The Olympics is one of the many events that brings people together. Seeing many athletes dominate their sports that they work hard for is a beautiful story. Every athlete is unique in their own way and has persevered to be able to be making it past the Olympic trials to be able to compete in Paris last year. My favorite athlete to cheer on Team USA is Sha'Carri Richardson. To me, Richardson is a well rounded person and seems to be a pleasure to be around. She has a fun and passionate personality, an amazing style sense, hugs her family after every race, and is an amazing sprinter. I love her competitiveness and her confidence because sometimes in sports it's mind over matter. I love watching track and seeing her run inspires me. I ran track in high school for a year and it showed me how dedication makes you achieve your goals faster. Progress takes time and you can really see when running track that if you practice every day and eat right you will see yourself becoming faster and faster. Overall, Richardson's many characteristics is why I cheer her on. Her life story overcoming adversity to be one of the fastest women in the world today is someone many can look up to. Watching sports paints the picture of the saying "practice makes perfect" which can be applied on and off the track.

#BookTok has emerged on TikTok recently and has united and inspired many bookworms including myself to embrace and share their love of books online. As someone who loves reading romance and young adult are my go-to categories. These two genres are where I spend essentially hours in the bookstore looking at the newest books released. With the growing popularity of this social media literary movement, I have seen dozens of books that I would have discovered if #BookTok did not exist. The movement encourages my love of books and makes me feel included. The Magnolia Parks series by Jessica Hastings is on my list right now for future reads. After seeing a few content creators talk about this series as a recommendation. I know that this is a romance between a London socialite and British bad-boy. I can, through reading this book, immerse myself in what it is like living in London at this time and get to see the two main characters fall in love. In series like Magnolia Parks, one of my favorite parts of reading a book is seeing how the setting has an influence on the characters. Hence why I can not wait to hear about London as a member of an essentially high class society. Furthermore another book series I have on my list is The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. Even though thriller isn't what I usually go for I have seen several positive reviews on #Booktok. This shows that #Booktok can encourage those to get out of their comfort zone with their reading genres to potentially find more books that they can enjoy. The plot of a group of young adults being recruited to the FBI because of their special powers is very intriguing. If this became a show or a movie it sounds like a definite must watch. This series is for anyone who enjoys a good mystery or thriller or is looking to add another book to their reading list. The book Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren is a romance novel that I've seen many content creators praise. The way the romance is written seems like a love you only experience once in your lifetime. The childhood romance trope is captivating to read about. This is like the invisible string theory or soulmates, that there's someone that you just have an inexplicable connection to. Through reading romance novels one can learn about how love can be healthy or unhealthy and how a relationship progresses over time. Titles like these have impacted the #Booktok community by allowing potentially millions of people to share their love of books confidently online. Avid readers, like me, who want to discover new books can do so just by going on social media. This makes reading books feel trendy and popular in a world where technology is ubiquitous. The movement has made essentially a giant book club of book lovers worldwide to be able to share their thoughts and feelings on what they just read. The power of #Booktok is building a global digital community built on people's love for reading.

Growing up, my daily routine always had reading in one way or another. It started with my parents reading me bedtime stories to help me fall asleep, to spending hours in the local libraries crossing books off my reading list, to now reading textbooks to prepare for the next test. One book that stood out to me growing up was The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, a book my fourth grade teacher read to my class. Which I afterwards bought the book to read again and again. The book showed themes of unconditional love but what happens when we are only selfless. Just being able to help the boy in the book was enough to for the tree. The tree happily offered the apples, a place to swing, a place to climb, the trunk of the tree even though it meant the tree can't go back to its original state. All to make sure the boy remains happy. This is not transactional love, but unconditional love. The reader can see even though that the boy gives nothing in return to the tree, the tree still loves the boy wholeheartedly. The tree and the boy is similar to how a parent loves their child. The tree in the beginning of the book was this tall strong apple tree, at the end of the book the tree was a shell of its former self. The change in the tree shows what happens when one only gives to others but not itself. The tree wasn't able to be as supportive to the boy when the boy is much older because the tree had nothing else to give. This can be symbolic of people burning out after only helping others and working instead of stopping to relax or give themselves any form of self care. The tree becoming a small stump at the end can be expressed as a person's energy level's going down from working too hard to keep others happy but not themselves. The Giving Tree was a book that metaphorically demonstrated several themes including unconditional love and selflessness. The book is a great teaching tool for someone of any age to teach about the boundaries of loving someone. As, the downfall of loving someone with all your heart is potentially losing yourself in the process.

