My father taught me that life is much like learning how to ride a bicycle. I was confused as to why he would remove the training wheels, which were in place to help me keep my balance. I recall my father gripping the handle bar and leading me down the driveway for the last time. My father died of leukemia when I was thirteen, and my training wheels vanished in the blink of an eye. My father had been working on loosening them so I could learn to ride without them. My father's absence has had the deepest impact on my life. Recently, my school decided to not allow the majority of upperclassmen to return to campus due to COVID-19 without the option of continuing our education virtually and leaving most of us homeless. I was denied housing five times this summer, and I am unable to secure my own apartment since my mother cannot be my guarantor due to a lack of finances. Although it is seven years after my fathers death, my mother and I still have to bear the consequences of living without his financial support. I have been facing severe anxiety praying that I can return to school this semester with somewhere to live. There have been several times throughout my adolescence that I had to financially provide for my mother and myself. I remember my mom coming to my room to tell me that she had no money left in her name. I had to use the little funds I had saved from working at Burger King to buy groceries. My father's passing pushed me to develop faster than I would have liked. Every day, I aim to do my best so that I may assist those who are in similar situations. Grief has taught me to live with a deeper purpose by better serving those around me. Throughout high school and college, I have advised various students individually through their difficulties based on my personal experiences. At Spelman College I met other young black women like me who needed to feel understood. The more I listened, the more I was inspired to study computer science to one day create the supportive atmosphere that individuals suffering from mental illnesses require by combining my technological skills with my passion for mental health care. I hope to achieve my long-term objective of one day developing an app that would bridge the gap between underserved communities receiving inexpensive and accessible mental health care treatment. Technology has the capacity to connect people who feel isolated in their difficulties, and it has assisted psychiatrists and mental health practitioners in detecting those who may be suffering from mental disorders and ensuring that they have access to simple and cost-effective therapy. Computer science appealed to me since I would be able to have a large-scale social contribution. If I am awarded the Rho Brooks Women in STEM Scholarship, it will allow me to further my studies in providing others with the instrument of support I once lost. I am currently focusing on improving my coding abilities and hope to acquire my Health and Life Coach certifications. Being nominated to represent Spelman College as a mental health advocate and being featured on a billboard for Georgia's Own Credit Union was the assurance I needed that I am on the right road toward creating the safe atmosphere for my community that I have desired for. I picture myself plummeting down a hill, tears in my eyes and the wind in my hair. My father's voice encourages me to continue pedaling. I'm soaring!

My father taught me that life is much like learning how to ride a bicycle. I was confused as to why he would remove the training wheels, which were in place to help me keep my balance. I recall my father gripping the handle bar and leading me down the driveway for the last time. My father died of leukemia when I was thirteen, and my training wheels vanished in the blink of an eye. My father had been working on loosening them so I could learn to ride without them. Grief has taught me to live with a deeper purpose by better serving those around me. Throughout high school and college, I have advised various students individually through their difficulties based on my personal experiences. At Spelman College I met other young black women like me who needed to feel understood. The more I listened, the more I was inspired to study computer science to one day create the supportive atmosphere that individuals suffering from mental illnesses require by combining my technological skills with my passion for mental health care. Recently, my school decided to not allow the majority of upperclassmen to return to campus due to COVID-19 without the option of continuing our education virtually and leaving most of us homeless. I was denied housing five times this summer, and I am unable to secure my own apartment since my mother cannot be my guarantor due to a lack of finances. Although it is seven years after my fathers death, my mother and I still have to bear the consequences of living without his financial support. I have been facing severe anxiety praying that I can return to school this semester with somewhere to live. There have been several times throughout my adolescence that I had to financially provide for my mother and myself. I remember my mom coming to my room to tell me that she had no money left in her name. I had to use the little funds I had saved from working at Burger King to buy groceries. My father's passing pushed me to develop faster than I would have liked. Every day, I aim to do my best so that I may assist those who are in similar situations. If I am awarded the Art of Giving Scholarship, it will allow me to further my studies in providing others with the instrument of support I once lost. I am currently focusing on improving my coding abilities and hope to acquire my Health and Life Coach certifications. Being nominated to represent Spelman College as a mental health advocate and being featured on a billboard for Georgia's Own Credit Union was the assurance I needed that I am on the right road toward creating the safe atmosphere for my community that I have desired for. I picture myself plummeting down a hill, tears in my eyes and the wind in my hair. My father's voice encourages me to continue pedaling. I'm soaring!

