Being a part of a community is so important as it allows people to work together to solve problems and overcome obstacles, without being discouraged by failure. Helping others in the community brings more growth to the community and creates life-changing opportunities for others. Not only does being a part of a community help build it up, but it also helps in building one’s own character. It allows us to become more selfless and not only think about ourselves for once. It also helps us develop a deeper appreciation for what we have and ensures that everyone’s needs are met. Being a part of a community not only improves the quality of a community but it also improves us as individuals. I believe that I have assisted my community through volunteering. Not only has volunteering helped in building my character, but it has also given me the opportunity to help others. Some volunteering opportunities that I am passionate about are Service Club, H.E.A.T., and North Texas Food Bank. In Service Club, I help the janitors after school by cleaning the hallways and classrooms and taking out trash, promoting the safety of my fellow students. Helping the janitors clean up after school has shown me how they tirelessly work to make sure that students attend school in a safe and sanitary environment. H.E.A.T., which is a club that I have been active in for all four years of high school, is a club dedicated to humanitarian, environmental, and animal-related problems. Through H.E.A.T., I have been able to help clean up the community of Frisco through the Adopt-A-Street Program, preventing pollution and beautifying the community. The North Texas Food Bank, which is an organization that works to eliminate hunger in the North Texas area, has allowed me to see how lucky I am to have everything that I need when there are many others who lack the bare necessities. Through the North Texas Food Bank, I have been able to seek donations of extra food from different stores as well as pack this food into boxes where they will be dropped off to families in need in the North Texas area. Volunteering has helped me see the world from a different perspective as it showed me how my life differs from those around me and that I should be grateful for what I have and not be concerned with what I don't have. I am aspiring to become a dentist and I plan to utilize my future career in helping others by visiting third world countries and providing them with necessary health care as it can be very expensive for many people to afford, causing them to neglect their health. As a child of immigrants whose parents gave up everything for them, I know firsthand the difficulties that people, such as my grandmother, had undergone to give their children the opportunity to come to American for a better life. Together, the little things that we do for our community can have a lasting impact on the world.

The two women who have played a huge role in my life are my mom and grandmother. My mom was my first teacher and she always pushed me to work hard and aim high for my goals. Before I was born, my mom was a successful professor in math and computer science but she decided to quit her job to become a mother. It showed how much she loved me as she gave up something that she had worked so hard for to raise me. My mom motivates me to push myself and never give up because she spent all these years forming me into the person I am today, someone who will not be discouraged by failure. My grandmother is another woman who inspires me as she gave up so much to give her kids a better future. My father lost his mother before he turned eighteen because of the poverty that filled India. They did not have enough money to survive so my grandmother spent money on food for her children instead of medication that she needed to survive with due to her kidney failure. During those times, only the rich had the money to buy medication while the poor were left to lose their lives in the process of their struggle to survive. She gave up her life to give my dad a better life and I intend to use the opportunities that I am given in this country to become a doctor and help those in countries that lack medical attention. I plan to major in biology once I enter college and I aspire to be a dentist. One goal that I hope to accomplish at some point in my life is to provide medical assistance to people in third-world countries who aren’t offered the same aid that we receive in America. Even after earning a degree at college, I plan to continue learning from other doctors and seeing how science has changed over time as continuously learning will allow for the development of awareness which can assist people in the future. Education is something that people should treasure as it is difficult to find in other countries. To me, education is an opportunity to learn more about life and our surroundings with the purpose of helping others around the world. I have resolved to use this privilege with gratitude and the goal of making the world a better place. I was given the chance to live my life and follow my dreams through my education regardless of my beliefs or gender, and desire to help people around the world by giving more medical attention to less developed countries and ensuring that everyone has equal opportunities in obtaining an education. My mom and grandmother are two women who gave up everything for their children and that inspired me to not take anything for granted. I understand that I was given the opportunity to further my education and I hope to utilize the skills that I learn in college to help people around the world, giving more women like me the opportunity to follow their dreams.

