believe victims, and love is love is love. We, as humans, can often be our own worst critics. This is why I try to always treat others with basic respect and love, and in turn, I am held to the same standard for myself. Because I have days where my mental health is at an all-time low, I hold space in my relationships for others to feel the same. I work hard to be whatever someone may need me to be in their moment of vulnerability. An advice giver, a listening ear, or simply someone to sit with when words don't come. Where someone with little or indirect experience with declined mental health may find it hard to work through a depressive episode, my experiences, for once, give me an advantage in maintaining healthy relationships. Because I am a woman who has experienced bouts of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and panic attacks, I am committed to helping other women through some of their most emotion-filled moments as an OB/GYN. Throughout my 19 years, I’ve cycled through many different career aspirations: ballerina, dance teacher, nurse, psychologist, etc. The one that has stuck to me like sparkly glitter to literally anything, is a doctor. I want nothing more than to be the person helping people navigate their troubles instead of being the one navigating. I feel like my experience from all of the personal and interpersonal trauma is what will make me an excellent doctor. Thoughtfulness, sensitivity, and respect will be my greatest tools. The highs and lows, the ups and downs, the joys and sorrows all make up the mystery that is human life. No one can be certain what hand they will be drawn at any given time, nor can they be certain that everything will work out in the end. Sometimes it doesn’t. However, establishing a good relationship continuously working on your mental health and familiarizing yourself with the tools for success can have an amazing influence on your life. As much as I hate the lows, I understand that many of them have shaped me to be the person I am today.

In my wildest dreams, I am an intelligent and dedicated doctor who prioritizes a healthy work-life balance and is debt-free.

I first noticed I felt different from other kids in elementary school. Words never seemed to come out right, and nothing I did was good enough in my opinion. Staring at myself in the mirror in dance class, I never saw a body worthy of praise. Struggling with thoughts such as these starting at this young age had a meaningful impact on every aspect of my life. Mental health has continued to feel like a steep mountain to climb that takes intention and dedication every day. So many conflicts arise when searching for how to best escape your own mind. Don't stew in the bad thoughts or they'll overtake you, but thinking perfectly positive is unrealistic. Love and accept yourself as you are, but hurt people hurt people so maybe you are the problem? Because I often have trouble valuing my own sense of worth, I strongly believe in lifting up others. Don't comment on peoples' bodies, children deserve respect, believe victims, and love is love is love. We, as humans, can often be our own worst critics. This is why I try to always treat others with basic respect and love, and in turn, I am held to the same standard for myself. Because I have days where my mental health is at an all-time low, I hold space in my relationships for others to feel the same. I work hard to be whatever someone may need me to be in their moment of vulnerability. An advice giver, a listening ear, or simply someone to sit with when words don't come. Where someone with little or indirect experience with declined mental health may find it hard to work through a depressive episode, my experiences, for once, give me an advantage in maintaining healthy relationships. Because I am a woman who has experienced bouts of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and panic attacks, I am committed to helping other women through some of their most emotion-filled moments as an OB/GYN. Throughout my 19 years, I’ve cycled through many different career aspirations: ballerina, dance teacher, nurse, psychologist, etc. The one that has stuck to me like sparkly glitter to literally everything, is a doctor. I want nothing more than to be the person helping people navigate their troubles instead of being the one navigating. I feel like my experience from all of the personal and interpersonal trauma is what will make me an excellent doctor. Thoughtfulness, sensitivity, and respect will be my greatest tools. The highs and lows, the ups and downs, the joys and sorrows all make up the mystery that is human life. No one can be certain what hand they will be drawn at any given time, nor can they be certain that everything will work out in the end. Sometimes it doesn’t. However, establishing a good relationship continuously working on your mental health and familiarizing yourself with the tools for success can have an amazing influence on your life. As much as I hate the lows, I understand that many of them have shaped me to be the person I am today.

