Persimmon The slippery slope of a woman Will always begin with a man When their love is like a persimmon, Run away as fast as you can. Years and years to bloom and bear fruit. A couple to expire. Much smarter to choose a various route. Or kill the persimmons with fire.

Two years ago, I started feeling really sick. I had blood tests done and my iron and other nutrients came back really low. I was tired and weak all the time, and it was getting increasingly worse. After getting an autopsy of my throat done, it was confirmed that I had Celiac Disease and was destined to live a gluten-free lifestyle for the rest of my life. It was honestly devastating. At the time I was diagnosed, I was secretly bulimic and had enough fear foods and restricted foods as it was. My diagnosis was not what I needed. It brought me a lot of stress and anxiety. As I began removing gluten from my diet, I noticed not only my physical health improving, but my mental health too. I still had bad days as I struggled with depression and anxiety, but the bad days seemed a little less bad, and I got happier. As I worked on healing my gut from years of eating disorders and foods that I shouldn't have been eating, I found a new passion in my life: social work. I started working at MiWorks, a non-profit in my community helping many types of people in need of services. Now, I'm a Resource Specialist for Second Chance, a program for recently released felons. Being in a bad place, physically and mentally, has allowed me to grow empathy for others who were once vulnerable like me. I've realized that helping people is truly my passion and can't wait to do it for the rest of my life. Without my Celiac Diagnosis, I think I'd lack the understanding and patience I've learned for other people. This scholarship would help me tremendously. Because I have Celiac Disease, all my food has to be gluten and dairy-free, making it more expensive for me to buy food. I'm working right now to save for college and plan on getting a job when I move down to the University of South Florida in the fall. Money is a big stressor for me because while my parents are assisting me, I worry I won't have as much as I need to be the healthiest I can be. Since becoming gluten-free, I've realized how much food can impact your health and your brain. Taking care of myself and being the best version of myself is important to me. This scholarship will help me achieve this when I am in college.

The justice system failed me. Why do victims have to go through some much more emotional torment if they want to press charges? I remember this day vividly. I sat in the office of a law firm after I had been sexually assaulted. I wanted validation and reparations. I was hopeful at first, and determined to make my perpetrator pay. I'm a fighter and was excited to get the recognition I deserved. But instead, I was informed that if I tried to involve myself with any kind of legal action I would be harassed. My therapy records, diaries and journals, social media accounts, and pretty much everything else would be legally obtained by his defense. If I spoke up, they would destroy my name. I felt invaluable. I felt conquered. I was still a little girl and had to come to terms with the sad reality that no one could help nor really wanted too. The biggest change I want to see is a change in our criminal justice system. It's corrupt and built to break you. America, the home of the free, but not really when over two million Americans are incarcerated. It's an unjust justice system, not batting an eye at rich, privileged people but destroying the lives of less fortunate minority populations. I want to be proud of my home -- my country. Who doesn't? But I can't ignore and defend laws, policies, and systems brought up and supported by hatred. I've had my own personal experience with the USA's legal system and it showed me how little our current system values truth and fairness. It dehumanized me and made me lose a lot of faith in our "One Nation, under God". I've been fortunate enough to get a job at MiWorks, a social service organization in Michigan. My job as Resource Specialist at the Second Chance program is to assist recently released felons find jobs, locate housing, obtain state ids and drivers license, and be the support system most of them desperately need. I've found great fulfillment in my job because while I'm not making an impact on the criminal justice system as a whole, I'm slowing taking it down. One thing I've learned since working at MiWorks is that there is a lot of work to be done. A lot of people need help. The hardest part is when not every participant in the program makes it. Whether they become an absconder and run from probabtion, or overdose and pass away, it's disheartening when it doesn't work out. It fills me with rage and most of the time, I blame prison. Time and time again I've seen probation, fees, and court hearings, all weighing on a person who is already very impoverished and probably in the middle of a life crisis. It's not good for their mental health, and it almost seems like that's the goal. That's the motive. But why? It's just evil. We are all human. If our system focused on helping those people with mental health problems, substance abuse, and other issues, as well as valued victims instead of making them feel out of control and silenced, I think us Americans could actually get somewhere.

For me, a healthy lifestyle is what keeps me going. I have Celiac Disease and that means I have to live of a gluten-free life. When I eat gluten, not only my physical health declines, but my mental health does too. I notice myself become more anxious, more depressed, and more unhappy with my life. Learning how to eat better, respect my body, and care for myself has taught me to find the joy in life and truly be grateful for the things around me. When I let my health slip or forget to prioritize my health, my quality of life goes down. Being the best version of myself makes me the happiest.

