Originating from a small southern town in Alabama, I was very limited in education related to gender and sexuality outside the expected normalities of educational practices. As I look back at my childhood, particularly in high school, I see a lot of the areas that I struggled in. I often felt isolated from others in how I expressed myself, without ever realizing why. It was something that I could not explain and definitely couldn't talk to people about out of fear of being shunned. I couldn't just share with friends that I felt like I didn't fully belong in my body. I couldn't just say that I liked the opposite gender. Being in such a small town, expressing any form of differences from the norms was seen as a form of deviancy, especially when it came to sex and gender, and was bound to make its way back to my family who are very conservative. It wasn't until I moved several hours away from home that I was able to come out as Gender Fluid during my freshman year of college, and it was an eye-opening experience, encouraging me to even include myself in the queer community on my campus through organization. These organizations, known as Queer Peers and Safe Zone, were the most prominent and well-known LGBTQ+ resources on my campus and provided students knowledge and support to come out and to feel welcomed. After coming out, I applied and became a student lead within both of these university funded organizations dedicated to queer pride and education. Our goal was to create a more inclusive community on campus for queer students to feel welcomed and accepted. Unfortunately, this was a short-lived experience. In 2024, the state of Alabama passed the bill known as SB 129, a bill that removes many of the diversity, education, and inclusion programs that are found in college institutions. This includes classes, resources, and organizations directly related to DEI topics with ties to the university. This instantly shut down many of the resources that students relied on for support, including Safe Zone and Queer Peers, which were demoted to student registered organizations, removing all of our funding and resources to provide the same levels of support that we were capable of doing prior. I am now entering my Junior year of college, entering the final stages to earn my bachelors degree in Psychology with a double minor in Sociology and Public Health. In terms of my career goals, I would love to work in geriatrics, specifically with dementia patients, however, I have never been weighed down with a single interest or goal; with hopes of pursuing my master's and Ph.D., I would love to continue my work as an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community in some form or another whether through means of my own or even continuing to work with student organizations. Despite my main career interest in Geriatrics, I don't think that I could ever give up my work in providing acceptance and inclusion for a community that has accepted me and changed my life for the better. As an advocate, I will not stop voicing my needs, nor others, as someone who society chooses to shun based on social concepts of gender that are nothing more than categorization methods. I have hopes of continuing to spread queer pride and joy among the world through various means of donations, social media, and one day, even starting my own scholarship fund to support students like me with big dreams but empty wallets.

I have struggled with chronic mental illness in some variation for most of my teenage years up into my 20s. From anxiety to depression, from OCD to an eating disorder, it has become a never ending cycle. Should one pass, another shall take its place, only to repeat over and over again. It all started back during my first year in middle school, I was 11-12 at the time, and it was a strange feeling, something that I had never really felt before. Of course, I had felt sadness when my dad wouldn't buy me the toy I wanted, but this was a different kind of sadness, one that had always been difficult to describe. It started simply with me just feeling "down", lacking motivation to complete my school work or even play video games after school. I often found myself sleeping as soon as I got home from school, always feeling exhausted. I never really knew what caused this sudden onset, perhaps the stress of starting middle school, the bullying I faced on a daily basis, or even just genetic predisposition. It got worse as time moved on, especially as I entered high school. I was a relatively outgoing and extroverted person in elementary school, more or less in middle school, but once I got to high school, I could no longer socialize. I felt fearful, tense, something I would later find out was Generalized Anxiety Disorder. I couldn't handle social situations well anymore. This paired with depressive symptoms made it difficult to function in daily life, resulting in me seeking self-harm as a way to express those emotions that I couldn't explain to anyone. I was unable to explain why I felt the way I did, as I have no root cause of why I felt sad or dissociated from reality in the way that I did. Despite the struggles, I have learned to live with them, managing them in my day-to-day life as best I can as I navigate through college. I wasn't sure what I wanted to go to college for. Writing? Biology? There were a variety of choices that I was interested in, but after much consideration and research into the field, I decided to pursue a degree in Psychology. Maybe it was because I was interested in mental health and how the brain worked, but I wasn't always sure what I was going to do in my field of interest. I knew the classic choice would be to become a therapist or a counselor, but I was never interested in traditional therapy as I had never really had a good experience, at least with my interactions with therapists. I was never able to genuinely open up to them, I never felt the sense of comfort that allowed me to be honest and open about how I was feeling or what was bothering me. It just wasn't something I felt particular drawn towards, however, I later did discover that I was interested in the field of aging, also known as Geropsychology. I realized that I was interested in the aging process and how it was related to psychology. My grandmother who was basically my mother figure for my entire life has always been an important part of my life and who I am as a person, and unfortunately, months prior to me leaving for college, she began exhibiting early signs of Dementia. Even years later, in my Junior year, she has slowly but surely progressed even more while also struggling with depression-like symptoms due to various factors associated with age. And despite our pleads, she refuses to seek help. This is something I want to change. I want aged individuals to know that their mental health is valid. I want people to be aware of the resources that are available for them and that using those resources is okay. As people age, plasticity degrades, meaning that some individuals have more difficulty adjusting to changes in society, such as the introduction of therapeutic services, which became increasingly prominent in the mid to late 1900s. While this doesn't inherently prevent aged individuals from learning new things such as a skill or belief, it does introduce more obstacles that one may face while learning them. This followed by feelings of isolation is exacerbated in aged individuals. They are more likely to live alone, especially if their partner has passed, less likely to interact with people on a daily basis, losing the loss of motor function required to drive to the grocery store or simply walk in the park, leading to higher depressive symptoms and a lack of social interaction. As I faced various mental health struggles in the past, I've learned that it doesn't go away, but you can live a perfectly happy life. You may struggle more than most, especially if it is chronic. It may be triggered by an unfortunate event in your life such as a family member's death or even just a bad grade. My struggles are not universal or generalizable as other peoples, but I still feel that our voices should be heard and our story shared, whether to inspire others or to give them someone they can relate to in order to ease that feeling of isolation. Through my personal experiences as well as the relationship that I have had with my Grandmother, I found a passion in assisting aged individuals. I want to provide them with the resources they need to thrive, especially those who live alone or have limited relationships and face chronic isolation. During my time in college, I have taken several courses related to age in order to become more knowledgeable, even working in a research lab and studying the correlation between age and dopamine and working on a research paper. I have already begun researching geriatric programs with the goals of pursuing graduate school for my masters and Ph.D. with the dream of helping a very underrepresented and stigmatized minority that is often overlooked when it comes to mental health. As I continue forward in college, I plan to start working towards getting hands-on experience in my field of interest as a way to gain an interpersonal and fresh perspective on age and even begin working on a thesis. This is a field I am incredibly passionate about and one that I feel is in need of much need renovation, of which I would gladly step forward to provide.

I was diagnosed with Autism when I was 9 years old, as well as a comorbid tic disorder. This led to a multitude of social issues, from bullying and ridicule, to isolation and loneliness. I wish I could say it was just peers that I experienced the ridicule from, but it was also from teachers as well as my own family. Of course, my families initial reaction to hearing that their child is making strange noises in class and moving his arms funnily was to administer ADHD medication to "fix" the problem. If that didn't work, they tried the next best thing, emotional abuse. My family being old-schooled led to a lot of complications as an adolescent who was unable to defend themselves or learn about themselves from a lack of technological expertise. It wasn't until I was in middle school that I had more access to the Internet, and it was there that I learned more about myself and my disability. I learned about all the traits that I exhibited, ways to hide them, otherwise known as "masking", and even so much as looking up a way to cure myself in the hope of being "normal". Even in middle school, I found that I was experiencing bullying at a heightened level, leading to self-isolation, and eventually I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Depression. High-school was slightly better, I faced little bullying, but still was isolated. It's difficult making friends in a small town where you've known everyone for 10 years. Everyone has their established friend groups and I missed my chance. It was due to my many years of struggling to socialize and establish my place among my peers that led me to become an influencer of sorts, dedicated to talking about neurodiversity and debunking misinformation and stereotypes surrounding Autism. As I was preparing for college, I was supported by my family, but once again experienced ridicule and doubt from them as they questioned my decision to pursue the field of Psychology, a field that often requires one to speak, something my family did not view me as being particularly skilled at. Despite their attempt to persuade me to choose another career, I pushed forward, no longer hoping to impress them or meet their standards, but rather to prove to myself that I am capable of achieving anything and everything that anyone else can, Autistic or not. I always like to remind myself that some of the greatest scientists exhibited traits of Autism, such as Einstein. The question remained of what I wanted to do in Psychology; part of me felt that I should pursue a career related to Autism, perhaps working with Autistic children, but a part of me also questioned it. Did I feel like I had to pursue this career because I myself am Autistic? I knew a lot about Autism at the time, sure, but was it really something I wanted to dedicate my life to just because of my personal experiences? While my passion for speaking on the topic of Autism remained, I felt that it wasn't something I wanted career-wise, and I ultimately decided to study Geriatrics and go into the field of Geropsychology, a smaller field but with big goals of helping aged individuals. Despite my career goals not alighting with my disability, I still make sure to implement it into my career in any way I can, such as creating my own neurodiversity education-based organization, Under the Umbrella! I still love educating people on neurodiversity, and make sure to do it any chance I get!

