Mental health is what kickstarts your physical health. You have to start at the base. Mental health, if it is negatively affecting you, can affect those around you as well. Your entire body can shut down and the people around you can pick up on that. I believe my mental health is important because you deserve to be happy and anxiety-free in life. I think that businesses in America need to step back and look at what they are doing to support their employees. Mental health can affect your work ethic and people then get punished for it therefore worsening their mental health. It is important for me to be an advocate for those around me as I would hope they would do for me. I use my voice to stand up for those who are struggling because I know what it is like to not have somebody use their voice on my behalf. I maintain my mental health by taking breaks, working out, and coloring. In terms of taking a break, I like to let myself take a nap, or watch my favorite show, do something that does not involve worrying or stress. Working out can release hormones in your brain that can increase positive mental health. I try to work out at least five days a week in order to better my mental health. In a way it is almost a break as well, you are able to put on headphones and block out the rest of the world and relieve some stress. Coloring is a big stress reliever. At my school, in the psychology department, they hand out coloring books and coloring sheets because it is a very calming activity that can take your mind off of a lot of anxiety-inducing thoughts. Take a break for yourself, and if you feel you need help reach out to get that support. Taking your mental health for granted can cause many problems in the future. It should be your first priority. There are many countries that make mental health an important aspect of their culture. We need to adopt this importance across every country. Take care of your mind and take care of those around you. Check-in on your friends and family to ensure that they feel supported and cared for. Be that advocate for them and they will do the same for you. Be an advocate, have a voice for those who don't.

I am a psychology major. Mental health is the biggest topic covered in classes across the board. Therefore, it is the most important. “Your anxiety is not real”, “You are being dramatic”, “Get over it” - things I have been told by family, friends, peers, and other psychology majors. Mental health was the main reason why I went into the psychology field. I want to become an advocate and make a change. In our generation and the ones that come after us, there needs to be more advocates and believers; those who won’t judge us for having depression, anxiety, eating disorder, etc. I have struggled in the past with my own mental health issues • moving • my anxiety and throwing up • working 40 hrs @ 16 Mental health is not something you can always see, unfortunately, sometimes it is, so it is hard to trust someone when they say that they are struggling with something going on in their mind. However, hear their call. Be their support. Do what you can. My mom has always been a huge supporter when it came to my mental health, as she has struggled in similar ways throughout her life, but has gained the knowledge on how to deal with it on her own But my dad was not. He used to tell me that anxiety wasn’t a real thing and that I have never experienced it before, or that there are real people who suffer from anxiety and that I wasn’t one of them. My dad was a psychology major, a child one at that. So, he, out of all people should know just how real it can be. I know my dad and I know that he also suffers from anxiety, but due to the world he grew up in at the time, he wasn’t really allowed to talk about it. It wasn’t until I called my dad at four in the morning last spring (because he would be the only one awake at that time and I needed someone) having an anxiety attack and hyperventilating about life and how I was going to be able to support myself after graduating. Which I still am not sure about but understand that it will work itself out. Now he supports me unconditionally and calls me at least once a week to see how I’m doing. I have taken a lot of psychology classes that go into detail about the truth behind mental health such as: • abnormal psychology – which showed me the things we don’t think about that affect our mental health, such as fears, phobias, seeing other people suffer, traumatizing accidents, changes in life • physiology and cognitive –which has taught me how the hormones in the brain work, what they do and where they live. how each part of the brain has different functions and how damage to certain areas can cause life-altering effects • social psychology – how social situations shape the way we think and do things. How society persuades us to think one way and how that can cause mental health issues in people These classes have shown me just how real my mental health issues are, and just how badly we need advocates and people to help guide us through what is going on in our brains. We have a great team of counselors here at CSB/SJU. I encourage my friends all the time to participate in “Walk in Wednesday” or to just set up a base appointment to see if it is something that they want to continue going to. Counseling can do a lot for someone who just needs another person to listen or to guide them through what is going on in their head and/or why it is happening. It was a scary thing telling my family and friends that I was going to counseling sessions and I want to erase that stigma. I was afraid that they would ask me a lot of questions or see me differently. I thought they wouldn’t support me. I was wrong. Even if I wasn’t wrong, I know that I have a great support system of friends here on campus that would. Mental health is not something that we makeup, it is true, and my classes here have shaped a new way of thinking for me along with how I communicate with people who are skeptical, such as my dad, about mental health. We cannot let other people’s opinions and judgments scare us into thinking that our mental health issues are not real. Be an advocate for yourself and those you know who are struggling. Be a part of that support system and be a listener when someone needs it.

