Mental and emotional health is a never ending topic that anyone can talk about. I’m sure that most would agree that it’s a huge problem in the world, especially for teens and people in the black community. As a 17 year old African American female, of course I’ve had my own ups and downs, and times where I’ve felt like I was at my lowest and life simply could not get any worse. But I’ve learned that time does heal all wounds only if you allow it. Over time, I’ve learned and tried many different ways to cope with the thoughts I was thinking and the things I was going through. I had to learn that no one is away perfectly okay and sometimes you just have to analyze the situation and move on. One healthy habit that I have adopted in school and would like to keep to manage my mental and emotional health is working out. As we all know, being in highschool is definitely not peaches and cream, and it doesn’t necessarily get easier as the years pass. Through these four years, I’ve learned that what works best for me is staying active and participating in sports. Sports allow me to express my emotions without any negative responses. Doing things like going to practice or just going to the gym in my free time allows me to live in the moment rather than dwell on the past or be overwhelmed with the future. As a big advocate for mental health and especially the mental health of African Americans, I love to create safe spaces for my friends, family, and anyone I come in contact with. I know how it feels to not be heard and always have to hide behind a smile. So I love when people feel safe enough to express things that they would normally suppress. To create this safe space for them, I may talk about my own feelings. Sharing how you are feeling may encourage others to share because they can relate and have a sense that they are not alone. By communicating these feelings, you are also opening a door for positive energy, life long friendships, and problem solving solutions. Mental and emotional health is extremely important and should never be pushed to the side. Everyone has a story and just because you feel yours may not be as bad as others, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be heard. No one is more important than anyone else and no one could compare themselves to anyone else. Take a deep breath and allow yourself to feel what you are feeling. Even if you don’t feel comfortable sharing your emotions, take time for yourself and find something positive. Everyday doesn’t have to be a good day but always remember that things will get better with time.