Being anxious can feel like you are underwater and swimming toward the surface, but no matter how hard you swim, you cannot get any closer. It quickly begins to feel like you are drowning and powerless. You become overwhelmed, panic, and shut down. My anxiety started during the quarantine period of Covid, and I felt more isolated and alone than ever. Weeks of medical testing caused me to fall into a downward spiral. I missed events, holidays, vacations, and being with friends, all while trying to hide how awful I honestly felt. I have learned that feelings of helplessness are not always avoidable, but I have been able to manage my anxiety so that I can swim up to the surface. Anxiety can make it feel like your brain is working against you, pushing you to feel worthless and weak. I have had many self-deprecating thoughts, and I have blamed myself for most of my feelings, not being more involved, my inability to focus or sit still, and the number of times I have cried. It has made me want to miss school, skip assignments, give up, cry, scream, and somehow escape my own mind. But after many anxious days and countless thoughts of giving up, I have learned to change my perspective from absolute perfection to doing the best with what I have. We cannot always push ourselves to do our absolute best without taking a break. This only leads to a build-up of stress and negative thoughts. I have learned from my friends and those around me to not isolate myself, but instead to speak up when I feel anxious, stressed, or upset. Mental health has become especially important to me in recent months. Taking care of my mind by managing my anxiety is the first step in dealing with stressful times. This mindset change took time to develop, but I have learned not to be so hard on myself because it will only take a toll on my mental health. Mental health issues affect many people, and I have unfortunately seen it in myself and those around me. I want to be able to help my friends overcome their hardships with mental health because fighting any invisible illness is hard enough, but doing it alone makes it seem unachievable. I hope someday I can have the voice to advocate for those who are anxious and struggling because mental health plays a significant role in academic achievement, physical well-being, and overall success in life.

Being anxious can feel like you are underwater and swimming toward the surface, but no matter how hard you swim, you cannot get any closer. It quickly begins to feel like you are drowning and powerless. You become overwhelmed, panic, and shut down. My anxiety started during the quarantine period of Covid, and I felt more isolated and alone than ever. Weeks of medical testing caused me to fall into a spiral. I missed events, holidays, vacations, and being with friends, all while trying to hide how awful I honestly felt. I have learned that feelings of helplessness are not always avoidable, but I have been able to manage my anxiety so that I can swim up to the surface. Anxiety can make it feel like your brain is working against you, pushing you to feel worthless and weak. I have had many self-deprecating thoughts, and I have blamed myself for most of my feelings, not being more involved, my inability to focus or sit still, and the number of times I have cried. It has made me want to miss school, skip assignments, give up, cry, scream, and somehow escape my own mind. But after many anxious days and countless thoughts of giving up, I have learned to change my perspective from absolute perfection to doing the best with what I have. We cannot always push ourselves to do our absolute best without taking a break. This only leads to a build-up of stress and negative thoughts. I have learned from my friends and those around me to not isolate myself, but instead to speak up when I feel anxious, stressed, or upset. Mental health has become especially important to me in recent months. Taking care of my mind by managing my anxiety is the first step in dealing with stressful times. This mindset change took time to develop, but I have learned not to be so hard on myself because it will only take a toll on my mental health. Mental health issues affect many people, and I have unfortunately seen it in myself and those around me. I want to be able to help my friends overcome their hardships with mental health because fighting any invisible illness is hard enough, but doing it alone makes it seem unachievable. I hope someday I can have the voice to advocate for those who are anxious and struggling because mental health plays a significant role in academic achievement, physical well-being, and overall success in life.

