I lived in a bare room, with nothing but a bed and a security camera in the corner. A large metal door with a grated window separated me and the rest of the world. In my reflections, I see flashes from the past– nostalgic memories mixed with sharp, painful moments. These memories are what ignite my passions, and what guide me in the right direction. They bring pain and hurt, but in exchange, they give me a perspective. They remind me when I forget and give me the proper frame of reference when I lose focus. My experiences and struggles with traumas and mental illness make up a large part of my identity today. Through my time living in group homes and treatment centers, I learned more about the world's needs and developed a direction and purpose in life. From the boy suffering from age regression at the passing of his mom, I learned the value of patience and how actions can't be taken at face value. From the girl who had been sex trafficked, I began to understand the brokenness in life truly and I grew in my sensitivity and empathy for victims of trauma. From another who had suffered from physical abuse, I learned the destruction that anger could bring, and how important it was to control my emotions as a man. I was inspired by their perseverance and compelled to live for others who were suffering. In dedicating my life to this field I have found out that the more I poured into this work and others around me, the more happiness and fulfillment I had for myself. I realized I had a unique opportunity and responsibility to use my experiences for the better. Through my struggles with depression and psychosis, I developed a purpose that I would be willing to give my life for. As I recovered I subsequently grew in my capacity to love and care. At my lowest points, I viscerally disagreed with the saying "Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger". I believed that traumas and struggles had the power to mar a life beyond repair, to push it past the brink of death and misery. I thought I had already gotten to the point of no return, and a normal life was unattainable. It was when I finally found my hope that I began to recover, picking up the broken pieces of my life and rearranging them to create my story. Finding hope amid darkness and suffering rendered a fundamental shift in my perspective on life and my struggles. Hope gave me the strength to persevere, to fight for my life, and to fight for others. Hope is what transformed my character and changed my life. Despite the brokenness that is prominent in this world I believe that there is hope for everyone. My outlook has shifted from an inwardly focused materialistic person to someone who is driven, and fulfilled through his efforts to love others and help mend a broken world. I went from living in group homes for almost a year and failing school to being a contender for valedictorian, a nationally ranked powerlifter, the captain of my wrestling team and passionately pursuing my dreams in psychology through research and activism. I know now that my experience with mental health has given me a gift that nothing else could give. It gave me purpose, direction, and perspective. My life became a testament of hope that I could share with others, and through my story, I have the confidence to know that I can persevere through whatever pains my life beholds.

I lived in a bare room, with nothing but a bed and a security camera in the corner. A large metal door with a grated window separated me and the rest of the world. In my reflections, I see flashes from the past– nostalgic memories mixed with sharp, painful moments. These memories are what ignite my passions, and what guide me in the right direction. They bring pain and hurt, but in exchange, they give me a perspective. They remind me when I forget and give me the proper frame of reference when I lose focus. My experiences and struggles with traumas and mental illness make up a large part of my identity today. Through my time living in group homes and treatment centers, I learned more about the world's needs and developed a direction and purpose in life. From the boy suffering from age regression at the passing of his mom, I learned the value of patience and how actions can't be taken at face value. From the girl who had been sex trafficked, I began to understand the brokenness in life truly and I grew in my sensitivity and empathy for victims of trauma. From another who had suffered from physical abuse, I learned the destruction that anger could bring, and how important it was to control my emotions as a man. I was inspired by their perseverance and compelled to live for others who were suffering. In dedicating my life to this field I have found out that the more I poured into this work and others around me, the more happiness and fulfillment I had for myself. I realized I had a unique opportunity and responsibility to use my experiences for the better. Through my struggles with depression and psychosis, I developed a purpose that I would be willing to give my life for. As I recovered I subsequently grew in my capacity to love and care. At my lowest points, I viscerally disagreed with the saying "Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger". I believed that traumas and struggles had the power to mar a life beyond repair, to push it past the brink of death and misery. I thought I had already gotten to the point of no return, and a normal life was unattainable. It was when I finally found my hope that I began to recover, picking up the broken pieces of my life and rearranging them to create my story. Finding hope amid darkness and suffering rendered a fundamental shift in my perspective on life and my struggles. Hope gave me the strength to persevere, to fight for my life, and to fight for others. Hope is what transformed my character and changed my life. Despite the brokenness that is prominent in this world I believe that there is hope for everyone. My outlook has shifted from an inwardly focused materialistic person to someone who is driven, and fulfilled through his efforts to love others and help mend a broken world. I went from living in group homes for almost a year and failing school to being a contender for valedictorian, a nationally ranked powerlifter, the captain of my wrestling team and passionately pursuing my dreams in psychology through research and activism. I know now that my experience with mental health has given me a gift that nothing else could give. It gave me purpose, direction, and perspective. My life became a testament of hope that I could share with others, and through my story, I have the confidence to know that I can persevere through whatever pains my life beholds.

