Since 6th grade I've been diagnosed with ADHD, severe anxiety and clinical depression. I've fought so many battles that young children shouldn't have to fight. I have dealt with bullying for years, starting in 6th grade and ending in sophomore year when we went to online school for COVID-19. I've been so reluctant to share my entire journey with people because I feel so weak and ashamed of what I’ve had to go through to get to this point, but that's what people that face battles with their mental health have to deal with from society. There is so much public stigma that prevents people from talking about mental health, and as our world has changed, I feel like that has been seen less and less. More people have come out to talk about their mental health journey, so here's mine. In 2020 I was at the lowest point I’ve ever been at in my life. In April of 2020, I almost lost my life to my battle with my mental health. I felt so alone, I barely had any friends and had lost a lot of the people who I cared about deeply. I was struggling so much mentally and physically that it unfortunately led me to my rock bottom. I went to a treatment center from April to July of 2020 and I had no hope that things would get better, but they did. I started to learn important coping mechanisms to use when I'm stressed, upset, or sad. I created a safety plan to keep myself healthy and safe. I fixed my relationship with my family and realized that it was okay to rely on them when I needed to. I went through so much to get where I am now, I focused on myself for months and spent all of my time trying to piece myself back together. Slowly but surely, I was able to heal. I use my story to help impact the lives of others by reassuring friends and friends of friends that I will always be a shoulder to cry on. A lot of mental health talk may not make sense to someone who hasn’t gone through it, but the people who have need to know that they are not alone. I thought I was, and I went through a lot of my journey alone, but as someone who struggled so hard with mental health, I will always be there for anyone who needs me to be there. Some days are tough, but it gets better. So many people told me that and I never believed them until I saw it for myself. Since I've gone through so much, my mission is to let everyone know that they matter. If I would have met someone like who I am now when I was struggling, I think things would have been different. It is my goal to remind depressed, anxious, and stressed teens and young adults that they are so strong. They matter, and they can keep fighting.

Although viewed as bad by many, the creation and spread of social media is such an inspiring thing. Social media can be used for bad, as all of us have seen it before, but it is also a place where we can learn, grow, and connect. Places like Twitter and Instagram are a good place to start. There is a lot going on in our world right now, and it's necessary that we learn about it so we can either support it or defend ourselves against it. Social media is a place where these things can be made clear in a short amount of time. "Infographics" have become very important to social media and have provided quick and easy knowledge in a simple post. Being educated is how we can make a change in the world, and social media provides an important way to be educated. Another amazing and inspiring thing about social media is its ability to connect people. On social media I have met some of the greatest female friends I have ever met. They are smart, kind, and have so much in common with me. Without social media I would not have had the opportunity to connect with people from all over the world with different experiences than I have. Connecting with diverse people has helped me become more social, active, and passionate about certain things. I have learned about the importance of feminism over social media, but I've also made lifelong friends. Social media is such an important creation that has had such a large impact on our world, and it's up to us to change that impact to a more positive one, just by starting to see it in a positive light.

One of my proudest contributions I've made to my community is the volunteer work I did to receive my Girl Scout Gold award. It was not an easy task, as it took over 90 hours of community service, but it completely paid off. My project focused on giving back to an important part of my community, my middle school band program. Every year tons of children join the band program, but as the years have progressed, it's been harder for some students to afford uniforms that are necessary to compete in competitions. Through my project, I collected over 200 donations from my community, spoke in front of the public asking for donations, and worked with a team to build shelves and racks to organize and hold all of the donations. Through this project I made sure that all incoming band kids are able to get a uniform if they can't afford one, making it easier on the parents and students that were stressing about the extra charges. I have wanted to be a veterinarian since day one. In kindergarten there's only 4 things that children want to be, an astronaut, a teacher, a doctor, or a veterinarian. As time went on, my friends dropped their dreams of being a teacher or doctor, but I held on tightly to my dream of becoming a veterinarian. Throughout my life I have done tons of volunteer work at local animal shelters that have meant so much to me. For my Girl Scout Silver Award, I went to local schools to present a curriculum I had made teaching students about animal safety. I worked hand and hand with a local animal shelter that has made such a large impact on my life and only made my dream of becoming a veterinarian more real. The final reason why I want to pursue a career as a veterinary assistant is my love for helping animals. I have always had a soft spot in my heart for animals and the humans that own them. Being able to say I made an impact on not only an animal's life but their owner that loves and depends on them so much is such an important goal to me. I have shadowed at vet clinics multiple times, and I have always enjoyed watching the veterinarian assistants converse with the pet owners in such an understanding and kind way, and I want to be just like them. Thank you so much for considering my application. I am so excited to move forward in my life and pursue an education in Animal Sciences on the path to being a veterinary assistant!