The Bright Lights scholarship provides an enlightening opportunity for me to pursue higher education. As a BIPOC and member of the LGBTQ+ community, I will no doubt face roadblocks during my studies to becoming a successful physician. There will be people who doubt my ability to perform well because of the color of my skin. I want to show that through hard work and perseverance, I can achieve my goals and forge my path. Pursuing a healthcare career will bring financial burdens. My parents are doctors from Nigeria, so I cannot imagine carrying the financial burden and immigrating to the United States simultaneously. However, I know that if they could face those challenges and overcome them, I would be able to as well. I am passionate about serving and giving back to my community, but that requires my resources. This scholarship will give me a head start. Being a physician means everything to me. I want to follow in my parents' footsteps as they have demonstrated perseverance and confidence in their abilities. I want my patients to know that they will be receiving what they need and only what they need to ensure they feel comfortable in the doctor’s office. I aim to reduce prejudices by treating all my patients, underserved or otherwise, with utmost respect, equality, and fairness. I will ensure that all my patients will have their needs met despite financial or personal challenges. I believe every single one of us has a right to affordable and high-quality healthcare without regard to our race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, etc. I will treat my patients with compassion, putting greater emphasis on listening rather than speaking. I want patients to feel comfortable with me and share all their medical needs without fear of judgment or rejection, especially for BIPOC. I want to ensure all aspects of a patient’s health are considered and cared for. I believe my contributions to the medical field will bring attention to patient care equality and have patients leaving the office feeling much stronger and healthier than when they came in. Just imagining this brings a bright smile to my face as I know I will make a big, positive difference in someone’s future which is wholesome. Earning this scholarship will not only help with the financial burden of higher education but will also serve as a motivator to carry out my ambitions. It will also attest to my strive for excellence and strength throughout this difficult, but rewarding, journey. I hope that this scholarship will bring me a step closer to being a successful physician so that I can provide exceptional service to underserved communities, address racial disparities in medicine, and provide holistic, equitable, and compassionate patient care to ensure every patient’s needs are met and promote overall wellness.

“They all say that it gets better, it gets better the more you grow Yeah, they all say that it gets better, it gets better, but what if I don't?” from “teenage dream.” From these lyrics, I can really feel Olivia’s uncertainty of the future, just as much as I can feel my uncertainty for the future. While my experiences aren’t so much about boys, public perception and pressure play a role in both of our doubts I would say. The only difference is she is a celebrity, and I am not. However, throughout my adolescent years, I have faced many trials that led me to believe I wouldn’t get better, even though the particular situation I was in did improve. I had a serious mental disconnect from that, and it cost me time away from my friends and family. The worst year for me by a country mile was my junior year of high school. For context, I ended my sophomore year off strong; I ended with more friends than what I started with which is amazing. I feel like I made a name for myself during that year. I felt like I was as outspoken and outgoing as I possibly could be, and I think people saw the confident person I was. In other words, I didn't have a care in the world which included what other people thought of me. Boy, did that all change the following year. I was actually doing pretty well at the beginning: I found what I thought was a perfect group of friends, we got along super well, and we did everything today. I know it sounds cliché, but it's true. However, I couldn't ignore the fact that I was different from them. I was the only Black person in the friend group, the only gay person in the group, and the only liberal person in the group. I was definitely the odd one out, and I think they could see it too. Well, long story short: it didn't work out. I tried again and again to try and mesh with these guys, but it didn't work, even with their drastic pleas for me to leave them alone. Dare I say that these attempts to make it work almost killed me. I suffered extreme depression and anxiety from this experience. I began caring again about what others thought of me, and I felt so sad all the time, wondering what exactly I did wrong. The answer: I tried to be like them. Whenever they would talk about girls, I would think of a girl of my own to talk with them. I didn't want to be left out of those conversations, so in my mind, I had to fit in with them somehow. Whenever they make racist jokes, I would laugh along, even though they genuinely offended me, but I didn't want them to cut me off. I sacrificed the person I thought I was to conform to a person who I wasn't. That was arguably the biggest mistake of my life. As adolescents, we feel a lot of pressure to fit in with others. We struggle with our self-esteem and struggle to figure out where we belong. I’ve damaged my sense of self trying to figure all this out. Things have gotten better: I promised to never sacrifice myself to please others. Now entering college, I have found the right people for me and an awesome new friend group who accepts me for who I am. So, as Olivia states, “it gets better the more you grow.”

My #1 pet peeve is when people call Taylor Swift a "basic white artist with no talent," but I, and many others, praise Swift for the authenticity of her lyrics, the catchiness of her melodies, and how her lyrics resonate personally. Sure, her songs can be overplayed on the radio at times (which is a testament to how amazing she is), and the themes can get repetitive; however, I have been a big fan of Taylor Swift since I was a little child, being introduced to a song from the 1989 album "Shake it Off." My sister and I would always jam to this song, and I can remember the countless videos of us dancing and having fun while making a spontaneous choreography to the song (if I could attach them here, I would!). Once 1989 (Taylor's Version) was released, my feelings toward the song were no different, unlike my life's circumstances. I reflected on the song’s meaning and applied it to my problems, allowing me to “shake [them] off” and be happier. It was my senior year when the album was released. I was doing pretty well at the beginning: I found what I thought was a perfect group of friends, we got along super well, and we did everything today. I know it sounds cliché, but it's true. However, I couldn't ignore that I was different from them. I was the only Black person in the friend group, the only gay person in the group, and the only liberal person in the group. I was the odd one out, and I think they could see it too. Well, long story short: it didn't work out. I tried hard to mesh with these guys, but it didn't work, even with their drastic pleas for me to leave them alone. Dare I say that these attempts to make it work almost killed me. I suffered extreme depression and anxiety from this experience. I began caring again about what others thought of me, and I felt so sad all the time, wondering what exactly I did wrong. The answer: I tried to be like them. Whenever they talked about girls, I would think of a girl of my own to talk with them. I didn't want to be left out of those conversations, so in my mind, I had to fit in with them somehow. Whenever they made racist jokes, I would laugh along, even though they genuinely offended me, but I didn't want them to cut me off. I sacrificed the person I thought I was to conform to someone I wasn't. That was arguably the biggest mistake of my life. Taylor’s words in “Shake It Off” taught me I will continue to face challenges and hurdles in life, most of which will come from others’ criticism of my character. I do not need to be anybody but myself which is what Taylor preaches. She is a very successful woman with a large platform, so I took her advice. Of course, that’s not the only reason I took her advice; it truly does apply to my life since I am so different. If someone attacks my character, I will shake it off. If someone is discriminatory towards me, I will shake it off. If someone tries to make me care about what they say about me, I will shake it off. It’s that simple. I do not need anyone’s approval but my own. I am so glad that college will send people who embrace my character instead of criticizing it. No matter what happens, I will be good to people.

