A year ago, I started to struggle with my mental health. I have always had issues but have been able to hide the main results of my struggle. But something changed in my life and I could no longer hide my feelings. My mom researched counselors in my area and came across a center that, not only had a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community but had female counselors. She knew that, because I am such a private person and my history with males, I would not be comfortable with a male counselor, I wouldn't open up to a male like I would a female and it was/is very important to be able to be open and honest in order to grow and learn. Because of my experience with that counseling center, I have decided to go into counseling. I hope to be able to intern at the center one day, in order to help others like myself, within my community. I feel that it's important to have female counselors because, sadly, most individuals who seek out counseling are female. And while some females are ok with a male counselor, most are not. The reasons behind that feeling are understandable - males are generally the reason they seek counseling in the first place. Either because of a past trauma or a current trauma. Not all males are bad just as not all trauma is caused by a male in their life. But in talking to others, included my family and friends, males always come up. My uncle runs a facility for substance abuse rehab and when I job shadowed there, it was males who made up the majority of the population. Again, generalization is not a good thing, and the small place that I saw and the small group of people I talk to do not make it true everywhere but it seems there is a pattern. At this time, although my diagnosis is still fluid at this point, my counselor is leaning towards PTSD stemming from my home life with my father. I believe there needs to be more female counselors in the world, especially in small rural towns/communities. The smaller population are more hidden from the world, the smaller population can get away with a bit more. If there were more females able to help, maybe more females would seek out the help and there wouldn't be a need for female counselors. I hope to be able to intern and branch out from there. One day I would like to help others within a small counseling center, like the one I go to or help others in a hospital setting. Somewhere where I feel I can help the most.

Last October, I was at my darkest point in my life. I made a choice late one night to stop the pain. Luckily for me, I was unsuccessful. But after that point, I knew I had to change my life in some way. I am a senior in a small Catholic school, within a small mainly Catholic community. My choice that I made that night went against everything I had been taught since the beginning of my life. I knew what I was feeling was wrong, I knew what I was going through was tough. I have always had issues with my mental health growing up and when I was a junior in high school, I asked my mom if I could find a counselor for help. I recognized I needed help to understand what I was feeling and why. Once we found a counselor, I was able to discuss everything that was going on in my life, both emotionally or physically. But I was hesitant about sharing certain things with them, because I had a hard time trusting others. It wasn't until my senior year that I really started to trust my counselor. But then, the darkness overcame me. I felt myself spiral downward and I was unable to stop. I no longer trusted my counselor, for a strong fear of hospitalization. I hid in my room, no desire to interact with anyone. My teachers started to notice a change in me, my parents tried to talk to me about what was going on. After I made my choice, I was taken to the hospital to be evaluated. My parents convinced the emergency room doctors that they could remove items from my room and lock up items downstairs so I was sent home. I was put on a safety plan at school and began to see a psychologist for medication and my counselor twice a week. I've learned and grew so much after that little time. I now understand the importance of being honest, not only with my counselor but also with myself. I've learned to trust myself and others. My teachers noticed the change, my schoolwork improving. I wanted to spend time outside of my room. My friends came around again, making my life that much better. I know what it's like to be in that dark place and I don't ever want to go back. I am still a work in progress, I am still learning and growing. But I know, without a doubt, that I wouldn't be where I am today if I didn't live through what I did. But from that near tragedy, my life's ambition was formed. My goal in now to become a counselor. I have always been the person my friends come to when they need to talk, and with my new outlook on life, I wanted to help more people, as many as possible. I can now see the darkness in others. Mental health is important to understand. It's important to take care of. It dictates your whole life. Everything is affected by it. If you don't take care of it, nothing else will matter.

I have always had issues with my mental health growing up and when I was a junior in high school, I asked my mom if I could find a counselor for help. Once we found a counselor, I was able to discuss most everything that was going on in my life, both emotionally or physically. But I was hesitant about sharing certain things with them, because I didn't trust many people. It wasn't until my senior year that I really started to trust my counselor. But then, the darkness overcame me. I felt myself spiral downward and I was unable to stop. I no longer trusted my counselor, for a strong fear of hospitalization. I hid in my room, no desire to interact with anyone. My teachers started to notice a change in me, my friends didn't want to go out with me, my parents tried to talk to me about what was going on. Last October, I was at my darkest point in my life. I made a choice late one night to stop the pain. Luckily for me, I was unsuccessful. But after that point, I knew I had to change my life in some way. I am a senior in a small Catholic school, within a small mainly Catholic community. My choice that I made that night went against everything I had been taught since the beginning of my life. After I made my choice, I was taken to the hospital to be evaluated. My parents convinced the emergency room doctors that they could remove items from my room and lock up items downstairs, so I was sent home. I was put on a safety plan at school and began to see a psychologist for medication and my counselor twice a week. My teachers noticed the change, I was able to spend time outside of my room. My friends came around again, making my life that much better. I know what it's like to be in a dark place and I don't ever want to go back. But from that near tragedy, my life's ambition was formed. My goal now is to become a counselor. I have always been the person my friends come to when they need to talk, and with my new outlook on life, I wanted to help more people, as many as possible. When I was able to pick my head back up, I recognized that darkness in others. I noticed more people around me who looked like I used to. Remembering how it felt, I understand the lack of willingness to express their feelings and ask for help. I am still a work in progress, still learning and growing. I have learned about my triggers, what helps and what hurts my mental health. My school work is rebounding, my friends are around more. Now, I write down my feelings, I keep a calendar with colored stickers. And I try to get out more, try to see the light, not the dark. All these things make it possible to recover and grow. Mental health is important to understand. It's important to take care of as it dictates your whole life. Everything is affected by it. If you don't take care of it, nothing else will matter. Your body language, your speech, your moods, even the way you dress. I'm lucky I have friends who care, have parents who are active in my life, have access to counseling. I'm beyond grateful for my life and I want to use my time left on this Earth to helps others

