Balancing Healing and Hustle, Honoring My Mind in the Midst of It All
My mental health is not something I manage on the side, it is central to how I show up as a student, professional, caregiver, and future social worker. Living with anxiety and the residual impact of trauma means I move through the world constantly calculating how much capacity I have and where I need to replenish. These internal calculations deeply shape both my academic performance and personal life.
Academically, my mind is sharp, but it often needs more structure and rest than traditional learning environments assume. I can read dense material and participate in complex conversations, but when anxiety flares, my focus becomes fragmented, and my working memory can feel compromised. I sometimes reread the same sentence five times before it makes sense, not because I do not understand, but because my nervous system is overloaded. During those moments, I rely on scaffolding tools like planners, color-coded assignments, and voice memos to stay grounded in my tasks. I also advocate for flexibility and clarity from instructors when needed. I have learned that asking for support is not a weakness, it is a skill.
In my personal life, mental health challenges can make it hard to be consistently present for loved ones, especially when I am in a state of exhaustion or emotional flooding. I love deeply, but I often need solitude to reset. I communicate openly with my support system about my needs and boundaries, because being emotionally available to others requires protecting my own peace first. I have come to understand that I cannot pour from an empty cup, and rest is not optional, it is essential.
To prioritize my mental health while in school, I take a trauma-informed approach to my own life. I integrate small but powerful practices, like bilateral music for emotional regulation, body scans to check in with my internal state, and journaling to process spiraling thoughts. I block off intentional time between classes and work so I am not constantly rushing from one high-stress environment to another. I also maintain a “mental health check-in” log to track my moods, triggers, and what self-care actually worked that day. These are not just habits, they are lifelines.
I also access therapy and engage in mutual aid healing circles when possible. These spaces provide the emotional processing that school does not always allow. Being in graduate school while managing mental health challenges can feel like running uphill with weights on my ankles. But I do it, because I believe in the work I am being trained to do. And I know that part of being an effective social worker is doing my own healing work along the way.
My mental health has forced me to become intentional, reflective, and resilient. It reminds me that success is not just about academic achievement, it is also about staying well enough to sustain my purpose. I make my mental health a priority not just for myself, but because the communities I serve deserve a practitioner who leads from a place of wholeness, not burnout.
In caring for my own mental health, I am practicing the same values I hope to bring into the field: compassion, boundaries, accountability, and care that does not come at the expense of the caregiver. That is what makes this journey meaningful. That is what makes it sustainable.
Throughout my life, I have learned that in order to maintain a state of mental wellness, it is really important for me to take care of all aspects of myself, including my mind, body and spirit. For me this is done through a rigorous practice of self-care, which is mindfully incorporated on a daily basis by scheduling in time for "the little things" such as walks, taking time by myself, and getting comfortable with saying "no" to certain social obligations or other obligations that would be putting too much on my plate all at once. I take time each morning in the wee hours of dawn, before everyone else wakes up, to sit with a cup of hot coffee in silence and focus on grounding myself and getting into my body. After a few moments of this quiet time, I pull up my calendar and make notes of anything specific I might be looking forward to or needing to get done, and sometimes I create checklists to ensure I have the tools I need to be successful. This, for me, embodies a self-care practice and affects my mental health considerably because it helps me not to feel thrusted into a day that I don't feel mentally prepared for.
When I learned how to begin prioritizing my mental health by getting outside for regular walks in nature with my dog, speaking with a mental health counselor on a semi-regular basis, practicing yoga and fueling my mind and body with healthy food, and being in relationships with people who have a positive impact in my life, I have seen that I am able to take on many challenges and experience success in the workplace, in academics, as well as in my home life and social life. I am also able to be a better parent to my seven-and-a-half month old son who needs me to show up as my best self in order to take good care of him. I want to show him with the way I live my life that it is possible to live a healthy and joyous life, and that doing so will put him in a position to accomplish any goals and navigate any challenges that come up for him.
As a woman who is currently working toward obtaining a masters degree in clinical mental health counseling, I have a deep understanding of the necessity of prioritizing mental health not only because it is the subject I am studying, but because my entire life has led me to this juncture at which prioritizing not only my own mental health but also encouraging and impacting those around me in a way that positively affects their mental health has become my primary goal in life. As someone who struggled with mental health in adolescence and was able to overcome significant obstacles to get to where I am today, I have a deep appreciation for the role of mental health in my life and I am so excited for the opportunity to share my passion for mental health with my community and positively impact others' lives as a licensed mental health counselor.
If it wasn't for the struggles I faced in my youth, and the mental health resources I had access to that helped me grow as a person, I wouldn't be where I am today and I am so grateful that I have learned how to make my mental health the number one priority no matter what life throws at me.
Thank you for considering me as a potential recipient of this scholarship, to help me reach my goals.
Navigating the academic landscape with ADHD has been a journey of self-discovery and resilience. Throughout elementary and high school, I grappled with the challenges that ADHD presented, striving to excel despite lacking the necessary resources. I maintained an average performance, earning A's and B's, but always sensed that I could achieve more if provided with the right support.
It wasn't until my freshman year of college that I received a formal diagnosis for ADHD, marking a turning point in my academic and personal life. In the Hispanic community, mental health can be a somewhat taboo subject, and breaking this silence has been a significant aspect of my journey. I am hopeful that open dialogues about mental health will become more common, fostering understanding and support.
With my diagnosis, I began a tailored approach to managing my ADHD. I take medication that helps alleviate the challenges posed by ADHD, but my commitment to prioritizing mental health extends beyond pharmaceutical solutions. I incorporate regular exercise, maintain a balanced sleep schedule, and adhere to a healthy diet. These lifestyle choices are vital in managing ADHD, as disruptions in sleep, imbalances in dopamine, and nutritional deficiencies can contribute to overwhelming feelings and emotional dysregulation.
Living with ADHD often feels like navigating an unending to-do list, but I remind myself to approach life with compassion. In a society that often values conformity, I celebrate our differences, recognizing that ADHD offers unique perspectives and strengths. While ADHD can be overwhelming, I have learned to harness its positive aspects. People with ADHD have lower dopamine levels, leading them to seek stimulation. For me, this search for dopamine has translated into a passion for creativity.
Creativity has become my outlet, a source of focus and joy. I can paint for hours, experiencing the hyper-focus that comes with ADHD. This hyper-focus not only aids in my artistic endeavors but also serves as a reminder that ADHD is not solely a challenge—it's an advantage. The ability to hyper-focus allows me to delve deeply into my art, creating work that I am immensely proud of.
In managing ADHD, I am committed to dispelling the stigma surrounding mental health in my community. Through open dialogue and sharing my own journey, I aim to contribute to a more supportive and understanding environment. By embracing the challenges and advantages that come with ADHD, I am forging a path that prioritizes both my mental health and my artistic pursuits. As time progresses, I am refining my strategies for managing ADHD, learning more about myself, and navigating life's complexities with resilience and compassion.
