Since the second grade, I have had anxiety. The constant pressure of having good grades and perfect behavior consumed my mind. I always struggled in social situations, making school feel impossible. Anxiety has been a major part of my life, in both good ways and bad. This led me to the decision to go to therapy in 2021. Starting therapy made me feel vulnerable but relieved. I finally had a place to explain how I was feeling without judgment. As I began getting comfortable with my therapist, I opened up to her about how I related to many autistic people. She recommended getting a psychological evaluation to confirm or deny my suspicions. After months of testing, I was diagnosed with severe anxiety, depression, and autism. At first, I did not believe that I was autistic. “But I can make eye contact!” “I know how to make facial expressions.” I was constantly finding minuscule ways to disprove the diagnosis. I wanted to be a normal teenager. I did not want to look at the ground while I talked to people, cut all the tags out of my shirts, or shutter when I heard loud noises. I fought myself for months about being autistic. Finally, I learned to accept that part of me. I decided that I did not want to hide my mental health. I started to advocate for my mental health by working with my school counselor to get a 504 plan. I also emailed my teachers to inform them of my diagnosis, explained my accommodations, and opened the door for discussion about autism. I want people to know that autism does not make me less than them. I know that I am just as capable as my peers. I continued going to therapy to better equip myself with ways to be autistic in a world that does not cater to autism. Since my diagnosis, I have decided that I would like to become a speech therapist, During the summer of my sophomore year of high school, I got to intern with a local speech therapist. Working with her showed me that I would like to help nonverbal kids communicate in their own way. No matter what I choose to do in life, I want to educate those around me. Autism, anxiety, and depression should not be hushed but celebrated. I want to show my peers that I am not held back because of my disability or mental health. After almost a year of therapy, I have found ways to go out of my comfort zone. I interned at a middle school for a year. At first, I was overwhelmed with worries about how I could teach people that were only three years younger than me. As time went on, I found myself enjoying every time I got to teach a lesson. While I was doing my internship, I also started a social justice group at my school. I have actively participated in educating my peers about racism, ableism, and slurs. The following summer, I went out into my community to sell advertisements for my school’s yearbook. I was shy when talking to businesses, but managed to sell over $600 in advertising. I used my mental health to my advantage and learned how I can grow from the pressure of doing things outside of my comfort zone. I still strive to learn how to be more social, but I know when to give my brain a break. Living with autism and anxiety are not challenges I had to overcome. My mental health has made me the person I am today.

Since the second grade, I have had anxiety. The constant pressure of having good grades and perfect behavior consumed my mind. I always struggled in social situations, making school feel impossible. Anxiety has been a major part of my life, in both good ways and bad. This led me to the decision to go to therapy in 2021. Starting therapy made me feel vulnerable but relieved. I finally had a place to explain how I was feeling without judgment. As I began getting comfortable with my therapist, I opened up to her about how I related to many autistic people. She recommended getting a psychological evaluation to confirm or deny my suspicions. After months of testing, I was diagnosed with severe anxiety, depression, and autism. At first, I did not believe that I was autistic. “But I can make eye contact!” “I know how to make facial expressions.” I was constantly finding minuscule ways to disprove the diagnosis. I wanted to be a normal teenager. I did not want to look at the ground while I talked to people, cut all the tags out of my shirts, or shutter when I heard loud noises. I fought myself for months about being autistic. Finally, I learned to accept that part of me. I decided that I did not want to hide my mental health. I started to advocate for my mental health by working with my school counselor to get a 504 plan. I also emailed my teachers to inform them of my diagnosis, explained my accommodations, and opened the door for discussion about autism. I want people to know that autism does not make me less than them. I know that I am just as capable as my peers. I continued going to therapy to better equip myself with ways to be autistic in a world that does not cater to autism. Since my diagnosis, I have decided that I would like to become a speech therapist, During the summer of my sophomore year of high school, I got to intern with a local speech therapist. Working with her showed me that I would like to help nonverbal kids communicate in their own way. No matter what I choose to do in life, I want to educate those around me. Autism, anxiety, and depression should not be hushed but celebrated. I want to show my peers that I am not held back because of my disability or mental health. After almost a year of therapy, I have found ways to go out of my comfort zone. I interned at a middle school for a year. At first, I was overwhelmed with worries about how I could teach people that were only three years younger than me. As time went on, I found myself enjoying every time I got to teach a lesson. While I was doing my internship, I also started a social justice group at my school. I have actively participated in educating my peers about racism, ableism, and slurs. The following summer, I went out into my community to sell advertisements for my school’s yearbook. I was shy when talking to businesses, but managed to sell over $600 in advertising. I used my mental health to my advantage and learned how I can grow from the pressure of doing things outside of my comfort zone. I still strive to learn how to be more social, but I know when to give my brain a break. Living with autism and anxiety are not challenges I had to overcome. My mental health has made me the person I am today.

