The song that inspires me currently is I Am Not My Hair by India Arie. This song talks about people in the black community being more than their skin color or hair texture. This is a message I have personally worked on for the past 4 years. Being multi-racial, I grew up never understanding where I fit in. The kids in the black community said I needed to "pick a side" and the kids in the white community never thought I was white enough for their liking. My father is black and my mother is white and we never talked about race growing up. Being a couple in the 80s came with its own set of tensions. They faced backlash, racism, and segregation from even family members. So, in order to shield us from the hurts they faced, we didn't talk about what potentially I could face. I never understood the term "micro-aggression" until working in the news. I discovered that these small comments from strangers, and even close friends, were acts of racism that I didn't spot out, and even if I could, I wouldn't stand up against it. As I grew up, I started realizing the beauty in being multicultural but also, that my skin isn't the defining piece of who I am. Who I am has everything to do with my character, integrity, compassion, and love for others. Because of these reasons, the song by India Arie sits a little deeper and weighs a little heavier than it would have as a kid/teen. I love who I am - inside and out.

"Courtney, it's Ryan. I just fired our morning live-shot reporter," ProNews 7's News Director said via voicemail. "I need you to call me back because I want you to take his job. The call time is in 9 hours." That job in Amarillo is what started it all. I was coming out of a voice lesson, still finishing my undergraduate degree with an emphasis in journalism, and instantly got offered the job my senior teacher aid had hours ago. “Hope this doesn’t affect my grade,” I thought to myself. "Hi Ryan, I'm in," I said wildly. Two years later, it was time for an opportunity to further my career in Traverse City. This is where I tell everyone I learned how to be a quality journalist. I took the position as not only the weekend anchor, but with it being a small market, that position came with the weekend job description of executive producer, news director, and editor. During the week, you were reporting ‘in the trenches’ figuratively and literally. If 18 inches of snow fell overnight, then you would be outside in it as the lead story for the evening news. Two years later it was a call I thought I would get a lot later in life. “Hello Courtney, this is Bob, Channel 10’s News Director. I want to talk to you about a job I’d like for you to consider in Tampa.” I quickly pulled the internet up on my phone, checking Neilson’s rating list to see what size market Tampa was. “Eleven? Twenty-six-year-old me is getting asked to work in the 11th largest market in the nation? Doing what? Sweeping floors?” I asked myself. “I saw your video reel and we would love for you to be our morning Social Media Anchor,” Bob said. A month later my husband and I left 2 feet of snow for sunshine and palm trees. I reached nirvana. I was working with people twice my age doing what I loved - Advocating and fighting for people. I guess Bernie Sanders ripping his mic off at the end of our one-on-one interview after asking, “will you consider becoming Hilary’s VP” didn’t end my career after all. It was amazing. Until it wasn’t. One day I stopped sleeping, was having daily panic attacks, and developed depression. All of the “if it bleeds it leads” stories started to have a bigger impact on my health than I cared to admit. I was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, insomnia, and sleep apnea and quickly realized it was time to get honest with myself and my illnesses. I walked away from the career that I put my blood, sweat, and tears into and started to put that energy into the care and nurturing of my mental eco-system instead. The reason I am getting my master’s in general psychology is simple. Someone decided to learn how the brain works knowing down the line they would give someone, like me, the tools to help them do the same. Financial Expert, Dave Ramsey, says, “your why should make you cry”. The thought of helping people not have guilt or shame as they learn the connectedness of their body and mind are my driving forces. Not only is eliminating the stigma around mental health important for my future vocation, but I also have a deep-rooted passion to help people own their identity, know their purpose, and live out their calling. I believe step one in knowing who we are is to know how we were designed to work. That is why education through speaking, personal coaching, and writing will be the avenues I continue taking to teach others to own their lane of brilliance. When it comes to my mental health journey, I believe making an impact starts with relationships in our community. My community doesn't just embody those who are in physical proximity but influential proximity. According to Our World In Data, social media usage has increased from a mere 5% in 2005 to 79% in 2019. This increase could be