When I began my sophomore year of high school, it felt like my entire life changed. I faced going back to in-person school for the first time in a year and a half since the COVID restrictions had been lifted, and I was overwhelmed with nervousness and self-doubt. The isolation and time away from a normal school environment had plunged me into a spiral of insecurity and fear of the year to come. This was the first time in my life where I truly began struggling with my mental health. Most days, I felt lonely and I spent more time stressed out than I was relaxed. It got to the point where I almost quit the swim team because I was so flooded with anxiety. Fortunately, I had some ideas about mental health due to a mental wellness month I helped lead at my middle school. I began working out and cooking healthier meals to take care of my body. I noticed that this helped me feel less anxious. I also found a wonderful therapist who helped talk me through my problems. And more importantly, she helped me feel like my emotions were valid and that I wasn’t crazy for feeling the way I did. I am also fortunate to have supportive friends and parents who listen to me and give me advice when I need it. In the years since COVID, I have learned to recognize my own indicators of stress or anxiety and to be proactive in prioritizing my mental health, knowing it is foundational to other areas of my life. I have also experienced a darker side of mental health issues. In early 2020, my cousin Alex, who had schizophrenia and drug issues, took the lives of my aunt, cousin, and himself. This tragedy shocked my family and I observed the unfortunate reality of untreated mental illness, and the impact it can have when people struggle with medication, diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders. Alex, who was in his mid-20s when he took his life, had spiraled into deeper and deeper psychosis over a few years. People around him could see it happening, from his bouts of homelessness to increasingly erratic thoughts, but he refused evaluation and treatment. I can’t help but wonder…if he had received help early on, would he have accepted treatment and would lives have been saved? My other cousin experienced a psychotic break around the age of 20, related to drug use. He spent time in a psychiatric hospital, was evaluated, and diagnosed with schizophrenia. He faced the dilemma of medication that helped with psychosis but caused undesirable side effects. However, he had hope for a future through managing his mental illness. I can’t help but think...with the psychiatric and psychological help he received, where could his life have taken him if it hadn’t been cut short? Currently, my brother, who has ADHD and OCD, is also battling drug abuse and treatment acceptance. My brother has struggled to find the right person to talk to, hitting many dead-ends along the way. I hope he will find the resources and support for a positive future. As you can imagine, mental illness is deeply personal and important to me due to these experiences. This is a primary reason I decided to study psychology in college. I want to pursue a career in psychology because I know there is not enough mental health support for young people and teens. I want to be a part of the solution of making sure anyone with a mental health concern can access resources to be heard and helped.

In the year 2020, everything changed. Of course, there was the global pandemic that shut the world down in mid-March, but that’s not what I’ll remember most about that year. On September 22, 2020, I was at a Girl Scout cookie booth with my two best friends, trying to raise money for our troop. It was early and I was complaining to my mom because at 14 years old, I thought I was too old for cookie booths. We were standing right inside the entrance to Cub, and I could feel the freezing air washing in through the sliding doors every time shoppers came inside. I shivered and stared down at the brightly packaged cookies, wishing I could be anywhere else. As I moved to straighten a box of Caramel-de-Lites, my mom’s phone rang. She answered it with the cheery voice she always uses when she’s talking to my dad. “Hello!” It was silent for a few moments, then I watched as her face slowly grew solemn and the hollows under her eyes seemed to deepen. A pit in my stomach began to make my heart pound. My eyes were fixed on her face, trying to guess what was wrong. That morning, I found out that my cousin Alex had shot and killed my aunt Jan, his brother Jack, and then himself. Alex was 27 years old and battled paranoid schizophrenia. Jan tried her absolute best to help him and give him resources, but he refused treatment. Additionally, he struggled with drug abuse. His father was addicted to drugs, and indirectly introduced them to his sons. This tragedy shocked my family, and I observed the unfortunate reality and impact of people who struggle with medication, diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders. Currently, my brother, who has ADHD and OCD, is also battling drug abuse and is struggling with treatment acceptance. He’s 17 years old and has been using for about two years to my knowledge. Mental illness and drug abuse are deeply personal to me due to these experiences with my family. In college and beyond, I aspire to be a resource for people like Alex and my brother. Observing the mental health struggles of my family members made me see first-hand the destructive impact of drugs and untreated mental illnesses. That's what led me to study psychology—I want to dedicate my career to being present for others and helping them navigate their challenges. Dr. Ralph G. Nichols, known as the ‘father of listening,’ once said, “The most basic of all human needs is to understand and to be understood.” These words inspire me deeply. My goal is to create a space where people feel truly heard and valued. While listening alone can't cure serious mental illnesses, it's essential for individuals like my cousin Alex to have their conditions recognized so they can begin the journey toward help. I’m studying psychology at UW-La Crosse because I want my career to be spent helping people like my cousin Alex so tragedies like this one don’t happen. My brother has also really struggled to find the right person to talk to, hitting many dead-ends along the way. There is simply not nearly enough mental health support for young people and teens. By choosing a career in psychology, I hope to help prevent the losses of people like Alex and help reduce the impacts of drug abuse and untreated mental illnesses that have harmed far too many families. My aunt Jan, who was also a psychology major in college, would be proud of me for pursuing a career surrounding mental health.