Get new pencils! I know it seems small, but having something new will make you more optimistic about the school year. I like to donate my old pencils to other teachers and get new ones for myself so that I feel better about the school year. I also enjoy having a journal so I can write some things down to make me feel better.

Growing up I had three dogs, two turtles, a cat, and countless fish. I also worked on a horse ranch for about a year and a half. I was the type of kid who brought home animals off the side of the street to try and keep them. Animals make this world so much brighter. No one can say that when they watch a video or see a picture with an animal in it that they don't smile. I am a huge advocate for emotional support animals, as I truly believe that they can boost your serotonin levels, and make you so much happier. Having a live stuffed animal is a dream come true for anyone and is reason why I think that high schools and colleges should have dogs or cats on campus so that they can have a place to destress with cute and cuddly animals. One of my dogs, Anja, was a rescue. Anja is now a thirteen year old Australian shepherd/husky mix. Before we rescued her she was in a very abusive home, not only physically but mentally. She was chained up outside without any food or water, was often times pulled on or hit, and is now left with extreme anxiety. If it were up to me anyone who has abused an animal in any way should go to jail. It is not right to hurt a defenseless animal. As she has gotten older she has realized that she is in a safe and loving home. It is unfortunate, however, that we were unable to save her any earlier from the torment that she went through. One topic in the animal world that I struggle with a lot is the euthanization of animals that were defending themselves. If I was getting my tail pulled or being hit by something I would try to defend myself as well. I understand if it was a complete lash out, but if something is done in the act of defense, they should get a fair trial. I think there is also a level of training/education that needs to happen with both parties as well. Parents should educate their children on strange dogs and/or educate themselves. On the other hand, owners should also either train their dog, or have a level of understanding on their dogs behavior in order to avoid any accidents. Another topic that I could talk about forever is animal testing. I do not understand why doctors and scientists put innocent animals through so much pain just to see if the latest lipgloss is going to be safe for humans. If you are creating a product that you are unsure if it is even safe for people to use, then why make it, or why test it on a living thing that is not even going to use it. There are a plethora of videos and picture on the internet of the horrendous abuse that a lot of animals undergo that will scar anyone. It can really change someone's perspective on the products they are buying. Try and find cruelty free products to use, most times they are a lot safer than the ones being tested on animals. Let's be kind to animals, Mother Nature, and one another. It will make this world a much better place and everyone will be a lot happier.

Something that I have learned is that it is okay to do things by yourself, or be on your own. High school was not the easiest for me, I was the very shy new girl my sophomore year and that made it extremely hard for me to make friends. I had to come to terms with the fact that being by myself is okay. As much as it took a toll on me mentally not being surrounded by people that I knew, it gave me a whole new perspective. I take pride in the fact that I can now sit down in a restaurant or movie theater by myself and feel comfortable. I can be my own company, and that is an awesome thing to say. I think working on self love has a huge part to do with that as well. I may not be a perfect person, but I do what I can to make myself, and those around me, happy. Even if that means I sit by myself for a few hours in a public setting.

