"Is there a space for a first-generation eldest refugee girl, in a household of 11, to value her education as much as her responsibilities to her family’s daily survival?" 5:00 am: "Wake up to the sound of the alarm. Head downstairs and start cleaning the living room. It must be the first, for visitors might come at any time. Clean the dining room. Clean the kitchen. we can’t afford for it to be dirty. Pick up the dirty clothes and put them in the laundry. Cook and prepare the breakfast table before everyone comes downstairs. Wake up the kids at 7:00 am. Feed them, wash the dishes, and get them ready for school. Make the beds, take the trash out, and then finally, get myself ready for classes. I say, "Yes!" As an African offspring of a Congolese bloodline whose family fled to Tanzania, my birthplace, I began learning about the Congo, why we lived in a refugee camp and life’s realities at eight years old. My grandmother shared stories of a breathtaking place filled with magnificent scenery where Congolese women walked proudly against the backdrop of lush mountains, plentiful wildlife, and rivers that provided clean drinking water. However, that description was vastly different from the traumatic unrest my mother experienced and the wrenching one I learned about from the news: a polluted country filled with starving kids, food shortages, wars, and civil unrest where 60% of deaths are due to disease. That year was significant for me because it was also the year I was diagnosed with glaucoma.I quickly came to understand the seriousness of my condition after looking at my mother; I saw the face of a fearful, trapped, and helpless woman who was unable to do anything other than watch as the possibility of blindness loomed for her child. These discrepancies between our perspectives on life and our reality ignited my desire to make a difference in this world. My parent’s dream of migrating to the U.S. became our urgent collective goal; my older brother’s chronic illness demanded it. We were tasked with getting him quality medical care. The homemade remedies, like the one my mother used for my eyes, would not suffice. So, we moved from the long-term camp, giving almost everything we owned to neighbors, for what we believed was going to be a short-term stay in an immigration camp. For over 2 years, we were repeatedly denied entrance to the U.S. Harsh camp conditions took their toll; the feeling of hopelessness became far too normal for my family. It taught me patience. Ultimately, we reached our dream: America. The domestic responsibilities on my shoulders as a result of my parents working six days a week combined with the pressures put on women in my culture did not deter me. However, they often hindered my ability to fully participate in school extracurriculars. I am thankful for the time management skills I learned and the advancements my family made, which now enable my participation. I’ve co-organized several of Clarkston's math and science club projects and even started a biology club. I was nominated for the 2022 Governor’s Honor Program in Science and Social Studies. Outside of school, I work to develop my passion at Grace Medical Clinic, as a translator. It is an honor to provide quality healthcare to immigrants and people who cannot afford important services otherwise. Furthermore, I also work at a pharmacy where I’m advancing my medical knowledge while helping relieve family financial burdens. I plan to utilize my education and profession to protect the vulnerable and combat cultural gender norms.

Growing up, I was not aware of the cultural belief I held within myself in my day-to-day life. I come from a background where mental health issues, including stress, anxiety, and depression, were seen as conditions only older adults could experience. It was difficult for me to understand how teenagers and other young adults could say they are "depressed" because my background always emphasized that this was not possible. However, after some time, I soon realized how narrow my perspective was. Taking my personal experiences as an example, I came to understand that anxiety has no age or gender limits. During my transition from freshman year to sophomore year, the global pandemic hit. Transferring from in-person learning to online learning affected me deeply. A few months into the pandemic and my new school year, my mother gave birth to my youngest brother, Fostehn. My mother had to return to work three weeks after giving birth. As the oldest daughter, I then had the additional responsibility of caring for the baby while making sure my siblings kept up with their online learning, as well as my own learning, and then preparing lunch all by 2 p.m. I quickly became overwhelmed. I was also sleep deprived since the baby kept me up all night. This put me under excessive pressure and caused anxiety because it felt like if there was one mistake, everything would come crumbling down. The pressure I felt also began to take a toll on my school performance. My moods fluctuate based on my assignments and grades. I would often find myself crying and feeling bitter without understanding why. Even though I eventually improved my grades, I still struggled with negative emotions, hardly smiled, and was always tired. I changed from being the bright big sister to someone who is always grumpy and always rushed. As my understanding of mental health didn’t align with what I was going through, I did not understand that I was experiencing anxiety. My siblings would often ask if something was wrong, and I would say no because I genuinely did not know that something was wrong. That was until my parents sat me down and asked what was going on. Initially, I did not know how to express my feelings. However, with the help of my eldest brother and my best friend, I was able to open up to my family. I was finally able to understand and accept my situation. This realization came as a rebuttal to my cultural understanding of mental health, but with the support of my family and friends, I was able to pick myself up again. With my new outlook, I now aim to support and encourage those from a similar cultural background to understand that anyone can be affected by mental health challenges, even someone named Happy, and it is okay to reach out for help.