I had the honor of serving for 4 years on active duty in the United States Marine Corps. Even though my parents were hesitant about my decision, I enlisted at 17 years old. I was heavily involved in the delayed entry program and formed early bonds with future Marines. By 18 years old, I shipped off to boot camp, graduated, and moved on to combat training and MOS school. My first duty station was at Cherry Point NC. During my time in garrison, I had the opportunity to be part of funeral details, participate in the martial arts program, and hone my skills as a leader. My next duty station offered another experience. I had the opportunity to deploy in 2016 aboard the USS Wasp which crossed through the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Red Sea. Upon exiting the service, I was a Corporal and began planning my next steps as I entered the civilian sector again. My experience in the military culture and the difficulty of adjusting to a civilian lifestyle have steered me into wanting to become a therapist. Since my end of active service, I have been studying hard in school to provide therapy services to the veteran community. I am a third-year graduate student in an art therapy program specializing in counseling. I chose the field of art therapy because I’ve experienced how beneficial artmaking can be compared to traditional talk therapy. My time in the military was a place where talks of mental health were seen as taboo. From those experiences, seeking mental health was both a challenge and a barrier I learned to overcome. I aim to become an art therapist and a licensed counselor and earn my credentials to cement further the knowledge I’ve been learning in school. During my time as an undergraduate student, I took on many volunteer opportunities. I was a mental health ambassador for my school and provided students with resources to help them get their mental health needs met. Now as a graduate student, I am a mentor at the Big Brother Big Sister of Greater Pittsburgh. I have connected with my mentee and provided him with encouragement and confidence to seek out a career he would be passionate about. Our time together, coupled with my time on active duty has helped me develop a better sense of empathy. This empathy forms the foundation of my therapeutic approach which will allow me to connect with people and create a supportive environment for healing and growth. I aspire to create safe spaces where art serves as a bridge for communication, healing, and empowerment. I’ve been studying diligently to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who often face barriers to accessing mental health services.

I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at 17 years old. By 18, I shipped off to boot camp and served honorably from 2013-2017. While on active duty, I was stationed at Cherry Point and Camp Lejeune, NC. I deployed 2016 aboard the USS Wasp through the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Red Sea. Upon exiting the service, I was a Corporal and began planning my next steps as I entered the civilian sector again. My experience in the military culture and the difficulty of adjusting to a civilian lifestyle have steered me into wanting to become a therapist. Since my end of active service, I have been studying hard in school to provide therapy services to the veteran community. I am a third-year graduate student in an art therapy program specializing in counseling. I chose the field of art therapy because I’ve experienced how beneficial artmaking can be compared to traditional talk therapy. My time in the military was a place where talks of mental health were seen as taboo. From those experiences, seeking mental health was both a challenge and a barrier I learned to overcome. I aim to become an art therapist and a licensed counselor and earn my credentials to cement further the knowledge I’ve been learning in school. By choosing this career path, I am dedicated to becoming an advocate and applying it effectively to the veteran community. During my time as an undergraduate student, I took on many volunteer opportunities. I was a mental health ambassador for my school and provided students with resources to help them get their mental health needs met. Now as a graduate student, I am a mentor at the Big Brother Big Sister of Greater Pittsburgh. I have connected with my mentee and provided him with encouragement and confidence to seek out a career he would be passionate about. Our time together, coupled with my time on active duty has helped me develop a better sense of empathy. This empathy forms the foundation of my therapeutic approach which will allow me to connect with people and create a supportive environment for healing and growth. I aspire to create safe spaces where art serves as a bridge for communication, healing, and empowerment. I’ve been studying diligently to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who often face barriers to accessing mental health services.

My name is Piña, and I am currently in a graduate program for Art Therapy with a specialization in Counseling. I am a first-generation American from Mexican parents and the first to enlist in the military. I chose the field of art therapy because I’ve experienced how beneficial artmaking can be compared to traditional talk therapy. I had a common upbringing where anything related to mental health was to only be kept in the family and my time in the military was a place where talks of mental health were seen as taboo. From those experiences, seeking mental health was both a challenge and a barrier I learned to overcome. Experiencing the therapeutic potential of a creative approach to emotional healing solidified my belief in the transformative power of art therapy. Combining that with traditional therapeutic modalities, art therapy is a field that has tremendous potential. By choosing this career path, I am dedicated to becoming an advocate for both the Latin American and the veteran community. Upon completing my graduate program, my career goal is to become a licensed counselor and a certified art therapist specializing in serving Latin American individuals and veterans struggling with trauma, grief, and other mental health issues. I aspire to create safe spaces where art serves as a bridge for communication, healing, and empowerment. By embracing cultural sensitivity and trauma-informed practices, I aim to facilitate meaningful transformations in the lives of those I work with. Throughout my graduate program, I am learning to implement art interventions and build rapport with diverse populations effectively. I’ve been studying diligently to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who often face barriers to accessing mental health services. I have worked with children and young adults thus far in my program, and it is preparing me for my internship year which is soon approaching. This scholarship would recognize and reward my hard work, enabling me to continue my education without delay. It would also help alleviate some of the financial burdens that many graduate programs have. This upcoming school year the prices for my classes have also increased which puts another dent in my already depleting savings. This scholarship would allow me to gain access to the books and other materials needed for my upcoming classes. It will also further my chances to continue my training in specialized art therapy techniques tailored to Latin American and veteran needs without having to be held back due to financial constraints.

