Mental health is now being more acknowledged and awareness is being spread. However, many individuals still do not understand that mental health issues stem from trauma, depression, and mistreatment and can have harmful impacts on our day-to-day lives. Growing up in a Chinese community where mental health was misunderstood or ignored, I witnessed the harmful consequences of staying silent and not seeking care. Through my personal experiences such as speaking with friends and growing awareness through education in school or self-taught. I recognize the importance of having to break the stigma that surrounds mental health. In my Chinese community mental health is often not discussed or misunderstood. Conversations regarding emotional well-being were dismissed or seen as a sign of weakness. Seeking therapy would be ridiculed among my parents as well as the community as they associate it with being "crazy." This attitude and perception of mental health made me feel isolated and ashamed, and hesitated on seeking the support I felt that I need. Mental health is a complex topic and there is still so much unknown that we are constantly trying to learn as well as educate ourselves on. I grew up determined to challenge misconceptions and promote self-care. Through my personal experience, I learned to be compassionate and empathetic to all individuals as we never know what anyone is going through. We only see what individuals want to show us and it can be difficult to speak on trauma or feelings. By being vulnerable and sharing my struggles, I aim to create a safe space for individuals where they can seek someone who is understanding and supportive. I wish to be the person that I could have gone to with my anxieties and fears without judgment. Creating meaningful connections and creating a community that prioritized mental well-being. My experience with mental health has made an impact on my goals and aspirations. As I am continuing my education to obtain my master's degree in health administration I aspire to be a healthcare leader that can provide that support, understanding, empathy, and compassion to my staff, patients, and individuals that I come across in my day-to-day life. In addition to obtaining my current master's degree, I developed a passion for psychology. I am motivated to pursue a career in mental health and a degree in psychology. My journey with mental health allowed me to form deep empathy for others and that each individual carries a unique story. Within strength, there are hidden stories and struggles that we do see. Having a sense of social responsibility and my desire to advocate for mental health awareness to challenge the barriers that hinder individuals to seek access to support and resources. Through advocacy, education, and empathetic and meaningful relationships I strive to create an inclusive space where individuals can feel safe to openly discuss mental health. Seeking support without fear of judgment.

Losing a loved one has left a profound impact on my life and having to learn how to deal with grief was an emotional journey. During my senior year of high school, I had to overcome a traumatic experience. I had received a phone call from my mom stating that my grandma was being admitted into the hospital. At the hospital, my grandma was actively communicating with me, and everything seemed normal. The doctor reassured me it was not a big issue, but they needed to complete a few scans to determine the issue. With this information we expected that she would get a couple of screenings to determine the cause and a solution for her pain, – but that wasn’t the case. Instead, I was told that she had passed away that same day. This experience solidified my passion to become a healthcare administrator and to pursue my degree and a career in healthcare administration. I was a lot younger when my grandpa passed away, but the memories of him still stay with me espescially the time that we spent together. The loss of my beloved grandparents, who I spent most of my youth with while my parents were busy at work, left a huge hole in my heart. Going to the park or playing Mahjong with my family brings back the memories of them. It reminds me of the love, guidance, resilence they have bestowed on me. Losing them was the most difficult thing I have ever had to face and having to face the reality they were no longer with me was the worst feeling. When I learned about their passing it would be during or the morning when I had to still attend school. Having to still continue my studies and ensure I excel, it was a difficult process to balance grief and dealing with my school workload. When I faced this difficulty I had to remember why my education is important to me. My grandparents never had the privelege to be educated and they came to this country to give me that chance. Losing them meant I had to fight even harder and persevere through for a better career to obtain a better life, the life they dreamt and fought for me to have. Their love and guidance have led me to be the first person in my family to ever graduate from college, but it also pushed me to continue and obtain my Master's degree in health administration. In conclusion, having to manage my grief while juggling my school workload required me to build my skills in time-management, self-care, resilience, and allowing myself to be vulnerable. As I persevere through the grief, I also carried the loss of my loved ones with me that continue to guide me and shape the person I am. They also remind me of how precious life is, the time that we spend with our family and friends is important. I will continue to honor my grandparents by living a life filled with happiness, love, hope, and a purpose.