"Look, she is so skinny” and “Why can't you be more like her?" are two phrases that I have been forced to listen to since I can remember. Ever since I was a kid, I have always been compared to the other girls I know because I was always on the chubbier side. There is a stigma in the Indian community that a girl will never make it in life if she does not have the perfect body. I wanted the people around me to be proud of me but I soon let everyone else’s negative opinions of me get drilled into my head. I was homeschooled from first to eighth grade because my parents wanted to make sure that we learned about our Faith and religious values. But going from homeschooling to public high school was anything but easy. Freshman year was filled with different challenges for me because I was the oldest child and my family was new to the entire process. The struggle to adapt to a whole new environment was stressful, and I began overeating to avoid dealing with my problems. As I entered my sophomore year, I fell into depression because starting public school was not only difficult but it made me more self-conscious about my looks. People began commenting on my weight and would constantly talk about how I needed to exercise or diet if I wanted to lose weight and look “beautiful.” I was most hurt when my parents began commenting on my weight because they were the ones that were supposed to have my back in this situation. I felt ugly if I was not skinny and the “perfect weight,” so I began extreme dieting, barely even eating on some days. I felt like I needed someone to tell me that I was beautiful to reassure myself of my self worth and got into a toxic relationship. I thought a boy could fill the void in my heart but he was only manipulating me and talking to other girls at the same time. During the entire relationship, I was dealing with guilt because I was only using him for affirmation that I was loved and soon realized that being in a relationship with him made me hate myself even more. We broke up and I felt more alone than ever, but I came to the realization that I needed to overcome my self-esteem issues and understand my worth. My first two years of high school were definitely rough but I learned that everything gets better with time. During junior year, I urged myself to be more open with others which allowed me to meet people who helped me find myself and overcome my struggles. They helped me realize that I didn’t need to put the opinions of others before my mental and physical health. My friends made me realize that I was loved no matter what size I was and that I should not let any number define my worth. Even though it has not even been three years since we met, my friends have played a huge role as my support system and I could not imagine life without them. A lot of people tell me that they’re sorry that they could not be there for me during the times where I struggled the most, but I do not regret going through those experiences. Transitioning to public high school provided me the opportunity to go through a journey in which I lost myself but found my identity with the help of others and soon realized my self-worth. I had to deal with the cruelties and blessings of life, but learned from all of my experiences. Even though I didn't have the perfect body, I created the perfect life for myself. My transition allowed me to understand that I’m always going to face challenges, whether it’s comments from the community, my family, or even from myself, but I have learned that it’s okay to make mistakes as long as you learn and grow from them and that you need to love yourself before you can love anyone else.

The two women who have played a huge role in my life are my mom and grandmother. My mom was my first teacher and she always pushed me to work hard and aim high for my goals. Before I was born, my mom was a successful professor in math and computer science but she decided to quit her job to become a mother. It showed how much she loved me as she gave up something that she had worked so hard for to raise me. My mom motivates me to push myself and never give up because she spent all these years forming me into the person I am today, someone who will not be discouraged by failure. My grandmother is another woman who inspires me as she gave up so much to give her kids a better future. My father lost his mother before he turned eighteen because of the poverty that filled India. They did not have enough money to survive so my grandmother spent money on food for her children instead of medication that she needed to survive with due to her kidney failure. During those times, only the rich had the money to buy medication while the poor were left to lose their lives in the process of their struggle to survive. She gave up her life to give my dad a better life and I intend to use the opportunities that I am given in this country to become a doctor and help those in countries that lack medical attention. I plan to major in biology once I enter college and I aspire to be a dentist. One goal that I hope to accomplish at some point in my life is to provide medical assistance to people in third-world countries who aren’t offered the same aid that we receive in America. Even after earning a degree at college, I plan to continue learning from other doctors and seeing how science has changed over time as continuously learning will allow for the development of awareness which can assist people in the future. Education is something that people should treasure as it is difficult to find in other countries. To me, education is an opportunity to learn more about life and our surroundings with the purpose of helping others around the world. I have resolved to use this privilege with gratitude and the goal of making the world a better place. I was given the chance to live my life and follow my dreams through my education regardless of my beliefs or gender, and desire to help people around the world by giving more medical attention to less developed countries and ensuring that everyone has equal opportunities in obtaining an education. My mom and grandmother are two women who gave up everything for their children and that inspired me to not take anything for granted. I understand that I was given the opportunity to further my education and I hope to utilize the skills that I learn in college to help people around the world, giving more women like me the opportunity to follow their dreams.

