A 13-year-old girl is exhausted, energy sucked out from living as an elderly woman in a child's body. Back sore and cracked from hours bent over in the fields. Her hands were bruised and blistered from bunches of white being wrung in her hands and thrust into a hole-infested bag. Her eyes were sore from the ultraviolet rays of an aggressive sun and were later soothed with hot tears from seeing another pair of feet swing North, South, East, and West. That 13-year-old girl is my great-grandmother, the grandchild of enslaved Black parents, and the matriarch of a new generation. It is her experience that I think of as I grow and navigate a life I have never known. To face struggle with resiliency and unwavering confidence. If David can stand tall before Goliath, why can't I? Her story is what has inspired my goals and my response to obstacles I have faced in my life. A servant's heart has been instilled in me since childhood. A desire to tend to others and provide care in any way that I can is what motivates me. That desire has manifested into the ambition I have to study law. There are far too many people who do have not the resources or ability to seek a council that will fight for them and advocates for them in a court of law. It is imperative to have an advocate with a servant's heart who empathizes with them, sympathizes with them, and also looks like them. With such a desire comes obstacles. As a first-generation college student, my knowledge of the university experience was vague. While my family did all they could to support me, there was only so much they could do--no one had continued their education passed high school. This resulted in a lack of understanding of how to conduct a college search, how to fill out a FAFSA form, how to read and understand a financial aid package, and how to choose a major. When I wanted to give up and throw in the towel, I thought of my great-grandmother as a 13-year-old girl. The girl with hardly any education, bruised hands, and tired eyes who sought God in all that she'd done, even in the most trying times. It is through that situation and by the remembrance of those who came before me that I learned how to keep going. Resilience, determination, and faith will carry me throughout all trials and tribulations, just as they had done for my great-grandmother. Fatigue during the journey is normal and expected. However, drinking from the Well that does not run dry will sustain me each time.

Global warming and climate change are not taken seriously. We live in a world where ignorance is bliss. Slowly, but surely, the Earth is deteriorating at the hands of the inhabitants who should protect it, nurture it, and care for it like the gift that it is. An immense amount of damage has been done to the earth within the last few decades and said damage continues to happen. According to NASA (The National Aeronautics and Space Administration), there have been multiple detrimental effects of climate change, such as the shrinking of glaciers, changed migration patterns of animals, and intense heat waves. These are only a few of the conditions that are affecting the earth and its inhabitants, and they will only worsen if there is no probable solution. The only solution to this problem is to recognize the impact humanity has on the condition of the earth, take accountability, take heed to the warnings of experts who study global warming and climate change, and advocate for laws that encourage better practices that will reduce the harm that has already been done. In order to slow the process of global warming, we have to take action. As stated by Climate.gov, this is seen by walking rather than burning fuel from driving, using reusable items instead of constantly buying plastic, recycling rather than throwing in the trash, or switching to renewable energy. The earth is a gift to humanity, one that should be valued as the sacred planet that it is. We only get one earth. We as humanity must make the sacrifices necessary to challenge this problem before it is too late.

A four-foot, eleven-inch powerhouse with ambitions that seemingly surpass the moon and stars. A face sprinkled with small freckles and beauty marks, skin rich like mahogany, and eyes deep like dark chocolate. Semi-introverted with a desire to venture out and explore all the world has to offer. A book worm who cannot seem to stop weeping over the plot of the novel The Song of Achilles. An empath who feels all that others feel even if it brings upon stress and anxiety. A lover of peace and tranquility, with a heart that yearns for change and progression. My name is Amari Johnson, and it is lovely to meet you.

The sound of fingertips colliding with laptop keys, a pencil scraping the skin of a fresh sheet of paper, the brain churning its wheels, the cobwebs flying off, that is my favorite thing to experience. The ideas that flow from my inner being are based on a song, a thought, an experience, or a dream. Sol Stein once said, “there’s nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein.” That vein, that entryway to creativity, opens a portal to another universe. A universe of endless possibilities, twists, turns, fears, and confidences. There is the freedom to dwell in. To swim throughout the creative mind where there are no boundaries, rules, or regulations. To speak openly without judgment and to lay it all down before one person, or none at all. There is joy in sitting at a typewriter, or in my case, a desk with a pencil and notebook. The aches in my hands are never worthy of complaint, for they are a reminder that I am closer and closer to my end goal—to tell a story, whether good or bad, happy or sad. Creative writing is my hobby. I was first introduced to the craft during my freshman year of high school when I attempted to write my version of the mythological tale of Pandora’s Box. From that point on, I fell in love with creative and descriptive writing. Scattered throughout my possession, there are notebooks, digital folders, and note cards filled with writings and ideas that I have stirred up since then, and I have no plan on stopping any time soon. There is nothing like teleporting to a different dimension, one that I have created, where I can dwell joyfully and maintain peace through words, thoughts, and emotions.

