I have been an avid Taylor Swift fan since I was little, it comes with having the name. My first email address was even taytay_1_9_8_9@icloud.com, I listened to her every night to fall asleep. As a senior, I painted my parking spot as "Senior Year (Taylor's Version)" and my senior quote in the yearbook is "I remember it all too well". I could talk about her eras for hours, how each of them also represents a period in my life, especially after going to her eras concert. For years, clean has been my favorite song from her 1989 album because of how literal it is in my mental health journey, the process of me becoming clean from self-harm. Then at the eras concert in Arlington, she did clean at Gracie Abrams' request on the piano. Standing there singing along about how I finally got clean sent such a deep physical sensation through my body, I have goosebumps even remembering the moment. Just four months beforehand, I attempted suicide after my long struggle with self-harm and mental illness. I was in treatment for a couple of months and I was looking forward to the concert as an intentional goal, but when I was transferred to an abusive Troubled Teen Industry facility, I genuinely thought that I would not make it out alive. I had an iPod shuffle that had Shake it Off and Bad Blood downloaded onto it, I would listen to them over and over again, pleading that I would make it out of there, to just be able to make it to the concert. After ten days there, I ended up being rescued and safely brought home. I had only been clean for a couple of weeks before going there, and in all honesty, I thought it would continue. But when I feared for my life every second that I was there, I found the drive to live, a passion to actually start truly living and not just surviving. I was clean while I was there, and I have continued to be clean this entire time, being the longest time I have been clean in years. I am so utterly proud of myself for this major accomplishment, so when Taylor Swift (literal queen) started to sing those first few words of Clean, tears began to fall. I felt those lyrics so deep in my soul, like I was the only other person that was in that entire stadium, her singing just to me. Gracie Abrams, thank you for choosing Clean. Taylor Swift, you have made such an impact in my life that no amount of appreciation can suffice. I may not be 10 months clean yet, but I will be.

My IB English Literature teacher, who taught me in both my junior and senior years, is one of the people in my life who has had such a big impact on my life. Mrs. Harrell is not only an incredible teacher, but she's an incredible person and human being. I didn't know her very well before she became my teacher, but right away I knew her class was going to become my favorite. And then a month and a half into the school year, her husband suddenly passed away, leaving her alone and her daughter fatherless at a college that was hours away by plane. She didn't come back to teaching for almost two months, and she was an entirely different person. Yes, she was amazing before her grief, but there was something that changed in her perspective of the world that truly opened my eyes. My entire life I was expected to be the perfect student, to always end up at the top because I was gifted. That pressure was all-consuming and only grew with age. But then when she seemingly lost her world, she showed me what really mattered in life. I didn't need to stress myself out to the point of sickness for a one-point difference in a grade, my value isn't based on my GPA. It's not that other teachers hadn't tried before, a couple even sat my parents down in a meeting to try to change their expectations. Mrs. Harrell losing her husband transformed how she saw us, how she saw mental illness. She finally understood what our anxiety was like because she was experiencing it firsthand. She became transparent, and hearing her honest struggles like we were on the same level as her (not beneath like many staff members believe) connected me to reality. She cared about the effort and quality of our work, giving us near-perfect grades so that we could develop a healthy relationship with academics where we actually cared about learning instead of trying to attempt perfection. Her perspective came at a large cost, but I hope she truly knows how much I appreciate her, how much she has changed my life. I no longer strive to check off boxes for a college application, I spend my time actually loving to learn and investigate. The weight has been lifted off my shoulders because the knowledge I gain cannot be judged on a scale of potential by other people. Before, there was a part of me that dreaded going to college because of how it would be filled with building my self-image based on my grades yet again. But now, I cannot wait to go to college because I am going to be able to experience and inhale so much more knowledge that I haven't had access to before, and I am going to be able to grow in my own perspective.

I want to attend a four-year university and major in cognitive psychology because of my experience in the world of mental healthcare. The troubled teen industry is inhumane, abusive, and sometimes fatal. So many places claim they are supportive when in all actuality, the only goal is to make the largest profit possible. When I have the necessary resources and financial means, I want to transform the mental healthcare field and shut down the troubled teen industry. I am a survivor of an abusive residential behavioral treatment facility because I was rescued by my parents. I am eternally grateful for being saved, but so many people are not. I plan on rescuing every single person that I can by creating better mental healthcare treatment plans and ceasing these establishments. Obtaining an undergraduate degree, as well as master's and doctoral degrees, is vital in this effort. However, I do not want to wait to rebuild this system, I'm starting now. Once I am enrolled and living at college, I will start working for treatment facilities that are already a part of the change. This is a path where I can connect not only with those who work in the field but with those who are patients, the people whose lives have been metamorphic. With this experience and my degrees, I will establish networks and organizations that are not focused on monetary gain but on who each patient is as an individual and their specific mental health journey. I do not want to be limited to only the United States, I want to expand to the entire world.

