If you are lost, YOU WILL BE FOUND! The song You Will Be Found by from Dear Evan Hansen is a song which holds an important message to me. This song reinforces the struggles we all face in life in terms of loneliness, mental health struggles, and feeling like no one understands what we have gone through or are currentlly going through. "You will be found," is a verse repeated throughout this powerful song, and also a title that reaches people in communicating a deep and meaningful message that they are not alone. One profound lyric that encourages people to reach out when they're in need is, "Every time that you call out, your a little less alone". I have listened to numerous songs, but the powerful message behind the lyric is one that resonates with me. Sometimes I feel isolated in what I have experienced or gone through. The first few lines of this song have related to me countless times. I have felt that if I wasn't around no one would care. You Will Be Found, is a song that reminds us that we are not alone and we can choose to support one another through our darkest moments.

Poem 1 - anxiety it controls your every thought step, action festers inside until the feeling of hunger is no longer experienced or present until breathing doesn't become an option but is continuous it never leaves your presence like a heavy backpack you've been carrying all day the thoughts cloud your mind, blind you from what is and what could be if you just did not feel anxious Poem 2 - Growing up You asked me what I wanted to be When I grew up I told you I did not know They say we have to go to school be the fastest in the pool race until we can't feel anymore so I'll tell you that we all need some time to slow down and give our minds a rest well I think it's good to try your best, but not when your mind is stressed we walk around the halls at school and feel a little insecure that we don't fit in, with the cool kids they say we have to dress all cool and be the smartest at school well did you ever think that is a lot to ask? so I'll tell you that we need some time to slow down and give our minds a rest because growing up happens fast

One change I want to see in my community, the country, and the world is reducing or removing the stigma for mental health. This is a challenge the entire country and world is facing. The stigma of mental health has been present for decades and is slightly fading in this generation but there is still a lot of work to be done. I have participated in making a difference locally through volunteer experience. I initiated a student wellness committee in my sophomore year of high school. Through this experience, I worked with others to table events for suicide prevention, inform others about anxiety, and inform other students on how to receive the assistance they need on campus. The difficult moments I experienced; I learned could be used to help other people and create change in my community. I also further understood that everyone, whether they appear to be or not, is going through something. I took it upon myself to meet with the wellness coordinator at my high school. I then later asked to speak at the opening event. I enjoyed the opportunity of being involved with something that could make a significant impact on others' lives. My passion for health and well-being not only grew, but I grew in my desire to care for more people.

A mind without clarity is a mind with chaos. Without a positive mindset and access to reliable resources, our minds can be easily clouded. Mental health has influenced my career aspirations and is a central aspect of my well-being. If my well-being is not in check or I am not doing well, my entire perspective on life gets fogged over by the deep feelings I am experiencing. I have faced a constant battle with anxiety from a young age. I was unaware of what I was going through until I reached middle and high school. Therapy became necessary. Sports were my outlet, and breaking a sweat reduced my anxiety. I let myself build up school assignments in my head as my perfectionistic personality kept getting in the way of being in a peaceful state of mind. The first step I took toward working in the direction of my career goals began in my high school years but more specifically in my junior year of high school. I worked as a camp counselor, was in a leadership program, participated in various volunteer opportunities, and was the lead ambassador a part of SWAC (student wellness advisory committee). The work I have done in volunteering and previous projects has provided me with the background knowledge to further my understanding to make a difference in other people's mental health. In my community and high school, I started working toward my goals by getting involved on campus by implementing a student wellness advisory committee. I initiated meetings with my school wellness coordinator and collaborated with other high school students to instigate influential change. Through leading meetings, creating informational videos on how to seek help on campus, and hosting events such as a stress-less week, I furthered my understanding of how I could be a difference-maker at my high school and in the world at large. In the darkest moments, my relationships have also been affected because I have learned to lean on others. Being vulnerable about what I am going through has also positively influenced my well-being. I found value in sharing with others while also being able to listen to those around me and their experiences brought us closer together. I have been able to maintain my mental wellness through journaling practices, therapy, and exercise. Exercise has been crucial to my overall wellbeing and I have seen the most significant shift in my mindset when I have worked out. I also keep a journal and try to write in it almost daily. My struggles with anxiety have influenced every aspect of my life. Moving past the negative self-talk and being open is in constant progress, but I know depending on others and not keeping in my emotions will benefit me in the long run. Up keeping my wellness practices will also be very important in the long run.

