Prioritizing My Mental Health: A Journey of Healing and Purpose From a young age, I’ve had a deep instinct to help others—whether in a courtroom, classroom, or hospital. As the first-born daughter of two Jamaican immigrants, I was raised to value resilience, faith, and hard work. My parents taught me to lead with my morals, stand up for myself and others, and always put family first. While these values shaped my ambition and sense of responsibility, they also made me believe that strength meant pushing through pain without slowing down. It wasn’t until I faced my own struggles that I learned prioritizing my well-being was not weakness—it was essential. That realization began in the spring of my eighth-grade year, during the height of the pandemic. I was a dedicated student, but the looming transition to high school, combined with months of isolation, filled me with overwhelming anxiety. One Thursday morning during virtual class, my teacher was talking about our final assignments when something inside me broke. My heart raced, my head spun, and I felt trapped in a wave of emotions I couldn’t control. Later, I realized I had experienced an anxiety attack—something I had been quietly battling for months. My mother, seeing my distress, suggested I speak to someone who could help. Two weeks later, I met Mrs. Lisa, a child and family therapist who shared my cultural background. In our sessions, she gave me the tools to manage high-functioning anxiety, teaching me to breathe through my problems and focus on what I could control. More importantly, she taught me that my mental health was worth protecting—that I didn’t have to sacrifice myself to care for others. I carried these lessons forward, but grief tested them in my junior year of high school when my grandmother passed away. She was a cornerstone of my life, and losing her left me feeling untethered. I found myself slipping back into old patterns—bottling up my emotions, withdrawing from friends, and doubting my ability to cope. For a while, I ignored the coping strategies I had learned, convinced I needed to “stay strong.” But over time, I recognized that the very habits I had abandoned were the ones that could save me. Slowly, I returned to therapy techniques, opened up to trusted friends and family, and allowed myself to grieve in a healthy way. Through this experience, I learned that making my mental health a priority isn’t a one-time decision—it’s an ongoing commitment. I now approach school, work, and life with the understanding that I am most effective when I am balanced and grounded. This shift has made me a better listener, problem solver, and advocate for myself and others. As I prepare for college, I know these lessons will guide me. I plan to study social work at UConn, with the goal of becoming a licensed social worker who focuses on mental health in communities of color. I want to be the kind of support that Mrs. Lisa was for me—especially for young people who feel pressured to appear strong while silently struggling. Prioritizing my mental health has shaped not only my personal life but also my career aspirations. It taught me that strength is not about carrying the heaviest load—it’s about knowing when to set it down, take a breath, and ask for help. That’s the kind of strength I want to help others discover in themselves.

From a young age, I’ve felt a deep urge to help others whether in a courtroom, classroom, or hospital. That instinct became the foundation of my dream to work in the mental health field, but it was shaped and tested by personal experiences that forced me to truly confront what it means to care for others and for myself. Raised as the first-born daughter of two Jamaican immigrants, I was taught the importance of resilience, faith, and moral grounding. My parents instilled in me a fierce work ethic and a belief that family always comes first. I grew up believing that emotional strength meant keeping things together no matter what but I’ve since learned that true strength lies in allowing yourself to feel, process, and heal. That lesson came into focus during the spring of my eighth-grade year, when I experienced my first major anxiety attack during virtual learning. The transition to high school, combined with the isolation of the pandemic, triggered overwhelming stress I couldn’t contain. It was my mother who, seeing my struggle, helped me connect with Mrs. Lisa a child and family therapist who looked like me and understood my background. With her guidance, I began to understand high-functioning anxiety, and I learned coping tools that still guide me today. But healing is not a straight line. In my junior year of high school, I lost my grandmother one of the most important people in my life. Her passing sent shockwaves through my emotional world. I felt myself unraveling, quietly slipping back into old habits I had worked so hard to overcome. I stopped expressing myself, withdrew from the people around me, and questioned everything, including my worth and purpose. Losing her left a void that no amount of academic achievement or responsibility could fill. Still, it was this period of grief that reaffirmed my commitment to mental health. I realized that loss especially when we don’t feel safe talking about it can become a silent, invisible weight that people carry alone. It deepened my empathy and gave me a new level of compassion for those who battle mental illness behind the scenes. I’ve come to see that sometimes, what people need most is someone who listens without judgment, who sees them even when they’re trying to hide. That’s who I want to be. As a pre-social work major at UConn, I’m preparing to become a mental health advocate and eventual licensed social worker focused on youth and families of color. I believe that suicide prevention starts with access to conversations, to resources, and to representation. I want to be the voice in the room that says, “You are not alone,” especially for Black girls and young people in immigrant households who feel the pressure to be strong all the time. Grief taught me to listen. Anxiety taught me to pause. My culture taught me to persevere. And now, I carry those lessons forward into a career where I hope to help others do the same.

