Hello, my name is Katalina Garcia. I am a senior at Odem High School in Odem, Texas. I have lived in Odem since 2018 where we transferred to Odem permanently. I live with my father, step-mother, sister, and step-brother. I have been working part time at McDonald’s since January 2024. I have engaged in new skills such as customer service, teamwork, and discipline. Throughout my life, my father, step-mother, and older sister have been great role models for myself and my step-brother. There have been obstacles in my life that have made me who I am. Without these life lessons and experiences in my life, I would not know what I wanted to be after I graduate high school. When my dad and my mother separated around 2009, my mother had custody of us. I grew up with my older sister, little sister, and my baby brother who was fifteen months. We lived with my mom while my dad only saw us every other weekend. Then, one day around August of 2016, an incident occurred that would change my life forever. My baby brother passed away in a hot vehicle. I was old enough to know what transpired with my baby brother that I did not want this accident to happen to anybody else who is struggling in their lives. I want to make a positive impact in my life, those around me, and in the community by becoming a counselor and/or a case manager to assist individuals who need mental health services. I wish my parents would have asked me if I was ok, and if I needed any counseling after my baby brother's death. This had an impact on me and how I needed to grieve. I felt I did not know how to grieve because we didn't talk about what happened. I believe if my mom would have received mental health services back then, I know my baby brother would still be here today. Mental health does have an effect on someone that we love, and it can affect their whole life if no help is given to them. I want to be able to learn how to engage with these individuals and show them there are services out there for them to get them back on the right track to a successful life. However, not only is mental health needed, job placement, health, and wellness are also needed for a person to be successful if they are struggling. I am always thinking about my baby brother, but I know he is watching over me. He has made me the strong person I am today. I am always praying to God that he shows me the way and leads me in the right direction to make a positive impact on those who come into my life.

Hello, my name is Katalina Garcia. I am a senior at Odem High School in Odem, Texas. I have lived in Odem since 2018 where we transferred to Odem permanently. I live with my father, step-mother, sister, and step-brother. I have been working part time at McDonald’s since January 2024. I have engaged in new skills such as customer service, teamwork, and discipline. Throughout my life, my father, step-mother, and older sister have been great role models for myself and my step-brother. There have been obstacles in my life that have made me who I am. Without these life lessons and experiences in my life, I would not know what I wanted to be after I graduate high school. When my dad and my mother separated around 2009, my mother had custody of us. I grew up with my older sister, little sister, and my baby brother who was fifteen months. We lived with my mom while my dad only saw us every other weekend. Then, one day around August of 2016, an incident occurred that would change my life forever. My baby brother passed away in a hot vehicle. I was old enough to know what transpired with my baby brother that I did not want this accident to happen to anybody else who is struggling in their lives. I want to make a positive impact in my life, those around me, and in the community by becoming a counselor and/or a case manager to assist individuals who need mental health services. I wish my parents would have asked me if I was ok, and if I needed any counseling after my baby brother's death. This had an impact on me and how I needed to grieve. I felt I did not know how to grieve because we didn't talk about what happened. I believe if my mom would have received mental health services back then, I know my baby brother would still be here today. Mental health does have an effect on someone that we love, and it can affect their whole life if no help is given to them. I want to be able to learn how to engage with these individuals and show them there are services out there for them to get them back on the right track to a successful life. However, not only is mental health needed, job placement, health, and wellness are also needed for a person to be successful if they are struggling. I am always thinking about my baby brother, but I know he is watching over me. He has made me the strong person I am today. I am always praying to God that he shows me the way and leads me in the right direction to make a positive impact on those who come into my life.

Hello, my name is Katalina Garcia. I am a senior at Odem High School in Odem, Texas. I have lived in Odem since 2018 where we transferred to Odem permanently. I live with my father, step-mother, sister, and step-brother. I have been working part time at McDonald’s since January 2024. I have engaged in new skills such as customer service, teamwork, and discipline. Throughout my life, my father, step-mother, and older sister have been great role models for myself and my step-brother. There have been obstacles in my life that have made me who I am. Without these life lessons and experiences in my life, I would not know what I wanted to be after I graduate high school. When my dad and my mother separated around 2009, my mother had custody of us. I grew up with my older sister, little sister, and my baby brother who was fifteen months. We lived with my mom while my dad only saw us every other weekend. Then, one day around August of 2016, an incident occurred that would change my life forever. My baby brother passed away in a hot vehicle. I was old enough to know what transpired with my baby brother that I did not want this accident to happen to anybody else who is struggling with mental health issues. I want to make a positive impact in my life, those around me, and in the community by becoming a counselor and/or a case manager to assist individuals who need mental health services. If those involved would have received those services back then, I know my baby brother would still be here today. Mental health does have an effect on someone that we love, and it can affect their whole life if no help is given to them. I want to be able to learn how to engage with these individuals and show them there are services out there for them to get them back on the right track to a successful life. However, not only is mental health needed, job placement, health, and wellness are also needed for a person to be successful if they are struggling. I am always thinking about my baby brother, but I know he is watching over me. He has made me the strong person I am today. I am always praying to God that he shows me the way and leads me in the right direction to make a positive impact on those who come into my life.

Hello, my name is Katalina Garcia. I am a senior at Odem High School in Odem, Texas. I have lived in Odem since 2018 where we transferred to Odem permanently. I live with my father, step-mother, sister, and step-brother. I have been working part time at McDonald’s since January 2024. I have engaged in new skills such as customer service, teamwork, and discipline. Throughout my life, my father, step-mother, and older sister have been great role models for myself and my step-brother. There have been obstacles in my life that have made me who I am. Without these life lessons and experiences in my life, I would not know what I wanted to be. When my dad and my mother separated, my mother had custody of us. I grew up with my older sister, little sister, and my baby brother who was fifteen months. We lived with my mom while my dad only saw us every other weekend. Then, one day around August of 2016, an incident occurred that would change my life forever. My baby brother passed away in a hot vehicle. I was old enough to know what transpired with my baby brother that I did not want this accident to happen to anybody else who is struggling in their lives. I want to make a positive impact in my life, those around me, and in the community by becoming a counselor and/or a case manager to assist individuals who need mental health services. If those involved would have received those services back then, I know my baby brother would still be here today. Mental health does have an effect on someone that we love, and it can affect their whole life if no help is given to them. I want to be able to learn how to engage with these individuals and show them there are services out there for them to get them back on the right track to a successful life. However, not only is mental health needed, job placement, health, and wellness are also needed for a person to be successful if they are struggling. I am always thinking about my baby brother, but I know he is watching over me. He has made me the strong person I am today. I am always praying to God that he shows me the way and leads me in the right direction to make a positive impact on those who come into my life.