During the Spring season of 2015, my husband’s father was diagnosed with lung cancer. This was almost exactly one year after his mother passed away from a heart attack. We were still trying to come to terms with not having her physically present in our lives when we received this news. My husband was very close to both of his parents. Although they had been divorced for years, with new spouses, they remained devoted to their children. My father-in-law informed us there was a mass found on his lung. We all began to put on our armor gear to fight with him. However, we were even more devastated when he stated that he was tired, he was not going to do any treatments, and that “it is what it is”. Initially, my husband did not know how to take it. I saw him go through the grief and loss stages, well, it was more like the grief stage at this point. My husband was angry with his father for giving up and throwing in the towel. There were many conversations with his siblings and his father’s wife on how they could convince Dad not to give up. After a while, the family decided to stop trying to convince my father-in-law to fight and just enjoy him for the remaining time. Those were the most cherished moments that we spent with him. The summer of 2016 was very special, as it was his last family reunion. There were so many family members there, just to spend time with him. He was frail, having lost so much weight, due to his loss of appetite. When I first met him, he stood 6’4 and probably weighed 250. He seemed half that size by this time. He used to have a head full of hair, and now that was slowly leaving. He passed away on September 30, 2016. That morning, my husband felt something in his spirit and knew he needed to see his dad. After seeing him lying in the bed, we knew this was it. My husband started praying for him as he held him. I then called one of my husband’s brothers, who had been estranged from my father-in-law for many years, and informed him that he needed to see his dad before he passed. In the last 30 minutes of his life, there were only a few of us in the room with him (my husband, me, one of my father-in-law’s brother, and my brother-in-law, who was estranged from his dad). My father-in-law’s breaths were very shallow, and he would not open his eyes. After hearing his estranged son’s voice and feeling his embrace, he opened his eyes and tried to sit up to see and embrace him. About five minutes after that, we all watched him take his last breath. It was as if he waited to see and feel his estranged son before he transitioned. That was the first time I had ever had such an experience. I was able to witness the strength of my husband. I witnessed the power of forgiveness through my father-in-law and brother-in-law. In that moment, they were both set free. Cancer is devastating and ugly, with horrific effects. This disease took a strong, burly, and massive man and reduced him to the size of a teenage boy. This disease took away the patriarch of the family, the one whom everyone turned to for advice and guidance. How is it that this disease, as ugly as it is, can also provide some type of peace between two people?

Choosing to go back to school has been both a reward and a difficult experience. It has been rewarding because I have the opportunity to encourage my children and my students with my example. The reason I made the choice to continue my education is because of my children. It would have been very difficult for me to talk to them about attending college when I had not yet obtained any form of a degree. It also helps that I am able to help them navigate applying for Financial Aid and college. Another reward is that I have been able to share my academic experience with my husband. He is the one who encouraged me to pursue my degrees. Not only did he encourage me, but we both completed our Bachelor's and Master's degrees together. He has been such a great support and encourager in my past and current college and career endeavors. Having an academic partner has made it that much easier. Lastly, being the first one to have graduated from college in my immediate family has also been rewarding. I am thankful that I was able to achieve that dream. It feels like my victory also belongs to my parents and my siblings. Sharing this has given me such pride, and I am also thankful for their support. At the same time, this has proven to be a difficult task, especially while caring for my family. When I first embarked on this mission in obtaining my Associate’s degree, my children were still in elementary school. They have both since graduated from high school. However, there was a time when my husband and I also cared for his niece and nephew. Having to make sure there was food on the table, a clean house, clothes on the children’s backs, and a roof over their heads was very challenging during this time. Not only that, but both my mom and dad are elderly, and all my siblings live in another state. Therefore, if either of them needs something, I am the first (most time the only) person they call. Since my mother and father are divorced, it can almost feel like I am taking care of three different households all at the same time. I was also doing all of this while maintaining a full-time job. It is very important to me to be able to share my experiences, both the rewarding ones and the difficult ones, with others, especially my children and my students. Working in the educational sector has allowed me to help students plan for life beyond high school. I am currently pursuing a Master's degree in School Counseling. I love helping students to meet their academic goals. Whether they need social-emotional support or linkage to outside resources, my job is to assist them and advocate for them. I know I cannot help every student I come into contact with. However, I feel that helping them can have a domino effect within the community. Thus, helping one can lead to helping all.