I think one thing that would help more people who struggle with mental health would be making sure that they had the help they need readily available to them, and at a reasonable price. Many people feel as though they can't afford to see someone such as a therapist or a life coach, and it can send them down this spiral which in turn can make the situation worse. During college, I have had access to free therapy by professionals. I am so grateful for this amenity and wish that it could continue when I am working full time. Or at least something like it. Time is another constraint of not being able to find the help you need. Most people work from early in the morning into the early evening and don't have time during the day to leave or stop what they are doing to go receive help. This then turns to another solution which is a longer break time during the day. Having extra time to get personal stuff done would help relive a lot of the stress that people have. All in all, I think there is definitely improvement for our nation’s mental health. We need to check in on people more often and ensure that they are getting the help that they need and when they need it. We all need to be there for each other and help out when we see someone who needs it. Mental health is a silent battle, and you never know who may be going through something. Having a little compassion and respect can help in more ways than we know.

A constant nagging in my brain telling me that everything is not going to be okay and that my entire world is going to come crumbling down at any moment is what I deal with every day. Since I was a kid, I have had anxiety. It started in the form of sever separation anxiety, and eventually grew to something that, as a young adult, has held me back in a number of ways. Something as minor as being five minutes late to an event can send my entire week into a spiral, I constantly feel as though I am going to throw up or get in trouble for the simplest of things. I want to not only help myself overcome these fears and anxiety, but I also want to help other people that feel the same way. I am so proud of myself for introducing new ways to get over my anxiety and push past my fears. I also have to give some credit to my mom, who has always been there for me and supported me through everything. I have shared many of the ways that I cope with friends and family. Some of the things that help me are drawing and watching a funny show. I love the distraction of other noises; it can really help drown out the thoughts that cause the anxiety. Drawing gives me something to do physically. Something to keep my hands moving in a positive way. For others it may be pottery and music or putting both the noise and physicality of all and dance. I chose to go into psychology to learn the behind the scenes of why so many people have anxiety. I have so far learned that almost everyone has anxiety it just manifests itself in a different way. It has been very fascinating to learn how other people cope and come up with new ways together. I always want people to feel comfortable around me and are able to share their anxiety with me, as I would with them. I have looked into the emotional support animal route of coping and if they really have an effect on people. Loving the stories I have read, I started looking into one for myself. ESAs can be a companion for those who often feel lonely or have sever anxiety. I am excited to see if it works out for me so I can not only show others down this route, but also help a few animals get out of the shelter at the same time.

"If it is not going to matter in five years, do not spend more than five minutes worrying about it." I have lived by that quote the second I heard it. As someone with really bad anxiety, it can be easy for me to get worked up over the small stuff, I mean full blown panic attack over one bad grade, or even one weird look from someone. My brain just starts to spiral out of control and it can be hard to stop it. I try very hard before the spiral to tell myself this quote. It can help prevent so much stress and worry in my life. Although, it does not pertain to everything that may happen in my life, it certainly does help with the little events that happen throughout my day, or week. Living with anxiety can hold you back from doing a lot of things, or can make you act out in ways that are not usually normal for you. If you can take a second to step back and look at the issue from a bigger perspective, it does not always seem that bad. It may not take away the anxiety completely, but it can defiantly calm you down and help you see more clearly.

Step one to maintaining a healthy lifestyle is making sure your mind is healthy. Without a healthy and happy mind, there is not a whole lot you can do. This can put a lot of road blocks in your path to the person you want to be. I think it is important to live a healthy lifestyle because it keeps your mind healthy as well. When you stay active, whether it is just going for a walk outside or going to the gym, your brain will produce certIn chemicals to keep your mind happy. Eating right is another step to keeping your mind happy. Having a balanced diet, while also eating what you love, is overall good for your health. Living a healthy lifestyle can also induce longevity. However, doing what makes you happy is just as important. Having hobbies that keep your mind active can be just as useful for mind happiness as going for a walk. Having a good balance in life can also help keep you healthy. It is perfectly okay to need a break, even it is only for five minutes. Do not feel like you have to push yourself past your limits, take a deep breath, and walk away. Not everything in life is going to work out the way you want it to, so having that understanding and knowing when to take a break is one of the healthiest things you can do for your mind and body. Burnout is a real thing, it happens to everyone; athletes, teachers, students, etc. You should never be ashamed to admitting to needing a break from it all. It can get overwhelming, and it can set you back on the path of maintaining that healthy lifestyle. I maintain a healthy lifestyle by doing things that keep both my mind and body happy. These things include reading, journaling, painting, going for walks and spending time with friends. Sleep is also a very important member of the wellness community. Listen to your body and what it needs. If you notice that you are feeling fatigued or sleepy more often durning the day, you might want to either change something up in your routine or go see a doctor. However, if your body truly does need the sleep, then give it to yourself. A good nap or a long nights sleep can make you feel 10 times better the next day, or even within the next few hours.

