I never really understood why my sister overdosed on an entire jar of ibuprofen. She didn't die like she thought she would, and instead ended up at a residential home for 3 months. I had come down with a fever the night before, and I felt disoriented standing at the top of the stairs watching my sister be whisked away to the nearest mental hospital. It was during those few months that I looked back on my sister's actions before her attempt; was she expressing hopelessness about the future? Was she displaying severe or overwhelming emotional pain or distress? Changes in sleep or withdrawing from social connections? I thought if I replayed those moments, I would begin to understand what she was feeling. The truth is that I had failed to see the warning signs before it happened, and I still couldn't begin to understand why she had done it. During the 2020 pandemic, there was a newfound understanding of mental health, especially on social media. Some of the people in my life began seeking therapy, although I understood mental health to be untouchable. In my eyes, people only went to counseling for severe problems such as dead family members, suicide attempts, schizophrenia, or domestic violence. I didn't understand why my sister needed counseling. She grew up in a suburban house with non-abusive parents and attended a Catholic school. Nothing about that seemed to warrant a suicide attempt, but it was that sort of mentality that discourages so many people from seeking help. It shouldn't matter that someone is rich or poor, Jewish or Buddhist, single mother or father, but that everyone should feel the right to their feelings. I realize now that my negative outlook on mental health meant that my sister didn't feel comfortable sharing any of her thoughts with me. I want to be someone that people feel comfortable sharing things with, and to prevent anyone like my sister from staying silent until it's too late. My relationship with my sister began to change. I stopped looking behind me but instead in front of me, where my sister sat with fresh cuts on her arms. I could never really understand why my sister is the way she is, and I stopped looking at her like a puzzle. I couldn't fix her, but I could support her in any way that she needed. When I saw her next, she seemed completely different; she was oddly calm and happy. We were honest with each other, and we shared things that I never knew before. After getting a taste of a household without my sister, I realized how much I loved her. I told her that too, because I usually never told my sister that I loved her. My father especially began to change, becoming more informed on mental health and destigmatizing his previous beliefs on it. Once she came home, it was these changes that prevented her from attempting to stuff herself with ibuprofen again. Instead of trying to fix her, I empathized with my sister for who she was; someone who was hurting. It was during this time that I joined my school's Psychology Club. Discussing mental health topics or different illnesses opened my mind to a career in psychology. My sister's experience had already inspired me to do my research, but it slowly morphed into a passion project. I started a blog that psychoanalyzed characters in books, movies, TV shows, e.t.c. Talking with my friends made me realize that people haven't entirely changed their stigmas on mental illness. When I shared my experiences with my sister, they laughed and called her "scary", "weak", and that she should just "snap out of it". I'm passionate about addressing the mental illness stigma seen in media: showing inaccurate stereotypes of people with mental illness, connecting mental illness to criminal behavior and violence, and wrongly diagnosing people to explain behavior. It all stems from a lack of understanding of mental health and misinformation. Most people are taught that mental illness is linked with violence, and therefore are treated differently. As I aspire to be a clinical psychologist, I hope to inform people properly about mental illness. Sharing my personal experience, supporting mental health organizations, and creating safe environments are examples of how I plan to advocate for mental health as a mental health professional. As I've learned from my sister's attempt, it's important to challenge stereotypes and misconceptions about mental health. By sharing accurate information and promoting understanding, we can properly combat stigma in the field. I aspire to make positive change by volunteering with or donating to mental health organizations like NAMI or Mental Health America, which can help contribute to systemic change. I will continue to grow my blog and use my platform to properly inform online communities on mental illness. When I look back on that time of my life, spending weekends in hospitals or residential facilities, I want people to know that my sister isn't a criminal. She isn't a demon or a gangster, but only a girl whose cries for help didn't reach past the doorway of her bedroom. It's up to the next generation of psychologists to change the perspective. Generational stigma is almost impossible to solve, but too many people are unlikely to admit to experiencing problems. Their fear of losing independence blocks them from reaching out to mental health professionals. Mental health is not a weakness, and we shouldn't see it as such. If there's no change being made, then many others will continue to suffer in silence for all time.

