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Corey Wright

7x

Finalist

4x

Winner

General information

Hobbies & Interests

  • Dance
  • Screenwriting
  • Education
  • Acting And Theater
  • Advocacy And Activism
  • Voice Acting
  • Drawing And Illustration
  • Animation
  • Singing
  • Mental Health
  • Reading
  • Coaching
  • Babysitting And Childcare
  • Playwriting
  • Writing
  • Video Editing and Production
  • Movies And Film
  • Theater
  • Ballet
  • Guitar
  • Piano
  • Journaling
  • Journalism
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Psychology
  • Counseling And Therapy
  • Weightlifting
  • Television
  • Gardening
  • African American Studies
  • American Sign Language (ASL)
  • Art
  • Board Games And Puzzles
  • Bowling
  • Calligraphy
  • Cognitive Science
  • Community Service And Volunteering
  • Comedy
  • Directing
  • Exercise And Fitness
  • Fashion
  • Meditation and Mindfulness
  • Volunteering
  • Videography
  • Music
  • Nutrition and Health
  • Songwriting
  • Social Justice
  • Tap Dancing
  • Tennis
  • Beach

Reading

  • Adult Fiction
  • Academic
  • Classics
  • Drama
  • Childrens
  • Education
  • Fantasy
  • Humor
  • True Story
  • Travel
  • Spirituality
  • Self-Help
  • Social Issues
  • Short Stories
  • Literary Fiction

I read books daily.

Bio

How would I describe myself? Determined. Creative. Resilient. Curious. Kind. Can I be honest? I don't like being told "no." While radical acceptance is a huge part of my life's mantra, I'm more of a "how" kinda guy. When I was a kid, my mom told me that I should "give people's things to them as good as or better than the way I got them." I applied that same principle to every area of my life. Every person and situation...every project and creative endeavor. Every conversation: Better than you found it. It's why I feel my life is as rich as it is. As a Black individual who’s involved in the entertainment industry as a writer/choreographer/director and actor/dancer/singer who’s also a part of the LGBTQ+ community, something about which I’m passionate is connecting Mental Health to each of those areas. I am a good candidate for any scholarship because every opportunity is an opportunity to create an opportunity to give back and positively skew my world and the worlds connected to me. [First Gen.] Honor Societies and Organizations: Psi Chi, Delta Alpha Pi, American Psychological Association, Dean's List, President's List, APA Ambassador. I currently work as a research assistant for the very first mental health app for men, and as a writer/director/choreographer.

Education

Walden University

Master's degree program

2024 – 2025

Majors:
  • Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
GPA4.0 GPA

Capella University

Bachelor's degree program

2022 – 2023

Majors:
  • Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
Minors:
  • Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
GPA4.0 GPA

Miscellaneous

Desired degree level:
Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)
Graduate schools of interest:
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at San Diego
Majors of interest:
Psychology, Other, Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology, Psychology, General
Medical school interest:
No

Career

  • Resident Guest Artist [Professor]

    Performing Arts · Stephens College

    Jan 2025 – Present

  • Jazz Dance Instructor/Lecturer (Dance Majors)

    Performing Arts · Chapman University

    Jan 2020 – Present

  • Freelance Writer and Research Assistant

    Mental Health Care · Mental

    Jan 2023 – Present

  • Writer/Director

    Animation · Hybrid Cre8ive Corp.

    Jan 2019 – Jan 2020

  • Dancer

    Entertainment · Netflix

    Jan 2019 – Jan 2020

Miscellaneous

Dream career field:
Mental Health Care
Dream career goals:
Private Practice that specifically administers to the Black, LGBTQ+, and entertainment communities.
Has nursing license:
No

