Throughout my experiences as captain of my cross-country team and president of my robotics team, I’ve seen how stress and pressure take a toll on mental well-being. From helping teammates manage pre-race nerves to supporting robotics members during high-pressure deadlines, I’ve learned that meaningful leadership isn’t just about achieving goals—it’s about ensuring that people feel valued, supported, and emotionally cared for along the way. Looking ahead, I’m committed to carrying these values into my future career in aerospace engineering. Engineering environments are often fast-paced and involve high-stakes problem-solving under tight deadlines which lead to burnout. I want to create workspaces that prioritize innovation and house a culture where mental health and well-being are a part of success. By promoting open communication, encouraging balance, and creating a community that acknowledges emotional needs, I believe engineering teams can achieve their full potential through sustaining a positive and collaborative environment. Ultimately, I want to polish what success looks like in engineering—not just by focusing on groundbreaking solutions but by building environments where people thrive as much as their ideas do.

As a third grader my mental health struggles weren't obvious to the open eye. Not knowing who my biological parents had always left me with questions about my identity, and on top of that, I felt a lot of academic pressure from my mom. No matter how hard I tried, it felt like I was never good enough. By 8th grade, I came to my tipping point, and that’s when I finally decided to get help. I started seeing a counselor, and with support from my friends and family—and medication—I slowly started to feel better. Their encouragement gave me the strength to keep going when I wanted to give up. Dealing with depression has made me more compassionate toward others. It also pushed me to keep fighting, which helped me take on leadership roles like being the captain of my cross-country team and president of my school’s robotics club. These positions gave me opportunities to create spaces where others feel supported and valued, something I wish I had more of when I was struggling. Getting better wasn’t a quick fix. I had to learn coping strategies like journaling, mindfulness, and taking a step back when situations got overwhelming. I also took time to educate myself about mental health through books and podcasts. The more I learned, the more I understood myself and how I could grow into a better version of me. Now, I’m committed to helping others who are dealing with similar struggles. As a leader in my school, I let those I interact with know that I am available to talk to if they are ever feeling down. I want people to know it’s okay to ask for help and that they’re not alone. In college, I plan to keep advocating for mental health awareness. Since I’m interested in engineering, I want to focus on generating awareness specifically for engineering students. With the heavy coursework and pressure to perform, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and lose your sense of self. I hope to continue to create support systems to help others push through. What I’ve learned is that overcoming mental health challenges takes time, effort, and the courage to reach out for help. By sharing my story, I want to inspire others to do the same and break the reputation of mental health. My goal is to make mental health just as important as physical health so that everyone feels supported and understood.