I am very proud to be a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and being able to express myself freely around other members of the community has led me to accept myself for who I truly am. I have faced adversities due to my queerness, but I am a stronger, more resilient individual because of the tribulations that I have overcome. I am proud to be who I am, and I hope to work towards creating more platforms for queer people in popular media. I identify as a queer individual, which is an aspect of myself that I spent many years coming to terms with internally. I faced bullying in high school due to the way I identified and presented myself, and was scared to come out to my family for years on end. I bottled up my feelings for an unhealthily long time, but during my senior year of high school, I decided to properly come out of the closet. I am very lucky to have a supportive and understanding family, and I have been able to live more freely and proudly since I came out to them. During my journey of self-discovery, I am also very grateful to have been surrounded by many queer people who helped to guide me and taught me how to love myself for who I am. I have learned so much about myself on my life journey up to this point, and I plan to continue finding myself and my place in this world. The LGBTQ+ community has had a great impact on me and my sense of belonging in the world, and I hope to be able to reciprocate that love back to others in the community. I am currently pursuing a degree and a career in journalism, a field that I have been passionate about for my entire life. A goal that I hold very close to my heart is to be able to report on and give a platform to queer artists in my community. It is incredibly important to me to uplift the people around me, and I have dedicated much of my time and effort to covering queer artists and artists of color. Change starts at the community level, and I want to be a catalyst of positivity in the lives of queer individuals. This community has given me everything that I have, so it's about time that I start to give back.

Free speech on college campuses is incredibly important for the civil exchange of ideas, the well-being of students, and the power of individuals to voice their perspectives on larger social issues that affect all of us. Without protections for free speech, we would never be exposed to any new beliefs or cultures, forcing us to remain trapped in our individual echo chambers. I hope to preserve the spirit of free speech through my work in the journalism field, where I have dedicated much of my work toward uplifting the voices of creatives who represent diverse backgrounds. An absence of free speech on a college campus only serves to harm its students. Going to a university in a large city, I have often observed students come to higher education from a small and closed-off community - then become exposed to a plethora of different cultures and perspectives in their new environment. Prohibiting individuals from expressing their ideas and opinions is censorship in itself, and only results in the restriction of information streams. How do you expect students to form their own opinions and outlooks without being exposed to the viewpoints of others? We all learn more when we are brought into contact with those who are different than us, and censoring those individuals puts everyone at a disadvantage. On my campus, my continued involvement in student media and publications has worked to preserve the spirit of free speech in my community. I produce written content for my university's student newspaper, focusing specifically on local creatives who have important stories to tell and diverse backgrounds to share with others. My work has been able to put a spotlight on individuals whose voices are otherwise not represented in popular media, and I plan to continue telling these stories in years to come. I am seeking a degree and career in the field of journalism and mass media, because I am passionate about being able to communicate important ideas to individuals who could benefit from expanded diversity of thought. There is an overwhelming amount of inaccurate information being spread in our current sociopolitical climate, especially considering how many Americans receive the majority of their news over social media. I view my goal as being able to serve as a voice for individuals who do not have adept representation in media, because I believe strongly that everybody has a worthwhile and important to share with others.

It is important to practice healthy eating habits as a student because an essential component of academic success is self-care. You cannot perform your best in class without feeling your best, and eating healthily is a huge part of this. It requires lots of determination and focus to maintain a healthy lifestyle, but the results and effects are undeniable. Since I went to college, I have developed healthy eating habits that have helped me to prosper and succeed in both my academic and professional pursuits. Eating healthily is a crucial step in the process of caring for one's self, and that in itself can drastically improve academic performance. Developing healthy eating habits can start with small lifestyle changes. Choosing a healthier, more nourishing dinner over a fast food meal, making nutrient-rich foods a part of your regular diet, or even just drinking more water instead of sugary drinks. You get out of your body what you put into it, so making good choices about the food that you eat will certainly have an impact on how you feel on a day-to-day basis. If you put no effort into caring for yourself and your health, you cannot expect to feel as good as you possibly can. When I practice healthy eating habits, I notice myself feeling better and enjoying my day much more. Not only do I feel proud of myself for demonstrating the restraint needed to practice healthy habits, but I often find myself in a much clearer headspace than before. Eating healthily is essential for my mental health, and for maintaining a positive outlook on life. All of these factors influence my academic and professional performance, which is why I believe that healthy choices are so important. I also notice benefits to my physical well-being when I eat healthily - I feel more energetic throughout the day, I am often in a more positive mood, and overall I feel like the best version of myself that I can be. I encourage other students to be mindful of the lifestyle that they live, and to implement healthy eating habits into their everyday routine. They can greatly improve your quality of life and education, not to mention the positive effects on your physical and mental health. It is not always the easiest option, but it is always the option that will ensure a positive future for yourself. Make a good choice today!

I lost my grandmother due to complications from Parkinson's disease while I was growing up. She had a profound influence on my life, and I had many formative experiences while staying at her house and listening to the stories that she would tell about her past experiences. From a young age, she ingrained a love of writing, reading and literature in me - which would lead to me pursuing a career and degree in journalism later on. Losing my grandmother was difficult for me and my family, but it taught me many lessons about loss and the value of life. My grandmother was a studious and determined woman. She lived only a mile or two from my family's house growing up, so my dad would always take me and my sister over to her house on the weekends. She always had a huge collection of books, often lending them to my family so we could read them together. She taught me to appreciate the nuances of great literature, and her love for reading would go on to inspire my interest in writing later in life. My dad often says that my grandmother's love of reading was passed down to me, and I am proud to carry on her legacy through my pursuit of a career in journalism. When my grandmother passed away, it was one of the first times that I dealt with true grief. She was such a constant in my life, and I could not grapple with the fact that she was not with us anymore. This experience taught me to value the people who are in my life while they are still here, because the knowledge and experience that we can collect from our loved ones is truly invaluable. I have my grandmother to thank for introducing me to the world of literature and writing, a love that has influenced my future aspirations and goals. I strive to improve and develop as a writer, because I know that my grandmother would be proud of the work that I put into this passion. It was difficult for me to put on a happy and competent face at school after my grandmother passed away, but I did the best that I could - because I knew that she would have wanted us to celebrate our time together instead of shedding tears over it. I do not know where I would be today without the influence of my grandmother, and I am forever thankful for her.