When I turned 15, everything changed. As the hot August days drew to a close and school resumed after Covid, I felt overwhelmed with self-doubt and fear, which impacted my schoolwork and caused me to quit the swim team. Fortunately, I found a wonderful therapist who helped me sort through my thoughts. But more importantly, she helped me feel like my emotions were validated and that I wasn’t crazy for feeling the way I did. I was also fortunate to have supportive friends and parents who listened to me when I needed to vent. I was lucky because I didn’t need medication or major lifestyle changes—just being heard helped me feel better. My name is Grace Newman, and I’m a freshman at UW-La Crosse studying Psychology and Spanish. I grew up in Mahtomedi, Minnesota. My passion for mental health started early; in seventh grade, my friend and I organized a Mental Wellness Month at our middle school for our Girl Scout Silver Award, aiming to reduce stigma and promote open discussions. Then, in eighth grade, I was introduced to a darker side of mental health issues. I was introduced to a harsh reality when my cousin Alex, who had schizophrenia and drug issues, took the lives of my aunt, cousin, and himself. This tragedy shocked my family and I observed the unfortunate reality and impact of people who struggle with medication, diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders. Currently, my brother, who has ADHD and OCD, is also battling drug abuse and treatment acceptance. Mental illness is deeply personal to me due to these experiences. After middle school, I took AP Psychology in tenth grade and Child Development Psychology as a senior, deepening my understanding of mental illnesses. Both of these classes gave me a broader understanding of the human mind and mental health. These classes helped me connect academic material to my own personal experiences and realize how fortunate I am to have supportive people in my life, unlike many who lack such support. In college and beyond, I aspire to be the listener that I once needed. My own experience of feeling isolated and then finding comfort in being heard by others made me realize the true power of empathy and support. Observing the mental health struggles of my family members also made me realize the rarity of a true listener. That's what led me to study psychology—I want to dedicate my career to being an active listener for others and helping them navigate their challenges. Dr. Ralph G. Nichols, known as the ‘father of listening,’ once said, “The most basic of all human needs is to understand and to be understood.” These words inspire me deeply. My goal is to create a space where people feel truly heard and valued. While listening alone can't cure serious mental illnesses, it's essential for individuals like my cousin Alex to have their conditions recognized so they can begin the journey toward help. My brother has also struggled to find the right person to talk to, hitting many dead-ends along the way. At the end of the day, there is not nearly enough mental health support for young people and teens. In college and beyond, I want the people I spend time with to find solace in knowing they are understood. By providing listening, empathy, and support, I hope to make a positive impact on others' lives, just as these values have impacted mine.

