I try to have a positive impact on the world by spreading as much positivity as possible. I am only on the earth for a short time but I want my actions to live on after I am gone. I want to empower those around me to awaken their inner activist and do something that helps others. I believe that one small act of kindness has the power to change lives and that we should all try to counteract the negativity in the world by participating. I want to inspire others to use their voice and to make a difference in the world. I believe that there are too many people that complain yet do nothing to contribute to change. Positvity is contagious. If we all put out just a small amount of positivity, think of the giant difference we could make in the world. All it takes is one small act of random kindness.

My dream life looks like a beautiful, ambitious woman with a masters degree, a happy family, and a career of my own. I aspire to one day be the first person in my family to earn a college degree, and to own a house. I want to spend my life helping others and empowering those around me to do the same. I want to use my light to make the world a better place and spread positivity. My dream life involves inspiring others to become activists and make real life change happen. I want to be happy and successful so that I am able to help others feel the same. I believe that positivity is magnetic and contagious and I want to spread as much of it as possible in my short time on this earth. I want to make a lasting impact that will be around long after I am gone.

Actively listening to those around you involves much more than using your ears. You need to be able to actively engage with people when they are speaking. You have to look people in the eyes, take note of their body language, engage in the conversation, and overall just be aware of your surroundings. You need to be aware of your own body language and facial expressions to ensure that you are giving the right feedback. Actively listening means that you are comprehending what is being said and also making mental notes about the topic at hand to further delve into the content. An active listener will provide feedback and opinions without overbearing or interruption in the conversation. Actively listening means you are extremely aware and tuned in. It is important to be an active listener in every day life to know what is happening around you at all times and to improve your communication skills.

To be independent means to have full control of my own life. To earn my own money and depend on no one else for help. To be independent means that I have finally achieved a life where I am able to build and thrive without oppression or obstacles. The impact it would have on myself to be independent would be a sense of pride and achievement of being the first person in my family to not only graduate college, but to become successful and not on drugs. All of my family has succumbed to the drug epidemic and has not been able to become independent or successful. I want to break the generational cycles that plague my family and make something of myself. I want my children to know that their mother is successful and independent and show them that they are capable of doing anything in life. I want to become successful so that my children have a stable upbringing and are able to become successful themselves one day.

Waking up every morning with BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder) can be quite challenging, and even scary at times. If I could describe it in a visual scenario, I imagine it being comparable to taking your pick out of a grab bag full of mental illnesses. You never quite know what you're going to get. Sometimes it may only be one symptom, other times it is every symptom you can think of, overwhelming you to the point of numbness. There are times when I try to be positive and say that my mental illness is a gift. A gift that allows me to feel emotions deeper than others. Then there are the dark times, where I feel cursed with so much unbearable pain. A pain that could never truly be understood by other people, unless they have BPD as well. I found that talking to someone who shared my diagnosis has proven to be extremely beneficial for me in my healing. It is comforting to know that there are other people who understand and who know exactly what I go through. In this world that is so vastly connected, it is important to know that you are not alone, and there is nothing wrong with reaching out. It is also extremely important to remember that a diagnosis does not define a person. My mental illness does not make me any less "me". I want to help others like me, who felt alone, to know that there are people who understand exactly what it is like.