In September of 2022, I started my junior year of high school. That year the school officials decided to put together a club fair to display all the opportunities available to students. As I browsed around my eyes focused on a booth sign that read “Mental Health Matters”. Intrigued, I made my way over to the booth to satisfy my curiosity. One of our school counselors greeted me and started speaking to me about a youth mental health movement that was taking schools around my state by storm. So much so that area schools were starting up their own clubs called “Raise Your Voice” and she wanted to be a part of the change. She encouraged me to write my name down on the paper if I was interested in being an officer. I did it absentmindedly as I believed in the cause but I didn’t think that I had what it took to lead a club. Little did I know that I would become vice president and that Raise Your Voice would change my life forever. Raise Your Voice is a student-run organization striving to raise mental health awareness and spread resources to our schools and communities as well as to reduce the stigma against mental health. During the last two years, I’ve had a plethora of opportunities to strengthen my knowledge of mental health not only within my school but my community. Last December my president and I were able to converse with our Governor, Tony Evers, as well as other club leaders around the state about the importance of mental health in schools and the effect that Raise Your Voice has had on our communities. It was wonderful to share with him how the connotation of mental health has shifted and how students are more willing to open up about how they’re feeling. High school is a monumental stage in an adolescent’s life and it’s not often easy to navigate. According to the CDC, "In 2021, more than 4 in 10 (42%) students felt persistently sad or hopeless and nearly one-third (29%) experienced poor mental health." as well as "Nearly half (45%) of LGBQ+ students in 2021 seriously considered attempting suicide—far more than heterosexual students." It was also found that "Black students were more likely to attempt suicide than students of other races and ethnicities." That last stat alone was enough to convince me to pursue a psychiatry degree. I want to be a part of the change that works to lower those statistics, especially within the black community. The stigma against mental health is so deeply rooted in black communities. So many believe that struggling with mental health is just a weakness and something that shouldn’t be taken seriously. I want to change that. I want to share my education with underserved black communities to shift their perception of mental health disorders. We have carried the burden of being “strong” for far too long. It’s time for our communities to heal and become more comfortable with being vulnerable. Vulnerability is a strength and I want to share that with the world.

In September of 2022, I started my junior year of high school. That year the school officials decided to put together a club fair to display all the opportunities available to students. As I browsed around my eyes focused on a booth sign that read “Mental Health Matters”. Intrigued, I made my way over to the booth to satisfy my curiosity. One of our school counselors greeted me and started speaking to me about a youth mental health movement that was taking schools around my state by storm. So much so that area schools were starting up their own clubs called “Raise Your Voice” and she wanted to be a part of the change. She encouraged me to write my name down on the paper if I was interested in being an officer. I did it absentmindedly as I believed in the cause but I didn’t think that I had what it took to lead a club. Little did I know that I would become vice president and that Raise Your Voice would change my life forever. Raise Your Voice is a student-run organization striving to raise mental health awareness and spread resources to our schools and communities as well as to reduce the stigma against mental health. During the last two years, I’ve had a plethora of opportunities to strengthen my knowledge of mental health not only within my school but my community. Last December my president and I were able to converse with our Governor, Tony Evers, as well as other club leaders around the state about the importance of mental health in schools and the effect that Raise Your Voice has had on our communities. It was wonderful to share with him how the connotation of mental health has shifted and how students are more willing to open up about how they’re feeling. High school is a monumental stage in an adolescent’s life and it’s not often easy to navigate. According to the CDC, "In 2021, more than 4 in 10 (42%) students felt persistently sad or hopeless and nearly one-third (29%) experienced poor mental health." as well as "Nearly half (45%) of LGBQ+ students in 2021 seriously considered attempting suicide—far more than heterosexual students." It was also found that "Black students were more likely to attempt suicide than students of other races and ethnicities." I want to be a part of the change that works to lower those statistics, especially within the black community. It means a lot to me to know that I was part of a club that was able to change the conversation surrounding mental health within my school, but I want to take it further. The stigma against mental health is so deeply rooted in black communities. So many believe that struggling with mental health is just a weakness and something that shouldn’t be taken seriously. I want to change that. I want to share my education with underserved black communities to shift their perception of mental health disorders. We have carried the burden of being “strong” for far too long. It’s time for our communities to heal and become more comfortable with being vulnerable. Vulnerability is a strength and I want to share that with the world.