Since the second grade, I have had anxiety. The constant pressure of having good grades and perfect behavior consumed my mind. I always struggled in social situations, making school feel impossible. Anxiety has been a major part of my life, in both good ways and bad. This led me to the decision to go to therapy in 2021. Starting therapy made me feel vulnerable but relieved. I finally had a place to explain how I was feeling without judgment. As I began getting comfortable with my therapist, I opened up to her about how I related to many autistic people. She recommended getting a psychological evaluation to confirm or deny my suspicions. After months of testing, I was diagnosed with severe anxiety, depression, and autism. At first, I did not believe that I was autistic. “But I can make eye contact!” “I know how to make facial expressions.” I was constantly finding minuscule ways to disprove the diagnosis. I wanted to be a normal teenager. I did not want to look at the ground while I talked to people, cut all the tags out of my shirts, or shutter when I heard loud noises. I fought myself for months about being autistic. Finally, I learned to accept that part of me. I decided that I did not want to hide my mental health. I started to advocate for my mental health by working with my school counselor to get a 504 plan. I also emailed my teachers to inform them of my diagnosis, explained my accommodations, and opened the door for discussion about autism. I want people to know that autism does not make me less than them. I know that I am just as capable as my peers. I continued going to therapy to better equip myself with ways to be autistic in a world that does not cater to autism. Each member of my family took the news of my diagnosis differently. My mom treated me like I was suddenly five years old again, while my dad looked at me as if I would have a mental break at any moment. My sister immediately started to make jokes about my disability, and my brother started looking into getting his own psychological evaluation. While the first month following my diagnosis was difficult, my family has gotten used to our new normal. After almost a year of therapy, I have found ways to go out of my comfort zone. I interned at a middle school for a year. At first, I was overwhelmed with worries about how I could teach people that were only three years younger than me. As time went on, I found myself enjoying every time I got to teach a lesson. While I was doing my internship, I also started a social justice group at my school. I have actively participated in educating my peers about racism, ableism, and slurs. The following summer, I went out into my community to sell advertisements for my school’s yearbook. I was shy when talking to businesses, but managed to sell over $600 in advertising. I used my mental health to my advantage and learned how I can grow from the pressure of doing things outside of my comfort zone. I still strive to learn how to be more social, but I know when to give my brain a break. Living with autism and anxiety are not challenges I had to overcome. My mental health has made me the person I am today.

Having a good mental health can lead to a fulfilling and happy life. If someone is struggling with their mental health, doing small, everyday tasks can feel like they've been asked to move a mountain. I chose to start going to therapy in 2021. I felt vulnerable but relieved. I finally had a place to explain how I was feeling without judgment. As I began getting comfortable with my therapist, I opened up to her about how I related to many autistic people. She recommended getting a psychological evaluation to confirm or deny my suspicions. After months of testing, I was diagnosed with severe anxiety, depression, and autism. I decided that I did not want to hide my mental health. I started to advocate for my mental health by working with my school counselor to get a 504 plan. I also emailed my teachers to inform them of my diagnosis, explained my accommodations, and opened the door for discussion about autism. I want people to know that autism does not make me less than them. I know that I am just as capable as my peers. I continued going to therapy to better equip myself with ways to be autistic in a world that does not cater to autism. No matter what I choose to do in life, I would like to educate those around me. Autism, anxiety, and depression should not be hushed but celebrated. I want to show my peers that I am not held back because of my disability or mental health. After almost a year of therapy, I have found ways to go out of my comfort zone. I interned at a middle school for a year. At first, I was overwhelmed with worries about how I could teach people that were only three years younger than me. As time went on, I found myself enjoying every time I got to teach a lesson. While I was doing my internship, I also started a social justice group at my school. I have actively participated in educating my peers about racism, ableism, and slurs. The following summer, I went out into my community to sell advertisements for my school’s yearbook. I was shy when talking to businesses, but managed to sell over $600 in advertising. I used my mental health to my advantage and learned how I can grow from the pressure of doing things outside of my comfort zone. I still strive to learn how to be more social, but I know when to give my brain a break. Living with autism and anxiety are not challenges I had to overcome. My mental health has made me the person I am today.

My dream self is not hiding her mental health and disability from others.

In 2021, I was diagnosed with autism. At sixteen years old, I was shocked that I had gone so far in my life without knowing such a crucial thing about myself. At first, I did not believe that I was autistic. “But I can make eye contact!” “I know how to make facial expressions.” I was constantly finding minuscule ways to disprove the diagnosis. I wanted to be a normal teenager. I did not want to look at the ground while I talked to people, cut all the tags out of my shirts, or shutter when I heard loud noises. I fought myself for months about being autistic. Finally, I learned to accept that part of me. I decided that I did not want to hide my mental health. I started to advocate for my mental health by working with my school counselor to get a 504 plan. I also emailed my teachers to inform them of my diagnosis, explained my accommodations, and opened the door for discussion about autism. I want people to know that autism does not make me less than them. I know that I am just as capable as my peers. I continued going to therapy to better equip myself with ways to be autistic in a world that does not cater to autism. I would like to use my higher education to prove that autism is not a bad thing. It impacts each person differently, but every one of us should be heard and respected. I want to help nonverbal people express themselves in other ways. I can use my own experiences to help those around me and educate others who may not understand autism. Autism should not be hushed but celebrated. I want to show my peers that I am not held back because of my disability. Since my diagnosis, I have decided that I would like to become a speech therapist. I got to intern with a speech therapist during my high school career, and she showed me how much I would like to work with others who struggle to communicate, whether that be nonverbal, a speech impediment, or any other situation. Since being diagnosed, I have not had a place where I felt like others could understand me. Everyone around me assumes that I should keep my autism to myself, and not share my experiences with others. I would like to give my community a safe space to learn about autism and to give autistic people a place where they can feel safe and understood.