I have the motto "new day, new opportunities". Growing up I always loved playing sports it allowed me to be happy and enjoy life. Going to the park on a Saturday for hours was a regular thing in my childhood. I joined track in my junior year it was the best decision I ever made. I finally allowed myself to join a sports team and I had so much fun. Being a student-athlete allowed me to have a balance between getting my schoolwork done and remaining in shape. I was very proud that I made the honor roll while on the track team Being in track allowed me to be more social and have more school spirit. Joining the track team was a healthy coping mechanism for my depression because I enjoyed working out every day after school, meeting new people, and being an overall mood booster. Especially since the pandemic happened during my freshmen year it was difficult to keep in touch with my peers. Something that remained the same was my love for working out. I did not feel the pressure of having to be the best of the best even though I was one of the slower runners on the team. I realized after a while that I most likely have asthma as my breath control wasn't getting better over the year. Joining the team made me realize I had asthma which I finally got diagnosed and is now feeling much better when working out. My love for track stayed because I have an amazing coach who is very encouraging. I am grateful that my first time joining a team was a success as it allowed me to embrace my love for working out and being active. Joining the track team made me discover my best self. I felt a shift in how I was from sophomore year to junior year. In sophomore year I was struggling at online school and was feeling down when everything shut down. The return to normalcy in the sense that all students back at school allowed me to realize that I learn better in person surrounded by my peers. Coming out of my shell was something I was able to do by joining the team and being more social with my classmates. I discovered genuine happiness during my time on the team and my depression felt more and more distant. I saw my potential as a student again as being a strong student and a member of my student body felt natural. Today I know that I am more outspoken than I was as a freshman, trying my best every day is achievable and being my best self is who I shall always strive to be that is what track and field symbolize for me in my life.

I use music to lift my spirits. Having depression makes me rely on coping skills heavily. The song "Don't Dream It's Over" by Crowded House has the most important message to me. The message of the song to me means that don't give up and stay strong. I usually turn the song on to listen to it when I am going through a hard time. The song always makes me smile even through tears. In my lows of depression I know I should keep the mindset of the song and keep going. The song is a song I love to sing as try to resonate with the lyrics. The repetition of the lyrics " Don't let them win" at the end emphasizes the message. The part plays in my head as motivation when I feel like I am in a slump or stuck in a fog. The lyrics are like an anthem telling me to keep striving, every little bit helps. The lyrics " When the world comes in...To build a wall between us You know that they won't win", are lyrics I feel a connection to. Depression for me means more negative than positive thoughts. The lyrics make it more insightful to know how my environment can influence negatively my thoughts and my mood. The impact is making more conscious decisions that have more a positive effect on my mental health. The song "Don't Dream It's Over" by Crowded House to me has the most important message. The song is used to me as a way to bring a smile to my face despite my hardships and as a motivator when my mental health is low. I get reminded to persevere through anything I try to achieve.

Having a mental illness impacts me in more ways then I can list. My beliefs in my faith were challenged as a kid. Having depression and anxiety did not allow me to fully embrace my love for a God. I felt that even though I prayed every day and thanked God for a wonderous life but the darkness would not go away. My childhood felt like I was asking God for help making my life more happy and not being grateful my circumstances he put me in. I have now become more spiritual in my beliefs as I believe in God but do not go to church. Having people tell me phrases like "I'm sad because I sin" or because "I do not go to church enough" made me feel that the religious community is not a healthy support system that I can lean on. My depression stirred me more towards Buddhism as the faith is about finding enlightenment and nirvana. My relationships are impacted by my mental health because I value relationships that are positive and show unconditional love. Having depression in a family where love was conditional was very frustrating. Being down all the time made me be perceived as an ungrateful child to my relatives because the material things in my life are viewed as bountiful reasons for everlasting joy. I tried hard to prove that I am thankful for my life and put on a face for my relatives who spent less time being more supportive and more time being judgmental. I had to learn this way that family does not have impunity on what they say to me. I had to view my friends as my second family as I home was not full of people I can emotionally lean on. My career aspirations have changed through my mental health. Having depression can make you lose interest in the things you love. It took a lot of effort to stop my enjoyment from my hobbies from slipping away. Ever since I joined debate team back in 8th grade being a lawyer was a career I realized I can be great at. Having anxiety that is triggered with my grades fluctuating from my depression made me doubt my journey for college and law school before it even started. My love for debate and research never dwindled therefore I am trying to give my last year in high my best year so I can make my dreams a reality. Having a support system at my school who motivate me to try my best helps me on my dark and anxious days and keeps me steered in my right path. My depression serves as a motivator for me that it will be my speed bump not my dead end in having a successful job. Mental health has played a significant role with me in all aspect of my life. Mental health has taught me the ways I can be more happy in my peace of mind and be a listening ear to my loved ones going through tough times. I have become more open minded, loving, supportive, and kind to my peers because you never know someone else's battle.

The Delightful Depression I’m fine, just tired a lie that is commonly told; Masking a fake smile to hide the tears; Fighting inner battles that no one else sees. I see a storm that engulfs my spirit, Never ending feeling of loneliness Everyday can feel like sludge Hope may become a dwindling glimmer, Apathy takes over your love for things, Pessimistic perspectives may weigh you down, Peace is being chained to your bed for days. Its okay tomorrow can bring more sunshine Nights where your thoughts wonder, Everlasting sadness starts to creep in. Stay with that hope and let it grow, Stop and remember that you are not alone.

