SnapWell Scholarship

There was a time I believed that pouring into others was the same as taking care of myself. As a theater director and educator, I dedicated years to lifting up young artists, holding space for their emotions, encouraging their growth, and being their biggest advocate. I didn’t realize that I was doing all of this while quietly neglecting my own mental and emotional well-being. When the pandemic shut down theaters and schools, I lost the structure that kept me moving, and in the stillness, I crashed. The isolation brought up unprocessed grief, self-doubt, and burnout I didn’t know I had. For the first time in years, I was forced to look inward. It wasn’t glamorous. It didn’t come with a big revelation. It came with therapy appointments, long walks, less screen time, and finally allowing myself to say, “I’m not okay.” I made the radical choice to prioritize my mental health, not for a job, not for productivity, but because I needed to survive and rebuild from the inside out. That decision changed everything. I started creating for the joy of it again. I joined a virtual group of drama therapists in training and found a language for the healing I’d been unknowingly facilitating for others. I returned to my roots, not just as a performer, but as a person worthy of care. That’s when I made the decision to pursue a master’s in Drama Therapy and become a licensed mental health counselor. Today, I view wellness as a practice, not a destination. I integrate it into my studies, where I advocate for trauma-informed, culturally responsive care. I carry it into my work with young people, encouraging them to honor their emotions and embrace radical self-expression. And I protect it in my personal life, through movement, music, journaling, rest, and connection. I’ve learned that when I show up for myself, I’m better equipped to show up for others in a meaningful, sustainable way. Making my mental health a priority helped me reclaim my purpose, not just as an artist or educator, but as a future clinician. My goal is to open an expressive arts therapy practice that invites people to feel, to heal, and to know that they’re not alone in their struggle. This scholarship would allow me to continue my graduate studies with less financial strain, and more capacity to serve my community from a place of grounded care. Self-care isn’t selfish. For me, it was the turning point, and the beginning of something more honest, more sustainable, and more whole.