Here is the link to an original writing piece I've created. It is called Esclavage, the French translation for the word slavery. This piece embodies the darker side of history that some of society desires to erase and ignore. As a Black woman, what I've demonstrated and created through these words, such a dark time not only shapes my history, but influences how I interact with the world. My artistic dreams are to further my creativity and development in my writing. The experiences described in this piece have molded my thoughts and feelings towards history and its importance. It is crucial that it is shared thoughtfully, truthfully, and intentionally.

Stand still. Let those heavy eyelids flutter closed. Allow your shoulders to drop and permit the tension and anxiety to flee from you like the enemy you’re prepared to defeat. Inhale deeply and exhale slowly. Count to three and regain your focus. Pick up your weapon of choice; a book, a pencil and paper, the Word, and use it to your advantage. That guileful chemical imbalance working within the crevices of your brain will never defeat you. You are weak at times and at others you are strong. At either point, however, the claws of depression will never strangle you for too long. It is a mantra, an affirmation that I repeat to myself when I feel that depression and anxiety are beating me at the war we tend to battle in. To cope, my first instinct is to create an atmosphere of comfortable silence where I can speak openly and freely about what I feel is affecting me. I then pick up a book, pen and paper to write, and my Bible, which are the weapons that never fail me. Over and over they assist in my victory. Over and over, they level my head, my mind, my spirit, and my soul. My passions revolve around literature and law. I’ve gravitated toward beginning in my preteen years, and the possibilities both law and literature provide have kept me intrigued after all of these years. There is nothing like jumping into a book and having the privilege to live the life of the characters carefully crafted, or studying the law and observing how it affects people on a day to day basis. In the future, I’d also want to have the resources available to go to therapy on a consistent basis. Having a mental illness often makes people feel trapped and like they have no one to turn to, and at times, I feel that way more often than I’d like to admit. However, I will be in a position where I will have access to therapy and can speak about depression in a way that doesn’t make me feel shamed, but rather empowered. Mental health should not be a taboo topic, but rather it should be normalized in society. It doesn’t reflect the worth of a person, no. The more it’s spoken about, the more resources can be developed to aid in development for mental health treatments. With understanding and patience, mental health can be properly treated and catered to, which is a small step in making the world a little bit better.

“A wounded heart will heal, but never much too soon, yes, everything will change,” is a line from the song Everything Must Change by Oleta Adams. I first heard this song when I was prepared for a play at church. I did not like it at first. Originally, I felt that it was old and boring, and held no substance. The messages within the song flew over by head like a bird over a building. It wasn’t until I got home from rehearsal that night and listened to the song again, did I realize the impact it might have on me. Four years later, I can testify to the fact that the song has a message that still remains prominent today—everything must change. As a Black woman in this day and age, the trauma and exhaustion I feel is great. During the year of 2020, back to back, I saw new hashtags of the names of Black men and women killed at the hands of those who swore to protect and serve. I saw court systems fail my brothers and sisters. I saw people begin to give up the uphill battle that’s been going on for centuries. I saw the tiredness, the frustration, and the anger. I myself, am typically optimistic, always seeing the best in the midst of chaos. But even then, I was struggling to see how things were going to improve. It took four years to play the song again. It was just a few weeks ago, to be exact. I’d just finished watching One Night in Miami and the topic of change became prominent in my mind. After I finished the movie, I did began listening to songs that corresponded with the main message of the movie—change. The lyrics of Everything Must Change filled my ears and tears welled in my eyes as I thought of how the words connected to our current condition. The young become old and history continues to unfold before our eyes. What was once hidden has come to light, and what was fought for then is what we’re still fighting for now. This song is special to me because it is a personal reminder that life will not always be like this. A time will come where I won’t feel nervous around law enforcement. A time will come where brothers and sisters are not being mourned after unlawful deaths. A time will come when hate and division will be no more. A time will come when there will be unity between all just as Dr. King wished for years ago. Why? Because everything must change.