I have struggled with mental health issues for the better part of my life - I was diagnosed with OCD when I was ten years old and I've dealt with depression and anxiety at different points during my teenage years. One of the biggest changes that my experience with mental health has made in my life has been how I value my family and friends. These are the most important people in my life, and I find solace in the fact that I know I can be open with them about the things that are weighing me down. I'm very blessed to have a great safety net of incredibly supportive people, and I spend a large deal of my free time tending to these relationships and ensuring that my loved ones feel as safe around me as I do around them. My struggles with mental illness have taught me many valuable life lessons, but most importantly they've shown me how important interpersonal relationships are to me and my well-being. Sometimes, it can be hard to reach out and ask for help. Opening up to someone about your internal conflicts is difficult and is an act of deep trust and confidentiality, but I hope if there's one thing you can take away from my story - it's to find someone in your life who you can confide in and who you feel safe around. Being able to get your feelings outside of your own brain is so much more important than what I could ever put into words. My battles with mental wellness have not been easy in the slightest, but they have taught me a lot about myself and what I am capable of. I know that I am a stronger and more perseverant individual because of the struggles that I have endured, and I have learned how to channel my energy into positive outcomes. I believe that there is nothing so bad that you cannot walk away from it without more knowledge and valuable experience. The trials and tribulations that we face only serve to prime us for greatness, and learning more about yourself is the first step in the process of self-reflection and improvement. Over the years, I have faced times when I felt worthless, anxious and unsure of myself - but I have shown myself that I am able to preserve through difficult times and grow into the person I am today. I aspire to make a change in my community through the pursuit of journalism. Writing has served as an escape for me during my most trying times, and I dream to be able to make a career out of it in the future. I have devoted much of my work to giving platforms to local artists and musicians, because I believe that it is important to uplift those around you. I have gained so much wisdom by going out into my community and having meaningful conversations with others, and the pursuit of something that I truly love has been incredibly beneficial for my mental health.

I have struggled with mental health issues for the better part of my life - I was diagnosed with OCD when I was ten years old and I've dealt with depression and anxiety at different points during my teenage years. One of the biggest changes that my experience with mental health has made in my life has been how I value my family and friends. These are the most important people in my life, and I find solace in the fact that I know I can be open with them about the things that are weighing me down. I'm very blessed to have a great safety net of incredibly supportive people, and I spend a large deal of my free time tending to these relationships and ensuring that my loved ones feel as safe around me as I do around them. My struggles with mental illness have taught me many valuable life lessons, but most importantly they've shown me how important interpersonal relationships are to me and my well-being. Sometimes, it can be hard to reach out and ask for help. Opening up to someone about your internal conflicts is difficult and is an act of deep trust and confidentiality, but I hope if there's one thing you can take away from my story - it's to find someone in your life who you can confide in and who you feel safe around. Being able to get your feelings outside of your own brain is so much more important than what I could ever put into words. My battles with mental wellness have not been easy in the slightest, but they have taught me a lot about myself and what I am capable of. I know that I am a stronger and more perseverant individual because of the struggles that I have endured, and I have learned how to channel my energy into positive outcomes. I believe that there is nothing so bad that you cannot walk away from it without more knowledge and valuable experience. The trials and tribulations that we face only serve to prime us for greatness, and learning more about yourself is the first step in the process of self-reflection and improvement. Over the years, I have faced times when I felt worthless, anxious and unsure of myself - but I have shown myself that I am able to preserve through difficult times and grow into the person I am today.

I am very proud to be a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and being able to express myself freely around other members of the community has led me to accept myself for who I truly am. I have faced adversities due to my queerness, but I am a stronger, more resilient individual because of the tribulations that I have overcome. I am proud to be who I am, and I hope to work towards creating more platforms for queer people in popular media. I identify as a queer individual, which is an aspect of myself that I spent many years coming to terms with internally. I faced bullying in high school due to the way I identified and presented myself, and was scared to come out to my family for years on end. I bottled up my feelings for an unhealthily long time, but during my senior year of high school, I decided to properly come out of the closet. I am very lucky to have a supportive and understanding family, and I have been able to live more freely and proudly since I came out to them. During my journey of self-discovery, I am also very grateful to have been surrounded by many queer people who helped to guide me and taught me how to love myself for who I am. I have learned so much about myself on my life journey up to this point, and I plan to continue finding myself and my place in this world. The LGBTQ+ community has had a great impact on me and my sense of belonging in the world, and I hope to be able to reciprocate that love back to others in the community. I am currently pursuing a degree and a career in journalism, a field that I have been passionate about for my entire life. A goal that I hold very close to my heart is to be able to report on and give a platform to queer artists in my community. It is incredibly important to me to uplift the people around me, and I have dedicated much of my time and effort to covering queer artists and artists of color. Change starts at the community level, and I want to be a catalyst of positivity in the lives of queer individuals. This community has given me everything that I have, so it's about time that I start to give back.

I plan to make a positive impact on the world through my pursuit of music journalism. I began writing and producing content for student publications and media this past year, and it has been the most rewarding creative process that I have undergone thus far. I have specifically dedicated much of my time and effort to covering local artists and musicians in my community, using my platform to uplift talented individuals and share their stories with the world. The city that I live in has a truly astonishing number of innovative and unique artists, but I have noticed that there is a lack of media coverage regarding these creatives. I strive to change this, and I have found much fulfillment in going out into my community and having meaningful conversations with them. I want to create more platforms for artists in my community, specifically focusing on artists of color and queer artists. The art that these people have created has given me everything that I have, so I feel that it's about time that I start to give back.