a large contributor to stress and mental illnesses occurring in the lives of those in my generation and younger. The National Center for Biotechnology Information states with less face-to-face interaction, which has been proven to protect against mental illnesses, and more digital interaction, we are on a track to significantly hinder our health and, potentially, the health of others. I believe it's not only an option but a necessity that people in my generation take serious measures to learn how the brain works in order to combat a dangerous habit and life-altering device. With a master's degree in psychology, I will walk away with skills in human behavior, interpersonal skills, cultural sensitivity, critical thinking, and ethical principles. My plan to help combat the issues of mental health will be to continue using my social media platform to bring life-giving information to help people heal their minds and the way they think of themselves. What better tool to combat the aggressions of social media than to be a positive force on it? Even though I wouldn't have my counseling licensing upon graduating, I will still continue coaching people through the business I established last year to help them own their identity, champion their purpose, and walk in their calling. As doors continue to open, I will continue to faithfully walk through them knowing consistency in the small acts helps to make a difference in the large. After getting out of $52,000 of consumer debt in 2019, my husband and I made the commitment to never go into debt again – including student loan debt. This meant downsizing to one vehicle in our family and putting a lot of ‘wants’, like getting my master’s degree, on hold. Student debt is a crisis in America with the number hitting 1.6 trillion in 2019. I believe no student, no matter the age, should ever have to put themselves in debt because they have a hunger for education.

My name is Courtney Dyksterhouse and I am a former journalist who finished her career in the 11th largest market in the nation, Tampa, Florida. I had the privilege of sharing stories of those who haven't been privileged to tell of their experiences with those in positions of power. I transitioned into creating my own digital marketing company in 2018 after leaving the news due to severe insomnia, anxiety, and sleep apnea. What I found was the need for others to not only work through their business difficulties but also their own mental hurdles. I realize the importance for entrepreneurs to have someone walk alongside them and teach them of the value they bring to this earth. Many people never commit to a mission placed on their life solely because of the insecurity or doubt that's inside of them. I believe everyone's life is worth mentorship because a single person can make monumental changes to those in their communities and across the world. That is why I am ecstatic to go back to school to get my master's in psychology. With a master's degree in psychology, I will walk away with skills in human behavior, interpersonal skills, cultural sensitivity, critical thinking, and ethical principles. My plan to help combat the issues of mental health will be to continue using my social media platform to bring life-giving information to help people heal their minds and the way they think of themselves. What better tool to combat the aggressions of social media than to be a positive force on it? Even though I wouldn't have my counseling licensing upon graduating, I will still continue coaching people through the business I established last year to help them own their identity, champion their purpose, and walk in their calling. As doors continue to open, I will continue to faithfully walk through them knowing consistency in the small acts helps to make a difference in the large. In addition to getting my degree, also have a lofty 5-year plan for my career. I created my own digital marketing business roughly two years ago but in the last year, it transitioned into one-on-one coaching with branding. Then, that transitioned into one-on-one coaching in life pursuits and self-help. Now, I am in the interview process to work with a company that is thrilled for me to get my psychology degree because our plans together could look like this: Step One - first 18 months: Includes acquiring my master's in psychology and working with a team to narrow down my message for the people I want to serve in the personal development field. Step Two - after 18 months: Start a podcast, write a quick read book, and take any and all speaking opportunities that are available. Step Three: Year two through five: Continue with strategies in step two and start creating additional resources and products that will help people beyond a single speech or workshop. My continued education in science is absolutely necessary for being able to have the credibility to speak to audiences I otherwise would not be able to. I believe when it comes to health and medicine, the more education someone can receive, the better. To me, it shows respect for the individual who needs help and the respect of the practice itself. Thank you!

