My name is Micole LaCounte, but my Nakoda name is Chande Numba or Two Hearts. I am a passionate and driven, young, developing professional dedicated to making a difference in the field of behavioral healthcare. I am an enrolled member of the Fort Belknap Gros Ventre and Assiniboine Tribe, and also live with co-occurring disabilities. Graduating with an Associates Degree in Chemical Dependency Counseling in June of 2023, I am on a mission to expand my knowledge and expertise beyond the lens of addiction and into the broader behavioral health field as a whole. With a late diagnosis of co-morbid Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, diagnosed at 29 years old, I understand many of the challenges neurodivergent individuals face and am determined to advocate for proper early diagnosis and support, especially within indigenous communities. My ultimate goal is to pursue a BSW and later a Masters in Psychology, with a focus on understanding and supporting those with neurodivergent profiles. I have memories of being a very young child and participating in Grass Dancing during the Annual Arlee Powwow. I also have faint memories of catching prairie dogs at Sun Dance while my Grandmother was in the lodge engaging in ceremony. She tells me stories of relatives constantly trying to keep me from the Lodge, attempting to find and be next to my grandmother; but unable to interfere and disturb the ceremony. I wish that I there were photographs of me in my regalia still around, but unfortunately all of the photographs my grandmother had were lost by the US Postal Service over a decade ago when she tried to mail them to my father to hold onto. I wish I could have had the opportunity to be raised within my culture more, however I come from a Native father and White mother and my mother was not too kind towards my ancestral roots and culture. She ultimately kept me from learning and socializing within my indigenous culture, and as consequence I struggle with whole lot identifying with and truly feeling connected to my native roots. However, as I grow older, I have become increasingly more comfortable and curious about my ancestral culture and have actively sought to educate myself more through conversation with relatives and elders in my community. As if I am being pushed towards this field by the Creator, almost all aspects of my previous work and lived experiences have led me towards these pursuits. Growing up in a household where mental health issues, substance use, and domestic violence were prevalent sparked an early interest in psychology and trying to understand what makes people behave the way they do. In my early adult years, I battled with my own substance use, mental health, and toxic relationship issues. Thankfully, my early interest in the subject of psychology, specifically abnormal, I believe prepared me to quickly find my way onto the path of recovery. After creating some stability in life, I found myself working in the field of recovery in multiple roles and angles. This only solidified what I had discovered as a child, that I want to study and work in the field of behavioral health and social work.

My dream in life is to build a legacy of healing that positively affects generations to come. A legacy of aiding others in breaking their family’s generational curses and moving into lives of prosperity and fulfillment.

I believe that my greatest achievement to date has been overcoming a long history of behavioral health and substance use problems that stemmed from adverse childhood experiences and attempts to self medicate. The household that I grew up in was dysfunctional and riddled with mental illness and substance use, and this dysfunction led to multiple traumatic experiences. I began using substances to cope as early as 12 years old, finding too much shame in the marks and scarring left from non-suicidal self injurious behaviors I habitually engaged in for several years prior. I spent the better part of my young adulthood lost in the Abyss fighting Chronozon seeking answers. In other words, I spent several years of my teenage and early 20s active in poly-substance use disorder and untreated mental illness fighting to make sense of my place in what felt like a decaying world. Then one day, after losing all hope, a burst of silver light slayed Chronozon and I found myself on the other side of the Abyss. One day, I finally had a spark of enlightenment that led me to a path of recovery where I rediscovered myself and learned to see the silver lining in all experiences. I am now pursuing a degree in Chemical Dependency Counseling and moving immediately onto a Bachelors in Social Work, having found a purpose in all of the pain of my past. I have also founded a nonprofit organization that is currently only in the early planning and grant seeking phase but plans to bring all levels of addictions treatment and transitional supportive housing to our local communities. I hope to use my organizations status as a nonprofit to help increase Montana's access to effective substance use treatment. Meth, one of the substances that controlled my life for so long, is still a serious epidemic in the Treasure State. There are countless things I have learned about myself throughout this overall experience. First, I am a resilient individual who is capable of overcoming anything. This resiliency lends to a confident self-esteem with charisma. I have found the power within myself and am meant to help others find theirs. These experiences have also shown me that I am a healer of mind and soul, and can lead many to discovering their paths to recovery. I have matured tremendously over the years. Many who fall into addiction so young fail to make it out, but I did.

