My decision to pursue a career in mental health comes directly from the life I've lived. I grew up navigating mental health struggles in a low-income household, moving in and out of hospitals as an adolescent, trying to make sense of pain I did not have the language for. For a long time, I thought there was something wrong with me-that I was destined to stay broken. Everything shifted when I finally met a therapist who didn't treat me like a diagnosis or a crisis to be managed. She met me where I was, with patience, honesty, and hope on days when I had none. That relationship changed the direction of my life. Now at 25, a mom to a kindergartener and a graduate student in UNE's MSW program, I carry those experiences with me as motivation rather than shame. They influence the kind of therapist I hope to become; someone who shows up consistently, listens deeply, and never underestimates the resilience of the person sitting across from me. My goal is to work in community-based settings and serve individuals, especially youth who haven't been given a fair shot due to stigma, systemic barriers, poverty, or trauma. I want to be the therapist I needed at 13: someone who sees the person before the problem. If I could change one thing in today's mental health system, I would expand access to community-rooted, affordable services that don't require navigating complicated insurance, long waitlists, or financial hardship. Too often, people in low-income communities are forced into emergency-only care or discouraged by systems that were not designed for them. Accessible mental healthcare shouldn't feel like winning the lottery. I believe in models that bring therapy into schools, community centers, primary care offices, and even non-traditional spaces-anywhere people already are. When care is normalized and convenient, stigma decreases, and healing becomes possible. Teletherapy is an essential part of that accessibility. Its biggest benefit is that it removes transportation, childcare, and distance barriers. As a mom myself, I know the value of being able to show up to an appointment without rearranging an entire day. But teletherapy also brings challenges: lack of privacy, digital divides, and the felt distance that screens can create. To better serve diverse communities, we need ongoing innovation. Innovation that includes platforms with low data usage, multilingual options, and trauma-informed features. We also need more training for providers on how to build warmth and connection through a screen. My lived experience has shown me what happens when a single caring professional sees your potential. I'm committed to becoming that person for others-and contributing to a mental healthcare system where everyone, regardless of income, identity, or background, has the chance to heal.

I did not grow up dreaming of becoming a social worker. For much of my childhood and adolescence, I was focused on simply making it through each day. I struggled deeply with my mental health, and as a teenager, I spent a lot of time in hospitals after attempting to end my life. During those dark times, I honestly didn’t believe I had a future. Most of the professionals I encountered felt distant and detached—like they were doing a job, not seeing me as a person. Then I met a therapist who completely changed my perspective. She listened without judgment, challenged the negative way I saw myself, and helped me believe that my life was worth fighting for. Her support wasn’t just about therapy—it was about human connection, hope, and understanding. That experience planted the seed for the path I am on now, a path where I want to be that same lifeline for others who feel lost and alone. I chose this career because I know what it feels like to be unseen and hopeless. I know what it’s like to stand on the edge and wonder if anyone would even notice if you disappeared. My goal is to become a licensed clinical social worker so I can offer the same kind of help and hope that was given to me. I am especially passionate about working with teens because I remember how isolating and confusing those years can be. I want to be the person who listens without judgment, who notices when something’s wrong, and who helps young people realize their story isn’t over yet. My experience in the mental health field has been hands-on and deeply rewarding. I have worked with children and adults with disabilities, supporting them in building life skills, managing emotions, and navigating everyday challenges. I have learned that progress isn’t always about big breakthroughs—sometimes it’s about showing up consistently until trust begins to grow. That lesson is at the heart of everything I do. This work is personal to me. It is not just a career—it is a way to honor the therapist who helped save my life, and to be that person for someone else. I know the work will be challenging, but I am ready to put in the effort, keep learning, and show up for people in the same way she showed up for me. With this scholarship, I can continue toward that goal, turning the hardest parts of my story into a reason someone else finds hope and healing.

