The day my mom died in a car accident in 2007, my life split in two: before and after grief. I was only seven years old, too young to fully understand death, but old enough to feel the world collapse beneath me. Growing up without her has shaped nearly everything about who I am, especially my beliefs about mental health, my relationships, and the career path I’ve chosen. Mental illness and trauma run deep in my family. Before my mother’s death, she experienced her own unimaginable pain when she found her father, my grandfather, after he died by suicide. She was just 21 years old. I believe that moment never left her. It haunted her and contributed to her deep sadness, isolation, and emotional exhaustion. I often imagine what it would have been like if I had been older when she died. If I could have comforted her, supported her, or simply reminded her she was not alone in her pain. That longing fuels my commitment to understanding mental health more deeply and helping others carry their burdens. I’ve battled my own struggles along the way. I have generalized anxiety disorder and often wrestle with questions about the afterlife, identity, and meaning. Growing up without my mom, I developed fears around loss and uncertainty that still affect me today. I’ve also watched drugs and alcohol take hold of many family members. I have made a lifelong promise to myself to break that cycle. I refuse to fall into the same patterns because I have seen where they lead: pain, silence, broken relationships, and more loss. My beliefs around mental health are rooted in survival, personal growth, and a refusal to repeat the past. These experiences have shaped the way I connect with others. I value emotional honesty, empathy, and vulnerability. I am drawn to people who are open about their struggles and unafraid to speak up. It has made me someone who listens closely, feels deeply, and does not judge. I want to be the person I needed when I was younger. Someone who says, “You are not crazy, you are just hurting, and there is help for that.” I believe that simply having someone who cares enough to listen can make a life-changing difference. That is why I am in school to become a licensed practical nurse, with plans to work in psychiatric and correctional healthcare. I know what it is like to feel lost and invisible, and I want to guide others toward healing and stability. I do not take mental health lightly. It is the lens through which I see the world. This is not just a job for me. It is a calling born from grief, resilience, and the belief that no one should suffer in silence. My story is painful to tell, but it gives me purpose. That purpose is to bring compassion where it is needed most and to help others carry the weight that once felt too heavy for me to bear alone.