Hello, my name is Nicole Rios, and I would love to demonstrate my appreciation for this incredible opportunity you are providing. Mental health has affected so many people in various ways. This possibility of pursuing a higher education after feeling like nothing mattered is motivating. I am currently 17 and going on 18, and words cannot describe the excitement I feel for celebrating my birthday this upcoming winter. This birthday is a day when I finally positively celebrate life. Before this year, I struggled with neurological migraines, depression, anxiety, and two eating disorders. I am the daughter of a Mexican immigrant father and a Czech immigrant mother, which I have learned to appreciate fondly. However, going to school with no knowledge of speaking English, I grew insecure about my accent and self-esteem. In elementary I would do humiliating things. I did as they said to keep their friendship, no matter how much it hurt my confidence. This feeling of inferiority grew more robust each year. I became miserable and found no purpose at a very young age. That said, I had disturbing thoughts about myself and actions I felt I needed to release myself from this immense pain that tormented me profoundly. As my thoughts got darker, my attitude began to show my great hate for myself and the world. It became apparent, and my mother had to check my phone to see if I was getting bullied, but the bullying never happened online because I couldn't even bother to use social media. Everything was in person, so I had nowhere to hide as I would be surrounded by the fingers pointing at me and the evil smiles targeted towards me. After seven years of hiding all this agony and sorrow, my anxiety grew more potent. My nausea and migraines prevented me from doing anything but sleep even though I took medication for it. I didn't want to make friends or talk to anyone. I felt nausea when I didn't eat, while I ate, and after I ate. It was frustrating. I hated my life. For the first several years, I had to beg my parents not to make a party for me. Instead, my dad would knock on my door and show me my family cutting a cake for me in their house. They sang for me as I was drugged up with medication and immensely tired. As they sang, I felt nothing, absolutely nothing. The thing is, my anxiety attacks were fierce. I would become paralyzed from below the waist and couldn't open my eyes, and in the beginning, they'd last for almost an hour until my body got tired and automatically tried to relax. Life felt hopeless. I went to the Children's Healthcare Behavioral and Mental Health Center. I have attended this center for the last four years, which has helped me significantly. My doctors helped stop my eating disorder from worsening; I was already underweight. Although I am still on medication, I see the most beautiful future for me. I found my purpose to help people. I have food, hygiene products, emotional support, and love for anyone who needs them. I've built this beautiful relationship with education by finding the light in my journey. For me, there is nothing more empowering and incredible. I am devoted to pursuing a higher education to help many people who have also struggled with mental health. Once again, thank you for this fantastic opportunity to share my story and have a chance to gain more education and experience to help people find their light the way that I found mine.