For 11-year-old Charlotte Beach, a love of writing and art became an opportunity to share an important message about friendship, courage, and trying something new.
Through a recent 4-H project, Charlotte combined two of her favorite things to create a children's book about Benjamin, a young octopus getting ready to start fourth grade at a new school. He doesn't know how he will make friends, and he isn't sure what to expect.
It is a story about the fear and uncertainty that can come with starting somewhere new, something many children experience but may not always know how to talk about. For Charlotte, creating the book was a way to explore those feelings while bringing her creativity to life.
“I like writing, and I love art, so I think that if I put them together it would make a really nice masterpiece that I could share with other people,” she said.
Although many young people can relate to her book, the story is also rooted in Charlotte's own experience. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Charlotte did not have a typical kindergarten experience, and first grade was her introduction to a traditional school setting. While she had a few familiar faces to help her get started, she still had to navigate a new environment, meet new people, and find classmates she felt comfortable around. Those experiences helped shape Benjamin's story.
“I decided to write about an octopus going to do something that can be nervous and make people afraid,” Charlotte explained. “This can help and show other people how it's not really that bad to go to a new school because it's an opportunity to meet new people.”
Charlotte's message goes beyond the first day of school. Her story highlights that even experiences that seem ordinary to adults can feel overwhelming to a child. School, friendships, family changes, and the pressure to figure out who they are can all affect a young person's mental health. Some children may experience anxiety, sadness, or loneliness without knowing how to put those feelings into words or ask for help. That is why access to youth mental health care matters.
At Zepf Center, we believe young people should have somewhere to turn when they are struggling, whether they need someone to talk to, help navigating a difficult situation, or more intensive support. Our Youth Services teams provide therapy, psychiatric care, crisis services, and urgent care to help children and families work through challenges and build the skills they need to move forward.
For Charlotte, that message is especially meaningful. Her mother, Katie Beach, APN, has worked at Zepf Center for over a decade as a Nurse Practitioner in the Youth Psychiatric Urgent Care department. Through her mom's work, Charlotte has learned about the importance of mental health care and that asking a trusted adult for help is something to be encouraged, not something to be ashamed of.
As Charlotte completed her 4-H project, she had the opportunity to publish and sell her book. She also decided she wanted her project to make an impact beyond the pages.
Keeping her own experiences in mind, as well as the work she has seen her mother do every day, Charlotte chose to donate a portion of her book proceeds to Zepf Center to support youth mental health throughout Northwest Ohio.
At just 11 years old, Charlotte is showing how something you love can become a way to help someone else. She took her interests in writing and art, turned them into something meaningful, and found a way to give back to children and families in her community.
Her generosity is also a reminder that supporting young people is something all of us can take part in. Every child deserves the opportunity to grow, learn, and build a healthy future. Making that possible takes caring adults, accessible mental health services, and a community willing to invest in the well-being of its youngest members.
When you support Zepf Center, you help make that care possible.
Your gift helps children, teens, and families access mental health services when they need them most. It helps ensure that when a young person is struggling, they have somewhere to turn and people ready to help.
If you believe every young person in our community deserves the opportunity to thrive, we invite you to join us in making youth mental health a priority.
Learn more about supporting Zepf Center and make a difference for children and families throughout Northwest Ohio at zepfcenter.org/donate/.
We are incredibly grateful to Charlotte for sharing her creativity, her story, and her generosity with our community. Her book may have started as a 4-H project, but its message reaches far beyond the pages.
