My biggest goal in life is to build a thriving community center that is unlike any I have ever seen before. I have always dreamed of making an impact on the world around me by helping people and creating community, and I feel most fulfilled when aiding people coming out of abusive situations, or toxic family systems, so what better a thing to do than combine those things? What I envision is repurposing something like an old mall or an unused school that is being left to rot, and using it to create a community that not only sustains itself, but supports the people within and around it. At the heart of it all, the community center would be a non-profit organization working for people in high-needs situations- meaning that the people living, working, and learning there would be the people who need it most. It would be similar to public housing, only offering so much more than just a place to live; made specifically for people living in poverty, families struggling to survive, disabled people, previously incarcerated people, those who have struggled with addiction and been through rehab, or generally anyone who truly needs a community to thrive in. We would offer not only a place to live, but jobs, classes, medical care, food, recreation, education, and so much more. Using an old mall for example, I imagine modifying the smaller stores by turning them into two-level apartments. These apartments would be private, but lead out to the common spaces of the mall where we could have community garden beds, bodegas, and classes or groups. The somewhat bigger stores could be used as resident-owned businesses, a small medical clinic, and social work offices. This would allow residents access to work, healthcare, education, and social services all within a safe space that they can easily reach without needing cars, public transportation, or facing inclement weather. We could use the larger stores that are often featured at the ends of abandoned malls to create larger recreational and educational areas such as wood shops, crafting and creating spaces, an auto center, or a gym. Having access to these kinds of areas not only opens residents to recreational activities, but also work and learning, like within an auto repair shop, where they could earn certifications in a trade. The cafe area of the mall would stay relatively the same, allowing options for easy food to residents, but instead of having large corporate owned restaurants, we would only allow the food stalls to be owned by people living in or around the community center as part of the program. Overall, the people receiving services would be the people making the center thrive through their time there. It would be a safe space for education, therapy, and rehabilitation. Open to both the public, and to private residents, I believe that a community center like this would change not only the lives of those using it, but the lives of the surrounding community as a whole.

Throughout my life I have struggled with mental health issues from lasting CPTSD, Depression, Anxiety, and near-constant Dissociation. When I was a child, this shaped the way that I lived, unable to maintain normal relationships with other children. I didn't know the difference between what was and wasn't normal or appropriate, and other kids were afraid of me. As a teen this only persisted, having been abused numerous times by then with no help, and my CPTSD really started to show. I couldn't maintain relationships, school, or even care for myself. I was in and out of behavioral health hospitals, abusing medications, and completely enveloped in a world that felt like a black hole. I never thought I would live to be 20, let alone 29, so I never set any goals for myself or my life. I was too afraid that if I dared to live that long, I would only be forcing myself through more never-ending suffering. My mental state throughout my life, until fairly recently, has been like wading through tar, slowly drowning- but to my surprise, it finally feels like the tar has softened, and I've found steady ground. While I spent most of my life in fear, sadness, and pain, I have finally found a light at the end of the tunnel, a reason to start actually living. I want to go to school for Social Work, and I want to help the kids like me- the ones who have gone through so much they can't keep their heads out of water, the ones who don't know what to do or where to go, the ones with nowhere to live and no one who cares. I want to help families understand what's happening, and how to help, and I want to be a step on the way to ending suffering. I now know that no matter how dark it is, I can be the light at the end of the tunnel.