I am a firm believer that caring for your mental health is a gateway to caring for your physical health. The two work in synergy to make up a person’s overall health. If one is failing, then the other will get dragged down with it. Many aspects of your physical health can be visible to anyone on the outside, but I would argue that many aspects of your mental health are hidden to outsiders. This is why mental health issues often go unnoticed and under-diagnosed, because others cannot see what you are going through. Mental health is often stigmatized for this exact reason, and we need to stop this stigma and establish that mental health is human health. My journey to mental wellness has not been easy. I came into high school thinking I knew exactly who I was: an intelligent, relentless young man who could tackle any challenge the world decided to throw at him. In other words, I thought I was perfect, and I thought I knew exactly how I would approach a very difficult 4-year period for most. Well, as you might have anticipated, I came short in being who I thought I was. I struggled considerably to maintain relationships, let alone establish them. The confident person I aspired to be was simply a facade for the most socially anxious person I turned out to be. I wasn't popular among the student body; in fact, I faced constant ostracism and hate from my fellow peers. I let their opinions and perceptions of me shape who I thought I was: a lowlife, annoying person who constantly seeks attention and validation from others. Who I imagined myself to be was completely inconsistent with what I was labeled as. I suffered extreme depression and anxiety from this experience, and I was on the verge of suicide. I began caring again about what others thought of me, and I felt so sad all the time, wondering what exactly I did wrong. It took me a while to escape this jail I had been held up in for so long. After the peak of my depression, I sought therapy. I only saw my therapist three times before I concluded it was not for me. It was difficult for me to regurgitate my struggles over and over again to different therapists at the clinic after doing so with school counselors. I decided that the best way to navigate my mental wellness is to focus on myself. After all, I am the only one who understands my issues, because nobody else can operate my mind and figure out what is going on. So, it is up to me to pinpoint the problems and solve them myself. I started finding reasons to enjoy life and my own company. By focusing on myself, I was able to get back on track by doing activities I truly enjoy, such as doing math, binge watching TV shows and movies, playing video games, and being out in nature. Instead of listening to a therapist, who knew nothing about me, giving suggestions on what I should do, I genuinely did what made me feel better and more comfortable with myself. I am still going strong with that mindset, and it has helped me so much come to terms with the struggles of life and how to navigate them properly to avoid future mental health crises. I am perfectly fine with being vulnerable and sharing my experiences if they will inspire someone else and help them learn and grow as human beings. I will always value that in myself.

I was shocked to find out mental care can be more expensive than physical care. I was even more shocked to find out mental care is not covered by a lot of insurance companies. I am a firm believer that caring for your mental health is a gateway to caring for your physical health. The two work in synergy to make up a person’s overall health. If one is failing, then the other will get dragged down with it. Many aspects of your physical health can be visible to anyone on the outside, but I would argue that many aspects of your mental health are hidden to outsiders. This is why mental health issues often go unnoticed and under-diagnosed, because others cannot see what you are going through. Mental health is often stigmatized for this exact reason, and we need to stop this stigma and establish that mental health is human health. To make mental health care more affordable, I will incorporate it along with physical care. I aim to be a physician, not only treating a patient’s physical ailments but also treating their mental health concerns. A two-for-the-price-of-one deal, if you will. In all seriousness, it’s important to pay just as much attention to someone’s mental health as their physical health to ensure their high quality total health. My practice will cater to everyone who is in need of mental care at no extra cost, supported by my specialty is psychiatry that will pave the way towards affordable healthcare.

My name is John Oduntan, and I am a freshman at the University of Florida in pursuit of a bachelor's degree in Health Science on the pre-med track. I worked very hard to get here: 3.9 unweighted high school GPA with straight As in all my subjects. I am smart, dedicated, and committed to my studies. Scholarships like these are important to me as they help to shed light on my qualities and special traits as a person, so I can go and share them with others and inspire them to be themselves. I aim to be a physician after graduating medical school to help others and save lives. I have struggled with my mental health throughout high school. The worst year for me by a country mile was my junior year of high school. For context, I ended my sophomore year off strong; I ended with more friends than what I started with which is amazing. I feel like I made a name for myself during that year. I felt like I was as outspoken and outgoing as I possibly could be, and I think people saw the confident person I was. In other words, I didn't have a care in the world which included what other people thought of me. Boy, did that all change the following year. I was actually doing pretty well at the beginning: I found what I thought was a perfect group of friends, we got along super well, and we did everything today. I know it sounds cliché, but it's true. However, I couldn't ignore the fact that I was different from them. I was the only Black person in the friend group, the only gay person in the group, and the only liberal person in the group. I was definitely the odd one out, and I think they could see it too. Well, long story short: it didn't work out. I tried again and again to try and mesh with these guys, but it didn't work, even with their drastic pleas for me to leave them alone. Dare I say that these attempts to make it work almost killed me. I suffered extreme depression and anxiety from this experience. I began caring again about what others thought of me, and I felt so sad all the time, wondering what exactly I did wrong. The answer: I tried to be like them. Whenever they would talk about girls, I would think of a girl of my own to talk with them. I didn't want to be left out of those conversations, so in my mind, I had to fit in with them somehow. Whenever they make racist jokes, I would laugh along, even though they genuinely offended me, but I didn't want them to cut me off. I sacrificed the person I thought I was to conform to a person who I wasn't. That was arguably the biggest mistake of my life. I will always value the vulnerability in myself. I shared my story, and I am proud to explain how I have grown from it. Relationship building with myself and my loved ones ultimately brought me out of darkness. My mental health suffered as a result of terminating relationships that I held dear, and it was only when I re-established them with my loved ones that got me back on track. Once I found the right people for me, it became easier to heal, and I strongly encourage anyone who is struggling from mental health to prioritize yourself and your relationships.