I lived in a bare room, with nothing but a bed and a security camera in the corner. A large metal door with a grated window separated me and the rest of the world. In my reflections, I see flashes from the past– nostalgic memories mixed with sharp, painful moments. These memories are what ignite my passions, and what guide me in the right direction. They bring pain and hurt, but in exchange, they give me a perspective. They remind me when I forget and give me the proper frame of reference when I lose focus. My experiences and struggles with traumas and mental illness make up a large part of my identity today. Through my time living in group homes and treatment centers, I learned more about the world's needs and developed a direction and purpose in life. From the boy suffering from age regression at the passing of his mom, I learned the value of patience and how actions can't be taken at face value. From the girl who had been sex trafficked, I began to understand the brokenness in life truly and I grew in my sensitivity and empathy for victims of trauma. From another who had suffered from physical abuse, I learned the destruction that anger could bring, and how important it was to control my emotions as a man. I was inspired by their perseverance and compelled to live for others who were suffering. In dedicating my life to this field I have found out that the more I poured into this work and others around me, the more happiness and fulfillment I had for myself. I realized I had a unique opportunity and responsibility to use my experiences for the better. Through my struggles with depression and psychosis, I developed a purpose that I would be willing to give my life for. At my lowest points, I viscerally disagreed with the saying "Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger". I believed that traumas and struggles had the power to mar a life beyond repair, to push it past the brink of death and misery. I thought I had already gotten to the point of no return, and a normal life was unattainable. It was when I finally found my hope that I began to recover, picking up the broken pieces of my life and rearranging them to create my story. Finding hope amid darkness and suffering rendered a fundamental shift in my perspective on life and my struggles. Hope gave me the strength to persevere, to fight for my life, and to fight for others. Hope is what transformed my character and changed my life. Despite the brokenness that is prominent in this world I believe that there is hope for everyone. My outlook has shifted from an inwardly focused materialistic person to someone who is driven, and fulfilled through his efforts to love others and help mend a broken world. I went from living in group homes for almost a year and failing school to being a contender for valedictorian, a nationally ranked powerlifter, the captain of my wrestling team and passionately pursuing my dreams in psychology through research and activism. My life became a testament of hope that I could share with others, and through my story. I have the confidence to know that I can persevere through whatever pains my life beholds. I will use my previous experiences with mental health as well as my academic knowledge and work ethic to become a researcher in clinical psychology, giving back to the field that saved my life.

I lived in a bare room, with nothing but a bed and a security camera in the corner. A large metal door with a grated window separated me and the rest of the world. In my reflections, I see flashes from the past– nostalgic memories mixed with sharp, painful moments. These memories are what ignite my passions, and what guide me in the right direction. They bring pain and hurt, but in exchange, they give me a perspective. They remind me when I forget and give me the proper frame of reference when I lose focus. My experiences and struggles with traumas and mental illness make up a large part of my identity today. Through my time living in group homes and treatment centers, I learned more about the world's needs and developed a direction and purpose in life. From the boy suffering from age regression at the passing of his mom, I learned the value of patience and how actions can't be taken at face value. From the girl who had been sex trafficked, I began to understand the brokenness in life truly and I grew in my sensitivity and empathy for victims of trauma. From another who had suffered from physical abuse, I learned the destruction that anger could bring, and how important it was to control my emotions as a man. I was inspired by their perseverance and compelled to live for others who were suffering. In dedicating my life to this field I have found out that the more I poured into this work and others around me, the more happiness and fulfillment I had for myself. I realized I had a unique opportunity and responsibility to use my experiences for the better. Through my struggles with depression and psychosis, I developed a purpose that I would be willing to give my life for. As I recovered I subsequently grew in my capacity to love and care. At my lowest points, I viscerally disagreed with the saying "Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger". I believed that traumas and struggles had the power to mar a life beyond repair, to push it past the brink of death and misery. I thought I had already gotten to the point of no return, and a normal life was unattainable. It was when I finally found my hope that I began to recover, picking up the broken pieces of my life and rearranging them to create my story. Finding hope amid darkness and suffering rendered a fundamental shift in my perspective on life and my struggles. Hope gave me the strength to persevere, to fight for my life, and to fight for others. Hope is what transformed my character and changed my life. Despite the brokenness that is prominent in this world I believe that there is hope for everyone. My outlook has shifted from an inwardly focused materialistic person to someone who is driven, and fulfilled through his efforts to love others and help mend a broken world. I went from living in group homes for almost a year and failing school to being a contender for valedictorian, a nationally ranked powerlifter, the captain of my wrestling team and passionately pursuing my dreams in psychology through research and activism. I know now that my experience with mental health has given me a gift that nothing else could give. It gave me purpose, direction, and perspective. My life became a testament of hope that I could share with others, and through my story, I have the confidence to know that I can persevere through whatever pains my life beholds.