Embodying selflessness involves placing the needs and well-being of others before your own. Throughout my life, I have strived to embody selflessness by actively seeking opportunities to volunteer and engage with organizations that share my vision of providing support and helping those in need. Volunteering for various organizations in St. Louis has been an important part of my journey to better understand the community that I have become a part of. Being selfless requires showing empathy, compassion, and a genuine desire to make a positive difference in the lives of those around us. Growing up in Chicago as part of a low-income family has allowed me to witness firsthand the challenges that come with facing financial hardships. One organization to which I have dedicated my time to was Community Women of Hardships. This organization is focused on empowering women from low-income backgrounds and providing them with resources, education, and a supportive network. At this time I have volunteered with them to organize fundraising events, but I hope to gain more knowledge to help better mentor the families. Another organization that I have volunteered for was Nurses for Newborns. This organization aims to help improve the health and well-being of at-risk infants by providing in-home nursing visits and support to their families. Nurses for Newborns is a non-profit organization that is funded by the support of donations which are sent to the warehouse where they are delicately sorted through and packaged on per case basis. I am proud to be able to lend a hand and be part of this organization that helps provide a safety net for families most at-risk to prevent infant mortality, child abuse and neglect by promoting healthcare, education, and positive parenting skills. These are just some of the organizations that I have had the opportunity to volunteer for. Embodying selflessness doesn't always have to be about volunteering, but it can be embodied through day-to-day small acts of kindness that could make someone's day better. Taking time out of your busy to lend a hand, giving compliments about the work that an individual has done, or even just lending an ear to listen to someone's struggle can help make someone's day. Growing up in Chicago as part of a low-income family instilled a deep sense of empathy and a desire to help those in need. Volunteering for these organizations and doing small acts of kindness has allowed me to embody selflessness by providing support, guidance, and compassion to individuals facing various hardships. All experiences have shaped my values and created a passion for my commitment to making a positive impact. This has led me to my career journey in the healthcare field. As I pursue my MHA degree, I am driven by the belief that everyone deserves access to quality healthcare and the opportunity to thrive regardless of their socioeconomic background. I am eager to utilize the knowledge and skills that I have gained through volunteering, working, and education to continue serving underserved communities.

Creating balance in your life is a tricky thing, to create a sense of balance you need to start somewhere. It has not always been easy having to balance work, school, and social life. It is important to remember to create some time for yourself throughout the day or even the week to reflect and relax. I have not always taken my health seriously when it came to being active or eating properly. With such busy schedules, I would occasionally only have one meal that I spread throughout the day to keep me going. Then, I would go back home and sit on my couch or sleep for hours and start the day all over again. It took time to realize that this wasn't what I want and that I was neglecting my health. I needed to find time to take care of not only my body but my mind as well. To focus on self-care, I take time out of my busy day to do the things I enjoy that don't feel like I require a lot of effort or would drain me. In this time that I have created for myself, I would invest in learning new cooking recipes, diamond painting, painting, nail art or even playing video games with my friends. These activities provided a brief escape from my responsibilities and allowed me to relax and wind down my day. I am still learning the best way to incorporate this into my routine as it creates a healthy way to keep my mind off of all the stress that goes around in my day-to-day life. Even now, I am continuously trying to learn how to better my lifestyle to be healthy by reading books, getting into yoga and meditation, and being outside with nature more by exploring my community. To have a healthier lifestyle I also need to be healthier and that requires me to cook the right dishes so that I get the proper nutrients. This also includes being more active and as the seasons change to be warmer I am getting back into Tennis. Tennis is the best way to contribute to my lifestyle being healthier. It is something that I enjoy deeply and it encourages me to be active while also establishing meaningful relationships. Not to mention something to look forward to during my week. Creating a healthy lifestyle is not easy, it requires effort. To work towards a healthy lifestyle, we first need to acknowledge what is working and what is not for ourselves. As I stated before, I am working towards getting into yoga and meditation but I never seemed to keep up with it continuously. I found that Tennis was an activity for me to move a step towards a healthier lifestyle. I am actively searching for activities that give me the same relaxation, comfort, happiness, and active lifestyle as Tennis does for me at the moment.