I can recall struggling with distressing symptoms of depression and anxiety as young as when I was in the 1st grade. For nearly the entirety of my primary and secondary school years I regularly saw school provided therapists and spent many hours in counselor's office working on homework rather than the classroom itself. Around the beginning of my secondary school years, I remember reaching out to my mother about the concerning thoughts and feelings that I could not seem to shake. For years she dismissed my declining mental health on hormonal imbalances caused by puberty. Sure, this could have likely been a contributing factor in my situation but her failure to take my concerns seriously felt like she had failed me as a caretaker. It was around this same time that I began experimenting with self-harming behaviors and quickly became habituated into this behavior whenever things began to feel too burdensome. My mother failed to notice this change in how I held myself, was always in long sleeve or a hoodie, and that I had begun stealing liquor from her and my step father's stash to help feel better. My mother didn't notice a lot of things, and I think this fueled the development of my depressive disorder, until she herself attempted suicide. After this traumatic event, she was quick to have me assessed, diagnosed, and medicated. Though no actual therapy ever was provided. After a few more years of mistreated depression, I found myself heavily addicted to hard substances as a means of coping with my existence. For nearly half of a decade, through my entire high school career and well into my young adulthood I batted the demon of my co-occurring disorder. When I finally hit my rock bottom and found myself truly sick and tired of being sick and tired, I reached out to the biological father of mine who I had a little to nothing relationship with at the time. He helped me turn my entire life around with his unconditional love and support. Because of his acceptance, patience, and fatherly motivation I found the will to walk the life of recovery and have been clean ever since. This was in 2015, and since then I have not only found peace in my recovery, I have also found a successful way to manage my depression. Now I am ready to take my lived experiences and opportunity to study in college to pursue a degree in Chemical Dependency Counseling and Social Work and help others who struggle like I did.

It is my ultimate career goal to open and oversee the operation of a regional substance use disorder treatment organization that operates both Intensive Outpatient services, High-Intensity Residential services, and Peer Support recovery support services. With the acquisition of my intended degree, I will not only be certified to counsel those seeking services but be able to act as the Clinical Supervisor for the Peer Support Specialist. This is how I plan to give back to my community, by healing and empowering our struggling neighbors and nudging them towards their paths to recovery. The leadership qualities I have been refining as I serve in my roles and Vice Chair and Co-Chair of different boards will lend significant advantages to the founding and operation of this dream organization, as will the relationships these roles have created. Additionally, the empathetic and compassionate qualities I posses are pivotal to the work involved with this choice of occupation. Regarding weaknesses or obstacles to my achievement of this goal, I would consider my own history with substance use and the potential for vicarious or secondary trauma to trigger a relapse event the most prominent. While I do not foresee this as something that is likely to happen, I believe remaining aware of the potential is needed to prevent it. Additionally, I would consider my mental health conditions to be a weakness as well. Though I currently manage my mental health successfully, there are occasionally “seasons” of being symptomatic which can create significant issues in work and personal life. I have served my community is several ways since moving back to Missoula from a short stint of living in Oregon. For the past year, I have served on multiple behavioral health oversight boards that monitor behavioral health services in specified regions. I haves served, and am still serving, as the Vice Chair of the Behavioral Health Local Advisory Council (BHLAC) of Missoula County and Co-Chair of the Western Service Area Authority which oversees all the county BHLAC’s in the Western Montana region of the state. In addition to serving in these role’s, I also volunteer as the Western Service Area Authority’s BHLAC Development Coordinator. This role consists of maintaining communication between the BHLAC’s under the Western Service Area Authority’s jurisdiction as well as assisting in their growth and development or assisting counties in building BHLAC’s from scratch. Lastly, I volunteer to maintain the websites of both the BHLAC of Missoula County and the Western Service Area Authority as both board’s Webmaster. My idea of impacting social change is to start in my community. No great global movement started as such, rather every single one began as a grassroots movement in small community. If we are to change the world, we must begin within ourselves and work outwards. As the buddhist tradition teaches; to change the world is an impossible task, but to change ones perspective of it is possible.