The woman who changed my entire perspective on the word ‘grit’ is the motivating force behind this essay. I remember scrolling aimlessly on Youtube, most likely looking for the next funny dog video, when I saw Angela Duckworth. I never heard her name before that day however, her video was a relatively short TED Talk with a headline that struck me. “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance”. I thought to myself, “Why not? It’s a short video.” Clearly, 7 million other people had the same idea as I pressed play. What started as casual viewing quickly became six minutes of focused engagement and the turning point in the way I viewed my own life. Duckworth discovered that a person’s grit was the strongest variable in determining someone’s achievement of a goal. In fact, data from her study showed that grit and talent were not only unrelated but were adversely related to a person’s success. I grew up never being pegged as the smart girl. I was the creative girl, or the artsy girl, or the social girl. Never the smart girl. If you’re not careful, you start believing the words spoken over you, and throughout my adolescent years, I could never fully commit to my success simply because I was never top of my class. However, my achievements spoke a different story. I received my bachelor's while earning above a 3.0 GPA, I won several awards for singing, even more for broadcasting, and I ended up being a leading news anchor by being asked to work in the 11th largest market in the nation, Tampa, Florida at the age of 26. I was working around people twice my age and it dawned on me, my own grit was what got me there. Not my SAT score. The decision I made at 21 years old to simply 'keep going' was the anthem I sung throughout my career. Now, my heart stirs to achieve my master’s in psychology to know more about the beauty in how we’re all wired. My ‘why’ is the people I yearn to help in order for them to break mental boundaries that keep them from their unique success. As my scholarship research continues, the statistics on being awarded one is humbling but I am believing, with the right amount of grit, I’ll walk across that stage and accept my diploma, knowing I was smart enough... all along.

I scored my DREAM job at the age of 26. Then I hit rock bottom. For anyone who knows the Enneagram personality test, I am a hardcore three. The one who loves achieving, accomplishing goals, and desires to bring everyone else with them. "Courtney, it's Ryan. I just fired our morning live-shot reporter," ProNews 7's News Director said via voicemail. "I need you to call me back because I want you to take his job. The call time is in 9 hours." That was the job that started it all. I was coming out of a voice lesson, still finishing my undergraduate degree with an emphasis in journalism, and instantly got offered the job that my senior teacher aid had hours ago. I hope this doesn't affect my grade... "Hi Ryan, I'm in," I said wildly. The 131st largest market in the nation. Two years later, I landed in market 119, Traverse City. This is where I tell everyone I learned how to be a good journalist. I worked as the weekend anchor, but with it being a small market, that position also became an executive producer, news director, and editor. During the week, you were ‘in the trenches’ figuratively and literally. Eighteen inches of snow fell overnight? That became the lead story at five o'clock and you were going to be out in it live. Two years later it was a call I thought I would get a lot later in life. “Hello Courtney, this is Bob, Channel 10’s News Director. I want to talk to you about a job I’d like for you to consider in Tampa.” I quickly pulled up the internet on my phone to check Neilson’s rating list to see what size market I was working with. “11? Twenty-six year old me is getting asked to work in market 11? Doing what? Sweeping the floors?” “I saw your video reel and we would like you to be our morning Social Media Anchor,” Bob said. A month later my husband and I left 2 feet of snow for sunshine and palm trees. I was advocating for people while leaving my drop on this earth that ripples into the lives of those around me. I guess Bernie Sanders ripping his mic off at the end of our one-on-one interview after asking about becoming Hilary’s VP didn’t end my career after all. It was amazing. Until it wasn’t. One day I stopped sleeping, was having daily panic attacks, was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, and sleep apnea. I left the news two years ago and the choice to 'simply keep going' became the anthem I sang throughout my healing journey. Now, my heart stirs to achieve my master’s in psychology to know more about the beauty in how we’re all wired and help people break mental hurdles. The statistics on being awarded a scholarship are humbling but I believe, I’ll walk across that stage, accept my diploma, and be ready to change the world's stigma on mental health.