Pregnancy and all its complexities have captured my interest for as long as I can remember. This interest has led to two of my life goals: to become an ob/gyn and a mom. The big decision to go for the gold and jump on the track to medical school was and continues to be terrifying. So many unknowns to stress over. What if I do get in? What if I fail out? Will I even like being a doctor? But every anxiety is calmed when I remember what I'm fighting for. I don't just want to make people feel better, I want to make a lasting impact on the medical field. Dreams of finding cures for rare pregnancy-related diseases and delivering brand new babies into the world sparkle in my eyes. I keep a log of every new physical and/or mental disease I run into. Symptoms, causes, and treatments are all recorded so I can expand my medical knowledge and feed my ravenous brain. I am absolutely determined to receive my white coat and start changing lives one day at a time. Specifically, I want to serve low-income communities that normally have limited access to medical care. Healthcare is absolutely a human right and should be readily available to everyone. It is my dream to help create a world in which nobody fears not receiving medical treatment. Because I know so much about the hardships of pregnancy and the toll it takes on the human body, my dreams of being pregnant myself are limited. Possibly one or two pregnancies for me max. However, regardless of if I have biological kids or not, another dream of mine has always been to foster. I pride myself on being able to feel deeply for others, so when I found out that there are over 400,000 foster children in the US alone, I wanted to be a part of the solution. Fostering is extremely difficult and not for everyone, but I stand by the importance of giving everything your best shot. I plan to have multiple rooms in my house dedicated to foster kids and wish to provide anyone in need with the necessary resources to succeed in life. I used to worry that a busy work schedule would prevent me from achieving all my goals in life. Influencers in the medical field like Danielle Jones (Mama Doctor Jones) and Rachel Southard (current medical school student/vlogger) show me that being a doctor does not take away dreams but adds to them. It is because of them that I know that you can struggle with mental health and still be a doctor, you can fail a test and still be a doctor, you can have a family and still be a doctor. I am deeply dedicated to my goals in life and appreciate everyone who helps me along the way.

Mentorship is not always something you chose to do, but a role that falls into your lap. As the oldest child in my family, I am a mentor to my three younger siblings. I am not only a role model in my behavior, but in the way I treat myself and others. My siblings learn from me how to love themselves and embrace their uniqueness. We treat people with kindness and respect, no matter their race, gender identity, or who they love. For my sisters, I do affirmations with them at night and emphasize body positivity, so they don't have to learn the hard way like I did. My siblings know what to expect from a future partner, like being treated with respect and feeling safe, and what not to take from someone. I taught them the value and necessity of consent. Being able to give them the guidance I missed out by not having an older sibling means everything to me. Yes, we learn a lot from our parents and the adults around us, but there is a strong bond between siblings. Mentoring them was actually a big part of my own self-love journey. I never want to see my siblings struggle like I did, so why was I being so cruel to myself? Two year old me could not comprehend what it meant to be a big sister, but as I've grown, I have realized how lucky I am to have been given this role.

Change is not always initiated by one very large and glamorous act, but more often a collection of small acts. I try to fit in a small act of service whenever I can into my everyday life. I work and volunteer at my dance studio whose mission is to provide affordable dance classes for all ages. We host classes and parties, and even community involvement days. Volunteering with local mobile food banks is another way I aim to spread positive change. By assisting people directly as well as helping behind the scenes, it is ensured that the people in need will go home with food to last. Perhaps the easiest way to assist the community is by donating blood. There is currently a devastating blood shortage ravaging the country. Blood donations are necessary to save lives, and just one donation can save up to three of them. I donate every eight weeks and encourage others to do so as well. As a chairperson for the SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) club at my school, I moved to put an emphasis on blood drives this year that collected hundreds of donations. The way you help others evolves over time. As I get older, I hope to be able to contribute to change on a larger scale. But for now, small steps taken locally are making a difference in my community.