For as long as I can remember, I have considered myself to be an empath; an individual with a natural tendency to feel an other's emotional state as their own. New age guru's and spiritualist have long pushed that the gift of an empath is a divine gift from the heavens to help facilitate healing in others. This is fundamentally not true. Empathy, though a desirable trait to a degree, is actually a survival mechanism developed in those who experienced significant childhood traumas that left them feeling unsafe and on edge. In order to feel safe in uncertain situations, these individuals learned how to tune into the subtlety of emotion and recognize when others are in an emotional state and may be a perceived risk for danger. This conditioned response is what led to the label of "empath". Like I mentioned prior, empathy is a desirable trait though. The capacity to put one's self into an other's shoes allows for us to truly connect with one another on an authentic and spiritual level. In my experience, the easiest and most effective way to ensure we act in empathy is to recognize that we are all are of the same One, and to do onto your neighbor is to do onto yourself.

There are innumerable ways in which I feel life has prepared me for success. The most significant and impactful way however, would be the passing of my "dark night of the soul" at such a young age. The dark night of the soul is a phenomenon described by the early mystic and poet St. John of the Cross as a period of time in one's life marked with extreme difficulties and pain that ultimately results in a deeper and more profound perspective of one's existence; a spiritual crisis that brings one closer to "God". Having survived childhood traumas of abuse and neglect and subsequent bout of addiction to "hard" substances as allowed me to recognize the warrior spirit that resides within me. It is this warrior spirit that will propel me into a life of success. My personal lived experiences with the monsters of mental illness and addiction have provided me with a unique knowledge base that a textbook can never provide. This lived-experience will prove to increase my success as an addictions counselor, the profession I am eager to be a part of. Success is not the same for me as it is for my neighbor, or even my father. The meaning of life and its purpose is not an objective fact, but a personal and subjective experience that must be discovered within each unique individual. For me, success is not marked by an accumulation of wealth, fame, nor materialism. For my life, success is marked by the progress I make towards self-actualization; becoming my upmost best self. My god-self. I will have found myself to be successful when life no longer feels like a curse but a gift, and am able to help other around me feel the same. Once I have healed myself, and can begin to heal others, this is what success will look like for me. In 20 years, I see myself as an expert in addictions counseling; a well established healer. I see myself as the CEO and President of a nonprofit organization that provided substance use treatment services to the community in which it lives. From outpatient, to residential, to supportive housing and other evidence-based practices found to help others succeed in their journeys on the path of recovery. Perhaps even a spiritual teacher, helping to move the psyche of the masses away from fear and sorrow and into a place of equanimity and radical acceptance.

Confidence is a characteristic that has proven to be of upmost importance to me. Growing up in a broken home riddled with mental health issues and addiction, I developed into my adolescent and early adulthood with little confidence and nearly non-existent self-esteem. For several years I struggled with the belief that I was never going to be "good enough", "cute enough", "smart enough", or "productive enough". I never believed I was "enough". However, in 2015 when I found the will and determination to seek recovery, this lack of confidence began to grow. I have spent the last 7 years, and counting, working diligently to correct the faulty thought processes that feed into low-self esteem. Acknowledging them as the arise, nonjudgmentally and without entertaining them, these thoughts began to transform into a more positive perspective of myself and the life I am living. Cultivating this positive and accepting perspective of myself is how I continue to build up my confidence.