Growing up, I was always treated different and though that is a line that has been used many times, there is no better way to describe the isolation that accompanied that feeling; the feeling of being shunned by not only teachers and other students, but also by your family who didn't understand you or your disability. I was diagnosed with Autism when I was 9 years old, as well as a comorbid tic disorder so as you can expect, I wasn't exactly seen as "normal" among my peers. Having little to no control over the sounds or movements you make will ultimately cause some disruption in the classroom, which is what led to me truly realizing that my family didn't understand, nor did they try to. Once they received a phone call from my teacher, they just forced me to take medication in hopes it would go away, yell at me, or ground me, not allowing me to do any of the things I enjoy. This was a core component that put a strain on the relationship I have with my family, one of the main reasons I avoid visiting them much, even if I do miss them. Despite the mental abuse associated with my family, I have attempted to move past it, but every time I visit home I am just hit with a wave of anxiety, every time I step into my childhood bedroom, I dread sleeping in there, remembering how scared I would be that my family would hear me tic from the other rooms and bust into my room to yell at me again. In regard to me being Autistic, my family was relatively supportive, though uneducated. They often associated me with common stereotypical traits of Autism, assuming I would be unable to speak full sentences or unable to attend college. While I do still struggle with some aspects, I have been able to learn and adapt, allowing me to pursue my dreams of attending college. Despite my parent's support, they were also unsupportive in the fact that I wanted to go into Psychology, a field that does, on occasion, requite one to speak, depending on your career field. They assumed that because of my inability to socialize on the same level as a neurotypical, that I would be unable to pursue my chosen field of study. I decided to continue moving forward anyway in hopes of proving them wrong, eventually reaching a point where their opinions meant very little to me and all I had left was to prove to myself that I am just as capable as everyone else at this college, and even, in the world. Originally, I was going to attend college to work with Autistic individuals who needed support or simply just to educate the parents, however, deep down I felt like this wasn't what I wanted. Did I think I wanted this career field because I was Autistic and felt like it was my duty to go into a field related to my personal experiences? It just didn't feel right, ultimately leading me to ponder on what I should pursue, where I became fascinated in Geriatrics and ultimately decided that I want to pursue a career in Geropsychology. College has been a wonderful experience thus far. I have even become a student leader in several organizations; Engagement Lead in Queer Peers and Safe Zone, both LGBTQIA+ organizations, Social Media manager of the Mental Health Ambassadors, and even the president of my own organization Under the Umbrella, a neurodiversity education-based organization!

Hello, my name is Tommy, a Junior pursuing my bachelors degree at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. I am a Psychology major with a double minor is Sociology and Public Health. My long-time passion has been to pursue a career in relation to Psychology, however, I specifically have a passion for a rather unknown field known as Geropsychology, a field of Psychology focused on aged individuals. Many often forget, but older people struggle with mental health as much as younger individuals. This is often ignored due to the stigma that all old people don't believe in mental health or vise versa, as they were also taught the same thing growing up by their parents. Old people struggle just as much as us, if not more. Imagine reaching the ripe age of 85, only to look around you and see that most of the people you love have sadly passed on, leaving you alone to face the remainder of your life and the challenges that follow alone. Older adults have every right to seek mental health treatment, no matter what, for. As such, it is my goal and desire to provide them with the safety and acceptance that one needs when seeking treatment, whether for mental illness such as depression or anxiety, or for more advanced disorders such as Dementia. As I enter my Junior year, I have had the wonderful opportunity of working in a research lab dedicated to the study of aging, allowing me to gain even more knowledge in the field. This has only further my passion and resolve to pursue this career, and I cannot wait to use my knowledge and skills to make the world a better place for the elderly who do what many often struggle to do because of stigma, which is seeking the help they need. This goal was largely inspired by my own personal experience with my grandmother, who has been continuously struggling with dementia-esque symptoms, yet refused to seek treatment due to her beliefs surrounding mental illness as well as her need to continue taking care of herself. While it is wonderful that she still strives for self-sufficiency, it is also hard on those around her who care for her to watch her struggle. Upon completing my bachelors degree, I plan to continue to higher education in a masters program, where I will also obtain my Ph.D. during the same period. Every day that I continue my education, I feel my drive grow and grow, my need to help aged individuals and help the

My name is Tommy Coxwell, a current Junior at The University of Alabama at Birmingham, as well as an active member and advocate of the LGBTQIA+ community. Currently, I am studying various fields such as Psychology, Sociology, and Public Health. My biggest passion in life is to provide support and care for individuals, no matter their race, sexual orientation, or anything that might displace them from the expected "social norm" imposed by today's society. My greatest interest resides in helping aged individuals in the field of healthcare through a form of Psychology known as Geropsychology, a field that would allow me to assist older individuals in later life from acquiring the necessary needs to thrive in their later years to having comfort and safety wherever they may reside, whether a nursing home or their own home. So how does this relate back to my involvement in the LGBTQIA+ community? Simply put, I identify as Gender Queer, something I discovered during my freshman year of college. I always had masculine features, particularly related to my excessive facial hair so upon shaving, I found that I felt more feminine, furthermore, that I could feel one or the other exclusively at a time. I also discovered my attraction to more than one gender, but even to those who may not identify with the "typical" genders. This led me to discover that I was Pansexual. This domino effect led to me becoming an active member at my college, participating in LGBTQIA+ events and helping to spread awareness and acceptance around campus. Fast-forward to my Sophomore year and I have become a student leader in not one, but two LGBTQIA+ organizations funded by the university itself. I became a member of both Safe Zone and Queer Peers, social justice organizations dedicated to not only queer education, but also other important topics such as racism, sexism, and more! These organizations are what sparked my interest in Sociology and being able to work in a field where I can work to better those around me and to work towards bettering tomorrow for the greater good of others. However, despite our college's efforts to spread inclusivity and education in these areas, the state of Alabama passed a bill that bans all DEI organizations, ultimately dismantling all that we worked hard to build. Despite this bill, with the resources we have, we still work towards inclusivity and making sure our voices are heard, making sure that we still keep our freedom and the ability to be who we are, even if who we are makes people uncomfortable. My participation in these organizations, educating people, welcoming people to a place they feel safe, is something that I feel has driven me to where I am today. While my career goals may not directly correlate in terms of me being a part of the queer community, I do feel that it has had a great impact on my career choice. I chose my career field to help people, specifically those who fall into categories where they would otherwise be treated unfairly, with a specific interest in aged adults, and working towards creating an inclusive environment for them in the future and as much as I can right now. All in all, being a part of the LGBTQIA+ community showed me the beauty of helping others. Making others feel seen and heard is something that drives me and should be something that everyone strives for.

