If you are like me, I sympathize with you. “Go to school or you’re not going to have a future!” Mom and Dad would remind me day after day as high school senior graduation approached. Kicking and screaming, I enrolled into college due to parent pressure. Two years ago I graduated with my Health Care Administration Degree in Honors with Distinction. Although at first I hated the idea of continuing school, the day I walked on stage at graduation, I had never been more proud. To this day I am the first in my family to go to college and obtain my degree. Throughout my college experience I was able to exceed far past any expectation that I had for myself. It was a test to my determination, perseverance, and character. The role of education in my life goes far more in depth than higher learning. While education has equipped me with knowledge I need to properly do my job, it has also provided more opportunities for me to excel at my work place. It taught me how to network with my peers and teachers at school to gain relationships that would benefit me through college and beyond. I’ve learned to manage my time in balancing work and being a full-time student. Perseverance, time-management, and self-care has helped me power through my college career. Education has enabled me to find my passion and purpose in life. Today I have chosen to go back to school for higher education. In January I begin my new journey towards getting my Masters degree in Developmental Psychology. What started off as forceful nagging to go to school, ended up as one of the best decisions in my life and career. I want to use the role that education has had on my life to help children and adolescents who suffer from mental and behavioral health issues. A higher education will equip me with the tools that I need to properly provide care. Thank you for education! I don’t know if I would have found my passion if it wasn’t for continuing education.

My career and dream to live a life of impact by becoming a Psychologist, serving children and adolescents who suffer from Mental Health illnesses and Behavioral issues. I dream to create life-changing freedom for future generations. Two years ago, after graduating with my bachelor’s degree, I attended a job fair with the goal to start paying my student loans back. I stumbled across an informational stand for Kahi Mohala, a Residential Psychiatric Hospital. Kahi happens to be five minutes away from where I live, therefore I took the job as a Mental Health Specialist because it was convenient, provided reasonable working hours, and served delicious food. Little did I know that it would lead to the beginning of a journey towards my dream. If you are curious to know, here is the secret recipe to finding my passion and purpose. Concoction of Commitment: 1 handful of Hope, mixed with 1 scoop of persistence, combined with 1 diligent heart. For the sake of this essay we will call my female adolescent patient Hope. As a new Mental Health Specialist with no history of working in a Psychiatric facility I did not realize that day after day Hope would be the one to slowly demolish the unit and any self-esteem I had left. As each week passed, I was determined to build a rapport with her. Hope chose to process with me after what began as a quiet hygiene time for the unit to a code green: Seclusion and Restraint. While speaking with Hope, who I once thought was a brick wall became profoundly transparent. She was apologetic and sorrowful, breaking down her past and what led up to the point of restraint. From that moment on, the flame in my heart was ignited as the words being revealed to me by this 16-year-old girl affirmed my rapport was built. She trusted to process with me and allowed me to speak life to what seemed like a black hole. The hurt and brokenness that filled the moment became lighter as we spoke about troubles in the past and the hope we can regain through therapeutic treatment. It became clear to me that my encounter with Hope and the ability to speak love and support to a broken heart is possible if we put time and application into the process. The gears to possibilities began turning in my mind with the difference I could make in the lives of others! Since working at Kahi, I have had the opportunity to watch Dr. Chaplin work from the sidelines. He walks in humility with one goal; to serve patients to the best of his ability. He is extensively involved in the patient’s treatment and can design plans specifically catered to the individual according to their mental or behavioral diagnosis. Dr. Chaplin has attained such high level of education and experience that he executes his mission for each patient in such intricate ways leading to countless success stories. Pursuing a higher education will help me to do just that! The inspiration which has produced the goal I have committed to, has drastically changed my outlook on life. I no longer live for myself, but for the health and well-being of those in my community. My experience with Hope taught me that the outside does not always coincide with what’s on the inside. Children and adolescents carry themselves according their own experiences. They act or react in ways that they are familiar with. In need of direction, Hope has inspired my interest towards the child and adolescent population. Taking the steps to go back to school to gain a higher education has set the course of my dream to attain a higher role in the field of Psychology. Although the journey to further my education has just begun, I see myself providing health care as a Psychologist to children and adolescents who have been diagnosed with mental or behavioral issues. In order to advance wellness in the future, I will first start by dedicating my time and efforts to enhancing my education to be equipped with the tools and knowledge I need in order for me to then provide the proper care to patients. Health care means saving lives by building a culture of compassion towards the future generations; to make it our responsibility to devote the best possible care we can produce. Providing educated, accurate, and experienced care to our children will lead them towards a life free of diagnosed labels. Please help me to help the keiki of Oahu to overcome the obstacles that have been thrown their way. I will use my higher education in Psychology to qualify me to work with children and adolescents who desperately need guidance and treatment. Rather than being a Mental Health Specialist or Unit Clerk, my role as a Psychologist will serve a more detrimental role in the patient’s care and treatment plan.