Whether it be providing my presence and my ears to hear their stresses, or through leading by example, encouraging others is something I practice on the daily. Simple acts like flashing a smile, acknowledging efforts, and sharing encouraging thoughts as they arise are all things we can incorporate into our daily socialization to help lift others into their fullest potentials. We are not created to weather the storms of life alone, and reminding each other of this fact and supporting each other through the journey is critical to a healthy and fulfilling life. I have found that by doing so for others regularly, others will begin doing for you as well. Let us be intentional with our words so as to not foster discouragement in our brothers and sisters, for the world itself can be discouraging enough already. Lend not into the dark uncertainty of life, and lean into the marvelous joys of impermanence.

It is my ultimate career goal to open and oversee the operation of a regional substance use disorder treatment organization that operates both Intensive Outpatient services, High-Intensity Residential services, and Peer Support recovery support services. With the acquisition of my intended degree, I will not only be certified to counsel those seeking services but be able to act as the Clinical Supervisor for the Peer Support Specialist. This is how I plan to give back to my community, by healing and empowering our struggling neighbors and nudging them towards their paths to recovery. The leadership qualities I have been refining as I serve in my roles and Vice Chair and Co-Chair of different boards will lend significant advantages to the founding and operation of this dream organization, as will the relationships these roles have created. Additionally, the empathetic and compassionate qualities I posses are pivotal to the work involved with this choice of occupation. Regarding weaknesses or obstacles to my achievement of this goal, I would consider my own history with substance use and the potential for vicarious or secondary trauma to trigger a relapse event the most prominent. While I do not foresee this as something that is likely to happen, I believe remaining aware of the potential is needed to prevent it. Additionally, I would consider my mental health conditions to be a weakness as well. Though I currently manage my mental health successfully, there are occasionally “seasons” of being symptomatic which can create significant issues in work and personal life.

I wouldn't say my life has been particularly difficult, but it certainly has not been easy. I was born into an impoverished family by two young humans who were still children themselves. My parents were never married, I was the result of a high school fling. While my parents did try to make things work in my infancy, they just were not compatible. I can recall a time when I saw each side of my family regularly, but this was a short lived period of my life. When I was about 6 or 7 years old, my mother and her mother took me from my father and kept him, and his side of my family, away from me as much as my mother could. She raised me on the idea that my father had abandoned me, resulting in abandonment trauma and the early onset of what would later be diagnosed as Major Depressive Disorder. The effects my deteriorating mental health had on my behaviors caused significant conflict between my mother and I, created a highly stressful and toxic home environment that would just exacerbate the struggles I was already experiencing. Feeling lost, misunderstood, and unaccepted; I turned to substances to self medicate. As I progressed through my high school years, this self medicating evolved into a full blown addiction that I battled with until 2015. This history of Adverse Childhood Experiences, mental illness, and substance abuse paved an obvious path for my future, at least in my eyes. I now see my life's purpose being to help facilitate the healing that I had to find for myself in others. That is why I am pursuing a degree in Chemical Dependency Counseling and Social Work, and plan to couple these degrees with my experiences to open my own treatment providing organization.

There are many things in this life that fuel my joyful engagement with it. From the unconditional love received from my father, grandparents, and other closely held family members; to the blazing fires of passion for self-actualization that burn within me; to the simple fact that I am in control of how I react to life on life's terms. I would not have found the strength and the courage to turn away from the comforts of my addiction to the painful but liberating path of recovery had my father and grandmother turned away from me, as others had in those darkest of my days. I would not have found the willpower to persist despite the vast amount of challenges I had faced had their unconditional love and support had not anchored me through the storms of life. I would not have recognized my ability to find joy in an uncertain and often scary world had this love not pushed me out of hell and into the heavenly realm I exist in today.

Authenticity is a characteristic that I am intentional to maintain in my own life. This was not always the case however, as in my adolescent years the effects of mental illness began to surface in my cognitions and behavior and I turned to substance use as a means to cope. This inevitably lead me to leading a life of secrecy, manipulation, and deception; all things that impede on living authentically. Having strayed onto the path of recovery since 2015, I have made the commitment to myself to change this way of living and act diligently to exist as my authentic self at all times. For me, living authentically includes speaking my mind and sharing my truths with those I share this life with. It is okay for others to not always agree with me, as I understand and accept the diversity in perspectives toward life. In this acceptance, I have found ease in sharing honestly without fear of disagreements.