Listening to music has impacted my life through allowing me to be able to express all my feelings through the wide range of songs. I have been able to sing my heart out to a love song when Valentine's Day is near and have a huge smile on mm face when singing along to "Last Christmas" with a Santa's hat and decorating the tree with twinkling lights. Listening to the radio on car rides with my dad allowed us to bond though music. After my parents divorce, my dad took us on car rides on the days he came to visit . A quiet car made the situation feel even lonelier. Although my dad didn't sing, I always saw a bit of a smile form from him when I would belt out 80s songs that would play on the weekends to our favorite radio station. 13 years later, we listen to the same station. Music to me was a way of being creative and connect with people no matter the language. I am bilingual in Spanish through with I learned in school but I can still enjoy and understand latin music without having to deal with language barriers. I love seeing my Haitian side of the family dance to kompa and proudly embrace their culture in family events. The music always makes you want to get on your feet and dance. In school, when I was younger, my favorite part of the school year was the winter concert. There I could sing with my friends the Christmas songs I have been hearing all season long. Those Christmas carols always brought joy to my life no matter what was going on. Being able to sing after practicing for weeks in front of friends and family in holidays dresses is how I experienced the holiday magic. My passion had impacted my life in a positive way. Listening to music, seeing how happy my family got seeing me sing led me join choir at school which gave me new friendships and fun opportunities. Thus, pulling me out of my comfort zone and being more extroverted. My passion has allowed me to always have a conversation starter when small talk runs dry as everyone listens to music in one way or another. Listening to music encouraged me to play the bells this past school year which I found out I absolutely love. Most importantly, my passion has taught me to be myself and allow those around me feel comfortable in being theirselves too.

A healthy life leads to a long life. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle may not give immediate satisfaction for some, but it's a benefit for those who want to grow old with their loved ones. Growing up, in a big family I was taught what not to do so I can have longevity. My relatives who smoked had fatal effects that shortened their lives significantly. My relatives who were not the best at staying sober paid for it with their livelihoods. Those personal examples are what taught me the importance of releasing stress in ways that keep me sober and safe. My grandma has outlived her mom and her grandma at the age of 78. Although she has lived longer than all her siblings as well she is not the healthiest. Due to the secondhand smoking she obtained from her mother she suffers from COPD and always had this terrible cough when she is sick. My grandpa, her husband, is 80 now but he has numerous health problems. He is surviving not living to the fullest from his history of both a heart transplant and a kidney transplant which leads to his compromised immune system and history of colon cancer. The health problems they face leads to them aging fast and not being active as they can. A healthy lifestyle is also extremely important to me because the history of cardiovascular events that have occurred within my family. Heart attack and stroke is common in my family on both sides which signifies later in life I have to be really focused on my health to hopefully prevent that. A major part of my family past and present had suffered from one or the other. My paternal grandparents passed from suffering strokes. My uncles on my mom side both have had a heart attack before. My mom has been on high blood pressure for years and other people in my family either have it or are borderline the youngest person with high blood pressure being 24. The affect of this on me is to avoid stress and always have fruits and vegetables added to my meals or snacks. I maintain a healthy lifestyle in several ways. My diet first and foremost is what I strive to stay on top of because I have a bit of a sweet tooth. To counter this when I am craving something sweet I try to eat a fruit salad. If I just end up having a dessert, I wash it down with plenty of water and exercise extra afterwards. I have always been a sporty person. My father and I try to compete to see who walked the most from time to time. I walk my dog often and i exercise as much as I can not only to keep me in shape but to relief any stress I have at the moment. I took a vow of sobriety for my adulthood because seeing how much smoking, alcoholism, and drugs impacts the body, I have no interest in shortening my lifespan in that way. Lastly, I do hobbies and socialize with my friends as that makes me happy. This follows my motto I try to keep for myself "healthy in mind and body" being a healthy lifestyle makes a gratifying life.

Growing up going the park was a weekend delight. Time to enjoy nature and have fun. Although nature isn't as beautiful as it once was. The effects of human interactions are destructive and shown through climate change. As the world has evolved over time, humans were just a small part of its history. The impact of humans are still drastic despite their small time on earth. This can be shown through how humans hunted the animals like the North American bison and the dodo bird to the brink of or to extinction. Everyday species both plants and animals goes extinct due to human involvement. Animals that I've seen at zoos will probably only be seen in photos by my future descendents unfortunately. Living in the state of New York, you see firsthand a glimpse of the environmental destruction. Driving past factories that pollute the air with fog so thick you can't see through it is a disheartening sight. The litter all over the streets, highways, beaches shows that for some nature is their landfill. The plants and animals that not only have limited habitat space have to deal with this litter clogging up their homes. They have to deal with the air pollution and smog that was not naturally a problem for their ancestors. Yet little is done and many people think it's "too little too late" for change to happen. Change can start with one person . Legislation can be passed to limit the pollution in the air, the water, the land. Companies should pay heavy fines for illegal dumping of harmful chemicals to places that are unfit for such. Communities can organize beach or park clean ups to keep their neighborhood clean. Those eligible can vote for people in power for environmental laws. Remember change starts with you.