In September of 2022, I started my junior year of high school. That year the school officials decided to put together a club fair to display all the opportunities available to students. As I browsed around my eyes focused on a booth sign that read “Mental Health Matters”. Intrigued, I made my way over to the booth to satisfy my curiosity. One of our school counselors greeted me and started speaking to me about a youth mental health movement that was taking schools around my state by storm. So much so that area schools were starting up their own clubs called “Raise Your Voice” and she wanted to be a part of the change. She encouraged me to write my name down on the paper if I was interested in being an officer. I did it absentmindedly as I believed in the cause but I didn’t think that I had what it took to lead a club. Little did I know that I would become vice president and that Raise Your Voice would change my life forever. Raise Your Voice is a student-run organization striving to raise mental health awareness and spread resources to our schools and communities as well as to reduce the stigma against mental health. During the last two years, I’ve had a plethora of opportunities to strengthen my knowledge of mental health not only within my school but my community. Last December my president and I were able to converse with our Governor, Tony Evers, as well as other club leaders around the state about the importance of mental health in schools and the effect that Raise Your Voice has had on our communities. It was wonderful to share with him how the connotation of mental health has shifted and how students are more willing to open up about how they’re feeling. High school is a monumental stage in an adolescent’s life and it’s not often easy to navigate. According to the CDC, "In 2021, more than 4 in 10 (42%) students felt persistently sad or hopeless and nearly one-third (29%) experienced poor mental health." as well as "Nearly half (45%) of LGBQ+ students in 2021 seriously considered attempting suicide—far more than heterosexual students." It was also found that "Black students were more likely to attempt suicide than students of other races and ethnicities." That last stat alone was enough to convince me to pursue a psychiatry degree. I want to be a part of the change that works to lower those statistics, especially within the black community. The stigma against mental health is so deeply rooted in black communities. So many believe that struggling with mental health is just a weakness and something that shouldn’t be taken seriously. I want to change that. I want to share my education with underserved black communities to shift their perception of mental health disorders. We have carried the burden of being “strong” for far too long. It’s time for our communities to heal and become more comfortable with being vulnerable. Vulnerability is a strength and I want to share that with the world.

In September of 2022, I started my junior year of high school. That year the school officials decided to put together a club fair to display all the opportunities available to students. As I browsed around my eyes focused on a booth sign that read “Mental Health Matters”. Intrigued, I made my way over to the booth to satisfy my curiosity. As we all know the COVID-19 epidemic uncovered many of the underlying mental health battles that people have been struggling with for years. The intense isolation and high mortality rates highlighted just how depleted the world was. One of our school counselors greeted me and started speaking to me about a youth mental health movement that was taking schools around my state by storm. So much so that area schools were starting their own clubs called “Raise Your Voice” and she wanted to be a part of the change. She encouraged me to write my name down on the paper if I was interested in being an officer. As we all know the COVID-19 pandemic uncovered many of the underlying mental health battles that people have been struggling with for years. The intense isolation and high mortality rates highlighted just how depleted the world was. Because of this, I decided to sign up as I saw a need for it in our school. Little did I know that I would become vice president and that Raise Your Voice would change my life forever. Raise Your Voice is a student-run organization striving to raise mental health awareness and spread resources to our schools and communities as well as to reduce the stigma against mental health. During the last two years, I’ve had a plethora of opportunities to strengthen my knowledge of mental health not only within my school but my community. Last December my president and I were able to converse with our Governor, Tony Evers, as well as other club leaders around the state about the importance of mental health in schools and the effect that Raise Your Voice has had on our communities. It was wonderful to share with him how the connotation of mental health has shifted and how students are more willing to open up about how they’re feeling. High school is a monumental stage in an adolescent’s life and it’s not often easy to navigate. According to the CDC, "In 2021, more than 4 in 10 (42%) students felt persistently sad or hopeless and nearly one-third (29%) experienced poor mental health." as well as "Nearly half (45%) of LGBQ+ students in 2021 seriously considered attempting suicide—far more than heterosexual students." It was also found that "Black students were more likely to attempt suicide than students of other races and ethnicities." These stats show just how valuable clubs like Raise Your Voice are in schools. They encourage students to reach out and ask for help instead of suffering in silence. I'm proud to be a part of the change and I hope to continue this mission.