In the past, my condition has prevented me from enjoying my life to the fullest. The stress and pressure of feeling different from my peers affected my ability to see the good in myself, and I thought less of myself because of this. As I have grown, I realize that my ability to succeed despite my condition makes me exceptional - and that I have accomplished so much because of my sense of individuality. My journey of self-discovery and self-love has been long, but it has also taught me so much about myself and how I want to live my life going forwards. My condition made me feel alien to many other people my age, I was unable to properly communicate with them and find common ground. I initially took this frustration out on myself, because I did not understand why I felt different from everyone else around me. As I grew up, I began to realize that my condition was not meant to hinder me, but to challenge me to succeed against the odds presented to me. I found support groups and people who appreciated me for who I am, and I surrounded myself with positive people who wanted to see me succeed. To this day, these people are my support network and inspire me to keep striving for greatness. I no longer feel inferior to others, because I have been able to accomplish some amazing things in spite of the condition that once dissuaded me from what I wanted to achieve. I seek to inspire and empower others by giving a platform and voice to creatives in my community. I have always loved the study of writing and the English language, and I found a love for the art of journalism during my high school years. I am pursuing a degree in Journalism and Media Studies in college, and have dedicated much of my work to shining a spotlight on local artists and musicians. I believe that it is important to create a welcoming and inclusive environment within our local communities, and I want to continue uplifting diverse voices through my coverage and reporting. Everyone has a unique story to tell and lessons to teach, and my goal is to continue learning from those stories and to apply those lessons to my own life. I want to create a culture in my community that accepts individuals of all backgrounds, something that I would have benefitted a lot from while I was growing up. I want to ensure a better future for those in my community, and these are only the first steps.

In the past, my condition has prevented me from enjoying my life to the fullest. The stress and pressure of feeling different from my peers affected my ability to see the good in myself, and I thought less of myself because of this. As I have grown, I realize that my ability to succeed despite my condition makes me exceptional - and that I have accomplished so much because of my sense of individuality. My journey of self-discovery and self-love has been long, but it has also taught me so much about myself and how I want to live my life going forwards. My condition made me feel alien to many other people my age, I was unable to properly communicate with them and find common ground. I initially took this frustration out on myself, because I did not understand why I felt different from everyone else around me. As I grew up, I began to realize that my condition was not meant to hinder me, but to challenge me to succeed against the odds presented to me. I found support groups and people who appreciated me for who I am, and I surrounded myself with positive people who wanted to see me succeed. To this day, these people are my support network and inspire me to keep striving for greatness. I no longer feel inferior to others, because I have been able to accomplish some amazing things in spite of the condition that once dissuaded me from what I wanted to achieve. I seek to inspire and empower others by giving a platform and voice to creatives in my community. I have always loved the study of writing and the English language, and I found a love for the art of journalism during my high school years. I am pursuing a degree in Journalism and Media Studies in college, and have dedicated much of my work to shining a spotlight on local artists and musicians. I believe that it is important to create a welcoming and inclusive environment within our local communities, and I want to continue uplifting diverse voices through my coverage and reporting. Everyone has a unique story to tell and lessons to teach, and my goal is to continue learning from those stories and to apply those lessons to my own life. I want to create a culture in my community that accepts individuals of all backgrounds, something that I would have benefitted a lot from while I was growing up.

I am very proud to be a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and being able to express myself freely around other members of the community has led me to accept myself for who I truly am. I have faced adversities due to my queerness, but I am a stronger, more resilient individual because of the tribulations that I have overcome. I am proud to be who I am, and I hope to work towards creating more platforms for queer people in popular media. I identify as a queer individual, which is an aspect of myself that I spent many years coming to terms with internally. I faced bullying in high school due to the way I identified and presented myself, and was scared to come out to my family for years on end. I bottled up my feelings for an unhealthily long time, but during my senior year of high school, I decided to properly come out of the closet. I am very lucky to have a supportive and understanding family, and I have been able to live more freely and proudly since I came out to them. During my journey of self-discovery, I am also very grateful to have been surrounded by many queer people who helped to guide me and taught me how to love myself for who I am. I have learned so much about myself on my life journey up to this point, and I plan to continue finding myself and my place in this world. I am currently pursuing a degree and a career in journalism, a field that I have been passionate about for my entire life. A goal that I hold very close to my heart is to be able to report on and give a platform to queer artists in my community. It is incredibly important to me to uplift the people around me, and I have dedicated much of my time and effort to covering queer artists and artists of color. Change starts at the community level, and I want to be a catalyst of positivity in the lives of queer individuals. This community has given me everything that I have, so it's about time that I start to give back.

It can be difficult to balance personal wellness with responsibilities during the academic year, but being able to do so can greatly improve one's quality of education and school life. It is important to be able to step back from your responsibilities in college and focus on yourself, because it can often result in better academic performance and a healthier lifestyle! During my freshman year of college, I learned how to most effectively maintain my personal wellness while simultaneously succeeding in my classes and extracurricular pursuits. This process has helped me in advocating for my well-being and becoming more independent, having an overwhelmingly positive effect on my personal development. The opportunities that college has given me are very exciting - I am more involved in my field of study than ever before, and I have been able to meet lots of new people who share my passion. However, all the responsibilities on my plate can become overwhelming. It has become important to me to focus on my well-being and mindfulness, in order to ensure that I am in the best headspace to seize these opportunities. One of the most important aspects of preserving one's wellness in college is getting an appropriate amount of sleep. I know many students who do not prioritize their sleep, pulling all-nighters every week and burning out during class. A lack of sleep perpetuates a harmful cycle of overworking yourself and not giving your body the rest that it needs to function. I make it a point to prioritize getting a sufficient amount of sleep every night, so I can have the energy to get all my work done during the day. My sleep schedule is very important to me, and I wake up every day feeling energized and ready to tackle whatever the day brings me. Another habit that I developed during my freshman year was daily meditation. Between classes and being involved with two extracurricular clubs, my workload can be overwhelming at points. I discovered that meditation helps me to ground myself and practice mindfulness. I start every day with a short guided meditation, which clears my mind and helps me to focus on my classwork. Taking a few moments out of each day to be mindful and present in the moment has been very helpful for managing my work-life balance, and it serves as a short escape from daily stresses and worries. The process of making space for mindfulness and rest in my daily schedule has been incredibly beneficial for my mental health and academic performance. It requires a level of discipline and commitment to maintain a healthy balance between your daily responsibilities and your personal wellness. Overall, putting in the time and effort to practice self-care has helped me in achieving academic success and better relationships with my peers. It is important to know yourself and what you need in order to be successful in college, and I plan to continue doing so going forward.

