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Chronic Depression Personal Statement

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Essay#1 During my last high school semester, I began experiencing chronic depression, which had a profound impact on every part of my life. As I recovered, I made it a priority to aid others who were also suffering from mental illnesses. Soon, I realized that mental illness was significantly neglected in my native Bangladesh. When I confessed that I had been diagnosed with depression, my parents, two of the most modern people I know, suggested that they did not raise me to be so weak. Although I aimed to actively tackle this stigma in Bangladesh, I realized that having moved to Canada and without professional training in health, I was not prepared to spearhead such a movement. However, I wanted to contribute in supporting a mental health initiative in my community. yWE TALK, a youth-led initiative to support youth in taking care of their mental health, was the ideal platform as they positively influenced many people. In the hopes that my experience with depression could play a small role in assisting another victim, I applied to be a part of the yWE TALK team. Upon being selected for the team, executives were asked to pitch ideas for yWE TALK’s first conference. The potential of organizing …show more content…
Most importantly, it has enhanced my understanding of mental health in youth, which will be priceless when I am ready to lead my own mental health initiative in my native Bangladesh.

Many obstacles have arisen when executives face difficulties balancing their academic and extracurricular commitments. This has challenged me to find innovative ways to help them perform to their best. Noticing that struggling students are those in grade 11, who have not previously experienced such a workload, I have encouraged them to take care of their mental health by drawing upon my experiences, and suggesting future steps to balance their commitments. (not included)

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