Psychology, the study of the human mind and behavior, holds immense potential to bridge the gap between science fiction and science fact. While often seen as distinct disciplines, the insights and advancements in psychology play a major role in bringing futuristic concepts into reality. By understanding human cognition, behavior, and perception, psychology becomes a key catalyst in turning speculative ideas from science fiction into tangible scientific breakthroughs. One primary avenue where psychology contributes to transforming science fiction into science fact lies in the realm of human-computer interaction (HCI) and artificial intelligence (AI). The fusion of psychology with technology allows for the development of AI systems that comprehend and adapt to human emotions, behavior, and preferences. Through the study of cognitive processes, emotions, and social behavior, psychologists collaborate with AI developers to create more intuitive, empathetic, and human-like machines. Moreover, advancements in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) have a significant role psychological research. Understanding human perception, sensory integration, and the way individuals interact with immersive environments is crucial in creating realistic and functional VR/AR systems. Psychology aids in designing experiences that feel authentic, evoke emotional responses, and enhance user engagement, blurring the lines between reality and fiction. Psychology's impact extends into the field of neuroscience, where the study of the brain and behavior intersects with futuristic concepts. Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) represent a merging of neuroscience and technology, allowing direct communication between the brain and external devices. Psychological insights into neural patterns, cognitive processes, and learning mechanisms contribute to the development of BCIs, paving the way for mind-controlled technology, enhancing communication, and aiding individuals with disabilities. Furthermore, psychology plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of healthcare. Advances in behavioral psychology and neuropsychology inform the development of innovative therapies, personalized medicine, and mental health interventions. Integrating psychological principles with technology results in teletherapy, digital mental health platforms, and AI-driven tools that provide personalized support and therapy, making mental healthcare more accessible and effective. In the realm of societal transformation, psychology's influence is profound. Understanding human behavior, decision-making, and social dynamics helps envision and create futuristic societies depicted in science fiction. Insights from social psychology and behavioral economics guide policymakers in designing systems that promote sustainable behavior, enhance cooperation, and address societal challenges, contributing to the realization of utopian visions portrayed in fiction. While psychology serves as a catalyst in transforming science fiction into science fact, ethical considerations and societal impacts remain critical. As advancements in technology and psychology converge, ethical frameworks and guidelines become essential to navigate the implications of these innovations. Addressing issues related to privacy, consent, bias, and the ethical use of AI and neurotechnology becomes imperative to ensure responsible and equitable progress. In conclusion, psychology's multidisciplinary nature positions it at the forefront of turning science fiction into science fact. By leveraging insights into human cognition, behavior, and social dynamics, psychology collaborates with various disciplines to drive innovation, create transformative technologies, and shape the future. The fusion of psychological principles with science and technology not only blurs the boundaries between fiction and reality but also holds the promise of enhancing human capabilities and improving the quality of life for individuals worldwide.

Understanding the nature of our universe is crucial for numerous reasons that go beyond just curiosity. Exploring the cosmos unravels many truths about our existence, drives scientific and technological advancements, and inspires us to push the boundaries of knowledge. To delve deeper into this quest for understanding, various ideas and concepts serve as essential tools in deciphering the mysteries of our universe. Firstly, comprehending the universe allows us to grasp our place in the grand scheme of things. Human beings have always sought to understand their origins, the cosmos, and the underlying principles governing our existence. Through scientific exploration and inquiry, we uncover the intricate mechanisms that shape the cosmos, from the cosmic scale of galaxies and stars to the microscopic world of quantum physics. This pursuit of knowledge helps us comprehend our connection to the universe and fosters a sense of wonder and humility, highlighting the beauty and complexity of existence. Furthermore, our understanding of the universe drives technological and scientific advancements. Discoveries in astrophysics, cosmology, and related fields have led to groundbreaking innovations, such as space exploration technologies, medical imaging techniques derived from astronomical instrumentation, and advancements in computing and materials science. These advancements not only enhance our daily lives but also open new avenues for exploration and discovery. In seeking to comprehend the universe, several pivotal ideas and concepts serve as guiding principles. The scientific method, with its emphasis on observation, experimentation, and hypothesis testing, forms the bedrock of our quest for understanding. It allows us to gather empirical evidence, refine our understanding, and discard outdated models in favor of more accurate ones. Additionally, theories like the Big Bang, quantum mechanics, relativity, and dark matter provide frameworks that help us interpret observational data and construct models that describe the universe's workings. Moreover, interdisciplinary approaches are becoming increasingly crucial in unraveling the universe's mysteries. Collaborations between physicists, astronomers, mathematicians, philosophers, and other experts foster diverse perspectives and innovative solutions. For instance, the intersection of physics and philosophy may yield deeper insights into the nature of reality, consciousness, and the fundamental laws governing the universe. As we continue to explore the universe, harnessing advanced technologies like powerful telescopes, particle accelerators, and computational models becomes imperative. These tools enable us to peer further into space, simulate cosmic phenomena, and test theoretical predictions, bringing us closer to unlocking the universe's secrets. In conclusion, understanding the nature of our universe is a multifaceted endeavor that fuels human curiosity, drives technological progress, and shapes our perception of existence. Employing rigorous scientific methods, embracing fundamental theories, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and leveraging cutting-edge technologies are key strategies in our ongoing pursuit of unraveling the mysteries of the cosmos. By doing so, we not only gain deeper insights into the universe but also enrich our understanding of ourselves and our place in the cosmos.

Calculus is a very important subject within STEM fields, however, you often associate calculus with fields such as engineering or computer science. But did you know calculus can also be very crucial in the field of psychology? It may seem strange to some that something like calculus can be used in psychology as statistics is what many psychology majors use more often than not, however, both are important aspects of psychology! Calculus is defined as the mathematical study of change. So how does this correlate back to the psychology field? That is actually pretty simple to understand, especially if you're going into a field that involves research, such as myself. As mentioned, calculus is the study of change, rate of change, etc. This can be very important in the research field of psychology, any field really, but especially for those working with data. To a researcher data is the most crucial and important aspect of their job, one simple error can destroy weeks, months, even years worth of research. Calculus may appear more commonly among engineering or computer science majors, but that does not exclude it to other fields. Calculus is also a very important part of psychometrics! Psychometrics is the study of the psychological constructs of a person and their relation to outside factors and tests. Calculus is used quite often in this field, mainly for forming a basis around the concepts but is often important for obtaining inferential statistics! It can be a very important way of calculating data that is important to the research and data being obtained. But why is calculus important overall? Well in general, it depends what major you are going into but overall, it is typically used to determine rate of change. This is why it is commonly used in engineering. When you are creating engineering designs, you must be able to predict certain outcomes of your project so that you can make changes to your design to avoid any negative outcomes. This can be used when designing buildings, cars and more! Calculus is also used on the daily for many aspects of our society. It is used to calculate trends such as birth rate, death rate, etc. It can come across as overwhelming when you are first introduced to it, but so can any other skill, especially when it comes to math. That's the fun of it, learning it and being able to implement it into your career or even your daily life. Calculus is an important subject that is difficult to learn for many, but beneficial. Your career may use calculus more or less than others but it will still play a crucial role nevertheless. Calculus is an important aspect of STEM, not only for engineers and computer science majors but even other majors such as psychology, business, and more! So while calculus is an important subject for many fields, you should not exclude it from fields where you believe it is useless, because if you are in STEM, calculus is always going to present itself to you in some form. It is a required class among STEM majors for a reason! Take the time to learn it and gain the ability to use it!

My name is Thomas Coxwell but I prefer Tommy. I am going to be a sophomore at The University of Alabama at Birmingham this upcoming academic year as I continue to pursue my degree in the field of Psychology. I am an Autism advocate, mental health advocate, and LGBTQ+ advocate. I work among several LGBTQ+ organizations on campus in leadership positions within their social media teams and educate undergraduates on LGBTQ+ topics. I am a social media coordinator for the mental health ambassadors at my college where I work to ensure people have the resources needed to succeed during their time at college. I am also the president of my own organization which is dedicated to the inclusion and education for Autism and neurodiversity. I created this organization in my freshman year of college and it has become an official organization for the upcoming semester. Being an Autism advocate has been one of my biggest accomplishments. I create content through YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok to educate and entertain people. I enjoy making this content for people because I love making people happy through something that I create. I love giving people a sense of belonging through the community that I have built up, a place where they feel accepted and understood. The main reason I want to attend college is to help others, though this wasn't always my goal. I have developed a passion for helping those who need it. I had always had the intention of attending college to obtain a good career and become financially stable, however, this wasn't a motivating goal as it had no passion or motive other than for finances. It wasn't until I was actually in college that I realized what it was I wanted to pursue. When I was preparing to graduate high school, my grandmother began developing symptoms of Alzheimer's. This was a very stressful time period for me and my father who had lived with my grandmother since I was very little. We were forced to move out because she became aggressive and physically and mentally abusive towards us. The summer before my freshman year was the hardest few months of my life and unfortunately, it would continue throughout my freshman year. My grandmother has faded from who she once was, caring and loving. I hated watching her disappear. This is what drove me to pursue my career choice. I chose to study the field of research psychology as a way to study individuals who are suffering from similar illnesses. Alzheimer's, Schizophrenia, and other disorders and diseases that affect a person's mental state. I want to use this as a way to work towards developing a more effective and ethical treatment plan for individuals; To work towards helping them live more fulfilling lives with their families. Overall, my goals consist of the desire to help others, from bringing joy and acceptance to trying to give someone a better life. I want to leave some sort of impact on this world before I die, something to be remembered. I don't care to be famous, but to have had a positive impact that brought some form of happiness or joy to society, whether it be from my avocation efforts or from my future career goals of research. Whatever path I continue down, I am happy with my choices and accomplishments so long as I know that they can have a positive impact on this world while I'm here and after I am gone.

