I bounced back from depression. I was 16 years old, still taking care of my sick mother and being a mother to my two brothers. I stopped caring for myself and how I felt. When my mother passed away on Thanksgiving in 2019 I felt hopeless. Like the only person that cared about my well being was gone from my life forever. I fell into a harsh and deep depression. I tried to be happy and give other people hope that things would always get better, but I was already numb from it all. I was tired of the lies that life would always get better but instead got worse and worse. I stopped caring for my hygiene, my body, and my room. I stopped hanging out with friends and had no care for my regular interests. Within a year I had started doing bad things: going out late, sneaking around, and putting myself and dangerous situations with people I thought were my friends. One day when I couldn’t even find the strength to get out of bed I said to myself “I can’t live like this. My mom wouldn’t want me to live like this.” And as I held the cross from my mom’s flowers in my hand I said, “I can do this.” I started to clean my room up, take care of my hygiene, and get some work done at school. I started getting my grades back to As and Bs. I started eating the right food everyday. I started doing self care. And I realized how important I am to people that actually do care about me. I turn 17 and now 18 without my mother and it was very difficult. But I bounced back even harder. I started my senior year wearing actual outfits instead of just a sweatsuit and got hired for a job. I felt clean and grow up. After the first month of school one of my former classmates from my yearbook class came up to me and asked how I did it. I asked, “How I did what?” And they said, “turned your life around”. I looked her in the eyes and I said, “Because I believed in myself. I believed I could bounce back despite everyone telling me I could never do it”. After that day I talked to her a lot. Giving her tips on self care and healthy coping skills I learned from my own experience. Soon after, she texted me and said, “ I am the happiest I have ever been. I didn’t think I could feel like this until you opened my eyes to a brighter and more positive look on life. Thank you”. And as I read her text I felt nothing but joy in what I did. Since then I have been destined to help others in need and inspire them to change their lives around. I am happy, healthy, and better than ever.