Depression is not sinking or floating, but rather to be strung between the two. One of the most important lessons I learned during the pandemic was how to maintain stability in the midst of chaos. During my first year of college several family members passed away, and the world entered a global pandemic that had an impact on my academic performance and mental wellbeing. My health was badly affected by the stress I was under as a result of the quantity of despair I was experiencing as a result of losing loved ones one after the other. For weeks, I suffered from horrible headaches and sobbed myself to sleep every night in my dorm room, feeling alone in my suffering. Suicidal thoughts were frequent, and no matter how hard I tried to seek out for help, I felt misunderstood. I summoned the last of my power to drag myself out of the depression that was pulling me down. I sketched a flowchart on a sheet of paper to represent my thoughts in three sections: the past, the present, and the future. Based on the time zone in which my thoughts were, I classified them into what emotions I was hanging onto and how to let each feeling go. In the midst of my despair, my biggest accomplishment was teaching myself how to be present and concentrate on what I've gained rather than what I've lost. My life experiences have taught me how to live with a deeper purpose and how to better serve those around me. On campus, I met people like me who needed someone to listen and feel understood. Based on my personal experiences, I counseled several students individually through their difficulties. The more I listened, the more I learned that we shared one commonality as students, which is the need to prioritize our mental health. This realization motivated me to reach out to those around me on campus who needed to be aware of their purpose, worth, and ability to persevere in the face of adversity. I choose to persevere through school because my grief experiences have enabled me to pursue Computer Science to one day build the supportive environment that people need by utilizing my technical skills, combined with my passion for mental health care, to encourage my peers and those who have been affected by mental illness. The tech industry would be at its best if it represented the communities it serves. As a person of color who has had the opportunity to hear the needs of people who look like me, I am inspired to continue to help underrepresented communities realize their purpose. To achieve my long-term objective of one day developing an app that would bridge the gap between underserved communities receiving inexpensive and accessible mental health care treatment, I am presently enrolled in Codepath's Technical Interview Prep to improve my coding skills, and I am working on my Health and Life Coach certifications. Starting my own business as a Life Coach has always been a dream of mine. I lost my father to leukemia when I was thirteen, and since then I've been coaching others my age and much older than me on how to be present in the midst of their hardships and identify their purpose. It is a natural gift for me, and I have been extending that ability throughout the years by overcoming each hurdle I have faced and guiding others to discover joy in their life. Mental illness is often disregarded in the Black community, which is why it is my purpose to be the change I wish to see in my community. When I get my qualifications as a Health and Life Coach, I'll be able to officially own my own business to continue to advise individuals on how to make the proactive steps they need to take to redesign their lives. My Life Coaching business and Computer Science degree would complement each other since I would be able to better understand the concerns of people suffering from mental illnesses in order to create an app that would cater to these individuals. My business would also help me financially pay for my college education to finish my Computer Science degree and minimize the cost of student loans. Having persevered through the challenges of my life has helped me to give others the instrument of support I once lost. I was chosen to represent my school as a mental health advocate and was featured on a billboard in Atlanta, Georgia for Georgia's Own Credit Union. Being recognized for the pain I endured alone, as well as inspiring others along the way, represented my cries finally being heard. I'm no longer battling to remain afloat; instead, I'm floating calmly on the surface, hoping to encourage others to join me.

