There are so many beloved people who have given me so many reasons to keep going and pay the kindness forward. It is hard to choose who to talk about in this essay, so I’ll start by saying I give thanks to everyone I’ve ever met who has shown me kindness and love in my life. But I must dedicate this essay to my boyfriend George, my best friend Nathan, my favorite teacher, Mister Kahan, and my mother. They have given so much to me, especially the beauties of love, compassion, patience, and care. I plan to pay all of this forward by giving the same elements to others, and showing them that there is still hope, even in difficult times. In 8th grade, I went through the worst breakup of my life.I was a shy, socially anxious girl, so when my partner broke up with me, I was devastated, and felt like I had no one to support me through this challenge, until I met one special person. George talked to me during one of the most isolating moments of my life. He carried me through the rest of that year, and even years to come. He’d spend his nights listening to my sorrows and offering support wherever he could. He motivated me to keep going, and he made me realize that I am deserving of love. I also met my best friend in 8th grade, and we got to know each other further through 9th grade. Nathan and I began to connect. It felt he understood me in ways no one else did, and his kindness and patience towards me showed no bounds. We were both struggling in 8th grade, so having each other as support really helped both our mental states, and we still keep each other going. Nathan’s friendliness made me realize that I’m not alone, and we all have our moments or hardship. He showed me that I deserve compassion. In 10th grade, I met one of my favorite teachers, Mister Kahan. I had always struggled in math, and beat myself up about how long it took me to understand certain topics. I have never had a teacher as patient as Mister Kahan, who would answer every one of my questions, and never judged me on how obvious they may be. Mister Kahan taught me that I am allowed to not know, and showed me that I am deserving of patience. Throughout my life, I have struggled with intense anxiety, being diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and major depressive disorder. I have struggled with asking for help, but my mother has always been there for me in my deepest struggles. She showed me that I deserve to be cared for. Knowing that I deserve love, compassion, and patience,and care, made me understand myself more, and how I can make the world a better place. I am very passionate about mental health, and I want to repay all the kindness these people have given me, to the rest of the world, by becoming a therapist and advocating for mental health awareness. I am motivated to give people hope during difficult times of their life, letting them know they are loved, understood, allowed to take their time to heal, and know that they are cared for. Everyone should know that they are deserving of love!

Humanity often has a taboo view on mental illness, and does not emphasize the importance of seeking mental health help. My name is Storm, and I believe spreading awareness, building understanding around mental illness stigma, and teaching coping skills, is what will create a healthier society, and bring upon a positive impact on the world. I have struggled through my own mental challenges, and have gained a lot of skills through my own therapeutic experiences. With my education, I hope to become a clinical therapist in order to help others by listening to their problems, giving them advice and coping skills, and continuing to spread mental health awareness, especially through my love for art and animation. I've always communicated with people on a deep, emotional level. I listen to their issues, talk about my own experiences, and help them by sharing skills I have learned through my own mental health journey. For instance, during my junior and senior year of high school, I was in a club called Teens Offering Peer Support. During my junior year, I was the vice president of this club. We would always start off with our highs and lows of the week. I’d always listen patiently to whoever was talking, and give my input during days where people seemed to be struggling. Many seniors had fears of college and their future education, but once we were done with the meeting, they’d always come out of the club feeling better. I believe joining support groups and helping others with their problems is a great way to advocate and help people with their mental health because it shows compassion and understanding to the ones around us. I am an artist, and I love animating digitally on my iPad when I have time. I hope to one day create animations that educate people on mental disorders and how to cope with them. Many people do not understand the importance on educating themselves on mental illness because it has been seen negatively, but I believe the world would be a better place if people could understand these issues, so they could help their loved ones who may be struggling with similar issues. Spreading awareness can also help people who experience any mental health problems, feel more comfortable with themselves just understanding that how they are feeling is valid. Getting a Psychology degree will put me on the right path to becoming a clinical therapist. My experiences have led me to becoming a compassionate and empathetic individual who is motivated to help the world become a better place. I hope to spread awareness and inspire others and build compassion, love, and community in their life.