One of my favorite hobbies is horseback riding. I started taking lessons when I was 15 years old, and ever since then, my passion for riding has grown. I enjoy riding because it takes everything else out of mind. I have a really good bond with my horse as well. It is important that you have a bind with the horse that you are riding so you understand each other and what the other's personality is like. I enjoy being able to do a quick tack up and head out into the woods to enjoy nature and some time alone. I often bring a snack and a book with me so I can take a break on the trail and relax. When I first grab my horse from the pasture I do a slow walk back to the grooming barn. I want to have time with my horse to see how they are feeling that day. Once in the grooming barn, I do a nice thorough grooming starting with the hooves. I give my horse a nice brushing, making sure I get as much of the dirt out of their coat. In the summertime I will to a quick spray down of fly spray to make sure they do not get bit up from the flys. I will then put the saddle pad and the saddle on, making sure it is nice and secure on the horse. I do not want to slide off my horse halfway through the ride. After I am all tacked up I will put my bridle on and do one more spray done of fly spray. I want to be through with the fly spray so I do not have to deal with an itchy horse later on. Being on the trail alone can be kind of scary, but I know that I would never let anything bad happen to my horse and that they would never let anything happen to me. I am sure to keep my phone on and check it periodically so that people know I am safe and nothing has happened to me. I like having that alone time to enjoy nature and clear my head. It is important that you do something you love every once in awhile to keep yourself healthy and happy.

I hope to make others more comfortable with were they are, not only just physically, but mentally as well. I want to show others things that I did not know on my journey through something new. I had the opportunity to work with kids and horses. I was able to help ensure kids that nothing was going to happen to them while they were around horses. I was able to show them how to properly care for and tack up a horse. I think it is really important to show the next generation the things that the generation previous to them, did not know. Helping other will make life much easier and it will become a domino effect, because then they can continue to teach other people and get a message, so to speak, across. I want to ensure people are always comfortable in a place that they are in, I want them to know that what they are feeling is temporary.

One quality I value most in myself is my ability to listen to people. Whenever someone needs to get something off their shoulders and doesn’t know who they can tell, I let them know that they can tell me. If someone does not want me to give advice, or talk back, I won’t. I prefer to just sit and listen. I think that it can help provide some learning for me as well. It helps me to hear about other people’s problems so I can see it from a different perspective. I want people to feel comfortable enough with me to trust me with what they are telling me. I think it is important for everyone to have a friend, or someone in their life, that will sit and listen to them when and if they need it. It is healthy to let out your emotions and vent. That is the best way to get over something, to talk about it. I have learned in my psychology courses that having a journal is a good substitute for someone to talk to. From learning this, I have filled up many journals with stuff that I have needed to get off my chest but did not feel comfortable telling anyone. I think having the quality of being a good listener has helped me make more friends and helped me through many of my own problems, issues, and struggles in life. When I hear that one of my friends has gotten through something that I am currently going through, it helps to ensure that I can and will get through it too. In order to have your own support system you have to be someone else’s support system. I think it has also helped me by giving me a sort of role in life. It makes me feel like I have a purpose when I have a friend that feels comfortable enough to come to me with any problems they might be facing at the moment. Even when I am having a rough day, I know that if I make someone else’s day better by being there for them, that will, in turn, make me feel much better as well. The whole point of me pursuing the major that I am pursuing, is so I can continue helping people. I was once told by a mentor of mine that, no one has a useless quality, it is how you use those qualities that makes you a useful person.

