During the COVID-19 pandemic, my grandfather (Ronald F Schell) had been slowly deteriorating from Congestive Heart Failure as I had my driver's permit and learning to drive. He began to show signs of depression more noticeable than before. He just seemed to know that his time was coming sooner rather than later and the social distancing for the time being also took a toll on not only me but him as well. It was the summer before my sophomore year when he passed away around noon. He had come home from being in Canada and fishing with my dad and brother. He dropped my brother and dad off but I was in a class and I thought I would see him after for dinner like usual. Unfortunately, I was wrong, he got home to the house to say " I love you" to my grandmother and then an hour went by and his heart went out and he was no longer here. I immediately got a wrench in my stomach after my grandma called with a panicked and sad tone asking my mom to head over to the house to help with everything. I had not released that time with those you love can go by in the blink of an eye. The loss of losing my grandfather showed me that time is precious even though you think you will have time at the end of the day. He was always my rock and my biggest support with whatever I was doing or choosing to do for my job. I now know that in order to fight for what I want and achieve it takes goals that add upon each other, talking with those that I still have here to help guide me through difficult times. I take the little moments and cherish those that I have and give thanks to those I have lost all while knowing that even when I have my bad days or my mental health takes a toll I have the strength of my grandfather and others I have lost coaching me and giving me a path to go on if I can't see it myself.

I have been impacted with Mental Health struggles from the age of 13. I battle it everyday with sometimes good days and bad. My family is understanding of the mental health issues that I have come to terms with. I have been told that I am great at educating other about social justice issues and education in order to make sure you take care of your mental health and ask for help when you need it. I have had a hard time asking for help and still do because I think I can do everything on my own but in reality I can't. My mom was the one who helped me and started my therapy and reaching out for help when I couldn't do it myself because it was a hard concept for my brain to understand. Hearing about Cade and how it has impacted his family and Waunakee High school with peer pressure and using substances tied into not only peer pressure but societal norms has made me realize that the world needs more Social Workers, Substance Abuse Counselor's, Cops and more in order to help and step in for those who need help but don't know how or afraid to ask for help because it seems weak or selfish. I hope to make a bigger impact on the youth I will help and give them a place person to come and talk to for a safe person and space with no judgement.