1) In third grade, I cried almost every night before school. I dreaded facing my teacher because I always seemed to do something wrong. I carried anxiety with me every day and didn’t know how to cope with it. What helped me was Steven Universe, a cartoon that introduced me to themes like identity, relationships, and mental health in a way I could understand as a kid. One episode, “Mindful Education,” showed the character Garnet using principles and strategies of mindfulness meditation in the phrase, “It’s just a thought, we can watch them go by.” I didn’t know it then, but it reflected techniques used in therapies such as mindfulness-based CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy). It was the themes of love, family, individuality, and the complexities of relationships that were expressed in the show that defined inspiration to me. As I lay awake on my last day of junior year, I realized my complete lack of leadership roles and the opportunities I had neglected. My anxieties and insecurities kept me from leaving my comfort zone, a significant challenge I faced. This realization motivated me to change, knowing deep down I was capable but had never tried. I joined the H.I.V.E. after-school tutoring program and volunteered for the National Alliance on Mental Illness. When I helped a student solve a problem or comforted someone in need, the definition of leadership had changed in my eyes. I realized that titles meant nothing if you didn’t gain the true skills of leadership, empathy, and understanding. It was the moments that I would help a student grasp a difficult concept for the first time that reshaped my view of leadership as empowering others. The moments when I would connect with someone who went through the same anxieties I had, and truly empathize with them. These experiences taught me a new approach to leadership and what it meant to be a leader. It was the growth that I experienced through my leadership challenges that defined inspiration as feeling enthusiastic about the things you're passionate about. In the future, as a psychologist, I plan to use my leadership skills, empathy, compassion, patience, and critical thinking to inspire and uplift others. My experiences volunteering with NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) helped me learn the importance of de-stigmatizing stereotypes that arise with mental health patients. It has truly prepared me to inspire and uplift others, helping me develop empathy and compassion. I want to inspire others through advocating for mental health awareness, implementing community programs, or using techniques like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help individuals challenge negative thoughts. I plan to use my platform to lead research projects in psychology, such as the impact of social media on mental health. I hope to grow my psychology blog online and possibly develop a website that provides research articles or general information on psychology. I plan to use my experiences to support others by creating spaces where they feel safe and understood. 2) The intentional actions I'm currently taking to inspire people around me are my involvement in the Psychology Club, sharing resources with peers to help them cope with stress, and raising mental health awareness on my blog. Through my participation in the Psychology Club, I engage with my friends in discussing important mental health topics. Some of these include depression, anxiety, substance abuse, self-care, and healthy relationships. We lead initiatives in organizing lectures on topics such as stress management, anxiety, and mindfulness meditation. My motivation in participating in these activities is to gain knowledge on the many fields of psychology and explore which ones I might pursue as a career. I believe it's important to spread awareness on these topics because it reduces stigma, promotes help-seeking, and encourages understanding of one another. When people are more aware of mental health conditions and resources, they are more likely to seek help when they need it. I hope to become a licensed therapist, and I want to be able to help these people improve their lives. Through my social media blog, I psychoanalyze movie characters. I raise mental health awareness by informing my audience with general psychology terms. Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), Opportunistic behavior, wounded ego, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are examples of topics I discuss with my audience. Although I don't own a huge platform, I'm passionate about researching psychological diagnosis. Through my Psychology Club, I often share resources for coping with stress. NAMI offers support groups and resources for individuals with mental health issues, such as stress management. In our lectures, we discuss deep breathing exercises, meditation, guided imagery, and prioritizing sleep as ways to reduce stress. These actions have inspired and supported those around me to become more knowledgeable about self-awareness and the importance of mental health. These actions have not only helped others but also contributed to my personal growth. I've learned many psychological theories in my research for my blog, clinical reasoning in my psychological diagnosis of different film characters, communication skills, empathy, and emotional resilience. The knowledge of understanding psychological theories prepares me to perceive human behavior and develop solutions. Clinical reasoning will help me in achieving my future goals, as analyzing information is crucial in evaluating research projects. Successful communication skills are critical in building bonds with patients, whilst also helping deliver information. In gaining empathy and emotional resilience, it'll help me build trust in therapeutic relationships and maintain emotional well-being. In the future, I have many projects in mind that will continue to inspire and uplift others. Some specific ideas include the psychology of procrastination, the effects of mindfulness meditation on stress reduction, and the influence of family dynamics on childhood development. I want to continue growing my impact on others, extending beyond my community to people worldwide. 3) My ultimate goals are to continue raising mental health awareness, helping people navigate their challenges, and understanding human behavior. I want to inspire others to seek mental help when they're going through extreme challenges in their life, and uplift people through counseling or therapy. If granted this scholarship, it would cover tuition for courses that deepen my understanding of psychology, funding for workshops and conferences, and enable participation in extracurricular activities that would enhance my leadership skills. Receiving this scholarship would enable me to continue inspiring others, such as accessing more educational resources for the Psychology Club in college. I would be able to lead projects or invite guests for discussions, and apply this knowledge in community volunteering. My past challenges in becoming a leader and my accomplishments in gaining new skills have already prepared me to make the most of this opportunity. This scholarship will help me continue that work on a larger scale. Easing the financial burden of college will allow me to focus on joining mental health initiatives, engaging in psychology research, and seeking out mentorship opportunities that will prepare me for a career in psychology. I would have the chance to become a mental health advocate and leader who listens, empowers, and helps others heal.

