I am very fortunate to attend a school with numerous extracurriculars and have a supportive family. Under these circumstances, I was able to engulf myself in my school and community. During all four years of high school, I was declared a distinguished member of Key Club, an organization aimed at getting students involved in the community. I am a member of National Honors Society and was voted secretary in my senior year. The two years I have been a member of NHS, I have received a member of distinction award both years. I am also a proud member of the Spanish Honors Society, and have been for two years now. All four years of high school I have been a member of FCCLA, and my junior year I was both the treasurer and secretary. In addition to these extracurriculars, I have received the Academic Award from my high school four years in a row, which is awarded to students with a 3.5 GPA or higher. I have completed over 280 hours of community service through programs such as the National Honor Society Buddy Program, the National Railroad Museum Polar Express, Redbird Ready After School Program, and numerous other opportunities through Key Club and the National Honor Society. Outside of school, I volunteered every Monday with the Redbird Ready after-school program in my junior year. This opportunity provided me with leadership roles inside the classroom with elementary students. I led miniature lessons for the children after school and aided the teacher in preparing for the next school day. While there, I taught the kids the importance of cyber-safety and how to deal with and prevent bullying. This was an attempt to help prevent cyberbullying and advocate for an end to it. Perhaps my greatest accomplishment was winning first place in the Creative Use of Patterns Category for the MY HERO Robert Shetterly Portrait Contest in 2023. This is the most meaningful to me because I created this portrait in remembrance of my late grandmother. I will be paying the majority of my college tuition myself. Over the past three summers, I have been saving my income to finance college. My parents only allowed me to work during the summer so that my main focus during the school year would be my education. As a result of this, I have spent time applying for scholarships and grants in my community. While at college, I plan on applying for a part-time job on campus, which will allow me to focus on my education, and make some money on the side.

Mental health is something many people struggle with, yet few people are willing to share. Although it affects millions of people, we often forget who falls under that category. Anyone close to someone struggling is just as impacted by its’ grip. From hospital visits to emotional support, a person’s circle often provides the support that they need. I have experienced this first-hand, as my mother has suffered through numerous panic attacks and I have been recovering from an eating disorder. I still vividly remember the first time that she had an attack. Looking back, the signs were clear: she refused to eat for days, spent more time in solitude, and suffered from insomnia. At the time, I was only 10 years old and clueless. I quickly learned that I couldn’t act my age. Instead, I had to take care of my two little sisters. I desperately tried to help her, yet the craziness in her eyes never left. At first, she was just warning us that our technology was spying on us. Next, there were men in our house, trying to take advantage of us. Eventually, she went mute. She only wrote “get out” on scraps of paper. It tortured me. The person I always found comfort in, was gone. Someone whose kind blue eyes always lit up no longer existed. Instead, her eyes were replaced with ice-cold pits that drowned everyone in their fear. I believed she would never return. My father eventually surrendered as he had nothing left. She disappeared for a week, then returned. I could never look at her the same. Not with intention, but I couldn’t unsee it: the crazy desperation and terror in her eyes. Years have passed, and I have learned to cope. What I have not learned to deal with, is how to help my father, who is the most loyal, kindhearted, patient man I have met. I see him spend sleepless nights with her, trying to comfort her. Mental health is real and needs to be advocated for. Watching someone struggle with mental health is traumatizing. Most of the time, it is not their choice to suffer from this illness, making it hard to complain about your situation. It can feel lonely, terrifying, and hopeless to see someone suffer. Unfortunately, this isn't where the story ends. After two years of online school, transitioning to a public school was a significant change for me. I spent my first year navigating school and thousands of students, and my second year navigating my mental health, as I was diagnosed with anorexia. Early sophomore year, I received treatment after school. During this time, I lost my sense of identity and strength. After getting physically and mentally stable, I gained a sense of mental clarity. I looked at what I had accomplished and realized I needed change. Starting junior year, I applied this new mindset and turned myself around; I volunteered, played tennis, and joined numerous clubs. Now it is senior year, and I have over 300 hours of community service, am the secretary and distinguished member of National Honors Society, and am involved in over 8 different clubs. I am very proud of how far I have come, and don't plan on stopping. These struggles have taught me the importance of mental health and its impact on well-being. I have gained empathy for people struggling with their mental health, and grit from surviving this serious illness. It taught me to refrain from judgment until I know someone's entire story. Reflecting on my journey, I've discovered the powerful truth; it’s never too late to transform life