One healthy habit I would adopt to manage my mental and emotional health in school is practicing mindfulness meditation. Mindfulness meditation involves paying attention to the present moment without judgment and can help reduce stress, improve focus, and increase feelings of well-being. I aim to incorporate mindfulness meditation into my daily routine by practicing before starting my schoolwork or during a break in my schedule. While meditating, I will write my feelings towards the end and reflect on my current state of mind and situation. Writing is powerful because it allows me to share my thoughts. After all, they are my own without anyone telling me how I should feel. Along with meditating daily and setting intentions for myself, I hope that I will be able to progress to the level of success that I have always dreamed of. This new practice will also allow me to see if my mental health as a whole is progressing or if I feel drained and in need of a break. I would be a good listener and give a non-judgmental, supportive environment for my friends and other students to express themselves to create a secure space for them to manage their mental and emotional health. I would also educate myself on mental health and mental illness to identify when someone is struggling and provide appropriate help or services. In addition, I may start or participate in mental health awareness events or clubs at school to encourage understanding of mental health concerns. Mental health advocacy is important to me because I see how people my age can’t get the help they deserve due to a lack of resources. In New Orleans, the youth face many hardships in violence, loss of family members, and even hurricanes that take away everything they’ve ever known. Since we are the next generation of leaders, we have to find a solution to make sure that the next generation can get the help they need before it is too late. Being able to listen to my friends who go through these problems or other mental health challenges, will allow me to advocate more for more mental health resources in schools and communities across the country. As an African American male, mental health is not talked about in our communities. It makes it all the more imperative that I be a listening ear to those that need it. In communities where it is sometimes seen as a bad thing to talk about mental health, I feel as if is time to change the narrative. We all need somebody to lean on, and I am that shoulder that will remain free for all friends and students in my school community.