Self care is critical to maintaining ones wellbeing, especially when it comes to our mental health. That is why I am diligent to regularly exercise mindfulness practices like meditation, yoga, and walking on the land barefoot (grounding). These practices help me to relax and return to a state of equanimity where I am able to put forth my upmost best in everything. I also am diligent to ensure that I allow myself time to do absolutely nothing, even if just for five minutes. By allowing myself to simply just exist, I allow the constant chatter and activity of the world today to slip away from my awareness and enjoy the present moment. This momentary freeing from the worries of the world has done wonders to benefit my mental health. These mindfulness practices have set me on the path to exploring the teaching of Buddhism, a spiritual path I now believe to be an antidote to the ever increasing rates of mental health concerns among the US population.

If I were to come into possession of $1,000 right now, I would immediately put the entire amount towards paying down the student loans I have had to take out in order to attend college. I would feel compelled to take advantage of the Department of Education's current forbearance and 0% interest on student loans and pay down as much of what I owe as I can before they end. College expenses are enormous, even if attending a tribal or community college, and us students can use all the help we can get to fund our futures. If selected to receive this award, I would ensure that I get the most I possibly can out of the gift. Pinamya.

"Generosity brings happiness at every stage of its expression. We experience joy in forming the intention to be generous. We experience joy in the actual act of giving something. And we experience joy in remembering the fact that we have given," as taught by Gautama Buddha. The spirit of generosity is essential to a spiritually balanced existence. We must act generously whenever possible, for we never know how soon "too late" will come. We must act generously whenever possible, for the world is full of uncertainty and we may find ourselves in need of the generosity of others. The spirit of generosity is what keeps communities alive and healthy. It is the moment we turn away from this spirit and indulge the ego in its desires for accumulation that the wellbeing of our community begins to decline.

Recovery is something that I place immense importance on in my life. Having struggled with adverse childhood experiences, mental illness, and subsequently substance use disorders, I strongly believe that I would not be alive today to pursue my dreams had I not found my way into the journey of Recovery. I equate recovery with happiness, genuine and authentically produced happiness, and as many of us know happiness is a journey not a destination. Recovery is a lifestyle, a path to walk through life, and is something personal and unique to each one individual. It does not always look the same or even similar for one as it does for another. That's why I always emphasize, along with recovery being a personal journey, that one is in recovery the moment they say that they are.

Accountability (noun) the fact or condition of being accountable; responsibility. Accountable (adjective) being required or expected to justify actions or choices. Accountability is something that I ran from when I was active in my addiction, and is something I am diligent to exhibit with honesty now that I live a life without the influence of drugs. Many of the important relationships of my prior life have been lost due to my lack of accountability in the midst of my addiction. In an effort to make amends, with not just those I have harmed but my true self as well, This particular trait is one that resonates deeply with me for these reasons, and when I see it in others I am joyed. Though sometimes uncomfortable when we encounter shortcomings or make mistakes, the peace found in being honest and accountable for what lead to them is as noticeable in others as it is in ourselves in my perspective.

It is my ultimate career goal to open and oversee the operation of a regional substance use disorder treatment organization that operates both Intensive Outpatient services, High-Intensity Residential services, and Peer Support recovery support services. With the acquisition of my intended degree, I will not only be certified to counsel those seeking services but be able to act as the Clinical Supervisor for the Peer Support Specialist. This is how I plan to give back to my community, by healing and empowering our struggling neighbors and nudging them towards their paths to recovery. The leadership qualities I have been refining as I serve in my roles and Vice Chair and Co-Chair of different boards will lend significant advantages to the founding and operation of this dream organization, as will the relationships these roles have created. Additionally, the empathetic and compassionate qualities I posses are pivotal to the work involved with this choice of occupation. Regarding weaknesses or obstacles to my achievement of this goal, I would consider my own history with substance use and the potential for vicarious or secondary trauma to trigger a relapse event the most prominent. While I do not foresee this as something that is likely to happen, I believe remaining aware of the potential is needed to prevent it. Additionally, I would consider my mental health conditions to be a weakness as well. Though I currently manage my mental health successfully, there are occasionally “seasons” of being symptomatic which can create significant issues in work and personal life.