Since the second grade, I have had anxiety. The constant pressure of having good grades and perfect behavior consumed my mind. I always struggled in social situations, making school feel impossible. Anxiety has been a major part of my life, in both good ways and bad. This led me to the decision to go to therapy in 2021. Starting therapy made me feel vulnerable but relieved. I finally had a place to explain how I was feeling without judgment. As I began getting comfortable with my therapist, I opened up to her about how I related to many autistic people. She recommended getting a psychological evaluation to confirm or deny my suspicions. After months of testing, I was diagnosed with severe anxiety, depression, and autism. At first, I did not believe that I was autistic. “But I can make eye contact!” “I know how to make facial expressions.” I was constantly finding minuscule ways to disprove the diagnosis. I wanted to be a normal teenager. I did not want to look at the ground while I talked to people, cut all the tags out of my shirts, or shutter when I heard loud noises. I fought myself for months about being autistic. While I was fighting myself, my parents were also treating me differently than before, but I had not changed. Finally, I learned to accept that part of me. After a few months, my parents figured out that I was the same girl, just a new title. I decided that I did not want to hide my mental health. I started to advocate for my mental health by working with my school counselor to get a 504 plan. I also emailed my teachers to inform them of my diagnosis, explained my accommodations, and opened the door for discussion about autism. I want people to know that autism does not make me less than them. I know that I am just as capable as my peers. I continued going to therapy to better equip myself with ways to be autistic in a world that does not cater to autism. No matter what I choose to do in life, I would like to educate those around me. Autism, anxiety, and depression should not be hushed but celebrated. I want to show my peers that I am not held back because of my disability or mental health. After almost a year of therapy, I have found ways to go out of my comfort zone. I interned at a middle school for a year. At first, I was overwhelmed with worries about how I could teach people that were only three years younger than me. As time went on, I found myself enjoying every time I got to teach a lesson. While I was doing my internship, I also started a social justice group at my school. I have actively participated in educating my peers about racism, ableism, and slurs. The following summer, I went out into my community to sell advertisements for my school’s yearbook. I was shy when talking to businesses, but managed to sell over $600 in advertising. I used my mental health to my advantage and learned how I can grow from the pressure of doing things outside of my comfort zone. I still strive to learn how to be more social, but I know when to give my brain a break. Living with autism and anxiety are not challenges I had to overcome. My mental health has made me the person I am today.

In 2021, I started attending therapy sessions. I finally had a place to explain how I was feeling without judgment. As I began getting comfortable with my therapist, I opened up to her about how I related to many autistic people. She recommended getting a psychological evaluation to confirm or deny my suspicions. After months of testing, I was diagnosed with severe anxiety, depression, and autism. I decided that I did not want to hide my mental health. I started to advocate for my mental health by working with my school counselor to get a 504 plan. I also emailed my teachers to inform them of my diagnosis, explained my accommodations, and opened the door for discussion about autism. I want people to know that autism does not make me less than them. I know that I am just as capable as my peers. I continued going to therapy to better equip myself with ways to be autistic in a world that does not cater to autism. No matter what I choose to do in life, I would like to educate those around me. Autism, anxiety, and depression should not be hushed but celebrated. I want to show my peers that I am not held back because of my disability or mental health. After almost a year of therapy, I have found ways to go out of my comfort zone. I interned at a middle school for a year. At first, I was overwhelmed with worries about how I could teach people that were only three years younger than me. As time went on, I found myself enjoying every time I got to teach a lesson. While I was doing my internship, I also started a social justice group at my school. I have actively participated in educating my peers about racism, ableism, and slurs. The following summer, I went out into my community to sell advertisements for my school’s yearbook. I was shy when talking to businesses, but managed to sell over $600 in advertising. I used my mental health to my advantage and learned how I can grow from the pressure of doing things outside of my comfort zone. I still strive to learn how to be more social, but I know when to give my brain a break. Living with autism and anxiety are not challenges I had to overcome. My mental health has made me the person I am today.