In my college education, I am exploring the field of journalism and media. I cannot remember an exact moment that led me to pursue my degree in Journalism and Media Studies - but I think that the seeds were planted in my mind from early on. From my parents playing Wisconsin Public Radio in the car when I was younger, to discovering music on my own and sharing it with my friends in my high school years, I guess I always knew that I somehow wanted to be involved in the production of media and the appreciation of art. With the guidance of my high school newspaper editor, I was introduced to the world of music journalism, and I knew that I had found my passion. My experience in the journalism field has been very fulfilling because I have been able to learn hands-on through experience. Initially, I faced a learning curve when first trying to get my foot in the door - but I have had many opportunities to learn from others, practice honing my skills in research and reporting, and improve overall as a writer. It is very rewarding to be able to look back at how I have developed my abilities over time, and I hope to continue doing so with a strong work ethic. Going to college and studying in the Journalism and Media Studies department at my school has been an incredible experience that provided me with many opportunities in my field. I have continued honing my craft by writing for my university's campus-wide newspaper, which has been able to teach me about writing and publication in a more professional environment. I have also been a part of kickstarting my university's first student-run radio station, taking part in coverage of local artists and live events in the community. Even after just one year of being enrolled in college, my goals for the future have become much more clear. After doing my first interview with an artist on tour, I immediately wanted to do it again and improve my skills as an interviewer. After writing about the most vibrant musicians in my community and sharing my work with them, I wanted to become even more involved in my local art scene. Although I know I will have to put in so much more work to get to where I want to be, I am more than willing to do so while learning from my experiences along the way.

It can be difficult to balance personal wellness with responsibilities during the academic year, but being able to do so can greatly improve one's quality of education and school life. It is important to be able to step back from your responsibilities in college and focus on yourself, because it can often result in better academic performance and a healthier lifestyle! During my freshman year of college, I learned how to most effectively maintain my personal wellness while simultaneously succeeding in my classes and extracurricular pursuits. This process has helped me in advocating for my well-being and becoming more independent, having an overwhelmingly positive effect on my personal development. One of the most important aspects of preserving one's wellness in college is getting an appropriate amount of sleep. I know many students who do not prioritize their sleep, pulling all-nighters every week and burning out during class. A lack of sleep perpetuates a harmful cycle of overworking yourself and not giving your body the rest that it needs to function. I make it a point to prioritize getting a sufficient amount of sleep every night, so I can have the energy to get all my work done during the day. My sleep schedule is very important to me, and I wake up every day feeling energized and ready to tackle whatever the day brings me. Another habit that I developed during my freshman year was daily meditation. Between classes and being involved with two extracurricular clubs, my workload can be overwhelming at points. I discovered that meditation helps me to ground myself and practice mindfulness. I start every day with a short guided meditation, which clears my mind and helps me to focus on my classwork. Taking a few moments out of each day to be mindful and present in the moment has been very helpful for managing my work-life balance, and it serves as a short escape from daily stresses and worries. The process of making space for mindfulness and rest in my daily schedule has been incredibly beneficial for my mental health and academic performance. It requires a level of discipline and commitment to maintain a healthy balance between your daily responsibilities and your personal wellness. Overall, putting in the time and effort to practice self-care has helped me in achieving academic success and better relationships with my peers. It is important to know yourself and what you need in order to be successful in college, and I plan to continue doing so going forward.

It can be difficult to balance personal wellness with responsibilities during the academic year, but being able to do so can greatly improve one's quality of education and school life. It is important to be able to step back from your responsibilities in college and focus on yourself, because it can often result in better academic performance and a healthier lifestyle! During my freshman year of college, I learned how to most effectively maintain my personal wellness while simultaneously succeeding in my classes and extracurricular pursuits. This process has helped me in advocating for my well-being and becoming more independent, having an overwhelmingly positive effect on my personal development. One of the most important aspects of preserving one's wellness in college is getting an appropriate amount of sleep. I know many students who do not prioritize their sleep, pulling all-nighters every week and burning out during class. A lack of sleep perpetuates a harmful cycle of overworking yourself and not giving your body the rest that it needs to function. I make it a point to prioritize getting a sufficient amount of sleep every night, so I can have the energy to get all my work done during the day. My sleep schedule is very important to me, and I wake up every day feeling energized and ready to tackle whatever the day brings me. Another habit that I developed during my freshman year was daily meditation. Between classes and being involved with two extracurricular clubs, my workload can be overwhelming at points. I discovered that meditation helps me to ground myself and practice mindfulness. I start every day with a short guided meditation, which clears my mind and helps me to focus on my classwork. Taking a few moments out of each day to be mindful and present in the moment has been very helpful for managing my work-life balance, and it serves as a short escape from daily stresses and worries. The process of making space for mindfulness and rest in my daily schedule has been incredibly beneficial for my mental health and academic performance. It requires a level of discipline and commitment to maintain a healthy balance between your daily responsibilities and your personal wellness. Overall, putting in the time and effort to practice self-care has helped me in achieving academic success and better relationships with my peers. It is important to know yourself and what you need in order to be successful in college, and I plan to continue doing so going forward.

I cannot remember an exact moment that led me to pursue a degree in journalism - but I think that the seeds were planted in my mind from early on. From my parents playing Wisconsin Public Radio in the car when I was younger, to discovering music on my own and sharing it with my friends in my high school years, I guess I always knew that I somehow wanted to be involved in the production of media and the appreciation of art. With the guidance of my high school newspaper editor, I was introduced to the world of music journalism, and I knew that I had found my passion. Throughout my time in high school, I got involved in the school newspaper and wrote about music, the arts, and entertainment. Even by expressing my ideas on a small scale to a hyper-local reader base, I was able to achieve a level of artistic fulfillment that I had never been able to in the past. It was a very rewarding experience, and it was able to affect the ways that I got involved in college. In my eyes, the ways that I have been able to become involved in media through my university have had a great impact on my career going forward. Going to college and studying in the Journalism and Media Studies department at my school has been an incredible experience that provided me with many opportunities in my field. I have continued honing my craft by writing for my university's campus-wide newspaper, which has been able to teach me about writing and publication in a more professional environment. I have also been a part of kickstarting my university's first student-run radio station, taking part in coverage of local artists and live events in the community. Even after just one semester at college, my goals for the future have become much more clear. After doing my first interview with an artist on tour, I immediately wanted to do it again and improve my skills as an interviewer. After writing about the most vibrant musicians in my community and sharing my work with them, I wanted to become even more involved in my local art scene. Although I know I will have to put in so much more work to get to where I want to be, I am more than willing to do so while learning from my experiences along the way. Going forward, I want to make a positive impact on my community by using my platform to uplift and promote local artists, helping to create a welcoming and self-sufficient scene for the arts in my area. There are so many talented people in my city, and I want to be able to tell their stories to those who would not otherwise hear them. Genuine human connection is so much more important to me than any industry campaign, and it is the responsibility of a journalist to write with a sense of ethics.

