I hear a pleasant chorus of male cicadas singing long into the night. My worries turn into prayers as I gaze at the magnificence of the starry night sky, ablaze with lights stretching to infinity. It is the signature of God. I think about how He has arranged those bright stars, and I feel closer to the truth of who I am. I am grateful for this enchanting place that I escape to. Amid anxiety and stress, our surroundings may not seem as peaceful as the scene I describe. Sometimes, I feel like a huge mess, and my world is falling apart. The gorgeous setting described is not one of fantasy, but can be an everyday reality when we just step back and breathe. The scene that I describe is a culmination of the ways that I gain clarity of mind. It is also a reflection of the past. I thank Shawn Thomas for giving me this opportunity to share my story of overcoming a mental crisis I had and how the resources and strategies I gained, helped me become the person I am today. At the age of sixteen, I was sitting in AP Euro Class and everything became black. Opening my eyes, I was shocked to find myself in the ICU hospital bed and my brother holding my left hand. I completely had lost the ability to speak and the ability to walk. Two major concussions caused damage to my brain, and the nurses were desperately trying to put me at ease. My blood pressure was off the charts. I was in tremendous pain. For the next few days, everyone was trying to find the cause of what triggered my blackout. I had undergone a vasovagal attack from the amount of academic and social stress I was put under during sophomore year, causing my partial seizure. My head slammed twice on the hard-surfaced desk and onto the floor, leaving me paralyzed. After many prayers and months of physical therapy, I regained strength and relearned how to speak. I needed that setback to remind myself of what is truly important in life. I needed it to help me slow down, step back, and breathe. Listed below are my favorite ways to clear my mind: Pray and Meditate: I turn all my worries into prayers. This helps me recognize that I am not alone and that God is with me in the ups and downs. I can say that I am stressed but blessed. Listening to Favorite Sounds: I love the sound of cicadas and anything in nature. The sound of ocean waves or waterfalls is pleasant to hear and helps me concentrate. Playing Guitar & Piano: The brain is tuned to rhythm. When I am feeling sad or distressed, I play the piano. When I play a tune or a line of music, I feel like my mess is getting sorted out. Music is said to be the language of the soul. Socializing and Confiding in Others: Oxytocin is a stress neuro-hormone that primes us to strengthen relationships. I feel much better after telling someone how I feel rather than keeping it bottled up inside. Watching a Ted Talk or Reality Show: I get easily inspired when I hear someone who is passionate about something. I also enjoy watching other people on shows overcome fun challenges, such as Baking Impossible. Stress is nothing to fear but helps us become more robust and develop resilience. With the right resources, we can step back and paint a beautiful scene of who we are at our innermost core.

I love superfoods because they are fresh, nutritious, delicious, and flavorful! They make eating colorful! Superfoods saved my life when I had high blood pressure and high cholesterol in my late teens. Now I use superfoods when preparing meals for my mom so that she can stay strong. We are both known for being very energetic, and most of it has to do with what we eat. My favorite superfoods include blueberries, kale, eggs, cactus, chia seeds, kidney beans, avocado, quinoa, and garlic. No one food contains all health benefits, vitamins, and necessary nutrients for the body, so it is essential to incorporate these power foods throughout the day. I will begin with how I incorporate them from the start of the day up until the evening. A power smoothie in the morning boosts energy and leaves me feeling great. Using high-fiber berries is a wise choice because they are a source of antioxidants and nutrients. I use blueberries, plain greek yogurt, flax seeds, banana, and milk. This tasty breakfast blend goes great with eggs or toast. For a full-on breakfast, I like to make a superfood omelet packed with vegetables - onion, broccoli, spinach, carrots, cauliflower, cheese, and avocado. This omelet is great with a banana on the side. It is filling so you will not be hungry until later in the day. Salads are always a healthy choice for an appetizer, but nutrition and flavor can be amped up with superfood, Mediterranean-style. I like to make a power salad using kidney beans, cactus, avocado, and leafy greens. I consider cactus an exceptional power food because it is green and high in fiber and carotenoids. Lemon, which contains acid, can be added. It improves digestion by breaking down food and keeping you hydrated. To top it off, you can add quinoa, which is rich in protein and fiber. Superfoods can also be used to make healthy juices. To help with digestion, I like to make "green juice." It contains kale, celery, cucumbers, green apple, pineapple, ginger, aloe vera, and lemon. This juice helps detox and provides a great source of energy with plenty of water. There will be plenty of pulp left over. Some people do not prefer to have pulp, so you can strain it out and create a veggie burger from what is left over! To not waste any food, I form a patty using the pulp. I add eggs, flour, onion, and water to the pulp. Then, I mix it and fry it like a pancake on a pan that is lightly greased. I prepare a sauce on the side with vinegar and fish sauce, which is also helpful because vinegar clears your throat, and fish sauce is also packed with nutrients. You can always make something beautiful with superfood, even from leftover scraps. As it is a well-known health tip to eat a light dinner, I like to drink a simple juice, tea, or eat a light soup for better sleep and smooth digestion. For a tasty vegetable soup, I saute onions and garlic, add chicken broth, mushrooms, and tofu squares to boiling water. Then I season it with salt, pepper, and chicken bouillon. Starch can be added with crackers on the side. I realized in life that what affects the body affects the soul. Superfoods allow us to be healthy, creative, and happy with our food choices. The healthier we are, the better we will feel and be even more able to impact others positively.