Since the second grade, I have had anxiety. The constant pressure of having good grades and perfect behavior consumed my mind. I always struggled in social situations, making school feel impossible. Anxiety has been a major part of my life, in both good ways and bad. This led me to the decision to go to therapy in 2021. Starting therapy made me feel vulnerable but relieved. I finally had a place to explain how I was feeling without judgment. As I began getting comfortable with my therapist, I opened up to her about how I related to many autistic people. She recommended getting a psychological evaluation to confirm or deny my suspicions. After months of testing, I was diagnosed with severe anxiety, depression, and autism. At first, I did not believe that I was autistic. “But I can make eye contact!” “I know how to make facial expressions.” I was constantly finding minuscule ways to disprove the diagnosis. I wanted to be a normal teenager. I did not want to look at the ground while I talked to people, cut all the tags out of my shirts, or shutter when I heard loud noises. I fought myself for months about being autistic. Finally, I learned to accept that part of me. I decided that I did not want to hide my mental health. I started to advocate for my mental health by working with my school counselor to get a 504 plan. I also emailed my teachers to inform them of my diagnosis, explained my accommodations, and opened the door for discussion about autism. I want people to know that autism does not make me less than them. I know that I am just as capable as my peers. I continued going to therapy to better equip myself with ways to be autistic in a world that does not cater to autism. No matter what I choose to do in life, I would like to educate those around me. Autism, anxiety, and depression should not be hushed but celebrated. I want to show my peers that I am not held back because of my disability or mental health. After almost a year of therapy, I have found ways to go out of my comfort zone. I interned at a middle school for a year. At first, I was overwhelmed with worries about how I could teach people that were only three years younger than me. As time went on, I found myself enjoying every time I got to teach a lesson. While I was doing my internship, I also started a social justice group at my school. I have actively participated in educating my peers about racism, ableism, and slurs. The following summer, I went out into my community to sell advertisements for my school’s yearbook. I was shy when talking to businesses, but managed to sell over $600 in advertising. I used my mental health to my advantage and learned how I can grow from the pressure of doing things outside of my comfort zone. I still strive to learn how to be more social, but I know when to give my brain a break. Living with autism and anxiety are not challenges I had to overcome. My mental health has made me the person I am today.

In 2021, I started therapy. As I began getting comfortable with my therapist, I opened up to her about how I related to many autistic people. She recommended getting a psychological evaluation to confirm or deny my suspicions. After months of testing, I was diagnosed with severe anxiety, depression, and autism. At first, I did not believe that I was autistic. “But I can make eye contact!” “I know how to make facial expressions.” I was constantly finding minuscule ways to disprove the diagnosis. I wanted to be a normal teenager. I did not want to look at the ground while I talked to people, cut all the tags out of my shirts, or shutter when I heard loud noises. I fought myself for months about being autistic. Finally, I learned to accept that part of me. I decided that I did not want to hide my mental health. I started to advocate for my mental health by working with my school counselor to get a 504 plan. I also emailed my teachers to inform them of my diagnosis, explained my accommodations, and opened the door for discussion about autism. I want people to know that autism does not make me less than them. I know that I am just as capable as my peers. I continued going to therapy to better equip myself with ways to be autistic in a world that does not cater to autism. After almost a year of therapy, I have found ways to go out of my comfort zone. I interned at a middle school for a year. At first, I was overwhelmed with worries about how I could possibly teach people that were only three years younger than me. As time went on, I found myself enjoying every time I got to teach a lesson. While I was doing my internship, I also started a social justice group at my school. I have actively participated in educating my peers about racism, ableism, and slurs. The following summer, I went out into my community to sell advertisements for my school’s yearbook. I was shy when talking to businesses, but managed to sell over $600 in advertising. I used my mental health to my advantage and learned how I can grow from the pressure of doing things outside of my comfort zone. Since before I was diagnosed, I have been passionate about making the world more accessible to those who are disabled. Autism, anxiety, and depression should not be hushed but celebrated. I want to show my peers that I am not held back because of my disability or mental health. Living with autism and anxiety are not challenges I had to overcome. My mental health has made me the person I am today. I have not found a specific career path for my life, but I know that I want to help others. Being able to cheer someone up through small actions makes me feel better about myself. I would like to use my college education to learn more about those who have different disabilities or lifestyles than me so I can become a better global citizen. No matter what I choose to do in life, I would like to educate those around me to make the world equitable for those who live in it.

