Integrity was instilled in me from an early age. As the daughter of two public school educators, positive role models were easy to come by. Growing up, I was always encouraged to be kind and do the right thing. But the first time my morals were tested, I failed. Our elementary promoted reading by taking comprehension quizzes after finishing a book; enough points equaled rewards. The current reward: a pajama day. Unfortunately, I was the only one in my friend group with enough points. To my fourth-grade self, this was the crux of my school career. Did I risk being the odd one out? Or give up my prize entirely? My deus ex machina presented itself in the form of a plot hatched by a gaggle of elementary school girls over cafeteria pizza. What if I took quizzes for them? That way, their accounts would have enough points, and we could enjoy the pajama day together! Genius! My parents always said to be kind to my friends. Surely my knowledge was the greatest kindness I could offer. Of course, no good (or bad) deed goes unpunished. Notoriously good kids, we were the last people expected to be caught in such a scandal. For my friends, this is where the story ends. The points unfairly earned were revoked, we served detention, and life carried on. In my case, however, the story was just beginning. I recalled the words of my parents. In my attempt at kindness, I forgot to consider whether my actions were right. I failed. The guilt I felt was worse than any punishment I could have served. Since that day, I have made a point to live with integrity and stay true to my morals. Being a high-achieving student, I have been asked to help others cheat, tempted by fate, you could say, but my childhood misstep taught me one of the greatest lessons of my life: No matter the decision, the kindest thing you can do is to stay true to your values. Ethics is more than doing what makes others happy, but doing what is right.

Passion makes life worth living. When an individual loses this passion, it is hard to continue living. How would I know? Because I have been in this situation. Throughout middle school and early high school, I struggled with mental health. I developed anxiety. Social situations became treacherous obstacles I was unequipped to navigate. To cope with this newfound anxiety, I began restricting my food intake, which lead to my developing Anorexia. As I continued to isolate myself and under fuel, I began experiencing depression. I used to read a book a week. After my mental health declined, I lost my passion for reading and could hardly read a book a month. The same occurred with writing, drawing, and playing piano. I lost my hobbies. I lost what made me me. I lost my passion for life. After making the difficult decision to seek help and begin therapy, I finally started healing and finding passion again. I overcame my eating disorder and learned to cope with anxiety and depression. I rediscovered my passion for life. In addition to finding joy in life again, I discovered a new passion. Although I would not relive my middle school years for anything, the experience showed me the importance of mental health specialists and sparked immense gratitude for those who helped me recover. The stigma around mental health disorders may be decreasing, but the number of individuals receiving diagnoses is only getting higher. My experiences sparked a passion for mental health. On an otherwise mundane day in English class, an experience sparked this passion further. A classmate had been struggling with her mental health in the aftermath of a traumatic experience. I was able to successfully help her through a panic attack using techniques I learned from my own therapist. Of course, I did not solve all her problems as I was not trained for that at the time, but helping her relax for the time beings was a small win. This experience inspired me to pursue a career in mental health. I have always been a good student, determined, and hungry for knowledge. I know the educational road to becoming a psychologist is long and winding, but I believe I have what it takes to reach the end. Another concern with psychology: it is mentally taxing. Although this may be true, helping others is also incredibly rewarding. I am willing to sacrifice a portion of my peace to help others find their own. My dream would be to open a private psychology practice that provides affordable therapy to anyone in need. So often, individuals sacrifice seeking help for their mental health because they cannot afford it. Therapy and medication can be ridiculously expensive. My dream is to use my experiences and determination to solve this problem. I will find a way to offer affordable, comprehensive mental health treatment and help teens like me rediscover their passion for life.