Being anxious can feel like you are underwater and swimming toward the surface, but no matter how hard you swim, you cannot get any closer. It quickly begins to feel like you are drowning and powerless. You become overwhelmed, panic, and shut down. My anxiety started during the quarantine period of Covid, and I felt more isolated and alone than ever. Weeks of medical testing caused me to fall into a spiral. I missed events, holidays, vacations, and being with friends, all while trying to hide how awful I honestly felt. I have learned that feelings of helplessness are not always avoidable, but I have been able to manage my anxiety so that I can swim up to the surface. Anxiety can make it feel like your brain is working against you, pushing you to feel worthless and weak. I have had many self-deprecating thoughts, and I have blamed myself for most of my feelings, not being more involved, my inability to focus or sit still, and the number of times I have cried. It has made me want to miss school, skip assignments, give up, cry, scream, and somehow escape my own mind. But after many anxious days and countless thoughts of giving up, I have learned to change my perspective from absolute perfection to doing the best with what I have. We cannot always push ourselves to do our absolute best without taking a break. This only leads to a build-up of stress and negative thoughts. I have learned from my friends and those around me to not isolate myself, but instead to speak up when I feel anxious, stressed, or upset. Mental health has become especially important to me in recent months. Taking care of my mind by managing my anxiety is the first step in dealing with stressful times. This mindset change took time to develop, but I have learned not to be so hard on myself because it will only take a toll on my mental health. Mental health issues affect many people, and I have unfortunately seen it in myself and those around me. I want to be able to help my friends overcome their hardships with mental health because fighting any invisible illness is hard enough, but doing it alone makes it seem unachievable. I hope someday I can have the voice to advocate for those who are anxious and struggling because mental health plays a significant role in academic achievement, physical well-being, and overall success in life.

Having anxiety can make you feel like you are underwater and swimming toward the surface, but no matter how hard you swim, you cannot get any closer. It quickly begins to feel like you are drowning and powerless. You become overwhelmed, panic, and shut down. My anxiety started during the quarantine period of Covid, and I felt more isolated and alone than ever. Weeks of medical testing caused me to fall into a spiral. I missed events, holidays, vacations, and being with friends, all while trying to hide how awful I honestly felt. I have learned that feelings of helplessness are not always avoidable, but I have been able to manage my anxiety so that I can swim up to the surface. Anxiety can make it feel like your brain is working against you, pushing you to feel worthless and weak. I have had many self-deprecating thoughts, and I have blamed myself for most of my feelings, not being more involved, my inability to focus or sit still, and the number of times I have cried. It has made me want to miss school, skip assignments, give up, cry, scream, and somehow escape my mind. But after many anxious days and countless thoughts of giving up, I have learned to change my perspective from absolute perfection to doing the best with what I have. We cannot always push ourselves to do our absolute best without taking a break. This only leads to a build-up of stress and negative thoughts. I have learned from my friends and those around me to not isolate myself, but instead to speak up when I feel anxious, stressed, or upset. Mental health has become especially important to me in recent months. Taking care of my mind by managing my anxiety is the first step in dealing with stressful times. This mindset change took time to develop, but I have learned not to be so hard on myself because it will only take a toll on my mental health. Mental health issues affect many people, and I have unfortunately seen it in myself and those around me. I want to be able to help my friends overcome their hardships with mental health because fighting any invisible illness is hard enough, but doing it alone makes it seem unachievable. I hope someday I can have the voice to advocate for those who are anxious and struggling because mental health plays a significant role in academic achievement, physical well-being, and overall success in life.

