My goal in writing this is representation. Mental illness is common in the STEM fields but is not openly talked about in the way I aim to do so here. I owe thanks to my 11th grade English teacher Mr. Pierson, who forced me to start a journal of my thoughts which I continue to write in (now virtually). Several entries have quotes which come directly from this journal. Those words were written during moments of mental distress, and do not necessarily reflect my typical mental state.
If you are a potential employer, be warned that these articles will not provide a good impression of me as a researcher. However, several undergraduate/graduate students have reached out to me over the years to express that these entries helped them feel less alone in their battles. So I feel this is worth keeping up.