depression does not occur suddenly there is not a switch that is flipped off the drowning happens slowly the water is added pail by pail so it's hard to see the water level rising the splashes that circle around the ankles begin to reach the waist each water pail becomes progressively heavier because if you're already wet, what's a little more water? the pails are filled with sorrow and suffering so that any minor inconvenience causes the brim to overflow until the water is grasping at the mouth the threat of pulling you under is very real a riptide grabs hold pulling you down with the current your lungs scream for air begging to let you die because you don't know how to swim suffocation lines your vision any hope of breaking the surface is swept away as the pails continue to pour and pour rippling into a tsunami depression is engulfing so stop yelling at me how to swim when I can't even tell which way is up anymore. -4:16

For most of my life, I kept writing strictly academic. However, once I was sent to residential treatment for my mental illnesses, I discovered poetry and journaling. I had already previously been in a mental hospital, something that was well talked about in my small rural school in Texas. With 65 students in my grade, one student gone was quite noticeable. I then attempted suicide, ending up in the hospital (physical, not mental). I needed more help, and there wasn't any in the area. I then flew to California where I spent months at a residential treatment facility. During the first week there, every client is tasked with writing their life story in detail, and the medium could be anything. I gravitated towards the idea of writing mine in poetry, and I did just that. It allowed me to tell my story from a third-person perspective where I could say all of my trauma without actually having to use the words for it. The writing felt so natural, I could feel the emotions radiating on the paper. When I was tasked with sharing it with the group, I left everyone speechless. Two people were completely crying, and I saw many others with tears brewing in their eyes. Throughout the rest of that process group, I was repeatedly encouraged to continue writing and that I must publish. In all honesty, I thought they were all exaggerating. I had never written outside of school, and now I had a dozen people telling me to become an author? The thought had never crossed my mind before, it wasn't something that I had considered. But the next day, I ordered a four-pack of journals, all in different colors. In the green one, I started to write my thoughts, all of the mess in my head that I had labeled "chaos". I had never been able to say any of the chaos out loud before, but the second the ink went on the paper, it all had a place to go instead of my wrists. In the black journal, I copied down my life story and then began writing poetry. I would ask someone for an object or topic for each poem, I wanted to be able to somehow combine pieces of the physical world with those of my internal world. Something inside my soul resonates so deeply with the beautiful creations, it felt like I had been homesick my entire life without knowing where home was, and then I found it. In reading my poems, I found my voice for the first time in my life. Growing up, I was shown that because of my gender, I inherently didn't have as much value. So, I kept my voice inside. It felt that there was no point in sharing it because no one would listen anyways. But in reading the lines off of the pages, my voice became strong and unwavering. I dedicate hours each day to poetry and journaling because it helps me grow, it helps me heal. I went to residential treatment in early December and left at the end of January. If I hadn't discovered this passion, I legitimately think I would still be in treatment. I now have the same vision of becoming an author and it fills me with immense joy to know that I will be able to share my writing with so many people.

When I was a young child, I did not know what being chronically ill meant, I didn't realize people could be sick their whole lives with no cure. That is until I was diagnosed with celiac disease, functional neurological disorder, and an extensive list of psychiatric disorders. I often feel that saying I have celiac disease, in comparison to other autoimmune diseases, sounds unimportant. But celiac disease affects every aspect of my entire life, it plays a role in every decision I make. Aside from the physical pain that feels unbearable and the other lovely symptoms that accompany it, celiac disease is hard to manage. I was diagnosed as a teenager, and school is not an ideal setting for someone with celiac. The thing about celiac disease is that the only way to try to manage it is by adhering to a strict gluten free lifestyle because there is no cure. It is not just making sure ingredients in food are gluten free, but also avoiding all cross-contact and anything applied to the face, hands, or mouth must also be gluten free. Cross-contact is as simple as the item touching something with gluten, like a surface, toaster, or microwave. I founded a nonprofit organization, Celiac Surrounding, in July of 2021. I learned in my healing journey just how difficult it is to adapt, having to check that everything is certified gluten free, while also having to take in economic differences. Gluten free food is 242% more expensive than regular gluten-containing food, not including the differences between other gluten free products such as makeup or skincare. Celiac disease is not a choice, and there is no cure. Maintaining a strict gluten free diet is the only option, and financial circumstances should not have to impact that. My nonprofit works by donating gluten free food and products, as well as donating other items, such as toasters and toothbrushes, that have to be replaced when someone becomes gluten free. I have a selective palate, so I understand the struggles of trying to find safe food that I like that is certified. I love to try to help others with celiac disease as much as I can because it is not an easy diagnosis, and it is still something I have to manage every day. Sometimes I dream about what it would be like if I never got sick, if I never had any chronic illnesses. I've heard countless times that there is a reason for my pain and that my life is better because of it. And I think that's entirely wrong and a privileged viewpoint to have coming from someone who isn't chronically ill (which are pretty much the only people saying that). My life is not better because I am sick, but there are so many good things that have come from it. I learned what true acceptance and love looks like, not based on society's standards or the opinions of others. I've been able to connect with so many people I would not have been able to otherwise, my partner also has celiac disease. Having an autoimmune disease does not make you strong or an inspiration to others, it's how you learn to accept and face your disease that shapes you into who you are as a person.

