Nana is a 17-year-old young woman that is very involved in student organizations at her high school. She serves as the vice president on the student council, the president of the black students' organization, and she is involved in track. She will soon be applying for college and is excited to start a new chapter.
When asked, "what do health and wellness mean to you"? Nana said, "As a black woman, I live in a society that is constantly trying to bring me down and that takes a toll on my daily mental health. We as black women have the stigma of being "angry" and tolerant of "pain" and many of us find it hard to show our true emotions and be authentic with the fear of being judge by others".
"The best advice I can give to another woman like me is, it's ok to not be ok, let your emotions pour. If you feel like crying do it, someone does something that generally hurts your feelings let them know". Nana also shared how loving one's self and confidence was key for her to stay active in school activities. She says that she wants to be a role model for other students of color to show that they can be in any space they wish and be successful.
She concludes, that "your mental health should be just as important as your physical health. Take time out of your day to relax, breathe, and focus on yourself. At the end of the day, you're all you have so make sure you have the best version of yourself".
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