final words

I have learned so much over the course of this project. Throughout the writing process, I researched and learned so much about mental disorders. Although this part of the process did not involve as much creativity as the rest of my work, I still enjoyed learning new things about each mental disorder that I researched. My favorite part of my project was reading over each participant's answers. I felt so grateful that they were willing to share their stories with me, and I loved reading what they had to say. Designing the collages was both exciting and stressful. I loved brainstorming ideas for each collage and using creativity, but I was also nervous that I would not have enough time to make the collages look the way I wanted them to. Overall, this was a very enjoyable process, and I believe that writing this book was the perfect idea for my senior project. Although it did feel stressful at times, I am extremely proud of the work that I have done.

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I am definitely going to remember what I learned from this project in the future. I hope that next time I have the opportunity, I will be able to help someone who is struggling with their mental health. I am grateful for all the research I have done for this project because I know that, in the future, I will be able to teach others about the significance of mental health. If I decide to pursue a career as a mental health counselor, I can use what I’ve learned about mental disorders, as well as what I’ve learned about how they impact the lives of teenagers, to understand and empathize with my clients. I am excited to see what future opportunities I will have to use and share the knowledge I’ve gained over the course of this project.

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Thank you to everyone who has helped me throughout this project. Thank you to my senior project teacher, Cara Mathis, who has taught me to be more productive and flexible. Thank you to my mentor, Stephanie St. Clair, who has patiently given me advice and educated me about mental illness. Thank you to everyone who volunteered to open up to me about their mental health. I can not explain how much I appreciate your honesty, vulnerability, and willingness to talk to me. Finally, thank you to my friends and family for encouraging me and for constantly giving me new ideas for this project.