I would like to think I have a rather healthy relationship with, well, health. I work out every day, eat a balanced diet, drink plenty of water, and can honestly say I am content with my life, but I have certainly not always been this way. If you asked eight-year-old Katie if she would ever choose to exercise, she would have told you a very firm no. As a somewhat chubby kid with asthma, exercise, especially cardio, was not my idea of fun. As a ten-year-old, I convinced myself the health and fitness industry was a scam, that people who choose to diet and work out were torturing themselves. I told myself I would never be that way... until I developed an eating disorder. In seventh grade, I realized I was heavier than my friends and decided to change that. I downloaded Lifesum and began tracking my calories, but always the overachiever weight loss became a fun new experiment: see how little you can eat, see how much you can exercise, and see how small you can get. I went from one extreme to the opposite. Sure it worked, I lost the weight, but I was weak, irritable, and miserable. By that point, I was so consumed by the disorder that getting help seemed impossible. It took a wasted summer, a summer of fun opportunities spent being miserable, to finally convince me to seek help. I shared my situation with my parents, and they were quick to search for treatment options. I began working with a doctor, nutritionist, and therapist in an outpatient recovery program. Recovery was one of the biggest challenges I have ever faced. Have you ever tried fighting something you cannot see or touch? That's recovery: fighting your thoughts. Only six months in, the Covid-19 pandemic brought the world to a halt. Lockdown was a terrible experience for many, but it was exactly what I needed at that point in my life. I continued to meet with my team virtually and embarked on a new sort of health journey. Covid forced me to confront my thinking daily and work through things I used to push to the back burner. After numerous therapy appointments, a new medication, and a great deal of personal growth, I began to notice a difference in my view of myself and the world. I felt hopeful again. This autumn, I was discharged from therapy, officially completing my recovery program. Although I cannot say I never have bad days, I have come a long way from the girl I was in seventh grade. I was lucky to have a support system when I needed it most, but so many teens do not have such luck. Depression and anxiety go hand-in-hand with eating disorders, leading to a painfully high mortality rate. No teen or family should have to experience the side effects of a lost mental health battle. The stigma around mental health disorders may be decreasing, but the number of individuals receiving diagnoses is only getting higher. Therapy and recovery taught me that it is possible to overcome these challenges so long as caring individuals share their light. This is why I am beginning my journey to one day become an eating disorder psychologist. My first step is to attend college for my bachelor's in psychology. The final: become a full-fledged psychologist. My journey with mental health taught me the importance of a support system and not giving up when things get hard. I aspire to counsel others battling mental health disorders and share my light with those who need it more.

Healthy habits form the tool kit every college student needs to ease their transition from high school. With college comes many teens' first experiences with true independence; independence in everything from financial decisions to bedtimes. In the wise words of Dr. Taylor Swift, "The scary news is: you're on your own now. The cool news is: you're on your own now." Often, with this newfound independence comes the infamous "freshman-15." Excited to be in charge for once, teens find themselves eating fast food for every meal, skipping the gym, going out to parties, and neglecting their sleep schedule. This may seem fun at first, but all good things must come to an end. The novelty of this lifestyle often leads to a crash-and-burn phase. Students may find themselves feeling sluggish, overwhelmed, and depressed. Incorporating healthy habits is the cure for this phase, but entering college with a tool kit can prevent it from occurring in the first place. I am lucky to embark on my college journey equipped with habits I have worked to build throughout high school. As a highly involved student, I learned the importance of mindfulness early on. I love doing yoga in the mornings or before bed to relieve stress and anxiety. It has helped me immensely to take moments away from my busy schedule, step back, and breathe. Another mindfulness habit I am in the process of building is journaling. I have always been a lover of to-do lists, filling countless notebooks and planners with lists of tasks, but I am learning that there is more to journaling than simply checking boxes. There is something so beautiful and rewarding about taking the time to organize your thoughts on paper, write amateur poetry, and make lists of things you love. Another form of health I have learned to prioritize is physical health. As a slightly chubby child with asthma, I despised exercise. I struggled to keep up with my friends in gym class or recess. As I aged, I began to escape the chains of asthma and realized exercise could actually be rewarding. During the Safer at Home Lockdown in 2020, I discovered the world of YouTube exercise videos. Like every other teenage girl, I began following Chloe Ting. Chloe's abs and HIIT workouts taught me that exercise could be both rewarding and fun. It cleared my mind and made me feel strong for the first time in my life. From there, I discovered running, weight lifting, and dance workouts. In 2021, I set a goal to move my body every day. It is nearly 2023; I have yet to relinquish this goal and I have never felt stronger or more comfortable in my body. Nutrition has been an intimate topic for me since elementary school. At eight years old, I wanted to eat everything: pizza, ice cream, chips, cookies. At twelve, I wanted to eat nothing. After wasting three years worth of holiday meals, ice cream dates, and popcorn at movie theaters on my eating disorder, I finally embarked on a recovery journey. Over two years, I learned the importance of balance. Instead of eating only "junk food" or only "clean food," I learned to eat what makes me feel good. Nutrition provides numerous health benefits beyond weight loss. Since focusing on balancing my diet, I have stopped feeling hungry all the time, grown stronger, and regulated my emotions. Thanks to years spent building a tool kit of healthy habits, I am thoroughly equipped to navigate the exciting independence of college and become my happiest, healthiest self.

