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Kaitlyn Lunardi

1x

Finalist

1x

Winner

General information

Hobbies & Interests

  • Singing
  • Running
  • Sociology
  • Weightlifting
  • French
  • Boxing
  • Foreign Languages
  • Linguistics
  • American Sign Language (ASL)
  • Exercise And Fitness

Reading

  • Adult Fiction
  • Action
  • Adventure
  • Academic
  • Classics
  • Cultural
  • Drama
  • Fantasy
  • Historical
  • Horror
  • Humor
  • Magical Realism
  • Novels
  • Philosophy
  • Plays
  • Realistic Fiction
  • Science Fiction
  • Self-Help
  • Spirituality
  • Women's Fiction
  • True Story
  • Suspense
  • Young Adult

I read books multiple times a week.

Bio

Hi, I'm Kaitlyn! I am a 23-year-old psychology student and working actor based out of New York City. I have been a fighter since day one. I was born to a single mother, I have moved homes 25 times in my 23 years of life, I work through hereditary mental illnesses every day, and I am a queer woman. Suffice it to say life has not always been a walk in the park. But because of my experiences, I have become incredibly passionate about uplifting the voices of marginalized communities, especially LGBTQ+ and mentally ill communities. As a trained actor, I love using the performance arts as a means of sharing those underrepresented stories and bringing cathartic experiences to audiences in need. After a tumultuous collegiate (and mental health) experience in 2015-16 that led to me stepping away from academia for several years, I have been yearning for an academic experience that could leave me fulfilled and equipped with the information to go forth and impact change. I have taken my time in the last few years to experience the world and learn from my surroundings. But I am finally ready to dive into the world of psychology, hopefully with a concentration in developmental psychology and cognitive neuroscience, so that I may develop systems to elevate marginalized voices from the very beginning of their lives.

Education

Arizona State University Online

Bachelor's degree program

2020 – Present

Majors:
  • Psychology, General

Lake Braddock Secondary

High School

2011 – 2015

GPA3.8 GPA

Miscellaneous

Majors of interest:
Developmental and Child Psychology

Career

  • Administrative Assistant

    Entertainment & Media · Emily Lambert Photography

    Jan 2021 – Present

  • Social Media Manager

    Online Media · WonderHat LLC

    Jan 2020 – Present

  • Server

    Consumer Services · Buca di Beppo

    Jan 2017 – Jan 2018

  • Nanny

    Individual & Family Services · Private Family

    Jan 2018 – Jan 2019

  • Tutor

    Education · Varsity Tutors

    Jan 2017 – Jan 2018

  • Actor

    Consumer Services · SHOWFIELDS Inc.

    Jan 2019 – Jan 2019

  • Receptionist

    Health, Wellness, and Fitness · Box + Flow

    Jan 2019 – Jan 2019

  • Background

    Entertainment · Empire Casting

    Jan 2019 – Jan 2020

Miscellaneous

Dream career field:
Performing Arts
Dream career goals:
Actor | Developmental and Child Psychologist
Has nursing license:
No

Future Interests

  • Advocacy
  • Volunteering
  • Philanthropy
  • Entrepreneurship
Pride Palace LGBTQ+ Scholarship
I am proud to be a member of the LGBTQ+ community because we provide a place to call home for those who might lose theirs for being true to who they are. I am proud to be part of a community that is founded upon moving the world towards acceptance and empathy. I am proud to be LGBTQ+ because I am proud to be me. My Instagram is @kaitlynlunardi.
Ethel Hayes Destigmatization of Mental Health Scholarship
On January 1st, 2012, I attempted suicide for the first time. However, my mental health journey began a bit earlier than that. Technically, it originated at least a century ago with my great-grandfather. Mental illness has run in my family for as long as we can remember. The only problem? We don’t really talk about it - ever - which is why, when I attempted suicide in 2012, I had no idea what was happening to me. And why, when I attempted suicide for the second time in 2016, I was still confused. Over the last 11 years, I have run the gamut of the mental illness checklist. I have been in and out of therapy with over six different counselors. I have been diagnosed, rediagnosed, misdiagnosed, and then diagnosed again. I have tried medication, CBD oil, yoga, and even had a therapist recommend microdosing mushrooms (the hallucinogenic kind). And, perhaps most influential of all, I have been on the inside of an adult psychiatric ward. Having just turned 18-years-old at the end of 2015, my suicide attempt in 2016 landed me directly in the adult ward. It was utterly terrifying, and in retrospect, quite traumatizing too. However, this encounter helped me to understand the importance of mental healthcare. After the psych ward, and after several years of consistent therapy, I am finally beginning to understand that mental healthcare does not come in the form of hospital gowns and bandages. It cannot be a last-ditch effort to help someone past the point of wanting to help themselves. Mental healthcare means providing easy, affordable access to counselors in every community. It means developing a system for houseless people that promotes wellness, happiness, and security in their lives. It means destigmatizing every mental illness and teaching our world that not being neuro-typical is not scary. Though the COVID-19 pandemic has been utterly catastrophic, it also granted me the time and motivation to go back to school to earn my degree in Psychology. My eventual goal is to pursue a Ph.D. in Psychology and help establish a stronger mental healthcare foundation throughout the United States. Mental health deserves to be discussed, and I want to help get that conversation started.
Mental Health Movement Scholarship
Winner
On January 1st, 2012, I attempted suicide for the first time. However, my mental health journey began a bit earlier than that. Technically, it originated at least a century ago with my great-grandfather. Mental illness has run in my family for as long as we can remember. The only problem? We don’t really talk about it - ever - which is why, when I attempted suicide in 2012, I had no idea what was happening to me. And why, when I attempted suicide for the second time in 2016, I was still confused. Over the last 11 years, I have run the gamut of the mental illness checklist. I have been in and out of therapy with over six different counselors. I have been diagnosed, rediagnosed, misdiagnosed, and then diagnosed again. I have tried medication, CBD oil, yoga, and even had a therapist recommend microdosing mushrooms (the hallucinogenic kind). And, perhaps most influential of all, I have been on the inside of an adult psychiatric ward. Having just turned 18-years-old at the end of 2015, my suicide attempt in 2016 landed me directly in the adult ward. It was utterly terrifying, and in retrospect, quite traumatizing too. However, this encounter helped me to understand the importance of mental healthcare. After the psych ward, and after several years of consistent therapy, I am finally beginning to understand that mental healthcare does not come in the form of hospital gowns and bandages. It cannot be a last-ditch effort to help someone past the point of wanting to help themselves. Mental healthcare means providing easy, affordable access to counselors in every community. It means destigmatizing every mental illness and teaching our world that not being neuro-typical is not scary. Though the COVID-19 pandemic has been utterly catastrophic, it also granted me the time and motivation to go back to school to earn my degree in Psychology. My eventual goal is to pursue a Ph.D. in Psychology and help establish a stronger mental healthcare foundation throughout the United States. Mental health deserves to be discussed, and I want to help get that conversation started.
Kaitlyn Lunardi Student Profile | Bold.org