I have had the unfortunate reality of experiencing mental illness and suicidal ideation myself, and my life has been one of struggle and survival ever since. There were times the pain felt was so great there was no respite, and during those times, I was in a mental health facility seeking safety, guidance, and hope. That time in my life was one of the most difficult, but one of the most eye-opening. Being there—surrounded by others similarly beset—opened my eyes to how common, yet so achingly lonely, mental health challenges really are. It made me realize how critical compassionate care and the touch of another human is to recovery, and how much one person can do to impact another's darkest moments. My experience with loss, and that of the people I encountered in treatment, has been one of the strongest motivators to want to become a mental health professional. I have lost some of my friends to suicide—people like myself who, at some point, felt stuck in pain but did not have the strength to escape it. Their lives remain with me, and they inspire me and give me conviction to reform the system from within. I want to represent the voiceless and advocate for the rejected and misunderstood due to mental health issues. Each and every suicide is one life too soon, one which I have positioned myself to help others identify with due to where I have been. I sit with others not as one filled with pity but as one who truly has knowledge of wanting to quit—and one, as well, who has seen recovery is possible. These experiences have significantly influenced the ultimate goal of my career. I am committed to being a mental health practitioner who not only prescribes medication to alleviate symptoms but gets at the roots of pain with compassion and evidence-based practice. I envision myself being part of creating areas—whether they are therapy clinics, schools, or community centers—where people feel safe to discuss their mental health without shame and fear. I envision for myself a career of both direct care and broader advocacy work, bringing awareness to suicide prevention, and working to advocate for early intervention programs. I have discovered that I, and others like me, have the special gift of being able to guide others out from the fire. I want to take what I have lived and turn it into mission, bringing hope where once there was none. By sharing openly about my own journey and using it to inform my work, I want to take away the stigma of mental illness and allow people to see recovery is not only an aspiration, but a reality. With authenticity, compassion, and unyielding commitment, I believe I have the potential to create lasting impact in the suicide prevention and mental health care community.