I began working in the mental health/social services field in 2017 as a Parent Partner for the Wraparound program in Los Angeles County. This is when I learned that every single person on this earth has a story. I also learned that some of these stories started in childhood. This was when I became interested in serving my community. Although I worked closely with parents and caregivers in this position, I was able to see first hand some of the mental health issues the young clients were diagnosed with and how it affected their families. My job was to assist the parent/caregiver in being advocates for their child(ren) in getting the mental health services needed. Transitioning from social services to education, I have been able to figuratively see the young children I previously cared for in my high school Special Education classroom. As I mentioned earlier, everyone has a story, including young people. This has inspired me to want to assist them. Therefore, that is why I am currently pursuing a Master of Education in School Counseling. I want to be able to assist high school students in living their optimal lives while striving to meet their mental health and academic goals. I have a passion for assisting young people, as I feel their voices are seldom heard. Oftentimes, they are dismissed, and their issues are diminished by adults. I have heard adults tell young people to “keep living” as if their problems are not significant. However, while working with high school students, I have learned that young people’s issues are just that, their issues. They are significant to them at that time. Adults do not have the right to minimize what adolescents are going through. As a counselor, I want to be in a position to assist the student in being able to cope with their situation while validating their feelings. It is important to assist students in feeling supported, understood and to build trust with them. In building rapport and trust, students can build their self-esteem and learn to develop healthy relationships. All of this can help students to meet their academic goals, leading to assessing their career choices, thus building upon their future successes. Participating in my degree program has opened my eyes to the need for mental health services, especially in the Black community. There is such a huge stigma in the Black culture surrounding mental health services that many people neglect obtaining services. However, my current program has allowed me to be able to effectively encourage different individuals to seek services and to help eradicate the stigma of mental health services. Although there is a long road ahead in totally eliminating this stigma, it can certainly be reduced one person at a time. I certainly feel that God has set me on this journey to assist in this duty. I am grateful to be on this path in helping students and their families by providing them with needed resources and mental health services.

My work with high school students is extremely fulfilling. I find great pleasure in sharing my academic and professional experiences, aiming to be a supportive figure in their lives. I am committed to assisting them in cultivating their belief in their potential, while encouraging them to pursue their academic and career goals with confidence. My goal is to guide them in developing into the best versions of themselves. This passion stems from my own experience of lacking such guidance during my youth. As a first-generation college graduate, my path to higher education began later in life. This personal journey fuels my desire to encourage students to identify their passions, set strategic goals, and develop effective strategies for achieving them. I believe education extends beyond traditional academic knowledge. As W.E.B. Du Bois articulated, education should encompass life skills. Therefore, I strive to impart lessons that equip students for success in various post-secondary pathways, whether in college, the military, trade schools, or the workforce. I inform my students that they may not remember my name when they get older, however, something will trigger them to remember something I said to them. While elementary education focuses on foundational skills, middle and high school education shifts towards critical thinking, social development, and leadership. As a school counselor, I will have the unique opportunity to assist students with their social-emotional needs and help them to develop their emotional intelligence and lifelong learning habits that contribute to their future success. My decision to pursue a degree in education was significantly influenced by my husband's experience. He told me the story of a high school counselor who discouraged him from pursuing challenging coursework, suggesting he wasn't 'college material.' This experience, particularly as a young Black male facing societal obstacles, deeply affected me. It solidified my determination to empower young people, particularly students of color, to recognize their equal potential for success. I am proud to say that my husband defied those expectations, earning his Master of Arts degree and dedicating his career to supporting high school students in achieving their educational goals. Also, as a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, I strive to exemplify our four principles of Scholarship, Service, Sisterhood, and Finer Womanhood. Working in the education field and pursuing a career as a school counselor helps to fulfill my duty in displaying these principles. Currently working as a substitute teacher, I have the opportunity to serve my community in many different geographical areas. It also affords me the opportunity to inform the students of many scholarship opportunities that are available to assist them with their future college goals. By assisting one student at a time, there is the potential of the domino effect. Thus, by helping one, I am able to help more.

