I was diagnosed in high school with depression and anxiety then later in life diagnosed with body dysmorphic disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. Looking back on my childhood, I can see how I struggled then and the unhealthy coping skills I developed. Being diagnosed helped in some ways because it gave me a concrete reason as to why I was thinking and feeling the way I was.

 

 

I struggled throughout college due to my mental health conditions, the stress of school, the loss of friendships and relationships, and simply trying to figure out who I was and what I wanted to do with my life. College taught me about the value of self-care and what helped me refill my cup allowing me to give to others as much as I wanted to. It was not an easy journey or one I thought I could live through, but because of it, I found out how strong I am.

 

 

Today, I still live with mental illnesses, but they do not control me. I am proactive in doing what I need to do to keep my mental health from declining- taking medication, self-care, and keeping active. In my last year of college, I became involved in pageantry. Each contestant for a platform of their choice, mine is "It's Okay To Not Be Okay". I have had the opportunity to work with the National Alliance on Mental Illness at the local, state, and national levels, which has allowed me to share my story with people across the state and the country. I would never have thought that winning a crown would help me find and use my voice, but that is precisely what it did. Through my advocacy efforts, I discovered my passion for mental health, which led me to want to become a school counselor. I cannot wait to finish school and start helping students realize that it is okay to not be okay and that help is available for them.