Life is meant to be lived to the fullest. It is not always easy to strive or maintain good health; sometimes we even get occasions where our health is down and unexpected sickness comes. This is what happened when I was 16 years old. I had a partial seizure and vasovagal attack during history class, which caused two major concussions from slamming onto the desk and the onto the floor. It left me paralyzed and unable to walk. My family prayed hard for a miracle, and after six months of physical therapy and relearning how to walk, I fully recovered, and my EEG's came out negative. Since then, I have lived my life gratefully with every part of my being, to the fullest. That is why the first step I take towards being healthy is by first being positive. Health is not just physical but mental, psychological, spiritual, and emotional. You have to have daily goals and motivation. I do not strive to be healthy for my personal thriving, but I stay healthy so others can also thrive. Joy is achieved through total self-giving and allows human flourishing. I do at least an hour of meditation and prayer every morning and evening. This relaxes the body and disciplines the soul. I keep my breakfast light by eating high-fiber foods in moderate amounts. These foods include granola, oatmeal, cereal, or fruit. I have severe asthma, so I breathe in oxygen from green plants that are in the classroom or in the house. I also exercise in ways that optimize my well-being, including walking, dancing, and swimming. When I teach in the classroom, I encourage my children to take "brain breaks" between lessons. I'll teach them a song with actions/dance moves, or we will find a music video to follow along and dance to from Go Noodle or CJ Kids. I also like to tell jokes to them, my co-workers, and my sisters. Laughter is medicine for the body. When I come home with my sisters, I take an evening walk outside after meditation. I participated in a first annual 5K run with other teachers and students this year and ran back for the Kid's 1 mile. My sisters and I use the excellent app 10K Run, which prepares you to run 10 miles in four weeks. Being mindful of what you eat is also necessary. If I cave into having sweets or sugar, I keep in mind my goal and try to balance it out. If I happen to eat a hot dog or hamburger at a social gathering, for example, I make sure that I eat fruits and vegetables on the side, or take some flax seeds or chia seeds which are lightweight. I like to make smoothies for family, sisters, and friends, and throw some spinach and avocado in. It tastes refreshing and does not need any type of sugar. I also stay healthy by having a buddy system. Someone else holds me accountable for my actions. As humans, we are wired for relationships. It makes everything much easier when you have a friend or family member cheering you on or going through a nutritious diet with you. I stay away from soft drinks. If you have ever seen the "Iron Nun," she holds the ideal standard of physical health I want to attain for the rest of my life. Being healthy does not have to be burden but can be enjoyable when you set your heart on it. Being healthy is not a one-size-fits-all but encompasses many unique parts of everyday living.