From a young age, I felt a strong desire to help others whether in the courtroom, classroom, or hospital. I’ve always been driven by the instinct to support and advocate for those around me. As the first-born daughter of two Jamaican immigrants, I was raised with a deep belief in faith, resilience, and moral responsibility. My parents taught me to work hard, prioritize family, and never compromise my values—lessons that have shaped not only my character, but also my goals. My culture emphasized strength in the face of adversity. As a Black woman growing up in a predominantly white town, I often felt the pressure to be perfect, to excel, and to never show weakness. That pressure became overwhelming in middle school, culminating in an anxiety attack during remote learning. I had spent months silently managing high-functioning anxiety until it finally surfaced in a moment I couldn’t hide from. That experience, though painful, became a turning point. With the support of my mother and a therapist who shared my cultural background, I learned the importance of emotional wellness and the power of asking for help both for myself and for others. Meeting Mrs. Lisa, a Black child and family therapist, changed the way I saw myself and my future. For the first time, I felt seen and understood. She helped me recognize that strength doesn’t come from silence it comes from vulnerability, from healing, and from community. That experience is what sparked my desire to pursue a career in social work. I want to be the person who shows up for others especially young Black girls who feel unseen or unheard and help them know they matter. My work as a teacher assistant and administrative assistant at the Mount Olive Child Development Center has deepened that calling. I’ve supported students and families, learned how to communicate with compassion, and handled responsibilities that require trust, reliability, and attention to detail. I’ve also served as a public relations manager, choir leader, and volleyball team captain roles that taught me how to lead with both empathy and accountability. As I enter UConn’s main campus as a pre-social work major, I carry my culture with me in everything I do. It’s shaped my resilience, my leadership, and my commitment to service. I want to use my education to advocate for mental health awareness in underserved communities, especially among youth and families of color. My journey has taught me that healing is a form of activism and I hope to turn my personal experiences into a source of empowerment for others.

From a young age, I felt a strong desire to help others—whether in the courtroom, classroom, or hospital. This natural instinct to prioritize others often came at a cost: neglecting my own needs. I learned the hard way that while it’s wonderful to care for others, it’s equally important to care for myself. It was a Thursday morning in the spring of my eighth-grade year, and I was filled with anxiety about transitioning to high school just a few months away. I was a dedicated student, often prioritizing schoolwork over everything else. However, the stress and fear I had been harboring culminated in a breakdown. Having been cooped up at home for nearly an entire year, my worries about high school felt magnified. Though I had experienced anxiety attacks before, they were usually private moments—until that Thursday morning. As I settled at the dining room table, listening to my teacher discuss the importance of turning in our final assignments, something about her words triggered a spiral of overwhelming emotions. My heart raced, and my head spun; it felt like everything was happening all at once, and I couldn't escape it. In that moment, I thought I was merely upset, but later I realized I had experienced an anxiety attack—something I had been dealing with for months. My mother witnessed my breakdown and immediately comforted me. Later that day, she suggested I talk to someone who could help. About two weeks later, we found Mrs. Lisa, a child and family therapist. Meeting her changed my life. She helped me recognize that I was experiencing high-functioning anxiety and, more importantly, equipped me with tools that I still use today. My time with Mrs. Lisa lasted about a year, and her impact was profound. She taught me the importance of balance and how to focus on what I could control. As a Black woman with immigrant parents, I felt an immediate connection to her. It was comforting to talk with someone who understood my background and experiences, and I finally felt safe expressing my feelings without judgment. Through our sessions, I learned invaluable lessons about patience and the significance of listening—to myself and to others. I discovered that taking a step back and breathing through my problems was essential. By approaching challenges one step at a time, I could manage my anxiety more effectively. This shift in perspective not only helped me cope but also enhanced my problem-solving skills, enabling me to approach difficulties with greater resilience. Reflecting on my growth, I recognize how these experiences have shaped me. Each session with Mrs. Lisa allowed me to confront my feelings and understand the importance of self-care. I learned that helping others doesn’t mean sacrificing my own well-being. In fact, by caring for myself, I become better equipped to support those around me. This understanding has influenced my relationships and aspirations. I’ve become more open-minded, genuinely listening to others—not just to respond, but to understand. Empathy has become a cornerstone of how I interact with friends, classmates, and even strangers. I’ve seen how powerful it is to connect with someone who feels alone in their struggles, and I strive to be that supportive presence for others. As I prepare for the next chapter of my life, I carry these lessons with me. I am eager to contribute to my college community, sharing my experiences to foster a culture of understanding and support. I believe that my journey through anxiety and self-discovery has equipped me with a unique perspective that can positively impact those around me. In essence, my experiences have taught me resilience, independence, and the importance of self-reflection. I can confidently say that the challenges I faced have molded me into a stronger version of myself—one who is committed to helping others while remembering to care for my own needs. I look forward to using this growth to navigate the complexities of college life, continuing to learn and evolve as both an individual and a compassionate member of my community.