My mother is the most inspiring woman I know. She is my best friend and the loving and central presence of my life. My father was not mentally nor physically healthy enough to be available and took his life when I was ten. Similarly, my mom’s dad died when she was two, and we both were raised by single parents with multiple generations of substance misuse and mental illness on both sides of our families. My mom has supported me in every way to follow my dreams. She devoted 18 years of her life to me, and for that I am forever grateful. While I know it was not easy, she ensured I had the best opportunities and training to explore my passions and interests. She is the strongest, most compassionate, loving, supportive, and selfless person I know, and she is the woman I admire the most in the world. My mother had a difficult and traumatic early life with the deaths of her dad at age 2 and primary babysitter at age 3. My mom was the youngest of four siblings. Her dad, brother, and nephew all died from substance misuse related causes. My mom was a high achiever and worked since she was 13 from high school to through graduate school to cover most of her education. When my mom reached 5th grade she began experiencing severe depression and suicidal thoughts which continued through most of her young and adult life. Eventually, her conditions became complicated by anxiety, PTSD, severe allergies, chemical sensitivities, autoimmune illness, additional head injuries, and mold exposure which led to severe psychiatric conditions that left her feeling embarrassed, defeated, demoralized, and confused. While she knew that mold exposure could cause serious and dangerous health conditions, it was not until more than a decade later when she began to unravel her past and learned from current research that psychiatric conditions are common following multiple head injuries which affect brain health. Her life basically fell apart in her mid-30s which led her on a new course for the next two decades working and volunteering in holistic retreat centers. What I find most inspiring about my mom is her passion for helping people. She is the most selfless woman I know. Whenever she sees someone in need she always tries to help them in some way whether that is offering a room in our home, giving or loaning money, or volunteering to help. She has been in communication for the past ten years with her distant cousin, Bret, who has been in prison most of his adult life, encouraging him to pursue his passion for writing which led him to author two novels, connecting him with his four children and 11 grandchildren, and talking with him through his struggle and isolation. Last fall when I left for college, my mom decided to pursue a Health Coaching Certification program. This made so much sense to me as I had watched her freely share her care, compassion, and healing journey with others my whole life. I would often find her chatting with an elder needing help in the produce section of the health food store or offering comfort to someone struggling with anxiety. Out of her own difficult life and genuine struggle, I have watched her selflessly help others, and it is her acts of selfless giving that I aspire to by example in my own life. My mother’s other passion was her career working with children and families in many roles including as a School Counselor, Foster Care Counselor, and Children’s Program Director. She also worked with students with disabilities in an Outward Bound Expeditionary Learning School. During her time as a teacher, she integrated mindfulness, nature immersion, and creative arts into all her roles including that as my mother. My mom’s stories of working with youth and her impact is one of the aspects that has inspired me to devote my career to being an outdoor educator working with youth as well. My mother has shaped every aspect of who I am today. Every mentor and friend who positively impacted me was because she connected us together. Every powerful experience that I had is because she coordinated and set up these experiences or pursued the financial aid and scholarship opportunities to make these experiences possible. It has been a wild and crazy journey with ups and downs and lefts and rights, and I am so proud to call her my mother.

Everyone has had that experience of seeing a meme about something they always do or did as a child and instantly think, “I’m not the only one!” That is how I felt when I saw this meme for the first time and then spent the next two minutes laughing at myself and the meme. I think often memes are created out of tv shows, movies, news, or other viral content on the internet. I like this meme in particular because it has to do with something that can be relatable without having seen specific content. I find it funny that the picture being used is an old oil painting of some historical figure because it shows how we can find some humor in history.

My favorite film is Mamma Mia, which I first saw when I was six and continued to watch throughout my life as I matured which led me to develop a deep connection with this film. I was raised by a single mother and grew up without a father as did the main character, Sophie, with whom I identified. I also have a very strong bond with my mom as Sophie shares with her mom. The final scene is centered around the song, “Slipping Through My Fingers” sung by Maryl Streep who plays the mother whose daughter, Sophie, is about to get married, so the whole song is about the passage of time and letting go. Nearly every time I found myself at this scene in the film, I would tear up because I knew that someday, like Sophie, that would be me leaving my mom for college. It feels odd now to realize I have moved past what I had previously always anticipated. I literally just finished my first two semesters of college today, and have lived apart from my mom these past two semesters. All the years of my life, this scene brought up ideas of something I was expecting in the future and now I see that now it reminds me of a memory I am looking back upon from my past. Mamma Mia reminds me of how precious time is. Previously I focused on the story the mother told about the mother-daughter relationship, and now I feel myself focusing more on the subtext in the song about the mother’s emotions and experience and how she has to deal with letting go of her daughter. Also, who doesn’t love listening to “Dancing Queen” and “Mamma Mia.” The soundtrack gives me a blast of pure serotonin and joy.