Being a part of a community is so important as it allows people to work together to solve problems and overcome obstacles, without being discouraged by failure. Helping others in the community brings more growth to the community and creates life-changing opportunities for others. Not only does being a part of a community help build it up, but it also helps in building one’s own character. It allows us to become more selfless and not only think about ourselves for once. It also helps us develop a deeper appreciation for what we have and ensures that everyone’s needs are met. Being a part of a community not only improves the quality of a community but it also improves us as individuals. I believe that I have assisted my community through volunteering. Not only has volunteering helped in building my character, but it has also given me the opportunity to help others. Some volunteering opportunities that I am passionate about are Service Club, H.E.A.T., and North Texas Food Bank. In Service Club, I help the janitors after school by cleaning the hallways and classrooms and taking out trash, promoting the safety of my fellow students. Helping the janitors clean up after school has shown me how they tirelessly work to make sure that students attend school in a safe and sanitary environment. H.E.A.T., which is a club that I have been active in for all four years of high school, is a club dedicated to humanitarian, environmental, and animal-related problems. Through H.E.A.T., I have been able to help clean up the community of Frisco through the Adopt-A-Street Program, preventing pollution and beautifying the community. The North Texas Food Bank, which is an organization that works to eliminate hunger in the North Texas area, has allowed me to see how lucky I am to have everything that I need when there are many others who lack the bare necessities. Through the North Texas Food Bank, I have been able to seek donations of extra food from different stores as well as pack this food into boxes where they will be dropped off to families in need in the North Texas area. Volunteering has helped me see the world from a different perspective as it showed me how my life differs from those around me and that I should be grateful for what I have and not be concerned with what I don't have. I am aspiring to become a dentist and I plan to utilize my future career in helping others by visiting third world countries and providing them with necessary health care as it can be very expensive for many people to afford, causing them to neglect their health. As a child of immigrants whose parents gave up everything for them, I know firsthand the difficulties that people, such as my grandmother, had undergone to give their children the opportunity to come to American for a better life. Together, the little things that we do for our community can have a lasting impact on the world.

"Look, she is so skinny” and “Why can't you be more like her?" are two phrases that I have been forced to listen to since I can remember. Ever since I was a kid, I have always been compared to the other girls I know because I was always on the chubbier side. There is a stigma in the Indian community that a girl will never make it in life if she does not have the perfect body. I wanted the people around me to be proud of me but I soon let everyone else’s negative opinions of me get drilled into my head. I was homeschooled from first to eighth grade because my parents wanted to make sure that we learned about our Faith and religious values. But going from homeschooling to public high school was anything but easy. Freshman year was filled with different challenges for me because I was the oldest child and my family was new to the entire process. The struggle to adapt to a whole new environment was stressful, and I began overeating to avoid dealing with my problems. As I entered my sophomore year, I fell into depression because starting public school was not only difficult but it made me more self-conscious about my looks. People began commenting on my weight and would constantly talk about how I needed to exercise or diet if I wanted to lose weight and look “beautiful.” I was most hurt when my parents began commenting on my weight because they were the ones that were supposed to have my back in this situation. I felt ugly if I was not skinny and the “perfect weight,” so I began extreme dieting, barely even eating on some days. I felt like I needed someone to tell me that I was beautiful to reassure myself of my self worth and got into a toxic relationship. I thought a boy could fill the void in my heart but he was only manipulating me and talking to other girls at the same time. During the entire relationship, I was dealing with guilt because I was only using him for affirmation that I was loved and soon realized that being in a relationship with him made me hate myself even more. We broke up and I felt more alone than ever, but I came to the realization that I needed to overcome my self-esteem issues and understand my worth. My first two years of high school were definitely rough but I learned that everything gets better with time. I turned to Jesus to help me overcome my struggles and started doing personal prayer where I just talked to Jesus about my problems. He helped me realize that I didn’t need to put the opinions of others before my mental and physical health. Jesus helped me realize that I was loved no matter what size I was and that I should not let any number define my worth. I put my full trust in Jesus as I knew that everything would get better over time through Him. A lot of people tell me that they’re sorry that they could not be there for me during the times where I struggled the most, but I do not regret going through those experiences. Transitioning to public high school provided me the opportunity to go through a journey in which I lost myself but found my identity with the help of Jesus and soon realized my self-worth. I had to deal with the cruelties and blessings of life, but learned from all of my experiences and found Jesus in the process. Even though I didn't have the perfect body, I created the perfect life for myself. My transition allowed me to understand that I’m always going to face challenges, whether it’s comments from the community, my family, or even from myself, but I have learned that it’s okay to make mistakes as long as you learn and grow from them and that Jesus will love you no matter what.

