I want to go into the mental health field because I want to save people from ending up like me. There are so many times as a child that I prayed for someone to talk to, someone who was inevitably never there. Although my experiences have given me perseverance and strength, I would never wish anything that I went through on someone else in the world. Being stuck in the middle of my mentally ill parents’ divorce had the largest, most long-lasting effect on my life out of everything I’ve ever experienced, but it turned me into the person I am today. Currently, I would describe myself using the words empathetic, understanding, and driven. I truly believe that everyone deserves an advocate in life and that the only consequences of having such a person are positive. As a child, I was never allowed to see a therapist, which in hindsight makes me think about how much happier I would have been if I did have that ability. After high school, my plan is to attend college in state and pursue my degree in psychology. My goals include preventing other children from being in this situation by advocating for them, as well as teaching them how to work through the inevitable negative parts of life as well. More than anything else, I hope to make a positive difference. Every day, whether I am at school, at home, or out somewhere else, I try to make at least five people smile. This habit began when I was younger, sitting in the cart while being pushed around by my grandma as she showed me off to everyone in Walmart. At first, I enjoyed the attention. However, the reward transformed over time into seeing people’s reactions. I realized that I didn’t want to see them smile, but rather that I wanted to see them smile at me. Besides these positive interactions, an important social issue that I am working to address is the prevalence of academic pressure on high school students. My awareness of this struggle began due to the personal effect that it had on me, which is when I realized that I needed to make a change in my life. I began prioritizing organization and promoting productivity within my daily habits, as well as encouraging others to do the same. After finding my own mental stability, I spoke to classmates and teachers about the importance of positive motivation in relation to academic success. Although I am still in the process of presenting my ideas to a larger audience, I have continued advocating for and supporting other students both verbally and passively by leaving positive messages throughout the halls of my high school. All in all, helping people is my forever passion and I am so excited for my future as a psychologist.