To me, Minecraft is so much more than just a fun little block game. Minecraft was a huge portion of my childhood, from playing on servers with my family and friends to watching PopularMMOs on Youtube, and is still a game I frequently play. I found myself thinking about why, after all these years, I still enjoy the game so much. The answer came to me much quicker than I expected. What I love most about Minecraft is the spirit of connection that the game has fostered across communities and throughout generations. As much as I like playing Minecraft by myself, I have always had more fun playing with others. Before I had a phone, my main way of communicating with my friends would be by hopping on our joint server and chatting in-game with them. I loved exploring the world and building structures together with my family, and it was a great bonding experience between me and my siblings. Multiplayer Minecraft was also a blast: servers like Hypixel and Skyblock were a fun place for me to meet other players and have a good time. To this day, I still play Minecraft with other people; in fact, I am currently playing on a server with my boyfriend and two of my brothers. The Minecraft connection goes far beyond just myself, however. It’s incredible to see how far Minecraft reaches out into the community. YouTubers have generated huge fan bases just off their Minecraft content. Minecrafters like Technoblade and Dream have been able to use their popularity to organize charity fundraisers. People in the community have created mods that let other languages be translated real-time in game so that people from all over the world can speak to each other in their own language. The actual Minecraft community itself is vast and diverse, with so many different people all coming together to share a love of the game. To me, that connection is deep and beautiful, and it has inspired some of the most heartwarming interactions between communities that I have ever seen. Minecraft has played a huge role in my life, and the connections that I have made through this game will resonate with me forever.

The house was quiet, the only sound coming from the clicking of keys on a laptop as Levy worked in her office. She paused from her frantic typing to take a sip of her mint tea. A peaceful smile came over her face as she looked around her office. It was so quiet and calm, just the way she liked it. Plants adorned every possible surface, with vines and flowers cascading down bookshelves and walls. Her cat lay curled on the floor, dozing peacefully in the rays of sun shining through the window. It truly was the picture of serenity, thought Levy happily. Suddenly, a door opened and slammed shut across the house. Levy winced as she heard the sound of something heavy being thrown to the ground and footsteps stomping towards her office. She sighed and got up from her desk to open the door, only for it to be thrown open with a crash right as she reached it. The walls shook slightly, causing three plants to fall from their shelves and crash to the floor. The cat, now awoken from its quiet slumber, hissed and stalked out of the room. Levy looked around at the wreckage, then at its creator, who had flung herself into the beanbag chair next to Levy’s desk with a sullen look on her face. “What happened to you?” Levy asked dryly. “I haven’t seen you look so mad since Mom yelled at you for backing the car into the garage door.” The girl, whose name was Lucy, glowered at Levy. “My professor is making me give an individual presentation in front of the class tomorrow if I want credit for that exam I missed last week. Like really? A presentation?” she huffed indignantly. “I’d way rather just take the exam. Presentations aren’t worth the stress or hassle.” “Just give the presentation, silly,” said Levy in exasperation. “What could go wrong?” Lucy shook her head at Levy’s inability to grasp the severity of the situation. “What could go wrong?!” she asked. “Um, everything! I could forget everything I’m supposed to say, I could stutter all over my words, I could trip on my way up, I could accidentally send him the wrong slides to use, I could–” “Slow down, girl,” said Levy. She looked at Lucy, who appeared to be on the verge of tears, and felt a little bad for being short with her. She sat down next to Lucy and said with a comforting air, “Look, as your big sister, I know a thing or two about giving presentations. I’ve been in college for longer than you have, and I know it’s easy to imagine everything that could go wrong with them. I’m sure it’s even harder for you with your social anxiety.” She took a breath, then continued. “But, despite that, what if you focused on what could go right? After all, you could totally kill the presentation and get your credit for that exam! You could impress your classmates and your professor! Isn’t that a little nicer to think about?” “That’s easy for you to say,” Lucy mumbled. “You’re way more extroverted than I am. I’m just a mess-up.” “Don’t say that!” Levy exclaimed. “You’re not a mess-up at all. You’re passionate, and kind, and 100% capable of doing this presentation. You know this material like the back of your hand.” She stood up and put her hand on Lucy’s shoulder. “I promise, Lucy. If you always think about what could go wrong, you’ll never see the things that can go right. If it’s easier for you, just pick one thing that you’re confident you’ll do right and focus on that. I believe in you, and I’m proud of you. You just have to be proud of yourself too.” Lucy smiled softly. “I’ll try my best. Thanks, Levy. You’re not the worst sister after all.” She got up and glanced around the room. “Oh, and, uh, sorry for doing all that,” she said sheepishly, gesturing at the broken plants. Levy sighed. “I want new ones after you finish your classes tomorrow,” she said. “You break it, you buy it.” Lucy gave her a thumbs-up and left the room. Levy returned to her laptop and tea, the serenity of the room now a distant memory.