I have struggled with mental health issues for the better part of my life - I was diagnosed with OCD when I was ten years old and I've dealt with depression and anxiety at different points during my teenage years. One of the biggest changes that my experience with mental health has made in my life has been how I value my family and friends. These are the most important people in my life, and I find solace in the fact that I know I can be open with them about the things that are weighing me down. I'm very blessed to have a great safety net of incredibly supportive people, and I spend a large deal of my free time tending to these relationships and ensuring that my loved ones feel as safe around me as I do around them. My struggles with mental illness have taught me many valuable life lessons, but most importantly they've shown me how important interpersonal relationships are to me and my well-being. Sometimes, it can be hard to reach out and ask for help. Opening up to someone about your internal conflicts is difficult and is an act of deep trust and confidentiality, but I hope if there's one thing you can take away from my story - it's to find someone in your life who you can confide in and who you feel safe around. Being able to get your feelings outside of your own brain is so much more important than what I could ever put into words. My battles with mental wellness have not been easy in the slightest, but they have taught me a lot about myself and what I am capable of. I know that I am a stronger and more perseverant individual because of the struggles that I have endured, and I have learned how to channel my energy into positive outcomes. I believe that there is nothing so bad that you cannot walk away from it without more knowledge and valuable experience. The trials and tribulations that we face only serve to prime us for greatness, and learning more about yourself is the first step in the process of self-reflection and improvement. Over the years, I have faced times when I felt worthless, anxious and unsure of myself - but I have shown myself that I am able to preserve through difficult times and grow into the person I am today.

I believe that everyone should read Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 at one point. Although it was originally published in 1953, its message is still one that we can learn from 70 years later in 2023. The book addresses a dystopian future where books are widely banned and burned, restricting outside information from everyday citizens of society. The sharing of ideas is not permitted in Bradbury's vision of the future, for a tyrannical government to have more control over the people under their rule. It is a great read overall - Bradbury is an amazingly illustrative writer, and the book draws you in from start to end. The reason that I believe that everyone should read Fahrenheit 451 at some point in their lives is that the content and message are still relevant and important to this day. The banning of books is something that happens every day in libraries across the country, often because they contain controversial or subversive material. Many people are not aware that information is being withheld and censored from the media that they consume on a daily basis, and Bradbury illustrates how the censorship and limitation of ideas can have a greater negative impact on society. A famous Virginia Woolf quote reads: "Books are the mirrors of the soul". Literature is one of the oldest mediums of individual expression, and the ideas shared by writers are often reflective of societal values, changes and developments. Fahrenheit 451 is a bleak reminder of the power that words hold. Fahrenheit 451 has shaped my goals as a journalist and writer by demonstrating the importance of quality reporting and coverage. Because words are so important to the ways that we communicate information to each other, journalists and writers hold a responsibility to promote a thorough understanding of the topics that we write about. Misinformation can be harmful, as we see in Bradbury's novel, and journalists must emphasize the pursuit of truth in order to keep readers well-informed. Reading Fahrenheit 451 in elementary school piqued my interest in the ways that communication can influence our world, and it has gone on to influence the values that I hold in regard to my goals as a writer. Literature continues to reflect the nuances of contemporary society, and upholding writers' abilities to express how they feel about the state of the world is a goal that I hold close to my heart. In the future, I hope to be able to create a work of literature that can inspire others to think.

I have struggled with mental health issues for the better part of my life - I was diagnosed with OCD when I was ten years old and I've dealt with depression and anxiety at different points during my teenage years. One of the biggest changes that my experience with mental health has made in my life has been how I value my family and friends. These are the most important people in my life, and I find solace in the fact that I know I can be open with them about the things that are weighing me down. I'm very blessed to have a great safety net of incredibly supportive people, and I spend a large deal of my free time tending to these relationships and ensuring that my loved ones feel as safe around me as I do around them. My struggles with mental illness have taught me many valuable life lessons, but most importantly they've shown me how important interpersonal relationships are to me and my well-being. Sometimes, it can be hard to reach out and ask for help. Opening up to someone about your internal conflicts is difficult and is an act of deep trust and confidentiality, but I hope if there's one thing you can take away from my story - it's to find someone in your life who you can confide in and who you feel safe around. Being able to get your feelings outside of your own brain is so much more important than what I could ever put into words.

I struggle with anxiety and OCD, and I often have circular thoughts that affect my mental health - especially when I spend lots of time confined in my house. I really enjoy taking walks around my city when it's nice outside to get some fresh air, reset my mind and bask in the enjoyment of the miracles of nature that surround me. When on these walks, I stay off my phone and instead observe my surroundings, keeping myself grounded in the moment without worrying about what might have happened yesterday or what might happen tomorrow. When I'm outside in nature, I feel at peace with myself and the world. Another method that helps me to escape from the stresses of everyday life is listening to music. I am planning on heading into a career in music journalism in the future, so setting aside time for myself to simply enjoy the music that I love without distractions is essential to my well-being. Music not only helps me to de-stress, it helps me to deepen my connections with others through shared appreciation of art. Truly getting lost in a song is a feeling unlike any other, and it can lift my spirits and bring a positive outlook to my day when most needed. As a writer, one of the ways that I can best get out my thoughts is on to a piece of paper. It helps get circular thoughts and anxieties out of my head and helps me rationalize them better, and often it makes me realize how silly those obsessive thoughts really are. Letting my thoughts bubble up in my head isn't good for my mental health, so having somewhere to express them judgment-free is very important to me. And finally, spending time with my friends and my family helps me clear my mind whenever I need it the most. I am very lucky to have a great support system and a lot of people in my life who are willing to listen to me and who I can communicate clearly with. Spending quality time with these people - making memories, going on adventures, checking up on one another, and making it clear that we are always happy to help each other with whatever we need. Having a number of people who understand me on a personal level and who I can be honest with helps cultivate a healthy headspace for me, and I am very grateful for everyone who continues to be there for me!

My dream for my future self is that I will be able to work independently as a freelance journalist, and to be able to use the platform that I built for myself in order to help others.