Here is a poem I wrote that was emulated from my favorite poet, Dorothy Parker. This poem was written for my AP Literature class. ------------- Persimmon The slippery slope of a woman Will always begin with a man When their love is like a persimmon, Run away as fast as you can. Years and years to bloom and bear fruit. A couple to expire. Much smarter to choose a various route. Or kill the persimmons with fire.

Two years ago, I started feeling really sick. I had blood tests done and my iron and other nutrients came back really low. I was tired and weak all the time, and it was getting increasingly worse. After getting an autopsy of my throat done, it was confirmed that I had Celiac Disease and was destined to live a gluten-free lifestyle for the rest of my life. It was honestly devastating. At the time I was diagnosed, I was secretly bulimic and had enough fear foods and restricted foods as it was. My diagnosis was not what I needed. It brought me a lot of stress and anxiety. As I began removing gluten from my diet, I noticed not only my physical health improving, but my mental health too. I still had bad days as I struggled with depression and anxiety, but the bad days seemed a little less bad, and I got happier. As I worked on healing my gut from years of eating disorders and foods that I shouldn't have been eating, I found a new passion in my life: social work. I started working at MiWorks, a non-profit in my community helping many types of people in need of services. Now, I'm a Resource Specialist for Second Chance, a program for recently released felons. Being in a bad place, physically and mentally, has allowed me to grow empathy for others who were once vulnerable like me. I've realized that helping people is truly my passion and can't wait to do it for the rest of my life. Without my Celiac Diagnosis, I think I'd lack the understanding and patience I've learned for other people. This scholarship would help me tremendously. Because I have Celiac Disease, all my food has to be gluten and dairy-free, making it more expensive for me to buy food. I'm working right now to save for college and plan on getting a job when I move down to the University of South Florida in the fall. Money is a big stressor for me because while my parents are assisting me, I worry I won't have as much as I need to be the healthiest I can be. Since becoming gluten-free, I've realized how much food can impact your health and your brain. Taking care of myself and being the best version of myself is important to me. This scholarship will help me achieve this when I am in college.

To me, recovery was simply taking my life back into my own hands. When lost in my addictions -- drugs, alcohol, restricting and purging -- I wasn't truly alive. Instead, I was a walking ghost, grasping on to what I could but ultimately getting sucked into the abyss I was creating for myself. I've learned that recovery isn't very comfortable. Changing your mindset and coping mechanisms so you don't turn to self-destructive behaviors is a challenge that doesn't seem to get easier. But, with recovery comes love, gratitude, and a more positive outlook on life. I'm proud of myself for how far I've come. Recovery is freedom.

When I first thought about this prompt, I struggled picking out the one thing I loved about myself that I wished to talk about. See, I have struggled with self-love and being grateful for the body I was given for the last few years. Last year, I developed a fairly serious eating disorder and became extremely depressed. I hated myself. I hated my body, my mind, and my soul. Everything that made me me had been turned into something negative. I didn't know how I was going to survive and was quickly falling in a deeper and deeper hole. I wanted to give up. But, I was equipped with the thing I love most about myself -- my determination. This, along with my drive and passion to become a successful lawyer after college, encouraged me to get better. I love my life now. Being happy is something never to be taken granted for. So, the thing I love most is my inspiration. I will take complete credit and am proud to say that I brought myself out of that hole on my own. I love the strength I had to tell myself everything would eventually get better. While some days are harder than others, I respect myself enough to acknowledge that I'm powerful. I'm bold. And because I was my own worst enemy for so long, I will never let another person get in my way.

My eighth-grade history teacher always used to say, "All means all." He'd always stress how important it was to never leave anyone behind. This has continued to stick with me. He passed away last year unexpectedly, and it had a big impact on me. I realized that even though he was gone, I, as well as many of my classmates, would remember him as someone who cared. We would continue to remember his big heart and compassion for everyone. When I hopefully have a good job, I want people to respect me not because of the power my job may hold, but what I do with that power. My biggest goal in life is to have a positive impact on people like Mr. Leonard did and help others understand why that is so important. Being inclusive is so important today. While this may sound cliche, there is so much turmoil and hatred in the world. Everyone would be so much happier if everyone was a team. Hopefully, I can express this to my future co-workers and peers.