Entering college, many students stress about the "freshman-15." While this is a valid concern, students often lose sight of other factors that impact their health: mental health. After learning the importance of both physical and mental health throughout my high school experience, I assimilated tactics to maintain both. With college comes independence, and I am excited to use this independence to take full control of my health through working out, eating well, and practicing self-care. Exercising has numerous health benefits, ranging from increased bone density to reduced stress. It is no surprise, then, that colleges boast state-of-the-art rec centers and offer numerous opportunities to stay active on campus. Being away from lifelong friends and family members means a change in support systems and social circles. For many college students, loneliness becomes a pressing matter. This is where group activities such as intermural sports and group fitness classes come into play. Many universities offer these activities as a way for students to boost their physical health while spending time with friends, boosting their emotional health as well. For students needing some alone time, there is a plethora of independent activities to do from weight lifting to yoga to hiking. I am excited to take advantage of all of these options to stay active on campus! Exercise is a perfect opportunity to improve both physical and mental health while at school. The infamous "freshman-15" can be accredited partially to the overconsumption of dining hall food. Although the freedom to control your diet is exciting, students need to learn moderation. Thankfully, I have been learning this for years, making myself well-equipt to navigate college. Dining halls may offer an array of decadent, high-calorie foods, but they also offer numerous healthier options as well. I am particularly excited to take advantage of fresh salads from the salad bar. I also look forward to the opportunity to buy my own groceries, meaning I can decide how I want to eat. I will select snacks I enjoy such as protein bars and yogurt rather than having to cater to my entire family's preferences. The final part of my college diet I look forward to is flexibility. I will no longer have someone telling me when to eat, allowing me to eat when I am hungry and stop when I am full. I cannot wait to improve my relationship with food while in college. The final tactic I plan to use to maintain my health in college is self-care. This is a broad category that includes everything from meditating to journaling to finding enjoyable ways to fill my time. I hope to build a positive work-life balance early on in my independent life. I look forward to crafting my morning routine to encompass mindfulness. I hope to maintain this mindfulness throughout my day and work to manage stress. College is a hectic and exciting time, but practicing mindfulness, eating a balanced diet, and taking advantage of exercise opportunities can elevate the benefits of university life!

I was in sixth grade when I learned about depression and anxiety on the internet. Not long after, I began to experience symptoms of them myself. In seventh grade, my mental health plummeted. I went from feeling the occasional wave of sadness attributed to my changing hormones to a non-stop feeling of hopelessness. I believed all my friends hated me, that I was annoying, that I was too much. I forced myself to talk less, to eat less, to be less. I turned to restrictive dieting as a coping mechanism. Obsessing over calories and pounds distracted me from my feelings of hopelessness. I made myself miserable for three years straight. It was a time in my life when I was unsure I would make it through high school. It was difficult to admit I needed help, but after a particularly miserable week at school, I realized this was no way to spend my life. On a dark night in April, I sat teary-eyed at the kitchen counter and had a difficult conversation with my parents. They were incredibly supportive and looked into health right away. The summer before my freshman year, I was diagnosed with anorexia and anxiety. Recovery was the most difficult and rewarding choice I have ever made. From crying in the protein bar aisle of Walmart to crying in the car after appointments to crying alone in my room, I cried a lot. But after numerous therapy appointments, medication, and a great deal of personal growth, I began to notice a difference in my view of myself and the world. I felt hopeful again. This autumn, I was discharged from therapy, officially completing my recovery program. Although I cannot say I never have bad days, I have come a long way from the girl I was in seventh grade. I was lucky to have a support system when I needed it most, but so many teens do not have such luck. Depression and anxiety go hand-in-hand with eating disorders, leading to a painfully high mortality rate. Both starvation and addictive substances are deadly coping mechanisms individuals turn to in times of need. No teen or family should have to experience the side effects of a lost mental health battle. The stigma around mental health disorders may be decreasing, but the number of individuals receiving diagnoses is only getting higher. Therapy and recovery taught me that it is possible to overcome these challenges so long as caring individuals share their light. This is why I am beginning my journey to one day become an eating disorder psychologist. I plan to major in psychology so I may one day counsel others battling mental health disorders and share my light with those who need it more. My journey with mental health taught me the importance of a support system and not giving up when things get hard. It is a tragedy that so many lives are lost due to these struggles but I hope through my education and intrinsic sense of compassion, I can one day reduce these numbers.

