I heard about YAC through a newspaper article and am interested in joining because I want to make a difference in the community, and it sounds like a fun experience.

To me, community service means doing something to benefit the people in your community. I have been impacted by community service by being the recipient of a scholarship to fund my exchange program to Japan.

Mental health is an issue that affects most students in our community; however, some students are not able to find help with their mental health struggles. One idea that could be put in place to address this problem is making therapists or counselors more available to students struggling financially. Some students may not be able to find help due to financial issues, as going to therapy can be out of families' budgets. School counselors can be helpful, but can also take time out of education, as they are mainly only available during school hours. So, something that could be helpful is having counselors or therapists come to the school on certain days after school and talk to students who need to see them. This puts help within reach for students who are at risk of self-harm or suicide without good ways to get help. One other thing that is a common barrier for youth struggling with mental health is their mental health. Lots of people do not get the help they need because they are too afraid to ask for it. More people than you would think do not open up about their mental health issues because they are afraid that it may be met with bullying or them being judged for seeking help. This could be helped by creating a website that keeps people's identities anonymous while still having people on it who can help them or talk to them.

Next year, I plan to take after-school dance and art classes, participate in theater productions, and join the marching band.

No.