Since the second grade, I have had anxiety. The constant pressure of having good grades and perfect behavior consumed my mind. I always struggled in social situations, making school feel impossible. Anxiety has been a major part of my life, in both good ways and bad. This led me to the decision to go to therapy in 2021. Starting therapy made me feel vulnerable, but relieved. I finally had a place to explain how I was feeling without judgment. As I began getting comfortable with my therapist, I opened up to her about how I related to many autistic people. She recommended getting a psychological evaluation to confirm or deny my suspicions. After months of testing, I was diagnosed with severe anxiety, depression, and autism. At first, I did not believe that I was autistic. “But I can make eye contact!” “I know how to make facial expressions.” I was constantly finding miniscule ways to disprove the diagnosis. I wanted to be a normal teenager. I did not want to look at the ground while I talked to people, cut all the tags out of my shirts, shutter when I heard loud noises. I fought myself for months about being autistic. Finally, I learned to accept that part of me. I decided that I did not want to hide my mental health. I started to advocate for my mental health by working with my school counselor to get a 504 plan. I also emailed my teachers to inform them of my diagnosis, explained my accommodations, and opened the door for discussion about autism. I want people to know that autism does not make me less than them. I know that I am just as capable as my peers. I continued going to therapy to better equip myself with ways to be autistic in a world that does not cater to autism. No matter what I choose to do in life, I would like to educate those around me. Autism, anxiety, and depression should not be hushed, but celebrated. I want to show my peers that I am not held back because of my disability or mental health. After almost a year of therapy, I have found ways to go out of my comfort zone. I interned at a middle school for a year. At first, I was overwhelmed with worries about how I could possibly teach people that were only three years younger than me. As time went on, I found myself enjoying every time I got to teach a lesson. While I was doing my internship, I also started a social justice group at my school. I have actively participated in educating my peers about racism, ableism, and slurs. The following summer, I went out into my community to sell advertisements for my school’s yearbook. I was shy when talking to businesses, but managed to sell over $600 in advertising. I used my mental health to my advantage and learned how I can grow from the pressure of doing things outside of my comfort zone. I still strive to learn how to be more social, but I know when to give my brain a break. Living with autism and anxiety are not challenges I had to overcome. My mental health has made me the person I am today.

“Pantsuit Sasquatch” by Molly Lewis has made me feel seen since I first heard the song. Lewis’s song tells the story of a “sasquatch” trying to make it through life, despite facing the oppression of hunters. The beginning of the song explains that the hunters are going out of their way to find and make fun of the sasquatch. Even if the sasquatch does impressive work, the hunters will dismiss it. During the middle of the song, the sasquatch explains that it is trying to stay out of the hunters’ way and decides to “travel the high road.” Despite the sasquatch’s maturity, the hunters still choose to look for and mock it. Towards the end of the song, the sasquatch realizes that no matter what it does, their work will go unnoticed. Lewis goes so far as to say the sasquatch should just teach itself how to knit, instead of doing anything substantial. This story is a representation of the sexism that women face on a daily basis. The sasquatch represents women who face sexist remarks on a daily basis. The hunters are men who make rude remarks to hardworking women. We could go above and beyond anything a man has ever done, but society does not care. They will still berate us and say we cannot amount to anything.

Since the second grade, I have had anxiety. The constant pressure of having good grades and perfect behavior consumed my mind. I always struggled in social situations, making school feel impossible. Anxiety has been a major part of my life, in both good ways and bad. This led me to the decision to go to therapy in 2021. Starting therapy made me feel vulnerable, but relieved. I finally had a place to explain how I was feeling without judgment. As I began getting comfortable with my therapist, I opened up to her about how I related to many autistic people. She recommended getting a psychological evaluation to confirm or deny my suspicions. After months of testing, I was diagnosed with severe anxiety, depression, and autism. At first, I did not believe that I was autistic. “But I can make eye contact!” “I know how to make facial expressions.” I was constantly finding miniscule ways to disprove the diagnosis. I wanted to be a normal teenager. I did not want to look at the ground while I talked to people, cut all the tags out of my shirts, shutter when I heard loud noises. I fought myself for months about being autistic. Finally, I learned to accept that part of me. I decided that I did not want to hide my mental health. I started to advocate for my mental health by working with my school counselor to get a 504 plan. I also emailed my teachers to inform them of my diagnosis, explained my accommodations, and opened the door for discussion about autism. I want people to know that autism does not make me less than them. I know that I am just as capable as my peers. I continued going to therapy to better equip myself with ways to be autistic in a world that does not cater to autism. No matter what I choose to do in life, I would like to educate those around me. Autism, anxiety, and depression should not be hushed, but celebrated. I want to show my peers that I am not held back because of my disability or mental health. After almost a year of therapy, I have found ways to go out of my comfort zone. I interned at a middle school for a year. At first, I was overwhelmed with worries about how I could possibly teach people that were only three years younger than me. As time went on, I found myself enjoying every time I got to teach a lesson. While I was doing my internship, I also started a social justice group at my school. I have actively participated in educating my peers about racism, ableism, and slurs. The following summer, I went out into my community to sell advertisements for my school’s yearbook. I was shy when talking to businesses, but managed to sell over $600 in advertising. I used my mental health to my advantage and learned how I can grow from the pressure of doing things outside of my comfort zone. I still strive to learn how to be more social, but I know when to give my brain a break. Living with autism and anxiety are not challenges I had to overcome. My mental health has made me the person I am today.