Depression is not sinking or floating, but rather to be strung between the two. One of the most important lessons I learned during the pandemic was how to maintain stability in the midst of chaos. During my first year of college several family members passed away tragically, and the world entered a global pandemic that had an impact on my academic performance and mental wellbeing. My health was badly affected by the stress I was under as a result of the quantity of despair I was experiencing as a result of losing loved ones one after the other. For weeks, I suffered from horrible headaches and sobbed myself to sleep every night in my dorm room, feeling alone in my suffering. Suicidal thoughts were frequent, and no matter how hard I tried to seek out for help, I felt misunderstood. I summoned the last of my power to drag myself out of the depression that was pulling me down. I sketched a flowchart on a sheet of paper to represent my thoughts in three sections: the past, the present, and the future. Based on the time zone in which my thoughts were, I classified them into what emotions I was hanging onto and how to let each feeling go. In the midst of my despair, my biggest accomplishment was teaching myself how to be present and concentrate on what I've gained rather than what I've lost. My life experiences have taught me how to live with a deeper purpose and how to better serve those around me. On campus, I met people like me who needed someone to listen and feel understood. Based on my personal experiences, I counseled several students individually through their difficulties. The more I listened, the more I learned that we shared one commonality as students, which is the need to prioritize our mental health. This realization motivated me to reach out to those around me on campus who needed to be aware of their purpose, worth, and ability to persevere in the face of adversity. I choose to persevere through school because my grief experiences have enabled me to pursue Computer Science to one day build the supportive environment that people need by utilizing my technical skills, combined with my passion for mental health care, to encourage my peers and those who have been affected by mental illness. The tech industry would be at its best if it represented the communities it serves. As a person of color who has had the opportunity to hear the needs of people who look like me, I am inspired to continue to help underrepresented communities realize their purpose. To achieve my long-term objective of one day developing an app that would bridge the gap between underserved communities receiving inexpensive and accessible mental health care treatment, I am presently enrolled in Codepath's Technical Interview Prep to improve my coding skills, and I am working on my Health and Life Coach certifications. I hope to change the purpose of technology to bring out the best in society. Having persevered through the challenges of my life has helped me to give others the instrument of support I once lost. I was chosen to represent my school as a mental health advocate and was featured on a billboard in Atlanta, Georgia for Georgia's Own Credit Union. Being recognized for the pain I endured alone, as well as inspiring others along the way, represented my cries finally being heard. I'm no longer battling to remain afloat; instead, I'm floating calmly on the surface, hoping to encourage others to join me.

Depression is not sinking or floating, but rather to be strung between the two. One of the most important lessons I learned during the pandemic was how to maintain stability in the midst of chaos. During my first year of college several family members passed away tragically, and the world entered a global pandemic that had an impact on my academic performance and mental wellbeing. My health was badly affected by the stress I was under as a result of the quantity of despair I was experiencing as a result of losing loved ones one after the other. For weeks, I suffered from horrible headaches and sobbed myself to sleep every night in my dorm room, feeling alone in my suffering. Suicidal thoughts were frequent, and no matter how hard I tried to seek out for help, I felt misunderstood. I had lost my father to leukemia when I was thirteen, so grief was nothing new to me. I summoned the last of my power to drag myself out of the depression that was pulling me down. Journaling helped me after my father died, but at the time, I couldn't get my thoughts down on paper since so many were racing through my mind. Instead, I sketched a flowchart on a sheet of paper to represent my thoughts in three sections: the past, the present, and the future. Based on the time zone in which my thoughts were, I classified them into what emotions I was hanging onto and how to let each feeling go. In the midst of my despair, my biggest accomplishment was teaching myself how to be present and concentrate on what I've gained rather than what I've lost. My life experiences have taught me how to live with a deeper purpose and how to better serve those around me. As a student, it is easy to feel alone in our grief, anxiety, depression, and desire to succeed. On campus, I met people like me who needed someone to listen and feel understood. Based on my personal experiences, I counseled several