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“Sometimes in life we just need a hug… no words, no advice, just a hug to make you feel you matter.” This is what I always yearned for. Allowing myself to be trapped in the cage that devalued myself, I always thought that I was defined for what my peers valued in me. My identity changed with their perceptions changing, and I could not develop a good sense of identity. After being diagnosed recently,I knew that I didn’t want anyone else to feel the horrendous things that I did. I needed a community that didn’t stigmatize me, but rather normalized what I had and supported me in the process of recovery.
That set aside, my name is Faria, and I am a high school senior in Las Vegas, Nevada! After taking a college psychology class and becoming a national qualifier to the US Brain Bee, I developed a profound love for neurology. At the same, though, I saw the difficulties of psychiatric disorders and diseases in my community and even for myself, as the state I live in stands in last place in the country for mental health investment. As a TeenzTalk Peer Leader and Teen Wellness Conference Planning Member, I hope to not only share my story and connect with others, but to also advocate for my community on a whole other level. Having dialogue with other peers in my community has made realize that it is not just grades or recognitions that matter: your wellbeing matters. Using my passion, leadership, and empathy for others, hopefully change can be enacted in massive waves across our world. |
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