Although I may seem like a normal teenage student at first glance, I have a past that many would never suspect. I grew up in an incredibly stable household with two amazing, loving, and successful parents. I have a younger sister who is my best friend, and I can easily say that I have had an incredibly happy childhood. However, there is one drastic difference between myself and the majority of my peers. I am a cancer survivor. I was diagnosed with a pontine glioma at the age of four. The tumor was near my brain stem located in the pons. At that time I was given a ten percent chance of survival. Surgery was not an option for me due to the size and placement of my tumor, so my parents chose chemotherapy. I had to undergo two full years of chemotherapy with weekly hospital visits. Being such a young girl, I really didn’t understand the severity of my situation, and frequent hospital appointments became my normal routine. MRIs and appointments were weekly occurrences for many years. My cancer is a part of me, and I strongly believe that it made me the confident, resilient person I have become today. As I am starting my college career, I can reflect on how lucky and blessed I have been in my life. Not only did I beat childhood cancer, but I am now over ten years cancer-free. That part of my life is completely behind me now, and I could not be more grateful. Cancer is a big piece of my history, and it has shaped who I am today, but there is no way that I will let it affect my future. This chapter in my life has officially been closed.

Gandhi once said, “Speak only if it improves upon the silence.” This quote rings true in today's society due to the nature of our global community. The internet plays a massive role in how we interact and spread information today. I believe that this technology is important and positive in most circumstances. However, the global network has allowed for uneducated and uninformed individuals to speak their piece. When a person, who is not well informed on a subject, decides to publicly state his/her opinion, the effects can be devastating. There are many debates that take place through various social media platforms, and strong opinions often form without the presence of proof. For this reason, I strongly believe that this quote is not only wise but relevant. This simple phrase has forced me to hold my tongue in situations in which I am uneducated. Instead of adding to the chaos, I have chosen to take a step back and do the research. My only hope is that the rest of the public will follow my example. If more people were to take the time to become informed before engaging in an argument, there would be less hatred and confusion in this world. The idea of not speaking during an intense situation is often seen as weak or unfavored in our community, but this simple act can be incredibly empowering. By choosing to not engage in a conversation, I am allowed to think and form an educated response. This time also allows the other people involved to reexamine their point of view. If we were to “Speak only if it improves upon the silence” this world would be a much more controlled and welcoming environment. This quote is the wisest thing I've ever heard.

Although I may seem like a normal teenage student at first glance, I have a past that many would never suspect. I grew up in an incredibly stable household with two amazing, loving, and successful parents. I have a younger sister who is my best friend, and I can easily say that I have had an incredibly happy childhood. However, there is one drastic difference between myself and the majority of my peers. I am a cancer survivor. I was diagnosed with a pontine glioma at the age of four. The tumor was near my brain stem located in the pons. At that time I was given a ten percent chance of survival. Surgery was not an option for me due to the size and placement of my tumor, so my parents chose chemotherapy. I had to undergo two full years of chemotherapy with weekly hospital visits. Being such a young girl, I really didn’t understand the severity of my situation, and frequent hospital appointments became my normal routine. MRIs and appointments were weekly occurrences for many years. My cancer is a part of me, and I strongly believe that it made me the confident, resilient person I have become today. This journey has provided me with the ability to empathize with other families and children facing similar situations. I am able to provide hope for parents who are forced to watch their children suffer through a life-threatening diagnosis. At the present time, I am a gymnastics coach, and I have been able to provide support to a close student of mine who was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor at five years old. I am someone that this family can reach out to when they have questions or concerns. My family and I completely understand the fears and worries that plague this incredible family, and I am so thankful that I can be a ray of positivity in their lives. As I am about to enter my college career, I can reflect on how lucky and blessed I have been in my life. Not only did I beat childhood cancer, but I am now over ten years cancer-free. That part of my life is completely behind me now, and I could not be more grateful. Cancer is a big piece of my history, but there is no way that I will let it affect my future. This chapter in my life has officially been closed.

The quote that makes me think about the world around me was spoken by Mahatma Gandhi. It reads, “Speak only if it improves upon the silence.” This quote rings true in today's society due to the nature of our global community. The internet plays a massive role in how we interact and spread information today. I believe that this technology is important and positive in most circumstances. However, the global network has allowed for uneducated and uninformed individuals to speak their peace. When a person who is not well informed on a subject decides to publicly state his/her opinion, the effects can be devastating. There are many debates that take place through various social media platforms, and strong opinions often form without the presence of proof. For this reason, I strongly believe that this quote is incredibly impactful and important. This simple phrase has forced me to hold my tongue in situations in which I am uneducated. Instead of adding to the chaos, I have chosen to take a step back and do the research. My only hope is that the rest of the public will follow my example. If more people were to take the time to become informed before engaging in an argument, there would be less hatred and confusion in this world. The idea of not speaking during an intense situation is often seen as weak or unfavored in our community, but this simple act can be incredibly empowering. By holding back from conversations, I am allowed to think and form an educated response. This time also allows the other people involved to reexamine their point of view. If we were to “Speak only if it improves upon the silence” this world would be a much more controlled and welcoming environment. This quote has moved me for these reasons.

I have been a competitive gymnast for the last 9 years, and I have coached gymnastics for almost 3 years. As my senior year comes to a close, so does my gymnastics career. This sport has challenged me mentally, physically, and emotionally over the past decade, but it has also provided me with wonderful life lessons. The hard work, preservice, and friendships that I have created will last a lifetime, and I could not be more grateful. I owe everything to this amazing sport, and I hope to continue to coach in the future and spread my love for gymnastics.