I believe that everyone should read Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 at one point. Although it was originally published in 1953, its message is still one that we can learn from 70 years later in 2023. The book addresses a dystopian future where books are widely banned and burned, restricting outside information from everyday citizens of society. The sharing of ideas is not permitted in Bradbury's vision of the future, for a tyrannical government to have more control over the people under their rule. It is a great read overall - Bradbury is an amazingly illustrative writer, and the book draws you in from start to end. The reason that I believe that everyone should read Fahrenheit 451 at some point in their lives is that the content and message are still relevant and important to this day. The banning of books is something that happens every day in libraries across the country, often because they contain controversial or subversive material. Many people are not aware that information is being withheld and censored from the media that they consume on a daily basis, and Bradbury illustrates how the censorship and limitation of ideas can have a greater negative impact on society. A famous Virginia Woolf quote reads: "books are the mirrors of the soul". Literature is one of the oldest mediums of individual expression, and the ideas shared by writers are often reflective of societal values, changes and developments. Fahrenheit 451 is a bleak reminder of the power that words hold.

I cannot remember an exact moment that led me to pursue a degree in journalism - but I think that the seeds were planted in my mind from early on. From my parents playing Wisconsin Public Radio in the car when I was younger, to discovering music on my own and sharing it with my friends in my high school years, I guess I always knew that I somehow wanted to be involved in the production of media and the appreciation of art. With the guidance of my high school newspaper editor, I was introduced to the world of music journalism, and I knew that I had found my passion. Throughout my time in high school, I got involved in the school newspaper and wrote about music, the arts, and entertainment. Even by expressing my ideas on a small scale to a hyper-local reader base, I was able to achieve a level of artistic fulfillment that I had never been able to in the past. It was a very rewarding experience, and it was able to affect the ways that I got involved in college. In my eyes, the ways that I have been able to become involved in media through my university have had a great impact on my career going forward. Going to college and studying in the Journalism and Media Studies department at my school has been an incredible experience that provided me with many opportunities in my field. I have continued honing my craft by writing for my university's campus-wide newspaper, which has been able to teach me about writing and publication in a more professional environment. I have also been a part of kickstarting my university's first student-run radio station, taking part in coverage of local artists and live events in the community. Even after just one semester at college, my goals for the future have become much more clear. After doing my first interview with an artist on tour, I immediately wanted to do it again and improve my skills as an interviewer. After writing about the most vibrant musicians in my community and sharing my work with them, I wanted to become even more involved in my local art scene. Although I know I will have to put in so much more work to get to where I want to be, I am more than willing to do so while learning from my experiences along the way. Some of my long-term goals include being able to work independently as a freelance writer, being able to become more involved in my city's music scene, and to get a byline in a national publication. All of these goals require much effort on my part, but I am excited to make personal and professional progress on my road to achieving my dreams. Journalism is what I truly love doing, and I want to spend the rest of my life doing something that I am passionate about.

I cannot remember an exact moment that led me to pursue a degree in journalism - but I think that the seeds were planted in my mind from early on. From my parents playing Wisconsin Public Radio in the car when I was younger, to discovering music on my own and sharing it with my friends in my high school years, I guess I always knew that I somehow wanted to be involved in the production of media and the appreciation of art. With the guidance of my high school newspaper editor, I was introduced to the world of music journalism, and I knew that I had found my passion. Throughout my time in high school, I got involved in the school newspaper and wrote about music, the arts, and entertainment. Even by expressing my ideas on a small scale to a hyper-local reader base, I was able to achieve a level of artistic fulfillment that I had never been able to in the past. It was a very rewarding experience, and it was able to affect the ways that I got involved in college. In my eyes, the ways that I have been able to become involved in media through my university have had a great impact on my career going forward. Going to college and studying in the Journalism and Media Studies department at my school has been an incredible experience that provided me with many opportunities in my field. I have continued honing my craft by writing for my university's campus-wide newspaper, which has been able to teach me about writing and publication in a more professional environment. I have also been a part of kickstarting my university's first student-run radio station, taking part in coverage of local artists and live events in the community. Even after just one semester at college, my goals for the future have become much more clear. After doing my first interview with an artist on tour, I immediately wanted to do it again and improve my skills as an interviewer. After writing about the most vibrant musicians in my community and sharing my work with them, I wanted to become even more involved in my local art scene. Although I know I will have to put in so much more work to get to where I want to be, I am more than willing to do so while learning from my experiences along the way.

In recent months, "2012" by Saba featuring Day Wave has been the song that has resonated with me the most. It's a song that contemplates many different aspects of adolescence and growing up. Both the lyrics and the actual sound of the song evoke a certain feeling of nostalgia and comfort, which is accentuated by the main lyric: "I had everything I needed, everything." The two verses of the song tell different stories about Saba's upbringing in Chicago - the first one details a deep friendship that he built with another student while he was attending college, who would go on to help him overcome his social anxiety and provide him with a sort of sanctuary. The second verse addresses the ways that he and his friends were able to make the best out of bad situations, finding solace in the company of each other. The lyric that always makes me smile from this song is: "On the grayest day, we're on the train in our colorful clothing." This song has continued to resonate with me as I continue to find myself in a new environment - college, hours away from my home. "2012" reminds me of the good times, when things were simpler and I had nothing but a bright future to look ahead to. But it also reminds me of the beautiful things that interpersonal connection can create, and this song will forever play in my head while my friends and I are taking the city bus on the way toward our next adventure.