The world seemed so simple when I was young. As a child, I remember feeling confident and comfortable with my body and myself. I was fearless and engaged with everyone. I laughed and found awe and beauty in everything around me. During fifth grade, the year I changed schools and my dad took his life, these feelings of freedom and joy shifted. Insecurity and doubt crept in as I grew more quiet and distant. I withdrew into my own self-critical inner world and became sad, worried, and preoccupied. I struggled to form friendships and felt anxious about asking classmates to play during recess, so I turned to nature for comfort and solace. A little creek ran through my school with bushes and trees on either side. One day, I found a secret nook under a small curved tree bending over a rock that my little ten-year-old self could comfortably sit on. I soon found myself going to this secret nook nearly every recess to sit quietly and watch the stream flow. As the seasons changed, so did the stream. I remember feeling fascinated, peaceful, and safe, finding joy in observing nature’s transitions. I discovered during that time that nature is restorative and healing which eventually led me to turning points during two three-week canoeing and whitewater kayaking wilderness trips with the Chewonki Foundation in 2018 and 2019 and my experience attending The Outdoor Academy (OA) semester school in 2019. These wilderness-based experiences were life-changing as I came to understand the transformational power of outdoor education which helped me grow deeply in ways I never anticipated. Immersed in nature among my peers, I found that shy and withdrawn little girl rediscover her brave, eager, and bold younger self. I bonded with lifelong friends and experienced a powerful sense of self-love, acceptance, and ease with my peers. Within everything we did, we considered our impact on one another. We laughed, we cried, we sang, we struggled, and we discovered. I again felt whole, happy, and free--- that familiar feeling I remembered. These experiences clearly defined my deepening commitment to a future career in outdoor education. That next winter at age 16, I received a 4-year tuition scholarship to Warren Wilson College where I just finished my freshman year double majoring in Outdoor Leadership and Music. This education is helping me fulfill my life mission to find that little girl sitting by the stream and reconnect her with the hope she had lost and the inspiration she found during those quiet moments observing nature. It is from my own struggle that I hope to help my students feel acknowledged, encouraged, and connected with one another and their unique contributions, strengths, and shared humanity. Mental health challenges have impacted just about everyone I know to some extent including family, friends, and myself. Many of my peers struggle with depression and anxiety, and multiple generations of substance use addiction is present in my family. Both my parents experienced mental health challenges also. My father died by suicide when I was 10 as did my mother’s dad when she was 2. My father was not able to be a presence in my life, but one of the few times I did visit with him, he told me that we are always connected by a string. It reminds me of what naturalist, John Muir, once said. "When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe." I think this concept is essential in understanding mental health vulnerabilities. Humans are social beings and we heal through connection, bonding, love, acceptance, compassion, and presence. Mary Oliver asks, “What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” My own journey has guided me to a career in outdoor education where hope is restored through nature immersion, creative arts, music, yoga, mindfulness, and group experiences. My vision is that these elements will someday be as integrated into education as the trees, the sky, the sun, the streams, and the sea are in nature. “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world,” Anne Frank once wrote in her diary.

My name is Shanti which means "Peace" in Sanskrit. I am an artist, musician, songwriter, creative writer, actor, dancer, gymnast, aerial artist, photographer, gardener, backpacker, paddler, rock climber, and outdoor educator. I play the guitar, ukulele, harmonium, and djembe drum and am the founder of Shining Suns Productions. I produce music and have been leading interfaith and environmental justice music programs since I was 11. I began college one year early at age 17 and am double majoring in Outdoor Leadership and Music. I work part-time at my college on the Outdoor Programs Crew and love leading my peers on outdoor programs. I recently completed a challenge course certification, and am excited to take a Wilderness First Responder certification program this June. My dad took his life when I was 10 because of his declining mental and physical health challenges. He was not able to be a presence in my life, but one of the few times I did spend time with him, he told me that we are always connected by a string. It reminds me of what naturalist, John Muir, once said. "When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe." This quote also reminds me of the human body and how one effort we make around our fitness directly benefits all other areas of our well-being. When I go outside and walk 10,000 steps in the sunlight and fresh air, I find myself feeling happier, more peaceful, friendlier, energetic, and helpful. Exercise impacts all the biochemical processes in the body and directly improves every area of our well-being. I have been exposed to all kinds of ways to stay fit since I was very young. My mom and I sometimes do interval training for 4-minutes that I find very energizing but sometimes am a bit sore the next day. I have been practicing yoga regularly since I was seven when I attended an elementary school where we had yoga class with deep relaxation three days a week as a part of our schedule. I also love to hike and walk especially through forests and along rivers and streams. I love the art of dance and I train in aerial silks which I find exciting and challenging and is one of my favorite ways to stay fit as it is like I am dancing on strings. I recently created original dance and aerial silks choreography which was included in our college film called Prism which I also was a lead actor in as well. I learned my entire life from my mom how important it is to eat organic whole foods, drink lots of filtered water every day, find ways to relax, spend time outside in nature, and figure out how to enjoy fitness activities that are fun. In the warmer months, I love to swim, bike, canoe, kayak, and camp too. I am hoping to hike the Appalachian Trail at some point in my near future.

