My sister burst into my room, screaming, her eyes wide with happy tears. “Mommy’s water broke,” she cried out. The moment we had been eagerly waiting for had arrived. It was now March 18th, 2021, and nearly twenty-four hours later, my baby sister, Brooklyn Ariana Clark, blessed the world with her presence. I stood nervously in the corner of the hospital room; our eyes met, and my heart instantly melted into a million pieces. She was the most beautiful being to ever grace this planet. Our connection deepened as I sat down, rocking her in my arms. Her curious little eyes looked up into mine, and I vowed to protect her at all costs, valuing her life above my own. My heart overflowed with a love I had never known before. A few months later, one night around 3 a.m., Brooklyn began to cry. Without a second thought, I rushed to her room, my heart racing. Gently, I picked her up, hummed softly, and rocked her back to sleep. As I watched her drift into slumber, I reflected on the vow I made when she was born, promising to protect her always. I held onto that promise with everything I had. But that vow was broken when Brooklyn passed away at seven months old on November 1st, 2021. Her body lay motionless in the nurse’s arms, and I felt as if my heart had shattered. "Sudden infant death syndrome," the doctor said, but I could barely hear. I dropped to the ground, numb. My world faded. Grief overwhelmed me, and I spent many days alone, locked in my room. At school, I couldn’t focus, crying in the bathroom. My GPA plummeted, and my depression grew. Both my school and my mom became concerned. The thought of going back to church left me uneasy, yet my mom, believing God was the answer to our pain, insisted I attend. As we sat in the pew, the pastor’s voice pierced through my thoughts: “Without a clear mind, your path ahead isn’t properly aligned.” These words struck deep, reminding me how I had pushed God away in my anger. Slowly, a flicker of faith I thought had disappeared reignited, pulling me back toward the light I desperately needed. Through prayer and gradually regaining my faith, I found the strength to keep going. I had never questioned God’s plans until Brooklyn’s death, but I began to trust that there was a purpose for my pain. As 1st Corinthians 10:13 states, “God will never give you more than you can handle.” Though I may never fully understand why it happened, with faith, I knew I could overcome it. Jim George states, “It’s not how you start that’s important, but how you finish!” After Brooklyn’s loss, grief consumed me, and I lost sight of my future. But by rediscovering my faith, I found the strength to push forward. Life throws obstacles, but it’s up to you whether you allow them to defeat you or overcome them. Regaining my mental, academic, and social life was challenging, but I made it through. As I continue my journey, I won’t let any obstacle stop me from becoming the best version of myself. .

Like any human being, life throws obstacles at you left and right. However, the difference lies in how each individual chooses to handle and overcome these challenges. Growing up in a Black Christian household, God was always introduced as the solution to all my problems. Personally, I had a hard time grasping this concept at first, as I hadn’t experienced a defining moment yet. I believe that faith in God comes naturally for some, while others, like me, need to go through a life-defining experience to truly feel the connection between themselves and God. My defining moment came in 2021 when I was 14 years old and everything I believed in was questioned. That was the year my baby sister Brooklyn passed away from sudden infant death syndrome in her sleep. The close connection Brooklyn and I had built during the seven months of her life made her passing especially devastating. That night, I not only lost Brooklyn but also my faith in God. I had never questioned God’s plan until Brooklyn’s death. Afterward, I questioned every decision God made in my life and why He allowed such things to happen. As I sank deeper into depression, my school and my mom grew increasingly concerned. My mom, always believing that God was the answer, decided it was time to reintroduce me to Him. The thought of stepping back into church churned my stomach with a mix of dread and hope. It had been four months since we said goodbye to Brooklyn and four months since I had set foot in a church. That day, a sliver of my faith was restored, bringing me back to life. “Without a clear mind, your path ahead isn’t properly aligned.” Those words stuck with me like a melody I couldn’t forget. They resonated deeply with my grief, echoing in my heart. I was so angry at God that I had forgotten all He had done for me. Suddenly, a flicker of faith I thought was gone began to reignite, pushing me toward the light I desperately needed. Through prayer and gradually rebuilding my faith, I found the strength to keep fighting. I realized then that Brooklyn’s death was the defining moment I had been waiting for—a test of my faith in God. As time went on, my relationship with God grew stronger. My faith now drives me to be the best version of myself and pushes me to do better in life. Trusting God’s plan is what motivates me to pursue a career as an orthodontist. Whenever doubt or fear arises, I reflect on what I’ve overcome and remember that God is always by my side. Every exam, project, and paper feels manageable because, with God, I’ll always have a clear mind, ensuring my path ahead is properly aligned.