I lived in a bare room, with nothing but a bed and a security camera in the corner. A large metal door with a grated window separated me and the rest of the world. In my reflections, I see flashes from the past– nostalgic memories mixed with sharp, painful moments. These memories are what ignite my passions, and what guide me in the right direction. They bring pain and hurt, but in exchange, they give me a perspective. They remind me when I forget and give me the proper frame of reference when I lose focus. My experiences and struggles with traumas and mental illness make up a large part of my identity today. Through my time living in group homes and treatment centers, I learned more about the world's needs and developed a direction and purpose in life. From the boy suffering from age regression at the passing of his mom, I learned the value of patience and how actions can't be taken at face value. From the girl who had been sex trafficked, I began to understand the brokenness in life truly and I grew in my sensitivity and empathy for victims of trauma. From another who had suffered from physical abuse, I learned the destruction that anger could bring, and how important it was to control my emotions as a man. I was inspired by their perseverance and compelled to live for others who were suffering. In dedicating my life to this field I have found out that the more I poured into this work and others around me, the more happiness and fulfillment I had for myself. I realized I had a unique opportunity and responsibility to use my experiences for the better. Through my struggles with depression and psychosis, I developed a purpose that I would be willing to give my life for. As I recovered I subsequently grew in my capacity to love and care. At my lowest points, I viscerally disagreed with the saying "Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger". I believed that traumas and struggles had the power to mar a life beyond repair, to push it past the brink of death and misery. I thought I had already gotten to the point of no return, and a normal life was unattainable. It was when I finally found my hope that I began to recover, picking up the broken pieces of my life and rearranging them to create my story. Finding hope amid darkness and suffering rendered a fundamental shift in my perspective on life and my struggles. Hope gave me the strength to persevere, to fight for my life, and to fight for others. Hope is what transformed my character and changed my life. Despite the brokenness that is prominent in this world I believe that there is hope for everyone. One year ago my best friend was hospitalized due to a severe eating disorder. Her blood pressure and heart rate had dropped to a dangerous degree, and she fought for her life and sanity stuck in that hospital bed for weeks. Unable to eat she was fed through an IV and didn't have the strength to get out of bed. During this time, I visited her every single day even though I had school, taking public transit to UCSF, and bringing food and small gifts every time. My heart broke seeing her like this, especially because I know what that experience feels like. Throughout her recovery process, I saw her almost every day, even when I was prepping for 9 AP tests or Powerlifting nationals. I showed her I truly cared, something that made all the difference in my own life. My outlook has shifted from an inwardly focused materialistic person to someone who is driven, and fulfilled through his efforts to love others and help mend a broken world. I went from living in group homes for almost a year and failing school to being a contender for valedictorian, a nationally ranked powerlifter, the captain of my wrestling team and passionately pursuing my dreams in psychology through research and activism. I know now that my experience with mental health has given me a gift that nothing else could give. It gave me purpose, direction, and perspective. My life became a testament of hope that I could share with others, and through my story, I have the confidence to know that I can persevere through whatever pains my life beholds.