Children are the foundation of our society: this is something I have known for a very long time. Having grown up in a smaller community where everyone knew each other and children were cherished, I learned of the great importance of family, friends, and community in the child development process. As I began my schooling, I noticed that many of my peers seemed to lack the strong familial support system that I had. I wanted to understand how this came to be and how it affected them. This desire to understand and learn about others led me to discover the field of psychology, and I immediately fell in love with it. I have studied psychology for many years, and from my first experience working with youth, I knew that I wanted to pursue a career where I could continue to help and support the young ones in my community. It was with this desire that I began my undergraduate degree as a psychology student, with the goal of one day becoming a child and adolescent clinical psychologist. My time at the University of Arizona has been very fulfilling and filled with opportunity. In addition to my schoolwork, I have been able to join research labs, volunteer on campus and in the Tucson community, and meet lots of unique people. I hold dear the many connections and experiences I have gained throughout my undergraduate career. My education goals do not end at a Bachelors, however. In order to achieve my dream of becoming a child and adolescent psychologist, I must continue onwards to graduate school. I love school, so this is not a problem for me; unfortunately, graduate school is very costly. As such, I have been saving money for the tuition and other fees. This scholarship would help ease some of my financial stress and would let me finish up my undergraduate degree debt-free. Between my two jobs and this scholarship, I would be able to save enough money to make it through my senior year and pay for some of my graduate school. Once I finish all my schooling, I will at last be out in the field, helping to support the youth and cornerstones of our community. To me, a career centered around helping others is the most fulfilling career I could imagine, and I look forward to my future with great anticipation!

I have always fostered a deep love and appreciation for music since I was a little girl. I used to marvel at my aunt while she played her golden grand piano, and when no one was around, I used to sneak into our church building and tinker on the keys of the organ. I began to take piano lessons when I was 8 years old, and I have continued to play ever since then. Piano is one of the most important parts of my life, and one of my absolute favorite hobbies. To me, playing piano is more than just memorizing a few songs. Piano is a way for me to express my creativity through music. I have spent many a happy hour sitting at the piano, writing new pieces and brainstorming different ideas for unique key patterns. Piano also helps me relax and unwind after a busy week of school or work. It is so easy to just tune out the world around me and play. The joy that I get from playing piano is one that is nigh unmatched by any other hobby in my life and is a continual source of contentment for me. Playing piano has also introduced me to some of the dearest friends that I have in my life. I adore my piano teacher, who is one of my personal role models in life. Through attending lessons at her house, I became extremely close to her daughter as well, who has remained as one of my best friends for the past ten years. I have incredibly fond memories attached to piano, and these memories only enhance my love for it. Learning piano has helped me develop essential skills that I use in other areas of my life, such as grit, determination, and rhythm. For example, through practicing songs over and over in my piano lessons, I have learned to maintain a strong work ethic in my education and career. I have also learned how to cope with failure from playing piano. I was and still am not a piano prodigy. I have to put countless hours into learning different pieces, and I still often fail to play them correctly come recital day. However, I have only persevered through these failures and used them as growth along my piano journey. I have applied this valuable lesson to all other aspects of my life, which has helped me so much. Over the years, playing piano has grown from a simple pastime to a part of who I am today. To me, piano symbolizes my own personal growth, grit, and happiness. Whether I am happy or sad, angry or content, piano will never fail to revive my spirits.

