Mental Health has been a vital component of individuals well-begin, while also begin misunderstood. Throughout my personal journey I have faced an unimaginable amount of self-doubt, anxiety, extremely bad thoughts, and so much more. These feelings that might've came from a huge amount of overwhelmed stress, while also affecting my daily interactions with friends and family. By coming to terms with my mental begin I knew that I needed help and this was the first step to get my life back on track. By going to therapy and learning different coping mechanisms, such as how to deal with high stress and anxiety, high waves of sadness , and dealing with negative thoughts. This reshaped and reframed my perspective on life. The process of recovering and healing myself has taught me that ignoring my pains and struggles was hurting me more than I thought. By acknowledging that I needed therapy was not a sign of weakness but a healing step towards getting my mental state back on track. While also going to therapy and using my coping mechanisms, I tapped in to what actual self care can do for you. Even As simple as mediating and journaling has become apart of my daily self care routine. While Journaling I always look up different things to write about or goals I have for my self within the upcoming months. I found that doing this helps keeps my mind clear of any negative feelings and gives me things to look forward to. By adding these self care tips to my everyday life, it makes my life so much more easier and helped me to develop a stronger bond within myself. While I continue my journey toward a mental well-begin, this also made me speak up more about mental health and mental struggles that others might be facing. One great way to do this is to start opening up more conversations about mental health. Mental health has always been such a touchy and uncomfortable subject but that's because there isn't enough conversations begin had about it. I aim to be able to create a safe space not only for people close to me but for others as well. By sharing my experience and what I've been through while also encouraging others to speak up and speak out about theirs. By having and creating safe spaces for people who may feel uncomfortable talking about their mental health can make the conversations easier. Engaging within my community by, going to local organizations, seminars, and staying educated is also very valuable. Just by showing and raising awareness could change someone's life for the better. Topics like managing stress, emotional well begin and the importance of seeking help and healing your inner self, can help individual take charge and control of their mental health. Overcoming mental health challenges will always be a continuous journey, but it is one that is filled with tons of growth and healing with many highs and very low lows. By addressing my own struggles with mental health I've gained a lot of knowledge that motivates me to speak up more about mental health. Together we can create a better world,society, and community that can understand and accept mental health awareness. Through open conversation and begin active in your community, we can foster a culture of support and awareness.

Choosing my college major was a significant decision in my life. From begin extremely indecisive to what I wanted to do, because I wanted to do everything. While I was considering what college major I was going to pursue I knew I had to consider all the factors that came with it. I knew I wanted to help people and make a positive impact on my community, but I wasn’t sure how I wanted to do that. With the major I chose there comes a lot of negativity. While taking all these factors into consideration I chose Social Work as my major. I believe Social Work is a huge field that plays a vital role when addressing social injustices, advocating for marginalized populations and promoting social change. Social Work is an amazing field that trains individuals in families and communities to overcome challenges, access numerous resources and improve their mental wellbeing. By choosing to major in Social Work I hope and plan to use my skills to advocate for social justice and social injustice, empower my community and create a positive change. For centuries Social work has its roots since the early 20th century as a result of growing concerns about poverty, inequality and social welfare. Key figures in this field such as Alice Walker, and Dorothy Height have made significant contributions to advancing the Social Work Profession and advocating for social justice. People like Jane Addams who have pioneered in the Social work field, founded the Hull House in 1889, which was able to provide social services and support communities in chicago. Mary Richmond who founded modern casework emphasized the importance of assessments and intervention in Social Work Practice. Dorothy Height who was a lifelong civil activist and social worker, fought for racial and gender equality and played a key role in this field as well. These individuals have paved a way for future social workers, and gave the profession a respected name. For a profession to be dedicated to promoting human rights and social justice, I know that they align with my values and goals. As a future Social Work Major, I am inspired by the key figures in this field and their work. I am committed to using my education and skills to advocate for social change and empower individuals and different communities. Social work has a huge impact on communities and plays a huge role in addressing social issues. By having the ability to enhance the quality of life for people within different age ranges and backgrounds, I know that I could impact their lives for the better. Although Social work is not all sunshines and rainbows, I know I would be up to the treacherous challenges that come with the job. With the great highs and the very low lows, I know that it will be intense but in the end rewarding. I know that I have chosen the right major because of its core values and challenging scenarios, I plan to impact my community.

