I am studying to be a clinical social worker. I want to become a clinical social worker by getting my masters in school, using an academic school plan to keep me on track for the next six years, and by staying in tutoring. This is a long-term goal of mine. I will continue to use S.M.A.R.T. goals for the rest of my life. It is helpful in the workforce just as much as in real life. These S.M.A.R.T. goals will allow me to set a structured plan that helps my goal to be more attainable. I will also be using time management as a way of keeping myself on track. I have ADHD and it has always been difficult to focus. Time management is a perfect way of providing structure to my chaotic and disorganized mind. This will help with procrastination and allowing myself more time to enjoy other activities in life. Adding these tools in my toolbox will become habitual just like muscle memory. After becoming better at it, I can focus on strengthening other skills to better my life in the work force and in my personal life. The more tools I have, the more I can do to help myself and others.

I give tips and resources to upcoming students. When it comes to making a goal, using the S.M.A.R.T. technique means a schedule or managed time needs to be made. I’m not saying that every second of the day needs to be planned out, I mean to say that time needs to be set aside for our priorities. I made a schedule where I put my meal plan, my sleeping schedule and time said aside for school, work and self-care. Life cannot be ruled by work, self-care and free time is very important to our mental and physical health. Once we manage our time, we provide structure to when things need to get done. Otherwise, procrastination or dragging things out can happen. The bad thing about that is, when you procrastinate, you spend so much time stressing and thinking about doing the work, you do it eventually, but no time was made for anything else that could be fully enjoyed. Setting aside time for a certain activity allows for the mind to mentally prepare for what comes next. Whether that be to unwind, or to get focused. This is something important that needs to be used as an everyday tool. Every tool that gets added to our toolbox, means becoming a more versatile person. This is called personal growth. When you learn, change, develop and grow. In college, the teachers and resources are there to help us grow now so that life is a little easier once we get into adulthood. These same resources will not be there forever. If we actively learn, we gain the power to attain information and knowledge like a sponge.

An odd hobby of mine that everyone questions at first, is that I have a fascination with mushrooms. I will go on hikes where I specifically look for mushrooms, I take beautiful pictures of them and then I identify what kind of mushroom it is. I have grown oyster mushrooms before, which is a very common one, and the growth process was beautiful. People immediately assume when I say I have a fascination with mushrooms, that it's because of the drugs, the ones that give hallucinations. This couldn't be more wrong. Similar to my love for plants, I find mushrooms adorable and exciting to find. They are always hiding, and all the variations trap my eyes. I paint them, create, and sculpt them. Fungi are the beginnings and end to all living things. I think that that concept is beautiful. The mushrooms are integrated in my life and this hobby of mine continues to grow.

1. I deserve this scholarship because I am Hispanic with a lesbian sister. Therefor, people who turn down my application are racist and homophobic. Respectfully of course. Plus my favorite color is pink. 2. I want to get paid for listening to gossip. A real life reality show but I get paid to watch. Essentially, I'm going to get my masters, work really hard, and then end up crying later because all I hear is depressingly sad stuff from clients. 3. Well, I had a really bad thing with food and I went to a center to heal myself. All I did for 10 hours a day was make bracelets and talk about my abundance of feelings. I overcame my dislike for boiled eggs. Oh and also the eating disorder.

Below, I am going to make a couple of subsections of types that can be used depending on what a person may be feeling in the moment. Personally, these are resources I go by and that apply to many as well. First step to clearing your mind, is being aware of the fact that your mind is full of thoughts. Awareness of your state of mind allows a person to figure out what next steps to take. Headache/ Frustration 1. Take a break from the stressful situation and do something completely different. Nourish yourself with a snack, drink some water, step outside etc. 2. Write out what is frustrating, make a to do list to help organize the thoughts. Writing it down can help to visualize the thoughts into a realistic scale. 3. Grab a fidget toy and focus on messing with it. This can ease some of the frustration that is focused all onto one thing. Unbearable emotions/ Feeling Out of Control 1. Use ice. Dump your head into some ice, place it on your neck or other parts on your skin. The ice causes your neurotransmitters to respond to the shock, forcing your body to ground. 2. Tense- Release Muscle Relaxation. Tense up your entire body as hard as you can, hold it, and then release. Do this as many times as needed. This allows a person to feel all those intense emotions and metaphorically, let them go as the muscles relax. Overly excited/ Jittery 1. Deep breathing to calm your nerves, not to take away feelings of excitedness but to regulate the emotions. 2. Voice the events out loud in order to bring concentration to an action. In this case, it would be talking. 3. Write out the event, the emotions and why it is exciting. Boredom 1. First, ask yourself if you're in the mood to do some awaiting tasks or something more for enjoyment. It is good that we are aware of what we are feeling so that we can balance out the activities done. 2. Creative outlets. Some creative outlets are writing, reading, drawing, sculpting, painting, woodwork, and etc. 3. Joyful Movement. Examples may be dancing, hiking, going on a run, yoga, stretching, playing a sport and etc. 4. Organization. Organization can be cleaning your car, cleaning your living area, answering emails, folding laundry, getting a meal ready and etc. 5. Relaxation. Relaxation can be taking a short 20 minute nap, watching some TV, resting your eyes, sitting outside, or whatever your form of relaxation is.

Sexual assault is a major trigger to people's mental health in today's world. If the criteria for sexual assault was broadened under title IX, there wouldn’t be so many instances where reports are ignored at schools. Amending title IX will allow for safe environments where a student can feel they have a voice. It would also keep students from experiencing sexual assault multiple times. The school would be held accountable, therefor, sexual assault would get the attention it deserves and more regulations to prevent it, would be made. Everything starts in the classroom and improving the sex education course would mean kids would grow up learning about consent, safe sex, identities, and situations to prevent. If people grow up and already know about consent and social norms are reconstructed, sexual assault wouldn’t be such a hush hush topic. It would be known, and more easily prevented. Therefore, improving the sex education course is the best solution of all when it comes to preventing sexual assault. School trains the brain and how we think, meaning we can give people the power of knowledge to acknowledge when sexual assault has occurred and if need be, protect themselves. Unfortunately, we can’t always prevent horrible things from happening, but we can do our part in all ways possible.