It is my ultimate career goal to open and oversee the operation of a regional substance use disorder treatment organization that operates both Intensive Outpatient services, High-Intensity Residential services, and Peer Support recovery support services. With the acquisition of my intended degree, I will not only be certified to counsel those seeking services but be able to act as the Clinical Supervisor for the Peer Support Specialist. This is how I plan to give back to my community, by healing and empowering our struggling neighbors and nudging them towards their paths to recovery. The leadership qualities I have been refining as I serve in my roles and Vice Chair and Co-Chair of different boards will lend significant advantages to the founding and operation of this dream organization, as will the relationships these roles have created. Additionally, the empathetic and compassionate qualities I posses are pivotal to the work involved with this choice of occupation. Regarding weaknesses or obstacles to my achievement of this goal, I would consider my own history with substance use and the potential for vicarious or secondary trauma to trigger a relapse event the most prominent. While I do not foresee this as something that is likely to happen, I believe remaining aware of the potential is needed to prevent it. Additionally, I would consider my mental health conditions to be a weakness as well. Though I currently manage my mental health successfully, there are occasionally “seasons” of being symptomatic which can create significant issues in work and personal life.

One practical solution for helping more people who struggle with mental health is to just simply talk about it. There is so much stigma around mental illness and being in states where we don't feel like our best selves. We collectively need to work to break down this stigma by acknowledging that it is both acceptable and common to not be okay, and that not being okay is something acceptable to talk about. Next time someone asks you how you are doing, be honest. Don't respond "I'm good" or "I'm okay" because its what is considered socially acceptable to say, but only if that is your current truth. Each time we respond to this question honestly, we show others that it's okay to answer honestly. We are not in this world to live through its gifts and challenges alone, we are meant to share our experience with others.

The most helpful piece of financial advice I have ever received is to start saving when you are still young. Putting aside all or some of the christmas, birthday, and other gift monies you receive growing up into a compounding account so as to set yourself up for a much less stressful experience of adulthood. While it is true that the future is not promised, the sort of mantra I told myself growing up that kept me from following this advice, is a true statement; it is always better to be prepared over surprised. As I always say, "it's better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it."

I believe that the biggest problem facing the world right now is divisiveness. Humanity as a whole has lost its understanding and connection to the concept of universal unity; that is that each of us, whether human, animal, plant, or element are of the same energy or life-force simultaneously observing itself from each of its unique perspectives. This idea of separatism and individuality must be rebalanced with the understanding that whatever "I" do unto "you", "I" am doing to "myself". Like all the worlds spiritual paths teach, we must do unto others as we would have them do unto us. We must not only accept, but learn to appreciate each others differences and what they can bring to this beautifully uncertain thing we call life.

My favorite book to date would be The Power of Now by Eckhartt Tolle, and for one simple reason. The book is an easily digestible guide to freeing one's self from the chains of the past and the fears of the future. The concepts that the past is nothing but stories, erroneously recalled, as is the future, imperfectly predicted from our current state are both comforting and universally true. All that truly exists is the Now, the Present Moment. That's why they call it the Present, because it is the Now that is a gift from the Universe.

