I am Connie Dobie and my current goal is to complete the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program. I am currently a registered nurse and work with patients that have PTSD related to a job injury. I realized that there are so many people struggling with traumatic issues in their lives, then the pandemic hit and it showed me that so many people will be in need of Mental Wellness Assistance. So many patients get stuff and are totally unaware why they are mentally not able to return to work. When there is an injury to our bodies, that is considered an injury that needs to heal. Just as a broken bone must heal over time and under the care of a medical provider, the brain is no different. Just as people can go for an annual exam our mental health should be no different. It is time for us as a healthcare system to take care of the total patient and not just physical injuries. Our mental health is connected with our physical health and once we are able to treat the entire patient they will heal holistically. We need to be able to work together as system for our patients and not for money. When COVID-19 hit in 2020 so many people were forced to be in a home where abuse, neglect, and hunger occurred and there was no help for those people. They were then were expected to return back to society like nothing happened. So many people experienced death and not able to say goodbye to their family members due to everyone being in quarantine. That took a mental toll an everyone especially children and the elderly who thrive on human interaction and touch. Our mental health has been neglected for the last 3 years and we will finally be able to seek mental health care just as we can go to an urgent care or ER for physical ailment. I have served as a Volunteer in the Charlotte Mecklenburg School system in many different capacities as well as other charter schools in the Charlotte area. I help in the health offices and serve as proctors as needed. One of my major accomplishments was completing the RN program with children. I was so proud of myself and that showed my children that anything is possible. I plan to invest in the NC education 529 plan for my children so they will have monies for college as the time nears.

I am Connie Dobie and my current goal is to complete the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program. I am currently a registered nurse and work with patients that have PTSD related to a job injury. I realized that there are so many people struggling with traumatic issues in their lives, then the pandemic hit and it showed me that so many people will be in need of Mental Wellness Assistance. So many patients get stuff and are totally unaware why they are mentally not able to return to work. When there is an injury to our bodies, that is considered an injury that needs to heal. Just as a broken bone must heal over time and under the care of a medical provider, the brain is no different. Just as people can go for an annual exam our mental health should be no different. It is time for us as a healthcare system to take care of the total patient and not just physical injuries. Our mental health is connected with our physical health and once we are able to treat the entire patient they will heal holistically. We need to be able to work together as system for our patients and not for money. When COVID-19 hit in 2020 so many people were forced to be in a home where abuse, neglect, and hunger occurred and there was no help for those people. They were then were expected to return back to society like nothing happened. So many people experienced death and not able to say goodbye to their family members due to everyone being in quarantine. That took a mental toll an everyone especially children and the elderly who thrive on human interaction and touch. Our mental health has been neglected for the last 3 years and we will finally be able to seek mental health care just as we can go to an urgent care or ER for physical ailment. I have served as a Volunteer in the Charlotte Mecklenburg School system in many different capacities as well as other charter schools in the Charlotte area. I help in the health offices and serve as proctors as needed. One of my major accomplishments was completing the RN program with children. I was so proud of myself and that showed my children that anything is possible. I plan to invest in the NC education 529 plan for my children so they will have monies for college as the time nears.

I am Connie Dobie and my current goal is to complete the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program. I am currently a registered nurse and work with patients that have PTSD related to a job injury. I realized that there are so many people struggling with traumatic issues in their lives, then the pandemic hit and it showed me that so many people will be in need of Mental Wellness Assistance. So many patients get stuff and are totally unaware why they are mentally not able to return to work. When there is an injury to our bodies, that is considered an injury that needs to heal. Just as a broken bone must heal over time and under the care of a medical provider, the brain is no different. Just as people can go for an annual exam our mental health should be no different. It is time for us as a healthcare system to take care of the total patient and not just physical injuries. Our mental health is connected with our physical health and once we are able to treat the entire patient they will heal holistically. We need to be able to work together as system for our patients and not for money. When COVID-19 hit in 2020 so many people were forced to be in a home where abuse, neglect, and hunger occurred and there was no help for those people. They were then were expected to return back to society like nothing happened. So many people experienced death and not able to say goodbye to their family members due to everyone being in quarantine. That took a mental toll an everyone especially children and the elderly who thrive on human interaction and touch. Our mental health has been neglected for the last 3 years and we will finally be able to seek mental health care just as we can go to an urgent care or ER for physical ailment. I have served as a Volunteer in the Charlotte Mecklenburg School system in many different capacities as well as other charter schools in the Charlotte area. I help in the health offices and serve as proctors as needed. One of my major accomplishments was completing the RN program with children. I was so proud of myself and that showed my children that anything is possible. I plan to invest in the NC education 529 plan for my children so they will have monies for college as the time nears.

