Speaking the truth makes others feel less alone. For a long time, I struggled to be vulnerable about my mental health, fearing that I would be misunderstood. But the more I shared my story, the more I saw how many others were silently struggling too. This realization fueled my commitment to being open and empathetic, devoting my future to the world of mental health and clinical psychology. In peer mentoring, a program at my school for upperclassmen to help underclassmen with their school work, my mentee had very low grades. I quickly discovered that her academic reports were tied to her mental health. While her grades were important, my priority was giving her a space to talk. After we fell into a routine of talking, we saw her grades–and mood–improve. Sharing my own experiences encouraged her to open up about hers. I will never forget how she told me that she had never talked about herself so freely before; she told me our conversations gave her hope and made her feel safe. I continued to share about my mental health outside of peer mentoring, having several key friendships in my life bloom as a result. An example of this transformation happened with my best friend; we bonded over experiencing similar symptoms within our OCD. We give each other a space to feel supported and seen in an area where other people are typically unfamiliar with. These relationships that I have built and the sense of belonging I give to other people serves as my personal reminder to never stop opening up. Being vulnerable about my mental health has given me a sense of community I never felt before. I am a leader in my high school’s Students Demand Action club, where we advocate against gun violence. We focus on issues beyond mass shootings, such as the correlation between gun suicide and mental health. During a presentation, I shared my anxiety problems and experiences with past suicidal thoughts paired with intense struggles during the suicide awareness month presentation. It was scary, but necessary. Afterwards, other students opened up, some for the first time. We cried and hugged but ultimately connected. In that moment, our club became more than an initiative, but a support network. People knew they were not alone–and that is how change begins. These experiences inspired my goal of becoming a clinical psychologist. In the future, I want to tackle both the stigma around seeking mental health support in K-12 as well as the complicated and often inaccessible process of finding the right help. I envision mental health services in schools that include diverse therapists who bring lived experiences that kids can actually relate to. I believe that emotional connection is key to bettering mental health; by offering children approachable, trustworthy, and relatable experiences, K-12 students would be able to have a guaranteed support system. I would also implement an intake system where students can anonymously identify their needs and be matched with a therapist who aligns with their experiences and needs. If I had not found anyone who understood my struggles and experiences, I would be in a very dark place tonight. But I know what it feels like to be supported, and I wholeheartedly try everything I can to make sure the people around me feel loved because of that. I believe that every single child deserves support–no one should feel like their pain is invisible.

Speaking the truth makes others feel less alone. For a long time, I struggled to be vulnerable about my mental health, fearing that I would be misunderstood. But the more I shared my story, the more I saw how many others were silently struggling too. This realization fueled my commitment to being open and empathetic, devoting my future to the world of mental health and clinical psychology. In peer mentoring, a program at my school for upperclassmen to help underclassmen with their school work, my mentee had very low grades. I quickly discovered that her academic reports were tied to her mental health. While her grades were important, my priority was giving her a space to talk. After we fell into a routine of talking, we saw her grades–and mood–improve. Sharing my own experiences encouraged her to open up about hers. I will never forget how she told me that she had never talked about herself so freely before; she told me our conversations gave her hope and made her feel safe. I continued to share about my mental health outside of peer mentoring, having several key friendships in my life bloom as a result. An example of this transformation happened with my best friend; we bonded over experiencing similar symptoms within our OCD. We give each other a space to feel supported and seen in an area where other people are typically unfamiliar with. These relationships that I have built and the sense of belonging I give to other people serves as my personal reminder to never stop opening up. Being vulnerable about my mental health has given me a sense of community I never felt before. I am a leader in my high school’s Students Demand Action club, where we advocate against gun violence. We focus on issues beyond mass shootings, such as the correlation between gun suicide and mental health. During a presentation, I shared my anxiety problems and experiences with past suicidal thoughts paired with intense struggles during the suicide awareness month presentation. It was scary, but necessary. Afterwards, other students opened up, some for the first time. We cried and hugged but ultimately connected. In that moment, our club became more than an initiative, but a support network. People knew they were not alone–and that is how change begins. These experiences inspired my goal of becoming a clinical psychologist. In the future, I want to tackle both the stigma around seeking mental health support in K-12 as well as the complicated and often inaccessible process of finding the right help. I envision mental health services in schools that include diverse therapists who bring lived experiences that kids can actually relate to. I believe that emotional connection is key to bettering mental health; by offering children approachable, trustworthy, and relatable experiences, K-12 students would be able to have a guaranteed support system. I would also implement an intake system where students can anonymously identify their needs and be matched with a therapist who aligns with their experiences and needs. If I had not found anyone who understood my struggles and experiences, I would be in a very dark place tonight. But I know what it feels like to be supported, and I wholeheartedly try everything I can to make sure the people around me feel loved because of that. I believe that every single child deserves support–no one should feel like their pain is invisible.