Mental health has always been something that I have advocated for in students and school settings. Pressure from teachers, peers, and even parents can take a significant toll on a student’s mental health. Every day, students have to juggle several classes, keep track of due dates, make time for studying, and complete all assignments while having projects for other classes. Many students, such as myself, also had jobs outside of school, making life more stressful as I had to juggle work and everything school-related. In my junior year of high school, I would have frequent episodes of severe depression. I was in a class with a teacher who made me feel like I wasn't smart enough, or I wasn't doing enough, or the bad grades that I was getting on tests were my fault. I would study every night, ask several others for help, and even paid for a tutor, but I could never grasp the subject. This resulted in me feeling inadequate in all aspects of my life. Like I wasn't doing good at my job, good at school, good with my friends or family. I started to push people away because I was terrified of disappointing anyone for not being good enough. As someone who had never struggled with school, this was new territory for me. I held all of my value in my grades, and if I was not performing well, then that meant that I wasn't doing enough and that people wouldn't love me. It was a constant battle with myself, and the episodes of depression were not helping. I had already suffered with severe anxiety throughout High School so these constant drops in my mood weighed heavily on me. When I was at my absolute lowest I decided that maybe it was time to see a professional because I didn't want to feel this way forever. Five months into my junior year, I found an excellent therapist who taught me so much. I learned things about myself that I could have never thought of and healed from many old and new wounds. I finally had someone to talk to about how I shouldn't be feeling this way because of the class and that maybe it's not my fault, and my feelings were validated. The anger and resentment I felt towards this teacher were validated. Over the next several months I developed skills to manage the stress I was under and ways to cope with the feelings I was having. my relationships with my family and friends improved as I opened up about how I was feeling. I discovered that they all knew I was doing my best with what I had and they were proud of me for working so hard. The support I received from my family and friends helped me pull through my worries and depression. I got more rest, which allowed me to work harder, and I ended up leaving that class with an A and an even better support system. After Junior year, my whole work ethic changed. I was able to balance school, work, and my relationships better. I worked hard and always pushed myself to do my best knowing that the people around me noticed how hard I worked and we're proud of me. I could talk to my parents more about what I was feeling and struggling with, and learning that I could ask for help without receiving disappointment was life-changing. I began to make long-term goals for myself, like carving out my path to success in college and what direction I wanted to take my life in. At the same time, I could stop and appreciate how far I'd come and the accomplishments I'd made. I could take a moment and be proud of myself instead of worrying that I wasn't good enough. My mental health journey was a long and hard one, and it continues today as I still attend therapy to learn even more about myself And prepare myself for this next significant chapter in my life.

I have many favorite animals, but the one that I admire most is the red fox. Red foxes are incredibly adaptable. They live in various environments, from cold, arctic forests to dry, arid deserts. They can live on the tops of mountains of various altitudes or in the flattest of suburban areas. These creatures have a beautiful orange and auburn coat with white fur bellies and little black paws. This species of vulpine is exceedingly clever and cunning. They are incredibly intelligent and swift but also shy. Red foxes are friendly to humans but are also timid and will rarely approach a human. If someone spots a red fox in the wild, it is a sign of encouragement to be more adaptable in life and the situations we may find ourselves in. Not only do I admire the evolution of this creature, but I also think they are adorable to look at. I love how their snouts can form into natural smiles when they open their mouths. When I think of a red fox, I am reminded of its strengths and capabilities. I wish to be more like a fox in the way that it is resourceful and adaptable. I've always had difficulty adjusting to changes in life, schedules, and even small routines. I have also always tried to stick with what I know and refused to ask for help when needed. However, the red fox takes both of these things in stride. When their environments are forced to change, they can adapt to things once outside of their comfort zones. When they are in trouble or find themselves stuck, they use things they have at their disposal to solve these problems instead of stewing in silence. As the red foxes are intelligent, I believe I am intelligent as well. As they are timid, I have my moments of hesitation, but like the fox, I can also be very friendly and welcoming to those around me. And, of course, I’d like to think I am just as adorable as a red fox. Aside from my admiration for this specific animal, I have worked with several animals throughout my life, including equine, cattle, poultry, and all the livestock you can think of. I grew up going to my family farm at least three days out of the week. I was taught valuable lessons here about hard work and labor. From building fences to vaccinating our herd, I learned from a young age that ambition and passion are required to achieve significant accomplishments that you can be proud of. As I began working with these animals more, I decided that I would like to protect them as I would my friends and family. To do this, I must provide them with a healthy home with plentiful resources. I discovered that I wished to pursue environmental sciences to ensure that the homes and habitats of these animals could be protected so that they could thrive in the wild or in domestication. I wish to study animals that have been brought into the homes of other animals and how I can protect the native organisms from the newly invading ones.