Opening my eyes to the real world is something I never thought I would have to experience. I never thought that life would place so many obstacles in my way that would soon mold me into the versatile, kind, innovative, and passionate young woman I am today. Growing up I attended a majority white school at both primary and intermediate levels. Due to my skin color, hair, body shape, and personality, I always stood out. Not much attention or thought went into how I felt about being one of the few of my status and background in a place surrounded by those who showed obvious differences. I moved schools during my seventh grade year to a predominately black school. In this school, I felt a since of relief that I was with others who looked like me, but the only differences were they really weren’t like me and they didn’t accept me. While switching from a predominately white school to a predominately black school, my personality, that once flourished, was now being shunned and labeled as “white”. This stereotype is put on many individuals of color who are properly educated and taught to be mannerly over the duration of being raised. This same stereotype is what kept the other children from liking me simply because they assumed I perceived myself as better than them when I simply just wanted a friend. A string of depressing and suicidal thoughts filled my mind because I just couldn’t comprehend why those in a place I finally thought I would belong didn’t accept me. With little to no friends and my choice to keep things to myself; I ended up falling into a hole that no child at my age should’ve ever been introduced to. As the years progressed, acceptance from my peers slowly came around and in my mind I thought I was finally receiving what I longed for all this time, however something in my heart knew it wasn’t genuine. By the tenth or eleventh grade I knew that the only person that could provide myself the feeling of belonging was me. I realized I didn’t need anyone else to be my friend or match my intelligence because being one of kind is better than being cookie-cutter. The best moments of my life were only possible because I allowed myself to finally be me and not worry about my placement in this world or how I fit in. As the senior class president at my high school, I now use this motivation to encourage others to take the extra mile and be themselves no matter what. Mental health has always held a special place in my heart seeing as how I felt like no one really paid much attention to my own. This is what inspired me to pursue a career in psychology to understand how the mind itself works along with our emotions and help those who may be going through something similar to what I went through. Now today I can honestly look back at that sad and confused little girl I once was and say I made it a long way. If I could go back in time and tell myself something it would be: “don’t ever give up on yourself for the reason that you are so much more powerful than you could ever imagine; no one has that special light that you emit everywhere you go and I want, you to shine on anything that comes your way”.

While growing up as a young Black woman in the south region of the United States, I can honestly say I got the better end of the stick. My life was an absolute blessing compared to those who grew up around me. I had both of my parents, a few siblings, some pets, all four of my grandparents, a roof over my head, food on the table, clothes on my back, and access to all the required resources I could ever desire. The fact that my life is full of such good things became a constant reminder of my parents. They wanted me to make sure I did not take it for granted and that cherished every day I must open my eyes and breathe fresh air through my healthy body. They made sure I got the best education that was open to me throughout every year of my life. My mother started me off early by even putting me in a private pre-school. Well with every good, there is also some bad. My life is good, but I never will say it is perfect. My parents never married and my relationship with my family on both sides was not always the best. I struggled with transitioning into my later middle and early high school years, and I went through a very dark time in my life because of this. Most of all I recently lost my stepfather, a person who had a major impact on my life ever since I was about three years old, to cancer. Behind my pretty smile, I have always harbored a multitude of pain and stress that came from every aspect of my life. To overcome this, I have kept a close relationship with God and stayed close and active in the church. My close family and friends have supported me through what they could, with all of this I have come out on top, and I am doing much better now. With it now being my senior year, I am at my prime and I am not backing down from anything life throws my way. My goal is to first become a teacher for some years and then pursue my dream career of being a psychologist or counselor. I plan to earn my bachelor’s degree in education and my master’s degree in psychology from my dream college, the University of Alabama, from where I have been accepted to. I had a realization that my past should not determine my future. I am better than any obstacle that has tried to come my way. There is a multitude of amazing things I could talk about that I have done, helped with, participated in, or can account for. They all would be too long to list, and they all come from just eighteen years of living. I am a remarkable young woman and I reminded of it every day from those all around me. I plan to use my story as motivation, and let others know that you can do anything with determination and just believing in God as well as yourself.

Before I became the leader I am now, I was lost between finding myself and following others. Throughout most of my younger years I was very shy and I didn't like to stray too far away from my comfort zone. I never had too many friends because making friends wasn't as important to me. When I hit middle school it was almost shocking how many kids seemed like they couldn't survive without having a group of friends. In six grade I was okay with the three to five real friends I had, but when I got to seventh and eighth grade the other kids made me feel like a loser because I didn't care to have so many friends. This made me wonder if there truly was something wrong with me. As I continued to grow, I was given many examples of what life would be outside of school and how friends come and go so its best to be alone so you can focus on yourself and your goals. So sticking to that mentality made me the leader I am today. I am the president of my class and student government and even a mentor to some. I let those who are in the same spot I was in know that its okay to rock by yourself because staying true to yourself is much better than being cookie-cutter.