Often people view loss as losing loved ones. That's true for me, I've gone to around a dozen funerals, but as awful as it sounds, that hasn't impacted me very much. Instead, I know loss as losing myself. I have faced many different traumatic events and abuse almost my entire life. I have attempted suicide twice, and I have been diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Attention Hyper Activity Disorder, and Misophonia. I know the world of treatment, whether it's therapy, mental hospitals, or residential treatment facilities. Throughout a large portion of my mental health journey, I battled with reasons to stay alive. Why was I here? What was the point of living? I became a ghost of who I once was, I had to accept that if I had a future, it was going to look a lot different than I expected it to be. After spending 6 weeks in residential treatment at Paradigm, I learned how to accept and manage my mental illnesses in the present, but I had yet to discover a reason to have a future. So I then went to long-term residential treatment at Innercept, an abusive establishment in Idaho that is a part of the troubled teen industry. Thankfully, my parents were able to rescue me after 10 days, but so many people are not that fortunate. Innercept is not alone in the troubled teen industry, countless wilderness therapies, behavioral facilities, and therapeutic boarding schools are involved. Being there was an awful experience, only adding to my trauma. However, that is where I found a purpose to stay alive, a path for my future. The troubled teen industry is inhumane, abusive, and sometimes fatal. So many places claim they are supportive when in all actuality, the only goal is to make the largest profit possible. When I have the necessary resources and financial means, I want to transform the mental healthcare field and shut down the troubled teen industry. I plan on rescuing every single person that I can by creating better mental healthcare treatment plans and ceasing these establishments. Obtaining an undergraduate degree, as well as master's and doctoral degrees, is vital in this effort. However, I do not want to wait to rebuild this system, I'm starting now. Once I am enrolled and living at college, I will start working for treatment facilities that are already a part of the change. This is a path where I can connect not only with those who work in the field but with those who are patients, the people whose lives have been metamorphic. With this experience and my degrees, I will establish networks and organizations that are not focused on monetary gain but on who each patient is as an individual and their specific mental health journey. I do not want to be limited to only the United States, I want to expand to the entire world. Suicide prevention has many different parts that play a role, each individual needs unique treatment. I want to reach everyone who struggles with mental illness where they are because it is so important to help those who are at any stage in their journey. Many people drown in different locations and depths, whether it's in a pool, a lake, the ocean, or another body of water. But even though some are drowning from further under, everyone drowning has one thing in common: they're drowning. Suicide prevention starts with helping in every capacity needed, not just high-risk people.

Often people view loss as losing loved ones. That's true for me, I've gone to around a dozen funerals, but as awful as it sounds, that hasn't impacted me very much. Instead, I know loss as losing myself. I have faced many different traumatic events and abuse almost my entire life. I have attempted suicide twice, and I have been diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Attention Hyper Activity Disorder, and Misophonia. I know the world of treatment, whether it's therapy, mental hospitals, or residential treatment facilities. Throughout a large portion of my mental health journey, I battled with reasons to stay alive. Why was I here? What was the point of living? I became a ghost of who I once was, I had to accept that if I had a future, it was going to look a lot different than I expected it to be. After spending 6 weeks in residential treatment at Paradigm, I learned how to accept and manage my mental illnesses in the present, but I had yet to discover a reason to have a future. So I then went to long-term residential treatment at Innercept, an abusive establishment in Idaho that is a part of the troubled teen industry. Thankfully, my parents were able to rescue me after 10 days, but so many people are not that fortunate. Innercept is not alone in the troubled teen industry, countless wilderness therapies, behavioral facilities, and therapeutic boarding schools are involved. Being there was an awful experience, only adding to my trauma. However, that is where I found a purpose to stay alive, a path for my future. The troubled teen industry is inhumane, abusive, and sometimes fatal. So many places claim they are supportive when in all actuality, the only goal is to make the largest profit possible. When I have the necessary resources and financial means, I want to transform the mental healthcare field and shut down the troubled teen industry. I plan on rescuing every single person that I can by creating better mental healthcare treatment plans and ceasing these establishments. Obtaining an undergraduate degree, as well as master's and doctoral degrees, is vital in this effort. However, I do not want to wait to rebuild this system, I'm starting now. Once I am enrolled and living at college, I will start working for treatment facilities that are already a part of the change. This is a path where I can connect not only with those who work in the field but with those who are patients, the people whose lives have been metamorphic. With this experience and my degrees, I will establish networks and organizations that are not focused on monetary gain but on who each patient is as an individual and their specific mental health journey. I do not want to be limited to only the United States, I want to expand to the entire world. Suicide prevention has many different parts that play a role, each individual needs unique treatment. I want to reach everyone who struggles with mental illness where they are because it is so important to help those who are at any stage in their journey. Many people drown in different locations and depths, whether it's in a pool, a lake, the ocean, or another body of water. But even though some are drowning from further under, everyone drowning has one thing in common: they're drowning. Suicide prevention starts with helping in every capacity needed, not just high-risk people.

