Being a young black woman dealing with mental health struggles has profoundly influenced my goals, relationships, and understanding of the world. The stigmas surrounding mental health, especially within the black community, were deeply ingrained in my upbringing. I was taught to be strong and handle everything on my own, without showing any signs of weakness. Seeking help was seen as a sign of weakness, and the fear of judgment and ostracization held me back from seeking the support I needed. For years, I silently battled my mental health issues, unsure of how to seek help or where to turn. The taboo nature of mental health makes it even more challenging to take that crucial first step. I felt ashamed and embarrassed at the thought of seeking counseling or therapy. However, deep down, I knew that I needed help, so I mustered the courage to open up to my mother. To my surprise, she shared her struggles and her journey of seeking counseling, which gave me the confidence to seek help for myself. I made an appointment with a therapist and began my path toward healing. Since starting counseling in 2019, I have witnessed significant improvements in my mental health. Therapy has equipped me with coping tools for anxiety and depression and taught me healthier ways to manage my emotions. I have learned to recognize when I am feeling overwhelmed and take proactive steps to address my stress and anxiety. Prioritizing my mental health has transformed the way I navigate life's obstacles. Initially, my instinct was to withdraw and hide away when faced with challenges. But I have come to understand that I can't let these obstacles define me or hinder my dreams. It's an ongoing battle, but I have learned to push myself to keep going, even when the weight of mental health issues feels overwhelming. I've learned to set realistic goals, treat myself with kindness and patience, and embrace self-care along the way. Through my mental health journey, I have gained a new understanding of the world. As a young black woman facing mental health challenges, I have realized that I don't have to embody the stereotype of the strong black woman who carries the weight of the world on her shoulders. I've learned that it's okay to ask for help and that there are people who genuinely care and are willing to listen. This understanding has shifted my perspective on self-care and the importance of prioritizing mental well-being. Recently, I researched mental health stigmas in the black community for a senior paper. This experience reaffirmed my belief that mental health in the black community needs to be openly discussed and destigmatized. Many individuals suffer silently, feeling isolated and alone. I want to use my voice through art, specifically music and photography, to raise awareness, provide support, and create spaces where people feel seen and understood. Reflecting on my journey so far, I am proud of myself for pushing through the difficulties and not giving up. Despite the moments when I feel like giving in, I continue to wake up each day, ready to face the challenges and keep fighting. I am excited about the next chapter of my life, knowing that I have come so far and still have more to accomplish. By sharing my story and advocating for mental health, I hope to inspire others to seek help, embrace self-care, and believe in their resilience. The financial burden of college can be overwhelming, often making my dreams seem unattainable. While the importance of higher education is emphasized, financial realities can make it incredibly challenging. As a first-year college student, I have had to navigate the complexities of student loans, scholarships, and part-time jobs to make ends meet. Balancing academics with work and finding ways to pay for textbooks and necessities has been a constant juggling act. Despite these challenges, I remain determined to pursue my education. I see college as a pathway to a better future, not just for myself but for my family as well. Education has the power to break generational cycles of poverty and open doors to opportunities that were once out of reach. I want to be a role model for my younger siblings, showing them that with hard work and perseverance, anything is possible. The college has also allowed me to broaden my horizons and connect with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Engaging in thought-provoking discussions, exploring new ideas, and challenging my perspectives have shaped me into a more open-minded and empathetic individual. However, there have been moments of self-doubt and imposter syndrome where I questioned my belonging to higher education. The lack of representation and the feeling of isolation in certain spaces can be discouraging. Yet supportive communities on campus, such as cultural organizations and affinity groups, have provided solace and a sense of belonging. As I progress through college, I am reminded of the importance of self-care and mental well-being. The pressures of academia can take a toll on mental health, making it crucial to prioritize self-care for a healthy balance. Mindfulness, exercise, and creative outlets have become powerful tools for managing stress and promoting overall well-being. Taking time for myself has become a non-negotiable aspect of my routine, allowing me to recharge and approach challenges with a clearer mind. Looking ahead, I have ambitious goals for my future. I aspire to make a positive impact in the world and contribute to dismantling systemic barriers that hold marginalized communities back. Social justice, equity, and creating inclusive spaces where everyone feels seen and valued are causes I am deeply passionate about. Whether through my chosen career path, activism, or personal interactions, I aim to be a catalyst for change and inspire others to join the fight for a more just society. In conclusion, my college journey as a young black woman navigating mental health challenges has been transformative. It has taught me the importance of seeking help, embracing self-care, and advocating for mental health awareness.