Future Interests

  • Advocacy
  • Politics
  • Volunteering
  • Philanthropy
  • Entrepreneurship
LGBTQ+ Wellness in Action Scholarship
“You know that wasn’t normal, right?” That single question from my therapist sliced through decades of Olympic-level people-pleasing. I realized that mental and physical wellness shouldn’t be electives for me; they’re core requirements. Every morning walk, every drop of sweat in a dance studio, every coloring party with friends, every leg press is a vote for the version of myself that I’m reclaiming. I survived those early distortions, and now I’m in a position to believe in joy in who and what I'm becoming. Even if who and what I am becoming is trying to be stifled. The thing is, I’ve reframed wellness into a mandate. Keeping my mind and body is how I have been reclaiming the self that I was told to outsource. Caring for my mental health quiets the noise so that I can actually learn, not only in life but academically as well. It helps me to unhook my worth from external gold stars. It makes room for my Black, queer joy to show up, and to show up so big that I can share it with others. Systemically, taking care of my mental health provides a space for me to widen a narrow pipeline: only 4% of counselors are Black, and of that 4% only 1% is Black male. Furthermore, only 12% of therapists identify as being a part of the LGBTQ+ community. And in the campus landscape where 77% of students report some type of psychological distress, guarding my own mental health is a prerequisite for guiding anyone else’s. But the body keeps receipts as well. Chronic stress disproportionally chases both Black and LGBTQ+ communities. That presents a huge challenge – and opportunity – just from opening my eyes every morning. The question becomes “how can I take care of myself so that I can conquer coursework, bypass overwhelm, and support my executive functioning. Beyond taking care of my mental and physical health, I often have to consider the financial gravity, which sometimes pulls the hardest. I’ve cracked my 401(k) to pay tuition. Intense? Maybe. But I have a goal to reach the nearly 2 in 5 LGBTQ+ youth who seriously consider suicidal ideation, a statistic that may become exacerbated with anti-affirming legislation looming over the clinical counseling profession. Despite this, I’m inspired by my ability as well as other community individuals’ ability to adapt, persevere, and pivot in ways that boost awareness and support autonomy, agency, and self-actualization. Can I bottom line this for you? This scholarship would help to keep my wellness in view, while allowing me to maintain the idea that my wellness is not a luxury. Every client who sits across from this Black, queer future counselor stands the opportunity to feel seen as they are able to afford strength from the investment this scholarship makes now. The LGBTQ+ Wellness in Action Scholarship is a partnering vote for this new normal of embracing self-care and enforcing well-being. My mental and physical health are important because they support a rebellion for my mind, body, and profession – all of which were meant to thrive.
OMC Graduate Scholarships
I never imagined I’d drain my 401k just to stay in school, but I did. Because this path, this purpose, is worth it. Pursuing a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling isn’t just about a degree for me. It’s a personal and professional mission to transform how marginalized communities get access to and experience healing. I’m a Black, queer adult survivor of religious trauma, childhood PTSD, and systemic erasure. I know what it feels like to seek mental health support and be met with confusion, bias, or neglect. I know the ache of not seeing yourself reflected in the therapist’s office, the curriculum, or the care. I know what it’s like for curiosity to be couched, while the need for cultural competence grows. That’s why I’m here. To change that. My educational and career goal is to become a licensed clinical mental health counselor who specializes in serving underrepresented populations: Black clients, LGBTQ+ individuals, entertainment professionals, and especially those impacted by religious trauma. I envision building spaces, both clinical and creative, where people feel safe enough to reclaim their voice, their truth, and their joy. This scholarship will help me get there. The financial strain of graduate school is real. I’m a working adult juggling coursework, living expenses, and mounting tuition bills. I’ve applied for aid, taken on debt, and even dipped into retirement savings to keep going. But that level of sacrifice isn’t sustainable. What this scholarship offers isn’t just funding. It offers focus. It would contribute towards allow me to shift from surviving to thriving in my academic journey, devoting more time to research, practicum, and building the tools I need to serve my communities effectively. Receiving this support would ease the mental and emotional burden that comes with financial insecurity, especially as someone studying trauma and mental health. It would also free up the capacity to innovate. I’m currently developing culturally relevant therapeutic tools, including journals and platforms tailored to marginalized identities, that will mentor others who have collected their bravery to exercise their autonomy and take on the task of navigating