Emily Amaya

4021 Fieldcrest Road

Charlotte NC, 28217
emelyamaya9814@.com

28 April 2016
Harding University High School
2001 Alleghany Street
Charlotte NC, 28208
Dear Panel of Judges:
My name is Emily Amaya. I am currently a senior at Harding
University High School. My graduation project focuses on
depression. I chose this topic because it is interesting to know at
what stage of life people may suffer from depression. The most
important thing that I learned about this issue was that more than
350 million people of all ages suffer from depression and 1 out of 5
women will suffer from depression in their lives. Also, I chose this
topic because after my father died, I suffered from depression and
when I think about this topic I know that I will be able to understand
how people with depression feel.
During the research process, I was looking for information about
my topic. I learned that women have a higher probability of
suffering from depression, especially when she is going through
menopause, postpartum, and pregnancy. Also, I learned that there
are many types of depression that exist, but in my case they focus
only on clinical depression and bipolar. I chose these two types of
depression because I think they are the most difficult to overcome
and they impact the affected person and the people around them.
Each type of depression has different symptoms. The Symptoms of
depression can range from relatively minor to very severe, it is
helpful to be aware of the range of disorders and their specific
symptoms. When a person suffers from bipolar depression
practically it changes its behavior and feelings, the same goes
when they suffering from clinical depression.
For my Service Learning Experience, I stayed after school with a
program call Anuvia Prevention and Recovery Center. Staying after

school in the program I learned that people can suffer from

depression by differentes cases. Also I learned that when a person
suffer from depression something they think that drink alcohol is
the best idea to overcome depression. At some moments of
depression some people became an alcoholic person. It was an
experience that helps me to learn that depression is a serious
problem that we should be informed about it.
During all my process doing my graduation project was a great
experience, I learned new things about depression. At the beginning
of my project I thought I can't do it because of my language but I
look for help with my teacher and counselor and also with my
mentor by the end of my project I feel comfortable and I learned
that if I put all my energy on what I doing I can do whatever I what.
During my last year everything was a great experience. It was
difficult, sometimes tired and bored sometimes wanted to quit
because I felt I could not get till the end of the year but with the
help of my teacher, my mentor and my friends could manage to
arrive till the end of my senior year. During all this process I learned
that I cant give up and that I can do whatever I propose I can do it.

Casey Baumer