The woman who changed my entire perspective on the word ‘grit’ is the motivating force behind this essay. I remember scrolling aimlessly on Youtube, most likely looking for the next funny dog video, when I saw Angela Duckworth. I never heard her name before that day however, her video was a relatively short TED Talk with a headline that struck me. “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance”. I thought to myself, “Why not? It’s a short video.” Clearly, 7 million other people had the same idea as I pressed play. What started as casual viewing quickly became six minutes of focused engagement and the turning point in the way I viewed my own life. Duckworth discovered that a person’s grit was the strongest variable in determining someone’s achievement of a goal. In fact, data from her study showed that grit and talent were not only unrelated but were adversely related to a person’s success. I grew up never being pegged as the smart girl. I was the creative girl, or the artsy girl, or the social girl. Never the smart girl. With also being black, the stereotypes on what success could look like for me were even harder to overcome. If you’re not careful, you start to believe the words spoken over you, and throughout my adolescent years, I could never fully commit to my success simply because I was never top of my class. However, my achievements spoke a different story. I won several awards for singing, even more for broadcasting, and I ended up being a leading news anchor by being asked to work in the 11th largest market in the nation, Tampa, Florida at the age of 26. I was working around people twice my age and it dawned on me, my own grit was what got me there. Not my SAT score. The decision I made at 21 years old to 'simply keep going' was the anthem I sung throughout my career. Now, my heart stirs to achieve my master’s in psychology to know more about the beauty in how we’re all wired. My ‘why’ is the people I yearn to help in order for them to break mental boundaries that keep them from their unique success. As my scholarship research continues, the statistics on being awarded one is humbling but I am believing, with the right amount of grit, I’ll walk across that stage and accept my diploma, and hopefully inspire another young brown girl to dream big, too.

I scored my DREAM job at the age of 26. Then I hit rock bottom. For anyone who knows the Enneagram personality test, I am a hardcore three. The one who loves achieving, accomplishing goals, and desires to bring everyone else with them. "Courtney, it's Ryan. I just fired our morning live-shot reporter," ProNews 7's News Director said via voicemail. "I need you to call me back because I want you to take his job. The call time is in 9 hours." That was the job that started it all. I was coming out of a voice lesson, still finishing my undergraduate degree with an emphasis in journalism, and instantly got offered the job that my senior teacher aid had hours ago. I hope this doesn't affect my grade... "Hi Ryan, I'm in," I said wildly. The 131st market in the nation. Two years later, it was time for market 119. Traverse City is where I tell everyone I actually learned how to be a good journalist. I came on and not only took the role as the weekend anchor, but with it being a small market, that position comes with the job description of executive producer, news director, and editor. During the week, you were ‘in the trenches’ figuratively and literally. Eighteen inches of snow fell overnight? That became the lead story at five o'clock and you were going to be out in it live. I think my southern toes are still recovering from the lack of effort I gave in getting the proper snow boots for them. “Sorry feet. No hard feelings?” Two years later it was a call I thought I would get a lot later in life. “Hello Courtney, this is Bob, Channel 10’s News Director. I want to talk to you about a job I’d like for you to consider in Tampa. Interested?” I quickly pulled up the internet on my phone to check Neilson’s rating list to see what size market I was working with. “11? Twenty-six year old me is getting asked to work in market 11? Doing what? Sweeping the floors?” “I saw your video reel and we would love for you to be our morning Social Media Anchor,” Bob said. A month later my husband and I left 2 feet of snow for sunshine and palm trees. I reached nirvana. I was working with people twice my age doing what I loved. Advocating for people. Leaving my drop on this earth that ripples into the lives of those around me. What a sweet gift. I guess Bernie Sanders ripping his mic off at the end of our one-on-one interview after asking about becoming Hilary’s VP didn’t end my career after all. It was amazing. Until it wasn’t. One day I stopped sleeping, was having daily panic attacks, and deep depression. I was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder and sleep apnea and quickly realized it was time to get honest with myself and my mental health. I asked myself so many times "how could something that yesterday, fueled my soul, be something that today took my spirit?" The decision I made leaving the news two years ago and the choice to 'simply keep going' became the anthem I sang throughout my healing journey. Now, my heart stirs to achieve my master’s in psychology to know more about the beauty in how we’re all wired. My ‘why’ is the people I yearn to help in order for them to break mental boundaries that keep them from their unique success. As my scholarship research continues, the statistics on being awarded one is humbling but I am believing, with the right amount of passion and tenacity, I’ll walk across that stage and accept my diploma, and be ready to change the world's stigma on mental health.