Often people view loss as losing loved ones. That's true for me, I've gone to around a dozen funerals, but as awful as it sounds, that hasn't impacted me very much. Instead, I know loss as losing myself. I have faced many different traumatic events and abuse almost my entire life. I have attempted suicide twice, and I have been diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Attention Hyper Activity Disorder, and Misophonia. I know the world of treatment, whether it's therapy, mental hospitals, or residential treatment facilities. Throughout a large portion of my mental health journey, I battled with reasons to stay alive. Why was I here? What was the point of living? I became a ghost of who I once was, I had to accept that if I had a future, it was going to look a lot different than I expected it to be. After spending 6 weeks in residential treatment at Paradigm, I learned how to accept and manage my mental illnesses in the present, but I had yet to discover a reason to have a future. So I then went to long-term residential treatment at Innercept, an abusive establishment in Idaho that is a part of the troubled teen industry. Thankfully, my parents were able to rescue me after 10 days, but so many people are not that fortunate. Innercept is not alone in the troubled teen industry, countless wilderness therapies, behavioral facilities, and therapeutic boarding schools are involved. Being there was an awful experience, only adding to my trauma. However, that is where I found a purpose to stay alive, a path for my future. The troubled teen industry is inhumane, abusive, and sometimes fatal. So many places claim they are supportive when in all actuality, the only goal is to make the largest profit possible. When I have the necessary resources and financial means, I want to transform the mental healthcare field and shut down the troubled teen industry. I plan on rescuing every single person that I can by creating better mental healthcare treatment plans and ceasing these establishments. Obtaining an undergraduate degree, as well as master's and doctoral degrees, is vital in this effort. However, I do not want to wait to rebuild this system, I'm starting now. Once I am enrolled and living at college, I will start working for treatment facilities that are already a part of the change. This is a path where I can connect not only with those who work in the field but with those who are patients, the people whose lives have been metamorphic. With this experience and my degrees, I will establish networks and organizations that are not focused on monetary gain but on who each patient is as an individual and their specific mental health journey. I do not want to be limited to only the United States, I want to expand to the entire world. Suicide prevention has many different parts that play a role, each individual needs unique treatment. I want to reach everyone who struggles with mental illness where they are because it is so important to help those who are at any stage in their journey. Many people drown in different locations and depths, whether it's in a pool, a lake, the ocean, or another body of water. But even though some are drowning from further under, everyone drowning has one thing in common: they're drowning. Suicide prevention starts with helping in every capacity needed, not just high-risk people.

