Hanna MacArthur

Hey! My name is Hanna MacArthur, I'm currently a senior at Troy High. I'd like to tell you a little about myself. I'll start with a story.

A year and a half ago ago I was living in Shanghai, China. I was stressed out about taking AP Exams, felt like I was being crushed by schoolwork, and anxious about getting into college. Everything started building up on top of me and I was overwhelmed and in need of an outlet. After a full day of school, and hours of studying for my AP Biology exam, I felt burnt out, so naturally I googled what to do when you feel overwhelmed. I came upon on article about hiking. Living in one of the biggest cities in the world, there weren't many places to go hike, but I lived right next to the Bund. That night I went out to the fruit store by my apartment and bought some strawberries, and I head off to the bund with my coloring book and earphones. At a little past midnight, the bund was almost quiet for once, and sitting there watching the boats drive by, I felt so calm. (don't worry Shanghai is pretty safe and I carry pepper spray with me) That night marked the beginning of a hobby of mine. I realized that everybody needs something that brings them some peace. For me, that meant going on runs, walks, or just sitting at the bund and soaking everything in.

I learned how important it is to take time to check in with myself. As busy as we can get, everybody needs an outlet for self care. With everything we have going on in our lives, sometimes it can feel like we are snowballing, and that's why the best thing you can do sometimes is take a second to slow down.