I think one solution for helping more people would be to help them find outlets for their mental health. I like to do things that reset my mental health. I enjoy reading, coloring, or writing in a journal. It is very hard thing to deal with, mental health, and a lot of times it can decrease your motivation with hurts you even more. I am not a fan of talking to people about my emotions and mental health, so when I tried going to a therapist it did not help. Having these outlets did. No one wants to feel alone and that, most times, is what effects a person's mental health. Another solution is animals. I am a strong advocate for therapy dogs especially with college students. I think that animals naturally bring this sense of joy. I think that schools should have a program for students to be able to spend some time with animals throughout the day, such as dogs, cats, rabbits, etc. Taking a break from what is causing the stress on your mental health is the biggest and most important solution. It can be hard to find the outlet that helps a person the most, so you cannot be afraid to try new things. Not everyone is going to have the same outlet either, but you want to make sure that whatever you do, it is healthy and not going to take a toll on your physical well being. Take a break, relax, do something that makes you feel good and happy, not something that is going to hurt you more.

One strategy that has helped me the most is making lists. It helps to keep me on track as well as ensure I am gettin everything done that I need to get done. It is also a great organizational tool to see what is the highest up, or most important thing, on your list to do. Another strategy I have is rereading anything that I do not particularly understand. Currently I am taking a philosophy class, and it is turning out to be a lot harder than I first thought it was going to be. However, rereading the material that is given out helps put me on the right track. It can be hard to stay focused on getting homework done or studying for a test when it is much easier to hangout with friends or go on social media or perhaps watch a movie. But when you have a dream you want to accomplish you will do anything to reach it, that includes staying productive, organized, and studying as hard as you can. If you stay on top of things, anything is possible.

Nature is something that we often take for granted. We are too busy with technology to appreciate the beauty right in front of our eyes. One of my favorite activities is hiking. You never know what you might find. One time while on a hike, I stumbled across this little stream that was filled with frogs. It was essentially a frog haven. I had never seen that many frogs in one spot in my entire life! The stuff today that is man made does not have the same feel to it as nature does. It does not have that fresh smell, or insanely unique colors to make it stand out. Nature is a great way to reconnect with yourself. Just taking a quick walk through the woods can be very refreshing and relaxing. Doing it with friends makes it that much better too! Having someone to enjoy the beauty with is an amazing thing, and I plan to keep on doing it as long as I can.

I love music as well as dancing and for four years I was a competitive dancer. Now, I was not built like what a typical dancer should stereotypically look like, and that often times make things more difficult for me. I was not very flexible, I had horrible balance, and was always taller than the rest of my teammates. I knew that I was not going to be able to do much about the height and that the balance would come with time, but the one thing that I was determined to make happen, was to become more flexible. After my first year of dance we had a two month break before we started up again and I wanted nothing more than to come back the next year with my splits. Starting out I could not even straighten my legs to make look even remotely close to the splits, but that was all about to change. During that break I spent every day watching YouTube videos, stretching, and trying my hardest to finally be able to do the splits. It took a lot of perseverance, but I did it. I got my splits in two months, right before we came back for the new year. I was so excited to show my coaches that I could finally do it. Needless to say, they were just as excited as I was. I felt much more confidant in my dancing and was ready to take down the next obstacles that the next season was going to put in my way!