Often people view loss as losing loved ones. That's true for me, I've gone to around a dozen funerals, but as awful as it sounds, that hasn't impacted me very much. Instead, I know loss as losing myself. I have faced many different traumatic events and abuse almost my entire life. I have attempted suicide twice, and I have been diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Attention Hyper Activity Disorder, and Misophonia. I know the world of treatment, whether it's therapy, mental hospitals, or residential treatment facilities. Throughout a large portion of my mental health journey, I battled with reasons to stay alive. Why was I here? What was the point of living? I became a ghost of who I once was, I had to accept that if I had a future, it was going to look a lot different than I expected it to be. After spending 6 weeks in residential treatment at Paradigm, I learned how to accept and manage my mental illnesses in the present, but I had yet to discover a reason to have a future. So I then went to long-term residential treatment at Innercept, an abusive establishment in Idaho that is a part of the troubled teen industry. Thankfully, my parents were able to rescue me after 10 days, but so many people are not that fortunate. Innercept is not alone in the troubled teen industry, countless wilderness therapies, behavioral facilities, and therapeutic boarding schools are involved. Being there was an awful experience, only adding to my trauma. However, that is where I found a purpose to stay alive, a path for my future. The troubled teen industry is inhumane, abusive, and sometimes fatal. So many places claim they are supportive when in all actuality, the only goal is to make the largest profit possible. When I have the necessary resources and financial means, I want to transform the mental healthcare field and shut down the troubled teen industry. I plan on rescuing every single person that I can by creating better mental healthcare treatment plans and ceasing these establishments. Obtaining an undergraduate degree, as well as master's and doctoral degrees, is vital in this effort. However, I do not want to wait to rebuild this system, I'm starting now. Once I am enrolled and living at college, I will start working for treatment facilities that are already a part of the change. This is a path where I can connect not only with those who work in the field but with those who are patients, the people whose lives have been metamorphic. With this experience and my degrees, I will establish networks and organizations that are not focused on monetary gain but on who each patient is as an individual and their specific mental health journey. I do not want to be limited to only the United States, I want to expand to the entire world. Suicide prevention has many different parts that play a role, each individual needs unique treatment. I want to reach everyone who struggles with mental illness where they are because it is so important to help those who are at any stage in their journey. Many people drown in different locations and depths, whether it's in a pool, a lake, the ocean, or another body of water. But even though some are drowning from further under, everyone drowning has one thing in common: they're drowning. Suicide prevention starts with helping in every capacity needed, not just high-risk people.

Often people view loss as losing loved ones. That's true for me, I've gone to around a dozen funerals, but as awful as it sounds, that hasn't impacted me very much. Instead, I know loss as losing myself. I have faced many different traumatic events and abuse almost my entire life. I have attempted suicide twice, and I have been diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Attention Hyper Activity Disorder, and Misophonia. I know the world of treatment, whether it's therapy, mental hospitals, or residential treatment facilities. Throughout a large portion of my mental health journey, I battled with reasons to stay alive. Why was I here? What was the point of living? I became a ghost of who I once was, I had to accept that if I had a future, it was going to look a lot different than I expected it to be. After spending 6 weeks in residential treatment at Paradigm, I learned how to accept and manage my mental illnesses in the present, but I had yet to discover a reason to have a future. So I then went to long-term residential treatment at Innercept, an abusive establishment in Idaho that is a part of the troubled teen industry. Thankfully, my parents were able to rescue me after 10 days, but so many people are not that fortunate. Innercept is not alone in the troubled teen industry, countless wilderness therapies, behavioral facilities, and therapeutic boarding schools are involved. Being there was an awful experience, only adding to my trauma. However, that is where I found a purpose to stay alive, a path for my future. The troubled teen industry is inhumane, abusive, and sometimes fatal. So many places claim they are supportive when in all actuality, the only goal is to make the largest profit possible. When I have the necessary resources and financial means, I want to transform the mental healthcare field and shut down the troubled teen industry. I plan on rescuing every single person that I can by creating better mental healthcare treatment plans and ceasing these establishments. Obtaining an undergraduate degree, as well as master's and doctoral degrees, is vital in this effort. However, I do not want to wait to rebuild this system, I'm starting now. Once I am enrolled and living at college, I will start working for treatment facilities that are already a part of the change. This is a path where I can connect not only with those who work in the field but with those who are patients, the people whose lives have been metamorphic. With this experience and my degrees, I will establish networks and organizations that are not focused on monetary gain but on who each patient is as an individual and their specific mental health journey. I do not want to be limited to only the United States, I want to expand to the entire world. Suicide prevention has many different parts that play a role, each individual needs unique treatment. I want to reach everyone who struggles with mental illness where they are because it is so important to help those who are at any stage in their journey. Many people drown in different locations and depths, whether it's in a pool, a lake, the ocean, or another body of water. But even though some are drowning from further under, everyone drowning has one thing in common: they're drowning. Suicide prevention starts with helping in every capacity needed, not just high-risk people.