Recently, I just celebrated the four year anniversary of the day I almost committed suicide. I was but a child of twelve years struggling with severe depression and anxiety, and I had finally reached the end of my rope. The mental health stigma was particularly strong within my general circle of acquaintances during that time, and I felt that I had genuinely no one to turn to. On that day four years ago, I sat alone in my room, fighting with the little strength I had left to not kill myself. I am not sure exactly what pulled me back from the brink, but I do know that it was a very, very close call. That was the darkest and most terrifying moment in my life, and it has forever changed my perception of both myself and mental health in general. My road to recovery has been a very slow process, but it has given me so many gifts along the way. From that day on, I decided that I was going to pursue a career in psychology and counseling, and I have been working towards that goal ever since. On top of becoming a counseling psychologist, I have also resolved to directly fight against the mental health stigma in my career, since it was one of the main reasons for my attempted suicide. In addition to guiding my future career choices, my experience has also given me a newfound appreciation of life. I have learned to truly be grateful for everything in my life, as it indicates that I am still alive and fighting for a better future for both myself and others. My battle with mental health has been long and arduous, but it has given me goals for the future and taught me how to truly live.

It so happens that today is actually the four year anniversary of the day I almost committed suicide. I was but a child of twelve years struggling with severe depression and anxiety, and I had finally reached the end of my rope. The mental health stigma was particularly strong within my general circle of acquaintances during that time, and I felt that I had genuinely no one to turn to. I suffered in complete silence for months, and only one or two people had an inkling how close to the brink I was. On that day four years ago, I sat alone in my room, fighting with the little strength I had left to not kill myself. I remember going to the kitchen and holding a knife in my hand, just staring at it. I’m not sure when I put it back, but I do remember crawling back into my room and sobbing bitterly until I fell asleep on the floor. That was the darkest and most terrifying moment in my life, and it has forever changed my perception of mental health. My road to recovery has been a very slow process, but it has given me so many gifts along the way. From that day on, I decided that I was going to pursue a career in psychology and counseling, and I have been working towards that goal ever since. No one should ever have to go through what I went through. What shocks me most about my experience is that I was too scared to speak to anyone about my mental health concerns, even though I desperately needed help. This negative connotation of mental health and therapy was and still is a major problem in society that must be corrected immediately. Thus, in addition to becoming a counseling psychologist, I have also resolved to directly fight against the mental health stigma in my career. I have already been working towards developing a product that may have great benefits for both mental health and raising awareness about mental health. I am also a member of a small group that works towards spreading awareness and forming a community of trustworthy confidants for those who have suffered with their mental health. Both of these things are incredibly important to me, and I will continue to pursue these areas in my future career. In addition to guiding my future career choices, my experiences with mental health have given me a newfound appreciation for life. I have learned to be truly grateful for everything in my life, whether it be positive or negative. They are a testament to the fact that I am still alive and fighting for a better future for both myself and others. This joy of living is a gift that my younger self could only dream of achieving, and I am sure that she would be incredibly proud of how far I have come to love and accept myself. My interactions with mental health have greatly influenced most of my future plans for both my professional and personal life. When I was in the height of my depression those four years ago, my only wish was that there had been even one person in whom I could confide my troubles. I am now working towards becoming that person for someone else, and nothing in the world could bring me greater satisfaction. My biggest dream is to make the world just a little bit brighter by helping others with mental health, and I am proud to say that I am working towards that dream every day.