My experience serving my community was a lot more help to me than I thought it was going to be. I started volunteering at a horse stables in Duluth, MN the summer before my sophomore year of high school. I had just moved up there and was the new kid. My parents suggested that I do something that would potentially get me some friends before school started. My first day was scary. I did not know what to expect and was nervous that I would feel like an outsider since I was new to the horse community. The day ended up going really well and I ended up on the volunteer schedule! I was really excited when the barn manager asked if I would like to continue my volunteering there and eventually move up the ranks to be paid. I did the volunteer work for around six months, and was then deemed paid work potential. I was super excited for this opportunity because I was getting to help take care of animals and teach kids at the same time. Two of my favorite things. One of the biggest takeaways from this experience is that I knew I was making a difference in kids and horses lives. A lot of times kids will come in scared and unsure of themselves. I was able to help guide them and show them that nothing bad will happen to them, that these horses are basically little kids who are even younger than them, that just need a little guidance. On the horse end of things, we would often get horses that were neglected or sick brought to the barn to eventually become or lesson horses for kids. It was often very challenging working with these horses because it takes a lot of patience for them to earn your trust. The ones who came to us sick were a little bit easier to manage because they knew that all we wanted to do was help them get better. Overall, the joy that it brought me to make kids smile and see their confidence grow, along with gaining the trust of and healing some of those horses, was astronomical. If I could go back in time and talk to my 15 year old self, I would tell her to make the most of that time, you are doing something amazing for these kids along with these horses. You are making an impact on their lives and changing some of them for the better. That is the best feeling of all.

I think the meaning of life is to live it to the fullest. Take every opportunity you can that comes your way. When you get old you don't want have any regrets. Do things that make you happy and make you want to continue living life. Try to see the world, as much of it as you can. See the beauty in everything. Overall be more optimistic and open-minded about things that you come across. Whether it be something different than what you typically believe, or a new activity for you to try. Do not go through life thinking that there is nothing for you out there because there is, you might just need to dig a little deeper to find it. Have fun, be happy, and take every day with a smile and find new people to share that happiness with. It may seem hard, but all you can do is try.

One thing that gives me hope for future is the next generation. Already we are starting to see some positive waves in equality. The older generations grew up in a very closed minded society. They did not have the technology we have, nor the resources to get help when they needed it. This next generation is already more open to other's ideas and opinions. We do not shove what we believe in down people's throats. We are also more open about mental health, another thing that the earlier generations struggled with. We do not turn to harmful things as often. We have the resources to get the help we need as well as help others because we understand that we are not alone and we are open to asking for help when we need it. It is okay to admit when you need help with something. It means that you are understanding of your strengths and weaknesses. Another thing that gives me hope is how understanding more people are becoming. I think that in recent years we have been tested and a lot of people have passed on the scale of understanding. Not everyone has an easy path that they can go down. It might start out rocky at first and then smooth out for a bit and then become rocky again. Understanding that everyone's path might be a little different than yours is a step in the right direction. Do not stereotype someone based on what they have gone through or what they are currently going through because one day it might be you. Mental health awareness, understanding, and equality are just three things that give me hope for the future. We are counting on the next generation to keep this going and do even better than the generation before them. Have them teach their children to do even better and the world will continue to become a better place.

One thing that I learned that changed my perspective on something significant in my life is that not everyone grew up the same way I did. Not everyone grew up in the middle of a safe suburban neighborhood. Not everyone had the opportunity to go on school field-trips. Not everyone got to watch whatever they wanted on TV before bed. Not everyone was able to have nourishing food in their fridge and cupboard. Learning this has made me more understanding of people's pasts. Hearing stories of everyones lives has made me realize that not everyone was able to have a stable home life and now I want to be someone to help ensure that kids have that stability early in their lives. It can change their entire path if the way they grow up is more safe and stable. Kids deserve to keep their innocence and know what it is like to be able to eat what they want, and experience all the fun things that a kid should experience.

In my dream life I would have a great job that I love to do. I would also have a nice home with some land to have animals. I want to be able to give my kids a better life than I had, which is what any parent wants. I want to travel the world and se historic places with my family. I want to go on adventures and do something fun as often as I can. I want to have horses, ATVs, and a nice boat so I can take sunset rides before I go to bed and enjoy the beauty that is the sun. One very important thing for my dream life is being financially stable. College is a very difficult time financially for almost everyone. It is crazy how expensive a good education is. But in my dream life, I am able to pay off all my student loans within five years.

