“What kind of people are even affected by mental health?” Throughout my life I have heard this type of question over and over. Some people feel as though mental health is not important and only affects a small number of people. This is ignorant, as well as completely false. The severity of mental health is very overlooked, but I have seen how it affects myself and others. My mental health journey began in my freshman year of high school. Covid had just hit and my mental health declined rapidly. I became depressed and disinterested in everything. My grades were not terrible, but they were unlike my past scores. I was riddled with sadness and lack of motivation every day. I felt so isolated and practically talked to nobody. I didn’t understand why this was happening and I eventually got diagnosed with depression. My story is very similar to others around me. Isolation and depression surrounded not only me but my classmates as well. Over the past 3 years of high school, many former students of my high school classmates have committed suicide. Mental health awareness is extremely important because, without it lives are lost. Freshman year was my rock bottom. I’m proud to say that I am no longer affected by my depression because of the way I handled it. In order to make sure my mental health didn't decline, I decided to see a therapist. She helped me figure out ways that help minimize my symptoms. Her suggestions were the common solutions that you would find on Google. Get outside, exercise, journal, etc. I know she meant well but her suggestions weren't helpful. I eventually stopped therapy and came up with solutions on my own. I began to spend more time making personal connections with others and limited my social media use. I surrounded myself with stuff that made me excited or happy. In order to maintain my mental wellness I still use these solutions. I’m constantly changing my social media to see things that I want to and I actively try to have connections every day. My solutions have helped me minimize my depression and allow me to thrive instead. Everybody is affected by mental health in one way or another. There are constantly people around who are fighting battles unknown to us. Mental health awareness and education are important because of the amount of people affected and lives lost due to it.

If I was able to choose one book for everybody to read, I would choose “Monday’s Not Coming” by Tiffany D. Jackson. The book starts off by telling the uneasy story that Claudia was not able to come in contact with her best friend, Monday, which is completely unusual. It was summer break, so although it was weird Claudia tried to keep calm. Claudia and Monday were inseparable so it was very odd, but she convinced herself that Monday was just busy. She continues trying to reach her, but there’s nothing. Her anxiety’s growing and growing but her mom tells her to quit worrying. Claudia listens and calms down because school is starting soon. Monday never missed a day of school so she knew that she would see her best friend shortly. When Claudia arrives, Monday is nowhere to be found. She searches the crowd of students but Monday isn’t anywhere. Claudia convinces herself that Monday will eventually just show up. She talks to her mom, but once again the mom ignores it. Claudia continues to go to school and there’s still no sight of Monday. She begins to tell the counselors and teachers about her worries yet nothing. The police are contacted, and once again nothing is done. It seems like Claudia is the only one who cares about her friend. The book goes through Claudia’s complex feelings and the lack of support from people around her. Tiffany D. Jackson takes the reader through a rollercoaster of emotions and is able to describe inequality within the education and justice system. The story is so meaningful, but it was a very easy read. People of many ages could read it and still understand the concept. Out of all the books I have read, this one stuck with me the most. Therefore, I believe that if anybody got the chance, they should read it as well.

In my opinion, 1989 is the best album that Taylor Swift has written. It has been my all-time favorite ever since it came out. I believe that this album truly has no “skip” songs and I can listen through the whole thing without a problem. The album has a wide range of songs, from “Bad Blood” to “Wildest Dreams.” It’s such a diverse album and conveys so many emotions. I honestly have a hard time picking my favorite, but the number 1 song in this album is “I Wish You Would.” This song is so amazing on many different levels. It’s a breakup song, but it’s completely different than typical songs. Most breakup songs are slow, gloomy, and angry. When compared to those songs, “I Wish You Would” is the exact opposite. It’s super upbeat and it doesn’t make you feel miserable. I think that’s what makes it so unique. Listening to depressing songs can be therapeutic, but they get tend to get repetitive and make you feel the same way. I believe that “I Wish You Would” created a new form of breakup songs. Instead of suffering through complete sadness, Taylor included a cheerful, fast-paced music background. It makes the song perfect for every emotion. You can experience happiness, sadness, and angriness all within one song. The lyrics are also so meaningful and bring a lot of feelings out. The repetition of “I wish” shows how much Taylor misses her ex and wishes things would have been different. She regrets that neither of them did anything to try and save the relationship. At the end of the song she says, “I miss you too much to be mad anymore, and I wish you were right here, right now, it's all good.” I think that these specific lyrics have a deep meaning. Taylor is talking about mourning the relationship, but she knows that it’s still okay. The thought that went into creating this song can clearly be heard. It’s personal which allows Taylor to connect with many of her fans. The emotions and experiences shown throughout the song make it the best in the album. Taylor’s new take on a breakup song is innovative and the unique style of it makes it so extraordinary. “I Wish You Would,” is clearly the best song in the 1989 album. Taylor provided a song for her fans that delivers a multitude of emotions to her audience. The uniqueness and various emotions throughout the song, make it my favorite.

Being involved in sports has always been a big part of my life. It all began when I was in elementary. I played a wide variety of sports growing up including, basketball, soccer, softball, and gymnastics. I always loved being active, but only one of the sports stayed with me. It was softball. I loved every part of the game. It excited me and my love for it continued to grow. Throughout my softball career, I learned so much about myself and the sport. I started playing softball in kindergarten because my school offered it. As my skills grew, my mom thought that it would be a good idea to get more involved. I began playing travel in 6th grade and it gave me so many opportunities. It made me find my voice and I started to develop leadership skills. I have always been super competitive, and that spirit shined through when I lead my team. I would be super demanding of my teammates, but I also made sure that I was a reliable player. I led my team not only by my voice but by example. As I got older, I was determined to be a role model to the younger girls around me. I always did my best around them, and I would cheer extra hard for them. Although my softball career is coming to an end, I believe that I will continue to grow as a leader in college and my career. I am currently entering my senior year of high school and it’s going to be the best year for my growth. My high school career has not been easy, but I continue to be more of a leader. I work hard to make sure my voice is heard, whether it’s in presentations or small groups. My leadership can also be seen in the activities that I do. I am involved in Key Club, Aevidum, and the National Honor Society. I may not be one of the officers, but I believe that I lead in my own way. I lead by example and give my input when needed. I hope to continue being a leader throughout college. My desired major is environmental science and I believe that if I continue to lead this way, then I will be successful throughout my career. I hope that my leadership will help me to inspire others. My ultimate goal is to educate people around me and my leadership skills will help me achieve that goal.