While I can sympathize with those who are struggling with the changes COVID19 has brought to our lives, these changes have provided me with the perfect opportunity to continue my education. Unable to cut my hours at work to accommodate school and travel at this time, the virtual option has allowed me to attend college classes when I otherwise could not. Poverty is real, and I could not afford to lose out on work even if it’s to further my career and better my future. It is my hope to reach a place of financial stability where I can relocate closer to the SKC campus and give school my undivided attention. Regarding obstacles I had to overcome to attend school, finding the will power and courage to get find my recovery from years of poly-substance use disorder and my mismanaged behavioral health conditions is most certainly the most difficult and impactful. I had attempted to attend college when I was still active in my use and again when I was fresh into recovery and was incapable of keeping up with my responsibilities both attempts. It wasn’t until leaving my “stomping grounds”, moving to Oregon, and doing the work to reconnect with myself when I finally felt like I could take on the challenge of college with a clear and health mind. While this happened several years ago, it is still a daily battle to maintain my recovery and the balance in my life I created. Lastly, finances remain a forever obstacle in many areas of my life, and unfortunately have been needing to rely on maxing student loans to afford living expenses while attending classes. It is my ultimate career goal to open and oversee the operation of a regional substance use disorder treatment organization that operates both Intensive Outpatient services, High-Intensity Residential services, and Peer Support recovery support services. With the acquisition of my intended degree, I will not only be certified to counsel those seeking services but be able to act as the Clinical Supervisor for the Peer Support Specialist. This is how I plan to give back to my community, by healing and empowering our struggling neighbors and nudging them towards their paths to recovery. The leadership qualities I have been refining as I serve in my roles and Vice Chair and Co-Chair of different boards will lend significant advantages to the founding and operation of this dream organization, as will the relationships these roles have created. Additionally, the empathetic and compassionate qualities I posses are pivotal to the work involved with this choice of occupation. Regarding weaknesses or obstacles to my achievement of this goal, I would consider my own history with substance use and the potential for vicarious or secondary trauma to trigger a relapse event the most prominent. While I do not foresee this as something that is likely to happen, I believe remaining aware of the potential is needed to prevent it. Additionally, I would consider my mental health conditions to be a weakness as well. Though I currently manage my mental health successfully, there are occasionally “seasons” of being symptomatic which can create significant issues in work and personal life.

I would like to start off by first mentioning that I am not a supporter of coercion, however I do strongly believe in motivational enhancement; two entirely different concepts to me. With that said I have a rather simple "pitch", so to say, which I have used to help increase several of my peers' motivation to obtain their GED and/or enroll in college or trade school. When discussing topics like this with peers I wish to see succeed in life, I like to bring awareness to the fact that the world is heading to one of automation and hedonism and with that knowledge of computer systems, software, coding, really any STEM based occupation is going to be critical too stay relevant and successful as we evolve into this newer world. Always, in my experience, has this conversation led to my peers inquiring, at the very least, or applying to return to school.

While I can sympathize with those who are struggling with the changes COVID19 has brought to our lives, these changes have provided me with the perfect opportunity to continue my education. Unable to cut my hours at work to accommodate school and travel at this time, the virtual option has allowed me to attend college classes when I otherwise could not. Poverty is real, and I could not afford to lose out on work even if it’s to further my career and better my future. It is my hope to reach a place of financial stability where I can relocate closer to the SKC campus and give school my undivided attention. Regarding obstacles I had to overcome to attend school, finding the will power and courage to get find my recovery from years of poly-substance use disorder and my mismanaged behavioral health conditions is most certainly the most difficult and impactful. I had attempted to attend college when I was still active in my use and again when I was fresh into recovery and was incapable of keeping up with my responsibilities both attempts. It wasn’t until leaving my “stomping grounds”, moving to Oregon, and doing the work to reconnect with myself when I finally felt like I could take on the challenge of college with a clear and health mind. While this happened several years ago, it is still a daily battle to maintain my recovery and the balance in my life I created. Lastly, finances remain a forever obstacle in many areas of my life, and unfortunately have been needing to rely on maxing student loans to afford living expenses while attending classes. It is my ultimate career goal to open and oversee the operation of a regional substance use disorder treatment organization that operates both Intensive Outpatient services, High-Intensity Residential services, and Peer Support recovery support services. With the acquisition of my intended degree, I will not only be certified to counsel those seeking services but be able to act as the Clinical Supervisor for the Peer Support Specialist. This is how I plan to give back to my community, by healing and empowering our struggling neighbors and nudging them towards their paths to recovery. The leadership qualities I have been refining as I serve in my roles and Vice Chair and Co-Chair of different boards will lend significant advantages to the founding and operation of this dream organization, as will the relationships these roles have created. Additionally, the empathetic and compassionate qualities I posses are pivotal to the work involved with this choice of occupation. Regarding weaknesses or obstacles to my achievement of this goal, I would consider my own history with substance use and the potential for vicarious or secondary trauma to trigger a relapse event the most prominent. While I do not foresee this as something that is likely to happen, I believe remaining aware of the potential is needed to prevent it. Additionally, I would consider my mental health conditions to be a weakness as well. Though I currently manage my mental health successfully, there are occasionally “seasons” of being symptomatic which can create significant issues in work and personal life.