I have autism. It is one of my favorite qualities about myself, even though society feels differently. Autism tends to be looked down upon. People think that I am stupid or I cannot do anything for myself, but I am the opposite. I believe that being autistic has made me more independent than a neurotypical person. I do not like to socialize with other people, so I work hard to do everything by myself. When I got diagnosed, I decided that I did not want to hide my mental health. I started to advocate for my mental health by working with my school counselor to get a 504 plan. I also emailed my teachers to inform them of my diagnosis, explained my accommodations, and opened the door for discussion about autism. I want people to know that autism does not make me less than them. I know that I am just as capable as my peers. While I may not be good at socializing, I love to help others. Being able to see someone smile because of a simple gesture I did makes my day. Whether the task is helping a peer with their homework or doing a chore for my sibling, I enjoy the personal reward of making someone happy. In the future, I would like to assist others with mental disabilities to find who they truly are without society's restraints on them. After almost a year of therapy, I have found ways to go out of my comfort zone. I interned at a middle school for a year. At first, I was overwhelmed with worries about how I could teach people that were only three years younger than me. As time went on, I found myself enjoying every time I got to teach a lesson. While I was doing my internship, I also started a social justice group at my school. I have actively participated in educating my peers about racism, ableism, and slurs. The following summer, I went out into my community to sell advertisements for my school’s yearbook. I was very shy when talking to businesses, but managed to sell over $600 in advertising. I used my mental health to my advantage and learned how I can grow from the pressure of doing things outside of my comfort zone. I hope to continue working on my mental health while I earn a degree. I have learned to adapt to a life of being different. I still strive to learn how to be more social, but I know when to give my brain a break. Living with autism is not a challenge I had to overcome, they have made me the person I am today.

Since the second grade, I have had anxiety. The constant pressure of having good grades and perfect behavior consumed my mind. I always struggled in social situations, making school feel impossible. Anxiety consumed most of my life. I made my mental illness the most important thing in my life, but for the wrong reasons. This led me to the decision to go to therapy in 2021. Starting therapy made me feel vulnerable, but relieved. I finally had a place to explain how I was feeling without judgment. As I began getting comfortable with my therapist, I opened up to her about how I related to many autistic people. She recommended getting a psychological evaluation to confirm or deny my suspicions. After months of testing, I finally got an answer. I was diagnosed with severe anxiety, depression, and autism. Getting these diagnoses helped me understand myself in ways I never thought I could. After receiving the diagnoses, I realized that I could prioritize my mental health in a positive manner. I knew that I could not get rid of my anxiety, but I could learn to live with it. Instead of focusing on all the bad thoughts, I could work with the people around me to diminish my anxiety. I started to advocate for my mental health by working with my school counselor to get a 504 plan. I also emailed my teachers to inform them of my diagnosis, explained my accomodations, and opened the door for discussion about mental health. I want people to know that mental illness does not make me less than them. I know that I am just as capable as my peers. I continued going to therapy to better equip myself with ways to be autistic, anxious, and depressed in a world that does not cater to mental illness. After almost a year of therapy, I have found ways to go out of my comfort zone. I interned at a middle school for a year. At first, I was overwhelmed with worries about how I could possibly teach people that were only three years younger than me. As time went on, I found myself enjoying every time I got to teach a lesson. While I was doing my internship, I also started a social justice group at my school. I have actively participated in educating my peers about racism, ableism, and slurs. The following summer, I went out into my community to sell advertisements for my school’s yearbook. I was very shy when talking to businesses, but managed to sell over $600 in advertising. I used my mental health to my advantage and learned how I can grow from the pressure of doing things outside of my comfort zone. With therapy, I have learned to adapt to a life of being different. I still strive to learn how to be more social, but I know when to give my brain a break. Living with autism and anxiety are not challenges I had to overcome. My mental health has made me the person I am today.

School can take a lot of energy, but I maintain all aspects of my health by going to therapy, going on evening walks, and packing a filling lunch while listening to my body. I have been going to therapy since 2021. At first, I talked to my therapist about the problems I had at home, but now, I tell her about my school life. My therapist will talk to me about my classes and home life. I have always felt comfortable sharing my weaknesses with her so I can do my best during school. She and I discuss ways to combat stress throughout the school year. Some ideas we have come up with are using a planner, taking fifteen minute breaks when I get overwhelmed, and focusing on only one task at a time. To maintain my physical health, I go on walks every evening. I live near multiple parks and walkways, so I choose a location and go walk! I like to listen to audiobooks, music, and podcasts during my walks. Having something to listen to in the background keeps me distracted so I do not focus on how tired I might be. I try to walk at least two miles every night. While I normally just walk, I've tried to start jogging for short amounts of time during my walks. I encouraged my parents to join me when they are free. On the weekends, we try to wake up early and walk in the mornings. Sometimes we cannot go when we normally do, but we try our best to hold each other accountable when we do miss a day of exercise. To keep up my nutritional health, I always pack my lunch for school. My dad and I have a competition to see who can consistently pack their lunch the longest. The competition started when I was in the fifth grade, and now I am graduating. On school nights, I pack myself plenty of healthy options for the next day. When I get to school, I start by eating my main meal, and then pick the food that sounds the most appetizing to me. I try to eat as slow as possible so I know when I am full. Since I pack plenty of options, I always come home with extra food, but I think that is better than coming home starving and eating too many snacks. Keeping my mental, physical, and nutritional health in good standards helps me to do my best during the school day.