When I first sat down to write this essay, I must admit that I was at a general loss for words. I never know where to begin the story of my journey through mental health. It is always so difficult to find the right way to describe my path, especially when a lot of it remains a mystery even to myself. However, I will try my best to relate as to why mental health is so important to me and why I have centered my life goals around a career in mental health. It so happens that today is actually the four year anniversary of the day I almost committed suicide. I was but a child of twelve years struggling with severe depression and anxiety, and I had finally reached the end of my rope. The mental health stigma was particularly strong within my general circle of acquaintances during that time, and I felt that I had genuinely no one to turn to. I suffered in complete silence for months, and only one or two people had an inkling how close to the brink I was. On that day four years ago, I sat alone in my room, fighting with the little strength I had left to not kill myself. I remember going to the kitchen and holding a knife in my hand, just staring at it. I’m not sure when I put it back, but I do remember crawling back into my room and sobbing bitterly until I fell asleep on the floor. That was the darkest and most terrifying moment in my life, and it has forever changed my perception of mental health. My road to recovery has been a very slow process, but it has given me so many gifts along the way. From that day on, I decided that I was going to pursue a career in psychology and counseling, and I have been working towards that goal ever since. No one should ever have to go through what I went through. What shocks me most about my experience is that I was too scared to speak to anyone about my mental health concerns, even though I desperately needed help. This negative connotation of mental health and therapy was and still is a major problem in society that must be corrected immediately. Thus, in addition to becoming a counseling psychologist, I have also resolved to directly fight against the mental health stigma in my career. I have already been working towards developing a product that may have great benefits for both mental health and raising awareness about mental health. I am also a member of a small group that works towards spreading awareness and forming a community of trustworthy confidants for those who have suffered with their mental health. Both of these things are incredibly important to me, and I will continue to pursue these areas in my future career. My interactions with mental health have greatly influenced most of my future plans for both my professional and personal life. When I was in the height of my depression those four years ago, my only wish was that there had been even one person in whom I could confide my troubles. I am now working towards becoming that person for someone else, and nothing in the world could bring me greater satisfaction. My biggest dream is to make the world just a little bit brighter with my career in mental health, and I am proud to say that I am working towards that dream every day.

Most people, when asked about their plans for later in life, often confess that they are unsure as to what they want their future to look like. I, however, have always known exactly what I want to do with my life, and I have set many goals for myself in order to achieve the future that I desire. One of my academic goals is to study psychology and become a certified clinical psychologist. However, I do not want to simply become just another psychologist working for a larger company. My goal is to open my own private practice and, eventually, my own psychology clinic. I have always had entrepreneurial interests, and starting my own practice is one of my long-time professional dreams. I hope to be able to touch countless lives with my practice and be a business that actively helps others. I also have many personal goals for my life after college, where I can have the time and freedom to express my creativity. For instance, writing has long been one of my passions, and I would very much like to write and publish my personal trilogy in the future. I have also been a student of the piano for nearly ten years, and as such wish to continue to create and play music. I have plans to further explore nature as well. One of my goals, for example, is to visit some of the most breathtaking natural beauties around the world, such as the cherry blossoms of Japan. But above all else, I plan to live a life of self-love and personal happiness. By doing the things that bring me joy, I will be able to take care of myself, which will allow me to properly help others.

I, like most people on this planet, enjoy occasionally daydreaming about my future. I find it to be a pleasant and productive way to pass the time, and it helps me to keep my goals in order. I have always envisioned my dream life to be one filled with happiness, success, and love. In my dream life, I have a small turquoise house on the beach. My bedroom has a window that faces the ocean and a balcony that I can sit on and paint. The house also has a library teeming with my favorite books and a big cushy chair to curl up in. I share this house with my husband and children, whom I love dearly. We all frequently go on walks along the beach, where we talk to each other and bond as a family. A few miles away from my beach house is my psychology practice, which I own and run myself. I am a successful psychologist who loves her career and her clients. I make enough money from my business to comfortably support my family and have extra money to spend on family vacations and get-togethers. In my spare time, I write my long-planned trilogy and publish it, where it is favorably received by the public. In short, in my dream life, I am surrounded by the things that I love. My life is happy and content, and I start each day with a smile. As unrealistic as this dream may sound, I have every hope and belief that I will one day be able to fulfill this dream life. Through hard work and determination, I spend every day working towards my goals and getting one step closer to that little turquoise beach house.