I am a student at a small Catholic school. I am also a part of the LGBTQ+ community. For many years, I have had to stay in the dark about how I really feel and am unable to express my true self. A year ago, something happened in my life to make it harder to cope with my feelings as a whole. Once I confided in my mom, she was able to find a counselor who, not only helped young adults, but also were supportive of the LGBTQ+ community. I began to learn all about how to help myself and how to grow in a more positive environment. Last October, my teachers and friends began to notice a change in me. I no longer cared about my school work, I no longer wanted to go out with my friends in or out of school, and I stayed in my room more and more. My counselor tried to work through what was happening but I continued to spiral down, unstoppable. I ended up in the hospital because of my actions attempted one night. Everyone around me was supportive to get me better but, because of my religion, were not really supportive of my actions. While I understood the idea behind the lack of support, I began to feel like I wasn't good enough too support and started to spiral again. My mom was called into my counselor's office to discuss everything that was going through my head and what I was feeling at that time. They worked together, along with the school, to help me through this time. I was supported, I was listened to, I was able to come out of that spiral. My teachers began to see a difference, my friends were able to come around again, my room no longer was my hiding spot. I know that without the help of everyone in my life, I wouldn't be here today. I know that I will have to continue to work through my issues everyday, probably for the rest of my life. But I'm ok with that, because I know there are good people behind me. I feel that mental and physical health is important because it helps you live. Literally. One helps support the other. Once I was able to get out of my room, I was able to continue my taekwondo classes. The people there are incredibly supportive. The classes allow me to release some of the stress of the day, some of the frustrations I might be feeling about life or school or friends. I can get out of my head for an hour during class. My schoolwork suffered as my mental health suffered. Because my school worked with my counselor and my mom, I was given allowances in due dates, or test taking. My teachers understood I was having a hard time and they were flexible enough until I began to get back on my feet. Without that support, my schoolwork would have suffered. And since I am a senior, my grades and grade point average is very important. I hope to become a counselor so I am able to help others grow and learn about themselves like I did.

I always knew I wanted to help people. I grew up with a father who works for Children Services as a Community Advocate and he instilled in me a feeling of responsibility to others, to lifting other up, helping where and when you can. I knew I wanted to follow in his footsteps, I just wasn't sure how. Five months ago, I was in a very dark place mentally. I had isolated myself to the point I basically lived in my bedroom when I wasn't in school. I no longer wanted to live with the pain I felt everyday. With no way out that I could see, I took matters into my own hands. Obviously, I was unsuccessful in my attempt, but since that day, I have gotten the help I need. My outlook has changed drastically, with the help of a counselor and the realization that sometimes, everyone needs help. It's not just the kids in the foster care system. It's not just the addicts. It's not just the ones in the hospital. Everyday people, out in the community, need help. That darkness I felt ended up being the catalyst to great things. My life became clear and I knew my path forward. I decided to pursue a degree in Psychology, focusing on counseling for teenagers/adolescents. I want to help young people like me, like I was, to better themselves. To help them move into the light, out of the darkness. In four years, I'll have my B.A. in Psychology. At that point, I would like to begin working at a local counseling center but continue my education. My ultimate goal is to become a licensed social worker, perhaps an independent licensed social worker. I understand that there are other factors I will need to consider, but my goal is to help people. The quickest way to accomplish that is to get my four year degree and then continue with my education at that point. The counseling center where my counselor is located at is one stopping point I'd like to use. They employ student counselors for real world experience. The owner of the center also travels to area middle and high schools to help with counseling directly at school. That is one way to help the kids if I remain there. After I graduate, if I am unable to remain at that counseling center, I know there are opportunities around town that I would love to experience. Once such opportunity is a counseling center that is partially owned by my uncle. At this point, it is mainly for recovering addicts but he is looking into beginning general counseling. He has already said, when I graduate, he would love to have me working for the center. I would prefer to remain in my community, helping the people around me daily to grow, learn and get to a better place mentally than I could at that point in their life. Working with my uncle would be wonderful and by the time I graduate, his business will have been around and known here and he's hoping to expand further. Because of his goal, I will be able to accomplish mine.

I am a current high school senior in a small town Catholic School. My ultimate goal is to become a counselor, specializing in adolescence and young adults. When I was a junior, I began to struggle with my mental health. My parents found a counselor who specialized in adolescence and young adults. I loved it there and thrived from the beginning - learning all about what I was feeling and why. They have a cat there who will sit with people and she always gravitates towards me. They are the reason I want to make my career in counseling. In October of 2023, my mental health took a sharp downward turn and I ended up trying to stop the pain in the only way I knew at that time. Luckily, I was unsuccessful but I did learn a lot about how low someone could go and what it truly felt like. I believe that feeling is something that you have to experience to really know. Because of that fact, I know that I can become a great counselor. I am looking forward to learning about all of the different diagnostics and how to best deal with people. Even now, during my school days, I have friends who will come to me with their issues and concerns. I feel I am very empathetic and can help figure things out or at the very least, just listen. Sometimes, that's all that's needed. My uncle is part of a group who owns a business helping recovering addicts and mental health issues. I was able to job shadow someone at his business and found that there aren't very many people of Hispanic backgrounds in this field and especially not female Hispanic. Everywhere I turned, it was older Caucasian males. I feel that, not only is the Hispanic population under represented but Hispanic females are even more under represented. I would like to change that if I can. I think I can bring change in my community, where the Hispanic population is growing and there are more females then males. This scholarship would make it possible to go to college without taking on more debt than I need. I would like to help people and make a difference in my community and with scholarships like this one, I wouldn't have to worry about loans - I can just worry about my community and helping everyone I can, especially the Hispanic population.

When my mom was 8 1/2 month pregnant with me, she met with her landlords to make sure the house she was renting was in the same condition she started renting it in. Her landlords, an retired couple, were always nice and friendly towards her. The wife, Jackie, began asking my mom if she had a babysitter lined up for me once I was born. When my mom answered that she didn't have anything set yet, Jackie replied that she would be available to watch me if my mom wanted. My mom replied with "Sure, a couple days a week." to which Jackie replied that she'd get attached to me and would watch me everyday. That was the greatest decision my mom ever made. Grandma Jackie became the most important person in my life. She might not have been grandma by blood but she was so much more. I was with her almost everyday of my life. When Jackie's husband, Frank, passed, I stayed with Jackie for weeks. I was 6. When my paternal grandparents passed, I stayed with her for days while they were in the hospital. I was 10. Whenever I went home, I would ask when I could go back. She picked me up and dropped me off at school everyday. If there was a delay or a snow day or a holiday or if I was sick, I stayed with her. One winter, we were snowed in and I couldn't leave her house for almost a whole week. But I loved it. We baked Christmas cookies, we made meals for her church and the homeless shelter where she volunteered. She took me to Georgia to visit her family, the library, the local pool, local destinations. In 2019, she discovered a lump - cancer. But my grandma was strong, she could beat it. She had surgery to remove the lump and went through chemo. She was told they got it all, she beat it - of course she did. She was told to rest, get her strength back. I didn't hesitate, I was there everyday without fail. Anything she needed, any way I could help. My world was right again. Until 2020. During the worse of COVID, we were all told to stay at home so I was unable to see Jackie for weeks. One day in April, I received a call that would change my life. Please come, I need to see you. When I got to Jackie's, she was unable to get up from the chair. My strong grandma fought through the worse pain imaginable by herself. And when she was unable to handle it, her doctor told her it was too late, it had grown too much and they couldn't do anything. Less then 2 weeks later, she was gone. My life was gone. Everything I loved, the person who shaped me, helped me, loved me - gone. I struggled mentally. My mom put me in counseling but nothing seemed to be working. I tried to take away the pain one night and ended up in the hospital. That was my lowest and I knew of all the people in my life, Jackie would definitely not approve. I moved forward and discovered my life goal - to be a counselor to help others like myself. The ones who lost a love one, who needed help to go in the right direction. I will be forever grateful to Jackie for helping me live and helping me find myself, even when she wasn't here any longer.