My name is Piña, and I am currently in a graduate program for Art Therapy with a specialization in Counseling. I am a first-generation American from Mexican parents and the first to enlist in the military. I chose the field of art therapy because I’ve experienced how beneficial artmaking can be compared to traditional talk therapy. I had a common upbringing where anything related to mental health was to only be kept in the family and my time in the military was a place where talks of mental health were seen as taboo. From those experiences, seeking mental health was both a challenge and a barrier I learned to overcome. Experiencing the therapeutic potential of a creative approach to emotional healing solidified my belief in the transformative power of art therapy. Combining that with traditional therapeutic modalities, art therapy is a field that has tremendous potential. By choosing this career path, I am dedicated to becoming an advocate for both the Latin American and the veteran community. Upon completing my graduate program, my career goal is to become a licensed counselor and a certified art therapist specializing in serving Latin American individuals and veterans struggling with trauma, grief, and other mental health issues. I aspire to create safe spaces where art serves as a bridge for communication, healing, and empowerment. By embracing cultural sensitivity and trauma-informed practices, I aim to facilitate meaningful transformations in the lives of those I work with. I’ve been studying diligently to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who often face barriers to accessing mental health services. I have worked with children and young adults thus far in my program, and it is preparing me for my internship year which is soon approaching. As I approach my final year in my graduate program, I am also diligent in exploring which modalities not only fit my personality but also how I can be flexible when applying them to my future clients. I've also been seeking opportunities to travel to other countries so that I can use art therapy to help those recovering from natural disasters. While the field of art therapy is still growing, I think exposure across the globe would make a positive impact. As someone who used to be hesitant to talk about mental health, I want to be an advocate and be that positive role model to show that it's okay to seek help.

My name is Piña, and I am currently in a graduate program for Art Therapy with a specialization in Counseling. I am a first-generation American from Mexican parents and the first to enlist in the military. I chose the field of art therapy because I’ve experienced how beneficial artmaking can be compared to traditional talk therapy. I had a common upbringing where anything related to mental health was to only be kept in the family and my time in the military was a place where talks of mental health were seen as taboo. From those experiences, seeking mental health was both a challenge and a barrier I learned to overcome. Experiencing the therapeutic potential of a creative approach to emotional healing solidified my belief in the transformative power of art therapy. Combining that with traditional therapeutic modalities, art therapy is a field that has tremendous potential. By choosing this career path, I am dedicated to becoming an advocate for both the Latin American and the veteran community. It took some time, but soon my own barriers were coming down. I was able to explain to my family why I was called to be in the mental health field. While it took them some time to understand, they nonetheless supported me. My relationship with my family has gotten stronger because I was helping break down generational barriers that were in place. My time as a mentor at the Big Brother Big Sister of Greater Pittsburgh has also allowed me to find different approaches to connect with my match. Being a leader in the military allowed me to be flexible and understand the troops under me. I've developed a better sense of empathy because of my experience. This empathy forms the foundation of my therapeutic approach, allowing them to connect with people and create a supportive environment for healing and growth. Upon completing my graduate program, my career goal is to become a licensed counselor and a certified art therapist specializing in serving Latin American individuals and veterans struggling with trauma, grief, and other mental health issues. I aspire to create safe spaces where art serves as a bridge for communication, healing, and empowerment. By embracing cultural sensitivity and trauma-informed practices, I aim to facilitate meaningful transformations in the lives of those I work with. Throughout my graduate program, I am learning to implement art interventions and build rapport with diverse populations effectively. I’ve been studying diligently to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who often face barriers to accessing mental health services. I have worked with children and young adults thus far in my program, and it is preparing me for my internship year which is soon approaching. This journey reflects a profound transformation from overcoming barriers to mental health to embracing art as a catalyst for healing and empowerment. With a strong sense of purpose and a deep-rooted passion for serving their communities, my experiences with mental health have not only shaped my beliefs and relationships but also fueled my aspirations to make a meaningful impact in the field of art therapy and counseling.

My name is Piña, and I am currently in a graduate program for Art Therapy with a specialization in Counseling. I am a first-generation American from Mexican parents and the first to enlist in the military. I chose the field of art therapy because I’ve experienced how beneficial artmaking can be compared to traditional talk therapy. I had a common upbringing where anything related to mental health was to only be kept in the family and my time in the military was a place where talks of mental health were seen as taboo. From those experiences, seeking mental health was both a challenge and a barrier I learned to overcome. Experiencing the therapeutic potential of a creative approach to emotional healing solidified my belief in the transformative power of art therapy. Combining that with traditional therapeutic modalities, art therapy is a field that has tremendous potential. By choosing this career path, I am dedicated to becoming an advocate for both the Latin American and the veteran community. Upon completing my graduate program, my career goal is to become a licensed counselor and a certified art therapist specializing in serving Latin American individuals and veterans struggling with trauma, grief, and other mental health issues. I aspire to create safe spaces where art serves as a bridge for communication, healing, and empowerment. By embracing cultural sensitivity and trauma-informed practices, I aim to facilitate meaningful transformations in the lives of those I work with. Throughout my graduate program, I am learning to implement art interventions and build rapport with diverse populations effectively. I’ve been studying diligently to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who often face barriers to accessing mental health services. I have worked with children and young adults thus far in my program, and it is preparing me for my internship year which is soon approaching. This scholarship would recognize and reward my hard work, enabling me to continue my education without delay. It would also help alleviate some of the financial burdens that many graduate programs have. This upcoming school year the prices for my classes have also increased which puts another dent in my already depleting savings. This scholarship would allow me to gain access to the books and other materials needed for my upcoming classes. It will also further my chances to continue my training in specialized art therapy techniques tailored to Latin American and veteran needs without having to be held back due to financial constraints.

My future self will be an Art Therapist who will help his communities find their voice through art.