students individually through their difficulties. The more I listened, the more I learned that we shared one commonality as students, which is the need to prioritize our mental health. This realization motivated me to reach out to those around me on campus who needed to be aware of their purpose, worth, and ability to persevere in the face of adversity. As students, we deserve to have a safe place where we can share our greatest achievements as well as our darkest moments and failures. My grief experiences have enabled me to pursue Computer Science to one day build the supportive environment that people need by utilizing my technical skills, combined with my passion for helping people who are struggling with mental illness, to encourage my peers and those who have been affected by the pandemic and other life issues. The tech industry would be at its best if it represented the communities it serves. As a person of color who has had the opportunity to hear the needs of people who look like me, I am inspired to help underrepresented communities realize their purpose. To achieve my long-term objective of one day developing an app that would bridge the gap between underserved communities receiving inexpensive and accessible mental health care treatment, I am currently focusing on improving my coding abilities and acquiring my Health and Life Coach certifications. Technology has the ability to connect individuals who feel alone in their hardships, which is why computer science appealed to me since I would be able to have a large-scale social contribution. By concentrating our attention on things that are compatible with our objectives, beliefs, and lifestyles, I hope to change the purpose of technology to bring out the best in society. Having persevered through the challenges of my life has helped me to give others the instrument of support I once lost. Months after my grieving experiences, I was chosen to represent my school as a mental health advocate and was featured on a billboard in Atlanta, Georgia for Georgia's Own Credit Union. Being acknowledged for the suffering I experienced alone, as well as encouraging others along the journey, meant a lot to me since my cries for help were finally heard. I'm no longer battling to remain afloat; instead, I'm floating calmly on the surface, hoping to encourage others to join me.

Depression is not sinking or floating, but rather to be strung between the two. One of the most important lessons I learned during the pandemic was how to maintain stability in the midst of chaos. During my first year of college several family members passed away tragically, and the world entered a global pandemic that had an impact on my academic performance and mental wellbeing. I persevered through school while dealing with grief because I wanted to complete what I started. I learned to be present in the middle of my suffering and let go of everything I couldn't control. I practiced gratitude by focusing on what I've gained rather than what I've lost. My life experiences have taught me how to live with a deeper purpose and how to better serve those around me. Sometimes as a student, it is easy to feel alone in our grief, anxiety, depression, and desire to succeed. On campus, I met people like me who needed someone to listen and feel understood. The more I listened, the more I learned that we shared one commonality as students, which is the need to prioritize our mental health. This realization motivated me to reach out to those around me on campus who needed to be aware of their purpose, worth, and ability to persevere in the face of adversity. As students, we deserve to have a safe place where we can share our greatest achievements as well as our darkest moments and failures. My grief experiences have encouraged me to pursue Computer Science to one day build the supportive environment that people need by utilizing my technical skills, combined with my passion for helping people who are struggling with mental illness, to encourage my peers and those who have been affected by the pandemic and other life issues. The tech industry would be at its best if it represented the communities it serves. As a person of color who has had the opportunity to hear the needs of people who look like me, I am inspired to help underrepresented communities realize their purpose. To achieve my long-term objective of one day developing an app that would bridge the gap between underserved communities receiving inexpensive and accessible mental health care treatment, I am currently focusing on improving my coding abilities and acquiring my Health and Life Coach certifications. Artificial intelligence has aided psychiatrists and mental health practitioners in identifying people who may be suffering from substance abuse, depression, or anxiety, and ensuring that they have access to easy and cost-effective treatment. Technology has the ability to connect individuals who feel alone in their hardships, which is why computer science appealed to me since I would be able to have a large-scale social contribution. Having persevered through the challenges of my life has helped me to give others the instrument of support I once lost. I'm no longer battling to remain afloat; instead, I'm floating calmly on the surface, hoping to encourage others to join me.