I was adopted from Monrovia, Liberia when I was six months old into a picturesque Wisconsin family. Little did I know that this act of selflessness would be so influential in my life. My family has strong roots in their faith. So much so that my great-grandparents donated the land that my church was built on. I grew up attending this church and learning how to be a good steward of the lord. I credit who I am today to those four walls that housed the love of fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Because of this unwavering love, I made a promise to myself that whatever profession I decided to pursue would be for the benefit of others. I want to be there for people in their time of need and help them through their struggles while sharing the love of Christ. These requirements lead me to the doors of the healthcare profession. I also know that my background provides a huge asset to the medical community. Black women are one of the most disenfranchised groups when it comes to healthcare. Their concerns are very likely to be dismissed by their providers. I want to make sure that the voices of black women are heard and that they receive the care they are entitled to. It’s important to me that I restore the trust in the healthcare community for future generations by dismantling the fear. Along with my profession, I hope to continue to be an active advocate for mental health. According to the CDC, "In 2021, more than 4 in 10 (42%) students felt persistently sad or hopeless and nearly one-third (29%) experienced poor mental health." as well as "Nearly half (45%) of LGBQ+ students in 2021 seriously considered attempting suicide—far more than heterosexual students." It was also found that "Black students were more likely to attempt suicide than students of other races and ethnicities." Poor mental health can seep into other areas of adolescents' mental health and be detrimental. They may struggle with school and grades, as well as decision-making and their health. Poor mental health in teens can also lead to an increased risk of drug use and violence. To combat this, during high school, I was a part of my school's Raise Your Voice Club. Raise Your Voice is a student-led mental health group that aims to advocate for students' mental health. This past year we were able to go down to Madison and talk to legislatures about bills that need to be passed to improve the mental health of students in our state; as well as having an opportunity to talk with our Governor Tony Evers. It's a good feeling to know that I'm helping the future generations of high school students in my home state and I want to continue this endeavor wherever life takes me.

In September of 2022, I started my junior year of high school. That year the school officials decided to put together a club fair to display all the opportunities available to students. As I browsed around my eyes focused on a booth sign that read “Mental Health Matters”. Intrigued, I made my way over to the booth to satisfy my curiosity. One of our school counselors greeted me and started speaking to me about a youth mental health movement that was taking schools around my state by storm. So much so that area schools were starting up their own clubs called “Raise Your Voice” and she wanted to be a part of the change. She encouraged me to write my name down on the paper if I was interested in being an officer. I did it absentmindedly as I believed in the cause but I didn’t think that I had what it took to lead a club. Little did I know that I would become vice president and that Raise Your Voice would change my life forever. Raise Your Voice is a student-run organization striving to raise mental health awareness and spread resources to our schools and communities as well as to reduce the stigma against mental health. During the last two years, I’ve had a plethora of opportunities to strengthen my knowledge of mental health not only within my school but my community. Last December my president and I were able to converse with our Governor, Tony Evers, as well as other club leaders around the state about the importance of mental health in schools and the effect that Raise Your Voice has had on our communities. It was wonderful to share with him how the connotation of mental health has shifted and how students are more willing to open up about how they’re feeling. High school is a monumental stage in an adolescent’s life and it’s not often easy to navigate. According to the CDC, "In 2021, more than 4 in 10 (42%) students felt persistently sad or hopeless and nearly one-third (29%) experienced poor mental health." as well as "Nearly half (45%) of LGBQ+ students in 2021 seriously considered attempting suicide—far more than heterosexual students." It was also found that "Black students were more likely to attempt suicide than students of other races and ethnicities." That last stat alone was enough to convince me to pursue a psychiatry degree. I want to be a part of the movement that works to lower those statistics, especially within the black community. The stigma against mental health is so deeply rooted in black communities. So many believe that struggling with mental health is just a weakness and something that shouldn’t be taken seriously. I want to change that. I want to share my education with underserved black communities to shift their perception of mental health disorders. We have carried the burden of being “strong” for far too long. It’s time for our communities to heal and become more comfortable with being vulnerable. Vulnerability is a strength and I want to share that with the world.

In September of 2022, I started my junior year of high school. That year the school officials decided to put together a club fair to display all the opportunities available to students. As I browsed around my eyes focused on a booth sign that read “Mental Health Matters”. Intrigued, I made my way over to the booth to satisfy my curiosity. One of our school counselors greeted me and started speaking to me about a youth mental health movement that was taking schools around my state by storm. So much so that area schools were starting up their own clubs called “Raise Your Voice” and she wanted to be a part of the change. She encouraged me to write my name down on the paper if I was interested in being an officer. I did it absentmindedly as I believed in the cause but I didn’t think that I had what it took to lead a club. Little did I know that I would become vice president and that Raise Your Voice would change my life forever. Raise Your Voice is a student-run organization striving to raise mental health awareness and spread resources to our schools and communities as well as to reduce the stigma against mental health. During the last two years, I’ve had a plethora of opportunities to strengthen my knowledge of mental health not only within my school but my community. Last December my president and I were able to converse with our Governor, Tony Evers, as well as other club leaders around the state about the importance of mental health in schools and the effect that Raise Your Voice has had on our communities. It was wonderful to share with him how the connotation of mental health has shifted and how students are more willing to open up about how they’re feeling. High school is a monumental stage in an adolescent’s life and it’s not often easy to navigate. According to the CDC, "In 2021, more than 4 in 10 (42%) students felt persistently sad or hopeless and nearly one-third (29%) experienced poor mental health." as well as "Nearly half (45%) of LGBQ+ students in 2021 seriously considered attempting suicide—far more than heterosexual students." It was also found that "Black students were more likely to attempt suicide than students of other races and ethnicities." That last stat alone was enough to convince me to pursue a psychiatry degree. The stigma against mental health is so deeply rooted in black communities. So many believe that struggling with mental health is just a weakness and something that shouldn’t be taken seriously. I want to change that. I want to share my education with underserved black communities to shift their perception of mental health disorders. We have carried the burden of being “strong” for far too long. It’s time for our communities to heal and become more comfortable with being vulnerable. Vulnerability is a strength and I want to share that with the world.