Financial literacy is a vital skill to have, especially as a college student who is possibly experiencing the world as an independent being for the first time. I have seen many people in my life make unwise financial decisions with their newfound independence, and later seen those same people go on to struggle with their ability to balance all of their financial responsibilities. I believe there are several different ways that one can educate themselves on financial literacy: through experience, critical decision-making, and budgeting. One of the quickest ways that I have been able to take control of my financial future is through experience. I have made very poor financial decisions in the past: spending too much money on something that I have little or no use for, not adhering to a coherent savings plan, and being ignorant overall when it came to the way that I spent and saved my money. However, these experiences have helped me learn and led me to make better decisions going forward. I have been able to see how these decisions negatively impacted my financial standing, and I have taken action to prevent these mistakes from happening in the future. Another way that I have secured a positive financial future for myself is by practicing critical thinking and decision-making. I have made it a mission of mine to only spend significant amounts of money on items or investments that will benefit me in the long run. Treating yourself now and again can be fine, but it is also important to remind yourself where that money could otherwise be going if not being spent at the moment. I try to encourage the people in my life to think critically before they make a large purchase, and to spend more time deliberating the impact of the next product that they buy. Lastly, financially literate consumers need to create effective budgets for themselves. A good budget will proactively prepare for monthly expenses and allot appropriate amounts of money for different types of costs that one may run into. My budget helps me from spending too much money from month to month, ensuring that I am saving enough to have a financially secure future. I always try to promote budgeting to my family and close friends, showing them how effective this process has been for me and how it can improve their financial security. I have witnessed first-hand how being smarter and more strategic about finances can have great impacts on those who are willing to do so.

I cannot remember an exact moment that led me to pursue a degree in journalism - but I think that the seeds were planted in my mind from early on. From my parents playing Wisconsin Public Radio in the car when I was younger, to discovering music on my own and sharing it with my friends in my high school years, I guess I always knew that I somehow wanted to be involved in the production of media and the appreciation of art. With the guidance of my high school newspaper editor, I was introduced to the world of music journalism, and I knew that I had found my passion. Throughout my time in high school, I got involved in the school newspaper and wrote about music, the arts, and entertainment. Even by expressing my ideas on a small scale to a hyper-local reader base, I was able to achieve a level of artistic fulfillment that I had never been able to in the past. It was a very rewarding experience, and it was able to affect the ways that I got involved in college. In my eyes, the ways that I have been able to become involved in media through my university have had a great impact on my career going forward. Going to college and studying in the Journalism and Media Studies department at my school has been an incredible experience that provided me with many opportunities in my field. I have continued honing my craft by writing for my university's campus-wide newspaper, which has been able to teach me about writing and publication in a more professional environment. I have also been a part of kickstarting my university's first student-run radio station, taking part in coverage of local artists and live events in the community. Even after just one semester at college, my goals for the future have become much more clear. After doing my first interview with an artist on tour, I immediately wanted to do it again and improve my skills as an interviewer. After writing about the most vibrant musicians in my community and sharing my work with them, I wanted to become even more involved in my local art scene. Although I know I will have to put in so much more work to get to where I want to be, I am more than willing to do so while learning from my experiences along the way.

I struggle with anxiety and OCD, and I often have circular thoughts that affect my mental health - especially when I spend lots of time confined in my house. I really enjoy taking walks around my city when it's nice outside to get some fresh air, reset my mind and bask in the enjoyment of the miracles of nature that surround me. When on these walks, I stay off my phone and instead observe my surroundings, keeping myself grounded in the moment without worrying about what might have happened yesterday or what might happen tomorrow. When I'm outside in nature, I feel at peace with myself and the world. Another method that helps me to escape from the stresses of everyday life is listening to music. I am planning on heading into a career in music journalism in the future, so setting aside time for myself to simply enjoy the music that I love without distractions is essential to my well-being. Music not only helps me to de-stress, it helps me to deepen my connections with others through shared appreciation of art. Truly getting lost in a song is a feeling unlike any other, and it can lift my spirits and bring a positive outlook to my day when most needed. As a writer, one of the ways that I can best get out my thoughts is on to a piece of paper. It helps get circular thoughts and anxieties out of my head and helps me rationalize them better, and often it makes me realize how silly those obsessive thoughts really are. Letting my thoughts bubble up in my head isn't good for my mental health, so having somewhere to express them judgement-free is very important to me. And finally, spending time with my friends and my family helps me clear my mind whenever I need it the most. I am very lucky to have a great support system and a lot of people in my life who are willing to listen to me and who I can communicate clearly with. Spending quality time with these people - making memories, going on adventures, checking up on one another, and making it clear that we are always happy to help each other with whatever we need. Having a number of people who understand me on a personal level and who I can be honest with helps cultivate a healthy headspace for me, and I am very grateful for everyone who continues to be there for me!

I have struggled with mental health issues for the better part of my life - I was diagnosed with OCD when I was ten years old and I've dealt with depression and anxiety at different points during my teenage years. One of the biggest changes that my experience with mental health has made in my life has been how I value my family and friends. These are the most important people in my life, and I find solace in the fact that I know I can be open with them about the things that are weighing me down. I'm very blessed to have a great safety net of incredibly supportive people, and I spend a large deal of my free time tending to these relationships and ensuring that my loved ones feel as safe around me as I do around them. My struggles with mental illness have taught me many valuable life lessons, but most importantly they've shown me how important interpersonal relationships are to me and my well-being. Sometimes, it can be hard to reach out and ask for help. Opening up to someone about your internal conflicts is difficult and is an act of deep trust and confidentiality, but I hope if there's one thing you can take away from my story - it's to find someone in your life who you can confide in and who you feel safe around. Being able to get your feelings outside of your own brain is so much more important than what I could ever put into words.

I apply creativity in my life by surrounding myself with people who inspire me, and by consuming works of art that engage my creative spirit and drive. I am an aspiring journalist, so whenever I face the ever-dreaded "writer's block", I combat it by finding new artistic stimulations by taking influence from writers and artists who provide new perspectives on things that I might not have seen in a certain way. Taking inspiration from other works has improved my creative process greatly over the years, it's brought a new light to my writing and expanded my voice throughout my pieces. Seeing the way other artists apply themselves to their crafts can often spark new ideas in my head, often getting me out of creative ruts that would otherwise bring me down. I believe that simply observing someone partake in an activity that they are passionate about can ignite one's creative flame, inspiring them to find a similar peace of mind by indulging in their own creative pursuits. Art is a collaborative medium, and it is at its most beautiful when it is shared with the world.

The presence of social anxiety in my life has presented me with many challenges throughout the years, but the trials that I have had to endure have made me a stronger person and I have become a bold character through the struggles I have faced. Social anxiety does not only affect how I interact with others - it affects how I present myself, how I perceive situations and how I live my day-to-day life. But instead of succumbing to these challenges and letting my anxiety dictate my life, I have taken steps to face these adversities and become a more bold, brave person. Taking part in my high school's forensics team has been the biggest catalyst for being able to healthily manage my social anxiety. Not only did it put me in front of an audience who was willing to listen to what I had to say, but it surrounded me with teammates who supported me and helped me find my voice - without the fear of judgement from others.