Being a victim of depression, my understanding of mental health has deepened over the last couple of years. With the help of therapy, I've become more aware of how important mental health is for everyone around the world. Coming from a Black family, stereotypes are often thrown around, such as the idea that therapy is for the weak, which deters many from seeking the help they desperately need. From my personal experience, the most effective tool in my mental health journey was group therapy sessions and seminars. Being surrounded by individuals who shared similar experiences or faced similar challenges gave me a sense of comfort. Knowing that you’re not alone and that others are there to build you up and support you gave me the drive I desperately needed to keep pushing forward. As someone who isn’t vocally expressive about my feelings, this was definitely a challenge I had to overcome. My main goal when it comes to mental health is to organize future mental health seminars for those who can’t afford necessary care, like therapy. These events will not only provide individuals with a safe space, but they will also offer the help they need without the financial burden of paying hundreds of dollars per hour. Dr. Pablo, my therapist, has inspired me with his guidance to help others on their mental health journey, even if it's just for 5-10 people every month or two. The important thing is that a life can be saved, just like mine was.

I remember the first time I entered a dental office. My head was spinning with a mix of emotions as I observed the procedure. I asked the doctor many questions as he picked up and used each dental tool placed on the table. It wasn’t fear that made me curious; everything looked so fascinating, and I just wanted to know more. As the years passed, my intrigue in the dental field grew. I started watching YouTube videos about different procedures and became more vocal during my own dental appointments. In my 8th grade year, I finally realized what my true passion was. I always knew I wanted to be a doctor, but I wasn’t sure which kind. The more I thought about my future, the more my mind kept coming back to dentistry. As high school magnet school applications approached, I began searching for a medical-related program. That’s when I came across Miami Lakes Educational Center, where I was enrolled in the dental assisting program. Joining this program has been one of the best decisions of my life, as it has allowed me to further explore and nurture my passion for becoming a general dentist after college. Becoming a general dentist is not an easy path and requires both significant work and financial investment. On average, students can expect around 8 years of schooling after high school, and even longer if they plan to specialize. However, my path should take about 6 years instead of the standard 8. Currently, as a dual enrollment student at Miami Dade College, I am pursuing my associate’s degree. By April 2025, I will have earned my Associate in Arts degree, allowing me to enter college as a junior. This will save me two years of tuition at whatever university I choose to attend. I am also aiming for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship to cover my tuition, as I am enrolled in the AICE Diploma program at my school. This scholarship would cover 100% of my tuition at any institution I attend, up to 120 credits. The challenge of room and board expenses has led me to apply for multiple additional scholarships to help cover those costs. The more financial support I can secure, the better, as I want to limit the amount of debt I may incur. Dental school is one of the most expensive paths in higher education, and the debt from it can be overwhelming. My main goal is to graduate from college debt-free so that I can enter dental school with as clear of a financial slate as possible. Knowing how expensive dental school is and the limited scholarships available for such programs, securing as much funding as I can will put me in a stronger financial position than many others. By planning ahead and utilizing available resources, I am taking the necessary steps to pursue my dream of becoming a general dentist. With a clear focus on education, financial planning, and minimizing debt, I am confident that I can reach my goal of helping others through dentistry while maintaining a strong, sustainable future.

