Scholarship Essay for Johnna’s Legacy Memorial Scholarship by Jessica Avery Living with or supporting someone through a chronic illness can shape every aspect of life. For me, this experience has been both personal and transformative. I’ve stood beside someone I love while navigating a fragmented mental health system, advocating fiercely for care, stability, and hope. The emotional toll of this journey was immense, and at times, the dream of completing my education felt far away. Yet in the midst of the challenges, I found my purpose. I am currently studying psychology at Arizona State University, working toward a future where I can be a compassionate and knowledgeable support to others. Returning to school as an adult, especially while managing the ripple effects of medical and emotional crises, has required determination and adaptability. There have been times when I have felt stretched thin, but I never lost sight of my goal. I want to become a licensed therapist who not only understands the science of healing, but who also brings lived experience, empathy, and patience into every session. My professional path has been deeply influenced by the barriers I’ve encountered. I know what it feels like to be overwhelmed by a system that doesn't always offer clear answers or timely help. These experiences inspired me to step into the mental health field myself. Today, I work in community behavioral health, helping individuals who are often navigating mental health challenges, legal issues, and trauma. It is deeply rewarding work that fuels my commitment to finish my degree and expand my ability to serve others. What motivates me to excel, despite the limitations and detours I’ve faced, is the belief that people can recover, grow, and thrive with the right support. I’ve seen how connection, compassion, and knowledge can empower someone to reclaim their life. I carry that belief into every part of my work and education. My long-term goal is to open a private therapy practice that allows me to work from home, support my family, and create a peaceful life surrounded by nature. I want to offer a safe and welcoming space where clients feel heard and understood. Beyond clinical work, I hope to mentor others who have faced similar struggles, showing them that their past does not define their potential. This scholarship would ease the financial pressures of my journey and help me stay focused on what matters most, building a life of purpose and service. I am committed to transforming my experiences into something meaningful and lasting. Thank you for the opportunity to be considered.

Jessica Avery Catrina Celestine Aquilino Memorial Scholarship Essay My name is Jessica Avery, and I am a first-generation college student pursuing a degree in psychology at Arizona State University. I am deeply committed to improving mental health access, especially for individuals and families who also have contact with the legal system. Although I am not studying law or medicine in the traditional sense, I work in a field where those disciplines meet. My professional and lived experiences place me within the realm of healthcare and justice, both of which were central to Catrina Celestine Aquilino’s mission. My passion for mental health work comes from both personal and professional experiences. As the parent of a child with severe mental illness, I know what it feels like to fight for care in a system that often feels cold and broken. After a suicide attempt, my son was nearly lost to us. Finding him the right care was a long, confusing, and deeply painful process. That experience changed me. It made me want to make the system better for others. No one should have to fight so hard to get the help they need. Today, I work in an outpatient competency restoration program in Washington State. I support individuals who have been found incompetent to stand trial, many of whom have severe mental illness, developmental delays, or significant trauma histories. My job involves teaching basic legal concepts like courtroom roles and plea bargaining, along with coping skills such as grounding, journaling, and emotion regulation. Because many of my clients read at an elementary level or struggle with comprehension, I design all materials to be accessible and respectful of their needs. Through this work, I have come to understand that individuals at the intersection of mental illness and the criminal legal system are often the most invisible. They are overlooked in conversations about justice and underserved in mental health spaces. I believe they deserve better. My work is focused on helping them feel heard, supported, and capable of participating in their own defense and care. In the next ten years, I see myself continuing to work in community mental health, likely serving the same population I support now. I plan to complete my psychology degree and become licensed so I can offer therapy, advocacy, and direct support to people with complex needs. I want to be a stable, informed, and compassionate presence in a system that too often lacks those qualities. As a first-generation student, I have had to navigate every step of higher education without a roadmap. I have balanced school with raising children, working full-time, and healing from my own personal experiences. These challenges have made me determined and resilient. I understand what it means to feel lost, and I want to be someone who helps others find their way. Receiving this scholarship would allow me to continue my education with fewer financial barriers. More importantly, it would allow me to honor the legacy of someone who believed that care and justice should be available to everyone, regardless of where they were born or what challenges they face. I carry that same belief into every room I work in.