I love working with high school students. I enjoy sharing my academic and career experiences with them. I want them to know they have someone in their corner rooting for them and cheering them on. I want them to know that I believe they can achieve their goals and become anything they set their minds to. I want to encourage and assist them in becoming the best versions of themselves. I have such a strong passion to pour into these young minds because I did not have that growing up. I did not have someone encouraging me to obtain higher education. Therefore, I am the first generation of my family to graduate from college. It was not until I was 46 years old that I decided to take education seriously. My mission is to encourage young students to figure out what their passion is, set SMART goals for themselves, and implement strategies and techniques to achieve those goals. I believe that education goes far beyond academics and book knowledge. W.E.B. Du Bois stated that “Education must not simply teach work - it must teach Life.” In other words, education is more than just learning about the alphabet and addition. Education is also learning about life beyond the walls of high school. I enjoy imparting life lessons to my students, lessons they can take with them into college, the military, trade school, or the workforce. I tell my students that they may not remember my name when they get older, however, there will be a trigger to remember something I said. In elementary school, students learn how to read. They are learning the basic fundamentals of reading, writing, and arithmetic. However, by the time they enter into middle school, they are now reading to learn. They are formulating their thoughts and learning how to utilize their critical thinking skills. They are learning social skills and leadership. As students' brains are still developing, educators have the unique opportunity to shape not only academic knowledge but also critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and lifelong learning habits that will influence their future success and well-being. My inspiration for pursuing a degree in education is my husband, Nathaniel Session. He mentioned to me that when he was in high school, he had a counselor tell him that he should just take basic classes and not to work too hard because he is not college material. That story broke my heart. As a young black male, there are so many odds against him, and his counselor added to the list. From that point on, I decided I wanted to obtain a career in education to help young people, especially those of color, to realize they have just as much action at success as the next person. I am happy to say that my husband beat the odds and has obtained his Master of Arts degree. He is also working in education, assisting high school students in meeting their educational goals.

Quite a few of my family members have served in the Military. My father, both grandfathers, two uncles, and my father-in-law all served in the Army. My husband was the lone wolf, serving in the Marines. Being so blessed to have this many of my family members serving our country makes me so proud. Each year for Veterans Day, I post a collage tribute for each of them, thanking them for their service. I enjoy listening to my husband tell his experience of serving in the United States Marine Corps. I asked him why he chose this branch of the military versus all the other branches. He says he wanted to be amongst the toughest and most elite fighters. In anything my husband does, he always goes as hard as he can, and the Marine Corps proved to be that platform for him. Although he was not deployed, he still has great stories of his involvement with the Marine Corps. I love how he talks about boot camp and the tough assignments they had to go through. He has been discharged since 1991 and still understands the cadence of the drill sergeants. Not only that, he can tell the difference of the cadence from each military branch. With all the great stories my husband has told me about his time spent in the Marine Corps, I can also see how it has affected him, both positively and not so positively. My husband is a no-nonsense type of person, with characteristics of leadership, hard work, and resilience. He is disciplined and has no trouble with commitments. He also eats very fast, does not close in spaces, and cannot tolerate incompetence. Despite all this, if asked if he would do it all over again, I know he would say yes. He is the proudest former Marine I know. Being a proud wife, daughter, granddaughter, niece, and daughter-in-law of those who have served in the military, I want to do everything in my power to make them all proud. My career pursuit is to serve others in the capacity of School Counselor. I want to give back by assisting high schoolers in meeting their academic goals. This may include helping them to develop coping skills on the social-emotional level. I may also help them in making career choices, which may include serving in the military. I highly look forward to helping young people realize their greatest potential and be successful when others have counted them out.

I have been attending college off and on since the age of 18 years old. Discouraged due to the lack of support and guidance received, I dropped out of community college and committed myself to the working world. I tried tackling community college again at the age of 28. Once again, I stopped due to starting a business. In 2011, I thought the third time was the charm. I completed a full year at the University of Phoenix. I was proud and thought I was on my way to finally completing college and obtaining a business degree. Life took a turn, and I found myself in the middle of a divorce. Going through a divorce was quite devastating and draining. I could not concentrate on my coursework. Having two small children during this time was difficult as well. I decided to put all my focus on raising them and trying to minimize the effects the divorce had on them. From 2010 to 2016, I worked hard, made sure my children were taken care of, and remarried. During this time, my husband and I obtained various certifications from Apartment Management to Prepare-Enrich Relationship Facilitation. However, this just was not enough. Winter of 2016, we both enrolled back into Los Angeles Southwest College. We were both determined to obtain our degrees without any interruptions. I went on to complete my Associate of Science degree in Sociology in 2019. In 2020, I obtained my Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Psychology from the University of Phoenix. My Master of Arts degree in Human Services Counseling was obtained from Liberty University in 2021. My husband jokes that we spent our 40s and 50s in school (ages 46-51). My motivation for obtaining my degrees was my children. If I am encouraging them to go to college and obtain their degrees, I have to lead by example. I am currently pursuing a second master's degree in Education for School Counseling. Stumbling upon the education sector as a substitute teacher introduced me to my love and passion for working with high school students. I am so thankful for the opportunity of working as a Special Education 10th grade English Teacher. Although I really enjoyed working with the students, I found that I took great pleasure in assisting them beyond academics. Helping students to realize their greatest potential, become the best version of themselves, and meet their academic goals is the best reward of all. Knowing that I had a part in their success is the absolute best feeling in the world. Two of my former 10th grade Special Education English students informed me they are now in a General Education English class and that they are both doing well. Each of them has a letter grade of A in their classes. This is the success all teachers and education personnel strive for every day. This is my why. This is why I go to work and why I’m pursuing a School Counseling credential.