My name is John Oduntan, and I am a freshman at the University of Florida in pursuit of a bachelor's degree in Health Science on the pre-med track. I worked very hard to get here: 3.9 unweighted high school GPA with straight As in all my subjects. I am intelligent, dedicated, and committed to my studies. Scholarships like these are important to me as they help to shed light on my qualities and special traits as a person, so I can go and share them with others and inspire them to be themselves. I hope to be a physician after graduating medical school to help others and save lives. I decided I wanted to pursue the field of medicine after seeing my parents’ success in the field. I have heard countless stories about my parents' journey within the medical field. Being immigrants from Nigeria, they have faced hardships in integrating here in the U.S. They both finished their undergraduate degrees in Nigeria, but they immigrated to the U.S. to pursue their graduate and doctoral degrees in medicine. As a Black man growing up in America, I want to be a force in erasing racial inequalities within the medical field, both among patients and among doctors. My parents had to start completely fresh here as immigrants, but they were able to go on to be successful doctors, despite their race and ethnicity. I want to follow in their footsteps as they have demonstrated perseverance and confidence in their abilities. Additionally, I want my patients to know that they will be receiving what they need and only what they need to ensure they feel comfortable in the doctor’s office. Trust me, I know a trip to the doctor’s office is not the most comfortable thing in the world, so I want my patients to feel comfortable sharing their medical concerns to get them the treatment they need to live long and healthy lives. In addition to promoting the physical wellness of my patients, I want to promote their emotional wellness. Although my primary focus won’t be mental health, I believe a healthy state of mind is the gateway to a healthy physical life. The two work in synergy: if one is failing, then the other may decline as well. Mental health and physical health make up a patient’s total health, and everyone deserves primary care for their total health. I want to ensure all aspects of a patient’s health are considered and cared for. I believe my contributions to the medical field will bring attention to patient care equality and have patients leaving the office feeling much stronger and healthier than when they came in. Just imagining this brings a bright smile to my face as I know I will be making a big, positive difference in someone’s future which is a wholesome thing to know. It’ll be a long journey to reach that point, but I am ready to embark on it and overcome challenges along the way.

“They all say that it gets better, it gets better the more you grow Yeah, they all say that it gets better, it gets better, but what if I don't?” from “teenage dream.” From these lyrics, I can really feel Olivia’s uncertainty of the future, just as much as I can feel my uncertainty for the future. While my experiences aren’t so much about boys, public perception and pressure play a role in both of our doubts I would say. The only difference is she is a celebrity, and I am not. However, throughout my adolescent years, I have faced many trials that led me to believe I wouldn’t get better, even though the particular situation I was in did improve. I had a serious mental disconnect from that, and it cost me time away from my friends and family. The worst year for me by a country mile was my junior year of high school. For context, I ended my sophomore year off strong; I ended with more friends than what I started with which is amazing. I feel like I made a name for myself during that year. I felt like I was as outspoken and outgoing as I possibly could be, and I think people saw the confident person I was. In other words, I didn't have a care in the world which included what other people thought of me. Boy, did that all change the following year. I was actually doing pretty well at the beginning: I found what I thought was a perfect group of friends, we got along super well, and we did everything today. I know it sounds cliché, but it's true. However, I couldn't ignore the fact that I was different from them. I was the only Black person in the friend group, the only gay person in the group, and the only liberal person in the group. I was definitely the odd one out, and I think they could see it too. Well, long story short: it didn't work out. I tried again and again to try and mesh with these guys, but it didn't work, even with their drastic pleas for me to leave them alone. Dare I say that these attempts to make it work almost killed me. I suffered extreme depression and anxiety from this experience. I began caring again about what others thought of me, and I felt so sad all the time, wondering what exactly I did wrong. The answer: I tried to be like them. Whenever they would talk about girls, I would think of a girl of my own to talk with them. I didn't want to be left out of those conversations, so in my mind, I had to fit in with them somehow. Whenever they make racist jokes, I would laugh along, even though they genuinely offended me, but I didn't want them to cut me off. I sacrificed the person I thought I was to conform to a person who I wasn't. That was arguably the biggest mistake of my life. As adolescents, we feel a lot of pressure to fit in with others. We struggle with our self-esteem and struggle to figure out where we belong. I’ve damaged my sense of self trying to figure all this out. Things have gotten better: I promised to never sacrifice myself to please others. Now entering college, I have found the right people for me and an awesome new friend group who accepts me for who I am. So, as Olivia states, “it gets better the more you grow.”