"Look, she is so skinny” and “Why can't you be more like her?" are two phrases that I have been forced to listen to since I can remember. Ever since I was a kid, I have always been compared to the other girls I know because I was always on the chubbier side. There is a stigma in the Indian community that a girl will never make it in life if she does not have the perfect body. I wanted the people around me to be proud of me but I soon let everyone else’s negative opinions of me get drilled into my head. I was homeschooled from first to eighth grade because my parents wanted to make sure that we learned about our Faith and religious values. But going from homeschooling to public high school was anything but easy. Freshman year was filled with different challenges for me because I was the oldest child and my family was new to the entire process. The struggle to adapt to a whole new environment was stressful, and I began overeating to avoid dealing with my problems. As I entered my sophomore year, I fell into depression because starting public school was not only difficult but it made me more self-conscious about my looks. People began commenting on my weight and would constantly talk about how I needed to exercise or diet if I wanted to lose weight and look “beautiful.” I was most hurt when my parents began commenting on my weight because they were the ones that were supposed to have my back in this situation. I felt ugly if I was not skinny and the “perfect weight,” so I began extreme dieting, barely even eating on some days. I felt like I needed someone to tell me that I was beautiful to reassure myself of my self worth and got into a toxic relationship. I thought a boy could fill the void in my heart but he was only manipulating me and talking to other girls at the same time. During the entire relationship, I was dealing with guilt because I was only using him for affirmation that I was loved and soon realized that being in a relationship with him made me hate myself even more. We broke up and I felt more alone than ever, but I came to the realization that I needed to overcome my self-esteem issues and understand my worth. My first two years of high school were definitely rough but I learned that everything gets better with time. During junior year, I urged myself to be more open with others which allowed me to meet people who helped me find myself and overcome my struggles. They helped me realize that I didn’t need to put the opinions of others before my mental and physical health. My friends made me realize that I was loved no matter what size I was and that I should not let any number define my worth. Even though it has not even been three years since we met, my friends have played a huge role as my support system and I could not imagine life without them. A lot of people tell me that they’re sorry that they could not be there for me during the times where I struggled the most, but I do not regret going through those experiences. Transitioning to public high school provided me the opportunity to go through a journey in which I lost myself but found my identity with the help of others and soon realized my self-worth. I had to deal with the cruelties and blessings of life, but learned from all of my experiences. Even though I didn't have the perfect body, I created the perfect life for myself. My transition allowed me to understand that I’m always going to face challenges, whether it’s comments from the community, my family, or even from myself, but I have learned that it’s okay to make mistakes as long as you learn and grow from them and that you need to love yourself before you can love anyone else.

"Look, she is so skinny” and “Why can't you be more like her?" are two phrases that I have been forced to listen to since I can remember. Ever since I was a kid, I have always been compared to the other girls I know because I was always on the chubbier side. There is a stigma in the Indian community that a girl will never make it in life if she does not have the perfect body. I wanted the people around me to be proud of me but I soon let everyone else’s negative opinions of me get drilled into my head. I was homeschooled from first to eighth grade because my parents wanted to make sure that we learned about our Faith and religious values. But going from homeschooling to public high school was anything but easy. Freshman year was filled with different challenges for me because I was the oldest child and my family was new to the entire process. The struggle to adapt to a whole new environment was stressful, and I began overeating to avoid dealing with my problems. As I entered my sophomore year, I fell into depression because starting public school was not only difficult but it made me more self-conscious about my looks. People began commenting on my weight and would constantly talk about how I needed to exercise or diet if I wanted to lose weight and look “beautiful.” I was most hurt when my parents began commenting on my weight because they were the ones that were supposed to have my back in this situation. I felt ugly if I was not skinny and the “perfect weight,” so I began extreme dieting, barely even eating on some days. I felt like I needed someone to tell me that I was beautiful to reassure myself of my self worth and got into a toxic relationship. I thought a boy could fill the void in my heart but he was only manipulating me and talking to other girls at the same time. During the entire relationship, I was dealing with guilt because I was only using him for affirmation that I was loved and soon realized that being in a relationship with him made me hate myself even more. We broke up and I felt more alone than ever, but I came to the realization that I needed to overcome my self-esteem issues and understand my worth. A lot of people tell me that they’re sorry that they could not be there for me during the times where I struggled the most, but I do not regret going through those experiences. Transitioning to public high school provided me the opportunity to go through a journey in which I lost myself but found my identity with the help of others and soon realized my self-worth. I had to deal with the cruelties and blessings of life, but learned from all of my experiences. Even though I didn't have the perfect body, I created the perfect life for myself. My transition allowed me to understand that I’m always going to face challenges, whether it’s comments from the community, my family, or even from myself, but I have learned that it’s okay to make mistakes as long as you learn and grow from them and that you need to love yourself before you can love anyone else. My experience allowed me to realize how important mental health truly is which is why I plan to create more mental awareness through social media platforms. I also plan to be a doctor and focus on psychology in order to be more educated on how mental health affects people in different ways. Our mental health should be made a priority because the effect that it has on ourselves is significant.

I was homeschooled from first to eighth grade because my parents wanted to make sure that we learned about our Faith and religious values. But going from homeschooling to public high school was anything but easy. The struggle to adapt to a whole new environment was stressful, and I began overeating to avoid dealing with my problems. I fell into depression because starting public school was not only difficult but it made me self-conscious about my looks. People began commenting on my weight and how I needed to lose weight to look “beautiful” so I began extreme dieting. I felt like I needed to be reassured of my self worth and got into a toxic relationship but I was dealing with guilt as I was only using him for affirmation that I was loved which made me hate myself even more. We broke up and I felt more alone than ever, but I came to the realization that I needed to understand my worth. A lot of people tell me that they’re sorry that they could not be there for me when I struggled the most, but I do not regret going through those experiences. Even though I didn't have the perfect body, I created the perfect life for myself. My experience allowed me to understand how important it is to live fearlessly. As I pave the way for my future, one thing that I hope to accomplish is create more awareness in mental health and why it’s so important to take care of it so that others won’t have to undergo the same pains that I went through and for those who are battling mental illness, I want to let them know that they are not alone in this battle and that they are strong to overcome these struggles.

