We live in a small world and mental health plays a big part in shaping our experiences. Mental health impacts over 970 million people worldwide. The impact plays huge roles in people's lives, shaping them to be the person they are today. For a long time, I struggled with emotions I didn’t fully understand leaving me feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and sometimes hopeless. Those feelings were hard to talk about, but they taught me valuable lessons about understanding, patience, and kindness. In relationships, I am the friend who listens and supports without judgment, because I know how much that can mean to someone. I value relationships with others and take time out of my day to check on others because I know it helps me when I am having a bad day. When I’m given the opportunity to lift someone’s spirits I will do that because everyone deserves to be happy and mental health can and will destroy you if you let it. For quite some time, I questioned why I struggled to make friends and fit in, which correlated with mental health decline. When I met my best friend, she showed me what it was like to love myself and what mental health was. She taught me that, no matter the circumstance, there will always be ups and downs in life, and sometimes life isn’t fair. All of the time taken to heal makes the feelings of happiness and freedom so rewarding in the end, because you’ll get through if you want peace for yourself. I want to love myself because I know now I have so much potential. My mental battles have helped me open my eyes more to understand the world. Everyone is fighting a battle you might not see, and that simple truth has taught me to be more patient and kind. I had to learn to be patient and kinder to myself if I wanted to heal. Patience taught me healing doesn’t happen overnight and it’s okay to take things one day at a time. I spent many days and nights trying to learn to be kinder to myself. Mental health taught me not to judge people based on what I see on the outside because they are so much more than meets the eye and I know what it’s like to pretend everything is okay when it’s not. Pretending to be someone you’re not can burn you out mentally and physically. This facade makes you feel sluggish and it eats you up. I became more aware of how important it is to treat others with kindness through my reluctance to speak on my own issue when I feared others’ opinions. When I’m having a bad day, I used to talk to my friends fearing they will judge me for what I’m upset about. When they didn’t I felt cared about and heard, which made me feel a lot better about talking about my feelings. Having someone show they care and aren’t judging me really has shaped how important being non-judgmental is for me. Struggling with my own problems made me more open-minded and understanding. The shift in perspective changed the way I approach relationships, success, and how I handle hard times. I’ve learned to find strength in vulnerability and see growth in every experience. My experience with emotional struggles has deeply influenced the goals I’ve set for myself. It has made me want to live my life to the fullest, and not just want to make goals but to complete them and make more. I’ve learned how important it is to take care of your mind and emotions. My challenges have given me a sense of purpose to grow, to heal, and to help others. Art and music helped me release emotions I couldn’t put into words. Over time, I've learned how powerful it can be to open up. These experiences have helped me set goals to make a positive impact on others, especially for those who feel misunderstood. A close friend of mine was struggling emotionally, and I did my best to be there for them. Just by showing up for them and being kind made me realize how much I care about people’s well being—and how even a small act of kindness can make a big difference. Through kindness to myself and others I have begun exploring what path I want to take. What matters most to me is making a real impact on others using the strength I’ve built through my struggles. Looking back, my struggles have shaped me in ways I have never expected. They’ve changed how I view the world, deepened my relationships and helped me set goals that truly matter. I’ve learned to be more patient, understanding, and more driven to make a difference. I’m still growing, but I’m proud of how far I’ve come, and determined to keep moving forward, not just for myself, but for others who may need someone to remind them they’re not alone. I believe I’m a strong candidate for this scholarship because I’ve faced real challenges, learned from them, and want to use those lessons to make a positive difference.