“It’s okay to feel vulnerable.” This is how many people with mental health issues feel when they share their deepest struggles. It’s certainly how I felt when I opened up about my own mental health. The truth is that many of us suffer in silence due to mental health stigmatization or suppressive forces. I want to encourage those who are struggling to speak up and seek help where they need it. A support system and a shoulder to rest on can be big lifesavers to people who are struggling. As someone who has struggled with their mental health, I find it easier to confide in others who are struggling to help them further understand they are certainly not alone. To avoid giving into stigmatization, I refrain from making assumptions or guesses as to why the person feels the way they feel. This would call for the operation of the person’s mind. The thing about mental health is that we don’t know what is going on inside each other’s head. There is a lot of room to assume things or believe that the person is lying in order to gain attention which is very harmful. I have an understanding ear, and I listen more than I speak. A lot of times, the person just needs someone to listen to them, and I am always willing to pick up that role. My career path is to be a physician as part of general medicine. While my focus will be on physical health, mental health often drives physical health. If a patient’s physical health has been negatively affected by their mental health, it’s worth talking about the patient’s mental health that can lead to referrals for their treatment. This will, in turn, improve their physical health as well. I like to see physical doctors and psychiatrists as pairs that make up total health. If one part of our health is in shambles, the other part will begin to decline as well. That is why we must treat mental health as total health to ensure a balance between all aspects of human health. My mental health counseling will extend beyond the doctor’s office as I listen to my friends, family, colleagues, and even future children. Everyone deserves better mental health, and we must make it so. We humans are a team, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah? The most commonly asked question I receive when I tell people I watch TSITP. I watched the series twice so far, and I have had a lot of flip flopping in my position on this question. After some reflection, I settled on Team Conrad. This seems to be a common answer, but everyone has their reasons for choosing their sides. Here’s mine: The obvious reason I am Team Conrad is because Belly had been in love with Conrad since she was a little girl. From the beginning, it seems like Conrad was the one for her, from their constant play-dates to the gift of the infinity necklace, symbolizing their endless relationship. They have always had a close kinship from when they first met, and her relationship with Jeremiah wasn’t as obvious at least from the show’s angle. The constant flashbacks to their special moments together suggested Belly and Conrad were in each other’s worlds which hasn’t changed throughout the series. As the pair grew up, their love for each other flourished despite the turmoil that unfolded in their teenage years. After Conrad discovered that Susannah has cancer, his deep depression caused him to be emotionally detached from Belly which led them to spend less positive moments together. I would say this separation was for the better; Belly’s intention was to confess to Conrad that he was her true love, but Conrad was too emotionally unstable to have this kind of relationship. Because Belly was pretty oblivious to what was going on, there were some tense moments between their relationship which caused an even further split. It seemed like Belly was done with Conrad for good once he made a comment about her fixation on her appearance which made Belly realize her feelings for him were gone. However, they still had an intense love for each other, even while Belly had a relationship with Cameron and later, Jeremiah. Jeremiah later confessed his love for Belly, a moment that took Belly by surprise. Because she was distant from Conrad, she felt Jeremiah could step in and treat her how she felt she deserved following Conrad's implicit toxicity. What Belly didn’t know was that her Independence Day kiss with Conrad was interrupted by Jeremiah’s jealousy causing him to shoot a firework that startled the both of them. In this scene, we could clearly see that Jeremiah was unhappy at the thought of Conrad and Belly having a relationship. At this time, viewers didn’t have any indication of Conrad being upset at the possibility of a relationship between Jeremiah and Belly, a matter that would be settled later in the series. So we can see a conflict arising between the two brothers over an indecisive girl who is clearly in love with Conrad. Jeremiah and Belly’s relationship didn’t last long as Belly realized that her heart lies with Conrad. This was well-established during the post-funeral scene where Belly caught Conrad being comforted by another girl, a scene that she did not take lightly. Her jealousy indicates her apparent feelings for Conrad since it’s clear here that she wants him all to herself. The aftermath of their fight in front of the funeral guests suggested that they needed each other, and that’s all there is to it. They spent more moments together: a virginity loss, the search for Conrad, the night at the hotel. All of these and many more showed the continued flourishing love between Belly and Conrad. For that, I will forever be #TeamConrad.

When we hear of Minecraft, we immediately think about that block game. Creative building, survival multiplayer, and mobs creeping around in the caves are common characteristics we associate with this beloved Mojang game. Creative building is fun (when you know what you’re doing), survival multiplayer is amusing (when you have someone to play with), and the mobs are cool (unless you’re mining diamonds while you suddenly hear a hissing sound behind you). I never really partook in those classic Minecraft activities; you would find me messing around on public servers, such as Hypixel and PlayUHC. Where exactly on those servers would you find me? The PvP rooms. PvP, or player versus player, is my favorite aspect of Minecraft. You might be wondering: how do you gain excitement from killing other players over and over again? It’s a fair question, but Minecraft would be totally irrelevant to me if it didn’t have this feature. Through playing PvP, I have been presented with plenty of opportunities to interact with other players online and trade PvP skills for hours. I was a PvP addict back in middle school; you would find me in front of the computer with my headphones on clicking away for two hours before school and two hours after school. That was back when I had more time on my hands, but now I barely have time to indulge in my habit. During the summer time, I make up for lost time and reconnect with some old buddies and connect to my favorite PvP servers. I found playing on these servers an escape from the outside world. I had many friends in middle school back when I was socially confident, but sometimes it was overwhelming. I needed some time to myself to recharge my batteries and do what I really love. When my academic life got stressful, I would take a break and play some Minecraft to calm down and then return to my studies once I was in a better head space. I made Minecraft such an important part of my life as it really encouraged me to focus on myself and what I love doing. I met a lot of my online friends through playing Minecraft, and they have been the most supportive friends I could ever ask for. We still talk to each other and play occasionally to catch up on life and explore our favorite worlds in-game. It was truly my favorite game for the longest time, and it is still one of my absolute favorites. So many hours were put into that game, none of which were wasted. Now, every time I log in and connect to those PvP servers, I feel nothing but elation that I am able to recreate the joy I had from playing a lot several years prior and to see that nothing has changed between sessions. Minecraft has a special place in my heart, which I will always cherish and keep with me. I never thought I would get so sentimental over a video game, but I believe it’s important for us to seek meaningful connections outside of our daily lives. I found genuine comfort and familiarity over logging in each day and meeting lots of new people who shared the same interests and passion as I did. Being a part of a welcoming community brought me confidence, amusement, and joy different from what I had ever felt. I’m proud to say that Minecraft has always provided a shoulder for me to learn on, which I don’t see changing anytime soon.