their own healing journeys. The more stability I have in school, the more energy I can dedicate to building these long-term resources. In the bigger picture, this scholarship brings me one step closer to building a practice, and eventually a center, that offers trauma-informed, identity-affirming care. It brings me closer to creating access for those who’ve been told they don’t belong in therapy, who’ve been told that therapy isn’t designed for them, and who’ve been harmed by systems meant to help them. It brings me closer to rewriting the narrative, not just for myself, but for countless others looking for a way out of the darkness. Your support would be more than financial; it would be a lifeline. An affirmation. A hand reaching back to say: we see you, we believe in your future. And I promise you—when I make it, I’ll reach back too.
So You Want to Be a Mental Health Professional Scholarship
Winner
"In case of an emergency, please put on your mask before assisting others." -Every airline, everywhere It took me eight months to find a therapist with my ethnic background. I needed to find a space safe enough to discuss specific and nuanced issues that were affecting me. I didn't realize that this struggle was a microcosm of the broader mental health landscape. Fact: only 5.1% of therapists are Black, and of that, 1% are male. I eventually found my therapist, and we started the work. I put on my mask first and realized that I could now assist others. My initial spark of interest in mental health was rooted in the glaring inequalities that exist, particularly concerning the underrepresentation of Black mental health counselors and therapists. I couldn't ignore the alarming suicide rates among men, particularly among Black males, and these numbers represent not just faceless individuals but my cousins, friends, nephews, co-workers... The fact that 80% of all suicide-related deaths are male, even though males make up less than half of the population, is a painful reminder of the pressing need for change. Adding another layer to my journey, I am also a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Both of these communities are among the most underserved when it comes to mental health care. More than numbers, the disparities are the lived experiences of people like me who constantly balance the implications of these intersections. It is a reminder that the mental health challenges within these communities are real and urgent. My commitment to making a positive impact on mental health extends beyond personal experiences. Currently, I serve as a research assistant for the world's first mental health app for men, where I am actively involved in developing tools, language, and resources specifically aimed at connecting men to less intimidating and more manageable mental health encouragement and resources. Additionally, I'm pioneering a curriculum for Black youth to understand what mental health is with the overarching goal being to challenge the stigma that has long been associated with the idea that one must always be strong and push through or that there are simply no options. I believe that by providing tailored resources and support, we can empower individuals to prioritize their mental well-being. In my journey to create a positive impact, I have also become a member of the American Psychological Association (APA). This affiliation has been instrumental in gathering resources and connecting with like-minded individuals who share my passion for transforming mental health care. As an APA campus ambassador, I have the privilege of bridging the gap between others and these valuable resources, ensuring that more individuals have access to the support they need. Additionally, I am proud to be a part of the Psi Chi Psychology National Honor Society and the Delta Alpha Pi Honor Society, both of which provide platforms for advocacy and awareness around mental health issues. My journey into the realm of mental health advocacy has been deeply personal, fueled by my experiences and a profound desire for change. I firmly believe that by addressing the disparities in mental health care, challenging stigmas, and providing tailored resources, we can create a world where everyone, regardless of their background, can have stories of struggle be transformed into stories of resilience and healing.
Arnetha V. Bishop Memorial Scholarship
Winner
"Therapy is for rich white people." These are the words that were embossed in the core of my memory up until eight years ago, and I'm well into my 40s. More disheartening than that idea was the idea of how difficult it would be to find a therapist who looked like me. That idea, however, was anchored in the coldest, most disappointing truth. I wanted a Black male therapist who knew how to approach LGBTQ+ issues. After nine months of searching, I found a brown therapist. That's when I looked up the statistic: Only 5.1% of all therapists and counselors are Black. Of that 5.1%, only 1% is male. And only 2% of all psychiatrists are Black. I grew up in the South and was the target of much racial discrimination, so much so that I thought it was a way of life and that my need for spaces to be safe enough to work out my life's issues were far and few between. The thing about a need is just because it goes unmet doesn't mean that it disappears. Unhealthy habits surface and emotional regulation