Growing up, I noticed that a lot of my classmates were struggling with their mental health, but no one really talked about it. Seeing that made me want to learn more about psychology and be someone who could actually help. That’s what got me involved in my school’s Psychology Club and it gave me a way to turn that passion into action. With the club, I’ve worked on projects that help break the stigma around mental health. My friends and I planned workshops where students could talk openly about the pressure we all face and learn about resources they can turn to. We also focused on how to recognize signs of someone going through a tough time and how to support them. I even got the chance to work with a mental health professional, and that experience opened my eyes to how much of a difference small actions can make when someone’s struggling. One thing I care about is preventing bullying and especially cyberbullying, since so many people suffer from it in silence. I want to keep speaking up about mental health and help build spaces, online and in real life, where people feel seen, heard, and supported. Everything I’ve done so far has only made me more sure that this is the path I want to take. Paying for college has always been one of my biggest worries. With most of our money going toward essentials like rent, food, and bills, things like tuition and school supplies sometimes feel out of reach. I’ve always known I wanted to study psychology and be someone who helps others, but it’s hard not to stress about how I’ll afford it. Getting financial support would take a huge weight off my shoulders. It would give me the chance to focus on my education and get involved in programs that raise awareness about mental health. I want to be someone who makes a difference in people’s lives. This help would mean everything to me, and it would bring me one step closer to reaching my goals and giving back to my community. Bullying can seriously mess with someone’s mental health, and it’s something I care a lot about changing. Being part of the Psychology Club at school has given me a chance to do something about it. We’ve organized workshops to help students recognize the signs of bullying and learn how to step in and support each other. Learning about psychology has helped me understand how important it is to talk openly and build a support system where people feel safe and heard. My goal is to create programs that not only teach students about mental health, but also about how to stay safe online. I want to make sure people know they’re not alone and that there’s always someone who cares. I want to help make school a place where everyone feels accepted and protected, no matter what. My passion for psychology and support for mental health are what motivated me to stay involved in my community and keep working hard in school. Getting financial help would mean everything because it would give me the chance to focus more on learning and doing what I love without constantly stressing about money. I want to be part of building a future where mental health matters and bullying isn't ignored. With this scholarship, I’ll be able to keep moving forward and encourage others to speak up, support one another, and make a real difference together.

On the last days of finals week, I could barely stand without my vision going black. I felt lightheaded on my way to school, a consequence of the two hours of sleep I had gotten the previous night. I was determined to spend most of my energy studying, but when finals week came to an end, I felt worse than ever. I had difficulty sleeping, a change in appetite, and came down with a fever soon after. It was in that moment, lying in bed with a cold towel to my forehead, that I realized the importance of prioritizing mental health. When summer finals came around, I knew that I couldn't get sick again. My friends and I had so many things planned, it forced me to develop healthy habits. Instead of cramming the night before, I started studying weeks in advance to take the pressure off myself. I started incorporating meditation after my exams to reduce stress and keep myself focused. I made time for myself to join family dinner and give myself a break from staring at my laptop for so long. It was challenging to refrain from pulling an all-nighter, but I knew that I would appreciate it in the future. I've learned about resilience, coping mechanisms, and the importance of self-care coming out of this experience. I started to take an interest in psychology and researched several mental health topics. I wanted to investigate the effectiveness of meditation in reducing stress and anxiety for high school students, to see if any of my coping skills had as much of an impact on others as they did on me. I created a blog on mindfulness and stress reduction, and eventually, this grew into a passion project for myself. I began mixing my interests with psychology, like my love for film, and psychoanalyzing characters or films on my blog. This experience has influenced my passion for mental health advocacy and my involvement in the Psychology Club. Prioritizing my mental health has shaped my preparation for the future. It taught me the importance of maintaining coping mechanisms and self-care, skills that are crucial for my future profession as a psychologist. I've merged these skills into my daily life by adopting study habits, like setting realistic goals for myself and taking breaks to manage stress. This newfound understanding has motivated me to take on leadership roles within the Psychology Club, where I help organize events focusing on mental health awareness. These initiatives allow me to inspire others to prioritize their well-being. By creating a supportive environment, I aim to make mental health resources more accessible to my friends. This experience has solidified my commitment to becoming a mental health advocate and supporting others in their mental health journeys. Prioritizing my mental and physical health has equipped me with resilience and a deeper understanding of the importance of self-care. These insights have not only shaped my interests and career goals in psychology but have also fueled my passion for mental health advocacy. As I continue to take initiatives within the Psychology Club and aspire to become a psychologist, I am committed to creating environments where mental well-being is prioritized. I am prepared to uplift others, and ensure that mental health is prioritized in my studies and future endeavors.