I believe that my mental health is important ,because I am important and in order for me to live my best life I know that acknowledging my mental health matters. I suffer from anxiety ,depression, loneliness, the feeling of not being understood and financial stressors. I recognized my mental health deteriorating towards the end of middle school going in to my high school career and decided to seek counseling to help manage the weight of my mental struggles. Through out my High school career I spoke with a therapist and started seeing growth within myself with learning ways to cope and manage my mental health. A few of the things I do to cope is speak with my therapist , journal and Sing which is my passion. I came to College to peruse a degree in music and minor in photography. I was told I was awarded a full ride but they rescinded the offer because I applied to the university too late which left me in shambles and scrambling every semester to figure out fees. I am my single mother's oldest child of 4 and 1st generation college student for my family, coming out of a pandemic and heading to college has been a stressful journey of uncertainty and on top of all these things this was my first time being away from home which added more mental health trauma and has become overwhelming and have had thoughts of what am I trying for and giving up. Since starting college I sought out the mental health resources on campus , I currently have sessions with a therapist and I also joined sister circle which is a group of young women supporting each other while dealing with their struggles. I am a black young woman dealing with mental health issues and mental health trauma is a very real health issue in the black community and personally in my family , however dealing with mental health issues has always been taboo in the black community and often goes untreated. I decided to take control of my detreating mental health by deciding to take the necessary steps to be open and transparent about my mental health with myself and others I come across during my journey while dealing with my day to day mental health struggles and thriving to survive. I plan to continue utilizing all resources possible and to continue my success of beating my mental health battles day by day.

I come from a single mother low-income household, my mother is one out of 7 kids. For most of my life, it has always been me, my mom, my two brothers and my sister. Growing up in a low-income single-mother household with three younger siblings, I had to mature quickly and take on significant responsibilities from an early age. As the eldest, I was often tasked with looking after my younger siblings, including ensuring they completed their chores and stayed on track with their homework etc. My mother often referred to me as their second mother, highlighting the significant role I played in their upbringing. I’ve had to overcome many obstacles in my life, the biggest obstacle I had to overcome and that I’m still trying to overcome is my financial struggle for college since my acceptance into the University Of Oregon it’s been nothing but a financial nightmare, getting into college is supposed to be seen as one of your biggest accomplishments but for me and my family it was bittersweet we were so excited that I got in, but the financial struggle started to creep up after the bliss faded. The stress of worrying about tuition fees, loans, and the potential inability to continue one's education can be overwhelming. As a first-year college student, I can attest to the constant worry that financial instability can bring. When I received my acceptance letter from the University of Oregon, I was ecstatic. My dream of attending a four-year university was finally coming true. However, my excitement was short-lived when I found out that I had missed the deadline for applying for a scholarship that would have provided me with a full ride through the SEI program. This news felt like a gut punch, as my family's financial situation is not ideal, and I was relying heavily on financial aid to fund my education. Since then, I have had to juggle between using my scholarship money for class fees and taking out loans to cover the remaining tuition. I've had to work part-time jobs to supplement my income, which has made it difficult to balance work and school. The constant worry about my financial situation has affected my mental health, and I find myself constantly stressed about how I am going to pay for my education. Pursuing higher education in both music and psychology can provide me with a unique skill set that can be utilized in various industries. For instance, I can combine my knowledge of music therapy and psychology to work with individuals who are struggling with mental health issues or disabilities. I can also use my music to create a positive impact in my community, by performing at charity events, conducting workshops, or teaching music to children. Another reason why pursuing higher education is important to me is that it can open doors to various career opportunities. With a college degree, I can explore different fields of interest, including music production, music therapy, counseling, or research. Additionally, obtaining a degree can improve my earning potential and financial stability, which can help me provide for my family and invest in my future. Despite these challenges, I remain committed to my pursuit of higher education in both music and psychology. I am passionate about utilizing my unique skill set to make a positive impact in my community, including working with individuals struggling with mental health issues or disabilities. I am also eager to explore the many different career opportunities that a college degree can offer, including music production, music therapy, counseling, and research.