becomes a far cry. I know this because of both research and experience. I remember my first therapy session. I proudly committed, "I don't really trust this guy. So I'm not gonna show much outside of certainty. I'll play cool." Five minutes in, I was a sobbing mess. But I left that session affirmed, a little more connected, and with more uncomfortable questions than I knew what to do with. I quickly found out what people meant by "doing the work." The impact on my life after a few months was monumental. And while I realized the importance of mental health, being in therapy was not why I decided to work in mental health. It was Ava DuVernay's "When They See Us." I could only get through the first half of the first episode before hot tears heavy with anger clawed their way down my cheeks. It made me think about the plight of Black men and black individuals, and on my own accord, I started a podcast addressing those things. Then I came across and article about intergenerational trauma and the epigenetics associated with maladaptive behavior and how my great, great-great-grandmother's trauma still affects me. That's when it hit me that therapy isn't for rich white people. It was more easily accessible by rich white people. Who, then, is servicing my community? I gathered my anger, flipped it into active passion, and enrolled in an MS program for Clinical Mental Health Counseling to not only add to the solution but also create nuanced resources that administer specifically to the Black community. I have a strong background in the arts and entertainment so naturally, my ideas to make a positive impact all float around that area. As an example, barbershops and beauty shops. Black men and women find these spaces where they can talk about their issues, clown on one another, support one another, and sometimes get deep. How cool would it be to have a reality show where a licensed therapist traveled all around the country to different barbershops and beauty salons and talked mental health while uptown fades and sister locs are being done? The need is great for language and tools and while I cannot be *the* solution, I can most certainly be a part of the solution and hopefully inspire others to do the same.
Ernest Lee McLean Jr. : World Life Memorial Scholarship
Winner
My little brother had just been violently killed. A few short moments later I was watching the only grandmother I'd evern known slowly live her final days while Alzheimer's and dementia ate away at her mental health. At the time I was questioning my sexuality, had just been laid off from a job that I loved, and my dad and I weren't on speaking terms. The proverbial cherry on top was the fact that my stress response system was in a constant state of arousal because I'm a Black man in America, and with every hashtag and instagram post connected to "trauma porn," my mental health took a hit as I thought "That could have been me." I felt like a leaf in the middle of a hurricane. Finally, with some encouragement from a friend, I made the decision to get a therapist. At the time, I had great insurance, and I lived in Los Angeles. I had three basic qualities that I wanted to find in the mental health professional with whom I wanted to work: 1. Black, 2. male, and 3. LGBTQ+ affriming. It would be 8 months before I would find a therapist, and that therapist only fulfilled two of the asks -- male and LGBTQ+ affirming. Here I am, years later, and the statistics surrounding Black individuals in the field of mental health health are abysmal. 5.1% of therapists are Black. That number is up from 4.1% in 2021 at the height of the pandemic. Of that 5.1%, only 1% is male. Only 12% of therapists are LGBTQ+. But let's focus soley on the first two numbers in the data set. If there is a convention for licensed therapists, and 2,000 professionals in the field showed up, accordning to the most recentl data, only 102 of those professionals would be Black. Of the 102 Black therapists present, only 1 would be Black and male-identifying. What inspired my decision to return to school in my 40s? That. I think about the history of Black individuals in this country, and the way distress has activated and fired certain genes within us and literally altered our DNA. I think about how intergenerational trauma links us to high blood pressure, compulsive behavior, shorter lives, and schizophrenia. I think about how when my mom would yell at us and tell us to "quit runnin' in the house" and to "go sit down somewhere" because we were "making her nervous," she was really saying, "Hey, babies. I'm having a little trouble self-regulating right now, and my stress response system is fired. Can you give me a few moments of stillness?"...but how she wasn't even near a resource that would give her access to that language. What inspired my decision to return to school in my 40s? That. Currently, I'm working on a combined degree to get my MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. My ambition is singular: create nuanced resources for the Black community that connect with their mental health and create a way to get a steady and manageable stream of access to the Black community. It's a heavy lift, and nothing about that discourages me. While I am not *the* solution, I can be a part of the solution. There are also others who feel just as passionately as I. Beyond that, it is my hope that my presence in and underrepresented industry sparks inspiration in others to do the same. Maybe there will be another young man like me struggling for connection. And maybe -- just maybe -- he'll find me.
