I believe that math is one of the most underrated subjects. It often gets this bad reputation for being useless, especially in higher level situations, but I don't think people realize the true value of math. Being able to problem solve like you do when solving an equation is a very important quality to have. Math isn't just about the problems and kind of equations that you are solving. It's also about learning how to be a problem solver and figure out how to solve hard problems. I personally love the feeling when I finally do a math problem correctly after I have worked really hard on it. I absolutely love that feeling when you correctly find the integral of an equation or you remember that random formula you learned once and now you can apply it. This is a similar feeling you get when it comes to navigating a really hard situation in life. You have to put in work and time to be able to get through whatever trial or problem life throws at you. Being able to problem solve, especially when you feel stuck, is something that every person needs to learn. Not only do I think the content we learn is important for our futures, but what we learn along the way is equally important.

I have always struggled greatly with my mental health. I tried so hard to get out of the terrible mental state but no matter what I did, I just kept falling back it no it. Year after year I was stuck in this miserable cycle of depression and suicidal thoughts. It reached a point where I was severely suicidal, cutting very frequently, and having panic attacks nearly daily. I didn't have the energy to do all the school work I had to. Nor to take all the challenging high level classes I used to love and strive to take. My friendships became toxic as a clung to them for help and support that no young teenager can truly give. I lashed out at everyone around me and become the shell of the person I once was. After years of this going on my mom and I decided that I was about time that I saw a therapist. That choice changed the whole trajectory of my life. I began seeing Holly in March of 2023. I went to her every week but my life and my mind was still spiraling out of control. I distinctly remember on Wednesday May 10th going in and the way I talked to her was so unhealthy and scary that she didn't trust me to drive home. I had cut myself prior and I was so low that I only talked about how I all I wanted to do was die. She ended up calling my mom and telling her to take me to the hospital because she was so worried about my safety. At the hospital a woman talked to me because they were considering admitting me. Luckily I was able calm down a bit and they made me create a plan with my mom that we had to follow, otherwise I would get admitted. My parents hide everything sharp in the house, and monitored me more, among many other things. That Friday I started anti-depressants, which I still take, and I continued to go to therapy until the end of July in 2024. In that year time span a lot happened in my life. I learned so many coping skills to help with my cutting and my panic attacks. Holly got pregnant to I switched to my last therapist, Laura, who continued to help me on my journey. Laura is the one who really saw me flourish after I took my life back. I haven't cut myself since I went to the hospital. I was able to focus on school again and finish my senior year off with straight A's. I created healthier relationships with the people around me and even got a boyfriend. I got to graduate therapy knowing that I left a whole new woman thanks to Holly and Laura, and my anti-depressants for course. Now I continue to use my coping skills and what I learned in therapy to become a healthier and better person, and I couldn't be more grateful for the changed I went through.

My name is Mackenzie Ruppe and I am from a small town called Paso Robles in central California. Ever since I can remember, I have always had a love all things water related. Growing up on the central coast surrounded by the ocean and doing competitive swimming has definitely helped fuel my love for the water. I also have always been fascinated with how the world works and the science behind our beautiful planet. Learning that I could combine my love of the water and my fascination with science into a career was a dream come true for me. When I went to high school, I absolutely fell in love with my marine biology class and my biology class. Those core classes really cemented for me that I wanted to do something marine/aquatic biology related with my life. The idea of being able to make a difference in the world, especially the ocean, has always been a goal of mine. And the career path that I want to embark on can make that happen. It may sound corny but I hold so much love for our environment and the ecosystems surrounding water. I’m not fully sure what I want to do with my life but I know that I want to make a difference on the planet. We need more people to protect and care for our earth and I want to be one of those people. My ultimate goal in life is to protect our Earth while also educating people about what they can do to help. While I may not know exactly what I want to do, I have some ideas. I would love to work in marine conservation somehow. I want to be able to educate people about what they can do to help our oceans, and environment in general. It is incredibly important to keep the masses informed, but in order to do this they have to care. Finding a way to make people care and want to help is a big step to fixing the problem. If people don't see first hand how much our oceans need our help, then they will continue to poison it. I also really want to work hands-on with marine mammals and learn more about them in order to better understand how we can protect them. I would love to be able to showcase to people how the beautiful creatures in our oceans are suffering because of our carelessness. If they see and connect with these creatures then they are more likely to have compassion and a want to be a part of the solution. I know that there is already a big push to educate people but I really feel if we go about it in a way that connects to people's emotions and humanity then we can make a difference