Last October, I was at my darkest point in my life. I made a choice late one night to stop the pain. Luckily for me, I was unsuccessful.But after that point, I knew I had to change my life in some way. I am a senior in a small Catholic school, within a small mainly Catholic community. My choice that I made that night went against everything I had been taught since the beginning of my life. I knew what I was feeling was wrong, I knew what I was going through was tough. I have always had issues with my mental health growing up and when I was a junior in high school, I asked my mom if I could find a counselor for help. I recognized I needed help to "fix" myself. I needed help to understand what I was feeling and why. Once we found a counselor, I was able to discuss everything that was going on in my life, both emotionally or physically. But I was hesitant about sharing certain things with them, because I had a fear of being hospitalized. It wasn't until my senior year that I really started to trust my counselor. But then, the darkness overcame me. I felt myself spiral downward that I was unable to stop. I no longer trusted my counselor, for a stronger fear of hospitalization. I hid in my room, no desire to interact with anyone. My teachers started to notice a change in me, my parents tried to talk to me about what was going on. After I made my choice, I was taken to the hospital to be evaluated. My parents convinced the emergency room doctors that they could remove items from my room and lock up items downstairs so I was sent home. I was put on a safety plan at school and began to see a psychologist for medication and my counselor twice a week. I've learned and grew so much in that little time. I now understand the importance of being honest, not only with my counselor but also with myself. I've learned to trust myself and others. My teachers noticed the change, I was able to spend time outside of my room. My friends came around again, making my life that much better. I know what it's like to be in that dark place and I don't ever want to go back. But from that near tragedy, my life's ambition was formed. My goal in now to become a counselor. I have always been the person my friends come to when they need to talk, and with my new outlook on life, I wanted to help more people, as many as possible. I am still a work in progress, I am still learning and growing. But I know, without a doubt, that I wouldn't be where I am today if I didn't live through what I did. I'm glad that I had at least a little bit of a history with my counselor, and it continues today. I have learned about my triggers, what helps and what hurts my mental health. My school work is rebounding, my friends are around more. Now, I write down my feelings, I keep a calendar with colored stickers. And I have a dog that I sleep with. All these things make it possible to recover and grow. Mental health is important to understand. It's important to take care of. It dictates your whole life. Everything is affected by it. If you don't take care of it, nothing else will matter.

Success is keeping someone alive who doesn't want to be. Success is knowing I've made a positive impact on someone who doesn't want help. Success is helping someone who was once like me live life. One year ago, I asked my mom for help for the first time. I knew I needed someone else to help clear my mind. I needed someone to help me understand what I was feeling. My mom found a great counseling center for me, close to school. From the first moment I walked through the door, I knew this was the place. Everyone cares. Everyone is welcome. The center is a safe space to just be yourself. They helped me so much. Until October of this past year. I started to struggle with no idea why. I started to ignore my friends, I stopped doing all school work, I didn't talk to my counselor like I was. One night, I couldn't take the pain anymore. I ended up at the hospital, facing a disappointed father and an extremely worried mom. My room was stripped of everything, I was put on a safety plan at school, I started to see my counselor twice a week. I hated it. Everything that was happening just reminded me of what I tried to do and how much of a failure I am. Both for trying and for surviving. I didn't want help anymore. I didn't want anyone to see how I was struggling, how sad I was. But, thankfully, no one gave up on me. I struggled, no doubt, but I also found footing. I was able to take a step, one at a time, baby steps as needed but a step never the less. My teachers were the first to say something. They noticed I started carrying myself different, head up, body straight, and I was smiling again. My mom noticed I was out of my room more, downstairs more. My friends were around again. My counselor kept talking, kept making me take those steps. She was always there, cheering me on. We changed our sessions to include relaxation techniques, things to help with stress. She showed me items to help me with my self harm tendencies, things to keep my mind off what I shouldn't be thinking of. I learned how keeping a journal would help get my thoughts and feelings out in a safe way. It was during this time that my future was decided. I want to become a counselor. I want to help others with what I am still struggling with. I want to help others take those steps that are the most hardest in the beginning. I want to show others that there are ways out of the darkness, ways to keep you alive. But I need to go to school for this and my mom has just lost her job. My family has always been about not borrowing money if possible. They are trying to keep me debt free when I start my life right out of college. This scholarship would help me have piece of mind so I can focus on what success means for me. It will help me be able to get right out of college and not worry that I have to take a job at a big corporate building to help people just to help pay off college bills. I can start at the same place I received help, a small building with 3 counselors and still afford to live, still afford to help where I am most needed.

When my mom was 8 1/2 month pregnant with me, she met with her landlords to make sure the house she was renting was in the same condition she started renting it in. Her landlords, an retired couple, were always nice and friendly towards her. The wife, Jackie, began asking my mom if she had a babysitter lined up for me once I was born. When my mom answered that she didn't have anything set yet, Jackie replied that she would be available to watch me if my mom wanted. My mom replied with "Sure, a couple days a week." to which Jackie replied that she'd get attached to me and would watch me everyday. That was the greatest decision my mom ever made. Grandma Jackie became the most important person in my life. She might not have been grandma by blood but she was so much more. I was with her almost everyday of my life. When Jackie's husband, Frank, passed, I stayed with Jackie for weeks. I was 6. When my paternal grandparents passed, I stayed with her for days while they were in the hospital. I was 10. Whenever I went home, I would ask when I could go back. She picked me up and dropped me off at school everyday. If there was a delay or a snow day or a holiday or if I was sick, I stayed with her. One winter, we were snowed in and I couldn't leave her house for almost a whole week. But I loved it. We baked Christmas cookies, we made meals for her church and the homeless shelter where she volunteered. She took me to Georgia to visit her family, the library, the local pool, local destinations. In 2019, she discovered a lump - cancer. But my grandma was strong, she could beat it. She had surgery to remove the lump and went through chemo. She was told they got it all, she beat it - of course she did. She was told to rest, get her strength back. I didn't hesitate, I was there everyday without fail. Anything she needed, any way I could help. My world was right again. Until 2020. During the worse of COVID, we were all told to stay at home so I was unable to see Jackie for weeks. One day in April, I received a call that would change my life. Please come, I need to see you. When I got to Jackie's, she was unable to get up from the chair. My strong grandma fought through the worse pain imaginable by herself. And when she was unable to handle it, her doctor told her it was too late, it had grown too much and they couldn't do anything. Less then 2 weeks later, she was gone. My life was gone. Everything I loved, the person who shaped me, helped me, loved me - gone. I struggled mentally. My mom put me in counseling but nothing seemed to be working. I tried to take away the pain one night and ended up in the hospital. That was my lowest and I knew of all the people in my life, Jackie would definitely not approve. I moved forward and discovered my life goal - to be a counselor to help others like myself. The ones who lost a love one, who needed help to go in the right direction. I will be forever grateful to Jackie for helping me live and helping me find myself, even when she wasn't here any longer.