New Super Mario Bros. for the Wii has solidified its place in my heart for co-op play. When I was 6 years old, my mother bought us this game, and my brother and I spent countless hours playing together to complete the game 100%. We frequently returned to the game until he entered college to do it all over again! We had so many victories, so many fights, and so many memories of playing together that allowed us to strengthen our relationship as siblings and learn more about each other. Our first run through the game, we had no idea what we were doing. We were familiar with the classic platform adventure Mario games: adventuring through worlds, defeating Bowser’s evil Koopalings, and collecting Star Coins to unlock more areas. We figured this game would be very similar in that regard. The controls were new to us, but the concept of a platformed Mario game was familiar. At this time, there weren’t many YouTube videos we could rely on for tutorials, so we couldn’t look up the location of Star Coins or secret exits that lurked around in the levels. However, this gave us an opportunity to work together to figure out the game on our own and discover new things we haven’t explored before! A memorable moment I have from playing co-op was when my brother and I (playing as Mario and Luigi, respectively) ventured to Word 8, the penultimate world of the game. Like many previous Mario games, World 8 was the final world, so we thought no different when we approached the final castle. It took us about 4 months after weekly playtime on the weekends to reach that point. The final castle was a difficult one; Bowser grew giant and he chased us through the labyrinths of his castle while shooting fireballs at us. It was very easy to get trapped in a corner with no way to escape, and that often resulted in a restart. After several tries, we managed to defeat Bowser, and we watched him sink to his doom through the molten lava. After that, the credits rolled, and my brother and I celebrated our great victory in beating the game all by ourselves without relying on any tutorials or walkthrough videos. But, wait. There’s more. Those two words were our initial reactions to discovering the actual final world, World 9. We were both in shock; we couldn’t believe that we had spent all that time traveling through the plains, the desserts, the aqua land, the snow land, the poisonous jungle, the rocky mountains, the cloudy platforms, and the volcanic abyss to defeat Bowser only to have to play 8 more levels of this tricky world. I remember we both looked at each other with our mouths wide open. It was unbelievable! The victory we had just celebrated was reduced to despair and misfortune when we discovered we weren’t done yet. We weren’t even mad; the whole thing was comical. We couldn’t believe that the game had tricked us into believing that we had completed the game inside out. An evil twist, that was. My brother and I persevered, and after two more months of difficulties, we beat the game for real this time. It was a true Mario adventure if I’ve ever seen one. No other game has given us the same amount of thrill as this one has. The fact that we were able to experience it together made the moment much more memorable, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything else. Whoever said video games don’t teach you anything is lying.

I am a firm believer that caring for your mental health is a gateway to caring for your physical health. The two work in synergy to make up a person’s overall health. If one is failing, then the other will get dragged down with it. Many aspects of your physical health can be visible to anyone on the outside, but I would argue that many aspects of your mental health are hidden to outsiders. This is why mental health issues often go unnoticed and underdiagnosed, because others cannot see what you are going through. Mental health is often stigmatized for this exact reason, and we need to stop this stigma and establish that mental health is human health. My journey to mental wellness has not been easy. I came into high school thinking I knew exactly who I was: an intelligent, relentless young man who could tackle any challenge the world decided to throw at him. In other words, I thought I was perfect, and I thought I knew exactly how I would approach a very difficult 4-year period for most. Well, as you might have anticipated, I came short in being who I thought I was. I struggled considerably to maintain relationships, let alone establish them. The confident person I aspired to be was simply a façade for the most socially anxious person I turned out to be. I wasn't popular among the student body; in fact, I faced constant ostracism and hate from my fellow peers. I let their opinions and perceptions of me shape who I thought I was: a lowlife, annoying person who constantly seeks attention and validation from others. Who I imagined myself to be was completely inconsistent with what I was labeled as. The worst year for me by a country mile was my junior year. For context, I ended my sophomore year off strong; I ended with more friends than what I started with which is amazing. I feel like I made a name for myself during that year. I felt like I was as outspoken and outgoing as I possibly could be, and I think people saw the confident person I was. In other words, I didn't have a care in the world which included what other people thought of me. Boy, did that all change the following year. I was actually doing pretty well at the beginning: I found what I thought was a perfect group of friends, we got along super well, and we did everything today. I know it sounds cliché, but it's true. However, I couldn't ignore the fact that I was different from them. I was the only Black person in the friend group, the only gay person in the group, and the only liberal person in the group. I was definitely the odd one out, and I think they could see it too. Well, long story short: it didn't work out. I tried again and again to try and mesh with these guys, but it didn't work, even with their drastic pleas for me to leave them alone. Dare I say that these attempts to make it work almost killed me. I suffered extreme depression and anxiety from this experience. I began caring again about what others thought of me, and I felt so sad all the time, wondering what exactly I did wrong. The answer: I tried to be like them. Whenever they would talk about girls, I would think of a girl of my own to talk with them. I didn't want to be left out of those conversations, so in my mind, I had to fit in with them somehow. Whenever they make racist jokes, I would laugh along, even though they genuinely offended me, but I didn't want them to cut me off. I sacrificed the person I thought I was to conform to a person who I wasn't. That was arguably the biggest mistake of my life. After the peak of my depression, I sought therapy. I only saw my therapist three times before I concluded it was not for me. It was difficult for me to regurgitate my struggles over and over again to different therapists at the clinic after doing so with school counselors. I decided that the best way to navigate my mental wellness is to focus on myself. After all, I am the only one who understands my issues, because nobody else can operate my mind and figure out what is going on. So, it is up to me to pinpoint the problems and solve them myself. I started finding reasons to enjoy life and my own company. By focusing on myself, I was able to get back on track by doing activities I truly enjoy, such as doing math, binge watching TV shows and movies, playing video games, and being out in nature. Instead of listening to a therapist, who knew nothing about me, giving suggestions on what I should do, I genuinely did what made me feel better and more comfortable with myself. I am still going strong with that mindset, and it has helped me so much come to terms with the struggles of life and how to navigate them properly to avoid future mental health crises. I am perfectly fine with being vulnerable and sharing my experiences if they will inspire someone else and help them learn and grow as human beings. I will always value that in myself. I am not saying therapy is bad or ineffective; I am saying it’s not for me. Relationship building with myself and my loved ones ultimately brought me out of darkness. My mental health suffered as a result of terminating relationships that I held dear, and it was only when I re-established them with my loved ones that got me back on track. Once I found the right people for me, it became easier to heal, and I strongly encourage anyone who is struggling from mental health to prioritize yourself and your relationships.