I manage a community page for Harry Hudson, a musician, on social media. Based on Harry Hudson's songs, I developed this page to engage other fans to elevate and encourage them through difficult times. For one of the community members who has supported my page for the past three years, I designed a postcard and made a gift box. During the pandemic, I was able to send her this box, and her reaction made me so happy since I was able to help someone else in their time of need. Giving back keeps me going during difficult times.

My father taught me that life is much like learning how to ride a bicycle. He showed me how to position my hands and feet. He showed me how to operate the pedal. I had questioned why he would release the training wheels, which were on to assist me maintain my balance. The most important life lessons I've learned haven't come from riding my bike; they've come from picking myself up after a tumble on the concrete. I remember when my father held onto the handle bar and led me down the driveway for the last time. I was thirteen-years-old when my father lost his fight to cancer and in the blink of an eye my training wheels were gone. My father had been loosening them so I could learn how to ride without them. It's everything to me to be able to get through life without my loved ones. They each played a role in shaping who I am now, but their absence has allowed me to put what they taught me into practice. I learned how to persist through life's most challenging trials without them. One of the most important lessons I learned during the pandemic was how to maintain stability in the midst of chaos. During my first year of college several family members passed away tragically, and the world entered a global pandemic that had an impact on my academic performance and mental wellbeing. I persevered through school while dealing with grief because I wanted to complete what I started. I learned to be present in the middle of my suffering and let go of everything I couldn't control. I practiced gratitude by focusing on what I've gained rather than what I've lost. If my loved ones were still alive, I would have relied on them to lead me through life, and I would never have learned to confidently cycle through life on my own. The absence of my loved ones allowed me to grow as a person, to become more self-sufficient, wiser, and to learn how to live with a greater purpose and to better serve those around me. My grief experiences motivated me to reach out to those around me on campus who needed to be aware of their purpose, worth, and ability to persevere in the face of adversity. As students, we deserve to have a safe place where we can share our greatest achievements as well as our darkest moments and failures. Based on my personal experiences, I counseled several students individually through their difficulties. The more I listened, the more I learned that we shared one commonality as students, which is the need to prioritize our mental health. I was thankful for the opportunity to inspire my peers to live more meaningful and joyful lives. To achieve my long-term objective of one day developing an app that would bridge the gap between underserved communities receiving inexpensive and accessible mental health care treatment, I am currently focusing on improving my coding abilities and acquiring my Health and Life Coach certifications. Having persevered through the challenges of my life has helped me to give others the instrument of support I once lost. I picture myself plummeting down a hill, tears in my eyes and the wind in my hair. My father's voice encourages me to continue pedaling. I'm putting all of the teachings my loved ones taught me into practice. I'm soaring!

My father taught me that life is much like learning how to ride a bicycle. He showed me how to position my hands and feet. He showed me how to operate the pedal. I had questioned why he would release the training wheels, which were on to assist me maintain my balance. The most important life lessons I've learned haven't come from riding my bike; they've come from picking myself up after a tumble on the concrete. I remember when my father held onto the handle bar and led me down the driveway for the last time. I was thirteen-years-old when my father lost his fight to cancer and in the blink of an eye my training wheels were gone. My father had been loosening them so I could learn how to ride without them. It's everything to me to be able to get through life without my loved ones. They each played a role in shaping who I am now, but their absence has allowed me to put what they taught me into practice. I learned how to persist through life's most challenging trials without them. One of the most important lessons I learned during the pandemic was how to maintain stability in the midst of chaos. During my first year of college several family members passed away tragically, and the world entered a global pandemic that had an impact on my academic performance and mental wellbeing. I persevered through school while dealing with grief because I wanted to complete what I started. I learned to be present in the middle of my suffering and let go of everything I couldn't control. I practiced gratitude by focusing on what I've gained rather than what I've lost. If my loved ones were still alive, I would have relied on them to lead me through life, and I would never have learned to confidently cycle through life on my own. The absence of my loved ones allowed me to grow as a person, to become more self-sufficient, wiser, and to learn how to live with a greater purpose and to better serve those around me. My grief experiences motivated me to reach out to those around me on campus who needed to be aware of their purpose, worth, and ability to persevere in the face of adversity. To achieve my long-term objective of one day developing an app that would bridge the gap between underserved communities receiving inexpensive and accessible mental health care treatment, I am currently focusing on improving my coding abilities and acquiring my Health and Life Coach certifications. Having persevered through the challenges of my life has helped me to give others the instrument of support I once lost. I picture myself plummeting down a hill, tears in my eyes and the wind in my hair. My father's voice encourages me to continue pedaling. I'm putting all of the teachings my loved ones taught me into practice. I'm soaring!