Often people view loss as losing loved ones. That's true for me, I've gone to around a dozen funerals, but as awful as it sounds, that hasn't impacted me very much. Instead, I know loss as losing myself. I have faced many different traumatic events and abuse almost my entire life. I have attempted suicide twice, and I have been diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Attention Hyper Activity Disorder, and Misophonia. I know the world of treatment, whether it's therapy, mental hospitals, or residential treatment facilities. Throughout a large portion of my mental health journey, I battled with reasons to stay alive. Why was I here? What was the point of living? I became a ghost of who I once was, I had to accept that if I had a future, it was going to look a lot different than I expected it to be. After spending 6 weeks in residential treatment at Paradigm, I learned how to accept and manage my mental illnesses in the present, but I had yet to discover a reason to have a future. So I then went to long-term residential treatment at Innercept, an abusive establishment in Idaho that is a part of the troubled teen industry. Thankfully, my parents were able to rescue me after 10 days, but so many people are not that fortunate. Innercept is not alone in the troubled teen industry, countless wilderness therapies, behavioral facilities, and therapeutic boarding schools are involved. Being there was an awful experience, only adding to my trauma. However, that is where I found a purpose to stay alive, a path for my future. The troubled teen industry is inhumane, abusive, and sometimes fatal. So many places claim they are supportive when in all actuality, the only goal is to make the largest profit possible. When I have the necessary resources and financial means, I want to transform the mental healthcare field and shut down the troubled teen industry. I plan on rescuing every single person that I can by creating better mental healthcare treatment plans and ceasing these establishments. Obtaining an undergraduate degree, as well as master's and doctoral degrees, is vital in this effort. However, I do not want to wait to rebuild this system, I'm starting now. Once I am enrolled and living at college, I will start working for treatment facilities that are already a part of the change. This is a path where I can connect not only with those who work in the field but with those who are patients, the people whose lives have been metamorphic. With this experience and my degrees, I will establish networks and organizations that are not focused on monetary gain but on who each patient is as an individual and their specific mental health journey. I do not want to be limited to only the United States, I want to expand to the entire world. Suicide prevention has many different parts that play a role, each individual needs unique treatment. I want to reach everyone who struggles with mental illness where they are because it is so important to help those who are at any stage in their journey. Many people drown in different locations and depths, whether it's in a pool, a lake, the ocean, or another body of water. But even though some are drowning from further under, everyone drowning has one thing in common: they're drowning. Suicide prevention starts with helping in every capacity needed, not just high-risk people.

I am the captain of the varsity cheer team at my school, which is located in a small rural town in Texas. I am also a lesbian, a piece of my identity that I have had to learn and grow to love. I grew up in an extremely religious home, more specifically, I practically lived in Church for the first decade of my life (literally where I had my first sleepover). They preached about God’s never-ending love, and how to directly follow the Bible. The people who preached this love, including my mother, believed that love could only exist between cisgender men and women. When I was forced out of the closet to my parents, I was endlessly lectured about how being anything but heterosexual was a sin and would send me straight to hell (although technically, it wouldn’t be straight). Ironically, my parents who believed that only straight, married love existed, had a marriage devoid of love. Almost always living in different rooms, frequently going through weeks of silence after yelling arguments, was apparently their depiction of “love”. My mother always told me to be into more girly things, so I took her seriously. Despite all of her efforts to pray away the gay, I have not let myself be thrown back into my cramped closet full of high-top converse. I am proud of my sexuality, no matter how many people believe it’s wrong, and I think that all the efforts to silence my voice only made it stronger in the end. This has impacted how I do not let other people define me, yet still hold space to hear their perspectives. If I don’t, I wouldn’t be able to expect them to listen to Girl in Red in return. But as a student and cheerleader, I have to be extremely careful. Slurs aren't just mumbled under breaths, they're said openly and proudly without consequence. Discrimination and hate are part of a regular school day. My opinion as someone who identifies as a woman and a lesbian is usually seen as less than others, especially in the classroom. I have to lie in essays and discussions so that I am not targeted, and I have to try to remain closeted to most people in my community. In cheer, with exception of a few, my teammates and coaches cannot know because I would no longer be allowed on the team. Cheer is filled with stunting and incorporated movements where we touch and hold each other; they view lesbians as predators. I want to create an inclusive cheer environment for queer people, but also an entire space for any type of sport or extracurricular.