Throughout my mentorship career, it has become apparent to me that young children are simply not being educated in proper mental health practices. Schools stress the importance of finding the slope of a line and studying Shakespeare, and yet they fail to teach students the most important practice: how to take care of yourself. How, then, are children expected to know how to create mental stability if it is the one topic that is never discussed in school? This is the problem I seek to correct through mentoring young students. My goal through my mentorship of others is to be able to help struggling preteens and teens with their mental health and to destroy the stigma surrounding mental illness. By demonstrating to the younger generation that mental health is just as important as physical health and helping them develop healthy coping mechanisms, I hope to ensure that future generations will not have to struggle with the same issues. Enabling my mentees with the tools needed to build a stable mental mindset will allow them to pass on these lessons to the next generation. As a mentor, I hope that by modeling healthy mental actions and practices and addressing the issue of mental health so openly, these students will eventually pass on their knowledge to others. The first step to combating mental illness is to become aware of it, and by raising this awareness in my mentees, I work to impact not only today’s society, but future generations.

The sad truth in our world today is that there are, in fact, millions of people who suffer every day. Countless unfortunate souls go without food, shelter, clothing, or love for their entire lives. As a fellow human on this earth, I cannot sit idly by while others are forced to suffer alone. Thus, I have made it my personal goal to help as many people as I can in my life through my own unique gifts and experiences. One simple way that I help others is to simply listen to their struggles and trials in life. There are so many people who simply do not have anyone in their life to listen to them, and to many people, it can mean the world to have someone invested in them and their personal story. I find it easy to connect to people this way, and all it takes is a little bit of my time. I try to actively listen to everyone who walks into my life, whether it be my friend from school or a random customer in my line at work. I also lend myself to charities and other organizations to physically be able to help those in need. Over the course of my life, I have been blessed to be a part of many food drives, charity fundraisers, and active support groups within my community. Some of these groups include Pennies for Patients, Adopt a Family, and Saint Mary’s Food Bank. I work with many other volunteers to combat hunger, poverty, homelessness, and mental illness. This work allows me to personally help others and have an immediate impact on their life. Seeing the happiness of those who I have helped inspires me to continue on this path of selflessness.

Every aspect of my life is something to be grateful for. I truly have been blessed with many of the greatest gifts that life can offer. I have been given loving family and friends who deeply care for me and help me with every step along my path of life. I have also been granted a creative and intelligent mind that is able to look at the world around me in many different ways, and a positive mindset that helps keep me focused on what matters in my life. I have food to eat, a place to live, and clothes to wear. The list of things that I am grateful for goes on forever. I could never run out of things to be thankful for. In order to better remember and honor the people and things that I am grateful for, I use a gratitude journal. Every day, usually right before I go to bed, I write down at least three things that I am grateful for. It can be for things as small as having a piece of chocolate at work, or for things as large as being accepted to the college of my dreams. Utilizing a gratitude journal helps me focus on the positive aspects of my life, as opposed to the negative, and lets me end the day on a happy note. I have been keeping a gratitude journal for around a year and a half, and I have observed a general increase in my happiness as a result. Thus, I continue to daily give thanks for the many blessings in my life and to practice gratefulness in my everyday life.