I lived in a bare room, with nothing but a bed and a security camera in the corner. A large metal door with a grated window separated me and the rest of the world. In my reflections, I see flashes from the past– nostalgic memories mixed with sharp, painful moments. These memories are what ignite my passions, and what guide me in the right direction. They bring pain and hurt, but in exchange, they give me a perspective. They remind me when I forget and give me the proper frame of reference when I lose focus. My experiences and struggles with traumas and mental illness make up a large part of my identity today. Through my time living in group homes and treatment centers, I learned more about the world's needs and developed a direction and purpose in life. From the boy suffering from age regression at the passing of his mom, I learned the value of patience and how actions can't be taken at face value. From the girl who had been sex trafficked, I began to understand the brokenness in life truly and I grew in my sensitivity and empathy for victims of trauma. From another who had suffered from physical abuse, I learned the destruction that anger could bring, and how important it was to control my emotions as a man. I was inspired by their perseverance and compelled to live for others who were suffering. In dedicating my life to this field I have found out that the more I poured into this work and others around me, the more happiness and fulfillment I had for myself. I realized I had a unique opportunity and responsibility to use my experiences for the better. Through my struggles with depression and psychosis, I developed a purpose that I would be willing to give my life for. As I recovered I subsequently grew in my capacity to love and care. At my lowest points, I viscerally disagreed with the saying "Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger". I believed that traumas and struggles had the power to mar a life beyond repair, to push it past the brink of death and misery. I thought I had already gotten to the point of no return, and a normal life was unattainable. It was when I finally found my hope that I began to recover, picking up the broken pieces of my life and rearranging them to create my story. Finding hope amid darkness and suffering rendered a fundamental shift in my perspective on life and my struggles. Hope gave me the strength to persevere, to fight for my life, and to fight for others. Hope is what transformed my character and changed my life. Despite the brokenness that is prominent in this world I believe that there is hope for everyone. My outlook has shifted from an inwardly focused materialistic person to someone who is driven, and fulfilled through his efforts to love others and help mend a broken world. I went from living in group homes for almost a year and failing school to being a contender for valedictorian, a nationally ranked powerlifter, the captain of my wrestling team and passionately pursuing my dreams in psychology through research and activism. I know now that my experience with mental health has given me a gift that nothing else could give. It gave me purpose, direction, and perspective. My life became a testament of hope that I could share with others, and through my story, I have the confidence to know that I can persevere through whatever pains my life beholds.

I lived in a bare room, with nothing but a bed and a security camera in the corner. A large metal door with a grated window separated me and the rest of the world. In my reflections, I see flashes from the past– nostalgic memories mixed with sharp, painful moments. These memories are what ignite my passions, and what guide me in the right direction. They bring pain and hurt, but in exchange, they give me a perspective. They remind me when I forget and give me the proper frame of reference when I lose focus. My experiences and struggles with traumas and mental illness make up a large part of my identity today. Through my time living in group homes and treatment centers, I learned more about the world's needs and developed a direction and purpose in life. From the boy suffering from age regression at the passing of his mom, I learned the value of patience and how actions can't be taken at face value. From the girl who had been sex trafficked, I began to understand the brokenness in life truly and I grew in my sensitivity and empathy for victims of trauma. From another who had suffered from physical abuse, I learned the destruction that anger could bring, and how important it was to control my emotions as a man. I was inspired by their perseverance and compelled to live for others who were suffering. In dedicating my life to this field I have found out that the more I poured into this work and others around me, the more happiness and fulfillment I had for myself. I realized I had a unique opportunity and responsibility to use my experiences for the better. Through my struggles with depression and psychosis, I developed a purpose that I would be willing to give my life for. As I recovered I subsequently grew in my capacity to love and care. At my lowest points, I viscerally disagreed with the saying "Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger". I believed that traumas and struggles had the power to mar a life beyond repair, to push it past the brink of death and misery. I thought I had already gotten to the point of no return, and a normal life was unattainable. It was when I finally found my hope that I began to recover, picking up the broken pieces of my life and rearranging them to create my story. Finding hope amid darkness and suffering rendered a fundamental shift in my perspective on life and my struggles. Hope gave me the strength to persevere, to fight for my life, and to fight for others. Hope is what transformed my character and changed my life. Despite the brokenness that is prominent in this world I believe that there is hope for everyone. My outlook has shifted from an inwardly focused materialistic person to someone who is driven, and fulfilled through his efforts to love others and help mend a broken world. I went from living in group homes for almost a year and failing school to being a contender for valedictorian, a nationally ranked powerlifter, the captain of my wrestling team and passionately pursuing my dreams in psychology through research and activism. I know now that my experience with mental health has given me a gift that nothing else could give. It gave me purpose, direction, and perspective. My life became a testament of hope that I could share with others, and through my story, I have the confidence to know that I can persevere through whatever pains my life beholds.