Waves are pummeling my head as my body drags down to the ocean floor. As I scream for help, water begins to flood my lungs. A burning sensation dwells inside me as the air and water battle to consume my lungs. My head bobs up and down at the surface of the water, fighting to catch a breath. Submerging every now and then causes my vision to blur. Depression starts in the mind and has the ability to take full control over you mentally, emotionally, and physically. Everyday there is a battle within myself that cannot be seen. Such silent wars are a pendulum of emotions that throw me off completely if not properly balanced. Depression is not sinking or floating, but rather to be strung between the two. The pain of losing my dad at a young age ignited a struggle within me that continues to shape my character and broaden my perspective on life. Depression has changed my way of thinking, helping me to cultivate appreciation for life, and has driven me to lead others in fulfilling their purpose. Initially, having lost my father to leukemia at the age of thirteen, my outlook on life was affected by depression. It felt like my world ended when my father passed away because I lost the one person who motivated and instilled wisdom in me. The goals that I had once were not the same for myself as my priorities were shifting. What was most important to me was to one day feel joy again. I discovered later that my interests were no longer satisfying because they only brought me happiness. This moment in my life showed me that the distinction between happiness and joy is that happiness is temporary and joy is everlasting. After learning this, I began to value life even more since what really is important is living with purpose. Nevertheless, I have been able to cultivate gratitude through depression. Your vision is distorted when immersed in water. No matter how many times you blink to try to see clearly, your eyes cannot focus on what is right in front of you. Similar to depression, your mind is in a fog of negativity and you cannot see the good with all the bad surrounding you. One of the most important lessons I learned during the pandemic was how to maintain stability even though everything else in my life seemed to be in chaos. During my first year of college several family members passed away, my professor passed away tragically recently, and the world entered a global pandemic that had an impact on my academic performance and mental wellbeing. I persevered through school while dealing with grief, depression, and anxiety because I wanted to complete what I started. I learned to be present in the middle of my suffering and let go of everything I couldn't control. To receive the joy I desired, I practiced gratitude by focusing on what I've gained rather than what I've lost. I can't alter the reality that my father is no longer alive, nor can I bring back those I've lost in the last year, but I can choose how I respond to their deaths and adapt to life without them. Furthermore, my life experiences have changed my outlook on life by teaching me how to live with a deeper purpose and how to better serve those around me. I live by being the change that I want to see in my community. As big as my school campus is, sometimes as a student, it is easy to feel alone in our grief, anxiety, depression, and desire to succeed. On campus, I met people like me who needed someone to listen and feel understood. The more I listened, the more I learned that we shared one commonality as students, which is the need to prioritize our mental health. This realization motivated me to reach out to those around me on campus who needed to be aware of their purpose, worth, and ability to persevere in the face of adversity. As students, we deserve to have a safe place where we can share our greatest achievements as well as our darkest moments and failures. My grief experiences have encouraged me to one day build the supportive environment that people need by utilizing my computer science skills, combined with my passion for helping people who are struggling with mental illness, to encourage my peers and those who have been affected by the pandemic and other life issues. The tech industry would be at its best if it represented the communities it serves. As a person of color who has had the opportunity to hear the needs of people who look like me, I am inspired to help people in my community realize their worth and purpose by encouraging them to be the best version of themselves. To achieve my long-term objective of one day developing an app that would bridge the gap between underserved communities receiving inexpensive and accessible mental health care treatment, I am currently focusing on improving my coding abilities and acquiring my Health and Life Coach certifications. Calm and Headspace, two apps designed to help people deal with anxiety and stress, are examples of this safe space. My mission is to remind individuals that they, no matter where they are in life, have the ability to create stability and joy in their lives. To summarize, my life circumstances have transformed my perspective on life, taught me gratitude, and inspired me to help others realize their purpose. Through all the challenges I have faced with depression I have remained ambitious for a greater purpose. Having persevered through the challenges of my life has helped me to give myself and others the instrument of support I once lost. I'm no longer battling to remain afloat; instead, I'm floating calmly on the surface, hoping to encourage others to join me.

