I am working, and hope to work, with those afflicted by personality disorders. I have an utter infatuation with personality disorders, largely due to my personal experience with them. There are three clusters of personality disorders, Cluster A: The Odd and Eccentric Cluster, Cluster B: The Dramatic and Erratic Cluster, and Cluster C: The Anxious and Fearful Cluster. I have two family members who have personality disorders in the Cluster C classification. My dad has been diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder, otherwise known as OCPD. This is very different than OCD. My sister also has a diagnosed Cluster C classification, Avoidant Personality Disorder, otherwise known as AVPD. These personality disorders can be debilitating, and I have made it my drive in life to learn, educate, and vocalize the seriousness of these disorders. I plan to receive my undergraduate in psychology - then specialize in studying personality disorders for my graduate education. I desire to help people suffering from these personality disorders. One day I yearn to clinically counsel people with these disorders, helping them feel confident and competent. Advocating for these individuals is desperately needed within our society, my education is a mission to help those millions drowning in their personality disorders. Firstly, to properly advocate for those suffering from OCPD, one must understand it. Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder is characterized by immense frustration, rigidness, and anxiety regarding everyday tasks. My dad has a rigid adherence to routine, slightly wandering from this routine causes him great amounts of anxiety. Another frustrating symptom of OCPD is hoarding. This symptom and disorder often develop in those who grew up poor, this is the case for my dad. My dad has the mental incapability of throwing away an item, no matter their monetary value or condition. This is most likely due to his poverty-stricken childhood. This hoarding causes him and my other family members great stress and turmoil. OCPD largely has to do with the incapability to delegate. My dad has the mental mindset that he has to do everything himself, and he has incredible difficulty asking for help. My dad's routine involves extensive cleaning, if he is not vacuuming the carpet or wiping windows, his anxiety is at a peak high. My dad is just one of many who suffer from this condition. It's the most common personality disorder, affecting 3-8% of Americans. Secondly, understanding Avoidant Personality Disorder is crucial to understanding my plight in helping those with these conditions. My younger sister has been diagnosed with this condition. This is significant because personality disorders usually cannot be diagnosed until one is an adult, my sister's case is so serious that doctors gave her this diagnosis regardless. AVPD is characterized by extreme social anxiety in situations, insurmountable self-doubt, over-catastrophizing problems, and a poor self-image. This disorder is incredibly isolating, it involves much pain and suffering for those afflicted with it. My sister hasn't made a single friend in seventeen years, feelings of fear, distrust, and self-loathing ultimately trump one's inner desire for friends. This disorder is one of the most emotionally taxing. Ultimately, I am working to address these underlooked social issues by furthering my education. I want to become a licensed therapist, specializing in these disorders. This summer I plan to work within a research group researching personality disorders. Hopefully, more awareness can be spread by doing this. Within counseling, personality disorders are solved by Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, CBT, and Dialectic Behavioral Therapy, DBT. Immersing myself in these therapies can help me help victims of these disorders. This social issue is severely underlooked, yet I plan to make a difference.