I lived in a bare room, with nothing but a bed and a security camera in the corner. A large metal door with a grated window separated me and the rest of the world. In my reflections, I see flashes from the past– nostalgic memories mixed with sharp, painful moments. These memories are what ignite my passions, and what guide me in the direction of kindness. They bring pain and hurt, but in exchange, they give me a perspective. They remind me when I forget and give me the proper frame of reference when I lose focus. My experiences and struggles with traumas and mental illness make up a large part of my identity today. Through my time living in group homes and treatment centers, I learned more about the world's needs and developed a direction and purpose in life. From the boy suffering from age regression at the passing of his mom, I learned the value of patience and how actions can't be taken at face value. From the girl who had been sex trafficked, I began to understand the brokenness in life truly and I grew in my sensitivity and empathy for victims of trauma. From another who had suffered from physical abuse, I learned the destruction that anger could bring, and how important it was to control my emotions as a man. I was inspired by their perseverance and compelled to live for others who were suffering. In dedicating my life to this field I have found out that the more I poured into this work and others around me, the more happiness and fulfillment I had for myself. I realized I had a unique opportunity and responsibility to use my experiences for the better. Through my struggles with depression and psychosis, I developed a purpose that I would be willing to give my life for. As I recovered I subsequently grew in my capacity to love and care. At my lowest points, I viscerally disagreed with the saying "Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger". I believed that traumas and struggles had the power to mar a life beyond repair, to push it past the brink of death and misery. I thought I had already gotten to the point of no return, and a normal life was unattainable. It was when I finally found my hope that I began to recover, picking up the broken pieces of my life and rearranging them to create my story. Finding hope amid darkness and suffering rendered a fundamental shift in my perspective on life and my struggles. Hope gave me the strength to persevere, to fight for my life, and to fight for others. Hope is what transformed my character and changed my life. Despite the brokenness that is prominent in this world I believe that there is hope for everyone. One year ago my best friend was hospitalized due to a severe eating disorder. Her blood pressure and heart rate had dropped to a dangerous degree, and she fought for her life and sanity stuck in that hospital bed for weeks. Unable to eat she was fed through an IV, and didn't have the strength to get out of bed. During this time, I visited her every single day even though I had school, taking public transit to UCSF, and bringing food and small gifts every time. My heart broke seeing her like this, especially because I know what that experience feels like. Throughout her recovery process, I saw her almost every day, even when I was prepping for 9 AP tests, or Powerlifting nationals. I showed her I truly cared, something that made all the difference in my own life My outlook has shifted from an inwardly focused materialistic person to someone who is driven, and fulfilled through his efforts to love others and help mend a broken world. I went from living in group homes for almost a year and failing school to being a contender for valedictorian, a nationally ranked powerlifter, the captain of my wrestling team and passionately pursuing my dreams in psychology through research and activism. I know now that my experience with mental health has given me a gift that nothing else could give. It gave me purpose, direction, and perspective. My life became a testament of hope that I could share with others, and through my story, I have the confidence to know that I can persevere through whatever pains my life beholds.