I was in sixth grade when I learned about depression and anxiety on the internet. Not long after, I began to experience symptoms of them myself. In seventh grade, my mental health plummeted. I went from feeling the occasional wave of sadness attributed to my changing hormones to a non-stop feeling of hopelessness. I believed all my friends hated me, that I was annoying, that I was too much. I forced myself to talk less, to eat less, to be less. I turned to restrictive dieting as a coping mechanism. Obsessing over calories and pounds distracted me from my feelings of hopelessness. I made myself miserable for three years straight. It was a time in my life when I was unsure I would make it through high school. It was difficult to admit I needed help, but after a particularly miserable week at school, I realized this was no way to spend my life. On a dark night in April, I sat teary-eyed at the kitchen counter and had a difficult conversation with my parents. The summer before my freshman year, I was diagnosed with anorexia and anxiety. Recovery was the most difficult and rewarding choice I have ever made. From crying in the protein bar aisle of Walmart to crying in the car after appointments to crying alone in my room, I cried a lot. But after numerous therapy appointments, medication, and a great deal of personal growth, I began to notice a difference in my view of myself and the world. I felt hopeful again. This autumn, I was discharged from therapy, officially completing my recovery program. Although I cannot say I never have bad days, I have come a long way from the girl I was in seventh grade. I was lucky to have a support system when I needed it most, but so many teens do not have such luck. Depression and anxiety go hand-in-hand with eating disorders, leading to a painfully high mortality rate. Both starvation and addictive substances are deadly coping mechanisms individuals turn to in times of need. No teen or family should have to experience the side effects of a lost mental health battle. The stigma around mental health disorders may be decreasing, but the number of individuals receiving diagnoses is only getting higher. Therapy and recovery taught me that it is possible to overcome these challenges so long as caring individuals share their light. This is why I am beginning my journey to one day become an eating disorder psychologist. Like Cade, I plan to major in psychology so I may one day counsel others battling mental health disorders and share my light with those who need it more.

I would like to think I have a rather healthy relationship with, well, health. I work out every day, eat a balanced diet, drink plenty of water, and have good sleep hygiene, but I have certainly not always been this way. If you asked eight-year-old Katie if she would ever choose to exercise, she would have told you a very firm no. As a somewhat chubby kid with asthma, exercise, especially cardio, was not my idea of fun. As a ten-year-old, I convinced myself the health and fitness industry was a scam, that people who choose to diet and work out were torturing themselves. I told myself I would never be that way... until I developed an eating disorder. In seventh grade, I realized I was heavier than my friends and decided to change that. I downloaded Lifesum and began tracking my calories, but always the overachiever weight loss became a fun new experiment: see how little you can eat, see how much you can exercise, and see how small you can get. I went from one extreme to the opposite. Sure it worked, I lost the weight, but I was weak, irritable, and miserable. By that point, I was so consumed by the disorder that getting help seemed impossible. It took a wasted summer, a summer of fun opportunities spent being miserable, to finally convince me to seek help. I shared my situation with my parents, and they were quick to find treatment options. Recovery was one of the biggest challenges I have ever faced. Have you ever tried fighting something you cannot see or touch? That's recovery: fighting your thoughts. Only six months in, the Covid-19 pandemic brought the world to a halt. Lockdown was a terrible experience for many, but it was exactly what I needed at that point in my life. I continued to meet with my team virtually and embarked on a new sort of health journey. Like many people looking for something to do at home, I discovered Yoga with Adriene and Chloe Ting. I began working out regularly for the first time in my life and although it was incredibly difficult, I loved it. I felt stronger. I regained an appetite. It gave me something to look forward to. Covid forced me to confront my thinking daily and work through things I used to push to the back burner. I returned to school with a new mindset and a new-found love for health. Since then, I have experimented with different forms of exercise from running to lifting to Youtube dance cardio. Healthy eating became a major focus in my life with the eating disorder, but I am rediscovering what that truly means. I focus on filling meals with macro and micronutrients instead of low-calorie foods. I am finally discovering the importance of balance. Being too far on either end of the health and fitness spectrum is detrimental to your well-being. Working out is great as long as you are doing movement that brings you joy. Eating healthy is amazing as long as you are enjoying your food. I have learned that you can be happy and healthy at the same time. I can go for a run in the morning and still go out for ice cream with my family in the evening. By finding balance, I am finally becoming my healthiest (and happiest) self.