Generosity means giving. Whether that means giving your time, effort, love, or a gift, you are still giving. Maybe you are giving something up so another person has something better. Giving your time to help out a neighbor or volunteer at shelter of sorts. Doing something without being asked. Or giving a lot of something to someone in need. One thing that I do is donate old clothes. Not only does this mean someone else will have clothes to wear, it is also recycling so that we do not add more garbage to the Earth. Generosity is something that we need a little more of. It is closely linked to peace and happiness. If someone does something nice for you without you asking, it makes you feel happier and much better about your day. This can then create a domino effect where you will then do something generous for another person and they will do something generous for another person, so on and so forth. Do something kind for someone as often as you can because it will come back to you and it makes you feel better knowing that you made someone happy that day if you did a generous act.

One person I admire in history is Freddie Mercury. He was able to overcome a lot of stigma that surrounded his race, his features, and his sexual orientation. Many times he was told that he was not going to make it far in life, or that he should change to make more people like him, and he stuck to himself and what he believed in. He was born in Zanzibar and had to leave the country due to war. When he finally found the rest of the members of the band Queen, that's when his life really started. He wast told many times that his music was not good enough or was too much, but he didn't listen. He kept on doing what he loved and pushed past anyone who told him otherwise. He never really cared about the money or the fame, he was the same person before as he was after becoming an international rockstar. When it came out that Freddie Mercury had AIDS there was a lot of gossiping and negative news in the media about him and he did not let that put him down. He continued to perform and record songs as if nothing ever happened. He acted as if there was nothing in the world to be worried about and I want to live my life like that. I think that being open with who you are and who you want to be is a very powerful thing and no matter what people say about you, you are much stronger than them and there hurtfulness just ricochets right off of you.

Have two savings accounts. When I got my first part time job in high school, my dad had me split my paycheck three ways. Half of my paycheck would go into a big savings account for when I started college and would need more in order to pay for my education. A fourth of my paycheck went into a smaller savings account that was for emergencies and special occasions only. If I needed to buy any gifts, or needed something for school I could just use that smaller savings account. The last fourth of my paycheck would be for my everyday life, such as gas, food, clothes, etc. This has helped me a lot and has made me more aware of how expensive things can be. Since starting college money has become a hard thing. This is common for most college students. I have had to step back and see what matters most to me, my education or having fun. It is an unfortunate thing to have to decide especially when, stereotypically, college is supposed to be the best four years of your life. I want to be able to not stress over having a good education. I want to graduate from a good school and get a good job without having to worry about being financially stuck in anyway. Knowing that you have people around you to help support you as much as they can is phenomenal, but I don't want to have to rely on them for my entire college education. I want to take things into my own hands and figure this out on my own.

The biggest problem facing the world right now is the discrimination against people of color. There is a lot of companies and big name brands that advertise that they are very diverse, include everyone and treat everyone equally. However, this is not always true. Many times companies are legally obligated to be diverse but as soon as someone of color is hired they do not get treated the way that they deserve. Colleges and universities do the same as well. They try so hard to keep this image of being diverse and inclusive to people of all races and cultures, yet people are still not being heard or feeling included. One thing I think that can be done to work on this problem is start educating kids at a young age. There should be a lot more than just a week long unit on diversity and culture when you are eight years old. This should be something that is talked about and preached everyday starting as young as you can. Kids are the future and need to keep the light shining on equality for all. Another thing that can be done is educating more professional settings. Hold these big name brands accountable and make them understand that you have to practice what you preach and stick to their word of being inclusive and diverse. The world would be a much more happier place and there would be more peace if everyone understood that we are all human, the color of your skin should not hold you to a stereotype. We should all be treated fairly, equally, and with kindness.