As soon as I turned 15, everything changed. As the hot August days drew to a close and school resumed after Covid, I felt overwhelmed with self-doubt and fear, which impacted my schoolwork and caused me to quit the swim team. Fortunately, I found a wonderful therapist who helped me sort through my thoughts. But more importantly, she helped me feel like my emotions were validated and that I wasn’t crazy for feeling the way I did. I was also fortunate to have supportive friends and parents who listened to me when I needed to vent. I was lucky because I didn’t need medication or major lifestyle changes—just being heard helped me feel better. My name is Grace Newman, and I’m a freshman at UW-La Crosse studying Psychology and Spanish. I grew up in Mahtomedi, Minnesota. My passion for mental health started early; in seventh grade, my friend and I organized a Mental Wellness Month at our middle school for our Girl Scout Silver Award, aiming to reduce stigma and promote open discussions. Then, in eighth grade, I was introduced to a darker side of mental health issues. I was introduced to a harsh reality when my cousin Alex, who had schizophrenia and drug issues, took the lives of my aunt, cousin, and himself. This tragedy shocked my family and I observed the unfortunate reality and impact of people who struggle with medication, diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders. Currently, my brother, who has ADHD and OCD, is also battling drug abuse and treatment acceptance. Mental illness is deeply personal to me due to these experiences. After middle school, I took AP Psychology in tenth grade and Child Development Psychology as a senior, deepening my understanding of mental illnesses. Both of these classes gave me a broader understanding of the human mind and mental health. These classes helped me connect academic material to my own personal experiences and realize how fortunate I am to have supportive people in my life, unlike many who lack such support. In college and beyond, I want my career to be centered around helping others in ways that I once needed help. My own experience of feeling isolated and then finding comfort in being heard by others made me realize the true power of empathy and support. Observing the mental health struggles of my family members also made me realize the rarity of a true listener. That's what led me to study psychology—I want to dedicate my career to being an active listener for others and helping them navigate their challenges. Dr. Ralph G. Nichols, known as the ‘father of listening,’ once said, “The most basic of all human needs is to understand and to be understood.” These words inspire me deeply. My goal is to create a space where people feel truly heard and valued. While listening alone can't cure serious mental illnesses, it's essential for individuals like my cousin Alex to have their conditions recognized so they can begin the journey toward help. My brother has also struggled to find the right person to talk to, hitting many dead-ends along the way. At the end of the day, there is not nearly enough mental health support for young people and teens. In college and beyond, I want the people I spend time with to find solace in knowing they are understood. By providing listening, empathy, and support, I hope to make a positive impact on others' lives, just as these values have impacted mine.

What have you learned about mental health during your high-school years and how will you apply it in the yearstocome? When I turned 15, everything changed. I faced going back to in-person school for the first time in a year and a half since Covid restrictions had been lifted, and I was overwhelmed with nervousness and self-doubt. The isolation and time away from a normal school environment had plunged me into a spiral of insecurity and fear of the year to come. Fortunately, I found a wonderful therapist who helped me sort through my thoughts. But more importantly, she helped me feel like my emotions were valid and that I wasn’t crazy for feeling the way I did. I was also fortunate to have supportive friends and parents who listened to me when I needed to vent. I was lucky because I had access to resources that allowed me to feel heard and work through my issues. My name is Grace Newman, and I’m a freshman at UW-La Crosse studying Psychology and Spanish. I grew up in Mahtomedi, Minnesota. My passion for mental health started early; in seventh grade, a friend and I organized a Mental Wellness Month at our middle school. Our main goal was to reduce the stigma around mental health by encouraging open conversations and active listening in school and among friends. In high school, I took AP Psychology and Child Development Psychology, deepening my understanding of mental health. Both of these classes gave me a broader understanding of the human mind and mental health. These classes helped me connect academic material to my own personal experiences and realize how fortunate I am to have supportive people in my life, unlike many who lack such support. I’ve also experienced a darker side of mental health issues. In 2020, my cousin Alex, who had schizophrenia and drug issues, took the lives of my aunt, cousin, and himself. This tragedy shocked my family and I observed the unfortunate reality of untreated mental illness, and the impact it can have when people struggle with medication, diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders. Currently, my brother, who has ADHD and OCD, is also battling drug abuse and treatment acceptance. Mental illness is deeply personal to me due to these experiences. In college and beyond, I aspire to be the listener that I once needed. Dr. Ralph G. Nichols, known as the ‘father of listening,’ once said, “The most basic of all human needs is to understand and to be understood.” These words inspire me deeply. My goal is to create a space where people feel truly heard and valued. While listening alone can't cure serious mental illnesses, it's essential for individuals like my cousin Alex to have their conditions recognized so they can begin the journey toward help. I am also driven to learn more about why mental illness occurs, and be a part of solutions for people who are struggling. For my career, I am considering psychiatry or neuroscience so I can have a deeper understanding and make an impact. I also want to pursue a career in psychology because there is not nearly enough mental health support for young people and teens. My brother has struggled to find the right person to talk to, hitting many dead-ends along the way. I want to be a part of the solution of making sure anyone with a mental health concern can access resources to be heard and helped. By providing listening, empathy, and support, I hope to make a positive impact on others' lives, just as these values have impacted mine.