My career and dream is to live a life of impact by becoming a Psychologist, serving children and adolescents who suffer from Mental Health illnesses and Behavioral issues. I dream to create life-changing freedom for future generations. Two years ago, after graduating with my bachelor’s degree, I attended a job fair with the goal to start paying my student loans back. I stumbled across an informational stand for Kahi Mohala, a Residential Psychiatric Hospital. Kahi happens to be five minutes away from where I live, therefore I took the job as a Mental Health Specialist because it was convenient, provided reasonable working hours, and served delicious food. Little did I know that it would lead to the beginning of a journey towards my dream. If you are curious to know, here is the secret recipe to finding my passion and purpose. Concoction of Commitment: 1 handful of Hope, mixed with 1 scoop of persistence, combined with 1 diligent heart. For the sake of this essay we will call my female adolescent patient Hope. As a new Mental Health Specialist with no history of working in a Psychiatric facility I did not realize that day after day Hope would be the one to slowly demolish the unit and any self-esteem I had left. As each week passed, I was determined to build a rapport with her. Hope chose to process with me after what began as a quiet hygiene time for the unit to a code green: Seclusion and Restraint. While speaking with Hope, who I once thought was a brick wall became profoundly transparent. She was apologetic and sorrowful, breaking down her past and what led up to the point of restraint. From that moment on, the flame in my heart was ignited as the words being revealed to me by this 16-year-old girl affirmed my rapport was built. She trusted to process with me and allowed me to speak life to what seemed like a black hole. The hurt and brokenness that filled the moment became lighter as we spoke about troubles in the past and the hope we can regain through therapeutic treatment. It became clear to me that my encounter with Hope and the ability to speak love and support to a broken heart is possible if we put time and application into the process. The gears to possibilities began turning in my mind with the difference I could make in the lives of others! Since working at Kahi, I have had the opportunity to watch Dr. Chaplin work from the sidelines. He walks in humility with one goal; to serve patients to the best of his ability. He is extensively involved in the patient’s treatment and can design plans specifically catered to the individual according to their mental or behavioral diagnosis. Dr. Chaplin has attained such high level of education and experience that he executes his mission for each patient in such intricate ways leading to countless success stories. Pursuing a higher education will help me to do just that! The inspiration which has produced the goal I have committed to, has drastically changed my outlook on life. I no longer live for myself, but for the health and well-being of those in my community. My experience with Hope taught me that the outside does not always coincide with what’s on the inside. Children and adolescents carry themselves according their own experiences. They act or react in ways that they are familiar with. In need of direction, Hope has inspired my interest towards the child and adolescent population. Taking the steps to go back to school to gain a higher education has set the course of my dream to attain a higher role in the field of Psychology. Although the journey to further my education has just begun, I see myself providing health care as a Psychologist to children and adolescents who have been diagnosed with mental or behavioral issues. In order to advance wellness in the future, I will first start by dedicating my time and efforts to enhancing my education to be equipped with the tools and knowledge I need in order for me to then provide the proper care to patients. Health care means saving lives by building a culture of compassion towards the future generations; to make it our responsibility to devote the best possible care we can produce. Providing educated, accurate, and experienced care to our children will lead them towards a life free of diagnosed labels. Please help me to help the keiki of Oahu to overcome the obstacles that have been thrown their way. I will use my higher education in Psychology to qualify me to work with children and adolescents who desperately need guidance and treatment. Rather than being a Mental Health Specialist or Unit Clerk, my role as a Psychologist will serve a more detrimental role in the patient’s care and treatment plan. Thank you for taking the time to read my story. Mahalo!