I lived in a bare room, with nothing but a bed and a security camera in the corner. A large metal door with a grated window separated me and the rest of the world. In my reflections, I see flashes from the past– nostalgic memories mixed with sharp, painful moments. These memories are what ignite my passions, and what guide me in the right direction. They bring pain and hurt, but in exchange, they give me a perspective. They remind me when I forget and give me the proper frame of reference when I lose focus. My experiences and struggles with traumas and mental illness make up a large part of my identity today. Through my time living in group homes and treatment centers, I learned more about the world's needs and developed a direction and purpose in life. From the boy suffering from age regression at the passing of his mom, I learned the value of patience and how actions can't be taken at face value. From the girl who had been sex trafficked, I began to understand the brokenness in life truly and I grew in my sensitivity and empathy for victims of trauma. From another who had suffered from physical abuse, I learned the destruction that anger could bring, and how important it was to control my emotions as a man. I was inspired by their perseverance and compelled to live for others who were suffering. In dedicating my life to this field I have found out that the more I poured into this work and others around me, the more happiness and fulfillment I had for myself. I realized I had a unique opportunity and responsibility to use my experiences for the better. Through my struggles with depression and psychosis, I developed a purpose that I would be willing to give my life for. As I recovered I subsequently grew in my capacity to love and care. At my lowest points, I viscerally disagreed with the saying "Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger". I believed that traumas and struggles had the power to mar a life beyond repair, to push it past the brink of death and misery. I thought I had already gotten to the point of no return, and a normal life was unattainable. It was when I finally found my hope that I began to recover, picking up the broken pieces of my life and rearranging them to create my story. Finding hope amid darkness and suffering rendered a fundamental shift in my perspective on life and my struggles. Hope gave me the strength to persevere, to fight for my life, and to fight for others. Hope is what transformed my character and changed my life. Despite the brokenness that is prominent in this world I believe that there is hope for everyone. My outlook has shifted from an inwardly focused materialistic person to someone who is driven, and fulfilled through his efforts to love others and help mend a broken world. I went from living in group homes for almost a year and failing school to being a contender for valedictorian, a nationally ranked powerlifter, the captain of my wrestling team and passionately pursuing my dreams in psychology through research and activism. I know now that my experience with mental health has given me a gift that nothing else could give. It gave me purpose, direction, and perspective. My life became a testament of hope that I could share with others, and through my story, I have the confidence to know that I can persevere through whatever pains my life beholds.

I lived in a bare room, with nothing but a bed and a security camera in the corner. A large metal door with a grated window separated me and the rest of the world. In my reflections, I see flashes from the past– nostalgic memories mixed with sharp, painful moments. These memories are what ignite my passions, and what guide me in the right direction. They bring pain and hurt, but in exchange, they give me a perspective. They remind me when I forget and give me the proper frame of reference when I lose focus. My experiences and struggles with traumas and mental illness make up a large part of my identity today. Through my time living in group homes and treatment centers, I learned more about the world's needs and developed a direction and purpose in life. From the boy suffering from age regression at the passing of his mom, I learned the value of patience and how actions can't be taken at face value. From the girl who had been sex trafficked, I began to understand the brokenness in life truly and I grew in my sensitivity and empathy for victims of trauma. From another who had suffered from physical abuse, I learned the destruction that anger could bring, and how important it was to control my emotions as a man. I was inspired by their perseverance and compelled to live for others who were suffering. In dedicating my life to this field I have found out that the more I poured into this work and others around me, the more happiness and fulfillment I had for myself. I realized I had a unique opportunity and responsibility to use my experiences for the better. Through my struggles with depression and psychosis, I developed a purpose that I would be willing to give my life for. As I recovered I subsequently grew in my capacity to love and care. At my lowest points, I viscerally disagreed with the saying "Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger". I believed that traumas and struggles had the power to mar a life beyond repair, to push it past the brink of death and misery. I thought I had already gotten to the point of no return, and a normal life was unattainable. It was when I finally found my hope that I began to recover, picking up the broken pieces of my life and rearranging them to create my story. Finding hope amid darkness and suffering rendered a fundamental shift in my perspective on life and my struggles. Hope gave me the strength to persevere, to fight for my life, and to fight for others. Hope is what transformed my character and changed my life. Despite the brokenness that is prominent in this world I believe that there is hope for everyone. My outlook has shifted from an inwardly focused materialistic person to someone who is driven, and fulfilled through his efforts to love others and help mend a broken world. I went from living in group homes for almost a year and failing school to being a contender for valedictorian, a nationally ranked powerlifter, the captain of my wrestling team and passionately pursuing my dreams in psychology through research and activism. I know now that my experience with mental health has given me a gift that nothing else could give. It gave me purpose, direction, and perspective. My life became a testament of hope that I could share with others, and through my story, I have the confidence to know that I can persevere through whatever pains my life beholds.