I am a firm believer that caring for your mental health is a gateway to caring for your physical health. The two work in synergy to make up a person’s overall health. If one is failing, then the other will get dragged down with it. Many aspects of your physical health can be visible to anyone on the outside, but I would argue that many aspects of your mental health are hidden to outsiders. This is why mental health issues often go unnoticed and underdiagnosed, because others cannot see what you are going through. Mental health is often stigmatized for this exact reason, and we need to stop this stigma and establish that mental health is human health. My journey to mental wellness has not been easy. I came into high school thinking I knew exactly who I was: an intelligent, relentless young man who could tackle any challenge the world decided to throw at him. In other words, I thought I was perfect, and I thought I knew exactly how I would approach a very difficult 4-year period for most. Well, as you might have anticipated, I came short in being who I thought I was. I struggled considerably to maintain relationships, let alone establish them. The confident person I aspired to be was simply a facade for the most socially anxious person I turned out to be. I wasn't popular among the student body; in fact, I faced constant ostracism and hate from my fellow peers. I let their opinions and perceptions of me shape who I thought I was: a lowlife, annoying person who constantly seeks attention and validation from others. Who I imagined myself to be was completely inconsistent with what I was labeled as. The worst year for me by a country mile was my junior year. For context, I ended my sophomore year off strong; I ended with more friends than what I started with which is amazing. I feel like I made a name for myself during that year. I felt like I was as outspoken and outgoing as I possibly could be, and I think people saw the confident person I was. In other words, I didn't have a care in the world which included what other people thought of me. Boy, did that all change the following year. I was actually doing pretty well at the beginning: I found what I thought was a perfect group of friends, we got along super well, and we did everything today. I know it sounds cliché, but it's true. However, I couldn't ignore the fact that I was different from them. I was the only Black person in the friend group, the only gay person in the group, and the only liberal person in the group. I was definitely the odd one out, and I think they could see it too. Well, long story short: it didn't work out. I tried again and again to try and mesh with these guys, but it didn't work, even with their drastic pleas for me to leave them alone. Dare I say that these attempts to make it work almost killed me. I suffered extreme depression and anxiety from this experience. I began caring again about what others thought of me, and I felt so sad all the time, wondering what exactly I did wrong. The answer: I tried to be like them. Whenever they would talk about girls, I would think of a girl of my own to talk with them. I didn't want to be left out of those conversations, so in my mind, I had to fit in with them somehow. Whenever they make racist jokes, I would laugh along, even though they genuinely offended me, but I didn't want them to cut me off. I sacrificed the person I thought I was to conform to a person who I wasn't. That was arguably the biggest mistake of my life. After the peak of my depression, I sought therapy. I only saw my therapist three times before I concluded it was not for me. It was difficult for me to regurgitate my struggles over and over again to different therapists at the clinic after doing so with school counselors. I decided that the best way to navigate my mental wellness is to focus on myself. After all, I am the only one who understands my issues, because nobody else can operate my mind and figure out what is going on. So, it is up to me to pinpoint the problems and solve them myself. I started finding reasons to enjoy life and my own company. By focusing on myself, I was able to get back on track by doing activities I truly enjoy, such as doing math, binge watching TV shows and movies, playing video games, and being out in nature. Instead of listening to a therapist, who knew nothing about me, giving suggestions on what I should do, I genuinely did what made me feel better and more comfortable with myself. I am still going strong with that mindset, and it has helped me so much come to terms with the struggles of life and how to navigate them properly to avoid future mental health crises. I am perfectly fine with being vulnerable and sharing my experiences if they will inspire someone else and help them learn and grow as human beings. I will always value that in myself. I am not saying therapy is bad or ineffective; I am saying it’s not for me. Relationship building with myself and my loved ones ultimately brought me out of darkness. My mental health suffered as a result of terminating relationships that I held dear, and it was only when I re-established them with my loved ones that got me back on track. Once I found the right people for me, it became easier to heal, and I strongly encourage anyone who is struggling from mental health to prioritize yourself and your relationships.

