McIntosh High School
Attending: Agnes Scott College
Mental Health Advocate

In my 3rd grade English class, we had to research and find a quote we connected with. 3rd grade Hannah could never have imagined the impact that simple three-word quote would have, “just keep swimming.” After each trial, I reflect on this quote to remind myself to keep going.

In 2021, I was asked to speak on a panel for mental health among teens in my community. I sat on stage looking at peers, local leadership, board of education members, and parents. After the roughly 2 hours I spent on stage conversing with my peers about an important issue, I knew my work in mental health was far from over. Later that evening, I received emails and phone calls from audience members thanking me for my bravery and empowering message I shared. It took me back to my desperation for stories of hope in my darkest days, my ability to have this effect on others set a fire in me to do more for my community. On the one-year anniversary of my psych ward discharge, I shared my story, titled “just keep swimming,” on my social media; At the same time, I had very few followers, I understood my message might not reach many, but if it could touch one person in need of hope, I would feel satisfied. I was blown away when my story, one I was reluctant to share at first, reached over 700 people on Instagram. The first night my story went public, I received a direct message from someone I had never talked to but went to my school. She shared how my message gave her the strength to ask for help and ultimately pushed her to take the hard step and receive in-patient psychiatric help, as I did. Messages and comments from my peers, community members, and strangers, my story of survival not only made people feel less alone but also gave awareness of how quickly mental health quality can decrease. Following going public with my story, I had opportunities to attend more panels for mental wellness and how students are effect by mental health. Leaving each event or Zoom, I am reminded of the power of one person's story. Within my high school, I continued my activism as a peer leader in Sources of Strength, a suicide prevention program; I led campaigns and events in my school community. I plan to carry this mindset and the lessons I learned throughout college and my career, using my experiences and knowledge to shed light on mental health in each stage of my life.