There was a moment in my life when I realized my purpose and vision for life on earth. It was a hot spring day in Arizona, and a small, lively, and determined ten-year-old had just completed walking eight miles a day for a week along highways with thirty other adults all marching across the country for the Great March for Climate Action. I had just experienced the loss of my father by suicide, but in this moment, I realized that no matter how insignificant I felt, my actions could have a powerful ripple effect on the rest of the world.

If I could, I would pack a backpack, pick up my guitar, and set out to travel the world while learning the music and practices of different cultures around the globe. I would draw inspiration for my music from social justice issues occurring especially in third world countries and Indigenous communities. One of my passions is interfaith music so through my journeys I would study different religions and integrate what I learn into my music. After my travels, I would love to create an accessible and inclusive educational community center where adults and youth from all backgrounds together could explore all these interests as well as travel to different countries and states exploring and learning about other regions and cultures. My mom always described me as the kind of child who would just always say yes when presented with an opportunity to explore a new interest. It was not until I was old that I started to realize that my enthusiasm for various artistic and outdoor interests was broader than others. I am so privileged and grateful that I have had the opportunity to explore such a diverse range of experiences. I love art, photography, knitting, dance, acting, aerial arts, paddling, rock climbing, outdoor adventuring, and especially music. I love singing and songwriting, and I play the guitar, ukulele, and harmonium. Without the worry of time and money, I would invest myself in deepening these many interests especially music and outdoor adventure. I would record an album or three or ten and through-hike the Pacific Crest Trail, the Te Araroa, and the Camino de Santiago. I grew up amidst the arts, nature, and community life, and I really believe these are some of the most important elements of being happy, healthy, and whole. Collaborating with others and feeling excited about creating through music and other art forms while also being immersed in nature is what I believe students need most. After my travels, I would want to transform schools and educational centers into spaces that focus primarily on integrating the interdisciplinary arts, outdoor education, mindfulness, music, environmental studies, earth stewardship, and interpersonal connection. I have learned from my own life experiences that there are so many ways to grow, learn, and develop through creativity, nature immersion, bonding, and mindfulness, and it is my hope that schools of the future make these components central to the student experience. My dream is for the youth who I would teach and mentor to feel supported, loved, acknowledged, and encouraged by their peers, mentors, and teachers for their unique contribution and strengths as well as deeply connected to our shared common humanity.

The world seems so simple when you’re young. I remember feeling confident and comfortable with my body and myself as a child. I was fearless and played with everyone--- even adults. I laughed and found awe and beauty in everything. During the beginning of fifth grade, the year I changed schools and my dad took his life, these feelings of freedom and joy shifted. Insecurity and doubt crept in as I became quiet and distant. I withdrew into my own judgemental inner world and became sad, worried, and preoccupied. I struggled to form new friendships and felt anxious about asking classmates to play during recess, so I turned to nature for comfort and solace. There was a little creek that ran through my school with bushes and trees on either side. One day early in the school year, I found this secret nook under a small curved tree that bent down over a rock that my little ten-year-old self could comfortably sit on. I soon found myself going to this secret nook in nature nearly every recess where I would sit quietly and watch the stream flow. As the seasons changed, so did the stream which I found fascinating. I remember feeling so peaceful and safe there and finding joy in observing nature’s transitions. I discovered during that sad time that nature was restorative and healing which eventually led me to a turning point during two three-week wilderness trips with the Chewonki Foundation in 2018 canoeing and in 2019 whitewater kayaking and also my experience during the fall of 2019 attending The Outdoor Academy (OA) semester school for high school students. These wilderness-based experiences immersed in nature were life-changing and helped me grow deeply in ways I never anticipated. Immersed in nature, I found that shy and withdrawn little girl rediscover her younger self who was brave, eager, and bold. I bonded with lifelong friends and clarified my deepening commitment to a career as an outdoor educator. I felt a powerful sense of self-love, acceptance, and comfortable ease with my peers. Within everything we did, we considered our impact on one another. We laughed, we cried, we struggled, and we discovered. I felt whole, happy, and free, again--- that old familiar feeling I felt when I was very young. When I was sixteen, I received a 4-year, full-tuition scholarship to Warren Wilson College where I am currently double majoring in Outdoor Leadership and Music. This education is helping me fulfill my life mission to find that little girl sitting by the stream and reconnect her with inspiration. It is from my own struggle that I hope to help my students feel supported, acknowledged, encouraged, and connected with their unique contributions and strengths, and shared humanity. During one of our few encounters, my father said, “You have an invisible string reaching from your heart to the heart of every other person on the planet.” Inspired by my own struggle, I aspire to help connect the planet’s nearly eight billion heartstrings together.