Mental health has been something that I have tried to push down my entire life. I never spoke up when having an anxiety attack because I did not want to burden anyone with my issues. Since starting college I have been trying my hardest to be more open with my anxiety. I have realized now that many people have gone through or are going through the same exact thing. I love being able to help people and be there to let them just talk and get everything out. I have figured out ways to help me cope with my anxiety and overcome fears that I may have. I have to tell myself that this anxiety is temporary and that it is all in my head, that there is no reason for me to think like this. My mom is one person who understands my anxiety the most and has always helped to calm me down. She never made me feel like I was burdening her or anyone with what was going on in my head. I am currently going to school for a degree in psychology to help me figure out more of the reason behind why anxiety is becoming popular amongst children and how that anxiety starts.

"A-O-K" by Tai Verdes "Don't Forget Where You Belong" by One Direction "8TEEN" by Khalid "We are Young (Feat Janelle Monáe)" by Fun "Dancing Queen" by ABBA Playlist name "Remember these experiences"

One example of adversity in my life that I have faced is being a new kid. Now to the ordinary person that might not seem that bad, but when your entire life gets packed up and moved to a city three hours away from all that you have known, it takes the biggest toll on your mental health. I was the new kid. I was the new kid during the second year of high school after everyone had established their friend groups and was not looking to welcome an outsiders. I was the new kid who was super quiet, and every time she raised her hand she could hear whispers from every corner of the room. My routine, as the new kid, was get up, go to school, come home, do homework, and go to bed. That is all I ever wanted to do. I figured if I keep up the same routine and not change anything, that the numbness that I felt would stay, that way I wouldn't have to feel anything. My parents got me involved at a local horse barn that was only 15 minutes away from our tiny apartment. We were able to work it out that I could take the bus there after school everyday and work. That became part of my new routine. I strongly believe that if it weren't for me having the barn to run to and take my mind off of things, that life would have turned out in a completely different way, and not a positive one. As silly as it sounds, I felt as though I had a purpose finally. Something that actually made me want to get out of bed. I knew that I had a job to do and that I had to get it done well. Since then I have faced many other adversities, but I know that if I could make it through what seemed to be the hardest year of my life mentally, I can and will make it through what is next to come. These road blocks that come up in our life are temporary and everything can and will work itself out. Feeling stressed, worried, insecure, etc, is all normal and means that you are human. You are not the only one who has had to face this problem before and you most likely won't be the last. So learn from it and help others to not feel those feelings you did. Help others be reassured so that they might have a better outcome. We are put on this planet to learn and learn from one another's mistakes, so let's do just that. Let's learn.

Love yourself. It is not always an easy thing to do. There is one thing that I know I will always love about myself and that is my understanding of others. Personally, I have been through a few things that I did not think many people would be able to relate to. I soon realized that there are others like me. Because of this discovery I took it upon myself to be as understanding for others' personal situations no matter what. Someone should not be dragged down due to something that they cannot control, such as family issues. I also would like to consider myself a good listener. I enjoy listening to people's problems and seeing if I can help them out in any way. This ties in with having an understanding for other people's issues or problems. I feel as though that if we as a society have a little more compassion for one another, it could make the world a much happier place. People would get along better, and a lot of conflicts could be resolved.

Having influence on society can be an exceptionally good thing, or an unbelievably bad thing. It is how you use that influence that matters. If I were a highly influential figure, I would stand for racial equality. I believe that there should be equality for all. We are all human, we all start out the same and we all end the same. Being different is what makes this world so unique. If we are leaving someone out based on the color of their skin, what kind of message is that sending to future generations. The next generation is growing up and we need to show them just how equal everyone is. Another thing I would stand for is animal rights. This is a different direction from my first point, but it is just as equally important. Animal testing is something that is constantly looked over. There are too many innocent animals that are being subjected to harsh conditions such as small enclosures, enforced pain, and even death. If animal testing continues, it needs to be much more humane. There needs to be less pain inflicted on these animals, along with less animals involved in the testing. Animals have different genetic makeups compared to humans, so why are we testing them? Overall, there needs to be equality for every living being. Basic human and animal rights are being taken advantage of and something needs to be done before it gets taken too far.