I have always had concerns about my mental health, but I found that dark humor helped. No one looked at you funny or worried about where your mind was at if you could make them laugh. But one day, it wasn't funny anymore. About a year ago, I found it was harder to smile anymore, nothing was fun or funny. My mom found a local counseling center who showed me there was more then jokes and sometimes mental health wasn't funny. Last October, life wasn't funny anymore and I found it was painful to stay alive. I wanted to take away the pain and ended up in the hospital. Everyone rallied around me - friends, family, my school, my counselor. It was their turn to make me smile, to help me find the fun again. I struggled for a long time, taking a few steps back every once in a while. But I learned it's ok, not every step is forward but the step itself is sometimes enough. I started to see my counselor a couple times a week during this period. We worked through some things that seemed to be holding me back, keeping me from making that step forward. Slowly, I got better. Slowly, I started to see the "fun" again. I know that I'll always have to deal and be aware of my mental health but I'm becoming ok with that. It's just a part of who I am. One good thing that happened during this time, is I finally decided on where I wanted my life to go. My life goal is to become a counselor, to help other young adults live and find their "fun". I need to bring positivity into others life, even if it's not exactly through dark humor. Others need to see there is something out there for them, something that will bring them back from the dark place they might find themselves in one day, much like me. I am eternally grateful to the counselors I saw during my time in the dark, how they helped bring me into the light. I want to do that for others, I want to be the helping hand others reach for when they can't find their own walkway. Because I live in a small town, there aren't very many counselors who help young adults like me. Most help adults, and while they obviously do see young adults, sometimes people need to be heard by someone they relate to. I feel I can be that person for them.

I am a student at a small Catholic school. I am also a part of the LGBTQ+ community. For many years, I have had to stay in the dark about how I really feel and am unable to express my true self. A year ago, something happened in my life to make it harder to cope with my feelings as a whole. Once I confided in my mom, she was able to find a counselor who, not only helped young adults, but also were supportive of the LGBTQ+ community. I began to learn all about how to help myself and how to grow in a more positive environment. Last October, my teachers and friends began to notice a change in me. I no longer cared about my school work, I no longer wanted to go out with my friends in or out of school, and I stayed in my room more and more. My counselor tried to work through what was happening but I continued to spiral down, unstoppable. I ended up in the hospital because of my actions attempted one night. Everyone around me was supportive to get me better but, because of my religion, were not really supportive of my actions. While I understood the idea behind the lack of support, I began to feel like I wasn't good enough too support and started to spiral again. My mom was called into my counselor's office to discuss everything that was going through my head and what I was feeling at that time. They worked together, along with the school, to help me through this time. I was supported, I was listened to, I was able to come out of that spiral. My teachers began to see a difference, my friends were able to come around again, my room no longer was my hiding spot. I know that without the help of everyone in my life, I wouldn't be here today. I know that I will have to continue to work through my issues everyday, probably for the rest of my life. But I'm ok with that, because I know there are good people behind me. I feel that mental and physical health is important because it helps you live. Literally. One helps support the other. Once I was able to get out of my room, I was able to continue my taekwondo classes. The people there are incredibly supportive. The classes allow me to release some of the stress of the day, some of the frustrations I might be feeling about life or school or friends. I can get out of my head for an hour during class. My schoolwork suffered as my mental health suffered. Because my school worked with my counselor and my mom, I was given allowances in due dates, or test taking. My teachers understood I was having a hard time and they were flexible enough until I began to get back on my feet. Without that support, my schoolwork would have suffered. And since I am a senior, my grades and grade point average is very important. I hope to become a counselor so I am able to help others grow and learn about themselves like I did.

A year ago, I started to struggle with my mental health. I have always had issues but have been able to hide the main results of my struggle. But something changed in my life and I could no longer hide my feelings. My mom researched counselors in my area and came across a center who, not only had a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community, but had female counselors. She knew that, because I am such a private person and my history with males, I would not be comfortable with a male counselor, I wouldn't open up to a male like I would a female and it was/is very important to be able to be open and honest in order to grow and learn. Because of my experience with that counseling center, I have decided to go into counseling. I hope to be able to intern at the center one day, in order to help others like myself, within my community. I feel that it's important to have female counselors because, sadly, most individuals who seek out counseling are female. And while some females are ok with a male counselor, most are not. The reasons behind that feeling are understandable - males are generally the reason they seek counseling in the first place. Either because of a past trauma or a current trauma.Not all males are bad just as not all trauma is caused by a male in their life. But in talking to others, included my family and friends, males always come up. My uncle runs a facility for substance abuse rehab and when I job shadowed there, it was males who made up the majority of the population. Again, generalization is not a good thing and the small place that I saw and the small group of people I talk to do not make it true everywhere but it seems there is a pattern. At this time, although my diagnosis is still fluid at this point, my counselor is leaning towards PTSD stemming from my home life with my father. I believe there needs to be more female counselors in the world, especially in small rural towns/communities. The smaller population are more hidden from the world, the smaller population can get away with a bit more. If there were more females able to help, maybe more females would seek out the help and there wouldn't be a need for female counselors. I hope to be able to intern and branch out from there. One day I would like to help others within a small counseling center, like the one I go to or help others in a hospital setting. Somewhere where I feel I can help the most.