"Look, she is so skinny” and “Why can't you be more like her?" are two phrases that I have been forced to listen to since I can remember. Ever since I was a kid, I have always been compared to the other girls I know because I was always on the chubbier side. There is a stigma in the Indian community that a girl will never make it in life if she does not have the perfect body. I wanted the people around me to be proud of me but I soon let everyone else’s negative opinions of me get drilled into my head. I was homeschooled from first to eighth grade because my parents wanted to make sure that we learned about our Faith and religious values. But going from homeschooling to public high school was anything but easy. Freshman year was filled with new and different challenges for me as I was the oldest child and a first-generation American, making me the first to attend public school in my family and being new to the entire process. The struggle to adapt to a whole new environment was stressful, and I began overeating to avoid dealing with my problems. As I entered my sophomore year, I fell into depression because starting public school was not only difficult but it made me more self-conscious about my looks. People began commenting on my weight and would constantly talk about how I needed to exercise or diet if I wanted to lose weight and look “beautiful.” I was most hurt when my parents began commenting on my weight because they were the ones that were supposed to have my back in this situation. I felt ugly if I was not skinny and the “perfect weight,” so I began extreme dieting, barely even eating on some days. I felt like I needed someone to tell me that I was beautiful to reassure myself of my self worth and got into a toxic relationship. I thought a boy could fill the void in my heart but he was only manipulating me and talking to other girls at the same time. During the entire relationship, I was dealing with guilt because I was only using him for affirmation that I was loved and soon realized that being in a relationship with him made me hate myself even more. We broke up and I felt more alone than ever, but I came to the realization that I needed to overcome my self-esteem issues and understand my worth. My first two years of high school were definitely rough but I learned that everything gets better with time. During junior year, I urged myself to be more open with others which allowed me to meet people who helped me find myself and overcome my struggles. They helped me realize that I didn’t need to put the opinions of others before my mental and physical health. My friends made me realize that I was loved no matter what size I was and that I should not let any number define my worth. Even though it has not even been three years since we met, my friends have played a huge role as my support system and I could not imagine life without them. A lot of people tell me that they’re sorry that they could not be there for me during the times where I struggled the most, but I do not regret going through those experiences. Transitioning to public high school provided me the opportunity to go through a journey in which I lost myself but found my identity with the help of others and soon realized my self-worth. I had to deal with the cruelties and blessings of life, but learned from all of my experiences. Even though I didn't have the perfect body, I created the perfect life for myself. My transition allowed me to understand that I’m always going to face challenges, whether it’s comments from the community, my family, or even from myself, but I have learned that it’s okay to make mistakes as long as you learn and grow from them and that you need to love yourself before you can love anyone else.

I plan to major in biology once I enter college because I aspire to be a dentist. One goal that I hope to accomplish at some point in my life is to provide medical assistance to people in third-world countries who aren’t offered the same aid that we receive in America. Even after earning a degree at college, I plan to continue learning from other doctors and seeing how science has changed over time. Continuously learning will allow for the development of awareness which can assist people in the future. My father lost his mother before he turned eighteen because of the poverty that filled India. They did not have enough money to survive so my grandmother spent money on food for her children instead of medication that she needed to survive with due to her kidney failure. During those times, only the rich had the money to buy medication while the poor were left to lose their lives in the process of their struggle to survive. She gave up her life to give my dad a better life and I intend to use the opportunities that I am given in this country to become a doctor and help those in countries that lack medical attention. Living in the United States has shown me the hardships that others face in different parts of the world and the freedom that is offered to me in this country has allowed my family and I to safeguard our health, regardless of whether we come from different socioeconomic backgrounds.

