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Brenisen Wheeler

1x

Finalist

1x

Winner

General information

Hobbies & Interests

  • Yoga
  • Hiking And Backpacking
  • Exercise And Fitness
  • Piano
  • Reading
  • Writing

Reading

  • Health
  • Women's Fiction
  • Spirituality
  • Self-Help
  • Social Issues
  • Cultural
  • Leadership
  • Psychology

I read books multiple times a week.

Bio

My name is Brenisen Wheeler. At a young age, school became my outlet in the face of adversity. This led me to graduate from high school in two years to create a better life for myself. When I was 16 years old, I began pursuing my B.A. in Psychology at the University of Minnesota. Since graduating in 2019, I have been dedicated to working at a domestic violence shelter as their Community Education and Outreach Manager. In Fall 2022, I will begin a Master's program in Co-Occurring Disorders and Addictions Counseling at Adler Graduate School. My goals in becoming a professional counselor involve enhancing my knowledge about the role of addiction in mental health, cultural humility for clinicians, and gaining experience and skills for working with individuals and communities across the lifespan and across cultures. Upon licensure, I hope to practice at a community-based non-profit organization dedicated to supporting historically marginalized individuals affected by trauma while integrating mind-body approaches. While all of the different roles I have been exposed to play an integral role in supporting holistic wellness, I continually gravitate to counseling psychology as a specialty that draws on my strengths, promotes intellectual curiosity, and is aligned with my professional and personal values. Only 2.87% of counselors in the United States are Asian American and all of the scholarships that I am awarded will support me in my aforementioned career goals and aid me in contributing to the diversification of the counseling field through my continued education.

Education

Adler Graduate School

Master's degree program

2022 – 2024

Majors:
  • Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Bachelor's degree program

2015 – 2019

Majors:
  • Psychology, General

Miscellaneous

Desired degree level:
Master's degree program
Majors of interest:
Psychology, General
Medical school interest:
No

Career

  • Psychology Subject Tutor

    Higher Education · University of Minnesota Land O'Lakes Center for Excellence

    Jan 2018 – Jan 2018

  • Peer Mentor

    Higher Education · President's Emerging Scholars

    Jan 2017 – Jan 2019

  • Family Planning Special Projects Outreach Coordinator

    Hospital & Health Care · Community-University Health Care Center

    Jan 2016 – Jan 2017

  • Community Adviser

    Higher Education · University of Minnesota Twin Cities

    Jan 2018 – Jan 2019

  • Community Education and Outreach Manager

    Civic & Social Organization · Women's Advocates

    Jan 2019 – Present

Miscellaneous

Dream career field:
Health, Wellness, and Fitness
Dream career goals:
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
Has nursing license:
No