Through out my life I've met people who have come and gone. I've lost friendships, built relationship with teachers who I'd never thought I would. One indiviual who has impacted my life is Mrs. Lenora Kerley, my middle school history teacher, my mentor, and someone who has been there through it all. She lifted me up in a time of desperate need, In a time when I needed my voice heard. By instilling me when powerful and wise words to keep me here and alive and knowing that I have full potential to be anything that I chose to be. My first encounter with Mrs. Kerley was my 6th period History class. I had just moved and I was new to the school. In begin the new kid I was struggling to fit it and was begin picked on and teased by some of the other kids. While a lot of the other teachers just let it happen Mrs. Kerley did not. She would check on me from time to time to make sure I was adjusting okay. Deep down I was extremely depressed and was slowing digging myself into the dark dark hole. I was crying myself to sleep every night, falling asleep in class and even struggling to go to school. Mrs. Kerley saw through me. She would tell me to journal my feelings and she would read them and give me ideas and suggestions to help. Not a day went by that she didn't check on me or make sure that I was okay. By begin heard by someone I knew that I had way more to give to the world than I thought. I knew that I couldn't just let myself get to the point that life was to hard for me to handle. Mrs. Kerley was constantly motivating me to explore different aspects of my life, personality, interest, and hobbies. It could be as simple as joining a club or trying to make a new friend each day or pushing me to come outside of my shell. Her genuine interest of me becoming a better version of myself made me feel like "wow someone actually cares". To say that Mrs. Kereley has profoundly Impacted my life is an understatement, she changed my life for the better. Her unwavering faith in becoming a better version of myself, relentless support, and her compassion has play an huge role in my life today. I am where I am right now because of her. She became someone that she didn't have to be. A second mother. She is someone who I think about every single day. She is the reason why I am now a big advocate for mental health. To have expereinced it and feel like no one is hearing you is truly heartbreaking. She is the reason I am here and alive today.

The LGBTQIA+ community has existed for years, even if they were quiet about who they loved or were extremely open about it. As a part of the LBTQIA+ community, my first encounter came very early in life. In middle school, one of my perfect friends came out as a lesbian to me. Although I didn't know then what that meant I knew that whoever she liked didn't matter to me, as long as she stayed my friend. It became an eye-opener because I was so ingrained in the fact that loving someone could only be between a man and a woman. These beliefs challenged my mind to become more open and do a lot of googling. Although I accepted my friend didn't mean everyone else did. Seeing and witnessing my friend be picked, teased, and messed with more times than none made me feel like I wasn't doing enough for her. I knew deep down that It shouldn't matter what someone else likes or who they choose to love. This encounter with my friend led to a lot of self-evaluation and being more aware of how much the LGBTQIA+ community is affected. It later sparked my interest to speak up and become an advocate for the community. This encounter pushed me to find ways and opportunities to support the LGBTQIA+ community. Later in life when I finally found myself I also came out as lesbian which made me even more tied to speak up and speak out against discrimination in my community. The LGBTQIA+ community has struggles that trace back through history, oppression, and the fight for equality. Around the 20th century, the LGBTQIA+ movement gained momentum and marked huge events such as the Stonewall Riots, which was a huge turning point. Key figures like Marsha P. Johnson, Slyvia Rivera, and Harvey Milk played an enormous role in advocating for the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community The LGBTQIA+ movement provides insight not only into systematic discrimination but also violence that the community has faced. The events and figures that have shaped the trajectory of the LGBTQIA+ community have also inspired allies to advocate more. The history behind the LGBTQIA+ community has informed me in more ways than none of the struggles that have occurred in the past and present. Further motivating not only me but others to fight for equality. My encounter with a member of the LGBTQIA+ and myself as I am part of the community as well has shaped and impacted my life tremendously. It has bettered my understanding of social justice issues and has taught me to speak up and spread the word about LGBTQIA+ rights. Key figures, and history within the community it is clear that socializing and engaging with the LGBTQIA+ community has the potential to change the ways others think and help create a more passionate world.