We all know the well-known phrase, "the future is female." For me, my future was dreamed up because of a female. A woman who changed my life perspective with a single word. Grit. I remember scrolling aimlessly on Youtube, most likely looking for the next funny dog video, when I saw Angela Duckworth. I never heard her name before that day however, her video was a relatively short TED Talk with a headline that struck me. “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance”. I thought to myself, “Why not? It’s a short video.” Clearly, 7 million other people had the same idea as I pressed play. What started as casual viewing quickly became six minutes of focused engagement and the turning point in the way I viewed my own life. Duckworth discovered that a person’s grit was the strongest variable in determining someone’s achievement of a goal. In fact, data from her study showed that grit and talent were not only unrelated but were adversely related to a person’s success. I.Q. didn't measure up to grit. I grew up never being pegged as the smart girl. I was the creative girl, or the artsy girl, or the social girl. Never the smart girl. I struggled in high school and spent hours studying only to see a 'B', at the very highest, written across my paper. "I'm not the smart girl," I would whisper to myself. If you’re not careful, you start believing the words spoken over you, and throughout my adolescent years, I never could fully commit to my success simply because I was never top of my class. However, my achievements spoke a different story. I won several awards for singing, even more for broadcasting, and I ended up being a leading news anchor by being asked to work in the 11th largest market in the nation, Tampa, Florida at the age of 26. I was working around people twice my age and it dawned on me, my own grit was what got me there. Not my ACT score. The decision I made at 21 years old to simply 'keep going' was the anthem I sung throughout my career. Now, my heart stirs to achieve my master’s in psychology to know more about the beauty in how we’re wired. My aspirations are to create a business centered around helping people break mental boundaries that keep them from their unique success. My future is a woman in STEM. As I write these words across the page I can't help but get choked up. This declaration serves as a testament to how one woman who said 'yes' to STEM changed the trajectory of another who never in a million years believed she'd be smart enough to see her name on an application in a science program. As my scholarship research continues, the statistics on being awarded one is humbling but I am believing, with the right amount of grit, I’ll walk across that stage, accept my diploma proudly and pray my story helps another person own their future, too.

We all know the well-known phrase, "the future is female." For me, my future was dreamed up because of a female. A woman who changed my life perspective with a single word. Grit. I remember scrolling aimlessly on Youtube, most likely looking for the next funny dog video, when I saw Angela Duckworth. I never heard her name before that day however, her video was a relatively short TED Talk with a headline that struck me. “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance”. I thought to myself, “Why not? It’s a short video.” Clearly, 7 million other people had the same idea as I pressed play. What started as casual viewing quickly became six minutes of focused engagement and the turning point in the way I viewed my own life. Duckworth discovered that a person’s grit was the strongest variable in determining someone’s achievement of a goal. In fact, data from her study showed that grit and talent were not only unrelated but were adversely related to a person’s success. I.Q. didn't measure up to grit. I grew up never being pegged as the smart girl. I was the creative girl, or the artsy girl, or the social girl. Never the smart girl. I struggled in high school and spent hours studying only to see a 'B', at the very highest, written across my paper. "I'm not the smart girl," I would whisper to myself. If you’re not careful, you start believing the words spoken over you, and throughout my adolescent years, I never could fully commit to my success simply because I was never top of my class. However, my achievements spoke a different story. I won several awards for singing, even more for broadcasting, and I ended up being a leading news anchor by being asked to work in the 11th largest market in the nation, Tampa, Florida at the age of 26. I was working around people twice my age and it dawned on me, my own grit was what got me there. Not my ACT score. The decision I made at 21 years old to simply 'keep going' was the anthem I sung throughout my career. Now, my heart stirs to achieve my master’s in psychology to know more about the beauty in how we’re wired. My ‘why’ is the people I yearn to help in order for them to break mental boundaries that keep them from their unique success. My future is a woman in STEM. As I write these words across the page I can't help but get choked up. This declaration serves as a testament to how one woman who said 'yes' to STEM changed the trajectory of another who never in a million years believed she'd be smart enough to see her name on an application in a science program. As my scholarship research continues, the statistics on being awarded one is humbling but I am believing, with the right amount of grit, I’ll walk across that stage, accept my diploma proudly and pray my story helps another black woman own her excellence, too.