I have always been interested in a career that is hands-on, changes day to day, and at the center of it is focused on caring for other people. I have been under the care of wonderful nurses which has also made me further want to look into a nursing degree. In the future, I plan to travel to other countries or even locations in the United States which are underserved and work to provide medical assistance where needed. Five years from now I can see myself working with children, possibly in other countries, and either providing medical assistance through nursing. I would want to pursue a nursing degree with an emphasis on child development or pediatrics. I have worked closely with younger children and students my age to work on developing changed behaviors through diverse projects and work experience. In my freshman year of high school, my life changed when I was playing in a basketball game. I was guarding another player who managed to push their head into mine while running full speed and going in for a layup. Blood gushed everywhere and I was rushed to the emergency room to be further evaluated and observed. When arriving at the emergency room, I can recall the entire staff being extremely comforting and continuously reassuring me –I was going to be just fine. I was emitted to one of the rooms and was greeted by my nurse. Throughout the entire process, he walked me through step by step what he was going to do, while also having other side conversations with me to keep my mind off the procedure. I ended up getting the skin above my right eye toward the end of my eyebrow glued and at this moment found my passion for nursing. This experience along with activities I have been involved in has fueled my desire to become a nurse. I was an active participant in a school club called Friendship Club throughout the duration of my freshman to junior year (before I moved out of state). In this club, I volunteered during my Thursday lunch periods to work with special needs students. I facilitated activities and assisted students in playing games, such as basketball. The hands-on experience has demonstrated a deeper curiosity and desire to learn more about others and their development through adolescence. Developing a wellness advisory committee at my high school is something I am very proud of. I was actively involved in meetings, creating events on campus, and filming informational videos on how students can receive counseling support on campus from the wellness center. This experience has influenced my desired major and field of study because I understand how a child’s development is crucial to supporting a healthy adolescent and adult. The various experiences I have been involved in throughout high school are only the beginning of what lies ahead in my academic and career goals. I am passionate about further studying the process of a child’s development as well as nursing, to eventually reach underserved communities and implement sustainable practices for children in these countries.

A mind without clarity is a mind with chaos. Without a positive mindset and access to reliable resources, our minds can be easily clouded. Mental health has influenced my beliefs, relationships, and my career aspirations. If my well-being is not in check or I am not doing well, my entire perspective on life gets fogged over by the deep feelings I am experiencing. I have faced a constant battle with anxiety from a young age. I was unaware of what I was going through until I reached middle and high school. Therapy became necessary. Sports were my outlet, and breaking a sweat reduced my anxiety. I let myself build up school assignments in my head as my perfectionistic personality kept getting in the way of being in a peaceful state of mind. The first step I took toward working in the direction of my career goals began in my high school years but more specifically in my junior year of high school. I worked as a camp counselor, was in a leadership program, participated in various volunteer opportunities, and was the lead ambassador a part of SWAC (student wellness advisory committee). The work I have done in volunteering and previous projects has provided me with the background knowledge to further my understanding to make a difference in other people's mental health. In my community and high school, I started working toward my goals by getting involved on campus by implementing a student wellness advisory committee. I initiated meetings with my school wellness coordinator and collaborated with other high school students to instigate influential change. Through leading meetings, creating informational videos on how to seek help on campus, and hosting events such as a stress-less week, I furthered my understanding of how I could be a difference-maker at my high school and in the world at large. In the darkest moments, my relationships have also been affected because I have learned to lean on others. Being vulnerable about what I am going through has also positively influenced my well-being. I found value in sharing with others while also being able to listen to those around me and their experiences brought us closer together. In terms of my beliefs, I have discovered how valuable it is to have close relationships and trusted people in my life. I believe challenges can be utilized to help other people. Sharing deep conversations with others has allowed me to understand that I am not alone in what I am experiencing; neither is anyone else. My struggles with anxiety have influenced every aspect of my life. Moving past the negative self-talk and being open is in constant progress, but I know depending on others and not keeping in my emotions will benefit me in the long run.