Every morning, I start my day with prayer, asking God to give me the strength, courage, and discernment to be the wife my husband needs, the mother my children need, the teacher my students need, the co-worker my co-workers need, and the community resource that my community needs for that day. Every day is a different day, therefore, there are different needs from day to day. Whatever I need to be to those around me to assist them through their day is what I ask God to help me be. Daily, I put myself aside so that I can be of some assistance to those around me. I am always thoughtful and considerate of others, thinking of how my actions may affect others, whether positively or negatively. I consistently give back to my community daily by servicing my students. My career goal is to become a school counselor. I find great passion in assisting my high school students in becoming the best version of themselves. I enjoy sharing my academic and career experiences with them and assisting them in making future choices that fit their personalities and passions. It is rewarding to have former students express their successes to me with such enthusiasm and insist that I had a part in said successes. It warms my heart when both current and former students seek my advice on certain matters. Although I never give advice, I always inform them that they have the answers within themselves. My job is to encourage and guide them in finding those answers and making the best positive decisions for themselves. I am also very proud to be a part of a Greek organization that exemplifies the spirit of excellence through its principles of Scholarship, Service, Sisterhood, and Finer Womanhood. Through Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, we promote academic excellence by encouraging each other and those around us to pursue high standards in our studies. We also give back to our community by actively participating in community service initiatives. We uplift each other by fostering a strong sense of sisterhood and empowering each other by providing support. As role models in the community, we uphold the ideals of integrity and leadership. As our motto is "A community-conscious, action-oriented organization," we strive to give back through conducting clothing and shoe drives, feeding our senior citizens, providing basic necessities to domestic violence victims, and through scholarship fundraising efforts for high schoolers. As mentioned earlier, it is my daily prayer for God to use me to be of service to someone in the community.

I began working in the mental health/social services field in 2017 as a Parent Partner for the Wraparound program in Los Angeles County. This is when I learned that every single person on this earth has a story. I also learned that some of these stories started in childhood. This was when I became interested in serving my community. Although I worked closely with parents and caregivers in this position, I was able to see first hand some of the mental health issues the young clients were diagnosed with and how it affected their families and loved ones. My job was to assist the parent/caregiver in being advocates for their child(ren) in getting the mental health services needed. Transitioning from social services to education, I have been able to figuratively see the young children I previously cared for in my high school Special Education classroom. As I mentioned earlier, everyone has a story, including young people. This has inspired me to want to assist them. Therefore, that is why I am currently pursuing a Master of Education in School Counseling. I want to be able to assist high school students in living their optimal lives while striving to meet their mental health and academic goals. I have a passion for assisting young people, as I feel their voices are seldom heard. Oftentimes, they are dismissed, and their issues are diminished by adults. I have heard adults tell young people to “keep living” as if their problems are not significant. However, while working with high school students, I have learned that young people’s issues are just that, their issues. They are significant to them at that time. Adults do not have the right to minimize what adolescents are going through. As a counselor, I want to be in a position to assist the student in being able to cope with their situation while validating their feelings. It is important to assist students in feeling supported, understood and to build trust with them. In building rapport and trust, students can build their self-esteem and learn to develop healthy relationships. All of this can help students to meet their academic goals, leading to assessing their career choices, thus building upon their future successes. Participating in my degree program has opened my eyes to the need for mental health services, especially in the Black community. There is such a huge stigma in the Black culture surrounding mental health services that many people neglect obtaining services. However, my current program has allowed me to be able to effectively encourage different individuals to seek services and to help eradicate the stigma of mental health services. Although there is a long road ahead in totally eliminating this stigma, it can certainly be reduced one person at a time. I certainly feel that God has set me on this journey to assist in this duty. I am grateful to be on this path in helping students and their families by providing them with needed resources and mental health services.

