In today's fast-paced and often overwhelming world, mental health is an issue that affects millions of people globally, yet remains stigmatized and under-discussed. As someone who has personally navigated the complexities of mental health, I have come to realize the profound impact it has on not only an individual’s well-being but also their relationships, goals, and aspirations. This scholarship essay provides an opportunity to share my journey with mental health, reflect on the challenges I’ve faced, and explain how these experiences have shaped my passion for creating change in this area. Through my personal growth and dedication, I am committed to advocating for greater awareness, understanding, and support for mental health, both within my community and beyond. Growing up in a tight-knit community here in NM, I witnessed first-hand many of my peers struggle with mental health. At 12 years old, my friend, Michael lost his battle with depression. Experiencing this event at such a young age shaped the way I viewed the world. What did it all mean? What is the point? These questions lead me down a dark path, luckily, I had family and friends to support me and push me to seek help. Early in my life, I learned that mental health is just as important as physical health, that depression and anxiety are silent illnesses that, if left untreated, can ruin lives. I made a commitment to myself to work towards creating a safe and supportive environment everywhere I go. My experiences with mental health have also shaped the way I interact with others. I try to approach each interaction with compassion and understanding of individual circumstances. My personal relationships are valuable to me, I make sure that I regularly check up on my friends, family, and loved ones to make sure they know I'm here to support them in any way needed. In 2021, I lost my cousin to suicide. This was one of the hardest losses I've gone through, I have regrets about not making more effort to talk to him, I hope he knows that I think of him daily and that my love for him will never falter. This grief that I hold for my cousin and my friend inspires me to break the stigma surrounding mental health issues, and contribute to a world where everyone feels safe to express their emotions. In terms of career aspirations, I want to seek a degree in Behavior Analysis and provide services to children with autism. The behavioral therapy field is female dominated, this is why I feel that it's even more important to raise awareness about the stigma that surrounds men's mental health. Societal expectations of gender roles and harmful stereotypes often deters men from seeking help regarding their mental health. I am also passionate about advocating for the importance of BIPOC representation in new research. BIPOC and those who identify as LGBTQ+ are disproportionately affected by health inequality, leading to increased experience of health disparities. It is vital that we advocate for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ representation in research, media, and educational curricula in order to combat the stigmatization that surrounds these community's mental health. In the field of behavior analysis, burnout rates are high, and I see many of my peers struggle with mental health battles. I strive to educate others on the importance of self-care, as well as the importance of strong and supportive relationships. While I may not be in the field of behavior analysis forever, I aim to create mental health awareness, advocacy, and support everywhere I go.

In today's fast-paced and often overwhelming world, mental health is an issue that affects millions of people globally, yet remains stigmatized and under-discussed. As someone who has personally navigated the complexities of mental health, I have come to realize the profound impact it has on not only an individual’s well-being but also their relationships, goals, and aspirations. This scholarship essay provides an opportunity to share my journey with mental health, reflect on the challenges I’ve faced, and explain how these experiences have shaped my passion for creating change in this area. Through my personal growth and dedication, I am committed to advocating for greater awareness, understanding, and support for mental health, both within my community and beyond. Growing up in a tight-knit community here in NM, I witnessed first-hand many of my peers struggle with mental health. At 12 years old, my friend, Michael lost his battle with depression. Experiencing this event at such a young age shaped the way I viewed the world. What did it all mean? What is the point? These questions lead me down a dark path, luckily, I had family and friends to support me and push me to seek help. Early in my life, I learned that mental health is just as important as physical health, that depression and anxiety are silent illnesses that, if left untreated, can ruin lives. I made a commitment to myself to work towards creating a safe and supportive environment everywhere I go. My experiences with mental health have also shaped the way I interact with others. I try to approach each interaction with compassion and understanding of individual circumstances. My personal relationships are valuable to me, I make sure that I regularly check up on my friends, family, and loved ones to make sure they know I'm here to support them in any way needed. In 2021, I lost my cousin to suicide. This was one of the hardest losses I've gone through, I have regrets about not making more effort to talk to him, I hope he knows that I think of him daily and that my love for him will never falter. This grief that I hold for my cousin and my friend inspires me to break the stigma surrounding mental health issues, and contribute to a world where everyone feels safe to express their emotions. In terms of career aspirations, I want to seek a degree in Behavior Analysis and provide services to children with autism. Seeking further education has taught me that people of color are often disproportionately affected by health disparities of all kinds. It is vital that we continue to raise awareness surrounding the stigmatization of BIPOC's mental health. Seeing my hispanic family suffer from health inequality and disparities has motivated me to work towards a more equitable and supportive environment. Understanding and practicing cultural humility in my occupation is the first step I can take to create a world where everyone is supported in their unique journey.

In today's fast-paced and often overwhelming world, mental health is an issue that affects millions of people globally, yet remains stigmatized and under-discussed. As someone who has personally navigated the complexities of mental health, I have come to realize the profound impact it has on not only an individual’s well-being but also their relationships, goals, and aspirations. This scholarship essay provides an opportunity to share my journey with mental health, reflect on the challenges I’ve faced, and explain how these experiences have shaped my passion for creating change in this area. Through my personal growth and dedication, I am committed to advocating for greater awareness, understanding, and support for mental health, both within my community and beyond. Growing up in a tight-knit community here in NM, I witnessed first-hand many of my peers struggle with mental health. At 12 years old, my friend, Michael lost his battle with depression. Experiencing this event at such a young age shaped the way I viewed the world. What did it all mean? What is the point? These questions lead me down a dark path, luckily, I had family and friends to support me and push me to seek help. Early in my life, I learned that mental health is just as important as physical health, that depression and anxiety are silent illnesses that, if left untreated, can ruin lives. I made a commitment to myself to work towards creating a safe and supportive environment everywhere I go. My experiences with mental health have also shaped the way I interact with others. I try to approach each interaction with compassion and understanding of individual circumstances. My personal relationships are valuable to me, I make sure that I regularly check up on my friends, family, and loved ones to make sure they know I'm here to support them in any way needed. In 2021, I lost my cousin to suicide. This was one of the hardest losses I've gone through, I have regrets about not making more effort to talk to him, I hope he knows that I think of him daily and that my love for him will never falter. This grief that I hold for my cousin and my friend inspires me to break the stigma surrounding mental health issues, and contribute to a world where everyone feels safe to express their emotions. In terms of career aspirations, I want to seek a degree in Behavior Analysis and provide services to children with autism. The behavioral therapy field is female dominated, this is why I feel that it's even more important to raise awareness about the stigma that surrounds men's mental health. Societal expectations of gender roles and harmful stereotypes often deters men from seeking help regarding their mental health. With the kids that I work with, I try to ensure that I create a safe space for everyone to feel supported. In the field of behavior analysis, burnout rates are high, and I see many of my peers struggle with mental health battles. I strive to educate others on the importance of self-care, as well as the importance of strong and supportive relationships. While I may not be in the field of behavior analysis forever, I aim to create mental health awareness, advocacy, and support everywhere I go.