Waves are pummeling my head as my body drags down to the ocean floor. As I scream for help, water begins to flood my lungs. A burning sensation dwells inside me as the air and water battle to consume my lungs. My head bobs up and down at the surface of the water, fighting to catch a breath. Submerging every now and then causes my vision to blur. Depression starts in the mind and has the ability to take full control over you mentally, emotionally, and physically. Everyday there is a battle within myself that cannot be seen. Such silent wars are a pendulum of emotions that throw me off completely if not properly balanced. Depression is not sinking or floating, but rather to be strung between the two. The pain of losing my dad at a young age ignited a struggle within me that continues to shape my character and broaden my perspective on life. Depression has changed my way of thinking, helping me to cultivate appreciation for life, and has driven me to lead others in fulfilling their purpose. Initially, having lost my father to leukemia at the age of thirteen, my outlook on life was affected by depression. It felt like my world ended when my father passed away because I lost the one person who motivated and instilled wisdom in me. The goals that I had once were not the same for myself as my priorities were shifting. What was most important to me was to one day feel joy again. I discovered later that my interests were no longer satisfying because they only brought me happiness. This moment in my life showed me that the distinction between happiness and joy is that happiness is temporary and joy is everlasting. After learning this, I began to value life even more since what really is important is living with purpose. Nevertheless, I have been able to cultivate gratitude through depression. Your vision is distorted when immersed in water. No matter how many times you blink to try to see clearly, your eyes cannot focus on what is right in front of you. Similar to depression, your mind is in a fog of negativity and you cannot see the good with all the bad surrounding you. One of the most important lessons I learned during the pandemic was how to maintain stability even though everything else in my life seemed to be in chaos. During my first year of college several family members passed away, my professor passed away tragically recently, and the world entered a global pandemic that had an impact on my academic performance and mental wellbeing. I persevered through school while dealing with grief, depression, and anxiety because I wanted to complete what I started. I learned to be present in the middle of my suffering and let go of everything I couldn't control. To receive the joy I desired, I practiced gratitude by focusing on what I've gained rather than what I've lost. I can't alter the reality that my father is no longer alive, nor can I bring back those I've lost in the last year, but I can choose how I respond to their deaths and adapt to life without them. Furthermore, my life experiences have changed my outlook on life by teaching me how to live with a deeper purpose and how to better serve those around me. I live by being the change that I want to see in my community. As big as my school campus is, sometimes as a student, it is easy to feel alone in our grief, anxiety, depression, and desire to succeed. On campus, I met people like me who needed someone to listen and feel understood. The more I listened, the more I learned that we shared one commonality as students, which is the need to prioritize our mental health. This realization motivated me to reach out to those around me on campus who needed to be aware of their purpose, worth, and ability to persevere in the face of adversity. As students, we deserve to have a safe place where we can share our greatest achievements as well as our darkest moments and failures. My grief experiences have encouraged me to one day build the supportive environment that people need by utilizing my computer science skills, combined with my passion for helping people who are struggling with mental illness, to encourage my peers and those who have been affected by the pandemic and other life issues. The tech industry would be at its best if it represented the communities it serves. As a person of color who has had the opportunity to hear the needs of people who look like me, I am inspired to help people in my community realize their worth and purpose by encouraging them to be the best version of themselves. To achieve my long-term objective of one day developing an app that would bridge the gap between underserved communities receiving inexpensive and accessible mental health care treatment, I am currently focusing on improving my coding abilities and acquiring my Health and Life Coach certifications. Calm and Headspace, two apps designed to help people deal with anxiety and stress, are examples of this safe space. My mission is to remind individuals that they, no matter where they are in life, have the ability to create stability and joy in their lives. To summarize, my life circumstances have transformed my perspective on life, taught me gratitude, and inspired me to help others realize their purpose. Through all the challenges I have faced with depression I have remained ambitious for a greater purpose. Having persevered through the challenges of my life has helped me to give myself and others the instrument of support I once lost. I'm no longer battling to remain afloat; instead, I'm floating calmly on the surface, hoping to encourage others to join me.

