In high school, I’ve always tried to be there for my friends who are struggling with their mental health. I know how hard it can be to feel alone, so I make sure to check in with my friends, especially when I notice they’re having a rough time. If they’re upset or feeling down, I listen and just let them know I care. I’ve also shared my own struggles with things like anxiety and depression, because I think it helps others feel like it’s okay to talk about their own problems. I’ve had friends reach out to me because of this, and it feels good to know that I made a difference in their lives, even if it was just by listening. I’ve also tried to raise awareness about mental health at school. Last year, I helped organize a small event where we talked about self-care, breaking the stigma around therapy, and how to get help when you need it. It wasn’t a huge event, but I could see that it made some people feel more comfortable talking about their own mental health. The more we talk about it, the less scary it feels for everyone. In the future, I want to study psychology and become a counselor or therapist. I’ve always felt passionate about helping others with their mental health, and I want to be someone people can trust to talk to when they need help. I think mental health is just as important as physical health, and I want to learn how to help others cope with what they’re going through in healthy ways. By studying psychology, I hope to understand more about the mind and how to make people feel safe and supported. My goal is to help others feel heard and not alone, just like I wish I had when I was struggling.

I’ve struggled with depression and anxiety for a long time. There were days when I felt trapped in my own mind, overwhelmed by negative thoughts I couldn’t escape and felt like I would never be normal again. I often felt like I was alone like no one would understand. It wasn’t until I hit a really low point and reached out for help that I realized how important it is to talk about mental health. That moment changed everything for me, it made me realize that asking for help is the first step to healing and that no one should have to go through it alone. Because of my own experiences, I’m pursuing a degree in mental health. I want to help others who feel the way I did, alone and lost. I know how hard it can be to reach out, and I want to be someone who others can talk to without feeling judged. I want to offer a safe space where people feel comfortable sharing what they’re going through. My goal was to be the kind of support that I needed when I was struggling. I want to give people the same hope that I found when I learned it was okay to ask for help and that it’s okay to not be okay. From my own journey, I’ve learned the value of simply having someone listen. I want to be a counselor or therapist who doesn’t just give advice, but truly listens and helps people feel heard. I want to show others that their feelings are valid, and that it’s okay to not have everything figured out. Sometimes just having someone around you to talk to can make all the difference in the world. As I work toward my degree, I plan to learn as much as I can about mental health so I can help others manage their struggles in healthy ways. I also want to break the stigma around mental health, especially for young people. Too many of us are taught to keep our struggles hidden or told to just “get over it.” I want to change that by encouraging open conversations and supporting others in their journey to feel better. Mental health matters, and I want to make a difference by being there for others, just like someone was there for me. If I can help even one person feel heard and supported, I’ll know I’m on the right path.

My experience with mental health has really changed the way I see things, especially how I look at myself, others, and what I want to do in the future. For a long time, I struggled with anxiety and depression but didn’t really know how to talk about it. I felt isolated and didn’t understand why I felt the way I did. It was hard to explain, and I was scared people wouldn’t understand or would think I was overreacting. But after talking to a teacher and my family, I realized that asking for help and talking about mental health is not something to be ashamed of. That conversation helped me feel heard, and it made me understand that mental health is just as important as physical health. What I learned from this experience is that it’s okay to not always feel okay. We all go through tough times, and sometimes we just need someone to listen. I used to think I had to deal with everything on my own, but I’ve learned that support from others makes a huge difference. Since then, I’ve been more open with my friends and family about how I’m feeling. It’s made me realize how important it is to have people who care about you and are there when you need them. Because of what I went through, I’ve become a more understanding person. I’ve noticed that sometimes people might seem like they’re okay on the outside but could be struggling on the inside. I try to check in on my friends more often and make sure they know I’m here for them. Just having someone ask, “Are you okay?” or “Do you want to talk?” can make a big difference for someone who’s feeling down. I’ve also started to share more of my own experiences with mental health because I’ve learned that talking about it helps others feel like they’re not alone. This experience has also influenced what I want to do in the future. After everything I’ve been through, I want to help others who are dealing with similar issues. I’m really interested in becoming a counselor or therapist, so I can help people who are struggling with their mental health. I think it’s so important to have a safe space where people can talk about their feelings without judgment. I want to be that person who listens and helps others feel supported. In the future, I plan to study psychology and learn more about how mental health works. I want to understand the science behind mental health issues so I can be a better counselor and help people through difficult times. I also want to help raise awareness about mental health in schools because so many people go through it and don’t know where to turn. By breaking the stigma and making it easier to talk about, I hope to create a more supportive community for everyone. Overall, my experience with mental health has made me passionate about helping others and making sure no one feels like they’re facing their struggles alone. I want to use what I’ve learned to make a real difference and support others who need it.