Education is something that people should treasure as it is difficult to find in other countries. To me, education is an opportunity to learn more about life and our surroundings with the purpose of helping others around the world. I have resolved to use this privilege with gratitude and the goal of making the world a better place. I treasure the education that I am able to obtain because of the advances in medicine that can be made through education. My father lost his mother before he turned eighteen because of the poverty that filled India. They did not have enough money to survive so my grandmother spent money on food for her children instead of medication that she needed to survive with due to her kidney failure. She gave up her life to give my dad a better life and I intend to use the opportunities that I am given in this country to become a doctor and help those in countries that lack medical attention. I have learned about the hardships that others face in different parts of the world, and education offered in America has prepared me for a better future, regardless of my socioeconomic background. The United States is one of the only countries that promotes gender equality, giving women the same positions, salaries, and opportunities that any man would have. Many countries, such as India, expect the women to marry at a young age and stay at home to provide for the family. These countries see women as a burden to the family and believe that there is no need in providing them with an education. Living in America allows for me to reach my goals regardless of my gender and also gain the same level of respect that any man would receive. I am forever grateful for the education that I am able to obtain because it allows me to follow my dreams and do what I want without being discriminated against for my life choices, breaking gender stereotypes. I am thankful for the opportunity to learn more and utilize the skills I obtain through my education. The thought of being able to help others through my education is what motivates to keep going even if some days are difficult. I was given the chance to live my life and follow my dreams through my education regardless of my beliefs or gender, and desire to help people around the world by giving more medical attention to less developed countries and ensuring that everyone has equal opportunities in obtaining an education.

"Look, she is so skinny” and “Why can't you be more like her?" are two phrases that I have been forced to listen to since I can remember. Ever since I was a kid, I have always been compared to the other girls I know because I was always on the chubbier side. There is a stigma in the Indian community that a girl will never make it in life if she does not have the perfect body. I wanted the people around me to be proud of me but I soon let everyone else’s negative opinions of me get drilled into my head. I was homeschooled from first to eighth grade because my parents wanted to make sure that we learned about our Faith and religious values. But going from homeschooling to public high school was anything but easy. Freshman year was filled with different challenges for me because I was the oldest child and my family was new to the entire process. The struggle to adapt to a whole new environment was stressful, and I began overeating to avoid dealing with my problems. As I entered my sophomore year, I fell into depression because starting public school was not only difficult but it made me more self-conscious about my looks. People began commenting on my weight and would constantly talk about how I needed to exercise or diet if I wanted to lose weight and look “beautiful.” I was most hurt when my parents began commenting on my weight because they were the ones that were supposed to have my back in this situation. I felt ugly if I was not skinny and the “perfect weight,” so I began extreme dieting, barely even eating on some days. I felt like I needed someone to tell me that I was beautiful to reassure myself of my self worth and got into a toxic relationship. I thought a boy could fill the void in my heart but he was only manipulating me and talking to other girls at the same time. During the entire relationship, I was dealing with guilt because I was only using him for affirmation that I was loved and soon realized that being in a relationship with him made me hate myself even more. We broke up and I felt more alone than ever, but I came to the realization that I needed to overcome my self-esteem issues and understand my worth. My first two years of high school were definitely rough but I learned that everything gets better with time. During junior year, I urged myself to be more open with others which allowed me to meet people who helped me find myself and overcome my struggles. They helped me realize that I didn’t need to put the opinions of others before my mental and physical health. My friends made me realize that I was loved no matter what size I was and that I should not let any number define my worth. Even though it has not even been three years since we met, my friends have played a huge role as my support system and I could not imagine life without them. A lot of people tell me that they’re sorry that they could not be there for me during the times where I struggled the most, but I do not regret going through those experiences. Transitioning to public high school provided me the opportunity to go through a journey in which I lost myself but found my identity with the help of others and soon realized my self-worth. I had to deal with the cruelties and blessings of life, but learned from all of my experiences. Even though I didn't have the perfect body, I created the perfect life for myself. My transition allowed me to understand that I’m always going to face challenges, whether it’s comments from the community, my family, or even from myself, but I have learned that it’s okay to make mistakes as long as you learn and grow from them and that you need to love yourself before you can love anyone else.