I am a firm believer that caring for your mental health is a gateway to caring for your physical health. The two work in synergy to make up a person’s overall health. If one is failing, then the other will get dragged down with it. Many aspects of your physical health can be visible to anyone on the outside, but I would argue that many aspects of your mental health are hidden to outsiders. This is why mental health issues often go unnoticed and under-diagnosed, because others cannot see what you are going through. Mental health is often stigmatized for this exact reason, and we need to stop this stigma and establish that mental health is human health. My journey to mental wellness has not been easy. I came into high school thinking I knew exactly who I was: an intelligent, relentless young man who could tackle any challenge the world decided to throw at him. In other words, I thought I was perfect, and I thought I knew exactly how I would approach a very difficult 4-year period for most. Well, as you might have anticipated, I came short in being who I thought I was. I struggled considerably to maintain relationships, let alone establish them. The confident person I aspired to be was simply a facade for the most socially anxious person I turned out to be. I wasn't popular among the student body; in fact, I faced constant ostracism and hate from my fellow peers. I let their opinions and perceptions of me shape who I thought I was: a lowlife, annoying person who constantly seeks attention and validation from others. Who I imagined myself to be was completely inconsistent with what I was labeled as. I suffered extreme depression and anxiety from this experience, and I was on the verge of suicide. I began caring again about what others thought of me, and I felt so sad all the time, wondering what exactly I did wrong. It took me a while to escape this jail I had been held up in for so long. After the peak of my depression, I sought therapy. I only saw my therapist three times before I concluded it was not for me. It was difficult for me to regurgitate my struggles over and over again to different therapists at the clinic after doing so with school counselors. I decided that the best way to navigate my mental wellness is to focus on myself. After all, I am the only one who understands my issues, because nobody else can operate my mind and figure out what is going on. So, it is up to me to pinpoint the problems and solve them myself. I started finding reasons to enjoy life and my own company. By focusing on myself, I was able to get back on track by doing activities I truly enjoy, such as doing math, binge watching TV shows and movies, playing video games, and being out in nature. Instead of listening to a therapist, who knew nothing about me, giving suggestions on what I should do, I genuinely did what made me feel better and more comfortable with myself. I am still going strong with that mindset, and it has helped me so much come to terms with the struggles of life and how to navigate them properly to avoid future mental health crises. I am perfectly fine with being vulnerable and sharing my experiences if they will inspire someone else and help them learn and grow as human beings. I will always value that in myself.

My name is John Oduntan. I attended Eastside High School, and I am now a freshman at the University of Florida in pursuit of a bachelor's degree in Health Science on the pre-med track. My mental health journey has been a long one, and it continues today. I came into high school thinking I knew exactly who I was: an intelligent, relentless young man who could tackle any challenge in the world. I literally thought I was perfect, and I thought I knew exactly how I would approach a very difficult 4-year period. Well, as you might have anticipated, I came short in being who I thought I was. I struggled considerably to maintain relationships, let alone establish them. The confident person I aspired to be was simply a façade for the most socially anxious person I turned out to be. I wasn't popular among the student body; in fact, I faced constant ostracism and hate from my fellow peers. I let their opinions and perceptions of me shape who I thought I was: a lowlife, annoying person who constantly seeks attention and validation from others. Who I imagined myself to be was completely inconsistent with what I was labeled. The worst year for me by far was my junior year. I ended my sophomore year off strong; I ended with more friends than what I started with which is amazing. I feel like I made a name for myself during that year. I felt like I was as outspoken and outgoing as I possibly could be, and everyone saw the confident person I was. I didn't have a care in the world which included what other people thought of me. Boy, did that all change the following year. I was actually doing pretty well at the beginning: I found what I thought was a perfect group of friends, we got along super well, and we did everything today. I know it sounds cliché, but it's true. However, I was very different from them. I was the only Black person in the friend group, the only gay person in the group, and the only liberal person in the group. I was definitely the odd one out, and they could see it too. Well, long story short: it didn't work out. I tried again and again to try and mesh with these guys, but it didn't work, even with their drastic pleas for me to leave them alone. Dare I say that these attempts to make it work almost killed me. I suffered extreme depression and anxiety from this experience, and I was on the verge of suicide. I cared so much about what others thought of me, and I felt so sad all the time, wondering what exactly I did wrong. The answer: I tried to be like them. Whenever they would talk about girls, I would think of a girl of my own to talk with them. I didn't want to be left out of those conversations, so I tried to fit in with them. Whenever they make racist jokes, I would laugh along, even though they genuinely offended me, but I didn't want them to cut me off. I sacrificed the person I thought I was to conform to a person who I wasn't. That was arguably the biggest mistake of my life. I will take this experience to share it with others and inspire them to follow what is right for them and not for others. I want to express that it is okay to be vulnerable and to be proud of who you are.

My name is John Oduntan, and I am a freshman at the University of Florida in pursuit of a bachelor's degree in Health Science on the pre-med track. I worked very hard to get here: 3.9 unweighted high school GPA with straight As in all my subjects. I am smart, dedicated, and committed to my studies. Scholarships like these are important to me as they help to shed light on my qualities and special traits as a person, so I can go and share them with others and inspire them to be themselves. I hope to be a physician after graduating medical school to help others and save lives. This is a common answer for "Why do you want to be a doctor?" Let me explain more. I have heard countless stories about my parents' journey within the medical field. Being immigrants from Nigeria, they have faced hardships in integrating here in the U.S. They both finished their undergraduate degrees in Nigeria, but they immigrated to the U.S. to pursue their graduate degrees in medicine. Receiving their licenses and landing jobs was no problem; it was when it came to patient interaction. One particular story my dad told me was when a woman was receiving a lung transplant and her primary doctor introduced her to the surgeon who would be performing the operation. Now keep in mind, before the introduction, this woman was gung-ho about the surgery, because she knew it would grant her healthy lungs again and potentially live longer. However, her primary doctor is White, she is White, but my dad is Black. Do you see where I’m going with this? Once the woman’s doctor introduced her to my dad, her surgeon, it was as if happy music that was playing suddenly came to a screeching halt from a record scratch. The woman who was so optimistic about the surgery turned into a skeptic, and my dad could only guess that the reason for that was because he is Black. You wouldn’t believe the questions this lady asked my dad: Are you qualified? What experience in medicine do you have? Are you skilled enough to give this surgery? If my dad went through 4 years of undergraduate study, 4 years of graduate study, 10 years combined of residency and fellowship in his specialization, and passed the interview for this job, would you think he would be less than qualified to perform this procedure? I wouldn’t think so. My dad guaranteed that if she was introduced to a White doctor, she wouldn’t be asking so many questions. In any case, my dad performed the procedure and the woman went home with a new set of lungs. As a Black man growing up in America, I want to be a force in erasing racial inequalities within the medical field, both among patients and among doctors. My parents had to start completely fresh here as immigrants, but they were able to go on to be successful doctors, despite their race and ethnicity. I want to follow in their footsteps as they have demonstrated perseverance and confidence in their abilities. Additionally, I want my patients to know that they will be receiving what they need and only what they need to ensure they feel comfortable in the doctor’s office. Trust me, I know a trip to the doctor’s office is not the most comfortable thing in the world, so I want my patients to feel comfortable sharing their medical concerns to get them the treatment they need to live long and healthy lives. I am looking forward to embarking on this journey.

