I am a grief counselor intern, and I help children and families who have had a "special person" die. In the month that I have co-facilitated groups, I have learned so much and have been in awe of the tenacity of the human spirit. I feel affirmed on my sacred path of becoming a mental health counselor. This is the most fulfilling work, and unfortunately, it's unpaid work right now, so I am grateful for philanthropic organizations such as yours for providing a means to achieve the highest calling in life, which I believe involves facilitating collective healing, advocating for others, and campaigning for social justice. Ram Dass once said, "Let’s trade in all our judging for appreciating. Let’s lay down our righteousness and just be together." I plan on taking this person-centered approach when working with clients from various backgrounds. Providing culturally competent care is very important to me as a multicultural person. Thank you so much, Kayla

I have overcome so much adversity in my life. As I prepared to enter my sophomore year of college, I gave birth to a baby boy. I didn't know what I was going to do at the time. I had an unplanned pregnancy at a young age but knew I always wanted to be a mother and would make it work. My parents kicked me out of the house, and my grandparents offered to house me as I completed my associate's degree. The day after I gave birth to my son, I was typing my final paper for a course, then the next day, I was riding in the back of my grandpa's pickup truck with my newborn to live with them sixteen hours away. I finished my associate's degree and married the guy I had been dating for a year in college because that's what people do in the Bible Belt. I now realize I didn't know him well enough to commit to spending the rest of my life with him, but we tried to make the marriage work for a few years, and I was blessed with another beautiful baby boy. As a stay-at-home mom, I missed the academic world and finished my undergrad online. Shortly after the birth of my youngest child, I read Beloved by Toni Morrison for my literature class, which completely transformed my world. I had a greater appreciation for life and what my ancestors went through. I recognized the privilege of being able to mother, breastfeed, and bond with my children. I felt inspired to utilize my freedom and move intentionally and deliberately with my next steps in life. I had a deepened sense of purpose, "I am my ancestor's wildest dreams." After I separated from my husband, I worked as a paraprofessional in education for a few more years and severely struggled financially; I felt called to start Grad school as if I didn't already have enough on my plate. I have a year left in my clinical mental health counseling program. I'm struggling to get by financially again as I recently went from a two-income home to a no-income home since my recent breakup, and I have started working 20 hrs a week at my internship site. This adversity has shaped me because I have become a wounded healer, but that has enabled me to relate deeply to the suffering of others. I can have compassion and unconditional positive regard for humans in a way that others who have been handed things in life probably could not. I am currently working as a grief counselor intern, and my work is so fulfilling. I feel affirmed on this path, even though I don't know how next month's rent will get paid. I advise someone facing a similar circumstance to find their sacred purpose, keep their eye on the prize, keep that close to their heart, and guard it with everything. Also, family is who we choose. As we progress on our personal growth and development journey, we attract people who understand and support our goals. Cherish those people! We are not meant to do life alone; find your friends. Keep shining your light as only you can. Much Love, Kayla

I chose to become a mental health counselor because it would allow me to provide for my family, maintain a healthy work-life balance, and leave a legacy of lovingkindness. I have always worked as a public servant and enjoy working with people. I work on myself as an offering to you, and you work on yourself as an offering to me; I believe we collectively heal humanity this way. Throughout my graduate program, I have become more self-aware, learned practical coping skills, and improved my interpersonal communication. I can now pass these tools on to others to aid them in obtaining their idea of success. Over the past decade, I have become a mother and worked in the special education field. My experiences in wanting to be the best mom I could be and break generational trauma, along with hearing my students' stories, made me realize the importance of having a safe space to share hard things. I wanted to become a licensed mental health counselor so that I could effectively help meet their needs. This last year of my Master's degree program requires that I complete a 700-hour clinical internship. I am currently interning at Judi's House, a group counseling center for the bereavement of children and families. But this is an unpaid internship where the commitment is working twenty hours per week for twelve months. As a result, I must also cut back on my hours at work. I am uncertain how I will get through this next year financially as a single mother, but I am not giving up. This is my purpose; I am committed, tenacious, and resilient, inspiring my children and future clients. I have seen firsthand the impact Mental Health has on our overall well-being and quality of life. If we want to improve our communities, we must tend to the mental health of their inhabitants. I want to be a part of that work. I may not be able to make any changes on a systemic level to create a more just and equitable society, but individually, I can work on myself, and I can empower and uplift others; I could not think of a more satisfying and successful career. After I graduate, I intend to provide my children a better quality of life and empower others in my community to embrace their stories and encourage them to achieve their versions of success! I am very grateful that philanthropic organizations such as yours exist. I thank you for helping others achieve their ideas of success and enabling them to positively impact their communities. Sincerely, Kayla

