When the world was shut down by COVID-19 to be pandemic on March 13, 2020, I had little idea of how my mental health would be affected. I have seen the personal struggles mental health has had on my family, and now I can see how it is affecting me. Growing up, I have always been an anxious person who had trouble venturing out and exploring new relationships with my peers. Although it was difficult to do so, I found that being in a school where I was obligated to socialize amongst my peers had helped appease my anxiety issues. Finding out that COVID-19 shut down my school district was a devastating discovery. Immediately following the shutdown, I found myself spiraling down into thoughts that seemed to be against me. Along with my anxiety, I found that growing up I struggled with the idea of change. The education system had been forever changed due to the pandemic, and I began to notice changes in my behaviors as a result. As my mental health dwindled throughout the school year, I lost the motivation to attend my zoom classes. The issues I was struggling with mentally worked against my academic achievements. I had found myself leaving zoom calls, turning in late assignments, and overall losing my strive for school. I struggled with the idea that I was not 100% okay and unfortunately did not speak up about my struggles. Being stuck at home with these built-up feelings, I had become overwhelmed with depression. Continuing into the following school year, I was lucky to have a family to get me the help I needed during this difficult time. I began seeing a medical professional, and this opened my eyes to what I was going through. I had learned that my feelings were valid, yet I am not opposed to changing them for the better. I know that I and many teens throughout the world are feeling these hardships and that we can overcome them. My mindset had changed and I became a stronger learner in school and strived for a better education for myself. Today, I find myself improving my mental health and education. With the pandemic at bay, I am finally able to further my education on campus with my peers. I can socialize with others and connect with them via school. With perseverance and emotional support, I have found that my education is finally back on track. The future holds so much greatness, and I am ready to take on this next chapter in my school life.