Brooklyn Clark was only 7 months old when she was taken from me and my family. My baby sister meant the world to me, as I took care of her more than her own father did. The connection we built in the short 7 months of her life was an unbreakable bond like no other. With my mom being a single mother, oftentimes the responsibility of Brooklyn was placed on me. At 14 years old, most kids wouldn’t want this amount of pressure and responsibility placed on them. However, I didn’t mind. I loved spending time taking care of my little sister; our relationship was indescribable in words. How could you love someone so much in such a short time of knowing them? Brooklyn’s death left me and my family in shambles. My mother and I were most impacted by her death, as we were closer to her. Afterward, I slipped into a deep depression, with no goals in life anymore. I allowed the grief to consume me entirely, not caring about anything else. The reason I’m still sitting here today is because of my relationship with God and therapy. For a moment in time, I started to question God’s plan and decisions, like, “Why us?” There are many neglectful parents out there, but you take a baby who was cared for and well-loved by her family? After many nights alone in my room and countless conversations with God, I finally came to one conclusion. We might not have all the answers, but having faith in God and believing that everything happens for a reason is important. 1 Corinthians 10:13 delves into the idea that God wouldn’t give you a challenge in life that He knows you can’t handle. So the question of “why” and “how” eventually left my mind, and the question of “what’s next?” emerged. Through therapy, Dr. Pablo introduced me to various methods that engaged my mind in other aspects of my life. It was time to reconnect with myself and discover exactly who Jeremiah Jackson was. I started exploring many different aspects of my life to figure out what I actually wanted and liked. My love of books came out during this period of discovery. Books became my escape to other worlds, allowing my mind to clear and not always be consumed with my problems. During this time, I also began working out. My self-confidence had plummeted during this period of grief, and working out gave me the boost I needed to regain my self-worth and appreciation. Retrieving my lost smile was the most essential part of this whole grief process. It eventually led to my passion in life: becoming an orthodontist. I began loving my smile and wanted others to feel the same confidence I felt when smiling. All my life, I had been insecure about my smile. My teeth were considered “perfect” by my dentist, but that didn’t matter to me. My self-perception was so low that I couldn’t see what everyone else did. Through this period of grief, I experienced a whirlwind of emotions, like being on an up-and-down roller coaster. However, with God and therapy, I was able to get my life back together and regain the most important part of my life: my smile. The loss of Brooklyn taught me that God puts you through challenges that may not always make sense. However, it’s up to the individual to decide how they deal with it and not to stop living just because their loved one did.

Mental health is an issue faced by millions of individuals around the world. Often, we overlook and don’t take our mental health issues as urgently as we should. I was one who often didn’t prioritize my mental health until it all changed in late 2021. After the traumatic loss of my young 7-month-old sister, my mental health issues became more evident to myself and those around me. My mom then entered me into therapy, where I received mental health counseling once a week, talking about my emotions and inner thoughts. Before these conversations, I never really realized how many past and present issues I had never really dealt with and let go of. New fears that had arisen due to the situation with my sister were even put to rest, as he opened my eyes and explained the chances of these things actually happening. Thanks to Dr. Pablo Martin, I can genuinely say I’m happy and appreciative of where I’m at right now with my life, and I know how to keep up with my mental health. He helped me find various passions and methods to help keep me in a good headspace at all times. My love of reading and working out arose from conversations with Dr. Pablo. Reading books allows me to escape the real world and enter a new universe with different characters and watch their story unfold. This feeling gives me the peace and comfort I need in order to detach myself from the various obstacles I face each day I wake up. With working out, I can release all the built-up tension I’ve accumulated throughout the week, whether it be physical or mental. With every muscle I move and punch I make during my workout, a new level of stress is lifted from my conscious state. Speaking from my experiences only, in my family, especially as a Black male, we were often taught to always be strong and show no emotions. As I have gotten older, I’ve come to realize that this way of teaching is outright wrong. It’s okay to cry and feel bad, man or woman. No one person is right and has all the answers and is perfect. So prioritizing your mental health is crucial, especially as you get older, because life throws many obstacles at you each day. Without the right type of help and guidance, your mental health will continue to deteriorate, making you an unhappy person.