When achieving academic success, I always try to focus on short-term goals and gradually set long-term goals. I tend to try to set my long-term goals before my short-term goals. But I’ve learned it doesn’t help me in the long run, because if I don’t meet my long-term goal, I feel discouraged. One of my short-term goals for my academic year was to end my high school career with a GPA of 3.0, and the way I achieved that was by taking extra classes because my schedule was so lenient. When setting myself up for academic success, I try not to obsess over the little things that I can’t control. Because, during my freshman and sophomore years, I would stress myself over seemingly insignificant things to the point where I would over-exhaust myself. During the beginning of quarantine, I learned the importance of patience with myself. I learned that I cannot beat myself up until I achieve my dreams. This is because I cannot take care of my dreams if I am not well. I also realized that if I want to put my best foot forward, I shouldn't procrastinate. This in turn leads me to over-obsess that I didn’t put my best foot forward. When I attend college, I will continue to use these strategies, while also learning effective strategies to achieve academic success. However, I will also continue to use these strategies in my daily life to further achieve my dreams in music and photography. Setting my academic goals showed me that I’m stronger than I think. And that I should be kind to myself no matter how challenging anything gets.

It is my goal to attend college and use music to inspire and heal others, as that is what music has meant to me. In order to achieve my dreams, I always push myself when I come across obstacles. My mental health issues sometimes make it challenging. Therefore, when I have obstacles in my life my first thought/ instinct is to sleep and hide away. However, I've learned I can't let these obstacles stop me from achieving my life goals, I just have to get up and keep striving. A few weeks ago, I learned that my dream of attending college could be snatched from me in a flash. In the past few weeks, I've been feeling really weak, as it feels like I'm watching my world crumble. As soon as I realized I may have to give up my dream, I cried for the first few days. Rather than sleeping and hiding from the obstacles I encountered, I refocused on my goals. Additionally, my mom helped me and encouraged me to keep chasing my dream because this is only a temporary setback. Even with the overwhelming amount of scholarships I've applied for, I have been picking myself up and continuing to apply for them as the weeks have passed. The reason for this is that I am committed to pursuing higher education. Persistence will always be the driving force behind me. In order to achieve your dreams, you must always be persistent no matter what. I have learned never to let anyone or anything get in the way of my dreams.

Throughout my experience with mental health, I have learned that I can not let my mental health define me and just take it one day at a time it's not something I can't just rush. When I wanted to start counseling I didn't know how to start or how to even make an appointment. In my household, mental health wasn’t talked about. I remember I had told my mom I wanted to start counseling because I felt my mental health was getting to the point where I couldn't do it on my own anymore. I remember her telling me she had tried counseling and it didn’t work for her. At first, I thought well if it didn't work for her it wouldn't work for me, but I still decided to go because I felt like I was to the point where I didn't want to keep fighting anymore because of how tired and hopeless I felt. I’ve been in counseling since 2019, and it’s honestly helped me with understanding myself and my relationships. Before I decided to deal with my mental health healthily, I was always angry, and don’t get me wrong there are moments when I still feel this wave of anger, sadness, feeling I'm not good enough or the feeling of wanting to give up, but back then it felt like I was always feeling that way and that messed with my relationships because I was like a walking, breathing ticking time bomb and you never really knew just when I would explode. I found myself trying to sleep the day away because that felt like the only way to escape, I would isolate myself and start falling into the wrong crowd to try and fill whatever missing peace it was that was making me feel that way. I hated the way I felt because I knew I didn't want to hurt the people I love, but I couldn't help but feel that wave of darkness that would come and go. Ever since my first counseling session, I've felt I have made really good progress, it's helped me deal with those waves of darkness, and dealing with my mental health made me change my goals and the way I see the world. Ever since I've been on this journey to better myself mentally I've been trying to teach myself that I can’t control everything, I’ve set my goals to things that can happen over time instead of trying to break my back with these wild expectations I put on myself. I’ve set boundaries with people so I can’t get walked over on because I used to let people talk and treat me anyway because deep down I thought I deserved it. Experiencing mental health has made my understanding of the world grow. Growing up in the world as a young black woman dealing with mental health has taught me that I don’t have to be this strong black woman and that it’s okay to ask for help and I don’t have to go through it alone because there are people out there who care to listen. I recently did a senior paper on mental health stigmas in the black community. Everything I researched made me see that mental health in the black community needs to be spoken on a lot more because most of us are struggling and feel like we’re alone, I know that’s how I felt, I felt like I shouldn’t feel this way and that I should be happy. Being on my mental health journey has taught me that I want to use my voice to speak up for anyone that feels how I feel sometimes, and I plan to do that through my music and photography. Writing this makes me feel like a little weight was lifted off me because throughout writing this it has made me think about how far I’ve come and how much I still have left to do, which makes me excited for the next journey I will go on throughout life. In the end, I’m proud of myself for pushing through it, even with everything pushing me down and moments in my life where I just want to sink away, I continue to wake up every day, keep living, breathing, and keep fighting.