I attend a Catholic school in a small town in Ohio. My religion teaches us that everyone is born a boy or a girl and we can only marry someone of the opposite sex. I have always felt that it shouldn't be black or white. What if you love someone who is the same sex? What if you feel like someone of the same sex understands you better then others? Then I started to question my sexuality. I was born a girl but I identify as gender fluid. I just am. My friends are incredibly accepting of myself, and some also are included in the LGBTQ+ lifestyle. I am thankful that I am able to be myself around my friends. My family on the other hand, because they are strong in their faith, would never accept me for anything other then what I was born as. Because of this, I have had to hide my true self around them. For a while, this worked. But last year, I started to struggle. I confided in my mom, who was incredibly understanding and non-judgemental. She researched counselors in our area and surprised me with one who dealt with LGBTQ+ community. Once I entered the building and saw all of the various flags in the main office and in each of the individual offices, I knew this is where I belonged. Most, if not all, of the staff there are a part of the LGBTQ+ community. I have been able to relax and become more myself. I am able to explore ideas and thoughts in a safe space, not only about sexuality but also about my mental health in general. I never experienced anything like this and I am forever grateful for, not only my mom for finding this place, but also for everyone inside that building. Everyone cares about everyone. There isn't one person in that place that doesn't love us all, and you can feel that love the moment you walk through the door. Because of my counseling and because of the people there, I confirmed my career choice - I want to become a counselor. I want to make people feel safe, I want to help people to grow into the person they want to be. I want to help people make choices that are right for them. The freedom to grow and learn as myself, is very powerful. I hope to allow others to have the same feeling. Because the counseling center I go to has student counselors that attend the college I am, I am hoping to also intern there one day.

I always knew I wanted to help people. I grew up with a father who works for Children Services as a Community Advocate and he instilled in me a feeling of responsibility to others, to lifting other up, helping where and when you can. I knew I wanted to follow in his footsteps, I just wasn't sure how. Five months ago, I was in a very dark place mentally. I hid in my room, no desire to interact with anyone. I had no motivation to do any of my assignments and I had fallen behind because of it. My teachers started to notice a change in me, my parents tried to talk to me about what was going on. I had isolated myself to the point I basically lived in my bedroom when I wasn't in school. I no longer wanted to live with the pain I felt everyday. With no way out that I could see, I took matters into my own hands. Obviously, I was unsuccessful in my attempt, but since that day, I have gotten the help I need. My outlook has changed drastically, with the help of a counselor and the realization that sometimes, everyone needs help. It's not just the kids in the foster care system. It's not just the addicts. It's not just the ones in the hospital. Everyday people, out in the community, need help. That darkness I felt ended up being the catalyst to great things. My life became clear and I knew my path forward. I decided to pursue a degree in Psychology, focusing on counseling for teenagers/adolescents. I want to help young people like me, like I was, to better themselves. To help them move into the light, out of the darkness. In four years, I'll have my B.A. in Psychology. At that point, I would like to begin working at a local counseling center but continue my education. My ultimate goal is to become a licensed social worker, perhaps an independent licensed social worker. I understand that there are other factors I will need to consider, but my goal is to help people. The quickest way to accomplish that is to get my four year degree and then continue with my education at that point. The counseling center where my counselor is located at is one stopping point I'd like to use. They employ student counselors for real world experience. The owner of the center also travels to area middle and high schools to help with counseling directly at school. That is one way to help the kids if I remain there. After I graduate, if I am unable to remain at that counseling center, I know there are opportunities around town that I would love to experience. Once such opportunity is a counseling center that is partially owned by my uncle. At this point, it is mainly for recovering addicts but he is looking into beginning general counseling. He has already said, when I graduate, he would love to have me working for the center. I would prefer to remain in my community, helping the people around me daily to grow, learn and get to a better place mentally than I could at that point in their life. Working with my uncle would be wonderful and by the time I graduate, his business will have been around and known here and he's hoping to expand further. Because of his goal, I will be able to accomplish mine.

When I think of a high school teacher, I immediately think of my high school art teacher. I currently attend a small high school, and this year there were only six people in my art class. I have always enjoyed art and am one of the few students who have taken the course all 4 years of my high school. My art teacher, Mrs. Abdoo, is a very understanding and caring teacher. She will check up on her students every day, genuinely caring about our wellbeing. Mrs. Abdoo also helped my peers and myself figure out what we'd like to do in life. She was very honest and straight forth with her recommendations and assistance. Another great thing she does is be there for us if we were going through a tough time. I recently went through a very tough time in my life and she was always there, to listen or just to sit with me. I know that I wouldn't have made it through some school days without her. She changed how I approached my life by just being so understanding and open to different angles of problem solving. I was just worried about myself and how to help myself, without seeing there are other ways of solving issues, with myself and also with my friends. I was able to take her understanding ways and keep an open mind when talking with my friends and helping with anything they may be having a hard time with. She was able to help me decide to become a therapist because I wanted to help others and have them understand that I am able to relate to them, even if I haven't had their exact experience. Mrs. Abdoo was able to step back and help me find myself and move forward when I was having trouble within my personal life. She wasn't just a teacher, she was a true mentor and someone that I wanted to mirror in my life. I was able to job shadow her during my senior year and learned that she is able to relate to most of her students in a way that most teachers don't see to be able to. She was much more personable and that seems to make all the difference in the lives of all the people she touched. Because she teaches art, her class is much more relaxed than most classes so students are able to relax and breathe and she always helps her students to do just that.

Last October, I was at my darkest point in my life. I made a choice late one night to stop the pain. Luckily for me, I was unsuccessful. But after that point, I knew I had to change my life in some way. I am a senior in a small Catholic school, within a small mainly Catholic community. My choice that I made that night went against everything I had been taught since the beginning of my life. I knew what I was feeling was wrong, I knew what I was going through was tough. I have always had issues with my mental health growing up and when I was a junior in high school, I asked my mom if I could find a counselor for help. I recognized I needed help to understand what I was feeling and why. Once we found a counselor, I was able to discuss everything that was going on in my life, both emotionally or physically. But I was hesitant about sharing certain things with them, because I had a hard time trusting others. It wasn't until my senior year that I really started to trust my counselor. But then, the darkness overcame me. I felt myself spiral downward and I was unable to stop. I no longer trusted my counselor, for a strong fear of hospitalization. I hid in my room, no desire to interact with anyone. My teachers started to notice a change in me, my parents tried to talk to me about what was going on. After I made my choice, I was taken to the hospital to be evaluated. My parents convinced the emergency room doctors that they could remove items from my room and lock up items downstairs so I was sent home. I was put on a safety plan at school and began to see a psychologist for medication and my counselor twice a week. I've learned and grew so much after that little time. I now understand the importance of being honest, not only with my counselor but also with myself. I've learned to trust myself and others. My teachers noticed the change, my schoolwork improving. I wanted to spend time outside of my room. My friends came around again, making my life that much better. I know what it's like to be in that dark place and I don't ever want to go back. I am still a work in progress, I am still learning and growing. But I know, without a doubt, that I wouldn't be where I am today if I didn't live through what I did. But from that near tragedy, my life's ambition was formed. My goal in now to become a counselor. I have always been the person my friends come to when they need to talk, and with my new outlook on life, I wanted to help more people, as many as possible. I can now see the darkness in others. Mental health is important to understand. It's important to take care of. It dictates your whole life. Everything is affected by it. If you don't take care of it, nothing else will matter.