My path to a career in mental health has been shaped by both personal pain and a profound sense of purpose. Years ago, I was a full-time community college student and a mother of five young children. I maintained a 4.0 GPA while juggling family and coursework, but the pressure eventually led to a complete mental health breakdown. I had to step away from school and spend years rebuilding my own well-being. That experience gave me deep insight into the challenges people face when trying to access mental health care, an insight that has only grown with time. I eventually returned to the workforce as a Peer Support Specialist at my local community mental health organization. In that role, I supported individuals navigating the same kinds of struggles I once faced, and I saw just how broken and under-resourced our system can be. But I’ve also seen the system from another angle—perhaps the hardest one—as a parent. One of my children lives with severe mental illness, and our family has faced immense challenges trying to access compassionate, coordinated care. We’ve experienced the fear, confusion, and heartbreak of trying to get help while navigating stigma, long waitlists, and fragmented services. At one point, we nearly lost my child to a suicide attempt. That moment changed me forever. I now understand the mental health system not only as a consumer and professional, but as a parent who has lived the fear of losing her child. That pain fuels my commitment to changing the system from the inside out. I never want another family to go through what we did. I want to be a voice of empathy, a source of hope, and a skilled professional who can bridge the gap between services and the people who need them most. That’s why I returned to school to complete my bachelor’s degree in psychology. My goal is to become a licensed therapist and work in community mental health, particularly with families and individuals facing co-occurring mental illness and substance use. I believe in treating the whole person with dignity, trauma-informed care, and compassion, and in ensuring that no one feels invisible within the very system meant to help them. This scholarship would ease the financial burden of returning to school as a non-traditional student and a parent. But more than that, it would help me continue this work in honor of those we’ve lost, like Brian, and those we’re still fighting for, like my own son. I carry my lived experience into every class, every client interaction, and every step of this journey. And I will keep going, because every person deserves to be seen, heard, and supported in their darkest moments.

Reflecting on my life journey, I see a path shaped by both hardship and healing. Years ago, I was juggling full-time community college while raising five young children. Despite the immense demands on my time and energy, I maintained a 4.0 GPA. But eventually, the stress took its toll. I experienced a mental health crisis that forced me to leave school and focus entirely on restoring my well-being. Those years were incredibly difficult, but they also became the foundation for the life I live now. As I worked to heal, I gained deep insight into the importance of mental health, compassion, and community. Once I was well enough, I knew I wanted to use my experience to help others going through the same struggles I had faced. I began working as a Peer Support Specialist at my local community mental health organization, the same type of place I once turned to when I was poor, desperate, and in need of hope. Through this work, I realized that supporting others in their recovery was more than a job, it was my calling. I felt deeply connected to the clients I served, and I knew I wanted to do more. I wanted to offer not just peer support, but clinical guidance. I wanted to learn how to better help individuals navigate trauma, grief, and mental illness in meaningful, evidence-based ways. That is what led me back to school to complete my bachelor’s degree in psychology. My goal is to become a licensed therapist working in a community mental health setting, where I can provide accessible, empathetic, and culturally responsive care. I want to serve individuals who, like me, may not have the resources to access private therapy or who feel lost in a system that often overlooks them. My lived experience gives me a unique perspective that I bring to every classroom discussion and every client interaction because I understand what it feels like to be on both sides of the recovery journey. These experiences have shaped my personal values: resilience, empathy, and service. I value the power of second chances, the importance of mental health advocacy, and the necessity of showing up for people in need. My commitment to community service is rooted in gratitude, for the support I once received, and for the opportunity to now be that support for others. Every class I take, every skill I develop, brings me closer to fulfilling that mission. This scholarship would be life-changing for me. As a non-traditional student returning to school after years away, I face unique financial challenges. I am balancing school with work and family responsibilities, and the cost of tuition, books, and basic living expenses adds up quickly. Receiving this scholarship would ease that burden and allow me to focus more fully on my education and clinical training. It would bring me one step closer to becoming the therapist I am meant to be—one who uplifts, supports, and empowers the community that raised her. With your support, I will continue turning my lived experience into a meaningful career of service. I will give back to the communities that once held me up. And I will do everything I can to ensure that no one facing mental health challenges feels alone, unseen, or without hope.