Charity has shaped not only my personal values but also my academic and professional pursuits. For me, charity is about a commitment to just treatment, giving back to your community, and uplifting those who might need it most. I have seen firsthand how resources, care, and knowledge offered to those in need can transform both individuals and entire communities. My research into the barriers African American adults face when seeking mental health services has made clear the profound impact that advocacy, education, and support can have in addressing inequities and building trust, solidarity, and empowerment. Looking forward, I am committed to embodying charity in ways that extend beyond simple gestures of kindness to long-term meaningful contributions. My plans include working to become a Licensed Professional Counselor, so that I may provide guidance to children and young adults that struggle with trauma and mental health. I plan to also be a voice for those who feel voiceless as it pertains to speaking up about generational trauma within the Black community. Volunteering with organizations that address health disparities and working directly with affected communities to help create solutions is also something I strive to achieve. I believe charity is a lifelong practice of responsibility, and not something that you just participate in for a short period of time.

After graduating from the historical Tougaloo College and earning a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, I plan to seek more education and earn a Doctorate degree, while also becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor. I’ve had an interest in Psychology for a long time. As someone who understands what it feels like to struggle with mental health, I believe it is my calling to help others who are struggling with theirs. I especially want to work with Black youth and young adults. The reason behind this is because, in my opinion, the Black community does not take mental health seriously enough. I plan to be that person to help people understand that they deserve the help they need and that they should not be embarrassed or ashamed to seek guidance. My motivation for pursuing a career in Psychology/Mental Health stems from a deep desire to contribute to solving health disparities, breaking generational chains of mental illness, abuse, and trauma, and improving healthcare. Being a Jackson Heart Study Scholar, I have seen first-hand the many diseases and conditions that disproportionately affect African Americans, and I am determined to be a part of those individuals who are trailblazers and bring attention to situations that are usually overlooked.

When I think back to a difficult situation, I instantly think about the time I had to star in a play. It was in 6th grade and we were preparing for the Christmas program. My principal asked me if I would be interested in participating. I immediately accepted the offer and was ready to start going over my lines. Little did I know, I had the biggest part in the whole play! When I first got my lines, I became overwhelmed and even a little fearful. How was I going to memorize all this, I thought. Not only did I have a boatload of things to say but I also had a solo to sing. My mom tried to reassure me that I could do it and to just stay positive. Unfortunately, that only calmed me down for that moment. I kept dwelling on the amount of things that was expected of me. How was I possibly going to memorize these lines, sing a song, and actually perfect it? Well, I decided to stop wasting time worrying and just do it. I spent all my free time practicing and reciting my lines as if it was performance day. The more I focused, the more I started to remember. Before I knew it, it was the big day. I was very nervous, but everything worked out in the end. I remembered all my lines and did great on my song! This whole experience has made me realize I really can do anything I put my mind to. Sure it may seem impossible at first, but life will never put an obstacle in your way you can't get through. All you need is hope and the will to stay positive.

I aspire to go to a four-year university and study Psychology. I've chosen this as my desired major because I have always been interested in how the brain works and why people behave the way they do. After receiving my Bachelor's degree, I plan to go back to school to get my Doctorate's. The career choice I plan to pursue is Clinical Psychologist. Mental health is very important and learning about it will help you to better understand yourself and others around you. Another reason I chose Psychology is because I believe the Black community doesn't take mental health seriously enough. Black families all over the globe suffer from generational traumas and without getting the guidance needed to overcome those traumas, they're going to get worse. My work will show the community that it's okay to seek help about things that is affecting our mental health and that it's completely normal to need a psychologist. Black people deserve to be granted the same help as any other demographic of people. To make this ambition become reality, I vow to do my absolute best in my studies. I will aspire to be great and not just do enough to pass by. When I am unsure about something, I will seek help from my professor or another reliable source. Going on this journey, there will be times I will want to give up, but I'll always remember why I chose this career path in the first place: to make a difference in my community.

As humans, we yearn for happiness. All we want in life is to feel enjoyment. We want to be excited about life! But at times, it's hard to find things that brings us joy. Joy to me means living and enjoying your life the way you want to. Joy is about being genuinely happy with yourself. People have different ways of finding happiness. It could be something small and significant like reading your favorite book or driving to your favorite place. Or it could be something big and expensive, like shopping sprees or vacations out of the country. Whatever it is, as long as it makes you happy, that's all that matters! I try to seek out joy by doing things I like to do or things that I'm good at. For example, I love reading contemporary books. Books that are about modern day romance or books about black women and their experiences are my favorite. Reading allows you to forget about reality and step into a make-believe world. And it's also very time consuming for those days that feel like time is going by so slow. Another way I find joy is by watching TV. I enjoy streaming Netflix and YouTube on my smart television. I don't always just watch meaningless TV shows or typical Rom Com movies. I also enjoy documentaries and true crime series. They can actually be very educational at times and might even teach you a thing or two. As I close, I would like to repeat my point that people can find joy in many ways. It could be driving, playing a sport, or learning a new skill. It doesn't even have to cost a pretty penny. All that matters is that what you're doing is making you happy.

Self-care is very important for a person's well-being. It also doesn't mean having to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on spas and pampering treatments. Your self-care can be as simple as taking time out to go for a walk, or maybe reading your favorite book. It's not about how much you spend on pampering items. It's about taking time to do things that make you feel good. Something that I like to do as self-care is take a nice shower. Sure, this may sound odd, but bathing is actually a great way to relieve yourself of some stress, reflect on your day, and to overall just relax. There's nothing like coming home from a long day and hopping in the shower for a deep cleanse. Plus, soap and body product companies have made so many items to make your bath even more enjoyable. Another thing I love to do for self-care is listen to music. Listening to music allows me to be more productive. When doing homework, I like listening to chill, R&B, and jazz music. When cleaning up, I like listening to rap and hip-hop. There are so many different ways to practice self-care and you really don't even have to spend any money.

My name is Jerlisa Winston. I am currently a senior at Greenwood High School. I am involved in a few activities and organizations, including the marching band, The National Honors Society, and a mentoring group for young girls. I plan to attend college to study Psychology. I have always wanted to learn more about mental illnesses and why people act the way they do. I aspire to get a PhD and become a Clinical Psychologist. When I think back to some obstacles and challenges I've faced in the past, I instantly think about the time I had to star in a play. It was in 6th grade. We were preparing for the Christmas program that was approaching. My principal asked me if I would be interested in participating. I immediately accepted the offer and was ready to start going over my lines. Little did I know, I had the biggest part in the whole play! When I first got my lines, I became overwhelmed and even a little fearful. How was I going to memorize all this, I thought. Not only did I have a boatload of things to say but I also had a solo to sing. My mom tried to reassure me that I could do it and to just stay positive. Unfortunately, that only calmed me down for that moment. I kept dwelling on the amount of things that was expected of me. The question that was constantly pondering in my mind was How? How was I possibly going to memorize these lines, sing a song, and actually perfect it? Well, I decided to stop wasting time worrying and just do it. I spent all my free time practicing and reciting my lines as if it was performance day. The more I focused, the more I started to remember. I couldn't believe how well I was able to remember everything. I was even doing great on my song. Before I knew it, it was the big day. Time to show everyone what I had been practicing hard day in and day out on. I was very nervous, but everything worked out in the end. I remembered all my lines and did great on my song! This whole experience has made me realize I really can do anything I put my mind to. Sure it may seem impossible at first, but life will never put an obstacle in your way you can't get through. All you need is hope and the will to stay positive.