Everyone goes through some mental health issues at some point in life. I am a teenager with multiple mental health issues. My experience with mental health has influenced my beliefs and relationships. For the past two months, I have experienced many hard, harsh, and traumatic events. I used to be able to trust my family members especially my grandma. Recently, she had a stroke in front of me. I had to deal with it since I was the only one home with her and three younger children. I was shaking since she was the one trusted the most and could be the most open about. She went into a coma and the right side of the body was paralyzed. I have in so much shock because I couldn't believe what just happened. She went onto a ventilator because her breathing was critical. After a week, I went to go and visit her and I was trying to hold back my tears. A few days later she died. I did not cry because I had to stay strong for my grandpa and my dad. The next day I cried so much since I couldn't handle it. Ever since that day, I haven't been the same person. I used to a goofy person but now I have been much more serious. I am slowly healing but it is difficult. I used to talk to my grandma about many things and now I do not trust anyone to tell the things I used to tell her. This has affected me so much that my mental health was also critical. I have had mental health problems with my relationship to food. I have been known to obese for most of my life. It is difficult to deal with weight especially when you have to lose it. I have been made fun of because of it. I would do diets even though I did eat healthy on a regular basis. I have tried it for a few years nothing worked. When quarantine came I gained even more weight because I was moving around much. Eventually, I started to lose weight because of drinking lots of water and eating less food. My relationship with food is on a much better level. I still have so many things that I feel like that are wrong with me. I am in high school and it is not easy. I am in the IB program and there is so much homework. Not only do I have so much stress on that, I am pressured by my parents too. I mean I know they just want the best for me but it gets hard when you are under so much stress and pressure when you are teen going through other things as well. Mental health is something that should be looked after because it is one of the main things that can affect someone very much. I have been working and focusing on myself more since that is what I need. I need to be true to myself and not hold anything back that is stopping me from doing something else.

My role model is my mother. She is an amazing person who helps me when I need it. She is a register nurse and she is such a hard worker. My mother has shaped me to be successful in life and help others. She encourages me and motivates me to become a dermatologist. My mother helps me to focus and do my work so I can move on to bigger steps. She knows what I have difficulties in and helps me overcome them. My mother is very supportive and is willing to do anything to make happy and successful. We work as a team to get through what need to. Thank you mother for helping me!