Gabor Maté said, "The attempt to escape from pain, is what creates more pain." This is the cyclical nature of addiction, which I am all too familiar with. Due to my father's abuse of narcotics and the impact it has had on my family, I am determined to provide a safe space for people to confront their pain, understand it, and ultimately, heal from it. My goal is to pursue a bachelor's degree in Psychology and continue to get my Master's or Doctorate in either Counseling or Social Work. I want to create community projects that help get to the source of the pain and do my part to prevent generational traumas from impacting those who come after me.