I have thought about this question for so long. How can a person choose one Disney character as their favorite? I have a few characters that I love, including Bucky Barnes, Mulan, and Belle, but I believe Mulan holds a special place in my heart. I am not Asian, but I can still relate to Mulan. I have never been very girly, so seeing another girl struggle to put on makeup or wear fancy dresses made me feel good about myself. I liked that she stumbled through life, just like me. As a child, I aspired to be like Mulan. She had the courage to put her father's needs in front of her own. Knowing that she went to fight in place of her father gave me courage, too. I knew that I would never want to serve in the military, but I felt like I could help people on a smaller scale. I am autistic, so I am not good at recognizing social cues or holding conversations with others. Mulan never had that issue, so I liked to watch how she interacted with others during her second movie. When she taught children to "fight," she never struggled to communicate with them. She gave me the bravery to talk to others, despite how nervous I am. Mulan always stood up for what was right. She knew when she should fight for the right things, like the princesses' right to marry who they truly love, not who their father set them up with. When i first saw the second movie, I knew that I would never have an arranged marriage. I did not understand how girls could give up their whole lives for a country. I was so happy when I found out that Mulan encouraged them to do what was right in their hearts. The songs from Mulan are some of my favorite songs Disney has ever produced, making me like Mulan, as a character, even more. Mulan will always be one of the best Disney characters. She stands for all the kids that are scared to be who they truly are.

I currently own a twelve year old german shepard. Her name is Southland's Raging Tornado, but we call her Tori for short. My uncle, who trains police dogs and hosts dog shows, gave her to my family as a Christmas present. She has been the highlight of my life for the past twelve years. Tori and I have a deep love for blankets. Before I go to bed, I find Tori and sit next to her, covering myself up in a blanket. She always moves to lay on my blanket, usually leaving me uncovered and shivering, but I never care. As Tori has gotten older, her hip muscles have weakened. She has a hard time walking up steps, and if she stays outside for too long, her hips ache. Last Christmas, my parents got me a heated blanket. Since it was so cold outside, I immediately sat on the floor with Tori and turned it on. Like usual, she ran over to lay on the blanket with me. I had such a hard time trying to get her off of the blanket. Because Tori is a shepard, she is at her calmest when all of my family members are in the same room. Sadly, the only time we are together is during dinner. When we all sit around the table, I have to move my chair so Tori can lay between the leg of my chair and the table. She lays peacefully until we all get up. Then she roams around the house, checking on each family member. I like to think that I am Tori's favorite, but I know she likes everyone in my family. Since I was eight years old, I have had lots of anxiety. When I got home from school and finished my homework, I would go lay in the floor with Tori. Being around her would immediately calm me down. She would let me hug her, lay on her, and talk to her. If she ever saw me crying, she would come sit by me. In March of January 2022, I was diagnosed with autism. The diagnosis made me feel unsure about myself, but Tori was always there to support me. When I got my diagnosis papers, I sat next to Tori and read through them. While she cannot say anything to comfort me, I feel like she understood what I was trying to comprehend.

In 2021, I started therapy, but in January of 2022, I opened up to my therapist about how I related to many autistic people. She recommended getting a psychological evaluation to confirm or deny my suspicions. After months of testing, I finally got an answer. I was diagnosed with severe anxiety, depression, and autism. Getting these diagnoses helped me understand myself in ways I never thought I could. At first, I did not believe that I was autistic. “But I can make eye contact!” “I know how to make facial expressions.” I was constantly finding miniscule ways to disprove the diagnosis. I wanted to be a normal teenager. I did not want to look at the ground while I talked to people, cut all the tags out of my shirts, shutter when I heard loud noises. I fought myself for months about being autistic. Finally, I learned to accept that part of me. I decided that I did not want to hide my mental health. I made a personal goal to step out of my comfort zone. I started to advocate for my mental health by working with my school counselor to get a 504 plan. I also emailed my teachers to inform them of my diagnosis, explained my accomodations, and opened the door for discussion about autism. I want people to know that autism does not make me less than them. I know that I am just as capable as my peers. I continued going to therapy to better equip myself with ways to be autistic in a world that does not cater to autism. After almost a year of therapy, I have found ways to go out of my comfort zone. I interned at a middle school for a year. At first, I was overwhelmed with worries about how I could possibly teach people that were only three years younger than me. As time went on, I found myself enjoying every time I got to teach a lesson. While I was doing my internship, I also started a social justice group at my school. I have actively participated in educating my peers about racism, ableism, and slurs. The following summer, I went out into my community to sell advertisements for my school’s yearbook. I was very shy when talking to businesses, but managed to sell over $600 in advertising. I used my mental health to my advantage and learned how I can grow from the pressure of doing things outside of my comfort zone. With therapy, I have learned to adapt to a life of being different. I still strive to learn how to be more social, but I know when to give my brain a break. Living with autism and anxiety are not challenges I had to overcome. My mental health has made me the person I am today.