I am Connie Dobie and my current goal is to complete the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program. I am currently a registered nurse and work with patients that have PTSD related to a job injury. I realized that there are so many people struggling with traumatic issues in their lives, then the pandemic hit and it showed me that so many people will be in need of Mental Wellness Assistance. So many patients get stuff and are totally unaware why they are mentally not able to return to work. When there is an injury to our bodies, that is considered an injury that needs to heal. Just as a broken bone must heal over time and under the care of a medical provider, the brain is no different. Just as people can go for an annual exam our mental health should be no different. It is time for us as a healthcare system to take care of the total patient and not just physical injuries. Our mental health is connected with our physical health and once we are able to treat the entire patient they will heal holistically. We need to be able to work together as system for our patients and not for money. When COVID-19 hit in 2020 so many people were forced to be in a home where abuse, neglect, and hunger occurred and there was no help for those people. They were then were expected to return back to society like nothing happened. So many people experienced death and not able to say goodbye to their family members due to everyone being in quarantine. That took a mental toll an everyone especially children and the elderly who thrive on human interaction and touch. Our mental health has been neglected for the last 3 years and we will finally be able to seek mental health care just as we can go to an urgent care or ER for physical ailment. I have served as a Volunteer in the Charlotte Mecklenburg School system in many different capacities as well as other charter schools in the Charlotte area. I help in the health offices and serve as proctors as needed. One of my major accomplishments was completing the RN program with children. I was so proud of myself and that showed my children that anything is possible. I plan to invest in the NC education 529 plan for my children so they will have monies for college as the time nears.

I am Connie Dobie and my current goal is to complete the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program. I am currently a registered nurse and work with patients that have PTSD related to a job injury. I realized that there are so many people struggling with traumatic issues in their lives, then the pandemic hit and it showed me that so many people will be in need of Mental Wellness Assistance. So many patients get stuff and are totally unaware why they are mentally not able to return to work. When there is an injury to our bodies, that is considered an injury that needs to heal. Just as a broken bone must heal over time and under the care of a medical provider, the brain is no different. Just as people can go for an annual exam our mental health should be no different. It is time for us as a healthcare system to take care of the total patient and not just physical injuries. Our mental health is connected with our physical health and once we are able to treat the entire patient they will heal holistically. We need to be able to work together as system for our patients and not for money. When COVID-19 hit in 2020 so many people were forced to be in a home where abuse, neglect, and hunger occurred and there was no help for those people. They were then were expected to return back to society like nothing happened. So many people experienced death and not able to say goodbye to their family members due to everyone being in quarantine. That took a mental toll an everyone especially children and the elderly who thrive on human interaction and touch. Our mental health has been neglected for the last 3 years and we will finally be able to seek mental health care just as we can go to an urgent care or ER for physical ailment. I have served as a Volunteer in the Charlotte Mecklenburg School system in many different capacities as well as other charter schools in the Charlotte area. I help in the health offices and serve as proctors as needed. One of my major accomplishments was completing the RN program with children. I was so proud of myself and that showed my children that anything is possible. I plan to invest in the NC education 529 plan for my children so they will have monies for college as the time nears.

I am Connie Dobie and my current goal is to complete the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program. I am currently a registered nurse and work with patients that have PTSD related to a job injury. I realized that there are so many people struggling with traumatic issues in their lives, then the pandemic hit and it showed me that so many people will be in need of Mental Wellness Assistance. So many patients get stuff and are totally unaware why they are mentally not able to return to work. When there is an injury to our bodies, that is considered an injury that needs to heal. Just as a broken bone must heal over time and under the care of a medical provider, the brain is no different. Just as people can go for an annual exam our mental health should be no different. It is time for us as a healthcare system to take care of the total patient and not just physical injuries. Our mental health is connected with our physical health and once we are able to treat the entire patient they will heal holistically. We need to be able to work together as system for our patients and not for money. When COVID-19 hit in 2020 so many people were forced to be in a home where abuse, neglect, and hunger occurred and there was no help for those people. They were then were expected to return back to society like nothing happened. So many people experienced death and not able to say goodbye to their family members due to everyone being in quarantine. That took a mental toll an everyone especially children and the elderly who thrive on human interaction and touch. Our mental health has been neglected for the last 3 years and we will finally be able to seek mental health care just as we can go to an urgent care or ER for physical ailment. I have served as a Volunteer in the Charlotte Mecklenburg School system in many different capacities as well as other charter schools in the Charlotte area. I help in the health offices and serve as proctors as needed. One of my major accomplishments was completing the RN program with children. I was so proud of myself and that showed my children that anything is possible. I plan to invest in the NC education 529 plan for my children so they will have monies for college as the time nears.