As a biracial military brat who moved on average every year growing up as a child, I experienced my share of mental health issues in my youth. I felt as if I did not belong and was very lonely because I couldn't keep friends from moving so often. I went from being the popular girl one school year in Maumee, Ohio to being bullied the next school year in Manhattan, Kansas. Currently, as a low-income single mother in graduate school, I struggle with anxiety; mental health is a continual process. Over the past decade, I have worked in special education, and the stories my students shared with me made me realize the importance of having a safe space to share hard things. I wanted to become a licensed mental health counselor so that I could effectively help meet their needs. I am currently interning at Judi's House, a center for the bereavement of children and families. This year, I will be a grief intern providing group counseling at no cost to families; thanks to donations and grants, we can meet the needs of families undergoing the grief process. Soon, as a mental health counselor, I plan on continuing to advocate for low-cost/affordable care and occasionally provide pro bono services. Another way to make mental healthcare more affordable is through providing psychoeducation and community outreach. I might end up back in public school as a mental health counselor. I thank you for enabling others to positively effect their communities. Sincerely, Kayla

I have chosen to become a clinical mental health counselor because I have struggled with anxiety as a single mother and graduate student; I also have loved ones who have struggled with mental health issues. I have seen firsthand the impact Mental Health has on our overall well-being and quality of life. If we want to improve our communities, we must tend to the mental health of their inhabitants. I want to be a part of that work. I may not be able to make any changes on a systemic level to create a more just and equitable society, but individually, I can work on myself, and I can empower and uplift others; I could not think of a more satisfying career. For the past decade, I have worked with children; it was a natural fit for me, having been the nurturing and empathic "mother hen" most of my life. I started off working as a preschool teacher in early childhood education. I worked as a paraprofessional in elementary at a behavioral school; I was a 1:1 for a high schooler with physical disabilities and a paraprofessional in an autism classroom. I worked with underserved youth in the inner city. All these work experiences and the stories my students shared with me made me realize the importance of having a safe space to share hard things. I wanted to become a licensed mental health counselor so that I could effectively help meet their needs. Throughout my graduate program, I have grown so much in my personal growth and development. I am undergoing the process of reparenting myself as I tend to my inner child wounds while simultaneously parenting my children without a village in hopes of breaking the process of generational trauma. As I continue to work on my mental health (because it is a continuous process), I become more self-aware, I learn practical coping skills, I become better at interpersonal communication, and I can pass these tools on to others. With the advent of teletherapy, I also hope that this career will allow me the flexibility to work around my children’s schedules. This last year of my Master's degree program requires that I complete a 700-hour clinical internship. I signed a contract to intern at Judi's House, a group counseling center for the bereavement of children and families. But this is an unpaid internship where the commitment is working twenty hours per week for twelve months. As a result, I must also cut back on my hours at work. I am uncertain how to get through this next year financially, but I am not giving up. This is my purpose; I am committed, tenacious, and resilient, all attributes I want to inspire my children and future clients. After I graduate, I intend to provide a better quality of life for my children, and I plan to empower others in my community to embrace their stories and encourage them to live their dreams! I am very grateful that philanthropic organizations such as yours exist, and I thank you for helping others achieve their dreams and enabling them to impact their communities positively. Sincerely, Kayla