While this may sound silly, whenever I'm going through a rough time, I think of a time when I was happy. Usually, I go back to a specific memory I have with my dad. Last year on Christmas Day, we were in Hawaii. This trip was really special to me because my family has never gone on a big trip like that. My parents have always had to be really smart with their money and had finally saved up enough for a nice Christmas break vacation. Let me lay out the scene: It was sunny, a perfect 75 degrees, and my dad and I had rented surfboards from across the street and walked to the beach. We weren't pro surfers, not even close. But together, with some patience, we were able to catch some small waves. We even were greeted by some sea turtles that swam right by us. I remember how happy I was. I remember how I wasn't thinking about anything, nor cared. Every single struggle I had -- and at that time I had a lot -- seemed to disappear. Now, when I am struggling with body image issues, depression, or anxiety, I think of this moment I had with my dad. It keeps me motivated. Every day now, I'm striving to work hard enough to be able to go back some day, and experience that peacefulness I felt on Christmas again.

I'm currently an intern for a community development organization that works in Michigan to help all sorts of people in need. I started this job last November after working in the food industry for a year because I was feeling very unfulfilled. I simply wanted to make an impact and feel as though I had a purpose. Since I started working for Kinexus Group, I've worked with manufacturers all over the state, helping them grow their business and also spotlighting small businesses that have been successful. Recently, I started working in a new branch of the organization, called Offender Success. Here, we help recently released felons get back on their feet. Through housing, employment, transportation, and mental health services, our goal is to help medium to high-risk individuals turn their lives around and hopefully have a brighter and more positive impact on the community. I've also started working at Michigan Works, another branch, that helps anyone unemployed. We have a huge variety of services including free access to internet and printing, courses for all ages to get their GED, and help navigate through the unemployment process. This job has made me so happy. Coming home each day knowing that I'm putting effort into something with meaning and something that directly benefits struggling people in my home state of Michigan, only motivates me more. After working here, I know that I want to help people for the rest of my life. It gives me a purpose.

Moderation is key. When I got my first real job working at Zoup Eatery, I started spending like crazy. My mindset was that if I had money, why not spend it? This got me in trouble pretty fast when I couldn't pay for my basics needs like food out with friends or gas. I realized that while a little spending is fine, a lot can make your financial state pretty unstable. Luckily, I was only a junior in high school and my parents didn't have expectations about how much I was spending. I'm glad they let me manage money on my own because now I'm much better as deciding which things I need and really want, compared to things that would be nice, but aren't necessarily worth it. Because college is coming up fast, I'm working two jobs right now as well as applying to many scholarships so I can afford to go. While my financial situation could be much worse right now, the stress of being able to pay for college is real. Hopefully, thanks to my new knowledge about money, I will make do and be successful.

The community in which I live is known to be a fairly underserved area. My neighboring city, Benton Harbor, MI, is a suffering town. With over 45% of the population in poverty, over 25% not having access to a computer, and only 8% having a bachelors degree or higher, its hard to understand exactly what those people are going through. Especially because I have grown up extremely privileged and am now trying my best to give back. I was recently hired as an intern for Kinexus Group based in Benton Harbor. They do SO much good for our community. The entire reason I applied there was because my old job wasn't fulfilling and I felt I could help more than I was. Kinexus is a parent company to many different groups. One, Youth Solutions, reaches out to troubled youth in high school and counsels them to keep them on track. They host events. mentor their students, and try to be role models for kids that don't have them. Another cool program we have at Kinexus is a clean slate initiative. Kinexus Group reaches out to employers who are considering hiring a released inmate from jail. We pay the employer to hire them to hopefully inspire more businesses to be open to recently released inmates. I have only been working for under a month but already feel like I am a small part of something huge. I have faith that my community will one day be way better. But until then, I am committed to helping any way I can.

One person I admire from history is famous poet, Dorothy Parker. She was part of the modernist literary movement and was known for her witty poems. Parker was born in New Jersey in 1893 and did not have a good childhood. Her mother died first. Soon after, her step mother died as well. Then, in 1912, her uncle died on the Titanic. Soon after, her father died. She turned to literature. She first began working at Vogue in 1916 for their editorial staff. Throughout her career she worked for Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, Esquire Magazine, is credited in more than 15 movies, and contributed to two plays. She released her first book in 1926 titled, "Enough Rope" and it soon became a bestseller. She continued releasing poems and short stories and won an award in 1929 for "Best Short Story of the Year". Although Dorothy Parker was a strong force to be reckoned with, she struggled with depression and based many poems around that. My favorite, "Resume", goes like this: Razors pain you; Rivers are damp; Acids stain you; And drugs cause cramp. Guns aren’t lawful; Nooses give; Gas smells awful; You might as well live. Although some might see this poem as blunt or insensitive, I think it truly captures what is going through a depressed person's head. I have personally struggled with depression and this poem is exactly how I felt for so long. It is truly an art to be able to capture what so many people think and are going through. Parker was not only a literary genius. She was a strong supporter of the women's rights and civil rights movement and was even arrested in Baltimore for protesting. If I am somehow like her when I get older, I will have succeeded in life.