Humans for centuries before humankind, have sparked ideas and concepts about the nature of our universe. The topic of our universe has driven scientists, and philosophers to gain more knowledge and understanding of the universe and our place within it. We must strive to better understand our universe for multiple reasons. First, having a deeper understanding of the universe allows us to appreciate the universe for its beauty. The more knowledge we learn about the universe, the better we can understand its wonders and sense of awe for the natural world. Furthermore, understanding the universe enables us to create questions about our origins, and our fate. With this type of view of our universe, it can have a great impact on our sense of purpose and meaning in life. The knowledge of how the universe works can benefit humankind in many ways. With the advancement in astronomy and physics, it has led ups to the development of great things such as satellite communication and GPS. The knowledge gained from understanding the universe has also led to the development of energy sources and improved weathering forecasts. With this development, we can have a deeper understanding of the universe and therefore have these developments to help benefit individuals and societies. Understanding the universe allows us to create and form ideas and questions that have captivated the human race for centuries. Questions such as the origins of the universe, the nature of time, and life that may be beyond our planet, can provide us with insight into the nature of reality. We as humans can expand the way our minds move and think by challenging our assumptions and views about the universe, and better understand not only ourselves but also the world we live in. To better understand the universe, I hope to compel a series of ideas and different concepts that can be valuable. One of the millions of Ideas that I find captivating is the Big Bang Theory. This theory suggests the universe started at this hot point and just continued to expand. This idea was recognized by the scientist Georges Lemaître. Before the birth of the universe space, time, and matter didn't exist. The Big Bang Theory has given individuals enhanced knowledge of what the universe was like before there was something to even be considered a universe In conclusion, understanding the nature of our universe is a deeply and compelling idea to encounter. By having a deeper understanding of the universe, we can learn to appreciate its beauty, address and ask questions, and look at the universe from a different perspective. I hope to explore and gain knowledge on key concepts such as the Big Bang Theory in pursuit of my knowledge of the universe. The concepts and ideas have been shaped by some of the greats such as Copernicus, Georges Lemaître, Einstein, and many others which have left behind a great deal of lasting knowledge. It is detrimental to understand not only the positive but as well as the negative aspects of the nature of the universe to unravel the mysteries of the world. To understand the nature of our universe is something that the minds of individuals have to spark a spirit of curiosity, exploration, and wonder.

When I was younger I never really knew what I wanted to be, It seemed as though everyone else did. I faced my toughest years in middle school. I was picked on constantly, bullied and didn't have any friends. This caused me to go into a deep deep depression. I would try every way possible to miss school because I was too tired to be picked on and made fun of for no reason. It got so bad that at one point all my teachers started to notice and they began to keep a close eye on me. I needed help but didn't know how to ask or who to ask. This took a toll on my mental health. I thought to myself I should be happy and have the best memories of my middle school life, there has to be something wrong with me. Then things got even worse before they became better. I ended up moving halfway through middle school. My parents just got divorced and I ended up living with my mom. This new school was even worse. It got so bad to where I would just sit in the guidance counselor office and tell her about my problems or what I was feeling. I felt as though even though people were listening I wasn’t begin heard . From that day I knew what I wanted to do in my life and what I wanted to be. I knew that I wanted to help kids and people in general get the real help they need. So from 7th grade and I'm a junior in high school now I knew that I wanted to open up a therapy center to help people get the help they need. This center is going to have all types of things like pools, art rooms, technology rooms. I want people to do the things they love to do while talking about what’s hurting them the most. Lots of people like myself get uncomfortable just talking and looking directly at something, it makes me not even want to talk at all. This center is also going to be way more affordable because while there are lots of people who need help, they can’t get it because of how expensive it is. I hope to make this a positive impact on the world because it is needed now more than ever. Imagine having access to affordable therapy, that includes things you might love to do and enjoy. It makes them feel like they are actually begin heard instead of just begin. I hope one day to make this dream come true or come close to it. We need to be heard.