I always knew I wanted to help people. I grew up with a father who works for Children Services as a Community Advocate and he instilled in me a feeling of responsibility to others, to lifting other up, helping where and when you can. I knew I wanted to follow in his footsteps, I just wasn't sure how. Five months ago, I was in a very dark place mentally. I had isolated myself to the point I basically lived in my bedroom when I wasn't in school. I no longer wanted to live with the pain I felt everyday. With no way out that I could see, I took matters into my own hands. Obviously, I was unsuccessful in my attempt, but since that day, I have gotten the help I need. My outlook has changed drastically, with the help of a counselor and the realization that sometimes, everyone needs help. It's not just the kids in the foster care system. It's not just the addicts. It's not just the ones in the hospital. Everyday people, out in the community, need help. That darkness I felt ended up being the catalyst to great things. My life became clear and I knew my path forward. I decided to pursue a degree in Psychology, focusing on counseling for teenagers/adolescents. I want to help young people like me, like I was, to better themselves. To help them move into the light, out of the darkness. In four years, I'll have my B.A. in Psychology. At that point, I would like to begin working at a local counseling center but continue my education. My ultimate goal is to become a licensed social worker, perhaps an independent licensed social worker. I understand that there are other factors I will need to consider, but my goal is to help people. The quickest way to accomplish that is to get my four year degree and then continue with my education at that point. The counseling center where my counselor is located at is one stopping point I'd like to use. They employ student counselors for real world experience. The owner of the center also travels to area middle and high schools to help with counseling directly at school. That is one way to help the kids if I remain there. After I graduate, if I am unable to remain at that counseling center, I know there are opportunities around town that I would love to experience. Once such opportunity is a counseling center that is partially owned by my uncle. At this point, it is mainly for recovering addicts but he is looking into beginning general counseling. He has already said, when I graduate, he would love to have me working for the center. I would prefer to remain in my community, helping the people around me daily to grow, learn and get to a better place mentally than I could at that point in their life. Working with my uncle would be wonderful and by the time I graduate, his business will have been around and known here and he's hoping to expand further. Because of his goal, I will be able to accomplish mine.

Last October, I was at my darkest point in my life. I made a choice late one night to stop the pain. Luckily for me, I was unsuccessful. But after that point, I knew I had to change my life in some way. I am a senior in a small Catholic school, within a small mainly Catholic community. My choice that I made that night went against everything I had been taught since the beginning of my life. I knew what I was feeling was wrong, I knew what I was going through was tough. I have always had issues with my mental health growing up and when I was a junior in high school, I asked my mom if I could find a counselor for help. I recognized I needed help to understand what I was feeling and why. Once we found a counselor, I was able to discuss everything that was going on in my life, both emotionally or physically. But I was hesitant about sharing certain things with them, because I had a hard time trusting others. It wasn't until my senior year that I really started to trust my counselor. But then, the darkness overcame me. I felt myself spiral downward and I was unable to stop. I no longer trusted my counselor, for a strong fear of hospitalization. I hid in my room, no desire to interact with anyone. My teachers started to notice a change in me, my parents tried to talk to me about what was going on. After I made my choice, I was taken to the hospital to be evaluated. My parents convinced the emergency room doctors that they could remove items from my room and lock up items downstairs so I was sent home. I was put on a safety plan at school and began to see a psychologist for medication and my counselor twice a week. I've learned and grew so much after that little time. I now understand the importance of being honest, not only with my counselor but also with myself. I've learned to trust myself and others. My teachers noticed the change, my schoolwork improving. I wanted to spend time outside of my room. My friends came around again, making my life that much better. I know what it's like to be in that dark place and I don't ever want to go back. I am still a work in progress, I am still learning and growing. But I know, without a doubt, that I wouldn't be where I am today if I didn't live through what I did. But from that near tragedy, my life's ambition was formed. My goal in now to become a counselor. I have always been the person my friends come to when they need to talk, and with my new outlook on life, I wanted to help more people, as many as possible. I can now see the darkness in others. I can see people struggling with issues the world would rather hide. I believe if more people would stand up and say "I struggle with mental health issues", the whole world would benefit. Crime and homelessness would lower, home life would change. Mental health is important to understand. It's important to take care of. It dictates your whole life. Everything is affected by it. If you don't take care of it, nothing else will matter.

I have always had issues with my mental health growing up and when I was a junior in high school, I asked my mom if I could find a counselor for help. I recognized I needed help to "fix" myself. I needed help to understand what I was feeling and why. Once we found a counselor, I was able to discuss most everything that was going on in my life, both emotionally or physically. But I was hesitant about sharing certain things with them, because I didn't trust many people. It wasn't until my senior year that I really started to trust my counselor. But then, the darkness overcame me. I felt myself spiral downward and I was unable to stop. I no longer trusted my counselor, for a strong fear of hospitalization. I hid in my room, no desire to interact with anyone. My teachers started to notice a change in me, my friends didn't want to go out with me, my parents tried to talk to me about what was going on. Last October, I was at my darkest point in my life. I made a choice late one night to stop the pain. Luckily for me, I was unsuccessful. But after that point, I knew I had to change my life in some way. I am a senior in a small Catholic school, within a small mainly Catholic community. My choice that I made that night went against everything I had been taught since the beginning of my life. I knew what I was feeling was wrong, I knew what I was going through was tough. After I made my choice, I was taken to the hospital to be evaluated. My parents convinced the emergency room doctors that they could remove items from my room and lock up items downstairs, so I was sent home. I was put on a safety plan at school and began to see a psychologist for medication and my counselor twice a week. I've learned and grew so much a very little time. I now understand the importance of being honest, not only with my counselor but also with myself. I've learned to trust myself and others. My teachers noticed the change, I was able to spend time outside of my room. My friends came around again, making my life that much better. I know what it's like to be in a dark place and I don't ever want to go back. But from that near tragedy, my life's ambition was formed. My goal now is to become a counselor. I have always been the person my friends come to when they need to talk, and with my new outlook on life, I wanted to help more people, as many as possible. When I was able to pick my head back up, I recognized that darkness in others. I noticed more people around me who looked like I used to. Remembering how it felt, I understand the lack of willingness to express their feelings and ask for help. I am still a work in progress, still learning and growing. But I know, without a doubt, that I wouldn't be where I am today if I didn't live through what I did. I'm glad that I had at least a little bit of a history with my counselor, and it continues today. I have learned about my triggers, what helps and what hurts my mental health. My school work is rebounding, my friends are around more. Now, I write down my feelings, I keep a calendar with colored stickers. And I try to get out more, try to see the light, not the dark. All these things make it possible to recover and grow. Mental health is important to understand. It's important to take care of as it dictates your whole life. Everything is affected by it. If you don't take care of it, nothing else will matter. Your body language, your speech, your moods, even the way you dress. I think the world would be a better place if mental health is openly discussed, not shoved under the rug. If more people were able to stand up and say "I see a counselor/take medication for/struggle with my mental health" I think more people would feel better about helping themselves. You hear people say "I have" some other medical condition (i.e. diabetes, high blood pressure, heart issues) but rarely do you hear something about mental health. That needs to change, for the betterment of the everyone. School shootings, murder/suicides, mass murders, crime in general would be so much less if people could get the help they need before. If teachers everywhere could see what my teachers saw in me. If everyone had access to counseling. If everyone had someone to look out for them. I'm lucky I have friends who care, have parents who are active in my life, have access to counseling. But that's not life for everyone. I'm beyond grateful for my life and I want to use my time left on this Earth to helps others

