"It's just in your head", and , "Just relax a little" are two things I have been told a lot in my life, especially recently while dealing with mental health issues. This has caused me to question myself. Do I really feel this way? Am I being dramatic? How can I just let loose like everyone else? This has heightened the struggles I had already been experiencing, and caused me to have to search for ways to validate myself and feel better, without depending on others to understand. Throughout the last two years, I have experienced a lot of anxiety, as have many others. It can be so debilitating at times, so I have had to find self-care practices to help manage my anxiety. I have found that journaling, getting out into nature, and doing yoga are some of the best forms of self-care for me personally. I have started a gratitude journal, where each night, I take note of a few things I am grateful for from that day. It can be the smallest thing, such as the sun coming out after many rainy days, or having my favorite flavor of coffee creamer, but this helps remind me of all the things there are to be happy about, especially when I am feeling overwhelmed. This practice is so beneficial, because when all you can think about is all of the bad things in the world and what's on the plate for tomorrow, you can lose track of enjoying a lot of small happy moments. Making an effort to get outside, even if it is just for a few minutes a day helps my mental health immensely. The crisp air always seems to make me feel grounded and in the moment, and this dedicated time off of screens is such a refreshing break. Hearing the calming sounds of nature, from birds chirping to trees rustling in the wind, and feeling the same breeze on my face helps me to refocus from whatever might be causing me stress. Often times getting outside for me means taking my dogs for a walk, which is even better, as exercise is a great form of self care as well. This always leaves me feeling better, and I notice that I am significantly more calm and level-headed on days where I spend time outside. Lastly, yoga is a wonderful kind of self care. It is a great way to wake up the body for the day, or to calm it down for bed. It is also another form of exercise which is always good, and the slow meaningful movements and relaxing movements make me feel so peaceful. We hold a lot of tension in our bodies that often goes unnoticed, so to have devoted time to just stretch and breathe has been extremely beneficial for my mental health. Dedicating specific time each day to small forms of self-care helps me feel much more relaxed and better overall. These practices have helped me feel more present, down to earth, and grateful for each day.

One of my favorite hobbies is cheerleading. Before high school, when I joined cheer, I was very shy and insecure. Cheer has helped me feel comfortable in my own skin, build a larger support system, and learn so many important lessons. By participating in cheer, its helped me be able to learn about teamwork, and taught me a level of trust I never knew was possible. I am a flyer, meaning I am the one being thrown in the air. Doing this position means that I have to fully trust the people under me to catch me, and to keep me safe. I am such a perfectionist, that before cheer, I had never really thrived in team environments. I always found myself stressing that if I worked on something with anyone other than myself, the final product would not be up to the insanely high standard I hold for myself. Cheer completely changed that for me. I have learned how beneficial it is to have a large group of people working towards a common goal, and how you can flourish in a team. I have bonded with my teammates so much that I do not even second guess their abilities the way I used to. Not only have I learned to trust those around me, I have also learned that it is truly okay to make mistakes. No one is perfect all the time, including myself, and the acceptance of my teammates when I am the one making a mistake has proven to me that everything does not have to be perfect all the time. No matter what happens, we are proud of each other, and comfort each other. Cheer has also made me so much more outgoing. As a cheerleader, you have a lot of community service responsibilities, so it has helped me get used to talking to all different ages and types of people. I am so grateful for this, as it has helped me grow as a person, and I know this is an important skill for my future. On top of all of the character building I have experienced through cheer, it is a magnificent way to get my body moving. It works so many different muscles out, all while having fun. Exercise is so good for the body, and I have noticed that when I am active, my mental health improves tremendously. You can just forget everything else and focus on achieving a common goal. My favorite hobby, cheerleading, is something I truly love. It has helped me grow exponentially as a person in just a few years, make so many lifelong connections, keeps me moving, and benefits my mental health.