One wish I will forever and always want to see change is racism. As a Black identifying person in the U.S., I knew that I would have to navigate my life a certain way. I have to act a certain to get certain jobs or to even be considered for jobs. POC in general has to face this daily. Although racism mainly comes from a systematic standpoint, it is also in the general public as well. A lot of people see POC as beneath them or less because of where we came from or how we grew up. From a young age, I was taught to not do ANYTHING that would even see me as a threat to non-POC or cops because we all know what their first instinct would be, and I know my parents would want me to come home and not have to see me on the news. This change is going to take years and years to get over and it might never end but we are making progress. From the protest, sharing links, getting the word out, and spreading information that can help has done us justice. Every day we may never know if we are going to make it home and that scares me but I try not to let it get to me. The change is big and it will take a long time for it to come into effect, but as long as we can keep voicing our opinions and making sure our voice is getting heard it gets us a step closer. This topic will always be sensitive and hard to talk about it but I have, we have to. POC has been silenced for too long, we've been hushed and told to keep quiet for too long. We belong and matter just as much as anyone else. Life is harder for us because the majority of Black/African Americans don't come from money or wealthy families. We have to face discrimination every day, hate crimes and so much more. We also have to search up and down for places that are safe for us to even go because of how we are perceived by others. We aren't just objects that will take how others talk about us; when we do, we are described as "the angry black women or man". I can say we are the most successful and have worked so hard for our achievements from the first black woman in Congress in 1969, the first black woman to serve as us senator in 1933, to so many more in 2022. There were a lot of first for POC and we need to recognize them more, say their names not just the color of their skin but SAY their names. Hopefully, we'll get to the point where we won't have to worry.

A figure I admire from History would have to be, Mary Church Terrell. Mary was a renowned educator and a speaker who fought extremely hard for women's suffrage and equality, and she isn't talked about enough. Mary was born in a time when women weren't expected to have any type of education, but that didn't stop her. Her father sent her to Ohio for college where she earned a bachelor's and a master's degree. She stayed committed to her academic achievements despite what the world thought of her as a woman and an African American and moved to Washington D.C. to teach High School. She based her life around education and progress but that would later come to an end when she spurred into activism. Mary lost a childhood friend to a lynch in 1892, which is why she started her activism. She and others including a well-known journalist Ida B. Wells organized an anti-lynching campaign to gain awareness of the ongoing problem in honor of her childhood friend. She held her ground to the idea of racial uplift and the belief that blacks could end racial discrimination, by making themselves knowns through their work, education, and activism and not by the color of their skin. Mary's words "Lifting as we climb" later on became the motto for the group she co-founded in 1896 called, the National Association Of Colored Women (NACW). She continued her work for many years, fighting, and protesting on behalf of social progress for women of color for more than a century. She continued her work while in her 80s in hopes to end segregation in restaurants in Washington DC. After all her hard work she passed away in her home in Highland Beach, Maryland, but her work here is never forgotten.

From a young age or at least at an age where I could understand expressions and how others viewed me, I felt that there was something wrong with me. Could it be what I was wearing? or could it be that my hair was different? I asked my mom and I said "mom why are they looking at us like that", and she responds "I'm not sure just some people don't like us." The biggest problem we are facing right now is the racial hate against POC such as Blacks, African Americans, Asians, Native Americans, etc. I, Myself as a black person have and still experienced so much hate just for the color of my skin. We are beaten, hurt, and killed for it as well. This has been a problem for the longest time and doesn't even seem to be close to getting fixed. The BLM movement was one of the biggest and most successful protests we had to voice our opinion. That is one of the many ways we and I can help. Get the word out, and educate others. Social media is a big way we can educate others on a very much so sensitive topic. Another way we can work on this problem is by simply sharing links for POC who were done wrong and not given the right justice that they deserved. There are hundreds of websites that you can donate to help fund the cost. Although this is a systematic issue we can still fight to change the system, it has been broken for too long and we've had enough. This is a global issue. POC was wronged and not serviced the justice they deserved. George Perry Floyd Jr, Breonna Taylor, Sandra Bland, David McAtee, Elijah McClain, may they rest in power.