I used to look in the mirror and question how someone who looked like me could exist among people who were so much more beautiful, so much kinder, so much more... anything. I based my entire self-worth on the way I looked, and because I felt I wasn't beautiful, I believed I wasn't worthy. I would avoid looking into the mirror because I could feel my heart sink and every last bit of confidence seep out of my body. Because I wasn't beautiful, I wasn't a good person, or at least that was my mindset. That was two years ago. Today, I'm a much more confident person. Though it sounds like a little step, I took the time to push myself toward what I'd struggled with. I took the time to look in the mirror and find something that I admired about myself. It was difficult at first. I began pointing out that my eyes looked pretty, or my smile looked okay. Eventually, I was able to move towards bigger compliments towards myself and admire who I truly was. I still have steps to take, of course, but I'm a much more confident person than I was. I'm happy with who I am. Confidence, to me, is the ability to see yourself for who you really are and admire that person in the same way you'd admire others. It is the potential to love yourself.

The meaning of life is to live to your fullest potential. The beauty in that statement lies in the fact that everybody has their own meaning of what their full potential is. Some might find their full potential in their love life and friendships, choosing to put their all into making their relations the best they can be. Some might push themselves when it comes to their career or education, striving for the best role or grade they can get. Others might believe that life doesn't have a meaning, and live freely. This in turn gives their life meaning. One of the beautiful things about the meaning of life being so up to perception is that everybody has the choice of how they want to live. Everyone is searching for what makes them the happiest and what they can do to achieve that bliss, whether they attribute it to their meaning in life or not. Though it's cheesy, my meaning of life is to love; to love others, to love myself, to love all that I can. There is so much negativity in the world that can be combatted by love, compassion, and empathy. I will find myself happy in life if I know that I have done all I could to spread kindness where I could. People underestimate the power that a positive act can have. There are very few people who can find themselves truly happy with their life; very few can attribute meaning to their life. I'm happy with my life because I know that loving others will make me happy. I am lucky to have found my meaning.

One of the easiest ways to treat others with empathy is to put yourself in their shoes. If you can understand their story, it's much easier to understand who they are and what you can do to help them. Sometimes a person needs advice, sometimes they just need someone to listen. Knowing what you can do to best help the other person is important. It can help them feel seen if they're getting what they truly need. It's important to acknowledge feelings as well. Some arguments stem from emotional reasons as opposed to logical reasons. Acknowledging the other's feelings can make the other person feel seen. I've had some arguments stem because of how the other person feels, and even if I don't completely understand their point of view, it's good to listen to them and acknowledge that their feelings are valid. Another way I treat others with empathy is by doing my best not to judge. If the other person can sense that you're showing judgment, they'll be less likely to come to you for help and it may damage your relationship entirely. Judgment and empathy are pure opposites. Having an opinion is important, however, when you're trying to empathize and support someone, judgment may only act as a barrier between you and the other. With empathy comes connection. If everybody had just a little bit more empathy, the world would be a much happier place.

I'm currently in PSEO and am taking college classes while attending high school. During my fall 2021 semester, I found myself especially stressed. I wasn't handling my mental health as well as I could have, instead putting my schoolwork first. By the end of the semester, I was struggling with burnout. I was having trouble focusing and all I wanted to do was sleep. Even my appetite was lacking. I needed to make a change. For my spring 2022 semester, I made the choice to take a class on stress management in hopes to find a better way to take care of myself. This class helped me more than I had anticipated. I learned how stress can affect the human body and what steps I could take to combat this through meditation, relaxation, and different exercises. Though I've never been an active person, I found myself making time to exercise. I even signed up for a yoga class at my high school to set aside time to relax! I'm much more relaxed than I was in my fall semester. I'm able to consciously recognize when I'm stressed and I know the steps I can take to combat this. Fridays have become my "mental health" days, where I take time to myself to meditate and practice yoga on my own. This is the most relaxed I've felt and I'm grateful that I've put aside time to prioritize my mental health.

Despite doing so much to contribute to the discovery of the structure of DNA, Rosalind Franklin is often left unmentioned in textbooks. She worked together with John Bernal to uncover the double-helix shape of DNA, but wasn't included in winning a Nobel Prize. When I had taken AP biology, I learned about Bernal's discovery, but Rosalind Franklin's name wasn't mentioned until I began to research their discoveries on my own. She was never recognized despite her large contributions. I believe there could have been a much larger difference in her acclaim if she wasn't a woman. John Bernal is often solely credited with this discovery, despite Franklin's profound difference. Things would be much different if she'd made this revelation today, and I believe she would have gotten the credit she deserves. This isn't to say that Bernal didn't make a difference, however, it isn't fair for him to have received all the credit for this finding when Franklin was his partner. For me, her lack of recognition only sparks curiosity within me. How many other women have made discoveries like this, but have been left without credit because of their gender? I'm hoping that I can learn more about them on my own time, and maybe educate others. It's important to me that people can fully understand how women have been affected because of the societal norms of the past. Our country has come a long way from situations like this, but I'm sure they still happen. I'm hoping that people begin to look into cases like these on their own time and give certain people the proper acclaim for their discoveries.