As we enter our third year of living through a pandemic, the demand for mental health professionals continues to skyrocket. Unfortunately, only a limited population can afford the care they need, and the rest cannot consider this an option as they are financially caring for basic human necessities. Many families cannot afford mental healthcare without insurance and struggle with long waiting lists for limited resources. All people deserve the opportunity to receive guidance in reaching their full potential; however, our children are the world's future and most vulnerable to our broken mental healthcare system. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 5 children has a mental, emotional, or behavioral disorder. Children without access to support can suffer severe and lasting consequences across all aspects of their lives. When children are left without help, they are more likely to drop out of school, find employment, or be involved in the juvenile or criminal justice systems. In addition to the loss of short- and long-term opportunities, it should be noted that suicide is the second leading cause of death for those aged 10-24 (MHA, 2023). Those who fight for mental illnesses can make a difference in the improved treatment of these illnesses through social change. To do this, we must examine our current mental health care system and make goals concerning improvements. For me, we must fill the gaps in adolescent mental health workers and address the social issue of ensuring that mental healthcare is more accessible to families living in low-income communities. The inspiration to achieve this goal started during my adolescence after years of receiving mental healthcare from a generous therapist who gave me the necessary help despite financial difficulties. Following in her footsteps, I have spent the last four years volunteering in food and clothes drives through our local library, offering affordable childcare, and gaining the knowledge necessary to become a mental health professional dedicated to making a difference in the lives of families struggling with the consequences of unfortunate circumstances. We must improve our mental health services. It is our responsibility to give our children timely mental health services." Mental health must be destigmatized so that it can be treated with respect and given the appropriate value it deserves in our society. There is increasing demand for mental healthcare, but supply is frozen because our nation still needs to recognize the importance of mental healthcare. I and many others who value the quality of life of all will make waves within the public service field. The time is now. References Improving Access to Children's Mental Health Care | CDC Children's Mental Health | Mental Health America (mhanational.org)

It was not until I was an adolescent that I learned that not everyone's mom constantly had a "blue can" in their hand or had to be their parent's "caregiver" from an early age. As the years went by, I felt my childhood being consumed by my mother while her addiction consumed her. In high school, I had a counselor that told me, "It is not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters." At sixteen years old, I wrote this quote on my vanity mirror and decided one gloomy Winter day that I would live by it. It may have taken many years of hopelessness, therapy, forgiveness, and risk-taking, but I would not be who I am today without the struggles. As someone working towards becoming a therapist for children in low-income communities, I have become thankful for the experiences my mother gave me. They had given me the ability to become the person I wished I had been growing up, as I carry nothing but an enormous amount of empathy for children of toxic parents and a passionate drive to empower them to achieve a healthier mind. Acquiring the tools to respond positively to life's challenges is not for the weak but worth it. By directly confronting your pain, anger, fear, and shame, you will not transfer them to your partner or your children. As a mother, I have realized that I am destined to break the cycle of addiction in my family and raise an emotionally intelligent child who will never have to worry about anything but experiencing the wonders of early life. In conclusion, I wholeheartedly agree that how we respond to life's challenges shapes our life. As one of many adult children of addicts, I have realized it is essential to remember that childhood trauma may be challenging to deal with, but we can choose to end the cycle. We can make a difference in the world one happy family at a time.

I’ll never forget that early morning in July. Waking up at three o’clock AM for work while the rest of the world stood quiet. I decided to take the test. There had to be more to the stomach aches I had been dealing with. I remember feeling my soul jump out of my body as soon as I anxiously caught a glimpse of those two lines. I was barely 19 at the time, and all that I could comprehend was that I was going to fulfill my dream of becoming a mother and how I would be taking charge of breaking the toxic cycles that have lasted for generations within my family. While I continued getting ready for work, I came to the nerve-wracking realization that I was no longer a teenager. The girl I was before seeing the positive test had wilted away, and I knew I needed to step up as a woman. I panicked, knowing that I had just started working towards a career, getting an education, and becoming the most authentic version of myself. But little did I know that this moment was only the beginning of a journey that would lead me to my best friend. I was going through a domestic violence situation with my son’s father, so to say that I was scared to break the news is an understatement. When I finally told him, he didn’t have what it took to take on the responsibility of another life. I knew I wanted to walk the path that would lead me to my son, but the thought of doing it alone kept me up at night for months. As time went on, every kick, every ultrasound, and evenings spent singing Fleetwood Mac to my unborn son made working 45-hour work weeks and scrubbing toilets worth it. I wanted to give him everything he could need and more. I never stopped going to school, and I now had a reason to be motivated when writing each sentence and taking every test. I would not have graduated last year on the honor roll from White Mountains Community College if it weren’t for the understanding, helpful, and kind professors I had, who generously took time out of their day to catch me up on coursework and to genuinely check in with my son and me. I am eternally grateful for the support they offered me during one of the most challenging times of my life. Looking back, I would do it all over to see my son smiling at me in the crowd while I received my Associate’s Degree. Being a single mother has broken me down and built me back up ten times stronger. Having no one to lean on has been lonely and the most challenging and empowering thing I have ever done. Did I mention that a shower to yourself feels like a vacation when you’re a single mom? It’s true. Being a single mom forces you to constantly reflect in an honest and raw way that isn’t always stroller walks and smiles. It’s twice the work, heartache, and tears. But it’s also twice the hugs, twice the “I love you’s” and twice the love. It’s a struggle that I wouldn’t change for the world.

