Being in post-grad for almost a year has been filled with many highs and lows; some of those lows, I have considered calling them "drops". I have been working full-time while obtaining my certification for Medical Assisting and researching different schools and I could retake my pre-requisites for Physician Assistant school and do my best to take care of all the paperwork that comes along with it. Trying to balance having a social life while being in a relationship, adds on to the stress. These past two months have been extremely rough on my mental health. I have had financial issues with how I'm going to pay for school because I am looking for a new car within the next few months. Additionally, I am moving out of my parents' house, which will become stressful down the line. These events have made it difficult for me to focus on my studies because I am so mentally drained after coming home from work, it has started to affect me physically and emotionally. I hit my breaking point about a month ago. I was having trouble balancing everything. Activities that I used to enjoy don't make me happy anymore. I became depressed and anxious. I have felt guilty if I'm too exhausted after work to do any assignments, because I get anxious if I get behind on school work. I admitted to myself that I needed help and decided to start seeing a therapist and potentially a psychiatrist. Since starting therapy, I have been journaling a lot more and keeping track of specific patterns that may make me happy or what may trigger my anxiety and/depression. Every time I write something new down for the day, I feel a sense of relief knowing I reached out for help. Asking for help hasn't always been my strong suit. I have always preferred to do things myself, and I know now that it is okay to ask for help. Therapy has been life changing for me in helping me learn more about myself. It encouraged me to make a job switch from being a Medical Assistant in cardiology to an upcoming Medical Assistant in dermatology. I have taken the initiative to start trying new hobbies to break away from the toxic cycle of working and doing school assignments. I have recently tried Pilates and fell in love with the dynamic and how mind clearing it is. The best thing I could've ever done for myself was reach out for help. I encourage everyone who has been thinking about it to stop thinking and just book the appointment. Find someone you love and who is willing to help you. It has truly made a difference in making my mental health a priority, because choosing to work in healthcare is not something everyone can do. In order to take care of others, you have to learn to take care of yourself first.

The song that has the most important message to me is "Between Us" by Little Mix. They released it in the Fall of 2021 because, after 10 long years of success, they were ready to take a break. It's about always knowing that there will be someone by your side through all of your ups and downs; someone who you know will always be there for you, never judge you, and always be in support of you 100%. This song's message is important to me because it reminds me of my best friend. We've known each other since we were in kindergarten. Despite us being best friends, she's my sister. She's a part of my family. She will always cheer me on even when I don't feel like doing any cheering for myself. We have always been each other's rocks and by each other's side through everything in our lives. We grew up together. I can't imagine not having her in myself because she means so much to me and I'm lucky to have her as my best friend. Anyone can come in and out of our lives, but I know for a fact she will always and forever be a constant. The pre-chorus explains our whole friendship and more: "...we got history. Shared every misery. Lived every victory. Yeah, we got synergy. If they hurt you, they're hurting me. That's just the way it be. We walked through the fire and as the flames got higher, it made us survivors, yeah, it made us fighters..."

A lot has happened in 2022 and I've grown a lot from what I've experienced. I was starting the second semester of my junior year of my undergraduate degree with a boyfriend, now ex-boyfriend, and things got complicated due to someone in my past. By the time all of it had ended, I was upset as someone would be at themselves for feeling like they weren't enough. Getting through that semester was hard. I was so focused on him, which was a mistake because I didn't realize my grades and how I perceived myself wasn't doing well. I did pass all of my classes and that was a real accomplishment despite my current mindset at the time. I have an amazing support system when it comes to anything in my life, especially my best friend, who I've known since kindergarten. I took the last two weeks of May to allow me to feel through my feelings and to get back into going to the gym because that has been an overall improvement on my mental health since the Fall of 2020. I knew I was going to be okay when I woke up one morning in June and I didn't feel sad anymore. Over the summer, I focused on re-loving myself and not defining my worth over how someone else perceives me and more importantly on how I perceive myself and know that it's okay to make mistakes, especially at this young age, where I'm still learning how the world works. Over the summer, I interned at an Optometry office, and the staff and optometrist were wonderful and so supportive of my goal of becoming a Physician Assistant one day. I additionally, got a new job as a Telescribe with ScribeAmerica. During July, I took a small vacation to Franklin/Nashville, TN with my best friend to see our favorite childhood band, celebrate her birthday, and see another childhood star on tour. We both had a great time. This past fall semester, I met someone new, who I'm currently dating, and I'm happy. My best friend noticed this too and thanked him for making me happy again. I promised myself this past semester that I would not only focus on myself and school but spend more time with my friends and not miss out on opportunities, because it's important to manage your time well between school, friends and family so you don't miss out on big opportunities and small times just to see each other and catch up. I can honestly say I kept my promise to myself and was able to succeed in that. My best friend additionally experienced a big breakup for her as well, and as she was there for me, I was there for her. This past year taught me a lot about other people and myself and that I can't allow other's perceptions of me allow me to change how I perceive myself. I've learned that I'm allowed to make mistakes and that it's okay to do so. I know the type of person I am, which is someone who dreams big and has big goals for her life with the determination to get there. Though much has changed about me, I'm still someone who looks out for her friends and is there when they need me to be. I am and continue to be someone confident in her ability to succeed, even if I forget sometimes. I'm proud of who I've become within this last year, and I'm going to make mistakes again, but without mistakes, there wouldn't be an opportunity for growth.