Life is truly not all cupcakes and rainbows. My life is living proof that everything does not come by easy in life. My life is good but I never will say it is perfect. My parents never married and my relationship with my family on both sides was not always the best. I struggled with transitioning into my later middle and early high school years and I went through a very dark time in my life because of this. Most of all I recently lost my stepfather, a person who had a major impact on my life ever since I was about three years old, to cancer. Behind my pretty smile, I have always harbored a multitude of pain and stress that came from just about every aspect of my life. To overcome this, I have kept a close relationship with God and stayed close and active in the church. My close family and friends have supported me through what they could, with all of this I have come out on top, and I am doing much better now. With it now being my senior year, I am at my prime and I am not backing down from anything life throws my way. I had a realization that my past should not determine future. I am better than any obstacle that has tried to bring my way. There is a multitude of amazing things I could talk about that I have done, helped with, participated in, or can account for. I am a remarkable young woman and I reminded of it every day from those all around me. I plan to use my story as motivation, and let others know that you can do anything with determination and just believing in God as well as yourself.

Behind my pretty smile, I have always harbored a multitude of pain and stress that came from just about every aspect of my life. To overcome this, I have kept a close relationship with God and stayed close and active in the church. My close family and friends have supported me through what they could, with all of this I have come out on top, and I am doing much better now. With it now being my senior year, I am at my prime and I am not backing down from anything life throws my way. My goal is to first become a teacher for some years and then pursue my dream career of being a psychologist or counselor. I plan to earn my bachelor’s degree in education and my master’s degree in psychology from my dream college the University of Alabama, from where I have been accepted to by the way. I had a realization that my past should not determine my future. I am better than any obstacle that has tried to come my way. There is a multitude of amazing things I could talk about that I have done, helped with, participated in, or can account for. They all would be too long to list and they all come from just eighteen years of living. I am a remarkable young woman and I reminded of it every day from those all around me. I plan to use my story as motivation, and let others know that you can do anything with determination and just believing in God as well as yourself.

While growing up as a young black woman in the south region of the United States, I can honestly say I got the better end of the stick. My life was an absolute blessing compared to those who grew up around me. I had both of my parents, a few siblings, some pets, all four of my grandparents, a roof over my head, food on the table, clothes on my back, and access to all the required resources I could ever desire. The fact that my life is full of such good things became a constant reminder from my parents. They wanted me to make sure I did not take it for granted and that cherished every day I have to open my eyes and breathe fresh air through my health body. They made sure I got the best education that was open to me throughout every year of my life. My mother started me off early by even putting me in a private pre-school. Well with every good, there is also some bad. My life is good but I never will say it is perfect. My parents never married and my relationship with my family on both sides was not always the best. I struggled with transitioning into my later middle and early high school years and I went through a very dark time in my life because of this. Most of all I recently lost my stepfather, a person who had a major impact on my life ever since I was about three years old, to cancer. Behind my pretty smile, I have always harbored a multitude of pain and stress that came from just about every aspect of my life. To overcome this, I have kept a close relationship with God and stayed close and active in the church. My close family and friends have supported me through what they could, with all of this I have come out on top, and I am doing much better now. With it now being my senior year, I am at my prime and I am not backing down from anything life throws my way. My goal is to first become a teacher for some years and then pursue my dream career of being a psychologist or counselor. I plan to earn my bachelor’s degree in education and my master’s degree in psychology from my dream college the University of Alabama, from where I have been accepted to by the way. I had a realization that my past should not determine future. I am better than any obstacle that has tried to bring my way. There is a multitude of amazing things I could talk about that I have done, helped with, participated in, or can account for. They all would be too long to list and they all come from just eighteen years of living. I am a remarkable young woman and I reminded of it every day from those all around me. I plan to use my story as motivation, and let others know that you can do anything with determination and just believing in God as well as yourself.

Being alive is the biggest thing I'm proud of. I am proud because I didn't let my pain consume me no matter how hard it got for me. With the help of God, I came out on the other side knocking over any barrier in my way. While switching from a predominately white school to a predominately black school, my personality, that once flourished, was now being shunned and labeled as “white”. This stereotype is put on many individuals of color who are properly educated and taught to be mannerly over the duration of being raised. This same stereotype is what kept the other children from liking me simply because they assumed I perceived myself as better than them when I simply just wanted a friend. A string of depressing and suicidal thoughts filled my mind because I just couldn’t comprehend why those in a place I finally thought I would belong didn’t accept me. With little to no friends and my choice to keep things to myself; I ended up falling into a hole that no child at my age should’ve ever been introduced to. As the years progressed, acceptance from my peers slowly came around and in my mind I thought I was finally receiving what I longed for all this time, however something in my heart knew it wasn’t genuine. By the tenth or eleventh grade I knew that the only person that could provide myself the feeling of belonging was me. I realized I didn’t anyone else to be my friend or match my intelligence because being one of kind is better than being cookie-cutter. The best moments of my life were only possible because I allowed myself to finally be me and not worry about my placement in this world or how I fit in.