Bold Relaxation Scholarship
Winner
On the phone, she suggested me to think about whether or not I was stressed. I told her that I wasn't. Then she asked me if I shoulders were up near my ears, if my tongue was on the roof of my mouth, and eyes were wide. The answer was yes. There's a difference between stress and anxiety I've learned, and managing the former will, most times, automatically take care of the latter. When we say "relax," we mean destress. When we say "take care of mental health," we mean purify our states of being from anxiety. In order to destress, I -- of course -- breathe. Often. Deep, connected breaths increase my para and allow me to feel a state of centeredness no matter where I am. I also hum or dance it out in a mirror. (Wonders what a 3-minute, favorite song movement party can do.) I also carve out a block of time each week to plan my schedule. To know everything I can for the upcoming seven days while fully accepting the fact that it will never go exactly according to plan. I consistently go on dates with myself and touch base with where I am. For mental health, I see a therapist regularly. Together, she and I create a space for me to set boundaries for my life and way to protect those boundaries. As someone who was recently diagnosed with ADHD, it's been a journey to develop anti-anxiety habits, but I'm happy to report that my awareness has certainly decreased the level of anxiety in my life. And, listen. I love hanging with friends, playing with puppies, painting in the park, listening to strangers, and writing poetry. I'm not afraid to admit that I like a good animated double feature on the sofa.
Shine Your Light College Scholarship
Ballet, Blackness, and Bisexuality... In other words, intersections. I live a life of intersections, and in my 40 years of life – as I continue to develop – I've learned to love and embrace each one of those intersections. Hey, reader. My name is Corey and that intro sentence is directly related to why I'm pursing a Psychology Pre-Counseling degree with an eventual move to pursuing my Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. The goal: a private practice based off of my intersections. Ballet. Not just ballet but other dance disciplines as well. And not just dance, but other areas of the arts. Currently, I'm a lecturer in the Dance Department at Chapman University. In entertainment, I'm a choreographer, writer, director, singer, actor, and dancer. I've worked alongside some of the biggest people in the industry, and what I've found is that they're all the same: they crave connection not only with themselves, but with others. Broadway, TV/Film, tours, cruise ships, etc. But Where are the creative therapists that may understand what they're going through? Blackness. ...and Native and Haitian Dominican. I've been Black...all my life. But I didn't see a therapist until I was in my late 30s. As you could imagine, there was quite a bit to unpack -- specially being from the south. Therapy came/comes with a stigma in the general Black community. I'd like to address that stigma and bring mental health to the forefront of their thinking process. In 2015, only 4 percent of therapists were Black/African American. According to a 2019 pre-pandemic evaluation, that number has dropped to 3 percent. Where are the Black therapists that may understand what they're going through? Bisexuality. This one came later in life. I have an ex wife, and a current boyfriend after being single for 9 years. Mostly because I discovered that there are quite a few [I'll speak for the] men who carry unprocessed trauma and it gets acted out in some detached, unhealthy ways. Quite a bit of thinking with the amygdala. While the marriage didn't end because of sexual preference it would have been great to know there was a place I could process that transition. When I finally tried to find a therapist who could understand, the journey took me 8 months. Should it take that long? Where are the therapists who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community that may understand what they're going through? Still connected with each of these intersections, I hope to collect as many perspectives as I can in order to understand them as humans. Not just as clients. Once – when I was getting ready to return a pair of hair clippers to someone who let me borrow them – my mom said to me (after seeing that I had done a half ass job at cleaning them), “Baby. You can’t give those back to him like that. When you borrow people’s stuff, you have to give it back to them as good or better than the way you found ‘em.” That stuck with me and I pressed forward to applying that to people and situations. Every person and situation, I’d like to leave better than the way I found. Every project. Every creative endeavor. Every conversation. I’m passionate about people and identity and connecting those two things. I’m passionate about the truth and the simplicity found in life. That's the positive impact that I want to make in the world. I want to create a space for those niche groups -- those groups that contribute so much to society -- to be seen.
Corey Wright Student Profile | Bold.org