DDuring my time in high school, I was not given many opportunities to get involved with my community. It was only once I got to college that I was finally able to be a part of something greater. From joining various organizations to advocating for causes that I believe in, college gave me opportunities that would otherwise be unobtainable and for that, I am eternally grateful. At a young age, I was diagnosed as Autistic. This would not become relevant in my life until I was older and to see the injustice surrounding Autism and the stereotypes that misinformed people on what it really is. I was treated harshly by students, teachers and even my family because of the traits I exhibited. That is why when I was in my late teens, I became a social media advocate for autism. It was one of the best accomplishments I ever made. I put myself in a position to educate and make a change on a topic and I am proud because I was able to create a large community of individuals similar to me who can feel safe because of the content I post and interact with others within the community. I have advocated for Autism for nearly 4 years now and I have even expanded my avocation into my college career as I have started my own organization dedicated to neurodiversity to help advocate and educate others on the topic. This also provides individuals with a safe space to meet new friends or simply learn more about themselves. Beyond advocating for Autism, I am also a mental health advocate and have worked as a social media coordinator for my college's mental health ambassadors for several months now. Our goal is to create an educated campus and provide resources and information to fellow students so that they have the same opportunities as everyone else to succeed. As someone who lost a friend to suicide, being a part of something like this makes me feel like we are helping, even if only a small portion of people, it means more than words can describe. Being an advocate for various topics is important for me, especially among social justice. I was given two leadership positions within Queer Peers and Safezone, both LGBTQ+-represented organizations. As someone who came out as genderqueer in the past few months, this was an important opportunity for me to not only open up to others on my identity, but also provide support for those who have yet to understand who they really are, or what they identify as. I work as a social media coordinator and educator for both organizations and I am proud that I can be helping to create an inclusive and supportive community among the LGBTQ+ community on campus. Overall, community means a lot to me and I am proud to work within these organizations. My goal, during and after college is to continue to fight and advocate for these topics. I want to work towards a better world, one that is more inclusive and supportive of these topics. I want to help make the world a better place where we can feel comfortable in our own skin regardless of sexuality, identity, disabilities, etc. I believe that being an active member of these communities as well as an advocate on my own, is helping me as well as others to learn and better ourselves which will ultimately help us move closer to our ultimate goal of equity among everyone.

I have struggled with various forms of mental illness throughout my life, including depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and eating disorders. I often feel that I haven't had a single day of peace since I first started developing these. I often barrel into the thoughts that I will never be happy nor find peace of mind. Mental illness today is seen as "trendy", even being triggered by something is a joke to most but people don't truly realize the impact mental illness has on the person, not until it is too late. Have you ever lost a friend to suicide? I lost a friend during my second semester of college. He had to leave after his first semester because he was kicked out due to his suicidal tendencies. I was struggling with my own mental health at the time and always turned away when he really just needed someone to help him. How could I help someone else when I couldn't even help myself? Of course, I realize now that just simply talking to him, maybe even opening up to each other about our struggles was something that could have changed the outcome. For lacking the ability to open up to others, and for losing a friend, I blame myself. I know it wasn't my fault and maybe there was nothing I could do, but knowing that I didn't try harder, that I couldn't be bothered to just start a conversation with him despite him being a friend will always cause me to look back on my mistake. While I struggle with accepting this, I understand that I am not the only one to ever experience it and it will not be the last. I plan to use this experience to further advocate for mental health. As someone who has personally struggled with mental health, and lost others to mental illness, I was motivated to pursue my passion for research psychology. I plan to use this career as a means to research mental illness and its development over time as I believe I can work to develop more ethical and effective treatments tailored to each individual's needs. By watching an individual's development, I believe it could be possible to counter any developing mental illness or at least plan accordingly to provide proper support. I also want to work towards developing more methods of treatment outside of medication. While medication is extremely helpful, as I have used antidepressants and various other medications in my younger years, I feel that it benefits me more when I am able to pursue my passions without the use of medication. The effects that the medications had on me outweighed the benefits and ultimately I decided to cut off any future medications. By providing other treatments, I feel people can benefit more rather than be weighed down by side effects. Of course, if they should choose medicinal treatments, that is a valid option as it is effective and has been proven to provide relief in many instances but I would like to create a more cost-effective treatment for individuals who may be unable to afford medication, especially those within college. I believe my field of study will allow me to make a positive impact on patients who suffer from mental illness. While I am pursuing a major in psychology, I am also pursuing a minor in mass communications as I aim to become a public speaker and advocate for mental health. I aspired to pursue this secondary career after I became a leader within my college's Mental Health Ambassadors and saw what sort of impact I was making on campus. I was not only providing resources for students but I was also giving them the motivation to seek help when struggling, to reconsider any harmful thoughts or actions, and if I can help save even just one life, I feel that I am making a major impact on the world. As I begin to enter my sophomore year of college, I am still troubled by the loss of my friend and feel that it will take time to fully recover and heal, but I also feel that it can motivate me to do more in the future. I want to work harder to promote the importance of mental health and to advocate and fight for support for those suffering. The world has become a harsh place in the past few years. People who suffer can't even afford medication, let alone therapy or other means of support. While I blame myself for not being there when someone needed me, I also blame my state or rather country for making it nearly impossible for college students to obtain resources. This is why I want to be able to continue to advocate and fight for change in and beyond my college campus, as only when the world finally sees that mental health is a very important aspect of one's life, then we will finally be moving towards a better world that provides support for those who need it. Only then will everyone finally see that mental health is just as important as one's general health and that by focusing resources towards mental health, you could be saving someone's life.

As an Autistic individual within the LGBTQ+ community, being diverse has always been an important aspect of my life. Diversity is something that I have built myself around, in hopes of achieving an accepting and understanding community around me, to educate not only myself but others as well. As someone who strives for diversity, I have made it my goal to work towards that goal, especially on my college campus. I have worked hard to become a figure of diversity among my peers through volunteer work to joining well-known campus organizations and working as a leader within them. I work within organizations such as Queer Peers and Safe Zone, both of which are LGBTQ+ empowerment and acceptance organizations. I am also an active member of the Mental Health Ambassadors. Beyond just joining organizations, I even created my own, Under The Umbrella, an organization for the neurodiverse community, to create an accepting and educational environment. Being a member of all of these organizations, and the impact that I, along with many others have been able to make on our campus makes us living proof that diverse communities not only have a voice, but their voice can reach if they yell loud enough, if they work hard enough. There are many aspects of diversity that we should not have to advocate and fight for such as acceptance and understanding, however, we are unfortunately placed in a society where there are many who will never understand the importance of the acceptance of diverse individuals because we are "different". With that, this generation of individuals will build their personal viewpoints based on the viewpoints of those which they admire, which is not exactly a negative thing. If someone you admire expresses an opinion that you originally opposed and you decide that you suddenly agree with that opinion simply can mean that you are viewing your opinion from a different perspective due to admiration for that person. Though some opinions can be negative, this is a very positive thing as individuals who are well known in the public eye such as the president himself can easily create a positive change simply by stating his opinion on a topic such as LGBTQ+. Having diverse voices in a position of power can easily change many views on certain diversities. While there are those who would oppose the ideas of diversity, for someone within that diverse community, it would have a major positive impact not only on that community and its allies but from those who are presented with information on that community. It is important to remember that diversity is not something everyone is aware of. Not everyone knows why it is important or what it even means. Simply informing uneducated individuals on diversity would, no doubt, have a major impact on society, ultimately shaping many new views on different cultures, religions, disabilities, etc... I believe having diverse voices would ultimately shape the public narratives in a positive way, creating a more accepting and understanding society for the majority of, if not all diverse communities. As an advocate for neurodiversity mental health and LGBTQ+ in a very diverse college ranging from individuals of different races, religions, sex, identity, etc... It has given me many opportunities to realize one of my career goals. While my main goal is to enter research in the Psychology field, I have also decided to minor in communications to pursue a second career in public speaking. I love educating people and feel that I can also make an impact in society by speaking on the topics that I advocate for.

