“[My] struggle does not diminish me, it shapes me into a better version of myself. A lot of the time when it comes to my academics, extracurriculars or even hobbies, I tend to feel ashamed when things don’t come to me instantly. Throughout my life I’ve lived the whole ‘reach for the sky and land on the mountaintop’, but I’ve realized that it’s the process of learning new things where there is value. Especially when it comes to balancing mental health and school, struggling through the anxieties and moments where I feel like I’m not good enough; enduring and persevering through those feelings is what makes me more resilient.”
– (12) Madison Niedzwiedz