I grew up in an extremely religious home, more specifically, I practically lived in Church for the first decade of my life (literally where I had my first sleepover). They preached about God’s never-ending love, and how to directly follow the Bible. The people who preached this love, including my mother, believed that love could only exist between cisgender men and women. When I was forced out of the closet to my parents, I was endlessly lectured about how being anything but heterosexual was a sin and would send me straight to hell (although technically, it wouldn’t be straight). Ironically, my parents who believed that only straight, married love existed, had a marriage devoid of love. Almost always living in different rooms, frequently going through weeks of silence after yelling arguments, was apparently their depiction of “love”. My mother always told me to be into more girly things, so I took her seriously. Despite all of her efforts to pray away the gay, I have not let myself be thrown back into my cramped closet full of high-top converse. I am proud of my sexuality, no matter how many people believe it’s wrong, and I think that all the efforts to silence my voice only made it stronger in the end. This has impacted how I do not let other people define me, yet still hold space to hear their perspectives. If I don’t, I wouldn’t be able to expect them to listen to Girl in Red in return. Many queer people struggle with their mental health, a battle faced by many teenagers. In an attempt to seek treatment, we often are met with hate. Whether it's downright homophobia, transphobia, biphobia, or dead-naming people, treatment is often unsafe. The troubled teen industry is disastrous for anyone, but it is exponentially more difficult for queer people. Residential treatment includes wilderness therapies, behavioral facilities, and therapeutic boarding schools. The troubled teen industry is inhumane, abusive, and sometimes fatal. Many places claim they are supportive when in all actuality, the only goal is to make the largest profit possible. When I have the necessary resources, I want to transform the mental healthcare field and shut down the troubled teen industry. I am a survivor of an abusive residential behavioral treatment facility because I was rescued by my parents. I am eternally grateful for being saved, but so many people are not. I plan on rescuing every person that I can by creating better mental healthcare treatment plans and ceasing these establishments. Obtaining an undergraduate degree, as well as master's and doctoral degrees, is vital in this effort. However, I do not want to wait to rebuild this system, I'm starting now. Once I am enrolled and living at college, I will start working for treatment facilities that are already a part of the change. This is a path where I can connect not only with those who work in the field but with those who are patients, the people whose lives have been metamorphic. With this experience and my degrees, I will establish networks and organizations that are not focused on monetary gain but on who each patient is as an individual and be inclusive in all regards in every mental health journey.

Food is a part of everyday life, it's vital to survival. Consuming meals and snacks sometimes takes extra preparation for a variety of reasons, such as dining out locally and when traveling, eating in people's homes, and packing food for schedule commitments (school, work, extracurriculars, etc.). But then a diagnosis of celiac disease changes everything. Every decision is impacted by this severe autoimmune disease. I founded a nonprofit organization, Celiac Surrounding, in July of 2021 after being diagnosed with Celiac disease. I learned in my healing journey just how difficult it is to adapt, having to check anything that is applied onto the face or consumed, while also having to take in economic differences. Gluten free food is 242% more expensive than regular gluten-containing food, not including the differences between other gluten free products such as makeup or skincare. Celiac disease is not a choice, and there is no cure. Maintaining a strict gluten free diet is the only option, and financial circumstances should not have to impact that. My nonprofit works by donating gluten free food and products, as well as donating other items, such as toasters and toothbrushes, that have to be replaced when someone becomes gluten free. I have a selective palate, so I understand the struggles of trying to find safe food that I like that is certified. I love to try to help others with celiac disease as much as I can because it is not an easy diagnosis, and it is still something I have to manage every day. Around the world people struggle with mental health, mental illness is a battle faced by many Americans, especially teenagers. So, some parents and other guardian figures seek treatment for their loved ones. In an attempt to help them, parents often find that there are some options regarding the extent and level of care necessary. It can range from partial to full hospitalization, and from short-term to long-term residential. Residential treatment includes wilderness therapies, behavioral facilities, and therapeutic boarding schools. Parents think they are sending their loved ones off to receive proper help, except in many cases, that is not what happens. The troubled teen industry is inhumane, abusive, and sometimes fatal. So many places claim they are supportive when in all actuality, the only goal is to make the largest profit possible. When I have the necessary resources and financial means, I want to transform the mental healthcare field and shut down the troubled teen industry. I am a survivor of an abusive residential behavioral treatment facility because I was rescued by my parents. I am eternally grateful for being saved, but so many people are not. I plan on rescuing every single person that I can by creating better mental healthcare treatment plans and ceasing these establishments. Obtaining an undergraduate degree, as well as master's and doctoral degrees, is vital in this effort. However, I do not want to wait to rebuild this system, I'm starting now. Once I am enrolled and living at college, I will start working for treatment facilities that are already a part of the change. This is a path where I can connect not only with those who work in the field but with those who are patients, the people whose lives have been metamorphic. With this experience and my degrees, I will establish networks and organizations that are not focused on monetary gain but on who each patient is as an individual and their specific mental health journey. I do not want to be limited to only the United States, I want to expand to the entire world.