My future career aspirations have varied over the years, though, it wasn't until I actually began college that I came to a decision on what it was I wanted to dedicate my life to. Weeks prior to my high school graduation, I was met with the unfortunate news that my grandmother was severely ill and in the hospital due to an infection. Once she was released, she was not the same as before. She had developed an unknown mental illness that she refused to seek treatment for, though many doctors as well as my father believed it to fall under the categorization of Dementia as it runs in our family. She grew increasingly aggressive and hateful towards our family, and it being just my father, grandmother, and I, we had to leave and move somewhere else before it began to affect us. I spent the entire summer in a home I didn't like, away from my grandmother who was sick, though I knew it was not her fault. This created a rift in our family and eventually, we began visiting her. She did not improve, though occasionally she would have days where she would act as if nothing had occurred and other days she would burst out at everyone about occurrences that never happened. When I was preparing to leave for college, I had decided on the field of Clinical Psychology, though it wasn't until later that I decided to pursue my bachelor's in Psychology, later to pursue my master's and Ph.D. in Research and Experimental Psychology. I chose this career because it gives me an opportunity to study individuals similar to my grandmother. I can study those suffering from mental illness and disorders ranging from Depression and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder to diseases such as dementia and schizophrenia and so much more and my goal is to help develop more effective treatments to help them live more fulfilling lives. Watching my grandmother suffer as she has, along with the pain it has caused both my father and I, motivated me to pursue this career. I want to be able to assist not only the individual suffering but also the families that can do nothing but sit back and watch. I understand the fear of placing someone into a clinic for research and that is why I want to obtain my Ph.D so that I can open my own clinic to create a safe and caring environment for patients. I want them to feel safe and comfortable as we learn more about them and their illness and disorders. As I begin my sophomore year of college, I am hoping to have the opportunity to get involved in internships and research opportunities. I am also beginning my first official research class that will be used in my field which I am ecstatic to take. Though I wish my career choice was for more pleasant reasons, I am happy with my decision and I know that I can use it to benefit others. Unfortunately, by the time I obtain my degree, my grandmother will no longer be with us, however, the motivation I obtained for her will continue to live on in me. I will ultimately use this to work towards the study and further understanding of mental illness, disorders, and diseases in hopes of providing relief and happiness to those who need it most.

When I think back to a book that I thoroughly enjoyed on a personal level, I can't think of anything other than Dear Evan Hansen, a tale of a boy who struggled mentally. While this novel was originally a play, I couldn't help but enjoy the book much more as I felt it touched more in-depth on the topics that were relevant. Dear Evan Hansen is about a high school boy who struggled with severe social anxiety and depression and the representation of how these affect someone, especially a high schooler was some of the best representation I have seen in a book. I read the book as someone who personally struggles with both of these, and as I read the book I couldn't help but relate to the character on an almost personal level, as if he were a real person. It was a sort of comfort as if I had found someone I could truly relate to, someone who truly understood and experienced the same struggles that I had experienced throughout my entire life. As you read on through the story you experience several different stages that the protagonist goes through, ultimately giving you the opportunity to relate closely to each separate stage. This allowed me to relate my real-life experience to that of fiction. Despite the novel being a work of fiction, its impact and meaning are real. The characters may have been nothing but the creation from one's imagination, but their representation and the struggles that they represent and experience themselves are struggles that many, including myself, go through on a daily basis. This novel is a must-read, not only for those who have personally struggled with these issues but even for those looking for a story that is about an everyday average person, someone who has no special talent or ability, someone who isn't a jock or the most popular person in the school, just someone that everyone can relate to, a real person who experiences real-life problems such as mental health. It truly has had a major impact on my personal view of anxiety and depression and connecting it with my own experience. Overall, this book helped me to feel less alone in the world. It helped me to view things from a different perspective and to understand that there are people around me who are probably dealing with anxiety and depression that I am not aware of. It taught me that I am not alone and that others should not have to feel alone either, ultimately changing how I view anxiety and depression as a whole. It led to me understanding myself and my mental health more, allowing me to become who I am today, a mental health advocate at my college. I have even joined an organization dedicated to spreading awareness and information about mental health on campus. If I hadn't read this book and gained a larger view on mental health, I don't believe I would have found the courage to stand up for what I am passionate about today, to fight to break the stigma and spread awareness and support for those who need it most, and for the chance that Dear Evan Hansen gave me, I am eternally grateful and suggest this novel to everyone, especially those who struggle with mental health and want a relatable experience.

I am Autistic. That is a strange but important start to this essay as it is an important aspect of where I stand today, my goals and dreams, my accomplishments, and generally who I am as a person. This diagnosis itself is not what made me who I am today, but rather the traits and experiences associated with being diagnosed as autistic. The challenges I have faced in my life have shaped me into who I am today, but beyond how it has shaped me. It is who I am as a person. When it comes to skills, I have always been known to be innovative. I am a very creative person who enjoys a multitude of creative hobbies such as video editing, photo editing, YouTube, and more. These hobbies may not seem like much as they all correlate back to the same thing, Youtube, but they have a much larger scope. Using these skills, I have built a social media following where I spread information and awareness on Autism as well as occasional mental health information. I use my creativity to create informational posts on Instagram that appeal to an audience that shares an interest in what Autism is as well as information that is pivotal in understanding themselves and others who are also Autistic or simply for neurotypicals who are interested in learning more about Autism. Beyond Instagram, I have an influence on YouTube where I post informational videos and talk about personal experiences being on the Autism spectrum. This may sound egotistical of me, but I like to believe that I have made an impact in some people's lives, big or small, by sharing what I have been through and giving people something to relate to if they ever feel isolated and alone. So how does my innovation play a role in these hobbies and in the topic in general? My innovation allows me to explore new ideas and topics that are usually not talked about. I am not afraid to cover sensitive topics that are otherwise avoided such as sex or religion. I am also always willing to try new ideas for posts and videos, changing my styles and the information that I share to make the posts more interesting for viewers so that they can enjoy them. By using my innovation to create these social media outlets, I am working to help the Autistic and neurodiverse community as a whole by spreading information and helping to break the stigma and misinformation surrounding us. I want to help people understand that Autism is a spectrum where each individual is different and some may have more severe traits or less severe and that being empathetic and understanding is an important aspect of supporting individuals on the spectrum no matter what traits they may exhibit. Overall, my goal is to create a community where people can feel safe and understood. I want to help make an impact that will change the view on Autistic and neurodiverse individuals so that we can be treated as equals and receive fair and equal treatment just as everyone else does. Despite being Autistic, I have not allowed that to stop me from reaching my goals and I am working harder every day to reach this goal. I have even gone as far as to start an organization on my campus for neurodivergent individuals to find a home. In the end, I want to make an impact using my innovative skills to reach people and ultimately create some form of change that will have a positive outcome for the Autistic and neurodiverse community.

As a kid, I was relatively healthy and of average weight. I enjoyed playing outside and running around like most of the other kids. It wasn't until I was around 9 that I began to grow slightly heavy, especially since I had gotten to the age where I could fix my own food as well as the constant consumption of fast food. Growing up in the US, I have always been surrounded by greasy fast food at every corner and that ultimately contributed to my weight gain. I loved fast food and still do to this day. It wasn't until I was 15 that I realized that I had gained a bit of weight, and finally at 16 I decided to do something about it. I am 5'10 and at 15-16 years old I weighed 220 pounds so I was considered obese at that point. When I turned 16 and started 10th grade, I got a membership at my local gym where I would start exercising daily to achieve a healthier weight so that I could improve my overall confidence. At the time it was dreadful. I was an overweight kid who had never attempted something like this before. It was hard and grueling but in the end, it would be worth it. I changed my diet a bit. I didn't change what I ate, but rather changed my portions. I learned to keep track of what and how much I eat. I counted my calories and macros, I exercised and with these tactics, I reached my current weight. I am now 20 and am at a steady weight of 135-140 pounds. I am a freshman in college who goes to the gym 3-5 times per week. My diet still consists of foods that I love but I have expanded my pallet to new foods which involve fruits and vegetables that I disliked as a kid. I maintain my weight while eating foods that I love by replacing them with substitutions. Take Tacos for example. I replace ground beef with turkey meat and replace my shells with keto brand. This allows me to eat as I wish without the consequences, though of course I still have to monitor what I eat so that I don't overeat and gain back the weight I worked hard to lose. During the process, I struggled with an eating disorder. I also gained a lot of weight back, resulting in returning to 190 pounds, but thankfully I managed to push past these obstacles and return to my current weight. The entire journey was difficult but I am happier now than I ever was. While I am still not at my ideal body composition, I know that with time and hard work I will get there. Overall, turning to a healthier lifestyle with exercise and better eating habits has given me confidence beyond what I could imagine. I never imagined that I would be able to wear clothing that didn't hide my stomach or that I would be able to walk around in public during the summer without a hoodie, or even that I would be able to run a mile without breaking a sweat. This change in my lifestyle was one of the best decisions of my life and I plan to continue to better myself and prioritize my health before anything else.