Nothing makes me happier than spending quality time with the people I love. I cherish the time that I get to spend finding peace on my own, but the best memories that I have from my high school years will always be with my friends and family. I am very lucky to have a great support system in my life, and I hold all my loved ones very closely to my heart. Just taking a day to get some of my friends together, forgetting about any other worries or anxieties that we might have, and spending precious time with them can really do great things for my mental health. It's a reminder of all the exciting things that can happen when I let go of all the worries that hold me back in my day-to-day life, and it's a chance to catch up and create new memories with the people who I cherish.

A lot of my friends and loved ones struggle with mental health issues. I've been in their shoes before, and I care deeply for these people, so I do all that I can to remind them that I'm in their corner. I know how hard it can be to struggle with something in silence, and I always want the people who I appreciate to know that I'm thinking about them. A gesture that I try to carry out on a daily basis is checking in on my loved ones. Simply sending a text, reminding someone that I appreciate their presence in my life and that I am always willing to listen to whatever they may want to get off their chest. I think that everyone tends to get down on themselves once in a while, so giving people the reassurance that someone cares for them is something that I pride myself in doing.

My talent is writing. It's easy to say that your talent is writing - it's one of the activities that everyone has to do, either for school or for work, that feels like a chore for many people. But nothing is more rewarding than being able to express myself clearly and articulately through a piece of my writing. Being on the autism spectrum, I often find that spoken words fail me. I can't always get across to others what I'm feeling or trying to say, so I became infatuated with the concept of writing when I was young - and it's an interest that has followed me into adulthood and one that I plan to pursue as a full-time career. As for practicing, the more I write, the more I learn about both the art of literature AND the art of understanding myself and my emotions. Writing is an artform where you learn the most from mistakes and failed experiments, so having the patience and resilience to constantly improve as a writer is a must.

My grandmother has always been a driving force in my life. I spent the weekends at her house, created bonds with her, and she has always been one of the adults that I've looked up to the most. Over the past few years, my grandmother has suffered from several health conditions that have made it difficult to sustain caring for herself. She has a caretaker who visits her house, but her dementia makes it difficult for the two of them to communicate efficiently. My family and I have made an effort to be there for her and make her life easier, and that has required a lot of effort on our part - spending more time with her than before, checking in to make sure that she's okay, and helping to remind her about tasks that she needs to complete on a day-to-day basis. It might be a lot of work, but it's never too much for the woman who helped raise me and make me into the person I am today.

To me, joy is being around the people who bring me comfort and make me appreciate the small intricacies of life. There is no better feeling than being surrounded by the people that you know you were destined to make connections with. Having the space to make mistakes, be imperfect, and learn from your past experiences has been incredibly beneficial to my growth as a human being, and it would not have been possible without the company of my dearest friends and family. Having a "safety net" of people who I can trust and depend on is very important to me, and the knowledge that those people are there for me when I need them the most brings me joy. I find solace in having that safety net, and also being a part of others' safety nets - reminding them that I am there for them, that I care enough to listen and that I want nothing but the best for them. I find joy in helping others, but I also find joy in being helped. I think everyone should let the people in their life know their importance to them, you just might make someone's week.

The song that inspires me the most is "Immaterial" by Scottish musician SOPHIE. - the song that brought me the most joy in times when I felt hopeless and unmotivated. The song itself is bubbly, upbeat and rhythmic, but a much deeper message rests at its emotional core. The lyrics of "Immaterial" are phrased simply and directly, it is a love letter to the LGBTQ+ community and a self-affirming ode to feeling comfortable in your own body. As a queer person, this song has been there for me through every uncertainty I've had to face throughout the years. The repeated refrain of "immaterial girls, immaterial boys" always puts a smile on my face, and reminds me how happy I am to live my true self. After SOPHIE tragically passed away in early 2021, this song re-entered my life and I discovered its magic all over again. "Immaterial" will forever live on it the hearts of the people it was written for. As the song says, "you'll always be here in my heart."

Over the years, I have proved to myself that I can accomplish great things if I work hard and put my mind to them. I have been faced with many daunting challenges over my high school career - overwhelming amounts of homework, balancing my personal responsibilities with my education, and especially adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic in my sophomore year. It's easy for me to get intimidated when I'm faced with a situation that I'm unequipped to deal with, but through all the uncertainty, I've learned to keep my head up - because hard times will eventually pass, and I've learned that doing the difficult work now will open space for easier days in the future. When I was growing up, my dad had this saying - "eat that frog". I'm not sure where it originated, but it essentially means "get that task over with so you don't have to worry about it anymore." I've learned to take that to heart, and it's gotten me farther than any other piece of advice ever has.

One investing tip I've remembered over the years is one that I've also been able to apply to my everyday life: plan ahead for challenging times. When things don't go the way we want them do, whether in the stock market or in our personal lives, we tend to panic and lose our better judgement. It's hard to make good decisions when you're faced with a problem you have never tackled before, and that is where this tip comes into play. It's always a good idea to look at your options when you have a clear head and can make rational decisions, and make your judgements from there. Be honest with yourself and determine what would be a good idea to sell, and what would be a good idea to buy. By doing this in anticipation, you are not forcing yourself to make a snap judgement when other things might be weighing on your mind. Plan for the future, so the future is a little less scary when it's actually here.

"Patience is a virtue." We've all heard the saying, but for many people it goes in one ear and out the other. I used to be one of those people, but during my sophomore year of high school my viewpoint changed. As you know by now, COVID-19 shut down the world in early 2020. For students like me, this meant we had to continue our schooling for the year (and the next) virtually. This was a challenge for me - I'm used to being in the classroom with my teachers, being able to work with them one-on-one to solve problems. Learning online still provided me with opportunities to get help from my teachers, but there is a clear disconnect between students and educators when they are on opposite sides of a screen. I struggled a lot during this period - I often lost motivation, and it was hard for me to keep up with all my work. But, I persevered. I developed strategies to prioritize my schoolwork and get things done efficiently, and I decided that I was not going to wait around until school opened up again to be successful in my academic pursuits. I stuck it out and found new ways to adapt to the situation I found myself in, and when school opened up for in-person learning again, I was prepared because I practiced patience through the pandemic.