My life, surprisingly, is not perfect. I do not always have the energy needed to perform life’s basic tasks, and sometimes I find myself on the verge of a breakdown on the side of the road. Luckily, I have so many different sources of fuel to draw from, I will never completely run out of gas. One of my main sources of fuel is my incredible support group. This group includes my family, close friends, and the many influential adults in my life. Any and all of them are always ready to help me at the drop of a hat. They are endlessly supportive of all my endeavors and freely give love and kindness every day. They are one of the main reasons I have made it to where I am today. Another personal source of fuel for me is music. I have always deeply loved music since I was a baby, and I find ways to implement it into my everyday life through playing piano, listening to music, and creating my own songs and pieces. Music brings me a sense of comfort and security and helps provide me mental stability. I also have many life goals that keep me grounded and provide me the fuel to keep going. These goals included becoming a clinical psychologist and opening my own practice, writing and publishing a trilogy, and raising a loving, healthy family. I will stop at nothing to achieve my goals, and thus, they grant me the energy to continue living. My history is full of dark moments of depression and anxiety, but through the implementation of these different fuels, I have been able to persevere. These things helped me in the past, fuel me in the present, and will continue to support me in the future.

As I am going into a career field that specializes in studying mental health, I understand how important it is to be able to relax and focus on your own mental stability. Thus, I have a few different ways in which I unwind and spend some time on my mental health. One of my favorite ways to relax is sitting down and reading a good book. I have no shortage of books to read at any given time, so I always have an option if I am looking to have some time to myself. I have always loved reading, and it is one of the most relaxing and fulfilling pastimes that I can do for myself. Curling up in a soft, squishy chair with a book in hand is a surefire way to brighten my day. Another way I love to relax is by sitting outside and listening to music. This combines two of my favorite things, nature and music, and requires little to no effort to do. The combination of relaxing music drifting through my ears and the warmth of being outside is incredibly calming and soothing. Lastly, one of the most important ways I take care of my mental health is through practicing mindfulness. I have been practicing mindfulness for many years now, and I still find it to be the most effective for my mental health. Taking the time to slow down and truly reflect upon my life is the most stabilizing treatment for my mental health.

Joy appears to me in so many different forms in my life. To me, joy is listening to the sound of the piano humming beneath my fingertips. Joy is sipping Starbucks while I sit and read books on my back patio. Joy is laughing late into the night with my best friend. Joy is walking along the beach alone, waves lapping gently at my feet. Joy is feeling the wind rush through my hair as I run, each drop of sweat a weight falling from my shoulders. Joy is making memories with the people I love. Joy is living. I didn’t always appreciate these small moments of life. I used to ignore them completely, looking for things bigger and grander. How shallow were those moments, when they came at last! I was left with a false, hollow happiness, one that did nothing to feed my soul. It took me many, many years to realize that true joy in my life lay in the “insignificant” moments. Through practicing mindfulness and recognizing these small occurrences, I began to truly experience joy. Even though I know where to search for joy, the journey is not always simple. It can be very difficult to see the joy in a world full of sadness, and it is often easy to overlook the good in favor of the bad. Thus, I consciously strive each day to seek out the things that bring me joy in life. Even doing small things, like waking up on time or taking a moment to stand outside and breathe, helps me keep track of what is precious to me. Joy is an ongoing quest, one that never ends, and in order to continue to find joy in life, I must equip myself with self-awareness, hope, and love.

By far, the most inspiring book I have ever read is “Good Morning, Monster” by Catherine Gildiner. This nonfiction narrative written by a former psychologist relates of five different clients that she treated over the years and their respective heroic stories of recoveries. Each client’s story is heart-wrenchingly tragic and horrible to read about, and it seems nearly impossible that such a person could ever recover from such psychological trauma. One woman, for example, was brutally raped every day by her father from the age of four to fourteen. He forced her to take mind-altering substances and often gang-raped her with his pedophile friends when they came over. She attempted to commit suicide twice at thirteen, and was left with such deep psychological scarring that she developed dissociative identity disorder in her later life. However, despite her trauma and horrendous past, she was able to psychologically recover through her journey with Dr. Gildiner. These stories inspire so much hope for the future of therapy and psychology. In a desperate and unrecoverable situation, each client was able to learn to cope with their trauma and begin to live a meaningful life. This success-against-all-odds book inspired me to pursue a path in psychology and therapy and gives me hope for a world filled with many stories just like the ones in “Good Morning, Monster.”