We all know the well-known phrase, "the future is female." For me, my future was dreamed up because of a female. A woman who changed my life perspective with a single word. Grit. I remember scrolling aimlessly on Youtube, most likely looking for the next funny dog video, when I saw Angela Duckworth. I never heard her name before that day however, her video was a relatively short TED Talk with a headline that struck me. “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance”. I thought to myself, “Why not? It’s a short video.” Clearly, 7 million other people had the same idea as I pressed play. What started as casual viewing quickly became six minutes of focused engagement and the turning point in the way I viewed my own life. Duckworth discovered that a person’s grit was the strongest variable in determining someone’s achievement of a goal. In fact, data from her study showed that grit and talent were not only unrelated but were adversely related to a person’s success. I.Q. didn't measure up to grit. I grew up never being pegged as the smart girl. I was the creative girl, or the artsy girl, or the social girl. Never the smart girl. I struggled in high school and spent hours studying only to see a 'B', at the very highest, written across my paper. "I'm not the smart girl," I would whisper to myself. If you’re not careful, you start believing the words spoken over you, and throughout my adolescent years, I never could fully commit to my success simply because I was never top of my class. However, my achievements spoke a different story. I won several awards for singing, even more for broadcasting, and I ended up being a leading news anchor by being asked to work in the 11th largest market in the nation, Tampa, Florida at the age of 26. I was working around people twice my age and it dawned on me, my own grit was what got me there. Not my ACT score. The decision I made at 21 years old to simply 'keep going' was the anthem I sung throughout my career. Now, my heart stirs to achieve my master’s in psychology to know more about the beauty in how we’re wired. My ‘why’ is the people I yearn to help in order for them to break mental boundaries that keep them from their unique success. My future is a woman in STEM. As I write these words across the page I can't help but get choked up. This declaration serves as a testament to how one woman who said 'yes' to STEM changed the trajectory of another who never in a million years believed she'd be smart enough to see her name on an application in a science program. As my scholarship research continues, the statistics on being awarded one is humbling but I am believing, with the right amount of grit, I’ll walk across that stage, accept my diploma proudly and pray my story helps another woman own her future, too.