Being anxious can feel like you are underwater and swimming toward the surface, but no matter how hard you swim, you cannot get any closer. It quickly begins to feel like you are drowning and powerless. You become overwhelmed, panic, and shut down. My anxiety started during the quarantine period of Covid, and I felt more isolated and alone than ever. Weeks of medical testing caused me to fall into a spiral. I missed events, holidays, vacations, and being with friends, all while trying to hide how awful I honestly felt. I have learned that feelings of helplessness are not always avoidable, but I have been able to manage my anxiety so that I can swim up to the surface. Anxiety can make it feel like your brain is working against you, pushing you to feel worthless and weak. I have had many self-deprecating thoughts, and I have blamed myself for most of my feelings, not being more involved, my inability to focus or sit still, and the number of times I have cried. It has made me want to miss school, skip assignments, give up, cry, scream, and somehow escape my mind. But after many anxious days and countless thoughts of giving up, I have learned to change my perspective from absolute perfection to doing the best with what I have. We cannot always push ourselves to do our absolute best without taking a break. This only leads to a build-up of stress and negative thoughts. I have learned from my friends and those around me to not isolate myself, but instead to speak up when I feel anxious, stressed, or upset. Mental health has become especially important to me in recent months. Taking care of my mind by managing my anxiety is the first step in dealing with stressful times. This mindset change took time to develop, but I have learned not to be so hard on myself because it will only take a toll on my mental health. Mental health issues affect many people, and I have unfortunately seen it in myself and those around me. I want to be able to help my friends overcome their hardships with mental health because fighting any invisible illness is hard enough, but doing it alone makes it seem unachievable. I hope someday I can have the voice to advocate for those who are anxious and struggling because mental health plays a significant role in academic achievement, physical well-being, and overall success in life.

Volunteering is one of the most selfless things we can do. I believe everyone should volunteer for an organization. It teaches us that many people do not have what we have. It has made me more grateful for the opportunities and support I have had throughout my life. I have been inspired to volunteer because of the experiences I have had with mental and physical health in my life and the lives of my loved ones. In 2019, my father had a stroke at the age of 49 and it was a shocking wake-up call. Seeing him go from being one of the most resilient people in my life to an utterly defeated person was terrifying. He was unable to perform any of the basic human functions such as walking or turning his head. This became a motivator for everyone in my family to take care of each other. My father has become, what he calls, an example of what not to do. He and I have volunteered for the American Heart Association because of his stroke and because we want others to know how you can prevent a heart attack or stroke. Volunteering for specific organizations such as the American Heart Association has taught me that being a volunteer can be both educational and fun. You can learn useful information while taking care of your health. Physical health and mental health contribute to your overall well-being and volunteering has allowed me to teach myself and others about changing our habits to improve health. While many of us understand that physical health is important, what many people do not realize is that stress alone can be a major factor in your overall health. This has encouraged me to take care of my mental health more and encourage my friends to be aware of their own mental and physical health. We can overlook a lot of factors in our own lives that can be bad for our health, but being a volunteer for the American Heart Association has taught me that each factor can be important to our health and lifespan. Volunteering with the American Heart Association has made me an advocate for creating healthier habits while teaching people that they can enjoy their life, take care of themselves, do what they want, and still live a healthy life. Since my father's stroke, he has changed his entire lifestyle. He has changed his diet to include heart-healthy meals, he has become more involved in the community, and he has taken up new hobbies that contribute to a healthy lifestyle. My father has been an inspiration to me and many others because he was able to use his life story to give back to his community while encouraging others, like me, to do the same.

Being anxious can feel like you are underwater and swimming toward the surface, but no matter how hard you swim, you cannot get any closer. It quickly begins to feel like you are drowning and powerless. You become overwhelmed, panic, and shut down. My anxiety started during the quarantine period of Covid, and I felt more isolated and alone than ever. Weeks of medical testing caused me to fall into a spiral. I missed events, holidays, vacations, and being with friends, all while trying to hide how awful I honestly felt. I have learned that feelings of helplessness are not always avoidable, but I have been able to manage my anxiety so that I can swim up to the surface. Anxiety can make it feel like your brain is working against you, pushing you to feel worthless and weak. I have had many self-deprecating thoughts, and I have blamed myself for most of my feelings, not being more involved, my inability to focus or sit still, and the number of times I have cried. It has made me want to miss school, skip assignments, give up, cry, scream, and somehow escape my own mind. But after many anxious days and countless thoughts of giving up, I have learned to change my perspective from absolute perfection to doing the best with what I have. We cannot always push ourselves to do our absolute best without taking a break. This only leads to a build-up of stress and negative thoughts. I have learned from my friends and those around me to not isolate myself, but instead to speak up when I feel anxious, stressed, or upset. Mental health has become especially important to me in recent months. Taking care of my mind by managing my anxiety is the first step in dealing with stressful times. This mindset change took time to develop, but I have learned not to be so hard on myself because it will only take a toll on my mental health. Mental health issues affect many people, and I have unfortunately seen it in myself and those around me. I want to be able to help my friends overcome their hardships with mental health because fighting any invisible illness is hard enough, but doing it alone makes it seem unachievable. I hope someday I can have the voice to advocate for those who are anxious and struggling because mental health plays a significant role in academic achievement, physical well-being, and overall success in life.

