March 13, 2020. I left school, thinking that I would be fine with another small break in school, that this was no different to the three weeks off that I had earlier that year due to a teacher strike. Of course, I was wrong, because a global pandemic was on its way, and I would be stuck in my home for at least another year. During the pandemic, my mental health severely suffered. While I am a self-proclaimed introvert, I crave some human interaction on a day-to-day basis, and being locked up in the house with only my parents to talk to was a form of slow torture. Worse yet was my brother, who went to a different school at the time, being able to go into school and see his friends all day, albeit six feet apart. I needed the structure that he had in his days, and without it, I was falling apart. To make matters worse, I was at a new school, one with more challenging courses (9th grade level in 7th grade), and while I hadn’t had a problem adapting to it, the pandemic was a significant struggle for me in this new environment. Fortunately, I am so much better now, and this experience has only motivated me to help both myself and others with their mental health. Comparing myself now to who I was is proof that, with the right help and people on your side, better mental wellness is absolutely possible. Other than medication, there are a few other things that I do to help my mental wellbeing. In particular, I’ve become quite emotionally aware, which has helped greatly—especially in social settings, where I’ve developed an understanding of my “social battery”, among other factors. Understanding how I feel and what to do about it in any situation has been so helpful to me. Similarly, I've developed more habits and ways of living that promote good mental health. For example, although it's taken me a while, I finally have a good sleep schedule, and I’ve noticed how much that has improved my mental health. Being involved in extracurricular activities has also been important for my mental health. For certain activities, such as National Honor Society or tutoring other kids, I’ve noticed my mental health (and, I hope, that of others impacted) increase as a result of helping people and doing good for those around me. I’ve also found a sense of community through my clubs, such as participating in school drama productions and being a part of the Society of Women Engineers. Being with people that are as passionate as I am about certain subjects or activities is something that I really enjoy, and that I would say helps my mental health greatly. In addition to these activities, I have learned the importance of taking breaks and setting boundaries. When I feel overwhelmed, I take a step back and give myself time to recharge. This might mean going for a walk, reading a book, or simply taking a few deep breaths. Setting boundaries with my time and energy ensures that I do not overcommit and burn out. Overall, my mental health is so important to me because I’ve experienced firsthand what happens when I don’t take care of it. By doing these things, I can truly benefit and improve myself so that I can do my best work for others. My experiences so far, but especially during the pandemic, have taught me the value of this kind of wellbeing, and it is something that I appreciate greatly and will always strive for.

March 13, 2020. I left school, thinking that I would be fine with another small break in school, that this was no different to the three weeks off that I had earlier that year due to a teacher strike. Of course, I was wrong, because a global pandemic was on its way, and I would be stuck in my home for at least another year. During the pandemic, my mental health severely suffered. While I am a self-proclaimed introvert, I crave some human interaction on a day-to-day basis, and being locked up in the house with only my parents to talk to was a form of slow torture. Worse yet was my brother, who went to a different school at the time, being able to go into school and see his friends all day, albeit six feet apart. I needed the structure that he had in his days, and without it, I was falling apart. To make matters worse, I was at a new school, one with more challenging courses (9th grade level in 7th grade), and while I hadn’t had a problem adapting to it, the pandemic was a significant struggle for me in this new environment. Fortunately, I am so much better now, and this experience has only motivated me to help both myself and others with their mental health. Comparing myself now to who I was is proof that, with the right help and people on your side, better mental wellness is absolutely possible. Other than medication, there are a few other things that I do to help my mental wellbeing. In particular, I’ve become quite emotionally aware, which has helped greatly—especially in social settings, where I’ve developed an understanding of my “social battery”, among other factors. Understanding how I feel and what to do about it in any situation has been so helpful to me. Similarly, I've developed more habits and ways of living that promote good mental health. For example, although it's taken me a while, I finally have a good sleep schedule, and I’ve noticed how much that has improved my mental health. Being involved in extracurricular activities has also been important for my mental health. For certain activities, such as National Honor Society or tutoring other kids, I’ve noticed my mental health (and, I hope, that of others impacted) increase as a result of helping people and doing good for those around me. I’ve also found a sense of community through my clubs, such as participating in school drama productions and being a part of the Society of Women Engineers. Being with people that are as passionate as I am about certain subjects or activities is something that I really enjoy, and that I would say helps my mental health greatly. In addition to these activities, I have learned the importance of taking breaks and setting boundaries. When I feel overwhelmed, I take a step back and give myself time to recharge. This might mean going for a walk, reading a book, or simply taking a few deep breaths. Setting boundaries with my time and energy ensures that I do not overcommit and burn out. Overall, my mental health is so important to me because I’ve experienced firsthand what happens when I don’t take care of it. By doing these things, I can truly benefit and improve myself so that I can do my best work for others. My experiences so far, but especially during the pandemic, have taught me the value of this kind of wellbeing, and it is something that I appreciate greatly and will always strive for.