LGBTQ+ Wellness in Action Scholarship

Growing up queer in my impoverished rural hometown meant navigating two irreconcilable worlds. Outside was a place where Confederate flags hung from porches and slurs punctuated everyday conversation. Inside was a truth I could not yet name but understood must stay hidden. In a town where everyone knew everyone else's business, having absent, alcoholic parents only magnified my isolation, creating the perfect conditions for a mental health crisis. I escaped my hometown but ended up homeless. Through many hospitalizations came many diagnoses: depression, anxiety, bipolar II, ADHD, opioid use disorder, and more. I desperately sought a label that would clarify what was wrong with me and provide a roadmap to "normalcy." After receiving a C-PTSD diagnosis, my struggles began to make sense to me. Of course I felt so unhinged. My environment was constantly re-traumatizing me. Over the years, I tried many medications, but in such a chaotic setting, I could never stick with any of them. Eventually I found someone who genuinely cared for me and did everything they could to help me heal. It took time, but we established a stable home where I felt safe. That stability finally allowed me to maintain consistent medication, creating the foundation for real healing to begin. Through the support group ‘Adult Children of Alcoholics', I discovered simple but transformative coping strategies. Morning gratitude journaling reframed my negative focus, meditation practices quelled my anxiety, and a yoga practice connected mind and body. Most importantly, I discovered the Internal Family Systems model, which helped me understand how childhood neglect had fractured my sense of self. For the first time, I was not just surviving. Life finally felt worth living. Eventually, I felt I had built up enough recovery capital to begin supporting my dually diagnosed peers. I dedicated myself to my studies and became certified as a Certified Peer Specialist (CPS). Drawing from the knowledge I gained through the Peer Specialist curriculum, I developed a small harm reduction and recovery initiative focused on LGBTQ+ individuals. We provided harm reduction supplies and anonymous online peer support. Helping queer teenagers understand that it truly does get better was a profound experience. By being there for them, I found healing for myself. My experience as a CPS gave me the confidence to pursue my dream of becoming a social worker. Pursuing an education has not been easy. My ADHD required me to devise a system that would keep me focused and engaged. There were moments when I struggled with coursework. That familiar, intrusive voice of self-doubt would creep in, urging me to give up. Instead, I leaned on my coping skills to fend off those thoughts. My first semester resulted in a 4.0 GPA, and I am on track to do the same this semester. These hard-won victories solidified my conviction that recovery is not just possible, but transferable. Speaking with peers who have more time in recovery has given me many pivotal realizations that reshaped how I view mental health, emphasizing systemic factors over individual blame. These moments accelerated my growth and deepened my belief in collective healing. My goal is to complete my education and build a career where I can help others have similar breakthroughs. I want to help them understand that they are not broken, the system around them is. Recognizing stigma and structural barriers empowers people to demand change and rediscover hope. With hope, anything is possible. I cannot wait to use my education to help others discover that hope within themselves. If I could find it, I know they can too.

My life is like a river rafting trip; some parts are slow and steady, and others are white water rapids at breakneck speeds. As a person with ADHD, OCD, and bipolar disorder, it has always been difficult for me to manage the cycles of mania and depression that are hardwired in my DNA. With the help of my psychiatrist, I have found right mix of medication, but I always need to be aware of the mental cycles occurring inside my brain. In the past I have experienced manic bipolar episodes paired with my ADHD, which has allowed me to prolifically create artworks that show deep vulnerability and madness. When the mania ended and a depressive episode set in, I couldn’t create anything let alone get out of bed. I was worried that taking medication for my mental health conditions would destroy my ability to create; but it has done the opposite. My medication allows me to remove myself from the highs and lows of my disorder and create in a profoundly directed way. My art is no longer madness, it’s thoughtful and curious. I began practicing yoga after my therapist suggested it and it has brought a deeper balance to my life. Practicing yoga has taught me that my mental health is directly influenced by what’s happening in my body. My mental health medication and physical activity have taught me how to take care of myself and live a balanced, healthy life. I practice yoga and meditation daily; this has helped me develop a routine that keeps me mentally and physically healthy. When I roll out my yoga mat, I am honoring my journey by continuing to show up. Wellness isn’t something you achieve in one day; it’s an ongoing journey towards a balanced life. When I’m not feeling my best, I show up for yoga anyway. (I do online yoga). When all I can do is stretch, I show up anyway. Just showing up is half the battle. Developing a meditation practice has taught me how to identify and ignore my intrusive thoughts. I began working out 5 days a week because I needed something to supplement my yoga. I wasn’t expecting to experience such a dramatic change when I began my fitness journey, but working out gives me more control over my mental state. If I can be dedicated to experiencing what’s happening in my body, it’s easier to be dedicated to controlling my mind. Wellness is a lifestyle, not a 9-5 job where you clock in and out. It takes dedication, perseverance, and strength. I am committed to living a balanced life.