Volunteering is one of the most selfless things we can do. I believe everyone should volunteer for an organization. It teaches us that many people do not have what we have. It has made me more grateful for the opportunities and support I have had throughout my life. I have been inspired to volunteer because of the experiences I have had with mental and physical health in my life and the lives of my loved ones. In 2019, my father had a stroke at the age of 49 and it was a shocking wake-up call. Seeing him go from being one of the most resilient people in my life to an utterly defeated person was terrifying. He was unable to perform any of the basic human functions such as walking or turning his head. This became a motivator for everyone in my family to take care of each other. My father has become, what he calls, an example of what not to do. He and I have volunteered for the American Heart Association because of his stroke and because we want others to know how you can prevent a heart attack or stroke. Volunteering for specific organizations such as the American Heart Association has taught me that being a volunteer can be both educational and fun. You can learn useful information while taking care of your health. Physical health and mental health contribute to your overall well-being and volunteering has allowed me to teach myself and others about changing our habits to improve health. While many of us understand that physical health is important, what many people do not realize is that stress alone can be a major factor in your overall health. This has encouraged me to take care of my mental health more and encourage my friends to be aware of their own mental and physical health. We can overlook a lot of factors in our own lives that can be bad for our health, but being a volunteer for the American Heart Association has taught me that each factor can be important to our health and lifespan. Volunteering with the American Heart Association has made me an advocate for creating healthier habits while teaching people that they can enjoy their life, take care of themselves, do what they want, and still live a healthy life. Since my father's stroke, he has changed his entire lifestyle. He has changed his diet to include heart-healthy meals, he has become more involved in the community, and he has taken up new hobbies that contribute to a healthy lifestyle. My father has been an inspiration to me and many others because he was able to use his life story to give back to his community while encouraging others, like me, to do the same.

Photography can be seen as a hobby or a skill, but to me, it is a way of life. Photography has helped me see things from a detailed and artistic perspective. To me, photography is an art form because it can be used to capture an image of something that can never be replicated. Photographers usually focus on a style as a way to express their thoughts, emotions, feelings, and vision. I use nature photography to focus on how intricate details in life can display so much liveliness. Focusing on nature allows me to look for small items to express how I feel. I think people can learn a lot from nature. By actively searching for a new perspective, I am showing others what I appreciate about nature and how beautiful it is. The diversity in nature allows me to use elements from a scene and focus on minute details that others may not notice, such as an ant crawling on a stem or a set of lines on a seashell that create a unique pattern. Nature provides inspiration and allows my mind to imagine the perfect picture. What I love about photography is that anyone can try it. You do not have to be professional; you simply have to be able to imagine a picture based on what you see and take it. Photography is like taking a small piece of my mind and displaying it in a visual metaphor. It shows the one part of your world that many may never understand, but in your mind, it makes perfect sense. Photography has helped me build my own identity by providing me with a reason to look for the good in things. It has made me a more open-minded person by giving me a reason to search for beauty. It has also allowed me to reach other people with similar interests. Photography teaches us so much about how people see the world. I believe it is one of the most meaningful and valuable lifestyles someone can have.