I have been going to therapy since 2021, but in January of 2022, I opened up to her about how I related to many autistic people. She recommended getting a psychological evaluation to confirm or deny my suspicions. After months of testing, I finally got an answer. I was diagnosed with severe anxiety, depression, and autism. Getting these diagnoses helped me understand myself in ways I never thought I could. At first, I did not believe that I was autistic. “But I can make eye contact!” “I know how to make facial expressions.” I was constantly finding miniscule ways to disprove the diagnosis. I wanted to be a normal teenager. I did not want to look at the ground while I talked to people, cut all the tags out of my shirts, shutter when I heard loud noises. I fought myself for months about being autistic. Finally, I learned to accept that part of me. I decided that I did not want to hide my mental health. I started to advocate for my mental health by working with my school counselor to get a 504 plan. I also emailed my teachers to inform them of my diagnosis, explained my accomodations, and opened the door for discussion about autism. I want people to know that autism does not make me less than them. I know that I am just as capable as my peers. I continued going to therapy to better equip myself with ways to be autistic in a world that does not cater to autism. After almost a year of therapy, I have found ways to go out of my comfort zone. I interned at a middle school for a year. At first, I was overwhelmed with worries about how I could possibly teach people that were only three years younger than me. As time went on, I found myself enjoying every time I got to teach a lesson. While I was doing my internship, I also started a social justice group at my school. I have actively participated in educating my peers about racism, ableism, and slurs. The following summer, I went out into my community to sell advertisements for my school’s yearbook. I was very shy when talking to businesses, but managed to sell over $600 in advertising. I used my mental health to my advantage and learned how I can grow from the pressure of doing things outside of my comfort zone. With therapy, I have learned to adapt to a life of being different. I still strive to learn how to be more social, but I know when to give my brain a break. Living with autism and anxiety are not challenges I had to overcome. My mental health has made me the person I am today.

Since the second grade, I have had anxiety. The constant pressure of having good grades and perfect behavior consumed my mind. I always struggled in social situations, making school feel impossible. Anxiety has been a major part of my life, in both good ways and bad. This led me to the decision to go to therapy in 2021. Starting therapy made me feel vulnerable but relieved. I finally had a place to explain how I was feeling without judgment. As I began getting comfortable with my therapist, I opened up to her about how I related to many autistic people. She recommended getting a psychological evaluation to confirm or deny my suspicions. After months of testing, I finally got an answer. I was diagnosed with severe anxiety, depression, and autism. Getting these diagnoses helped me understand myself in ways I never thought I could. I decided that I did not want to hide my mental health. I started to advocate for my mental health by working with my school counselor to get a 504 plan. I also emailed my teachers to inform them of my diagnosis, explained my accommodations, and opened the door for discussion about autism. I want people to know that autism does not make me less than them. I know that I am just as capable as my peers. I continued going to therapy to better equip myself with ways to be autistic in a world that does not cater to autism. After almost a year of therapy, I have found ways to go out of my comfort zone. I interned at a middle school for a year. At first, I was overwhelmed with worries about how I could possibly teach people that were only three years younger than me. As time went on, I found myself enjoying every time I got to teach a lesson. While I was doing my internship, I also started a social justice group at my school. I have actively participated in educating my peers about racism, ableism, and slurs. The following summer, I went out into my community to sell advertisements for my school’s yearbook. I was very shy when talking to businesses, but managed to sell over $600 in advertising. I used my mental health to my advantage and learned how I can grow from the pressure of doing things outside of my comfort zone. I have learned that even though I may be different, I can still do what I have dreamed of doing. While I may not understand social cues, I can still be a teaching intern, sell advertisements, and lead a social justice group. I have not decided what I want my future career to be, but I have a few options. During my teaching internship, I realized how much I liked teaching. Autistic people are known to miss social cues, but I could use that to educate students about neurodiversity. Another career I am interested in is interior design. The field requires lots of meetings and communication with others. There are times when I get overwhelmed talking to so many people, but I have learned ways to manage my anxiety, even in difficult times. The final career I have looked into is print journalism. I am currently the copy editor for my high school’s yearbook. I have spent countless hours writing for my own spread while editing my peers’ spreads. Working with others to make a final product we are proud of has been so much fun. At first, I had a hard time not doing everything myself. Suggesting things to my peers seemed like a waste of time when I could just fix the problem myself. After a few weeks, I made sure I was only suggesting so my classmates could learn how to catch mistakes in their own writing. In my future career, I would like to help others in some way, whether it be through education, helping them design their dream home, or editing their writing. I will work to get the job of my dreams, no matter what obstacles come my way. I have learned to adapt to a life of being different. I still strive to learn how to be more social, but I know when to give my brain a break. Living with autism and anxiety are not challenges I had to overcome. My mental health has made me the person I am today.