Future Interests

  • Advocacy
  • Volunteering
  • Philanthropy
  • Entrepreneurship
Female Empowerment Scholarship
As a transracial adoptee from China, I sought to find and earn my role in my all White family at a young age. Growing up in a tumultuous and unpredictable home environment, I quickly assumed my role as the observer—someone who could quickly assess a situation by tuning into my environment, studying behavioral patterns, and then taking informed actions to center everyone's safety. As a young girl, I sought to learn as much as I could and build my own community through connections with people outside of my home. Over time, I came to understand that making my own safety a reality was possible by investing in my education. I was driven to excel in all my coursework and optimize my involvement in leadership, volunteering, and sports opportunities. Supplementing this effort was the supportive community that I built and nourished. I understood the value of connection through investing in my relationships with my guidance counselor, teachers, coaches, and classmates. Before turning 16 years old, I graduated from high school and was admitted to the University of Minnesota Twin Cities to pursue a BA in Psychology. I was determined to transform my adverse experiences into skills and perspectives that could inform my ability to be of service to others, especially girls and young women. Whether their struggle was similar to my own or something else entirely, I felt called to walk alongside individuals that needed it. While I was in college, I sought out numerous leadership, volunteering, tutoring, mentoring, and research roles and found it rewarding to give back to my community in these ways. After graduating, I began working in the Mind-Body Trauma Care Lab which has provided me a space to explore the impact of trauma and the healing that can come from body-based modalities, an interest of mine that is rooted in my own personal experiences with interpersonal trauma. This experience eventually led to me working at the nation’s first domestic violence shelter, Women’s Advocates. I worked at Women’s Advocates within the violence prevention and outreach department for over three years. During this time, I had been entrusted with thousands of women’s experiences with intimate partner violence, addiction, oppression, and mental health concerns. In this role, I have created and facilitated hundreds of trainings, workshops, and peer support groups with professionals across disciplines, students, community members, and survivors in Minnesota and beyond. This work has further solidified my commitment to giving back to my community through walking alongside individuals on their journeys beyond short-term interactions, a goal I plan to achieve through Adler Graduate School’s MA in Co-Occurring Disorders and Addictions Counseling. Through this program, I hope to be equipped with the skills to pour back into cultural communities that exist on the margins. I aim to practice this by developing strong therapeutic relationships that value wellness, empowerment, and prevention. Upon obtaining licensure, I aspire to practice at a community-based non-profit organization that supports historically marginalized individuals affected by trauma while integrating mind-body approaches. This program will enable me to evolve from being an observer to a practitioner who creates space for community healing, meaning-making, and wholeness. Ultimately, only 2.87% of counselors in the United States are Asian American. This scholarship will support me in my career goals to center community wellness, aid me in contributing to the diversification of the counseling field, and inspire other young women of color to pursue professions in holistic health promotion.
Bold Great Minds Scholarship
When I was in middle school, Grace Lee Boggs published a book called “The Next American Revolution: Sustainable Activism for the Twenty-First Century.” This was the first time I had ever heard of Boggs and as a Chinese American adoptee who came to care about human rights and activism at a young age, I was in awe of her legacy. I learned that this daughter of Chinese immigrants was born in 1915 and went on to live a life full of writing, inspiring, advocating, organizing, leading, and fighting until 2015. There are plenty of people who write books about social justice, but Boggs truly dedicated her life to cultivating a better society for some of the most marginalized individuals in our society. She was inspired by Martin Luther King and other Black activists in the 60s and sought to evoke a cultural transformation across all personal, political, social, and economic dimensions. Boggs is admirable for her ability to see a better future that involves intersectionality and seeing how globalization, civil rights, and climate change are all related to one another and are issues that rely on our ability to transform our values. She valued nonviolence, growth, accountability, justice, and community which were all modeled through the way she approached political organizing. Boggs outlines distinct actionable steps drawn from philosophical texts and theories that implore people to start with a local discussion which can lead to local and eventually global empowerment. Boggs believed that we all have a responsibility to be a catalyst for change and that we had the tools needed to do so. Lastly, Boggs is admirable for the way her legacy continues to live on through people who studied her work and worked alongside her including the renowned author of “Emergent Strategy” Adrienne Maree Brown.
Bold Deep Thinking Scholarship