Success for me would be the freedom to spend quality time with my family without worrying about how rent will be paid for the month. Success would also include having a fulfilling career while maintaining a work-life balance. Success does not necessarily equate to money and material possessions, although those things can make life feel more comfortable. Success, to me, equals freedom. I want the freedom of choice and access to opportunities. Success for me would mean having people in my corner who cared about me, wished me well, and supported my endeavors. Success for me would be leaving a legacy of lovingkindness. I have chosen to pursue my dream of becoming a licensed mental health counselor because it would help me achieve my definition of success. Becoming a mental health counselor would allow me to provide for my family, maintain a healthy work-life balance, and leave a legacy of lovingkindness. Throughout my graduate program, I have become more self-aware, learned practical coping skills, and improved my interpersonal communication. I can now pass these tools on to others to aid them in obtaining their ideal of success. Over the past decade, I have become a mother and worked in the special education field. My experiences in wanting to be the best mom I could be and break generational trauma, along with hearing my students' stories, made me realize the importance of having a safe space to share hard things. I wanted to become a licensed mental health counselor so that I could effectively help meet their needs. This last year of my Master's degree program requires that I complete a 700-hour clinical internship. I signed a contract to intern at Judi's House, a group counseling center for the bereavement of children and families. But this is an unpaid internship where the commitment is working twenty hours per week for twelve months. As a result, I must also cut back on my hours at work. I am uncertain how I will get through this next year financially as a single mother, but I am not giving up. This is my purpose; I am committed, tenacious, and resilient, inspiring my children and future clients. I have seen firsthand the impact Mental Health has on our overall well-being and quality of life. If we want to improve our communities, we must tend to the mental health of their inhabitants. I want to be a part of that work. I may not be able to make any changes on a systemic level to create a more just and equitable society, but individually, I can work on myself, and I can empower and uplift others; I could not think of a more satisfying and successful career. After I graduate, I intend to provide my children a better quality of life and empower others in my community to embrace their stories and encourage them to achieve their versions of success! I am very grateful that philanthropic organizations such as yours exist. I thank you for helping others achieve their ideas of success and enabling them to positively impact their communities. Sincerely, Kayla

I have chosen to become a clinical mental health counselor because I have struggled with anxiety as a single mother and graduate student; I also have loved ones who have struggled with mental health issues. I have seen firsthand the impact Mental Health has on our overall well-being and quality of life. If we want to improve our communities, we must tend to the mental health of their inhabitants. I want to be a part of that work. I may not be able to make any changes on a systemic level to create a more just and equitable society, but individually, I can work on myself, and I can empower and uplift others; I could not think of a more satisfying career. For the past decade, I have worked with children; it was a natural fit for me, having been the nurturing and empathic "mother hen" most of my life. I started off working as a preschool teacher in early childhood education. I worked as a paraprofessional in elementary at a behavioral school; I was a 1:1 for a high schooler with physical disabilities and a paraprofessional in an autism classroom. I worked with underserved youth in the inner city. All these work experiences and the stories my students shared with me made me realize the importance of having a safe space to share hard things. I wanted to become a licensed mental health counselor so that I could effectively help meet their needs. Throughout my graduate program, I have grown so much in my personal growth and development. I am undergoing the process of reparenting myself as I tend to my inner child wounds while simultaneously parenting my children without a village. As I continue to work on my mental health (because it is a continuous process), I become more self-aware, I learn practical coping skills, I become better at interpersonal communication, and I can pass these tools on to others. With the advent of teletherapy, I also hope that this career will allow me the flexibility to work around my children’s schedules. This last year of my Master's degree program requires that I complete a 700-hour clinical internship. I signed a contract to intern at Judi's House, a group counseling center for the bereavement of children and families. But this is an unpaid internship where the commitment is working twenty hours per week for twelve months. As a result, I must also cut back on my hours at work. I am uncertain how to get through this next year financially, but I am not giving up. This is my purpose; I am committed, tenacious, and resilient, all of which inspire my children and future clients. After I graduate, I intend to provide a better quality of life for my children, and I plan to empower others in my community to embrace their stories and encourage them to live their dreams! I am very grateful that philanthropic organizations such as yours exist, and I thank you for helping others achieve their dreams and enabling them to positively impact their communities. Sincerely, Kayla