Last October, I was at my darkest point in my life. I made a choice late one night to stop the pain. Luckily for me, I was unsuccessful.But after that point, I knew I had to change my life in some way. I am a senior in a small Catholic school, within a small mainly Catholic community. My choice that I made that night went against everything I had been taught since the beginning of my life. I knew what I was feeling was wrong, I knew what I was going through was tough. I have always had issues with my mental health growing up and when I was a junior in high school, I asked my mom if I could find a counselor for help. I recognized I needed help to "fix" myself. I needed help to understand what I was feeling and why. Once we found a counselor, I was able to discuss everything that was going on in my life, both emotionally or physically. But I was hesitant about sharing certain things with them, because I had a fear of being hospitalized. It wasn't until my senior year that I really started to trust my counselor. But then, the darkness overcame me. I felt myself spiral downward that I was unable to stop. I no longer trusted my counselor, for a stronger fear of hospitalization. I hid in my room, no desire to interact with anyone. My teachers started to notice a change in me, my parents tried to talk to me about what was going on. After I made my choice, I was taken to the hospital to be evaluated. My parents convinced the emergency room doctors that they could remove items from my room and lock up items downstairs so I was sent home. I was put on a safety plan at school and began to see a psychologist for medication and my counselor twice a week. I've learned and grew so much in that little time. I now understand the importance of being honest, not only with my counselor but also with myself. I've learned to trust myself and others. My teachers noticed the change, I was able to spend time outside of my room. My friends came around again, making my life that much better. I know what it's like to be in that dark place and I don't ever want to go back. But from that near tragedy, my life's ambition was formed. My goal in now to become a counselor. I have always been the person my friends come to when they need to talk, and with my new outlook on life, I wanted to help more people, as many as possible. I am still a work in progress, I am still learning and growing. But I know, without a doubt, that I wouldn't be where I am today if I didn't live through what I did. I'm glad that I had at least a little bit of a history with my counselor, and it continues today. I have learned about my triggers, what helps and what hurts my mental health. My school work is rebounding, my friends are around more. Now, I write down my feelings, I keep a calendar with colored stickers. And I have a dog that I sleep with. All these things make it possible to recover and grow. Mental health is important to understand. It's important to take care of. It dictates your whole life. Everything is affected by it. If you don't take care of it, nothing else will matter.

I am a senior at a small town Catholic high school in Ohio. To be part of the LGBTQIA+ community, and recognized by the wrong someone in the community, would be devastating. Hiding myself, my true self, has been difficult for multiple reasons. My dad is very anti-LGBTQIA+, in any form. Anything that isn't a man and a women, married to have children, is wrong for him. He would never accept me anyway then how I was born. Another difficulty is, obviously, my faith. My daily life is spent in the halls of a Catholic school. Every Sunday, we go to church as a family. Our town is a strong Catholic community. My junior year of high school, I began to struggle with my mental health. My mom found a little counseling group who specialized in adolescent and young adults. Once we walked in, I was pleasantly surprised to see that they also very much supported LGBTQIA+ community. They allowed me to be myself, in a safe space. I was beginning to feel better and more supported. But my mental health was still a concern. I continued with counseling, weekly if not more. But still I struggled. Last October, I decided I couldn't take the darkness anymore, and tried to end my life. I had been going to counseling, learning. I thought that I was in control, was knowledgeable about my mental health. I thought that I was ok. But one dark night, I wasn't. Obviously, I was unsuccessful in my attempt. I learned a lot about pain, about being in a dark place, about letting out things I was trying to hold back. That night set a lot of things in motion. I discovered what my passion was, what would keep me moving forward - I wanted to become a counselor. I knew that with my experience, with my life so far, I would be able to help someone. My friends already come to me for help, for a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen. I have experience in how things feel. It's one thing to read about the darkness, the hopelessness. It's an entirely new thing to actually deal with it, to live through it. I know that I can make the world or at least my community a better place. I think it takes time to work through all you have done and gone through in your life, everyone takes the amount of time they need. No right or wrong answers for anything. I hope to be able to show my dad it's ok to be different, to be 'me', however I choose to present myself in the future. But for now, I just try to stay in the light.

My favorite K-Pop group is Tomorrow X Together. I have been a fan since they made their debut. I was able to see them in concert last year. During that time, I saw how well people can get along. I saw how people of all nationalities, when they have something in common, can form a quick and lasting friendship. Before, during and after the concert was so much fun and so interesting. Standing in line before the concert, people were walking up and down the line, handing out little gifts and stickers and cards and homemade items. Everyone was dressed up in clothes showcased by different albums/eras, some very intricate. Everyone was talking with everyone. There wasn't a stranger around you. Once we were in the venue area, waiting in line for merchandise, people began to sing songs. It was very surreal - the song would began at one end of the hall and eventually everyone around the floor was singing along. And when the song would end, someone else would pick another song and the same thing would happen. There was no pushing or cutting in line. Everyone was super considerate. I had packed extra batteries for my lightstick and someone was walking around asking if anyone had any extra batteries. I didn't even hesitate. But I knew if I didn't have any extra, someone else did and would have done the same thing. During the concert, your seat-neighbor would become your best friend. You would sing to each other, and scream together. Everyone knew who your favorite member was, what your favorite song was. After the concert, we were lucky enough to find a hotel within walking distance from the venue. Even with all of the people streaming out of the concert, no one had to push their way out or trip over people. The next day, during breakfast, we found people wearing their merchandise downstairs and made other new friends. Online, I met one of my best friends because of Tomorrow X Together. She lives in the same state as me but on the opposite side. But we both love our group and became fast friends because of it. We have visited each other many times since we met and I count her as one of the best things I found since they started. The impact they have had on my life has been amazing. I have learned about culture and individuals that I knew nothing about. I have learned that there is good out there, everywhere. I feel my eyes have been opened to opportunities beyond my little community I currently live in. Believing in myself and what I can do, knowing that there are many people out there who will support me no matter what, just because of a tiny group of performers from Korea. I have learned that there are wonderful people out in the world who, when they have something in common, can achieve anything. I have made friends online and in person because of them. I know that we'll always be together, tomorrow.