While working as a community education and outreach manager at the very first domestic violence shelter in the nation, I have been able to connect with other prevention workers across the globe and learn about the prevalence of intimate partner homicide, rape, incest, human trafficking, reproductive coercion, and other human rights violations. At the center of all of these atrocities is a need for power and control which engenders an environment entrenched in inequality and domination. Countless public health crises impact everyone, especially marginalized communities. And the heart of the reason why countries that have an abundance of resources, like the United States, have made such little progress to make positive and sustainable changes to fight against environmental crises, human rights violations, inequality, racism, oppression, corruption, health disparities, and harmful systems is power and control. This power and control struggle drives divisiveness and impedes democratic institutions from being able to work collaboratively to yield outcomes that advance a society where all people have bodily autonomy, equal rights, accessible, inclusive, and informed social and medical service systems, and a right to holistic wellness and safety. As someone who works in prevention, I do believe that change is possible. Integrating healthy relationship skills into school curriculums, having parents and other adults who model healthy communication and boundaries, and having significant influencing agents like the media instill a culture of respect, consent, and empathy are all preventative efforts toward cultivating a world free of violence. Using a similar model to create change on a systemic level can have a trickle-down effect that sets the precedent that shared power and self-sovereignty are the building blocks to creating a society that can collectively tackle the world’s biggest challenges in an equitable, inclusive manner where people value empathy, active listening, and critical thinking.
Bold Mental Health Awareness Scholarship
I experienced the consequences of mental health stigma including loneliness, isolation, and rejection early on in my childhood following my parents' divorce driven by abuse in the home. I came to understand that stigma is one of the many barriers to accessing mental health care at a young age and while having resources available is great, it is ultimately up to the individual to feel comfortable, safe, and supported enough to agree to be open to and seek out those services which is largely influenced by the collective culture surrounding them. When I was in college pursuing my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, I had multiple opportunities to work within integrative healthcare settings that seemed to streamline awareness of, exposure, and access to mental healthcare for many patients at a young age. I observed that a practical solution for providing more mental health services to people who need it is to increase ease and social acceptability and reduce logistical challenges and stigmatization. These goals can be achieved through family and pediatric clinics that have licensed psychologists on site that are integrated into routine care and accessible for quick referrals and psychoeducational opportunities. When I worked at a federally qualified healthcare center and a behavioral health clinic that utilized a collective, holistic approach, I observed how children as young as one year old could be exposed to licensed psychologists during wellness checks to increase the parent and child’s understanding of how mental and physical health are connected. These early connections with mental health providers could result in an increased likelihood of seeking out therapeutic support and having psychologists right down the hall from their pediatrician could increase utilization. Meeting people where they are physically already is an effective way to mental health care that is widely underutilized.
Bold Goals Scholarship
I have had many experiences with interpersonal trauma in my life. Through these experiences, I have been supported by, advocated by, and cared for by professionals who changed my life, simply by doing their jobs. I have felt called to walk with individuals on their healing journeys, whether their struggle was similar to my own or something else entirely. This calling has informed my research, leadership, clinical, community, and mentorship work, all of which inform my aspirations to learn best practices for counseling trauma survivors, to gain the experience and skills required to pour back into communities that exist on the margins, and to find my own joy that fuels me to continue to show up for others. Addiction and substance abuse often coincide with experiences of trauma and adversity. Similarly, the recovery process from addiction and the healing journey from trauma are often intertwined. My academic goals at Adler Graduate School are related to understanding these connections, the neurobiological mechanisms, and the psychological implications. My career goals involve creating space for healing, meaning-making, and wholeness in communities that are often ignored, mistreated, or forgotten. I plan to do this through obtaining dual licensure as a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor and a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. Upon obtaining licensure, I plan to practice at a community-based non-profit dedicated to supporting historically marginalized individuals affected by trauma while integrating mind-body approaches like trauma informed yoga. Ultimately, only 2.87% of counselors in the United States are Asian American and this scholarship will support me in my aforementioned career goals to center community wellness and aid me in diversifying the counseling field. Finally, I aim to have a daily practice of leaning into balance, prioritizing my own holistic wellness, and carving out time to experience moments of restoration, compassion, and peace.
Bold Know Yourself Scholarship
Winner
