<p>Prompt #2: Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud, and how does it relate to the person you are?</p>
<p>Tears rolled down my cheek as I ran towards the counselors office. Moments before a classmate had made a disparaging remark in my 8th grade drama class that sent me over the edge, a too common occurrence in those days. Despite my social anxiety I had never spoken with the school counselor before and I did not know what to expect. I remember that I did not want to see the school counselor, but my drama teacher insisted, and so there I sat in her office, feeling humiliated and bewildered that I could be causing such a ruckus over a seemingly small incident. The school counselor, Mrs. Talts, came in and told me that she was doing her internship at my junior high and that she was pleased to meet me. Then something magical happened. Instead of just trying to console me or make me feel stupid for over reacting, she said did it ever occur to you that there is something going on with you that is much bigger, deeper than your classmate upsetting you? Her question resonated with me and for the first time I felt like I could actually talk to someone who would listen and be able to help me. We would talk with each other almost every day that year until I graduated from junior high and during this time she was able to help me cope and understand my anxiety and problems.
My experience with the school counselor was definitely a success on the personal level as I felt much better about myself and I felt as if I now had the necessary tools to deal with the challenges I was certain to face. But something even more grandiose than my own mental health came out of this experience. The more time I spent with Mrs. Talts, learning about the different theories and the complicated ways our minds work, the more I realized that I wanted to do what she did! I am a person who wants to pursue a career in psychology and possibly taking it to its zenith, and become a psychiatrist. Just as Mrs. Talts helped me, I feel compelled to help others in the same way.<br>
Ever since I was a young girl I knew I wanted to help people, I just did not know exactly how and my experience with Mrs. Talts was the catalyst that started me on that journey. Looking back I am proud of how strong I was during this process of self-discovery. As anyone who has experienced counseling can attest, it is not easy to open up to someone and reveal your insecurities and work through irrational fears. The strength I gained from this experience has transcended into something I am very proud of, an overwhelming desire, a deep rooted passion to help people find their inner strength and to help them as much as I can.</p>