I am a current high school senior in a small town Catholic School. My ultimate goal is to become a counselor, specializing in adolescence and young adults. When I was a junior, I began to struggle with my mental health. My parents found a counselor who specialized in adolescence and young adults. I loved it there and thrived from the beginning - learning all about what I was feeling and why. They have a cat there who will sit with people and she always gravitates towards me. They are the reason I want to make my career in counseling. In October of 2023, my mental health took a sharp downward turn and I ended up trying to stop the pain in the only way I knew at that time. Luckily, I was unsuccessful but I did learn a lot about how low someone could go and what it truly felt like. I believe that feeling is something that you have to experience to really know. Because of that fact, I know that I can become a great counselor. I am looking forward to learning about all of the different diagnostics and how to best deal with people. Even now, during my school days, I have friends who will come to me with their issues and concerns. I feel I am very empathetic and can help figure things out or at the very least, just listen. Sometimes, that's all that's needed. My uncle is part of a group who owns a business helping recovering addicts and mental health issues. I was able to job shadow someone at his business and found that there aren't very many people of Hispanic backgrounds in this field and especially not female Hispanic. Everywhere I turned, it was older Caucasian males. I feel that, not only is the Hispanic population under represented but Hispanic females are even more under represented. I would like to change that if I can. I think I can bring change in my community, where the Hispanic population is growing and there are more females then males. This scholarship would make it possible to go to college without taking on more debt than I need. I would like to help people and make a difference in my community and with scholarships like this one, I wouldn't have to worry about loans - I can just worry about my community and helping everyone I can, especially the Hispanic population.

Bullying and harassment in school seems to occur when someone is different from the rest. I think if students were educated about certain disabilities or illnesses that made children different, bullying would at least lessen. Perhaps if the students peers and teachers knew what these bullied students experienced on a daily basis, the bullying would lessen. I am a senior at a small town Catholic high school. I was a freshman when COVID-19 took over the world. We were able to take our courses online and through Google Meets for video learning. Because of COVID-19, we were now stuck at home and unable to interact with our friends, besides video chat or FaceTime. I believe that situation changed everything for everyone. We could no longer experience life with our friends, we couldn't go to the mall, we couldn't go to each other's house, we couldn't go out to eat. Everyone was tired and stressed and upset - about life, about school, about work, everything. And people took that upset and stress out on someone else. Usually it was within the household, but of course our friends, the ones we talked to the most and needed more then ever, took the brunt of it. Once we returned to school as sophomores, some friendships were unsalvageable. Friends turned against friends, new friendships were formed, new faces appeared in the new year. Everyone had to learn how to be around people again. There was a new face in our school when we returned who hadn't gone through our small school before. He was an outcast from the beginning, someone who wasn't included in anything with anyone. You could just look at him and tell he was struggling. He was being harassed daily. People were saying things, not only behind his back but also to his face, that not only were downright rude, but very inappropriate for a Catholic school. He seemed to be growing smaller by the day, shrinking into himself. My small friend group recognized a peer who needed help and took steps to rectify the situation. We invited him to sit at our lunch table, we walked through the halls with him, we included him in our afterschool meetups. Once he was seen with us, as being included, he was able to make additional friends. I feel that us showing everyone that it's ok to accept people that are "outsiders" and new made the other students realize their actions were uncalled for and unacceptable. When I was a senior, I went though my own hard time. I was severely depressed and had started going to counseling for help. Although I wasn't harassed, I truly believe that if I hadn't had my friends, and even some of my teachers, stand up for me and believe in me, I wouldn't be here today. The teachers and counselors at my school were extremely helpful in my development of my self esteem. I think that if more administrators within the schools were able to identify signals or signs of a struggling student, the school and community as a whole would benefit. I want to pursue a career in mental health, specifically counseling, to believe in others. To show others that even though you are struggling now, even though you don't think there is hope, there is. There are people out there that will stand with you and stand for you. I believe children and adolescents need more advocates who will help them with their struggles. I think with my history, with my knowledge, I will be more prepared to show them they are worthy.

The American dream was established a long time ago. Part of that dream was to make sure all American's have the same opportunities and abilities to provide support to all members. Throughout history, this dream has been the driving factor to making this county better and stronger. When I was in high school, my paternal grandma began to lose the ability to remember current events. We believe she had dementia, which was made worse by mini strokes she was having. The family was against moving her into a residential care facility, saying we take care of our own. Because of this, everyone within the family stepped up and shared the caretaking of my grandma. My responsibility was to bring dinner and eat with her one day a week. In the beginning I wasn't really looking forward to the responsibility of taking care of her. But I soon realized, although her short term memory was lost, the past wasn't. I began to learn about her family history. She told me stories about growing up in a small town, working on the farms. She told me about how she was treated less than while she went to school or was in town. How her kids were treated growing up and the hardships they had to endure. But ultimately, she overcame so much in her life, to make a better life, not just for herself but for her kids. I learned about how she pushed them to go to school, how important it was to make something of themselves, how important it was to take advantage of the "American Dream". Her ultimate goal, of course, was showing her kids that they could accomplish so much more then she did, could go so much further. All parents want that for the children of course, but for her it was so much more important, remembering where she came from and what she had to endure just to survive. Four of her five children are now college graduates, with two of them having masters degrees. That is a great example of the American Dream. Although my uncles are great examples of hard work and dedication to bettering themselves, inspirating myself to pursue a higher education, I think that America could be so much better. There was a time when all Americans were able to afford to go to college, could afford to own a house, could afford to eat well. But that time has passed. Americans are having a hard time to just live, not even live well. Some can barely afford to eat, barely afford to live in a small apartment. This is not the way our ancestors wanted the world to be. We are at odds within our county at this point. I understand everyone is different, everyone has their own opinion, everyone has their own life experience, but in order to make this county what it once was, the American people need to agree on at least one thing - we want our county to succeed. We want our county to protect and nurture our communities. We need to make sure our own people live. I know that most people struggle with day to day living. I know that there are people in our county that struggle with finances, housing, employment and that all plays a part in their health and wellbeing. Health as in physical and mental. I am trying to play a small part in making the county better by becoming a counselor to help everyone. I would like to work within my community, making it a more healthy place.