I grew up believing that one's self-worth and value are attributed to what one can do for others and what one can excel at in a way that no one else can. I ventured through college pouring into everyone and everything else but myself. I always had more than two jobs while taking more classes than was necessary to be considered a full-time student. The paid, volunteering, and leadership opportunities that I gravitated toward always had a helping component to them. Whether it was being a community adviser in the dorms, tutoring student-athletes in psychology, or being a mentor to first-generation, low-income students, I truly believed that my only source of value was to be in service to others. On this journey, I learned that I could be a selfless, driven, reliable, and ambitious person. I also learned that I was unnecessarily hard on myself. I never felt like anything that I did was enough. I was in a constant state of striving because I did not think I was sufficient as I was. And while self-improvement is an admirable mission, I realized I should not be motivated to be the best version of myself because I was not enough. Our culture is already saturated with a deficit mindset and I realized that I was feeding into it. Amidst all of this, I learned the power of self-compassion. I learned the valuable lesson that at the end of the day, the way I treat myself matters and that if I can meet myself with compassion, not only does that have implications for how I show up with others, but that my own humanity is worthy of gentle love, care, and consideration. As an aspiring clinician, this is a lesson that I will carry with me into my career and beyond.
Bold Listening Scholarship
As a survivor working at a domestic violence shelter, I intimately understand the importance of active listening. This kind of listening holds immense power and can create opportunities for feeling seen, validated, heard, and known. This experience can be transformative, especially for survivors of domestic violence who have been stripped of their own personal agency and have been coerced and manipulated, often told that their own perspectives are untrue. When someone actively listens, they create a conduit for connection. This connection can be an antidote for loneliness, isolation, and disconnection which are not only experienced by survivors of domestic violence. When I work with survivors, it is crucial to utilize active listening skills to share the space, to share power, and to extend respect to that person. It is essential to be in a private, quiet space away from distractions where I can check in with them to ensure I am hearing them correctly. I also lean on non-verbal communication to demonstrate my presence with them and in the conversation. Building rapport with others can also be achieved through showing that you have actively listened in previous conversations by referencing specific things that they had said, that they maybe figured you would have forgotten or not deemed important enough to remember. There is also so much to be learned from taking the time to truly be present with someone while they are speaking or sharing their story. To truly be there with someone and put your own opinions and desires aside so you can genuinely hear what the other person is communicating is what encompasses active listening. Just in the same way that people can tell when you are just listening to respond, people can feel when someone cares enough to quiet their own internal dialogue to understand someone’s perspective.
Bold Self-Care Scholarship
With an upbringing that made me prone to burnout and people-pleasing, learning how to practice self-care has been an essential tool for my survival and promoting my holistic wellness. Movement has consistently been an outlet for me when I am stressed and one day I accidentally took a yoga sculpt class during college. I loved this blend of strength and flexibility and I added a weekly yoga sculpt class to my exercise routine. I found that I felt more centered, connected, and confident after these classes. It was essential for me to have a space to focus on my body, my breath, and the present moment. This 60-minute class enabled me to show up more whole, patient, and compassionate in other spaces throughout my day and my life. Yoga allowed me to pour back into my own, often empty, cup. Soon after, I started a 235-hour yoga teacher training to learn how to hold space for other people to connect with their minds and bodies in a safe, healthy, and healing manner. I was excited to provide space for other people to experience the relief, de-stress, and connection that I have experienced and leaned on for support countless times. After the program, I found myself more drawn to restorative practices that involved meditation and a connection to my spirituality rather than physical fitness. I learned that yoga could be practiced off of a yoga mat and in my daily life. I directly applied these teachings and they created pathways for me. These pathways included being able to set boundaries, designate time for introspection, and embrace nature without the agenda of hiking a certain distance or within a certain amount of time, I could just be. This permission to simply be was freeing and the greatest gift I have given myself.
Bold Patience Matters Scholarship
Growing up in a tumultuous home, I became a Type A, high achieving, people pleaser. I put 110% into everything that I pursued which was received by society as an adaptive, socially acceptable, and even admirable way to respond to interpersonal trauma. However, as I grew older, I realized that I was challenged by non-doing. The way I knew how to live was through constant action and movement because if I slowed down, I would be left with my inner thoughts and past experiences that made me feel powerless. So, I did everything I could to avoid experiencing that. This pattern continued through college. It inadvertently and gradually molded me in to a person who struggled with patience, presence, and mindfulness. I found that I had unrealistic expectations of myself and others born from this need to have everything done yesterday. I convinced myself that this need was necessary so I could focus on my future which I came to believe would not exist unless everything happened as soon as it could. I came to learn that my emphasis on efficiency and timeliness came at the cost of connection and compassion. I found it difficult to fully connect with myself and what my needs were when I was not practicing patience. I also felt a disconnection with friends, colleagues, and family members when I demanded too much of them too quickly. At the time, I felt that I was doing everything “right” and I did not understand why I felt like something was slightly off. The skills that made me resilient as a child were now becoming maladaptive and I knew there was something I needed to change. That change was integrating the practice of patience which then created paths toward mindfulness and presence, all of which transformed my life.