Overcoming Mental Health Challenges on My Path to Success The first time I experienced a true anxiety attack, I was about nine years old. It wasn’t just nerves or worry; it was a suffocating feeling that came out of nowhere. My breathing sped up even though I felt like I couldn’t get enough air. I started pulling at my hair almost violently, crying uncontrollably. It felt like everything was crashing down at once, not just school, but problems with my parents and family. At that moment, I didn’t understand what was happening to me, only that I felt trapped inside my own mind. Over time, I learned that it was more than just anxiety; it was childhood depression, mixed with intense fear and sadness. These attacks didn’t stop; some days they were harder to control than others. I remember standing in front of the mirror, tears streaming down my face, trying to calm myself, willing my mind to slow down. Living with mental illness has been one of the hardest journeys I’ve faced, but it’s also been a journey of learning and growth. I refused to let my diagnosis define me or stop me from dreaming. I have worked hard to understand my emotions, to find ways to manage the overwhelming thoughts and feelings that sometimes take over. Learning to breathe, to pause, and to be kind to myself was not easy, but it was necessary. My healing hasn’t been perfect; there have been setbacks and dark days, but I keep moving forward. In addition to anxiety and depression, I have been diagnosed with ADHD, which makes focusing and staying organized very challenging. Forgetting things, losing track of time, and struggling to concentrate have often left me feeling frustrated and overwhelmed. Simple tasks can become difficult, and it’s easy to get discouraged when my mind feels scattered. But I’ve learned to develop strategies to cope, like breaking down tasks into smaller steps and giving myself breaks to reset. This diagnosis helped me better understand why certain things were hard for me and gave me tools to keep pushing forward. Graduating from high school is my proudest achievement. It represents years of perseverance despite mental battles many don’t see. It shows that no matter how heavy the weight on my shoulders, I am capable of reaching my goals. Now, I am preparing to start college and pursue a career in medicine. I want to become a doctor who understands not only the physical symptoms of illness but also the emotional pain behind them. My own struggles with mental health have made me passionate about helping others heal both body and mind.

The personal achievement I’m most proud of is graduating high school. While it might seem like a common milestone, for me, it represents survival, growth, and transformation. Behind this achievement is a long and painful journey filled with emotional challenge, and mental health struggles, particularly depression, anxiety, and negative thinking. I remember the first time I had a real anxiety attack. I was about nine years old, and it was over something as simple as a school assignment, a presentation for class. But we didn’t have internet at home because we couldn’t afford it, and I didn’t know how I was going to finish. I felt frustrated. My breathing became shallow and fast, yet it felt like I couldn’t get enough air. I couldn’t stop crying, and I had this overwhelming urge to pull my hair because I didn’t know how else to cope. It wasn’t just the assignment anymore, suddenly, it was everything. School, my personal life, my parent problems, everything collapsed in my mind at once. That moment marked the beginning of my understanding that my struggles were more than just stress, they were mental and emotional, and they ran deep. Graduating means I’ve overcome not only the academic demands of school but also the silent battles that no one else could see. I had to teach myself how to breathe again when anxiety took over. I had to learn how to be kind to my mind when it constantly told me I wasn’t enough. I had to let go of the idea that I had to be perfect, and instead embrace the beauty of simply continuing forward, day by day. This achievement has changed my life because it proved me that pain does not define me, resilience does. It taught me that even with all the weight I carried emotionally, I was still capable of building a future. Now, more than ever, I believe in the possibility of a better life. I’m beginning college soon, where I plan to study medicine. My dream is to become a doctor, someone recognized not just for skill, but for compassion. I want people to feel safe with me, to trust that I will care for them. My past pain fuels my purpose. Studying medicine means everything to me. It’s not just a career path, it’s the way I want to make a difference in this world. I’ve experienced firsthand how painful and isolating it can be to feel like no one understands what you’re going through. That’s why I want to be a doctor who listens, a doctor who sees the human behind the illness, a doctor who makes people feel like they matter. Helping others isn’t just a goal for me, it’s a part of who I am. I believe deeply in service, in showing up for people even when they feel invisible. I want to dedicate my life to healing, not only with medicine, but with empathy. I want to be the kind of doctor who inspires hope, who brings comfort to families in their hardest moments, and who reminds others that they are never alone. I want to be a light for those going through darkness, just as I once wished someone had been for me. My ambition is no longer just about surviving, it’s about becoming someone who creates impact. I want to be living proof that no matter how hard life gets, there is always a way forward. Graduating is not the end, it’s the beginning of everything I’ve ever dreamed of. And I know, deep down, that I’m just getting started.