When I was 13, I learned what mental health really was. I had heard about mental health and mental illness because it was "trendy" but I didn't realize that I was also vulnerable. I was uneducated on what mental health was and the importance of maintaining a healthy mind. Peering back into my childhood, I realize I missed several signs of developing mental illnesses that could have probably been avoided, however, my experience with mental illness wasn't the only one to drive me to where I am today. In my later middle school and early high school years, I developed a depressive disorder often triggered by my lack of socialization. I would go to school and then go home, repeating the same process every day. In 10th grade I stepped out of my comfort zone, joining clubs, reconnecting with old friends, attending local football games with them, and putting myself out there. Unfortunately soon after was when the pandemic occurred, resulting in a worldwide lockdown. This took my anxiety and depressive disorder to a level beyond anything I had experienced previously. I developed common symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder, specifically intrusive thoughts which caused me to isolate and have suicidal tendencies. This disorder has unfortunately followed me throughout my entire educational career. After about 6 months of 24/7 uncontrollable thoughts and isolation, my intrusive thoughts began to subside and to this day they have not returned. I deduced that it was due to the social isolation that I developed them and that should we return to virtual learning again, I have a very high chance of developing them again. Once I entered college I began to experience trouble with my eating habits. I had always struggled with my weight as I was overweight growing up and eventually reached a normal weight, although with unhealthy methods. I was told by multiple people that I "weighed too little" or "don't eat enough". I would often go as far as to make myself sick after eating to avoid gaining weight. I have reached a point where I am on the verge of being underweight, though I have started doing better in terms of eating, thanks to the constant support of those close to me. While my personal experience in mental health is playing a crucial role in my personal and career goals, so did the mental health of those around me. Before I left for college, my grandmother developed symptoms of dementia and became very aggressive, causing me to have to abandon her against my best wishes because she rejected to seek help. It was a terrifying experience and has ultimately affected what I want to pursue. This set in stone my decision to first seek a bachelor's, later master's, and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology to become educated in Psychopathology, the study of mental illness and disorders. I want to help others who have suffered as well as have the opportunity to study people suffering from mental illness. I want to be able to study the development of illness and be able to develop a more effective treatment to give them a fulfilling and successful life. Thanks to my experience with mental health, I determined what I wanted to do with my life. It helped me develop an education and career goal. It also has given me several opportunities to help others who have struggled as I have.

When I was 13, I learned what mental health really was. I had heard about mental health and mental illness because it was "trendy" but I didn't realize that I was also vulnerable. I was uneducated on what mental health was and the importance of maintaining a healthy mind. Peering back into my childhood, I realize I missed several signs of developing mental illnesses that could have probably been avoided, however, my experience with mental illness wasn't the only one to drive me to where I am today. When I was in elementary school I was a very open and friendly person, often engaging in conversations with ease and participating in group activities, however, I was often bullied and avoided as being the "weird" kid because I was considered different. I was diagnosed as Autistic during this time and socialization was not my strong suit. When I entered middle school, I began developing an anxiety disorder, most likely due to bullying or purely just genetics. I became enclosed and sheltered from people that I was not extremely close with. In my later middle school and early high school years, I developed a depressive disorder often triggered by my lack of socialization. I would go to school and then go home, repeating the same process every day. In 10th grade I stepped out of my comfort zone, joining clubs, reconnecting with old friends, attending local football games with them, and putting myself out there. Unfortunately soon after was when the pandemic occurred, resulting in a worldwide lockdown. This took my anxiety and depressive disorder to a level beyond anything I had experienced previously. I developed common symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder, specifically intrusive thoughts which caused me to isolate and have suicidal tendencies. This disorder has unfortunately followed me throughout my entire educational career. Once I entered college I began to experience trouble with my eating habits. I had always struggled with my weight as I was overweight growing up and eventually reached a normal weight, although with unhealthy methods. I was told by multiple people that I "weighed too little" or "don't eat enough". I would often go as far as to make myself sick after eating to avoid gaining weight. I have reached a point where I am on the verge of being underweight, though I have started doing better in terms of eating, thanks to the constant support of those close to me. While my personal experience in mental health is playing a crucial role in my personal and career goals, so did the mental health of those around me. Before I left for college, my grandmother developed symptoms of dementia and became very aggressive, causing me to have to abandon her against my best wishes because she rejected to seek help. It was a terrifying experience and has ultimately affected what I want to pursue. This set in stone my decision to first seek a bachelor's, later master's, and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology to become educated in Psychopathology, the study of mental illness and disorders. I want to help others who have suffered as well as have the opportunity to study people suffering from mental illness. I want to be able to study the development of illness and be able to develop a more effective treatment to give them a fulfilling and successful life. Thanks to my experience with mental health, I determined what I wanted to do with my life. It helped me develop an education and career goal. It also has given me several opportunities to help others who have struggled as I have.

If I were allowed to have everyone read one book, I would go with my favorite, "Dear Evan Hansen", originally a play that was later turned into a novel and a film. This novel touched me on a personal level as it touches on anxiety and depression, something I have struggled with throughout my teenage years. This novel touched me deeply, relating me to the protagonist in a way that no book had ever done before and it left me wishing I could experience it for the first time again. I want others to experience the emotional impact that this novel left on me even to this day. I feel that this novel was able to touch me so deeply due to the connection I shared with the protagonist which ultimately helped me relate and feel closer to them as if they were a real person. It was a sort of comfort as if I had found someone I could truly relate to, someone who truly understood and experienced the same struggles that I had experienced throughout my entire life. As you read on through the story you experience several different stages that the protagonist goes through, ultimately giving you the opportunity to relate closely to each separate stage. This allowed me to relate my real-life experience to that of fiction. Despite the novel being a work of fiction, its impact and meaning are real. The characters may have been nothing but the creation from one's imagination, but their representation and the struggles that they represent and experience themselves are struggles that many, including myself, go through on a daily basis. This novel is a must-read, not only for those who have personally struggled with these issues but even for those looking for a story that is about an everyday average person, someone who has no special talent or ability, someone who isn't a jock or the most popular person in the school, just someone that everyone can relate to, a real person who experiences real-life problems such as mental health. It truly has had a major impact on my personal view of anxiety and depression and connecting it with my own experience.

My favorite way to help others is to make sure that they feel loved and accepted. Equality, diversity, and acceptance, all of these are something we lack in today's society. To judge something you do not understand is human nature, something that everyone does, however, it is what you do afterward that makes an impact. Do you continue to judge? Look down on what you judge? If so, then you are a negative in something that should be positive. To look at someone who is different and judge them only to follow it up with understanding and acceptance is something only a few can do or at least try. It is a natural part of our brain and understanding. We fear the unknown. Should you study this unexplored discovery, you may find it something not to be judged, but to be admired for. So many people live every day being judged because of differences but have we taken the initiative to understand said differences? We stare and wonder, judging from afar when we should be approaching and understanding. When we finally learn to accept people who are different, we will finally be one step closer to equality and diversity.