My heart was racing, and all I could hear was the rhythmic thumping inside of my chest quickening. My hands began to shake as I attempted to take a deep breath. It felt as though no oxygen was entering my lungs, and my head began to sway from side to side. Two minutes ago I was sitting in class attempting to prepare for a large chemistry test that was scheduled for later that week. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, I began to panic; I immediately got up and left the classroom. I then stumbled down the hall to the bathroom. I sat down on the floor as I frantically tried to calm myself down, which was unsuccessful. The next thing I remember is a person who I barely recognized sitting down beside me on the bathroom floor. A classmate from chemistry class had left the room as well and followed me into the bathroom. She was calm and helped me take control of my breathing fairly quickly. We sat on the cold, hard floor for a few minutes, and I began to get to know my fellow student. It turned out that she was a peer listener who was dedicated to improving the mental health of the student body. She had noticed the signs of distress I was displaying, and she decided to follow me in case I needed help. This classmate told me that she struggles with anxiety as well, and she understood the intense and confusing feelings I was experiencing at that moment. The simple act of having someone sitting by my side was the most reassuring and helpful thing that I had experienced in a long time. This classmate of mine took the time out of her day to simply sit and talk with me so that I wasn’t suffering alone. That moment, and person, will be forever etched in my mind. Furthermore, she inspired me to help others in a similar way. That following school year, I became a part of the peer listening program in order to help other students struggling with mental health. That moment convinced me to become involved in mental health outreach, and because of that, I have been able to help so many others work through their personal problems and concerns. This moment of pure kindness has helped define who I am today as well as what I chose to stand for. I aspire to help others the way that this girl helped me in a time of need.

My mental health journey began when I was only four years old. I was diagnosed with a brain tumor and suddenly my young life felt out of control. I had a rigorous schedule of clinic visits and doctor appointments, and there was nothing I could do but follow along. I can clearly remember walking into the classroom on my first day of first grade with my parents. The first thing I was asked to do was pick what lunch option I wanted for that day. Instead of making a decision and moving on with my day, I had a panic attack. That feeling of not being able to catch my breath was terrifying, and because I was so young, I didn’t understand what was going on. It didn’t take long before my parents and oncologist decided to put me on anxiety medication, which I have been on ever since. To this day, I struggle with anxiety and depression, but now that I am older, I am able to better control my thoughts and emotions. I have learned what strategies and techniques work best for me when I feel nervous or sad. I am able to understand how I feel, and most of the time I can identify what is causing my emotions to flare up. Although I have learned to better control myself, I still struggle with negative thoughts and feelings on a daily basis, and I know that I am not alone with this mental battle. Because I have struggled with anxiety and depression for some time, I feel as though I am able to better understand my peers when they are dealing with these feelings in their own lives. I am aware that I am lucky to have a family that I can talk to about my struggles because many of my peers do not have that same luxury. I know how difficult mental illness can be, and that is why I decided to join the peer listening program at my school. As a peer listener it is my responsibility to help spread mental health awareness around my school. This incredible group of students participates in many presentations, activities, and situations that most teenagers choose to avoid. I have had the opportunity to go into classrooms and speak directly to my fellow students about the side effects of mental health. I have also been able to speak directly to individuals who are facing problems in their lives. These encounters are completely confidential, and they simply allow students to speak with trained and qualified peers about what is troubling them at that time. This organization has helped to change the stigma that surrounds mental health, and I am honored to be a part of this group. Mental health awareness is incredibly important to me because I have dealt with many things in my own life, and now I have the confidence and ability to help others who are distressed. Peer listening has had a major impact on my future plans and goals. At this time, I want to go to college and become a biomedical engineer. This career path is a perfect blend of mathematics and psychology. I want to utilize that pathway to change the lives of those around me, and I believe that this is the perfect way to do that. My experiences have shaped who I am today, and I want the ability to improve the lives of people who are in need of help. I have had people who care about me and my well-being my entire life, and I want to be that person for those who feel like they have no one. Getting a diagnosis as having a mental health disorder can be an incredibly frightening event, and I can speak from personal experience. By simply being present for someone, a life can be saved. No one is alone in this world, and I want to make that clear to as many people as possible. My mental health journey has made me who I am today, and I want to share my knowledge with those in need of help. This is how my mental health has influenced my values, beliefs, and career aspirations.

Although I may seem like a normal highschool student at first glance, I have a past that many would never suspect. I grew up in an incredibly stable household with two amazing, loving, and successful parents. I have a younger sister who is my best friend, and I can easily say that I have had an incredibly happy childhood. However, there is one drastic difference between myself and the majority of my peers. I am a cancer survivor. I was diagnosed with a pontine glioma at the age of four. The tumor was near my brain stem located in the pons. At that time I was given a ten percent chance of survival. Surgery was not an option for me due to the size and placement of my tumor, so my parents chose chemotherapy. I had to undergo two full years of chemotherapy with weekly hospital visits. Being such a young girl, I really didn’t understand the severity of my situation, and frequent hospital appointments became my normal routine. MRI’s and appointments were weakly occurrences for many years. My cancer is a part of me, and I strongly believe that it made me the confident, resilient person I have become today. This journey has provided me with the ability to empathize with other families and children facing similar situations. I am able to provide hope for parents who are forced to watch their children suffer through a life threatening diagnosis. At the present time, I am a gymnastics coach, and I have been able to provide support to a close student of mine who was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor at five years old. I am someone that this family can reach out to when they have questions or concerns. My family and I completely understand the fears and worries that plague this incredible family, and I am so thankful that I can be a ray of positivity in their lives. As I am about to graduate highschool, I can reflect on how lucky and blessed I have been in my life. Not only did I beat childhood cancer, but I am now over ten years cancer free. That part of my life is completely behind me now, and I could not be more grateful. Cancer is a big piece of my history, but there is no way that I will let it affect my future. This chapter in my life has officially been closed.