Growing up middle class, money was not really talked about. We could afford everything we needed, but not everything we wanted. My parents make enough to not to qualify for financial aid, but not enough to come close to paying for college. That's why I decided to take a financial literacy course this year to try and ease some anxieties about money and my financial future. What I learned about debt, budgeting, and investing will stick with me forever. The most important piece of advice my teacher gave me though was to keep learning about the ever-changing world of investments. In class, we have access to books, journals, reports, and news coverage all on the topic of investing. Through reading these I've learned about various markets from around the world such as the New York Stock Exchange and the Tokyo Stock Exchange. I was taught that reading would help me to learn to analyze stock exchanges before investing myself, so I'm prepared for any situation. By researching examples of good investments, I have the knowledge to create a smart and efficient investment plan when I am ready to enter the market. Even stock market big shots like George Soros and Warren Buffet weren't born experts at managing investments. Therefore, I'm focusing on absorbing as much information on stocks as I can so I can effectively invest in my future.

My name is Grace, I'm an 18-year-old senior in high school, and this year I helped re-launch the SADD chapter at my school. SADD stands for Students Against Destructive Decisions and my high school has had this club since the 80s when it fought against solely drunk driving. The former advisor and founder of our division, Mr. Burba, passed away in the fall of 2020 after teaching at my school since the 60s. I had been a part of SADD since freshman year, and Mr. Burba had inspired me so much in the two years I knew him. The loss was devastating, but perhaps an even greater loss was the loss of SADD, his passion project. A combination of Mr. Burba having taken care of the club for so long and the onset of the pandemic meant that the 2020-2021 school year was one without SADD. My senior year, however, I knew our community needed SADD back. A new teacher had been tasked with getting SADD up and running again, but interest was lacking as the first meeting had only three students including me show up. We knew we could not let another year go by without SADD though, so we convinced all of our friends to join by the second meeting! One of the biggest goals of our club is to spread awareness of the dangers of substance abuse disorders and providing resources to help struggling students. This October we participated in National Substance Abuse Awareness Month. Throughout the entire month we hosted presentations, trivia competitions, and demonstrations all relating to substance abuse disorder. Our plan was to make sure the entire student body could hear our calls for change. The most convincing portion of the month in my opinion were the special goggles that allowed students to see as if they were on different substances. So many people participated and were hopefully educated on substance use and abuse. Multiple students ended up approaching me at the end of the awareness month to inform me on the positive impact it had on them. I plan to continue my advocacy for education on substance abuse disorders into my career as a doctor. My goal is to be someone my patients feel safe enough to confide in should they have an issue and be able to offer actual help. For example, access to affordable therapy and rehab with continued support afterwards to avoid relapse. Furthermore, I wish to make substance use and its dangers a regular topic to bring up with patients so that it can be prevented. Especially with the teenage patients who possess the most impressionable minds. Substance use disorders weigh heavy on my heart, even more so now that I have lost contact with loved ones struggling. Everyone deserves a fair, judgement-free shot at improving their situation. It is my hope that a world will exist without the pain substance use disorders cause friends, families, and individuals.

The American writer and philosopher once said, "How many a man has thrown up his hands at a time when a little more effort, a little more patience would have achieved success." For me personally, this is a quote I have to constantly work at to remind myself of. It's easy to grow tired of giving effort towards a difficult or unpleasant task. However, pushing through discomfort is the key to achieving all your goals. I have been a competitive dancer for the last ten years of my life and I've lost count of the number of times I've considered giving up. A good dancer needs strength, flexibility, movement quality, and most of all patience. Building the necessary skills to perfectly perform pirouettes or soar high in the air takes years of training. Throughout the years I've suffered sprained ankles, concussions, and a broken nose from training. Each is a blow to the self-esteem. However, I've also seen immense growth in my abilities and mindset which never would have occurred had I lost patience with myself. Though I love math, it has never in my life come easy to me. Being on the advanced math track in school proved difficult when I lacked the discipline to have patience. In earlier years I would try a problem once and abandon it if I got it wrong, which did not lead to growth. Nowadays, I always stick to a problem and see it through to understanding because I know that's where true learning comes from. Therefore, patience plays a key role in my everyday life, as it most definitely should.