Food is a part of everyday life, it's vital to survival. Consuming meals and snacks sometimes takes extra preparation for a variety of reasons, such as dining out locally and when traveling, eating in people's homes, and packing food for schedule commitments (school, work, extracurriculars, etc.). But then a diagnosis of celiac disease changes everything. Every decision is impacted by this severe autoimmune disease. I founded a nonprofit organization, Celiac Surrounding, in July of 2021 after being diagnosed with Celiac disease. I learned in my healing journey just how difficult it is to adapt, having to check anything that is applied onto the face or consumed, while also having to take in economic differences. Gluten free food is 242% more expensive than regular gluten-containing food, not including the differences between other gluten free products such as makeup or skincare. Celiac disease is not a choice, and there is no cure. Maintaining a strict gluten free diet is the only option, and financial circumstances should not have to impact that. My nonprofit works by donating gluten free food and products, as well as donating other items, such as toasters and toothbrushes, that have to be replaced when someone becomes gluten free. I have a selective palate, so I understand the struggles of trying to find safe food that I like that is certified. I love to try to help others with celiac disease as much as I can because it is not an easy diagnosis, and it is still something I have to manage every day. Around the world people struggle with mental health, mental illness is a battle faced by many Americans, especially teenagers. So, some parents and other guardian figures seek treatment for their loved ones. In an attempt to help them, parents often find that there are some options regarding the extent and level of care necessary. It can range from partial to full hospitalization, and from short-term to long-term residential. Residential treatment includes wilderness therapies, behavioral facilities, and therapeutic boarding schools. Parents think they are sending their loved ones off to receive proper help, except in many cases, that is not what happens. The troubled teen industry is inhumane, abusive, and sometimes fatal. So many places claim they are supportive when in all actuality, the only goal is to make the largest profit possible. When I have the necessary resources and financial means, I want to transform the mental healthcare field and shut down the troubled teen industry. I am a survivor of an abusive residential behavioral treatment facility because I was rescued by my parents. I am eternally grateful for being saved, but so many people are not. I plan on rescuing every single person that I can by creating better mental healthcare treatment plans and ceasing these establishments. Obtaining an undergraduate degree, as well as master's and doctoral degrees, is vital in this effort. However, I do not want to wait to rebuild this system, I'm starting now. Once I am enrolled and living at college, I will start working for treatment facilities that are already a part of the change. This is a path where I can connect not only with those who work in the field but with those who are patients, the people whose lives have been metamorphic. With this experience and my degrees, I will establish networks and organizations that are not focused on monetary gain but on who each patient is as an individual and their specific mental health journey. I do not want to be limited to only the United States, I want to expand to the entire world.

Food is a part of everyday life, it's vital to survival. Consuming meals and snacks sometimes takes extra preparation for a variety of reasons, such as dining out locally and when traveling, eating in people's homes, and packing food for schedule commitments (school, work, extracurriculars, etc.). But then a diagnosis of celiac disease changes everything. Every decision is impacted by this severe autoimmune disease. I founded a nonprofit organization, Celiac Surrounding, in July of 2021 after being diagnosed with Celiac disease. I learned in my healing journey just how difficult it is to adapt, having to check anything that is applied onto the face or consumed, while also having to take in economic differences. Gluten free food is 242% more expensive than regular gluten-containing food, not including the differences between other gluten free products such as makeup or skincare. Celiac disease is not a choice, and there is no cure. Maintaining a strict gluten free diet is the only option, and financial circumstances should not have to impact that. My nonprofit works by donating gluten free food and products, as well as donating other items, such as toasters and toothbrushes, that have to be replaced when someone becomes gluten free. I have a selective palate, so I understand the struggles of trying to find safe food that I like that is certified. I love to try to help others with celiac disease as much as I can because it is not an easy diagnosis, and it is still something I have to manage every day. Around the world people struggle with mental health, mental illness is a battle faced by many Americans, especially teenagers. So, some parents and other guardian figures seek treatment for their loved ones. In an attempt to help them, parents often find that there are some options regarding the extent and level of care necessary. It can range from partial to full hospitalization, and from short-term to long-term residential. Residential treatment includes wilderness therapies, behavioral facilities, and therapeutic boarding schools. Parents think they are sending their loved ones off to receive proper help, except in many cases, that is not what happens. The troubled teen industry is inhumane, abusive, and sometimes fatal. So many places claim they are supportive when in all actuality, the only goal is to make the largest profit possible. When I have the necessary resources and financial means, I want to transform the mental healthcare field and shut down the troubled teen industry. I am a survivor of an abusive residential behavioral treatment facility because I was rescued by my parents. I am eternally grateful for being saved, but so many people are not. I plan on rescuing every single person that I can by creating better mental healthcare treatment plans and ceasing these establishments. Obtaining an undergraduate degree, as well as master's and doctoral degrees, is vital in this effort. However, I do not want to wait to rebuild this system, I'm starting now. Once I am enrolled and living at college, I will start working for treatment facilities that are already a part of the change. This is a path where I can connect not only with those who work in the field but with those who are patients, the people whose lives have been metamorphic. With this experience and my degrees, I will establish networks and organizations that are not focused on monetary gain but on who each patient is as an individual and their specific mental health journey. I do not want to be limited to only the United States, I want to expand to the entire world.