2026 – Gracie Winegar – South Sevier High School HS

My Story

My story looks very similar to everyone else’s around me. You have to look really deep to notice my struggles. Most of the time, I am faking how well I am doing. But it’s the little things that I do that, if you look deeper, are actually red flags. I struggle with anxiety and feeling as if I have to be perfect. I feel those two (if not severe) get overlooked. I have grown up feeling that I have to be the perfect student, friend, daughter, sister, and athlete. If I felt I was falling short in any of those areas, intense anxiety and feelings of not being good enough would set in. At a young age, I felt like I had to constantly be showing that I was good enough. I felt that I HAD to get all A’s or I was going to fail in life. I do a lot of sports, and one that I love to do, but sometimes isn’t good for my mental health, is drill team. I got so caught up in it that I was constantly comparing myself to others, and what score I got determined my worth. It wasn’t until a year ago, after I was at my lowest of lows and my team took 2nd at state for the second time. I realized that whatever I do, my worth stays the same. I do not have to be perfect to be worthy. Once you realize that, you tend to look at the world differently. As long as you are trying your best at everything you do, it doesn’t need to be perfect! Nobody is perfect, so that is a goal that is unattainable. I know so many people struggle with this, and they may not even realize it. But it can lead to worse problems like depression and suicide. This habit is hard to break, especially when you have been faced with it for a long time. But what helped me is not being perfect and allowing myself to not be. And having that change in mindset that your worth is unchanging no matter what you do or don’t do.