"Look, she is so skinny” and “Why can't you be more like her?" are two phrases that I have been forced to listen to since I can remember. Ever since I was a kid, I have always been compared to the other girls I know because I was always on the chubbier side. There is a stigma in the Indian community that a girl will never make it in life if she does not have the perfect body. I wanted the people around me to be proud of me but I soon let everyone else’s negative opinions of me get drilled into my head. I was homeschooled from first to eighth grade because my parents wanted to make sure that we learned about our Faith and religious values. But going from homeschooling to public high school was anything but easy. Freshman year was filled with different challenges for me because I was the oldest child and my family was new to the entire process. The struggle to adapt to a whole new environment was stressful, and I began overeating to avoid dealing with my problems. As I entered my sophomore year, I fell into depression because starting public school was not only difficult but it made me more self-conscious about my looks. People began commenting on my weight and would constantly talk about how I needed to exercise or diet if I wanted to lose weight and look “beautiful.” I was most hurt when my parents began commenting on my weight because they were the ones that were supposed to have my back in this situation. I felt ugly if I was not skinny and the “perfect weight,” so I began extreme dieting, barely even eating on some days. I felt like I needed someone to tell me that I was beautiful to reassure myself of my self worth and got into a toxic relationship. I thought a boy could fill the void in my heart but he was only manipulating me and talking to other girls at the same time. During the entire relationship, I was dealing with guilt because I was only using him for affirmation that I was loved and soon realized that being in a relationship with him made me hate myself even more. We broke up and I felt more alone than ever, but I came to the realization that I needed to overcome my self-esteem issues and understand my worth. My first two years of high school were definitely rough but I learned that everything gets better with time. During junior year, I urged myself to be more open with others which allowed me to meet people who helped me find myself and overcome my struggles. They helped me realize that I didn’t need to put the opinions of others before my mental and physical health. My friends made me realize that I was loved no matter what size I was and that I should not let any number define my worth. Even though it has not even been three years since we met, my friends have played a huge role as my support system and I could not imagine life without them. A lot of people tell me that they’re sorry that they could not be there for me during the times where I struggled the most, but I do not regret going through those experiences. Transitioning to public high school provided me the opportunity to go through a journey in which I lost myself but found my identity with the help of others and soon realized my self-worth. I had to deal with the cruelties and blessings of life, but learned from all of my experiences. Even though I didn't have the perfect body, I created the perfect life for myself. My transition allowed me to understand that I’m always going to face challenges, whether it’s comments from the community, my family, or even from myself, but I have learned that it’s okay to make mistakes as long as you learn and grow from them and that you need to love yourself before you can love anyone else.

"Look, she is so nice and skinny because she is playing on both the soccer and tennis teams,” and “Why can't you be more like her?" are two phrases that I have been forced to listen to since I can remember. Ever since I was a kid, I have always been compared to the other girls I know because I was always on the chubbier side. All I ever wanted to do was to make my parents proud of me but I soon let everyone else’s opinions of me get drilled into my head and did not think about how it was going to negatively affect me. Going from homeschooling to public high school was anything but easy. As I entered high school, I fell into depression because starting public school was not only difficult but it made me more self-conscious about my looks. People began commenting on my weight and would constantly talk about how I needed to exercise or diet if I wanted to lose weight and look “beautiful.” I was most hurt when my parents began commenting on my weight because they were the ones that were supposed to have my back in this situation. I felt ugly if I was not skinny and the “perfect weight” so I began extreme dieting, barely even eating on some days. I felt like I needed someone to tell me that I was beautiful to reassure myself of my self worth and got into a toxic relationship. During the entire relationship, I was dealing with guilt because I was only using him for affirmation that I was loved and soon realized that being in a relationship with him was only worse. We broke up and I felt more alone than ever, I came to the realization that I needed to somehow overcome my issues with self-esteem and understanding my worth. My first two years of high school were definitely rough but everything gets better with time. Junior year, I urged myself to be more open with people and I developed the most amazing friendships that year and these friends really helped me find myself and push through my struggles. My friends made me realize that I was loved no matter what size I was and that I shouldn’t let any number define my worth. Even though it hasn’t even been three years since we met, my friends have played a huge role in my life as my support system and I couldn’t imagine life without them. Transitioning to public high school provided me the opportunity to go through a journey in which I lost myself but found my identity through others and soon realized my self-worth. Even though I didn't have the perfect body, I created the perfect life for myself. My transition allowed me to understand that I’m always going to face challenges, whether it’s comments from others or myself, and that it’s okay to make mistakes as long as you learn and grow from them and love yourself.