I live in a single parent house with my 3 other siblings, 13, 12, and 5. It's always just been the 5 of us for as long as I can remember. My mom has always supported me when it comes to my dreams and education, she is always my biggest cheerleader even when I didn’t want her to be. She's been my biggest support system for so long, especially when I wanted to give up on myself. Just recently something happened that really affected me financially being able to go to college, and I feel my whole future is crashing right in front of my eyes, and I’m scrabbling, I felt like I wanted to give up. But mom hugged me and told me she will do anything in her power to make sure I make it to school. She let me cry and tried to joke with me to make me feel better so I won't give up on myself and keep pushing to chase my dreams ever since that whole thing was dropped on us. She's been helping me look for more scholarships and helping me not slip and fall and to not give up on myself. She is always right there when I feel there is no light in a dark tunnel. She's always making sure I can reach my dreams, because she knows how bad I want them. One of my dreams for the future is to become a strong and independent woman like my mom, graduating college and having my own family. Watching my mom go through all of these struggles and still get up and provide not only for herself but for me and my siblings, made me feel that if she can get up and still push through when times get hard so could I. My mom has always motivated me to continue my education. She could be going through her own battles and still show up. She would show up to my concerts and bring me to school early in the morning or take time off work to drop me or my siblings off to school. My mom's hard work and sacrifice pushes me to continue throughout my education because I know my mom didn’t get to experience walking across the stage or have a college experience. I know even when I leave for college she will still be right there pushing me to become the best version of myself and to never give up no matter how hard it gets. Throughout my entire life my mom has had to play the mom and dad role in one, which I'm grateful for because she is my hero in my eyes. She will do whatever she has to do to make sure I walk across the stage because she didn’t. Which makes me so excited that the time is coming so soon, because it feels like me and my mom are walking the stage together. My mom will forever be my rock and my loudest cheerleader.

If I were to influence a social issue, I would use my voice and photography and speak from experience. Music and photography have a lot of influence on society right now, you could listen to one song, and it could influence your life more than you think. You could take one look at a photo, and it could have 1000 words in one photograph, which is crazy to think about but is true because sometimes words aren't enough. Somebody can be consumed in their own life that they aren't looking at the bigger picture. I say music because, for many years, music has been a way for people to express what they believe, whether it be good or bad music was a way for people to stay out of the streets and from jumping into gangs. And photography/ art was a way for people to tell their stories without being judged. I say this. After all, I want to use my music and art to shine a light on social issues because I know when I hear a catchy song that also shines a light on mental health, women's rights, police brutality, etc. It makes me listen, and it makes me think and want to dig deeper into it. Artists like Lizzo and Billie holiday, these musicians shine a light on topics that make people uncomfortable, but you can't help but listen because what they are saying is true. Music is a way for people to create a platform for themselves and send a powerful and healing message to hundreds of thousands of potential individuals, which could inspire positive change in the society around you. One song that I listened to spoke on a massive issue in the 1930s that was going on. Strange fruit, by Billie Holiday, was brought to my attention when I was reading a book, the title of the song made me curious, and when I listened to it, it was heavy but held so much truth behind it. Billie Holiday was brave enough to sing the truth because she knew how much influence she had on society and how it would make people listen. After all, the song is beautiful, but it also has this sad, dark, and uncomfortable truth behind it. Her music brought to life what thousands of people wanted to say. A quote I like is, "music has the power to culturally, morally, and emotionally influence our society." I like this quote because it is honestly right. Music holds such a powerful and emotional influence on our society, even if you don't notice it. One day I want to influence people with my music because music gives me a voice to speak on the topics that affect my generation's and society's future.