In eighth-grade English class, we were asked to write an essay on what our life goals were. It was my first day returning to school after staying in an adolescent psychiatric ward for almost a month after attempting to take my life. While I was there, I had much time to think about my home life, learn about my own and other patients' mental disabilities, and figure out where I wanted to go with my life. After looking back on my time spent at the psychiatric hospital, I picked up my pencil and wrote down my topic of "helping others. I was not entirely sure what I wanted to do initially, but I knew I had to start somewhere. I did not have a set career goal when I started thinking of what I could do for others. However, after taking psychology classes in high school and in my first two years of college, I have concluded that I would like to obtain my bachelor's degree in Psychology with a concentration in child and adolescent development. After the next two years, I will be moving on to a master’s degree in psychology to become a psychotherapist for adolescents who struggle with mental illnesses, complicated home lives, or adolescents who need extra guidance to help them face life’s challenges. As someone who had seen dozens of therapists and counselors throughout my childhood, I understand how essential it is to find the right one to make sufficient progress. I have lost five good friends to suicide in just the past three years, and I want to make a difference. After staying in a psychiatric ward as an adolescent, it was evident that the psychotherapists and staff did not truly care about the patients. After years of visiting therapist after therapist, I have finally found one who never gave up on me. She inspired me to start my journey as an aspiring therapist, and I look at it as “giving back” the wonderful guidance given to me. What's funny is that she became a therapist because her own childhood therapist inspired her, and I want to keep that chain going. What the world of modern psychology needs is more doctor’s psychologists and psychotherapists who are passionate about their work on a personal level. Professionals who are non-judgemental and display empathy as they help patients through difficult challenges. I realized long ago that I had a particular interest in guiding people through times of darkness. If I can help one patient take the steps to improve their quality of life, then I will feel as if I am doing what I was put on this planet to do. As I begin my career as an adolescent psychotherapist, I keep in mind that the goal I want to achieve is to become the person I wish I had when I was a teenager myself.

In eighth-grade English class, we were asked to write an essay on what our life goals were. It was my first day returning to school after staying in an adolescent psychiatric ward for almost a month after attempting to take my life. While I was there, I had much time to think about my home life, learn about my own and other patients' mental disabilities, and figure out where I wanted to go with my life. After looking back on my time spent at the psychiatric hospital, I picked up my pencil and wrote down my topic of "helping others. I was not entirely sure what I wanted to do initially, but I knew I had to start somewhere. I did not have a set career goal when I started thinking of what I could do for others. However, after taking psychology classes in high school and in my first two years of college, I have concluded that I would like to obtain my bachelor's degree in Psychology with a concentration in child and adolescent development. After the next two years, I will be moving on to a master’s degree in psychology to become a psychotherapist for adolescents who struggle with mental illnesses, complicated home lives, or adolescents who need extra guidance to help them face life’s challenges. As someone who had seen dozens of therapists and counselors throughout my childhood, I understand how essential it is to find the right one to make sufficient progress. I have lost five good friends to suicide in just the past three years, and I want to make a difference. After staying in a psychiatric ward as an adolescent, it was evident that the psychotherapists and staff did not truly care about the patients. After years of visiting therapist after therapist, I have finally found one who never gave up on me. She inspired me to start my journey as an aspiring therapist, and I look at it as “giving back” the wonderful guidance given to me. What's funny is that she became a therapist because her own childhood therapist inspired her, and I want to keep that chain going. What the world of modern psychology needs is more doctor’s psychologists and psychotherapists who are passionate about their work on a personal level. Professionals who are non-judgemental and display empathy as they help patients through difficult challenges. I realized long ago that I had a particular interest in guiding people through times of darkness. If I can help one patient take the steps to improve their quality of life, then I will feel as if I am doing what I was put on this planet to do. As I begin my career as an adolescent psychotherapist, I keep in mind that the goal I want to achieve is to become the person I wish I had when I was a teenager myself.