Mental health and suicide prevention are both really important topics for my generation because so many of us are dealing with things that we don’t always talk about. There’s so much pressure to be perfect, whether it’s at school, on social media, or even with friends and family. A lot of us feel like we have to keep it together all the time, even when we’re struggling. To be completely honest, it can feel just so lonely, and that’s why a huge majority teens don’t reach out for help until it’s too late and theyve already been pushed too far. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death for people my age, and that’s honestly terrifying to think about. It shows that we really need to start talking about mental health and take it seriously. For me personally, dealing with depression and anxiety completely changed the way I see pretty much everything. There was a time when I felt like I was stuck in my own head, constantly overthinking everything and feeling like I couldn’t measure up. I didn’t want anyone to know what I was going through because I thought they’d judge me or wouldn’t get it. But when I finally talked to someone about it, one of my best friends, it was like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders. I felt safe in my own mind for the first time in years. That experience taught me how much it matters to have someone in your life who truly listens, and it’s why I’m so passionate about mental health now. What I’ve gone through has also changed how I act in my relationships. I try to be the person my friends can come to when they’re having a hard time because I know how much it helps to have someone there. Even just asking someone how they’re doing or letting them know I’m there for them can make a difference. It’s made me realize that so many people are struggling silently, and sometimes, they just need someone to notice and care. My experiences with mental health have also influenced what I want to do in the future. I want to work as a counselor or therapist so I can help people the way I was helped. I think it’s so important to create a space where teens and young adults feel safe enough to open up and get the support they need. I also want to push for more mental health awareness in schools because if more people knew how to get help or even just felt comfortable talking about it, I think it could save lives. Mental health and suicide prevention aren’t just important topics; they’re personal to me, and I’m determined to make a difference.

From my own experience, being bullied is really hard, and it still affects how I see myself and where I fit in as a high school senior. I know how it feels to feel small, helpless, and like nobody understands what you’re going through at all. That’s why I’ve tried my best to stand up for others, even when it’s not always easy. At school, I’ve helped with things like anti-bullying events and have tried to be a safe person that someone can talk to when they’re struggling. I’m not perfect, but I understand how much it means to just have someone listen or stick up for you when you don’t know how to do it yourself. One thing I want to work on more is speaking up for students who feel like they don’t have a voice. Schools need better ways to handle bullying—like actually listening to students when they report it and making sure adults do something about it. I’d also like to help start a peer support group where students can talk openly and give advice to each other. It’s not a big thing, but I think small actions like these could make schools a little safer for everyone. My experiences with bullying are also why I want to go into mental health. I know how it feels to need help but do not know where to start or am scared to ask for it. A lot of kids and teens feel this way, especially when they’re being bullied, and it’s not fair that getting help can feel so complicated. When I grow up, I want to make mental health care easier to get for kids and teens. I’d like to work on making schools and mental health professionals work together better so kids don’t fall through the cracks. I also want to teach students that it’s okay to ask for help and that taking care of your mental health isn’t embarrassing. For now, I’m trying to learn more about mental health and support my friends when they’re going through tough times. I’ve also talked to school counselors about ways to improve mental health programs in our school, like making resources easier to find. I know I can’t change everything right now as I'm only one person, but I’m trying my best to do what I can with what I have. I’ve been in a place where it feels like no one understands, and I want to be the kind of person who does. Even if it’s just helping one person, I know it’ll make a difference.

My interest in mental health comes from a very personal place. In 7th grade, I began struggling with depression and anxiety. At the time, it felt like I was constantly drowning in my thoughts without an escape. I didn’t know how to explain what I was going through, so I kept it bottled up for years, thinking no one would understand. Eventually, it got to the point where I was struggling so badly that I had to reach out, and I opened up to one of my friends about everything. That was the first time I felt seen and heard, and it made me realize how important it is to have someone in your corner when life feels impossible. Last year, I took AP Psychology, which completely changed the way I see mental health. Learning about the brain, how emotions work, and why mental illnesses develop helped me understand my own experiences better. It wasn’t just textbook stuff for me; it was real. The class made me realize just how many people struggle silently and how much mental health impacts everything: relationships, school, and even just getting through the day. One thing that has always stuck with me was how much stigma there still is around mental health, even though so many people deal with it. That’s when I knew I wanted to be part of the change, to help others feel less alone. While I’m not out organizing major events or running awareness campaigns, I do what I can to support those around me. After going through my own struggles, I’ve tried to be more open about my experiences. I’ve had friends tell me that sharing my story helped them feel less ashamed about what they were going through. I’ve also made it a point to encourage people to seek help, whether it’s talking to a counselor or just opening up to someone they trust because it's okay to need help and reach out. These small moments made me realize how powerful it is to simply sit, listen, and remind people that they’re not alone. In the future, I hope to become a clinical psychologist, specifically working with teens and young adults. I know how isolating and just awful it feels when you’re stuck in your own head with no escape. My goal is to create a safe space where people feel supported, just like the people in my life did for me. I want to help break the stigma surrounding mental health and show others that getting help isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s one of the bravest things you can do. By turning my own challenges into something positive, I hope to make a real difference in the lives of others just loke other did in mine.