One practical solution for helping people is by affirmation - recognizing their strengths, all the good in them, and identifying the gift that they are. In the mental health field, this is positive psychology, a simple methodology popularized by Dr. Martin Seligman. According to Seligman, positive psychology is not just about “fixing what is broken, but nurturing what is best.” Seeing strengths and weaknesses gives us a balanced view of someone. It is affirming and validating what is good rather than pointing out failures. I practice this method daily with my students, co-workers, and sisters. I find one thing to thank them for doing or lift someone up because of something I admire in them. For example, to an elementary student, I say, “I like how you picked up the trash in the classroom and made it beautiful. You are so thoughtful.” Now and then, I say to one of my sisters, “I am really thankful that God placed you in my life.” It is an expression of gratitude, and they may learn something new and delightful about themselves. I often say, “I wish you could see yourself the way I do.” As a counseling graduate student, I aspire to be a mirror and coach - advocating for every person I encounter and helping them see how good and valued they really are. For years, people in the mental health field have used psychology pathologically - pinpointing symptoms, disorders, and what is “wrong” with a person. However, the path to healing is much more than that because symptoms and weaknesses are not what defines a person. A person has an innate human dignity and deserves to be loved simply by their existence.

As an educator, missionary, and mental health counseling graduate student, I am committed to every child's spiritual, social, and academic growth and development, using a person-centered approach and technology to enhance the understanding of complex subjects for students. For my long-term goals, I plan to continue teaching and pursue my doctorate after graduation. I plan to focus on those who are diverse clients, administrative and religious leaders, low-income clientele, or students within a school setting such as the one where I am currently employed. I currently support my community by teaching elementary, middle, and high school students - particularly in the fields of reading, religion, and world affairs. I am always there for them and do mental health check-ins regularly, particularly if they ask for guidance or advice. We currently host a podcast, "Young Davids: Change the Trend," in which we discuss uplifting things and what it means to be human. I wish to be understanding to them as well and to become a culturally competent therapist professional very soon. Cultural competency demands that embedded emotions regarding race, gender, religion, culture, etc., be openly discussed. I am also a member of the American Psychological Association Division 43 for Marriage & Family and the American Mental Health Counseling Association (AMHCA). Once completing my M.A. studies, I plan to do even more in the school system as there is a national shortage of mental health resources. I believe every person in their core identity should be respected, honored, and celebrated for who they indeed are - regardless of creed, color, gender, class, or nationality. I am a dark-skinned female with an Islander ethnic background, with immigrant parents, which I consider a gift. It is a massive part of who I am, and I want to share the richness of diversity with others. We are all human and yet have a unique, unrepeatable identity. It is in our humanness that we are racial, cultural, and ethnic beings - traits not to be ignored but advocated for. Multicultural counseling can implement social change, and I aspire to be a culturally competent professional in the workforce. I want to advocate for everyone I encounter by recognizing and upholding their human dignity, especially if they feel it is being threatened. This sense of threat brings most people to human services and counseling. I can implement open dialogue with clients regarding thoughts, beliefs, and values or any pain of isolation, abuse, discrimination, loss or microaggressions. Revealing unspoken thoughts and feelings allows full development for a person who needs to be seen and heard. In the words of Pope John Paul II, we can collaborate and strive for unity in understanding our diverse backgrounds, as dialogue is necessary between different cultures and traditions in building a reconciled world.

My favorite scientific discovery was a spark that revolutionized history. It was a spark that opened up a new horizon to what was invisible - the discovery of radio waves by Heinrich Hertz. Because of this physicist's determination and work, we now have radar, television, radio, and Wi-Fi. The wireless world we live in today would not be what it is, had it not been for Hertz's milestone in electromagnetism and his discovery of radio waves. During an initial experiment with Reiss spirals, a little spark appeared in a Leiden bottle that was not physically connected to the spirals. It was unexpected. Consequently, Hertz built an apparatus and continued intensive research, which later produced electromagnetic waves. Hertz's inadvertent scientific discovery opened the eyes of mankind to an invisible world. I think it is awesome when we discover truth in the things not visible to the naked eye! They are almost beyond our senses, and yet so close and so needed. It is practically spiritual. At the time, Hertz actually did not realize the significance of his research and discovery. Other scientists had built on his work. Albert Einstein later explained Hertz's photoelectric effect, first described by Hertz and consequently won the Nobel Peace Prize for it. This scientific discovery motivates me in my current academic pursuit - the path to becoming a mental health counselor and psychologist, and advocating my clients as fully human and spiritual beings. I want to inspire my students and clients, and help them realize that their actions are significant. They never know how just one act or one discovery can revolutionize the world and impact another person's life. One small spark can light up the world. A contribution to the world of science, contributes to society, the world - all starting with one person's action.