Humanity often has a taboo view on mental illness, and does not emphasize the importance of seeking mental health help. I believe spreading awareness, building understanding around mental illness stigma, and teaching coping skills, is what will create a healthier society. I have struggled through my own mental challenges, and have gained a lot of skills through my own therapeutic experiences. With my education, I hope to become a clinical therapist in order to help others by listening to their problems, giving them advice and coping skills, and continuing to spread mental health awareness. I've always communicated with people on a deep, emotional level. I listen to their issues, talk about my own experiences, and help them by sharing skills I have learned through my own mental health journey. For instance, during my junior and senior year of high school, I was in a club called Teens Offering Peer Support. During my junior year, I was the vice president of this club. We would always start off with our highs and lows of the week. I’d always listen patiently to whoever was talking, and give my input during days where people seemed to be struggling. Many seniors had fears of college and their future education, but once we were done with the meeting, they’d always come out of the club feeling better. I believe joining support groups and helping others with their problems is a great way to advocate and help people with their mental health because it shows compassion and understanding to the ones around us. Getting a Psychology degree will put me on the right path to becoming a clinical therapist. My experiences have led me to becoming a compassionate and empathetic individual who is motivated to help the world become a better place. I hope to inspire others and build compassion, love, and community in their life.

When I was thirteen, I was diagnosed with anxiety, depression, ADHD, and OCD. While the diagnosis was a relief because it explained many of my behaviors and struggles, it also marked the beginning of years of hard work. By my freshman year, I began taking medication, attending therapy, and seeking peer support. These steps helped calm my anxiety spirals, intrusive thoughts, and maladaptive behaviors, allowing me to cope successfully through most of high school. During my junior year, my mental health journey took an unexpected turn when I became physically ill. In the midst of being sick, I forgot to take my medication, which led to severe withdrawal symptoms. I would wake up in the middle of the night with a racing heart, shaking, and overwhelming fear. After multiple emergency room visits, I was told my symptoms were anxiety-related. When I later discovered a possible interaction between an antibiotic and my anxiety medication, fear led me to stop my medication altogether. This caused a resurgence of my OCD and health anxiety, and I became convinced that I would not survive long enough to reach adulthood. For months, life felt frozen as I moved from appointment to appointment, overwhelmed by fear and uncertainty. Although my physical health eventually stabilized, the emotional impact lingered. I was traumatized by the experience and deeply afraid to return to medication. As summer approached, I faced academic pressure, relationship challenges, and the uncertainty of adulthood, which pushed me into a deep depression. Panic attacks became frequent and debilitating, and I struggled with intense self-doubt. While my family encouraged medical intervention, my mother and I hoped that time, therapy, and self-work would allow me to heal. After months of struggling, I reached a turning point. I realized I did not want to remain trapped in fear any longer. I committed myself to finding coping strategies that worked for me such as continuing therapy, practicing mindfulness, embracing nature, and using tools such as yoga and meditation. By allowing myself to slow down and prioritize my mental well-being, I entered my senior year feeling stronger, more grounded, and more capable than I had ever felt before. My experiences have shaped not only how I care for myself, but also how I support others. I was vice president of TOPS (teens offering peer support) where I worked toward connection, and open dialogue about mental health with my peers. I volunteer with ACEing Autism, where I help create inclusive, supportive environments for individuals and families affected by autism. At my school, I distribute mental health awareness stickers to help normalize conversations and reduce stigma. I make a point to listen to peers when they are struggling, offering empathy and sharing coping strategies that have helped me, such as grounding techniques and mindfulness practices. This spring, I am also participating in my high school’s Professional Internship Program (PIP) at a counseling practice. These experiences reinforce the importance of presence, empathy, and helping others feel less alone. While I continue to navigate challenges related to ADHD, OCD, and depression, I now approach my mental health with understanding and compassion. In college and beyond, I plan to continue advocating for mental health awareness while pursuing my goal of becoming a therapist. By combining lived experience with education and service, I hope to help others feel supported, understood, and empowered to seek help.