Gene Denton Essay 22

A major need within my community is the lack of understanding and acceptance surrounding mental health. In many immigrant and Somali households, mental illness is not discussed as a medical condition. It is dismissed as weakness or labeled as being “crazy.” This mindset isolates individuals who are already struggling and prevents them from seeking proper help.

When my family and I immigrated to the United States, everything changed. I had grown up in an environment filled with fear and instability. Abuse was normalized. Emotions were suppressed. I learned early that happiness was not something meant for me. After arriving in America, I was exposed to opportunities I never imagined. I joined clubs, volunteered, and participated in leadership programs. For the first time, I was allowed to explore who I was.

Through tutoring younger students and learning more about psychology, I became fascinated by how the brain works. I found myself researching mental disorders and trying to understand how trauma shapes behavior. The more I learned, the more I realized how misunderstood mental health is in my own community. When I shared my interest in psychiatry with my family, they were uncomfortable. Some told me that working with mentally ill individuals would make me like them. That reaction confirmed the need I had already seen.

After high school, I plan to study on a pre-med track and pursue psychiatry. I am particularly interested in child psychiatry because of how early experiences shape identity and emotional development. I know that becoming a psychiatrist requires years of education and dedication, but I am prepared for that commitment. My motivation is deeply personal.

My future education will give me the scientific knowledge, medical training, and credibility necessary to challenge harmful narratives about mental health. With a medical degree and license, I will be able to provide proper diagnoses, treatment, and advocacy for individuals who are dismissed or misunderstood. I want to serve disadvantaged communities, including those in Somalia and immigrant communities in the United States, where stigma prevents people from seeking care.

Education will not only equip me with medical expertise but also allow me to create change within cultural spaces that resist these conversations. I want to show families that mental illness is not shameful. It is not a character flaw. It is a health condition that deserves care and understanding.

Growing up, I denied myself joy because I believed I was not meant to experience it. No child should feel that way. By pursuing psychiatry, I hope to help children and families understand that emotions are not something to suppress or fear. They are signals that deserve attention.

Addressing the mental health stigma within my community is not just a career goal. It is a responsibility I feel because of my background and experiences. Through higher education and medical training, I will gain the tools to make a lasting impact. I want to replace silence with conversation and shame with understanding. That is the change I plan to pursue.