The woman who changed my entire perspective on the word ‘grit’ is the motivating force behind this essay. I remember scrolling aimlessly on Youtube, most likely looking for the next funny dog video, when I saw Angela Duckworth. I never heard her name before that day however, her video was a relatively short TED Talk with a headline that struck me. “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance”. I thought to myself, “Why not? It’s a short video.” Clearly, 7 million other people had the same idea as I pressed play. What started as casual viewing quickly became six minutes of focused engagement and the turning point in the way I viewed my own life. Duckworth discovered that a person’s grit was the strongest variable in determining someone’s achievement of a goal. In fact, data from her study showed that grit and talent were not only unrelated but were adversely related to a person’s success. I grew up never being pegged as the smart girl. I was the creative girl, or the artsy girl, or the social girl. Never the smart girl. If you’re not careful, you start to believe the words spoken over you, and throughout my adolescent years, I could never fully commit to my success simply because I was never top of my class. However, my achievements spoke a different story. I won several awards for singing, even more for broadcasting, and I ended up being a leading news anchor by being asked to work in the 11th largest market in the nation, Tampa, Florida at the age of 26. I was working around people twice my age and it dawned on me, my own grit was what got me there. Not my SAT score. The decision I made at 21 years old to 'simply keep going' was the anthem I sung throughout my career. Now, my heart stirs to achieve my master’s in psychology to know more about the beauty in how we’re all wired. My ‘why’ is the people I yearn to help in order for them to break mental boundaries that keep them from their unique success. As my scholarship research continues, the statistics on being awarded one is humbling but I am believing, with the right amount of grit, I’ll walk across that stage and accept my diploma, free from student loan debt.

I scored my DREAM job at the age of 26. Then I hit rock bottom. For anyone who knows the Enneagram personality test, I am a hardcore three. The one who loves achieving, accomplishing goals, and desires to bring everyone else with them. "Courtney, I just fired our morning live-shot reporter," ProNews 7's News Director said via voicemail. "I need you to call me back because I want you to take his job. The call time is in 9 hours." That was the job that started it all. I was coming out of a voice lesson, still finishing my undergraduate degree with an emphasis in journalism, and instantly got offered the job that my senior teacher aid had hours ago. I hope this doesn't affect my grade... "Hi Ryan, I'm in," I said wildly. Market 131. Two years later, it was time for market 119. Traverse City is where I tell everyone I actually learned how to be a good journalist. I came on and not only took the role as the weekend anchor, but with it being a small market, that position comes with the job description of executive producer, news director, and editor. During the week, you were ‘in the trenches’ figuratively and literally. Eighteen inches of snow fell overnight? That became the lead story at five o'clock and you were going to be out in it live. I think my southern toes are still recovering from the lack of effort I gave in getting the proper snow boots for them. “Sorry feet. No hard feelings?” Two years later it was a call I thought I would get a lot later in life. “Hello Courtney, this is Bob, Channel 10’s News Director. I want to talk to you about a job I’d like for you to consider in Tampa. Interested?” I quickly pulled up the internet on my phone to check Neilson’s rating list. “11? Twenty-six year old me is getting asked to work in market 11? Doing what? Sweeping the floors?” “I saw your reel and we would love for you to be our morning Social Media Anchor,” Bob said. A month later my husband and I left 2 feet of snow for sunshine and palm trees. I reached nirvana. I was working with people twice my age doing what I loved. Advocating for people. Leaving my drop on this earth that ripples into the lives of those around me. What a sweet gift. I guess Bernie Sanders ripping his mic off at the end of our one-on-one interview after asking about becoming Hilary’s VP didn’t end my career after all. It was amazing. Until it wasn’t. One day I stopped sleeping, was having daily panic attacks, and deep depression. What was something that yesterday, fueled my soul was today, taking my spirit. “How could this be? How could something I love be hurting me?” I asked myself. Leaving a news station doesn’t mean you stop being a journalist. Two years after saying goodbye to my dream job I said hello to a dream I never knew I had. A new avenue of advocacy. A new passion for journalism. A new platform for speaking the truth to the hurting world. I now use my journalism degree, skills, and passion to speak into the lives of thousands of people each day. I create stories that help them change the way they think in hopes of changing the way they live. I’m currently going for my master’s in psychology to finally be that “primary source” every journalist is keeping beats on. I’m also in the running for a job that will help me teach people how to learn about themselves - starting with the mind - while also writing and telling stories that expose the big companies who take advantage of the poor’s money while giving it to the wealthy. Journalism never leaves the journalist. Our story simply pivots and just as journalists do, we take on the new challenge… because people are, and will also be, worth the risk.