In my first year, I lost family members on separate occasions that had an impact on my academic performance and mental wellbeing, but I persevered because I wanted to finish what I started. My life experiences have changed my outlook on life by teaching me how to live with a deeper purpose and how to better serve those around me. I live by being the change that I want to see in my community. As big as my school campus is, sometimes as a student, it is easy to feel alone in our grief, anxiety, depression, and desire to succeed. On campus, I met people like me who needed someone to listen and feel understood. The more I listened, the more I learned that we shared one commonality as students, which is the need to prioritize our mental health.This realization motivated me to reach out to those around me on campus who needed to be reminded of their purpose, their value, and their resilience to overcome any challenge they faced. As students, we deserve to have a safe place where we can share our greatest achievements as well as our darkest moments and failures. My grief experiences have inspired me to one day create the safe space that people need, and to use my computer science skills, combined with my passion for helping people who are struggling with mental illness, to bring out the best in society. Calm and Headspace, two apps designed to help people deal with anxiety and stress, are examples of this safe space. As a person of color who has had the chance to hear the needs of people who look like me, I am inspired to help people in my community realize their worth and purpose by encouraging them to be the best version of themselves. I am motivated to make a similar influence on a larger scale by contributing to an organization that would have a long-term impact on our world. Someone once said, “The tech industry would be at its best if it represented the communities it serves.” This comment resonates strongly with me because I believe in the same goal of using technology to bring out the best in society. I am convinced that most companies today lack a sense of meaning and diversity. Since companies are run by people, we must inspire those in charge to rethink their mission so that it can be best expressed in their businesses. I strongly believe that underrepresented communities are ignored because we must do better in holding leaders accountable in creating a more diverse and inclusive environment. In order to run a successful company, we must also pay attention to our audience, or the people who are affected by the business. Diversity is magnified when privileged individuals build bridges with underrepresented individuals. We become better leaders and problem solvers as we become better listeners to those in need.

One of the most important lessons I learned during the pandemic was how to maintain stability even though everything else in my life seemed to be in chaos. During my first year of college several family members passed away, and the world entered a global pandemic that had an impact on my academic performance and mental wellbeing. I persevered through school while dealing with grief, depression, and anxiety because I wanted to complete what I started. I learnt to be present in the middle of my suffering and let go of everything I couldn't control. I practiced gratitude by focusing on what I've gained rather than what I've lost. This discovery inspired me to reach out to others on campus who needed to be aware of their purpose, worth, and ability to persevere in the face of adversity. My grief experiences have encouraged me to build the supportive environment that people need by using my social media platform to encourage my peers and those who have been affected by the pandemic and other life issues. Each day, I strive to bring out the best of people by reminding them that they have the power to build stability in their lives, no matter where they are in life.