I personally believe that my best skill is my creativity. I have always loved to create, and I let my creativity shine through in everything I do. I have found that I have unique perspectives in many areas of my life, and I use these new ideas to develop concepts that have not been thought of before. I channel my creativity into countless outlets, some of which include my education, work life, and personal hobbies. I am always searching for ways to improve my creativity. I enjoy discovering new areas through which to express myself, and in these new fields of life, I strive to think outside of the box. I love doing things that allow my creative juices to flow, such as playing the piano, painting, and writing, and I continually work on these skills and more in order to build my creativity. I also pursue other mediums of creative expression, such as poetry, singing, and sketching. For me, creativity makes up who I am as an individual. I am very proud of my creative abilities, and I count my blessings for having been given such a talent. Creativity is what sets me apart from everyone else, and I would not have it any other way.

One of the simplest, and yet most sincere, things that I do for the loved ones in my life is listen to them. People often discredit the power of listening, but it is one of the most reassuring and comforting actions for those in need. Truly listening to someone makes them feel valid and fills them with self-worth. It is easy to convey my love to my family and friends through listening. I am showing them that I care about what they have to say. Another gesture of love that I like to extend to my family and friends is surprising them with small gifts. It is always nice to know that someone is remembering you, and a thoughtful gift is a way to show loved ones that you are thinking of them. Even a small thing like a book or favorite candy bar can brighten someone’s day, and I live for that moment of joy when they see that I have remembered something small about them, or that I have recognized that they are struggling and need a pick-me-up. Most important to me is verbally telling my family and friends, “I love you.” These words, while so small and few, mean the world to them. They cannot mistake my love for them when it is so clearly expressed. I try to tell my loved ones this as often as I can, often accompanied with a hug or a warm smile. There is nothing more important to me than the loved ones in my life. My family, friends, and help-mates have shown me infinite amounts of love and support, and it is all I can do to give them the same amounts of love. I make it my personal goal that each and every one of these people feels loved.

One of the most difficult times of my life happened in my eighth grade year of schooling. During this year, I suffered through crippling depression and anxiety. I was but a child of twelve years, blonde and petite, unequip to handle the sadness and trauma of my mental state. It consumed my everyday thoughts and actions and directly started to affect my life. I closed myself off from my friends and family. I woke up feeling sick every morning and cried myself to sleep most nights. I was on a dark downward spiral, one that seemed like it would never end. My depression reached its peak when I began to have suicidal thoughts. I knew then that something had to change quickly, or else my life might be in risk. After I realized the severity of my depression, I began to pour all my effort into pulling myself from that dark place. Through sheer perseverance and determination, I clawed my way out of the pits of despair alone. I have struggled along the path to recovery for many years now, and perseverance has been the only thing to keep me afloat on many occasions. If I had not been so persistent back in eighth grade, I may not have even been able to write this essay today. I can truly say that perseverance was the key to saving myself, and I continue to persevere through mental illness today.

One of my personal beliefs when it comes to helping others around me is that simply listening to them is one of the kindest things I can do. To me, listening is an easy way to brighten someone’s day. All of us want to be heard in some way, and having someone earnestly listen to your trials and tribulations is one of the most relieving experiences for someone who is struggling in life. To me, listening means more than just nodding along to someone ranting to you. Listening requires comprehension of what the other person is saying and responding in a manner that is most comforting to the speaker. Listening means that you are fully invested in the person’s story, no matter how boring or trivial it may seem to you. In order to truly listen to someone, you must experience empathy for that person. To listen is to love. I actively practice listening in my everyday life. I make a conscious effort to check up on my friends and family to see how they are doing and listen to them as they tell me about their life. I genuinely enjoy listening to others, and I consider it one of the best ways that I can help people in my life. Listening is an essential part of building stable relationships with others and is a skill that should be taught as strenuously as reading or writing.