Growing up in a rural town in Alabama had always been a challenge for me. My family, though I love them, are very prejudiced and racist towards African Americans and other races, however, it is not just my family but the majority of the town in general. I grew up listening to everyone and believing they were right. It wasn't until I had reached my teenage years that I finally began having thoughts of my own instead of following popular belief. I have seen how whites are privileged compared to other races, which angers me beyond comprehension. I want nothing more than for everyone to be treated equally and have the same opportunities. I want everyone to be able to obtain a job based on their skills, not their race. As I prepare to graduate, I will be attending one of the most diverse colleges in my state, The University of Alabama at Birmingham. I hope to explore new cultures as I gain an ever-growing understanding of other races. But equality and diversity do not just exist for someone's race, but for disabilities as well. As someone who is disabled and has been treated hardly for the majority of their life, I have dedicated myself to spreading awareness for those who are treated as less as an Autism advocate. I have accomplished this by using the YouTube platform to grow an audience as I spread information to further help those who require a better understanding of what autism is. My main goal in life is to help shape a future where equality and diversity are not something we are fighting for, but something that is a natural part of everyday life.

The biggest problem in the world right now is the economy. Inflation has become so common that we don't even question it as often as we should. With current political standing and wars, the economy has declined rapidly, resulting in the rise of prices beyond anything we've seen in a long time. In all my life, I had never seen gas prices so high as well as food in my local grocery stores. This may not seem like a major problem for those living in financial stability, but for those of us in poverty or just overall low income, we are suffering and no one cares or does anything to fix it. There are so many things we can do to fix this. We have relied on other countries for our resources and with those resources declining rapidly, it has caused the price to increase drastically. We have to learn to produce resources ourselves. Producing your own resources could be compared to cooking. If you purchase the ingredients for a meal and cook it yourself, you will receive the same meal for cheaper than if you went to a resteraunt. We relied on others for too long and it has caused us to lose money that could have easily been saved. We should begin producing more resources that are commonly made by other countries as this will allow us to produce for our own country without the cost of importing them into our countries. This will also allow us to further produce our own food and sell it for a lower price than that of our current groceries. To make a change in the economy, we first have to make a change in how we do things, and that included our resource production.

My favorite book is "Dear Evan Hansen". I read this book in the past year and it was an absolute masterpiece. I love reading but have a very specific taste so it is not often that a book can capture my attention as this book did. It followed the subject of severe social anxiety, something I deal with daily. I could completely relate to the character, being in an unfortunate situation that led to an accidental lie that only continued from there. This book gave me a character that I could relate to and understand on a personal level compared to other books which tried too hard to make their character suffer from a mental illness and make it his whole personality. In Dear Evan Hansen, the main character was an actual person who suffered from anxiety but it did not take control over his character, it played its role when needed and was a major part of the story and actions that the character took. This book also tackled issues that many people avoid talking about, depression and suicide. Though it is a sensitive subject, this book took it head-on and that was something that impressed me as someone who also suffered from depression. It is hard to find a good book in a big world, but I feel that this book is for everyone. Everyone has felt a sense of anxiety at some point in their life and even if you do not suffer from anxiety or depression, this is a great book that is filled with amazing characters and a beautiful story that keeps you reading and wondering how this will work out in the end. It is a must-read for everyone.

I have autism. Though it is commonly misrepresented in the media as being emotionless ad hateful, it is quite the opposite, especially in my case. I have always tried my best to make friends and make people happy. That is my best quality, the ability to make friends and make them feel loved. I have had several bullies over the years and I managed to not only turn them into some of my best friends but change their ways altogether. I feel that so many bullies just need someone to reach out to them, to seem like they care and want to be their friend. I never wanted someone to feel like they were alone in this world. This quality has allowed me to make many friends, though in my high school years due to mental health, I became more reclused and stuck close to those I knew best. Some of the bullies turned buddies moved schools but I hope that I made some sort of impact on them and their future. I realize now how much people can change if they just have someone to support them and lift them up. Unfortunately, there were some bullies who were beyond my help but they eventually matured as we made our way through high school. I am proud to have this trait and that it can change someone so drastically like that. It was something that happened quite often and at the time I honestly didn't know why. I was someone always trying to make friends and care for people but at the time I was not aware that I was converting people. I value this quality due to how much of an impact it can have in both someone else's life and in mine. It has made a positive impact on everyone and I am proud that I accomplished this. Thought I wish I could have helped more people who were hurting, I was unable to, especially when it came to those who weren't affecting me and that will always be my biggest regret, that I didn't help those who weren't close to me. Everyone deserves help, especially those who bully because despite the idea that it's because they are hurting, most of the time it is true. They are either hurting or are in with the wrong crowd. But we can change that if we all just show a little love to everyone, even bullies.

For my entire high school journey, I struggled with many mental illnesses. It led to a loss in socialization and interaction and in general, the will to live and keep going. But here I am, alive and well and doing my best to heal as I finish my final months in high school. During my time struggling with mental health, my relationships have diminished as I lost the energy to have contact with anyone and this led to the inability to obtain a job or any form of work. I was never much of a religious person, though many times I was so desperate to be free of everything that was destroying me that I prayed to a god I don't necessarily believe in. It challenged my beliefs several times throughout the years leaving me confused and lost. Eventually, I found ways to help myself while also helping others. I spoke out about my mental health through social media, making posts talking about what I was going through to find that others could relate to me. It brought joy that there were others but sadness that they had to go to social media for support. I decided to use this to my advantage to spread information and educate people on mental health as I worked to de-stigmatize everything that was wrong about mental health. I decided that I wanted people to have someone to help them, something I didn't have at the time but I found that while I was helping them, they were also helping me in a way that I didn't know was possible. Gradually my mental health began to become better and I found that I was healing but not posting as much as I was. I suppose this was a coping mechanism that helped me through the hard times when nothing else could. Though I have helped people, I feel that I can still do more to assist with mental health and educate people on the subject which is why I love making those types of posts on my situation. It helped others see that they are not alone in the world and everyone has similar issues that may be overlooked due to the stigma surrounding mental health and no one deserves to be ignored because of incorrect beliefs about mental illness. I am glad that I had to suffer so that I could help others in the end and if I had to go through all of that again I would just to give other people the hope that I did not have when I was suffering.

Getting rid of the stigma surrounding mental health is the best way to begin helping other with mental health. When someone is looked down upon for opening up about their mental health they will often decline further and further until it is too late. That is why it is important to educate today's society on the importance of mental health, especially at a younger age when drastic decisions are often to be made when they could have been avoided. We can start by spreading awareness through our communities. Spread awareness throughout your schools and workplaces where mental health is a bigger issue. You can also spread even more awareness through social media where you will reach not only those around you but people who may live in another state or even another country. Social media is the biggest influence out there right now and it can save the lives of people you don't even know exist. That is why social media is the biggest way to spread awareness. Just a simple message posted to your feed to help someone smile or make their day a little better, it could even stop someone from ending their lives. Understanding someone's mental health helps a lot more than trying to help them without understanding them in the first place, something parents often do without realizing. If information regarding mental health is spread through media that parents commonly use, then this can greatly increase the chances of someone who is struggling to get help. Though it will not happen anytime soon, implementing this solution could save lives in the near future and I'm sure that it has saved many already.

My dream is to have the opportunity to explore the ocean and view marine life, hopefully making a new discovery along the way. I have dreamed of this moment for years and now that I am almost out of high school it feels like a dream. College is my first step towards that goal. To venture into the ocean I will need a college degree and education with the right training and practice to actually dive into the ocean. Through my college studies, I plan to become better acquainted and prepared for my journey in the near future. I know that college will give me the experience and education that I need to safely explore the ocean and possibly make a discovery that will be remembered for years to come.

Nature is one of the few beauties in the world that is natural. While I respect and love nature, the ocean and marine life is where I look to when I think of nature. I love the calming waves as they crash against the sides of a pier or just a quiet, calm sea that houses millions of lifeforms. But humanity is slowly killing the beauty of nature with constant pollution and fishing. Even the military has begun showing no interest as they test their explosions in the middle of the ocean as if nothing lives there. I try to show my appreciation for nature by protecting wildlife, which is something I will be attending college for as I study marine biology. The wildlife population is dying out due to humans and one day soon, sooner than it should be, the population will decrease substantially and eventually go extinct. There are people hunting for fun or fishing for fun while in reality, they are killing off not only the wildlife in the area but possibly the human race as a whole as we rely so much on animals for food. I appreciate nature by cleaning up trash that may contaminate the environment or by trying to keep trash out of the ocean that fish can swallow or harm them in other ways. It is important to protect our wildlife because it is the only one we have or will ever have.