I have worked in both the educational and social services fields, assisting individuals from various ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. In social services, I had the opportunity to assist various members of the community by linking them to many community resources. I also had the pleasure of working with students of various backgrounds by tutoring them in various subjects and assisting them in meeting their educational goals. I have also completed various multicultural training with the Department of Mental Health in Los Angeles County. Lastly, I have completed a multi-cultural class in my graduate program. I believe my experience, training, and knowledge will assist me in being successful in my pursuit of becoming a school counselor. I believe that by possessing the foundation of multi-cultural awareness and sensitivity, I can connect with the students, assisting them to gain an understanding of their own culture, confront prejudices by promoting multicultural sensitivity, and to communicate effectively with a diverse population, all while learning to embrace the differences in others. All the knowledge I have gained about multiculturalism and diversity, through experience and formal training, has given me the tools to become culturally aware, culturally sensitive, and culturally competent. That being said, I will be more in tune with students, recognizing their cultural background and creating a safe environment to express their thoughts and beliefs while being sensitive to their specific needs. Equity means being fair and ensuring a level playing field. That is, I will do my best to ensure each student is provided the same resources and support they need to assist them in achieving their academic goals. I will provide a safe space for students to express their feelings, thoughts, and beliefs in a non-judgmental environment. Thus, students will be able to embrace the differences, backgrounds, and cultures of others. Therefore, my approach to supporting will need to adjust according to the needs of each student while ensuring all students are supported equally. Inclusive education means ensuring all students receive optimal instructions and support, regardless of their challenges, ethnicity, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Providing inclusive services assists in changing discriminatory mindsets and attitudes. I will be able to communicate my commitment to accessibility and inclusion to the students and serve as their advocate. All-inclusive services mean understanding, support, empathy, compassion, and consideration of all. I will strive to ensure that all students feel valued and supported equally in an effort to assist all in achieving their academic goals.

I actually started living the life of my dreams in 2011. That is the year I married my 6th-grade crush. I remember telling him that before being with him, I was just existing, but now I feel like I’m actually living. Our marriage is far from perfect, however, we have certainly had some great times. For any life improvement classes my husband decided to take, he made sure I was right alongside him. We have taken classes to obtain Apartment Manager certificates, obtained certifications to be Prepare-Enrich Relationship Facilitators, and we earned our Master of Arts in Human Services Counseling together. Not only have we taken all these different classes together, but we have also worked closely together in ministry, social services, and serving in our Fraternity and Sorority. One of my most cherished memories is when my husband taught me how to ride my motorcycle. My husband has been an avid rider for many years and even belonged to a club at one point. I never thought about or had a desire to ride a motorcycle until after being with my husband. For 10 years, my husband was my personal road captain and is always my personal bodyguard. I also had the pleasure of being his Assistant Pastor, Secretary, and Minister of Music in our church, Enlightened Ministry Biker Church. We used our motorcycles as ministry tools while assisting others in enhancing their personal relationships with God. We served together in planting and supporting other churches, volunteering in the community, feeding and clothing the homeless, and facilitating couple relationships. I enjoy assisting my husband when he officiates weddings. Together, we have served over 75 couples in starting off their marital life. It is such a blessing to share our experiences with others while affirming their unique marital pathway. One of the greatest joys I have recently been able to share in was joining Zeta Phi Beta Sororiry, Incorporated. I have received the utmost support from my husband in this life changing decision. As my husband is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated, we are the only Fraternity and Sorority that are constitutionally bound together. Therefore, we joke that we have papers on each other twice. Not only are we spouses, we are also brother and sister in our Greek organizations. Therefore, this gives us further reason to spend time with one another and serve our communities shoulder to shoulder. As we continue in our lives together, I am so looking forward to the future. Although I am already living the life of my dreams, I see our lives looking even dreamier. Currently, we are beginning to embrace becoming empty nesters. Providing a safety net for our youngest daughter, we are looking forward to her going back to college soon. I am thankful that even though we had a house full of children, we were still able to connect with one another. Hence, with our nest progressively emptying, we are able to continue that connection into our next phase of life. Part of our future dream is purchasing a recreational vehicle and traveling this beautiful country of America after retirement. I am so thankful for and pleased with the life I have lived and the life partner God has gifted me.