I am Connie Dobie and my current goal is to complete the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program. I am currently a registered nurse and work with patients that have PTSD related to a job injury. I realized that there are so many people struggling with traumatic issues in their lives, then the pandemic hit and it showed me that so many people will be in need of Mental Wellness Assistance. So many patients get stuff and are totally unaware why they are mentally not able to return to work. When there is an injury to our bodies, that is considered an injury that needs to heal. Just as a broken bone must heal over time and under the care of a medical provider, the brain is no different. Just as people can go for an annual exam our mental health should be no different. It is time for us as a healthcare system to take care of the total patient and not just physical injuries. Our mental health is connected with our physical health and once we are able to treat the entire patient they will heal holistically. We need to be able to work together as system for our patients and not for money. When COVID-19 hit in 2020 so many people were forced to be in a home where abuse, neglect, and hunger occurred and there was no help for those people. They were then were expected to return back to society like nothing happened. So many people experienced death and not able to say goodbye to their family members due to everyone being in quarantine. That took a mental toll an everyone especially children and the elderly who thrive on human interaction and touch. Our mental health has been neglected for the last 3 years and we will finally be able to seek mental health care just as we can go to an urgent care or ER for physical ailment. I have served as a Volunteer in the Charlotte Mecklenburg School system in many different capacities as well as other charter schools in the Charlotte area. I help in the health offices and serve as proctors as needed. One of my major accomplishments was completing the RN program with children. I was so proud of myself and that showed my children that anything is possible. I plan to invest in the NC education 529 plan for my children so they will have monies for college as the time nears.

I lost my mother in September 2016 and then my father in 2017 while I was pursuing my Master's degree. That was such a devastating loss. My father had been sick for years however I had no idea that my mother had cancer. I had to stop my studies because it got very tough for me to move forward. Before my father died he told me that I needed to never stop dreaming and I needed to fulfill my dream of becoming a Nurse Practitioner. I remember telling him that there was no way possible that I could do that because I needed to work and had children to take care of as a single mother. He told me anything worth having is worth fighting for. Well, I worked other nursing jobs and never found any joy. I had an ah-ha moment and decided that I needed to at least give it a try and if I fail that it would not be the first time and probably not the last. So I enrolled literally a week before the deadline and was accepted to the University of South Alabama in the Certificate Nurse Practitioner program. I accepted and started not even thinking about how much it was going to cost. I started the program and realized all of the little cost that creep up. Regardless I will continue to fight my way and pay out of pocket until I am awarded a scholarship to help with the cost.

I am Connie Dobie and my current goal is to complete the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program. I am currently a registered nurse and work with patients that have PTSD related to a job injury. I realized that there are so many people struggling with traumatic issues in their lives, then the pandemic hit and it showed me that so many people will be in need of Mental Wellness Assistance. So many patients get stuff and are totally unaware why they are mentally not able to return to work. When there is an injury to our bodies, that is considered an injury that needs to heal. Just as a broken bone must heal over time and under the care of a medical provider, the brain is no different. Just as people can go for an annual exam our mental health should be no different. It is time for us as a healthcare system to take care of the total patient and not just physical injuries. Our mental health is connected with our physical health and once we are able to treat the entire patient they will heal holistically. We need to be able to work together as system for our patients and not for money. When COVID-19 hit in 2020 so many people were forced to be in a home where abuse, neglect, and hunger occurred and there was no help for those people. They were then were expected to return back to society like nothing happened. So many people experienced death and not able to say goodbye to their family members due to everyone being in quarantine. That took a mental toll an everyone especially children and the elderly who thrive on human interaction and touch. Our mental health has been neglected for the last 3 years and we will finally be able to seek mental health care just as we can go to an urgent care or ER for physical ailment. I have served as a Volunteer in the Charlotte Mecklenburg School system in many different capacities as well as other charter schools in the Charlotte area. I help in the health offices and serve as proctors as needed. One of my major accomplishments was completing the RN program with children. I was so proud of myself and that showed my children that anything is possible. I plan to invest in the NC education 529 plan for my children so they will have monies for college as the time nears.