I have many different hobbies, but my absolute favorite out of all of them is playing piano. As unimpressive as it may seem compared to other activities I have done, piano to me symbolizes my personal grit, growth, and creative spirit. Piano has become a part of me, and to remove piano from my life would be to rob me of what makes me unique. Over the course of the ten years I have taken piano, I have learned that in order to truly succeed, you must develop grit. Grit, the ability to continue pushing forward in spite of failure, was a lesson drilled into my head from countless hours of practicing the same lines over and over. I was not a child prodigy at piano; in fact, I was terrible at it. However, I loved piano so dearly that I was willing to pour all my time into learning how to play. Through sheer determination, I grew from a tiny girl who could barely find C on the keyboard to a capable woman performing the pieces she had always dreamed of playing. Piano for me is a way to express myself. Whether I am playing a piece from my favorite video game or creating my own songs, I am exposing my true self in a form that is purer than any other. People have long searched for what makes them unique, and for me, that individuality comes from piano. Thus, to abandon piano would be to leave my identity behind. Playing piano also helps me develop valuable traits that I use in my other hobbies, such as creativity, serenity, and empathy. Without piano, I would not be the same person I am today. Piano is who I truly am.

The moment in which I found my favorite book of all time is a magical one. I found the book inside a musty old chest of drawers in a darkened office filled with grime and dirt. I can recall the flickering light from the broken ceiling lamp illuminating it as I picked it up, brushing the dust off of it. Its cover was worn and soft, and its spine was creased from the decades people had spent flipping through its pages. Sprawled above the picture on the cover was the title of the book, "Wizard’s First Rule", and underneath was the author’s name, Terry Goodkind. When I first found "Wizard’s First Rule", nothing could have prepared me for how much I was going to love and adore the book. Within the first paragraph, I was sucked into a world of magic, swords, romance, and evil. The plot was so intricately crafted, the setting so verbose; I had never read anything like it before. I fell hopelessly in love with all the characters, and I was so emotionally invested in the plot, I sometimes found it hard to differentiate the fantasy world from real life. "Wizard’s First Rule" helped me greatly through one of the most difficult time periods in my life. I had been suffering from depression and anxiety, and reading was one of my only comforts in life. When I had no one to turn to, I knew that I could turn to the main characters, Richard and Kahleen. When I found myself feeling blue, I simply opened my book and let my worries melt away. Even though the world of "Wizard’s First Rule" is fictional, to me it feels just as real as anything else, and I will always hold a special place for it in my heart.

Our world is slowly becoming more and more stressful as time goes on, and often the burdens and trials of life begin to press down upon us. During these times, it is so refreshing to have someone to talk to about your struggles and to earnestly listen to you. Having someone take the time to hear about how your life is going is one of the most uplifting experiences one can have, and certainly helps to alleviate the stress of life. I try as often as I can to be the person that people can come to with their problems. When my friends are in tears and just need someone to talk to, I am always ready and willing to go to them and help. I enjoy being a comforting presence for someone, and it is my favorite way to help others. I have wished many times in my own life that I had had someone to simply talk to and listen to me, and so I have made a promise to myself to be that person for someone else. Helping others cope with their mental stress and issues is incredibly fulfilling to me, because I am empowering them to build themselves a more peaceful and stable life. By helping them, I am fulfilling my personal promise to myself, and that means more to me than anything else. Thus, I try to go out of my way to talk to someone who looks overburdened and listen to their story whenever possible. This calling drives me today to become a person of integrity so that I can better aid others in their battle of life.