I learned the hard way that self-care is an absolutely essential aspect of my life. Whether I listen to some music, take a quick nap, relax in a hot shower, or simply take a mental break, I always make it a priority to take care of my well-being. During the initial pandemic quarantine, I didn't go in public from when it began, until July of that summer. My self-care practices declined sharply, and my mental health went with them. Every day was the same and things like brushing my hair and getting exercise felt unimportant. I eventually realized that something had to change because I was not okay. Once I made the switch to taking care of myself physically, mentally, and emotionally, I found meaning again. Learning to read books, light a candle, or take a walk when I begin to feel stressed out totally flipped my entire mood. Self-care taught me that it's unrealistic to be productive all the time. No one succeeds by constantly pushing themselves past their breaking point. I now know that self-care is the most effective way to debrief and reflect on my fast-paced life.

"Things are never quite as scary when you've got a best friend." -Bill Watterson This quote sums up my feelings on friendship perfectly. I have gone through periods of time in my life where I had no close friends in which I felt truly alone. Facing the school day by myself, barely uttering a single word because I had no one. This year, I've been fortunate enough to find a group of people I found meaning with. Now that I have my friends, I don't have to go through hardships alone because they are always one text away. Yes, I still face anxiety every day. But my friendships give me the comfort of knowing I'll make it through. Moving away from home and out onto a college campus is an incredibly nerve-wracking adjustment I will have to make this summer. Luckily, one of my best friends is attending the same university and we're planning on sharing a dorm! It is because I have her to lean on that the idea of moving has been manageable. Without friendship my life would be forever incomplete. In summary, friendship means to me a support system calms all worries.

Pregnancy and all its complexities have captured my interest for as long as I can remember. This interest has led to two of my life goals: to become an ob/gyn and a mom. The big decision to go for the gold and jump on the track to medical school was and continues to be terrifying. So many unknowns to stress over. What if I do get in? What if I fail out? Will I even like being a doctor? But every anxiety is calmed when I remember what I'm fighting for. I don't just want to make people feel better, I want to make a lasting impact on the medical field. Dreams of finding cures for rare pregnancy-related diseases and delivering brand new babies into the world sparkle in my eyes. I keep a log of every new physical and/or mental disease I run into. Symptoms, causes, and treatments are all recorded so I can expand my medical knowledge and feed my ravenous brain. I am absolutely determined to receive my white coat and start changing lives one day at a time. Because I know so much about the hardships of pregnancy and the toll it takes on the human body, my dreams of being pregnant myself are limited. Possibly one or two pregnancies for me max. However, regardless of if I have biological kids or not, another dream of mine has always been to foster. I pride myself on being able to feel deeply for others, so when I found out that there are over 400,000 foster children in the US alone, I wanted to be a part of the solution. Fostering is extremely difficult and not for everyone, but I stand by the importance of giving everything your best shot. I plan to have multiple rooms in my house dedicated to foster kids and wish to provide anyone in need with the necessary resources to succeed in life. I used to worry that a busy work schedule would prevent me from achieving all my goals in life. Influencers in the medical field like Danielle Jones (Mama Doctor Jones) and Rachel Southard (current medical school student/vlogger) show me that being a doctor does not take away dreams but adds to them. It is because of them that I know that you can struggle with mental health and still be a doctor, you can fail a test and still be a doctor, you can have a family and still be a doctor. I am deeply dedicated to my goals in life and appreciate everyone who helps me along the way.

1. I deserve this scholarship because I'm your long lost daughter and I need money for the camel ride through the Sahara Desert to meet you. I'm sorry it took me 18 years, to reach out, but my mother sent me to be raised by the egyptian empire and we don't get out much there. 2. My career goal is to be a customer in a store. I'll by all the tomatos available and make the world's largest bowl of tomato soup so I can brag on myspace to my bullies. 3. I overcame the obstacle learning how to see. I was born blind and wanted to not be that anymore so I practiced seeing everyday until I had 40/20 vision.