My name is John Oduntan, and I am a freshman at the University of Florida in pursuit of a bachelor's degree in Health Science on the pre-med track. I worked very hard to get here: 3.9 unweighted high school GPA with straight As in all my subjects. I am smart, dedicated, and committed to my studies. Scholarships like these are important to me as they help to shed light on my qualities and special traits as a person, so I can go and share them with others and inspire them to be themselves. I hope to be a physician after graduating medical school to help others and save lives. This is a common answer for "Why do you want to be a doctor?" Let me explain more. I have heard countless stories about my parents' journey within the medical field. Being immigrants from Nigeria, they have faced hardships in integrating here in the U.S. They both finished their undergraduate degrees in Nigeria, but they immigrated to the U.S. to pursue their graduate degrees in medicine. Receiving their licenses and landing jobs was no problem; it was when it came to patient interaction. One particular story my dad told me was when a woman was receiving a lung transplant and her primary doctor introduced her to the surgeon who would be performing the operation. Now keep in mind, before the introduction, this woman was gung-ho about the surgery, because she knew it would grant her healthy lungs again and potentially live longer. However, her primary doctor is White, she is White, but my dad is Black. Do you see where I’m going with this? Once the woman’s doctor introduced her to my dad, her surgeon, it was as if happy music that was playing suddenly came to a screeching halt from a record scratch. The woman who was so optimistic about the surgery turned into a skeptic, and my dad could only guess that the reason for that was because he is Black. You wouldn’t believe the questions this lady asked my dad: Are you qualified? What experience in medicine do you have? Are you skilled enough to give this surgery? If my dad went through 4 years of undergraduate study, 4 years of graduate study, 10 years combined of residency and fellowship in his specialization, and passed the interview for this job, would you think he would be less than qualified to perform this procedure? I wouldn’t think so. My dad guaranteed that if she was introduced to a White doctor, she wouldn’t be asking so many questions. In any case, my dad performed the procedure and the woman went home with a new set of lungs. As a Black man growing up in America, I want to be a force in erasing racial inequalities within the medical field, both among patients and among doctors. My parents had to start completely fresh here as immigrants, but they were able to go on to be successful doctors, despite their race and ethnicity. I want to follow in their footsteps as they have demonstrated perseverance and confidence in their abilities. Additionally, I want my patients to know that they will be receiving what they need and only what they need to ensure they feel comfortable in the doctor’s office. Trust me, I know a trip to the doctor’s office is not the most comfortable thing in the world, so I want my patients to feel comfortable sharing their medical concerns to get them the treatment they need to live long and healthy lives. I am looking forward to embarking on this journey.

My name is John Oduntan, and I am a freshman at the University of Florida in pursuit of a bachelor's degree in Health Science on the pre-med track. I worked very hard to get here: 3.9 unweighted high school GPA with straight As in all my subjects. I am smart, dedicated, and committed to my studies. Scholarships like these are important to me as they help to shed light on my qualities and special traits as a person, so I can go and share them with others and inspire them to be themselves. I hope to be a physician after graduating medical school to help others and save lives. This is a common answer for "Why do you want to be a doctor?" Let me explain more. I have heard countless stories about my parents' journey within the medical field. Being immigrants from Nigeria, they have faced hardships in integrating here in the U.S. They both finished their undergraduate degrees in Nigeria, but they immigrated to the U.S. to pursue their graduate degrees in medicine. Receiving their licenses and landing jobs was no problem; it was when it came to patient interaction. One particular story my dad told me was when a woman was receiving a lung transplant and her primary doctor introduced her to the surgeon who would be performing the operation. Now keep in mind, before the introduction, this woman was gung-ho about the surgery, because she knew it would grant her healthy lungs again and potentially live longer. However, her primary doctor is White, she is White, but my dad is Black. Do you see where I’m going with this? Once the woman’s doctor introduced her to my dad, her surgeon, it was as if happy music that was playing suddenly came to a screeching halt from a record scratch. The woman who was so optimistic about the surgery turned into a skeptic, and my dad could only guess that the reason for that was because he is Black. You wouldn’t believe the questions this lady asked my dad: Are you qualified? What experience in medicine do you have? Are you skilled enough to give this surgery? If my dad went through 4 years of undergraduate study, 4 years of graduate study, 10 years combined of residency and fellowship in his specialization, and passed the interview for this job, would you think he would be less than qualified to perform this procedure? I wouldn’t think so. My dad guaranteed that if she was introduced to a White doctor, she wouldn’t be asking so many questions. In any case, my dad performed the procedure and the woman went home with a new set of lungs. As a Black man growing up in America, I want to be a force in erasing racial inequalities within the medical field, both among patients and among doctors. My parents had to start completely fresh here as immigrants, but they were able to go on to be successful doctors, despite their race and ethnicity. I want to follow in their footsteps as they have demonstrated perseverance and confidence in their abilities. Additionally, I want my patients to know that they will be receiving what they need and only what they need to ensure they feel comfortable in the doctor’s office. Trust me, I know a trip to the doctor’s office is not the most comfortable thing in the world, so I want my patients to feel comfortable sharing their medical concerns to get them the treatment they need to live long and healthy lives. I am looking forward to embarking on this journey.