The neglect that both my younger sister and I experienced in a single-parent household was the first thing that sparked my interest in clinical psychology. I aspire to make a positive impact in the mental health field and advocate for mental health awareness in my community. With a full-time working single mother, there wasn't much attention left during the weekdays for me or my sister. My sister reacted much differently to this neglect than I did, lashing out and ending up in a mental hospital for 3 months. My mother was never abusive, far from it, and she loved us more than anything. During the weekends, we would go out to the mall or the beach, but my younger sister fought with my mom more than anything. It was embarrassing having to avert my eyes from onlookers and shushing my family to be quiet. I understand now that, in a way, this was a cry for help from my sister, and my mom wasn't realizing it. I have always been independent, able to do my homework and clean my room by myself. I enjoyed the quiet more than anything, needing to detox from the long days at school. My sister was much different than me, she struggled to get assignments done and felt lonely at home. I tried to help her as much as I could, but she kept pushing me away as time went on. Eventually, I couldn't even step into her room without a screaming match. My mom wasn't aware of these red flags my sister was showing, which is why it was a shock to all of us when three people showed up at my door to take my sister away to the mental hospital. I wanted to gain a better understanding of her mental health challenges and fix our relationship. I joined my school's Psychology Club, enrolled in an Intro to Psych course at a community college, and created a blog psychoanalyzing characters in media. I learned about the importance of empathy and resilience, things that I didn't show my sister before. I quickly decided that I wanted to pursue a career in clinical psychology and researched numerous mental health issues such as anxiety disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, schizophrenia, and many others. This has prepared me to address mental well-being in a medical context. These experiences have solidified my decision to pursue a career in medicine. I had seen the warning signs from my sister, but it was too late to realize what they meant. I want to be able to recognize when a person is hurting and when they need help. I aspire to become a clinical psychologist, to be able to assess and diagnose mental health conditions. I want to be able to provide therapy and counseling to those like my younger sister, who don't feel seen or heard by those around them. I'm committed to integrating mental health advocacy into my medical practice to ensure comprehensive patient care. Educating clients, dispelling myths, teaching coping skills, and encouraging self-compassion are some of the steps I believe are important in sustaining mental health advocacy. My unique experiences and perspective will enable me to positively contribute to healthcare. Mentoring with mental health professionals and volunteering with non-profit mental health organizations are actions I have taken in promoting self-care and well-being. I hope to implement community workshops on mental health and innovative research projects in my university years. My challenges in understanding my sister drove my passion for psychology, and now I hope to use my newfound knowledge in the medical field.

Ever since my younger sister was admitted to the mental hospital, I have witnessed firsthand accounts of what it takes to be a psychologist. My main goals and aspirations have always revolved around helping people understand themselves better, and I'm committed to becoming a mental health advocate and psychologist. This scholarship would help cover specific costs, such as tuition, for advanced psychology courses. I want to enroll in courses such as "Contemporary Issues in Organizational Psychology" or "Emotional Intelligence," which would help expand my knowledge of the field. Deeper knowledge will enhance my ability to inspire and lead initiatives within clubs, such as the Psychology Club. This scholarship would provide opportunities to attend leadership programs. UC Berkley's "School Psychology Program" or UCLA's "Clinical Psychology Program" are recognized for training future leaders in clinical psychology, which would better prepare me for my future aspirations. I intend to organize community events focused on mental health and inspire others to advocate for mental health awareness. The funds from this scholarship could facilitate attendance at psychology conferences, enabling me to share insights and learn from experts. Mentorships are crucial in gaining skills and career development, and I hope to inspire others through research. Notable mentorship programs include the Graduate Student Mentorship Program at UC Riverside, the Psychology Peer Mentors Program at Cal State Fullerton, and the Entering Mentoring Training Program at UCLA. This scholarship is significant in achieving my goals and is beneficial to my personal growth.