Despite lacking the developed communication skills of a human, my dog has turned out to be my biggest motivator. When I first got my beagle Mylo he was a tender seven weeks old. Having only me to rely on, I became the person he came to for all of his needs. The one job I dreaded most was always going on walks. I know it seems like a simple task, but it required a lot of energy for me as I was going through mental health challenges. However, I knew walks were essential for his growth and development so every day after school I would muster up the ability to get outside and walk for him. Eventually, these walks became a time of reflection and healing that I looked forward to. Now, whenever I need to get through something hard, I think about Mylo and how he is always there for me. I remember how he taught me that many tasks only appear difficult from one side. The reward of accomplishment is worth it every single time. His lesson applies to all aspects of my future goals as well. I am moving away from home for the first time ever this summer to attend Michigan State University. I aspire to graduate and attend medical school to become a doctor someday. Though the difficulty of these goals feels insurmountable, Mylo motivates me to move forward and achieve everything I'm meant to do in life.

Ever since elementary school I've been labeled as "gifted." Without even trying my grades excelled. I took all the accelerated classes and read the most advanced books for my age group. However, when I hit high school, classes suddenly became challenging. I didn't understand why it felt like I couldn't keep up. With the help of my therapist, I realized that I wasn't broken, I was just finally being challenged. I never gave up. Though I have certainly had a few bumps in the road, the newfound confidence I hold in myself and my abilities to adapt to what challenges me makes me proud. Currently, I have aspirations to attend Michigan State University, go to medical school, and become an ob/gyn. My passion is helping people and I am determined to do just that by working as a doctor. This won't be easy, the average student loan for doctors is $201,000! Growing up middle class I can't even fathom spending this much money on something invisible. I plan to get through this highly challenging endeavor by applying to as many scholarships as I can get my hands on and working all through college. Yes, I have a tough journey ahead, but with the amazing support of family and friends I know nothing will stop me.

"Eww, two girls can't kiss!" My three-year-old cousin had snuck up behind me while I was watching a favorite show of mine that features a lesbian couple. I explained to her that some girls like other girls, and some boys like other boys, and people don't choose who they fall in love with. I felt disheartened that she had already learned from society to judge others for being different at such a young age. I knew right then and there that something needed to change. It was moments like this that convinced me to join the WAVE club at my school. WAVE stands for Welcoming and Valuing Everybody and we hold meetings to discuss current issues affecting minorities, host awareness weeks, and even join demonstrations downtown. I have found that I experience emotion incredibly deeply and hurt when others hurt. I try to live my life every day with the goal of treating everyone with respect and love. No one should feel alone or unwanted in a society that is so diverse and privileged. These values tie into my future goals of becoming an ob/gyn as well. The field of pregnancy and "women's" health is immensely divided right now over gender and black mortality rates. If I am lucky enough to work as a doctor, I vow to treat every patient that seeks help to the best of my abilities without judgement and be their safe space.

I failed the very first math test of my high school career. I'd never been overly amazing at math, especially geometry, but going into high school I knew I wanted to challenge myself by hopping on the advanced route. Fresh out of middle school, I had never learned effective study techniques because I never needed them. After that first failure, I vowed to do better. Much trial and error later, I discovered the three strategies that worked for me: doodles, games, and breaks. First, I utilize my totally awesome and completely professional drawing skills to associate a picture with every term I need to remember. My geometry notebook was chalked full of various shapes, lines, and angles freshmen year. I drew so many congruent lines I don't even need to use a ruler anymore. Additionally, when I really need to study but can't muster up the motivation, I gather some friends for a good old game of jeopardy. Time truly does fly when you're having fun, and games make math transform into some healthy competition (which I LOVE). Lastly, and perhaps the most important of the strategies, is taking a break. It's easy to get overwhelmed and spiral out when I just can't seem to grasp a tricky concept. However, since learning about and recognizing firsthand the benefits a brain break can have on ability and retention, I know it's okay to stop if I start becoming unproductive. Students are not cookie cutter uniform, so it is essential that everyone finds what works for them to succeed.