The social justice movement has brought to light many of the horrors that my ancestors had faced in Canada and the United States during colonization. While more attention has been given to the situation in Canada than in the United States, there is a level of healing taking place as the truth behind the Residential Schools surfaces. Over 500 indigenous children’s remains have been uncovered, bringing closure to hundreds of families who had long lost loved one to the hands of the Canadian and US governments. I applaud Canada in the founding of the Truth and Reconciliation group to work towards telling the true stories of what happened to our grandparents and their parents, and to fight for reparations for the crimes against our people. There is much more progress to be made though, especially in America. Let us face the mirror as a nation and admit our demons. Perhaps our country will begin to find peace again.

In the grand scheme of my existence, I have had to overcome an ancestral history of genocide that continues into the present day, a systemic attack against my culture and against my spirit. As a non-binary Native American homosexual, essentially ripped away from my Native roots and isolated from them by the white side of my family, it took decades of internal work and battling mental health and addictions to find the security in myself needed to grow into my highest self. Raised in a society that was disgusted by my gender identity and sexual orientation, being constantly bullied in school and in my home, I struggled with self acceptance and esteem so much that I could not succeed in anything I had set my mind to. That all changed when I took back my identity as a Native American and found acceptance for all parts of myself. I have healed my spirit, overcame addiction, and have found a way to transmute my past pain into future opportunities. Pursuing an Associates in Chemical Dependency and a Bachelors in Social Work, I hope to make a difference in this cold and hostile world.

If I could share one sentence with the world, it would be this; "Wherever you go, there you are." I chose this sentence because the wisdom behind it is vast. You cannot hide from yourself. You cannot hide from those parts of yourself you wish were not a piece of you. There is no running from the "shadow work" we must all perform to become our best selves. Most of our worldly problems stem from ourselves and only through ourselves can we face and resolve them. We can move across the entire country with the hopes of something different, and while our geographic location may have changed; we still are who we are. Our habits, our behaviors, and perspectives of the world remain. We can run, but we cannot hide from ourselves and the ways in which we create our own problems and successes. Wherever we go, there we are.

The social issue I wish to champion is society's horrid perspective on those experiencing homelessness and behavioral health conditions. As of the end of summer, 2020, I have been volunteering on multiple boards and committees that have the ability to influence local and state policy about these issues. I was elected by members of the Western Service Area Authority board to act as a Co-Chair for the board, and the same occurred with the Behavioral Health Local Advisory Council in my county of Missoula. As Co-chair of these two boards, I have began working on the development of a “Homeless Bill of Rights” to present to the City Council of Missoula in an attempt to persuade them to adopt it as an ordinance of the city. I hope to eventually present the Homeless Bill of Rights to the State of Montana either through the current channels of communication available to me through the two boards that I serve on or through a State Legislator. In addition to this policy change approach to addressing the issue I wish to champion; I have also begun working on the implementation of a “Humanizing Homelessness” campaign in Missoula County. The mission of the campaign is to bring awareness to the rampant and sometimes violent prejudice our neighbors without homes experience day by day by both members of the community and the businesses it supports. Through the use of various media messages, community outreach, and community educational opportunities I hope that our Local Advisory Council can remind our community that homelessness does not equate trash and help them realize just how many of us are just barely avoiding becoming homeless ourselves.