Everyone wants a legacy but not everyone can decide what they want I to be. It is a difficult topic to answer, especially at a young age, but I want to leave something that will be remembered for years to come. Just as Edison discovered the lightbulb and left us with a light source for generations, I want to discover something that will leave people asking questions and remembering my names for just as long. I'm not going looking to invent anything but to uncover something that humanity has never seen. Something that can be left in history books. As someone who will be attending college as a marine biologist, I want to uncover something below, something that has yet to be discovered or explored. That is my dream as I study in college. One day in the future, I want to be in articles, books, anywhere that can share my legacy. I have always believed that what's important is not living forever but leaving behind something that will. I will stick by that for the rest of my life and I strive to create my legacy as many have done before me.

I am autistic so my entire life has been a difficult situation. I have had to push through my entire school career hanging on by a thread and ready to give up at any moment. That was until I figured out my life. I decided what I wanted to do, what I wanted to accomplish and I pushed for it and am still pushing to this day. I decided that I wouldn't let others hold me back from my goals and dreams and that I would prove everyone wrong and go to college and graduate despite the criticism. I have let my entire life be controlled as I didn't know what my purpose was or what I was supposed to do with my life, I left it all up to others to pull me in the right direction, blindly following people because it seemed like the right choice. I didn't want to rely on people anymore, I only needed to rely on myself and push through high school. As I near the finish line I am proud of myself and glad that I managed to fight and find myself as I figured out what I wanted to do in my life. I could not be happier.

As someone who suffers from mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety, happiness is often hard to find in oneself on a daily basis. However, there are certain aspects that have been able to improve my day-to-day life with these issues. Friends are the main reason for my happiness, even on days where I feel as though I can't go anymore, they come in and cheer me up, making me smile with their jokes or just talking about something we both love. I also have my best friend who calls me whenever I feel down, she always finds a way to cheer me up. Some of my hobbies also help make me happy such as video games, reading, or just looking at nature. The world is a beautiful place, a place not meant for someone to be sad so it is always important to have someone or something that helps you when you feel down.

Independence is the ability to live on your own, away from your family or friends with no support. This is something many long for, something I have for many years and have craved as I get ready to leave for college. Slowly I have begun transitioning into a more independent person as I prepare for college, learning s=different skills that I will need to live on my own. My parents still hover over me, however, and it has left me feeling suffocated, something that I have tried overcoming for years and years. I understand being independent can be hard, but to experience it is to learn and grow, something parents often don't understand that their children must do to learn something. It is the same as learning math, you can listen and write down everything the teacher tells you, but until you do it yourself, you will never completely learn something. Independence is important at a young age as it builds trust between the child and parents, and trust is extremely important among family. Independence is the ability to care for ones self with no financial aid or service, to be able to tend for oneself when no one else is around, and this is something I long for, the ability to care for myself with no one forcing themselves onto me and my life. I hope soon I can experience the independence that I have wanted for so many years as I enter college.

I create videos. The videos can be of a show, a movie, even a cartoon, overlapped with music that may fit the certain scene or the film entirely. I often find television to provide many opportunities to create art and making these videos can express both the underlying meaning of the show and the emotions I am feeling personal. It is a way that I can express myself without making it too obvious but also allowing my creativity to pour out. I have slowly improved over the years as an editor and have begun to express my emotions more through these videos. I have found both a creative outlet and a therapy outlet at the same time, which both helps me and distract me. These videos can take hours to days to complete and often leave me with a sense of pride and joy upon finishing the completed work but even more so when someone else views and loves it as much as I do.

My favorite book is not a single book but a series of books. Harry Potter is a timeless classic that fans of all ages can enjoy and for various reasons. The reason I love the series so much is that it slowly builds up from children finding their way around to them ultimately fighting a great evil. It has amazing world and character building and leaves you craving more as soon as you finish one book. As I ventured through the series, I found that I had never read so much in such a short period of time. I read the entire series in 4 months, something that amazed even me. I often found myself with a lot of free time during my classes and this gave me the opportunity to continue my reading sessions. Harry Potter pulled me into a world of magic and wonder, which ultimately made me happy and had me wanting to come back for more of it. The feelings I received while reading were both happy, but sad upon finishing a book yet a sense of reward at the same time. The books were rather long and kept me occupied, but that is something that Harry Potter did well, it paced its story well and made sure to cover all of the plot points, something the films may have forgotten. The characters of Harry Potter made me excited to see them on the next page. I had so many favorite characters and so many of them left me wondering about their backstory, which would entice me to read more. The Harry Potter series is a great book series and is one of the highlights of my reading hobby.

I have been given so much throughout the years by my family even though we have little money. I have always appreciated everything I have since I learned gratitude. I hope to one day pay back everything to my family for what they have given me and show my appreciation to them. I have always felt bad whenever receiving gifts as I know that we don't have the finances for them, yet my family continues to shower me with them despite our low funds. This has led me to appreciate everything, even the little things. Gratitude and appreciation are important to me as it allows me to express how much I love something that I am given and I want my family to know how much it means to me. I don't believe that I deserve so much yet I still receive it and for that, I will be eternally grateful, even when I reach old age.

I always try to lift people up, whether it is because they are depressed, demotivated, or something else that is holding them back. I always want to see my family and friends succeed, it makes me happy to see them reaching their goals and cheer as they realize that they accomplished something that they worked extremely hard for. I will always be waiting at the finish line for my friends to accomplish a goal, cheering them on every step of the way, screaming that they can do it, and making sure they don't give up halfway through. I will show them what awaits them if they finish, tell them the feeling of pure joy that will wash over them as they complete their goal. I never want to see someone not give it their all, especially when they are so close to reaching their goals and dreams. My friend's success is the most important thing to me.

The goal in life is not to live forever, but to create something that will. This mindset has led me to the realization that my existence is not important, as depressing as that may sound, but it is what I leave behind for others. A legacy, a belief, a scientific breakthrough, anything that leaves people wanting more. The idea that someone is long gone yet still living is amazing and something I wish to leave behind when I die. To leave something behind, big or small, is something I believe everyone should aspire to do, whether it is on purpose or not, whether you believe it will be influential or not. Everyone has something to share, something to leave behind for everyone else. My dream is to create something worthy of this. I want to leave something behind that will leave people remembering who I am for years to come.

The main thing that gets me out of bed in the morning is my motivation to reach my goal. I dream of a life in college, the freedom that I longed for for so long, the opportunities that await me and I can't wait to experience. I want to reach my goal. I want to attend college and receive my degree in marine biology so that one day I can explore the ocean along with all of its beautiful aquatic life. The dream that one day I could be exploring where no one else has before excites me and makes me eager to reach my goals even more than before. I want to venture down into the depths of the ocean as make discoveries that no one else has made before. I want to make an impact, something that people will remember long after I am gone. The idea that I can one day leave something for future generations inspires and motivates me to keep going, even when life gets rough.

Throughout my later teenage years, I had developed an eating disorder that would result in me purging, fasting, and taking medications to lose weight. I was unhappy with my weight and often depressed as my progress to weight loss was slow and I even gained weight once Covid hit. I have since then done better than originally but still have issues with food. I obsess over calories and often don't eat until later in the afternoon and even then I don't eat enough. I developed my eating disorder mostly due to genetics. My mother suffered from eating disorders while pregnant with me and I later developed them. It has been difficult to heal and better myself but I plan to use these experiences to help others who may be suffering from the same issues. I use social media to speak about my mental health in a way to further help those who have no one to turn to. Eating disorders are often looked at as something people use for attention, just the same as if someone were cutting themselves. Society has such high standers for how a person should look but just because someone looks larger does not mean that they are unhealthy or overweight and that view has to change soon or eating disorders will continue to rise drastically. My goal is to firstly work on myself so that I can assist others in an attempt to help them get better. I want people to know that they are not alone in this world and that there are others who are suffering from the same issues that they are. I believe the biggest stigma that is based around eating disorders is that you have to be overweight to have an eating disorder and this is far from true. There are several different types of eating disorders and even some that lead you to see yourself as overweight and continuing to lose weight long after you've reached a healthy weight. It is a major illness that has led to many deaths and I would like to help prevent more. As someone who has struggled with several different eating disorders over the years, I don't want people to feel alone and I want to create a more positive mindset for those who are suffering or have suffered in the past. I will use my social media influence to spread even more awareness so that everyone can see it, not just the people I am close to. I want to make the world a place where you can eat and be happy with your body without worrying about calories or the size of your stomach or how your waist looks. This is my goal and I know I can make an impact by putting it out there.