In September of 2022, I started my junior year of high school. That year the school officials decided to put together a club fair to display all the opportunities available to students. As I browsed around my eyes focused on a booth sign that read “Mental Health Matters”. Intrigued, I made my way over to the booth to satisfy my curiosity. One of our school counselors greeted me and started speaking to me about a youth mental health movement that was taking schools around my state by storm. So much so that area schools were starting up their own clubs called “Raise Your Voice” and she wanted to be a part of the change. She encouraged me to write my name down on the paper if I was interested in being an officer. I did it absentmindedly as I believed in the cause but I didn’t think that I had what it took to lead a club. Little did I know that I would become vice president and that Raise Your Voice would change my life forever. Raise Your Voice is a student-run organization striving to raise mental health awareness and spread resources to our schools and communities as well as to reduce the stigma against mental health. During the last two years, I’ve had a plethora of opportunities to strengthen my knowledge of mental health not only within my school but my community. Last December my president and I were able to converse with our Governor, Tony Evers, as well as other club leaders around the state about the importance of mental health in schools and the effect that Raise Your Voice has had on our communities. It was wonderful to share with him how the connotation of mental health has shifted and how students are more willing to open up about how they’re feeling. High school is a monumental stage in an adolescent’s life and it’s not often easy to navigate. According to the CDC, "In 2021, more than 4 in 10 (42%) students felt persistently sad or hopeless and nearly one-third (29%) experienced poor mental health." as well as "Nearly half (45%) of LGBQ+ students in 2021 seriously considered attempting suicide—far more than heterosexual students." It was also found that "Black students were more likely to attempt suicide than students of other races and ethnicities." That last stat alone was enough to convince me to pursue a psychiatry degree. The stigma against mental health is so deeply rooted in black communities. So many believe that struggling with mental health is just a weakness and something that shouldn’t be taken seriously. I want to change that. I want to share my education with underserved black communities to shift their perception of mental health disorders. We have carried the burden of being “strong” for far too long. It’s time for our communities to heal and become more comfortable with being vulnerable. Vulnerability is a strength and I want to share that with the world.

I was adopted from Monrovia, Liberia when I was six months old into a picturesque Wisconsin family. Little did I know that this act of selflessness would be so influential in my life. My family has strong roots in their faith. So much so that my great-grandparents donated the land that my church was built on. I grew up attending this church and learning how to be a good steward of the lord. I credit who I am today to those four walls that housed the love of fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Because of this unwavering love, I made a promise to myself that whatever profession I decided to pursue would be for the benefit of others. I want to be there for people in their time of need and help them through their struggles while sharing the love of Christ. These requirements lead me to the doors of the healthcare profession. I also know that my background provides a huge asset to the medical community. Black women are one of the most disenfranchised groups when it comes to healthcare. Their concerns are very likely to be dismissed by their providers. I want to make sure that the voices of black women are heard and that they receive the care they are entitled to. It’s important to me that I restore the trust in the healthcare community for future generations by dismantling the fear. Along with my profession, I hope to continue to be an active advocate for mental health. According to the CDC, "In 2021, more than 4 in 10 (42%) students felt persistently sad or hopeless and nearly one-third (29%) experienced poor mental health." as well as "Nearly half (45%) of LGBQ+ students in 2021 seriously considered attempting suicide—far more than heterosexual students." It was also found that "Black students were more likely to attempt suicide than students of other races and ethnicities." Poor mental health can seep into other areas of adolescents' mental health and be detrimental. They may struggle with school and grades, as well as decision-making and their health. Poor mental health in teens can also lead to an increased risk of drug use and violence. To combat this, during high school, I was a part of my school's Raise Your Voice Club. Raise Your Voice is a student-led mental health group that aims to advocate for students' mental health. This past year we were able to go down to Madison and talk to legislatures about bills that need to be passed to improve the mental health of students in our state; as well as having an opportunity to talk with our Governor Tony Evers. It's a good feeling to know that I'm helping the future generations of high school students in my home state and I want to continue this endeavor wherever life takes me.