I am a young, self-loving, confident Black girl in a predominately White institution. From the time I stepped foot into the new school for the first time, I was neglected, ignored, and bullied for simply being different. I was called slurs, I was bullied for my deep skin tone and Afrocentric features, I was laughed at for my acne, I was questioned about her big, natural hair, and I was told to sit in the back of the bus like Rosa Parks. Each time I went to an administrator to report the offenses against me, my grievances were ignored each time by the ones who claimed to love and value their students, by the ones who insisted hate and discrimination was not something they stood for. These issues were prominent from the moment I entered the school in fifth grade to the moment I prepared to enter into senior year, and it hasn't stopped. Even with the racial challenges and frustrations, however, I never retaliated, I never let their words and actions get to me, and I never let the school define me worth nor tear me down. Everyday, I wore a smile to school and determined to make each day better than the last. When I could have given up and allowed myself to be punctured with wounds created by the words of others, I used the offenses as a reason to further elevate myself in life. To show everyone that the dark skin, natural haired Black girl with acne and Afrocentric features that I am just as good as everyone else. These experiences have shaped me into an individual who encourages differences in ethnicity, nationality, race, creed, gender, and religion. I know first hand what it is like to be discriminated against and even as a young child, I knew in my heart that partiality is wrong. My experiences have made me wiser, more understanding, and more patient with those around me and I now have the desire to educate those around me. I've learned to be careful with the way I speak, I've learned to be insightful on topics even if they do not directly relate to me, and I've learned to listen rather than parting my lips. For this reason, when I entered high school, the first instinct I had was to join clubs that welcome diversity, one of them being Fairfield For Change, where we advocate for racial, ethnic, and other forms of diversity. In this program, our members ensure that change is advocated for in not only our school district, but in our community as a whole. Differences don't always have to separate us; they can bring us together.

It took me a while to get where I am with Jesus today. I've got a lot of work to do, just as every person born into a sinful world does. The event that made me really decide to get to know Him, however, happened when I wound up in the hospital for suicide watch. When I came home from the hospital, I felt so alone and asked God to show Himself to me. Not even an hour later, I saw golden lights twinkling in my hallway. Three times did they appear. I knew it was God because He is only light. Since then, especially with quarantine and having no choice but to pick up the Bible that seemed to be collecting dust, I've been more and more into the Word and trying to know Him deeper. Reading at least one chapter a day, worshipping daily, and praying at least three times a day has drawn me closer to Him. I hear His voice clearer, I make decisions that align with the Word, and the sins that used to have a hold over me no longer do. There were addictions I battled with that I haven't even thought about going back to in over a year. I no longer yearn for worldly things to satisfy me. Jesus has given me an opportunity to redeem myself, and He does it over and over again. I was lost but He came to find me. I found myself dirty and He called me clean. I was once broken, hurt, and weak, yet He picked me back up again and made me whole. He has not only transformed my life but my entire situation. He's made provisions for me. When I had no idea how something was going to work, I prayed and He heard me. His faithfulness reinstated my trust in Him and everyday it's growing stronger.

It was just a day after Valentine's Day in 2017 when I realized my mental health had deteriorated. What started as a normal, winter day had ended in disaster when I found myself being questioned by a therapist in a quaint hospital room. All my belongings were stripped away, from the bobby pins in my hair to the clothes that covered me. I clearly remember being asked, "do you still want to die?" and replying with "no" so I could go home. I was diagnosed with depression that day. Almost four years have passed since that day. While my mental health has gotten much better since I've learned to communicate how I feel, there are still moments where I fall short and wind up in a place of tiredness, sadness, and self-destruction. It is so easy to slip into darkness, yet so hard to come out of it. I thought that I was the only person dealing with depression and thoughts of self-doubt, but with conversations and opening myself up to others, I learned that I was not alone in my struggles. The stories and experiences I've heard from others allowed me to find healthier coping mechanisms, such as writing, listening to music, and speaking to advisors. Mental illness has the power to take over our lives if we let it, and I'm determined to not only maintain control over my thoughts but to assist others in doing so as well. Just by listening, offering advice, sharing my struggles, and providing my presence, I want to help people understand that they are valued, understood, heard and that they are never alone in their mental health journey. I'd want everyone to know that mental illness does not define or invalidate them. They're resilient, appreciated, worthy, and loved, even when it doesn't feel like it.