The last few years have been rough. Although, no one chooses to be depressed, have a serious eating disorder, or feel like the only option in front of them is to end their life, all of these dark things decided to haunt me. I was only a junior in high school when I wrote my six-page suicide note and fully intended on using it in the near future. Lucky enough for me, I hid it somewhere stupid where my parents found it. Now, in a good place with my recovery and constantly learning more about how to better manage my anxiety and depression, I reflect on how much I've grown as a human being. Although what I went through was extremely hard and almost killed me, I developed into such an understanding, educated, and a caring person compared to who I was before. Before I fell into a rabbit hole, I was a hard-core conservative. I grew up in a republican household and therefore, took my parents' beliefs as my own. I was obnoxiously outspoken about politics and thought that was what I wanted to go into for college. I wrote pro-life articles for my school's newspaper publication, was a key member of our TPUSA(conservative organization) charter group at school, and even went to the Donald Trump campaign rally the day he got impeached. You could even see me on the TV behind him. I was also friends with some terrible people. One friend told me I was too stupid to take AP US History and that I shouldn't sign up... I excelled in the class and she dropped it. Another told her parents awful rumors about me in order to cover up her lies. Finally, another friend threw a "Petty Party" for me after I didn't invite her to go shopping with me. So, instead of asking me why I didn't, she had all my friends over and talked shit about me. Yikes. While all these things were going on in my life, I was slowly starting to lose interest in unimportant things like politics and toxic friends. I was coming to the realization that nothing mattered. And while this was definitely the depression talking, I needed to hear it. Once I no longer cared about catholicism -- a big part of my childhood --, how people lived their lives, or what my friends thought of me, I became as liberal as they come. While I don't think 14-year-old Maddy would be a fan of 17-year-old Maddy, I'm okay with that. Although my mental illnesses made my life hell and still throw me off track once in a while, I'm grateful for what my journey has taught me. After going through periods of utter despair and sadness, all I want is to be happy and live every day as best as I can. Why would I worry about stupid policies or friends that aren't worth my time? Although I want to attend law school after my undergrad studies and do not intend on working to improve the mental health of others, I am committed to learning as much as I can about mental illnesses and disorders. Last year, I did extensive research on eating disorders for my Honors English class and made a mini-documentary about my findings. This research has aided me to help my friends get treatment as well. Two of my friends have already reached out after talking to me about my battle with eating disorders. It makes me feel better knowing that my friends don't feel alone, ashamed, and scared like I did.

For the last few years, I've struggled to stay in a positive mindset. Recently, my therapist recommended I try yoga because I wished to find more mindfulness skills and activities to get me through anxiety-provoking situations. I was quite skeptical about yoga at first. I felt like I had tried almost everything to de-stress and calm down and nothing had been very effective. I realized there was nothing to lose so I signed up for a student membership and hoped for the best. I remember my first Yin + Yoga Nidra class. Yin offers a very cool and linear aspect of Yoga. This kind of class allows denser layers of the body to unwind. After Yin, I transitioned into Yoga Nidra, also called Yogic Sleep. In Yoga Nidra, you are guided into a hypnagogic state of consciousness. I had no faith that I was actually going to be able to calm down and feel this 'state', but I did. I was coming in and out of a sleeping state and then all of a sudden the yoga instructor said, "Awake." My eyes jolted open and I sat up. I was in shock. I had never been able to let go of the constant tension and now, here I was, and it was nowhere to be found. I love this class because it was the first step in my growth mindset. Because I wish to continue to grow my mindset, I am currently trying other classes like hot yoga, restorative yoga, and meditation. Without yoga, I think my mental health would be struggling. It is currently winter, I'm extremely busy, and I'm struggling to keep up with scholarship applications, but at least I have yoga.

When I first thought about this prompt, I struggled picking out the one thing I loved about myself that I wished to talk about. See, I have struggled with self-love and being grateful for the body I was given for the last few years. Last year, I developed a fairly serious eating disorder and became extremely depressed. I hated myself. I hated my body, my mind, and my soul. Everything that made me me had been turned into something negative. I didn't know how I was going to survive and was quickly falling in a deeper and deeper hole. I wanted to give up. But, I was equipped with the thing I love most about myself -- my determination. This, along with my drive and passion to become a successful lawyer after college, encouraged me to get better. I love my life now. Being happy is something never to be taken granted for. So, the thing I love most is my inspiration. I will take complete credit and am proud to say that I brought myself out of that hole on my own. I love the strength I had to tell myself everything would eventually get better. While some days are harder than others, I respect myself enough to acknowledge that I'm powerful. I'm bold. And because I was my own worst enemy for so long, I will never let another person get in my way.