I’ve stayed optimistic through tough times by being kind to myself and understanding that everything happens for a reason and that there is a light in every dark tunnel and I have to be patient. During the beginning of quarantine I felt really lonely and felt I would never be able to get out of this feeling, I didn’t really have a way to express myself. So during that time I picked up journaling/ writing to try and figure out how to get myself out of this whole I felt I couldn't get out of. Journaling taught me that I need to take more time for myself and figure out what I love to do and how to become a better person, because I knew if I wasn't okay I wouldn't be able to help out my family. Staying optimistic showed me that I was stronger than I thought I was, and that if I keep my head up and try to look on the bright side it will be okay. It also taught me that I can’t control everything around me because I tend to do that without even noticing so I would try and tell myself to take everything one day at a time because trying to control everything around me try would lead me down a path of feeling stuck or like there was no way out when times go really hard. In the end staying optimistic helped me get through many tough times, those tough times shaped me into the person that I am today which is someone who will always put their best effort in even if things aren’t going the way i thought they would because in the end there is always another amazing opportunity waiting for you, you just have to stay optimistic.

I have always loved music since I was a little girl. It's one of the many things that gives me this freeing feeling photography also gives me the same feeling. I started singing when I was in preschool. I joined my preschool talent show and ever since then I've been singing for my entire life. During middle school I sang in my choir and when I officially had my very first solo I was so excited and nervous at the same time it went really well and it only made me love singing a lot more. When i got into high school i still wasn’t really confident in my voice so i joined the choir and i practiced at home i would sing and practice working on my breathing control and my sight reading any chance i could to get used to my own voice to try and get into treble choir throughout my high school year i progressed and made it into concert choir which is my school’s highest choir. In college I will get the opportunity to grow more not only in myself but also in my voice and work on my performance more so when I get on stage I don't feel as stuck because I'm scared. When I get to college I hope to learn how to write more music and learn more of the business aspects of music because one day I want to be able to produce my own album and get my music out there for people to hear and enjoy.

Multiple things keep me going/ fuel my life, like music, writing, photography, and reading, but most importantly, it's music. I have always been passionate about music, ever since preschool. I love how it makes me feel when I sing or listen to music. It's so freeing. It is like nothing else in the world matters. When I find myself struggling mentally, I turn to music because of the feeling it gives me. I found myself signing a lot during my junior year of high school because I was doing school online and in the house 24/7, which was a lot for me. I missed my friends and being in school. When I felt unhappy, I would take a break and play music. What motivates me is that I know some other girls and boys feel the same way about music because sometimes I felt music was my only escape. I want to give that freeing feeling to them through my music someday, so they know they're not alone.

Music brings so much joy to my life, ever since I was little when I felt down or angry I would listen to music or just sing, when I go to college I want to study music and one day be able to write and perform my own music. Growing up I always wanted to be a singer and a musician. From a very young age, I was introduced to different genres of music. I grew up in the church watching my aunt and everyone in the church choir on the stage and I was always captivated by the music and how powerful they sounded and how they had such an impact on the people in the church and watching people just be moved by the music, it was so beautiful to me. I listened to R&B, hip-hop, soul, classical, etc. I'm motivated to pursue music because it brings me a lot of peace. When I'm feeling overwhelmed or stressed I tend to find myself listening to music to calm me down. Music is one of the most important and significant things in my life, I feel like if I didn’t have music my life would feel empty. I feel music saved my life in a way, when I found myself in a dark space mentally I would always reach for my music, the music never really let me down and it’s always been my safe place. I want to be able to do that for other people with my own music. I want to learn how to write music so I will be able to one day write my own. Collectively, music is how I express myself, mentally and emotionally. I want to be able to give those feelings to other people by using my voice and music.

My racial identity is really important to me because I feel it shaped me into who I am today. After all, I felt as if growing up I really struggled with what "being black/ African American'' is or, at least, what it means to me. I've always felt like I didn't fit into my own community growing up. I grew up in mostly white schools until middle school and it was a big culture shock. There were situations that happened that I wasn't ready for. One situation that really made me doubt who I was and today still impacts me, was when a girl asked me why I “talked/sound white.” That comment made me feel like I was too black for the white kids but not black enough for my black friends, which kind of led me to change myself and I became a follower because I was scared of not being accepted. Now I am way more comfortable in my skin than I ever was, but I still find myself code-switching depending on the environment I'm in. I take a lot of pride in being black, especially in my hair. It took me a long time to be comfortable wearing my hair in its natural state, I found myself and now I love wearing my afro or my Bantu knots. I take a lot of pride in that because I know there is meaning behind the hairstyles I do. In addition to my hairstyles, I also feel really connected to my community with music. R&B music comforts me and makes me feel closer to my community.