My journey to higher education has been shaped by resilience, personal growth, and an unwavering desire to create a better future for my children and others in need. Becoming a teen mom at 16 forced me to mature quickly and take on responsibilities beyond my years. While many doubted my ability to finish school, I was determined to defy expectations. I not only graduated high school as valedictorian but also balanced raising two children while working toward my future.
However, my challenges did not end there. I spent 12 years in an abusive marriage, enduring manipulation, betrayal, and emotional hardship. I was isolated, with little support, and struggled to maintain a sense of identity outside of my role as a wife and mother. Leaving that marriage was the turning point that made me realize I needed to reclaim my life through education and empowerment. I knew that in order to provide for my children and set an example of perseverance, I had to pursue higher education.
I went on to earn my bachelor’s degree in psychology, graduating magna cum laude, a milestone that reinforced my passion for mental health advocacy and trauma-informed care. Now, as I work toward my master’s degree in social work, I am more committed than ever to helping others navigate their healing journeys.
Pursuing higher education as a single mother of four has been one of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences of my life. Financial hardship has been a significant obstacle, as I have had to balance tuition, childcare, and basic living expenses while ensuring my children’s needs are met. There have been times when I questioned how I would afford school supplies or pay bills, but I refused to let financial difficulties stop me from reaching my goals.
In addition to financial struggles, the emotional toll of healing from trauma while managing school and parenting has been difficult. There are moments of exhaustion, self-doubt, and overwhelming pressure, but I remind myself daily of why I started this journey. My education is not just for me—it is for my children and for the countless individuals I hope to help in the future.
Balancing school and motherhood requires strict time management, self-discipline, and unwavering perseverance. I plan my study hours around my children’s schedules, ensuring I am present for them while still meeting my academic goals. Online and evening courses allow me to remain flexible, and I use every available moment—whether early mornings or late nights—to complete assignments.
I also lean on my support system, including family, friends, and fellow students who understand my challenges. Seeking help and surrounding myself with positive influences has made it possible to stay on track.
Despite the hardships, I remain committed to earning my degree and creating lasting change in the field of mental health. My journey has not been easy, but it has made me stronger, more determined, and more passionate about helping others break through their own barriers.
Footprints- we all leave them. It’s effortless to see the tracks of mankind today, from extensive land development to the presence of litter. However, this was not the case for many Indigenous nations, as their ecological footprint was near nonexistent. The earth was well tended and cared for, until the arrival of colonizers. With their arrival came the end of Indigenous civilizations- civilizations that accentuated land stewardship, sustainability, and gratitude.
Centuries later, with the erasure of many Native Peoples and their cultural practices, we live in a manner directly opposite to them. From beautiful forests chopped to stumps, or the dumping of pollution in sacred waterways, our world has disregarded the land that was once revered. It is this that is the most pressing environmental challenge- the loss and suppression of Indigenous cultures.
This summer, I made a friend named Gwyn through a habitat restoration internship. We conversed and shared some great ideas. At the end of our conversation one day, she recommended a must-read. That book, Braiding Sweetgrass, is arguably the most influential piece I’ve ever consumed. It shed light on the lost beauty and wisdom contained in the practices and lifestyles of the Native Peoples. It elaborated on the wholesome, reciprocal relationships many shared with the earth. Responsibility and love were common themes in Indigenous cultures, emphasized routinely. Villages were centered around sustainability from agricultural practices to architecture. Children were grounded in offerings of thanksgiving, involved in ceremonies, and advised against exploitation of the Earth's gifts.
In 2024, the age of climate change, there are voices with solutions and ideas. The majority of these voices, though, lack diversity and are rooted in pure Western science. As much as I support research, I believe multiple perspectives are valuable. As greater inclusion allows for more fruitful discussions and results, so must our environmental conversations allowing room for the wisdom of Indigenous Peoples. This is notable considering how ecologically-conscious their lifestyles were and how much they can bring to the table in devising sustainable solutions. Additionally, integrating Native wisdom into environmental conversations could help heal the marred relationship we share with them and incline more communities to get involved. This is substantial as complex environmental issues require heavy collaborative action and positive relations with others.
To improve the loss and suppression of Native voices, I support their resurgence. Recently, I’ve joined a local organization, YoloSol. Their work is based on reteaching the practices of local tribes, as well as advocating for land stewardship. I hope to apply the principles and practices I learn from YoloSol to an influential space- my university. I’m applying for a fellowship opportunity on campus called the Climate Action Fellows. If chosen, I would work with my school’s Director of Sustainability, where I would push for the incorporation of Indigenous ecological knowledge into our projects. Though there is plenty of work to be done to achieve a greater level of Native diversity in the environmental field, I hope to start small and eventually advocate for their presence on grander platforms.
By participating in YoloSol’s mission and working for the inclusion of Indigenous voices into my school’s sustainable initiatives, I aim to provide increased clarity, beauty, and justice into the dark realm of environmental challenges.