I have chosen to become a clinical mental health counselor because I have struggled with anxiety as a single mother and graduate student; I also have loved ones who have struggled with mental health issues. I have seen firsthand the impact Mental Health has on our overall well-being and quality of life. If we want to improve our communities, we must tend to the mental health of their inhabitants. I want to be a part of that work. I may not be able to make any changes on a systemic level to create a more just and equitable society, but individually, I can work on myself, and I can empower and uplift others; I could not think of a more satisfying career. For the past decade, I have worked with children; it was a natural fit for me, having been the nurturing and empathic "mother hen" most of my life. I started off working as a preschool teacher in early childhood education. I worked as a paraprofessional in elementary at a behavioral school; I was a 1:1 for a high schooler with physical disabilities and a paraprofessional in an autism classroom. I worked with underserved youth in the inner city. All these work experiences and the stories my students shared with me made me realize the importance of having a safe space to share hard things. I wanted to become a licensed mental health counselor so that I could effectively help meet their needs. Throughout my graduate program, I have grown so much in my personal growth and development. I am undergoing the process of reparenting myself as I tend to my inner child wounds while simultaneously parenting my children without a village. As I continue to work on my mental health (because it is a continuous process), I become more self-aware, I learn practical coping skills, I become better at interpersonal communication, and I can pass these tools on to others. With the advent of teletherapy, I also hope that this career will allow me the flexibility to work around my children’s schedules. This last year of my Master's degree program requires that I complete a 700-hour clinical internship. I signed a contract to intern at Judi's House, a group counseling center for the bereavement of children and families. But this is an unpaid internship where the commitment is working twenty hours per week for twelve months. As a result, I must also cut back on my hours at work. I am uncertain how to get through this next year financially, but I am not giving up. This is my purpose; I am committed, tenacious, and resilient, all of which inspire my children and future clients. After I graduate, I intend to provide a better quality of life for my children, and I plan to empower others in my community to embrace their stories and encourage them to live their dreams! I am very grateful that philanthropic organizations such as yours exist, and I thank you for helping others achieve their dreams and enabling them to positively impact their communities. Sincerely, Kayla

I have chosen to become a clinical mental health counselor because I have struggled with anxiety as a single mother and graduate student; I also have loved ones who have struggled with mental health issues. I have seen firsthand the impact Mental Health has on our overall well-being and quality of life. If we want to improve our communities, we must tend to the mental health of their inhabitants. I want to be a part of that work. I may not be able to make any changes on a systemic level to create a more just and equitable society, but individually, I can work on myself, and I can empower and uplift others; I could not think of a more satisfying career. For the past decade, I have worked with children; it was a natural fit for me, having been the nurturing and empathic "mother hen" most of my life. I started off working as a preschool teacher in early childhood education. I worked as a paraprofessional in elementary at a behavioral school; I was a 1:1 for a high schooler with physical disabilities and a paraprofessional in an autism classroom. I worked with underserved youth in the inner city. All these work experiences and the stories my students shared with me made me realize the importance of having a safe space to share hard things. I wanted to become a licensed mental health counselor so that I could effectively help meet their needs. Throughout my graduate program, I have grown so much in my personal growth and development. I am undergoing the process of reparenting myself as I tend to my inner child wounds while simultaneously parenting my children without a village. As I continue to work on my mental health (because it is a continuous process), I become more self-aware, I learn practical coping skills, I become better at interpersonal communication, and I can pass these tools on to others. This last year of my Master's degree program requires that I complete a 700-hour clinical internship. I signed a contract to intern at Judi's House, a group counseling center for the bereavement of children and families. But this is an unpaid internship where the commitment is working twenty hours per week for twelve months. As a result, I must also cut back on my hours at work. I am uncertain how to get through this next year financially, but I am not giving up. This is my purpose; I am committed, tenacious, and resilient, all of which inspire my children and future clients. After I graduate, I intend to provide a better quality of life for my children, and I plan to empower others in my community to embrace their stories and encourage them to live their dreams! I am very grateful that philanthropic organizations such as yours exist, and I thank you for helping others achieve their dreams and enabling them to positively impact their communities. Sincerely, Kayla

What Was I Made For is one of my favorite Billie Eilish songs because she discusses the societal expectations of women and how that can lead to unhappiness. As a psychotherapist in training, I resonate deeply with this because my counseling theoretical orientation is Feminist, Existentialist, and Solution Focused. Just fifty years ago, women needed a man to open a bank account. There has been so much progress in the Feminist movement for women's rights. Let's not let the opinions of others question our worth. This song embraces women's individuality as multifaceted beings. My second favorite Billie Eilish song is the radio hit Bad Guy. I am a recovering people-pleaser, and my therapist said, "Do you always have to be the bigger person?" I immediately thought, "Nah, I'm the bad guy." This song inspires me to stand up for myself, even if that means being "the bad guy." Ocean Eyes is also one of my favorites purely because I love poetry and am a sucker for juxtaposition (Ocean Eyes & Nepalm skies), Billie's voice is so melodic, and she shows off her vocal range with this song. I also like to sing Ocean Eyes at karaoke! It's okay that it makes me think of an ex because it's such a great song.