The Pressure For "Perfection" "Look, she is so nice and skinny because she is playing on both the soccer and tennis teams,” “Why can't you be more like her?" are two phrases that I have been forced to listen to since I can remember. Ever since I was a kid, I have always been compared to the other girls I know because I was always on the chubbier side. There's a stigma in the Indian community that a girl will never make it in life if she does not have the perfect body. Trying isn’t good enough for them. All I ever wanted to do was to make my parents proud of me but I soon let everyone else’s opinions of me get drilled into my head and did not think about how it was going to negatively affect me. I was homeschooled from first to eighth grade because my parents wanted to make sure that we learned about our Faith and religious values, and that we practiced them all our lives so they believed homeschooling was the best option. But going from homeschooling to public high school was anything but easy. Freshman year was filled with difficult and different challenges for me because I was the oldest and my family was new to the entire process. The struggle to adapt to a whole new environment was stressful, and I began overeating to avoid dealing with my problems. As I entered my sophomore year, I fell into depression because starting public school was not only difficult but it made me more self-conscious about my looks. People began commenting on my weight and would constantly talk about how I needed to exercise or diet if I wanted to lose weight and look “beautiful.” I was most hurt when my parents began commenting on my weight because they were the ones that were supposed to have my back in this situation. I felt ugly if I was not skinny and the “perfect weight” so I began extreme dieting, barely even eating on some days. I felt like I needed someone to tell me that I was beautiful to reassure myself of my self worth and got into a toxic relationship. I thought a boy could fill the void in my heart but he was only manipulating me and talking to other girls at the same time. During the entire relationship, I was dealing with guilt because I was only using him for affirmation that I was loved and soon realized that being in a relationship with him was only worse. We broke up and I felt more alone than ever, I came to the realization that I needed to somehow overcome my issues with self-esteem and understanding my worth. My first two years of high school were definitely rough but everything gets better with time. Junior year, I urged myself to be more open with people and I developed the most amazing friendships that year and these friends really helped me find myself and push through my struggles. They helped me realize that I didn’t need to put the opinions of others before my mental and physical health. My friends made me realize that I was loved no matter what size I was and that I shouldn’t let any number define my worth. Even though it hasn’t even been three years since we met, my friends have played a huge role in my life as my support system and I couldn’t imagine life without them. A lot of people tell me that they’re sorry that they couldn’t be there for me during the times where I struggled the most, but I don’t regret going through those experiences. Transitioning to public high school provided me the opportunity to go through a journey in which I lost myself but found my identity through others and soon realized my self-worth. I had to deal with the good things and bad things but learned from all of my experiences. Even though I didn't have the perfect body, I created the perfect life for myself. I am aspiring to pursue a career in healthcare studies, specifically optometry, and I also intend to be very involved in advocating for mental health and the need for understanding how common mental health disorders are in our world today. My transition allowed me to understand that I’m always going to face challenges, whether it’s comments from the community, my family, or even from myself, but I have learned that it’s okay to make mistakes as long as you learn and grow from them and that you love yourself before you can love anyone else.

The Pressure For "Perfection" "Look, she is so nice and skinny because she is playing on both the soccer and tennis teams,” “Why can't you be more like her?" are two phrases that I have been forced to listen to since I can remember. Ever since I was a kid, I have always been compared to the other girls I know because I was always on the chubbier side. There's a stigma in the Indian community that a girl will never make it in life if she does not have the perfect body. Trying isn’t good enough for them. All I ever wanted to do was to make my parents proud of me but I soon let everyone else’s opinions of me get drilled into my head and did not think about how it was going to negatively affect me. I was homeschooled from first to eighth grade because my parents wanted to make sure that we learned about our Faith and religious values, and that we practiced them all our lives so they believed homeschooling was the best option. But going from homeschooling to public high school was anything but easy. Freshman year was filled with difficult and different challenges for me because I was the oldest and my family was new to the entire process. The struggle to adapt to a whole new environment was stressful, and I began overeating to avoid dealing with my problems. As I entered my sophomore year, I fell into depression because starting public school was not only difficult but it made me more self-conscious about my looks. People from the Indian community began commenting on my weight and would constantly talk about how I needed to exercise or diet if I wanted to lose weight and look “beautiful.” I was most hurt when my parents began commenting on my weight because they were the ones that were supposed to have my back in this situation. I felt ugly if I was not skinny and the “perfect weight” so I began extreme dieting, barely even eating on some days. I felt like I needed someone to tell me that I was beautiful to reassure myself of my self worth and got into a toxic relationship. I thought a boy could fill the void in my heart but he was only manipulating me and talking to other girls at the same time. During the entire relationship, I was dealing with guilt because I was only using him for affirmation that I was loved and soon realized that being in a relationship with him was only worse. We broke up and I felt more alone than ever, I came to the realization that I needed to somehow overcome my issues with self-esteem and understanding my worth. My first two years of high school were definitely rough but everything gets better with time. Junior year, I urged myself to be more open with people and I developed the most amazing friendships that year and these friends really helped me find myself and push through my struggles. They helped me realize that I didn’t need to put the opinions of others before my mental and physical health. My friends made me realize that I was loved no matter what size I was and that I shouldn’t let any number define my worth. Even though it hasn’t even been three years since we met, my friends have played a huge role in my life as my support system and I couldn’t imagine life without them. A lot of people tell me that they’re sorry that they couldn’t be there for me during the times where I struggled the most, but I don’t regret going through those experiences. Transitioning to public high school provided me the opportunity to go through a journey in which I lost myself but found my identity through others and soon realized my self-worth. I had to deal with the good things and bad things but learned from all of my experiences. Even though I didn't have the perfect body, I created the perfect life for myself. My transition allowed me to understand that I’m always going to face challenges, whether it’s comments from the Indian community, my family, or even from myself, but I have learned that it’s okay to make mistakes as long as you learn and grow from them and that you love yourself before you can love anyone else.