Growing up, I had the perception that mental health issues were a self-fought battle, as I had witnessed my dad battle anxiety, often quietly, for many years. That was until sophomore year, when a friend invited me to join the Methuen High Mental Health Parent-Student Advisory Council (MHPSAC). The noble nature of the work initially drew me in; however, the more I learned, the more I became invested in making a positive impact on my school community. One of my favorite memories was an assembly hosted by Thinkfast Interactive, a group devoted to educating students about important topics while also entertaining them. The topic was bullying prevention, something that isn’t necessarily fun or intriguing, but students were engaged, and the talking points had really stuck with each person. This was exactly what MHPSAC was aiming for: a dynamic speaker who could inspire the audience to be trained preventionists against bullying. This taught me the importance of creating spaces for meaningful conversations. Through my involvement with MHPSAC, I came to understand that service is not defined by recognition, but by actions that can be small but meaningful. For example, MHPSAC, aware that students may find it difficult to take care of their mental health given assignments, extracurricular activities, and personal commitments, created a mural in our school to remind students that their “mind deserves care”. After watching my father quietly navigate anxiety. I took action by being part of MHPSAC and encouraging students to prioritize their mental health. I will continue to contribute to addressing the youth mental health crisis affecting our communities. After college, I plan to attend dental school and become a dentist. What drew me in initially was the noble purpose of becoming a doctor, and over time, that interest has grown into a genuine passion for making a difference in my community. This deep rooted commitment stems from the morals and values that were instilled in me by my parents, who emphasized the importance of community within the household and as a member of society. I hope to continue on this path in life with a dental profession that will allow me to put smiles on people's faces (literally with their teeth). Once I achieve my professional goals, I hope to serve others through many small but meaningful acts that improve people’s daily lives. A scholarship like this will enable me to take a step closer to that dream, and achieve my goal of opening my practice and building a local client base. I want to give back and serve the community I grew up in.

Growing up, I had the perception that mental health issues were a self-fought battle, as I had witnessed my dad battle anxiety, often quietly, for many years. That was until sophomore year of high school, when a close friend of mine invited me to join the Mental Health Parent-Student Advisory Council (MHPSAC). This council really resonated with me, as I felt a personal connection due to my dad. I was introduced to the various support programs available in the community, especially for young adults suffering from mental health issues. The noble nature of the work initially drew me in; however, the more I learned, the more I became invested in making an impact. The fact that one-third of Americans suffer from mental health issues really opened my eyes to how large-scale the issue is. I dedicated the next four years to this advisory council, and I’m proud of how much we were able to achieve as a group. One of my favorite memories from this experience was when we hosted a ThinkFast Interactive show. It was a show aimed at educating students about important topics while also entertaining them. The topic selected was bullying prevention, something that isn’t necessarily fun or intriguing, but all of the students were engaged as it was presented in a game show format. Looking back, I recall students and teachers speaking very positively of the show. Most importantly, the talking points had really stuck with each person. This was exactly what the MHPSAC was aiming for: an engaging speaker who can entertain the audience and inspire them to be trained preventionists against bullying when they witness it firsthand. This experience taught me the importance of creating spaces for important conversations. I didn’t limit my work with MHPSAC to Methuen High School. I visited summits every year, hosted by the Nan Project, where I was further exposed to the numerous resources and support available across the state. One moment I remember in particular was getting the opportunity to speak to various representatives from access centers in Massachusetts. This discussion made me realize that my support wasn't just bound to my city, but throughout the entire state. Throughout my time at MHPSAC, I’ve learned that collaboration is key to change and impact. One individual can only do so much to address the youth mental health crisis, but by working collaboratively with like-minded peers, I can achieve a lot more effectively. This was evident when we worked together to make a counselling resources video. This video reaches students across Methuen High School during the first connections lesson of every school year, demonstrating the lasting impact of collaborative work. Students of all age groups need to take care of their mental health. However, that can become difficult to do given the amount of assignments, extracurricular activities, and personal commitments students have on their plates. With so much going on, it’s important to find a balance and maintain a support system around you. For this very reason, MHPSAC created a mural in our school to remind students that their “mind deserves care.” Although it can be seen as impactful artwork, it may not persuade students to act if they don’t necessarily think that the idea being expressed is compelling enough to act upon, or if they don’t believe in the idea at all. Therefore, a main takeaway from my experience is that it is essential to work collaboratively. Doing so allows for a more collective and organized effort to achieve the desired results when addressing mental health issues. The lessons I learned as a member of this council will stick with me for a lifetime, shaping how I contribute to my future campus and the communities I become part of. After college, I plan to attend dental school and become a dentist. What drew me in initially was the noble purpose of becoming a doctor, and over time, that interest has grown into a genuine passion for making a difference in my community. I hope to put smiles on people's faces (literally with their teeth) through a dental profession. I believe I can have a greater positive impact as a Dentist by serving underrepresented communities where people may not have the privilege of prioritizing dental care. I would like to educate underrepresented communities about the importance of dental health and provide them with the necessary support to ensure they can care for their oral health. I hope to empower those who may go unnoticed in the dental profession. Once I achieve my professional goals, I hope to give back through many small acts of service that make meaningful change in people’s lives.

Growing up, I had the perception that mental health issues were a self-fought battle, as I had witnessed my dad battle anxiety, often quietly, for many years. That was until sophmore year, when a friend invited me to join the Methuen High Mental Health Parent-Student Advisory Council (MHPSAC). The noble nature of the work initially drew me in; however, the more I learned, the more I became invested in making a positive impact on my school community. One of my favorite memories was an assembly hosted by Thinkfast Interactive, a group devoted to educating students about important topics while also entertaining them. The topic was bullying prevention, something that isn’t necessarily fun or intriguing, but students were engaged, and the talking points had really stuck with each person. This was exactly what MHPSAC was aiming for: a dynamic speaker who could inspire the audience to be trained preventionists against bullying. This taught me the importance of creating spaces for meaningful conversations. Through my involvement with MHPSAC, I came to understand that service is not defined by recognition, but by actions that can be small but meaningful. For example, MHPSAC, aware that students may find it difficult to take care of their mental health given assignments, extracurricular activities, and personal commitments, created a mural in our school to remind students that their “mind deserves care”. After watching my father quietly navigate anxiety. I felt compelled to take action by being part of MHPSAC and encouraging students to prioritize their mental health. I will continue to contribute to addressing the youth mental health crisis affecting our communities. After college, I plan to attend dental school and become a dentist. What drew me in initially was the noble purpose of becoming a doctor, and over time, that interest has grown into a genuine passion for making a difference in my community. This deep rooted commitment stems from the morals and values that were instilled in me by my parents, who emphasized the importance of community within the household and as a member of society. I hope to continue on this path in life with a dental profession that will allow me to put smiles on people's faces (literally with their teeth). Growing up, I received simple acts of kindness from my teachers, neighbors, and others in my community, and their support has helped shape who I am today. Once I achieve my professional goals, I hope to serve others through many small but meaningful acts that improve people’s daily lives. A scholarship like this will enable me to take a step closer to that dream, and achieve my goal of opening my practice and building a local client base. I want to give back and serve the community I grew up in.