One of the biggest parts of my life currently is cheerleading. It has helped me become so much more confident and I am immensely grateful for everything I have learned from it these past four years. Because of this experience, and how the girls older than me encouraged me to be better and more confident, it makes me passionate about doing the same for the younger girls on my team. I try to encourage the younger girls in a few different ways. The most obvious way is by giving them encouraging compliments. Many of them are shy and not sure of themselves, and I try to remind them that they are completely capable, and that it is okay to make mistakes, that's how you learn and get better! I also try to encourage my teammates to be confident in themselves and to be themselves by doing that myself. I've found that at this age everyone goes of the energy of the people around them, so knowing this, I try to be my genuine goofy self as often as possible. I try to encourage my friends and teammates to just have fun and live in the moment. Encouragement is so important, especially from your peers and people you look up to, so I always try to be encouraging through compliments and my attitude to those around me. Sometimes all someone needs is an encouraging smile to feel more sure of themself!

Throughout the last two years, I have experienced a lot of anxiety, as have many others. It can be so debilitating at times, so I have had to find self-care practices to help manage my anxiety. I have found that journaling, getting out into nature, and doing yoga are some of the best forms of self-care for me personally. I have started a gratitude journal, where each night, I take note of a few things I am grateful for from that day. It can be the smallest thing, such as the sun coming out after many rainy days, or having my favorite flavor of coffee creamer, but this helps remind me of all the things there are to be happy about, especially when I am feeling overwhelmed. Making an effort to get outside, even if it is just for a few minutes a day helps my mental health immensely. The crisp air always seems to make me feel grounded and in the moment, and this dedicated time off of screens is such a refreshing break. Often times getting outside for me means taking my dogs for a walk, which is even better, as exercise is a great form of self care as well. This always leaves me feeling better, and I notice that I am significantly more calm and level-headed on days where I spend time outside. Lastly, yoga is a wonderful kind of self care. It is another form of exercise which is always good, but the slow meaningful movements and relaxing movements make me feel so peaceful. Yoga is a great day to wake up the body for the day, or to calm it down for bed. Dedicating specific time each day to small forms of self-care helps me feel much more relaxed and better overall.

Getting an education as a woman is very important to me. Ever since I was a very little girl, my mom has taught me how important it is to get an education, as women did not always have that right. I've held this close to me throughout my educational career, and when I get discourage, I remember that many women before me would have been so grateful for the opportunity to get an education, so I should not take it for granted. I have always had a passion for learning. Since before I could talk I learned sign language in order to communicate, and began learning to read very young. I think it is so exciting to learn. There are so many topics out there to learn about and I am intrigued about all of them. I also like to keep in mind that many woman in other countries still do not have the right to an education, so when I am learning I think of them, and how I should do my best to honor all the woman who desperately wish they could get an education. I am also passionate about getting an education because I feel that as more and more women get educations, specifically college educations, it could help to close the wage gap, which is very important to me. I would love to see more and more women in important roles, like political figures and CEO's, as we live in a very men dominated society, and I am passionate about fighting for gender equality. As I continue my education, I will hold my values of why it is so important for women to continue their educations close to me, and I hope in the future we, as a society, will close the wage gap and reach gender equality.

Life definitely has its ups and downs, but it is so crucial to stay positive no matter what the circumstances are. Throughout the pandemic, so many people struggled with optimism, including me. I found that dedicating time to staying off of technology and enjoying nature helped me to stay optimistic. Doing small things like taking the dogs for a walk, doing a short yoga session, or reading a book is so beneficial, as too much time on electronics can make one feel like what they are doing is not enough. I have also found that practicing gratitude, such as a daily gratitude journal has helped immensely with realizing all the good things in life. It really helps you to hone in on all the aspects of life that are not stressful or upsetting, and to be grateful for the little things, which helps with optimism. The quote, "All things will pass", and "All's well that ends well" from The Little House on the Prairie books have always been important to me. I find a lot of comfort in the idea that no matter how bad something might seem in the moment, it will pass and things will always get better. This has been especially helpful in the past two years, as there has been a lot of time to think, so comforting phrases like these have helped me stay optimistic and not overthink so much. Although people often say, "stay positive" frequently, it can be very difficult, but actions like gratitude journals, staying off of technology, and avoiding overthinking when possible help me get through the tough times. It has really taught me that the small things are the best things, and when everything seems like its too much, to remember to focus on self care and your mentality.