Balancing graduate school and a full-time job has taught me just how important mental health is to both my academic performance and my personal life. When my mental health is in a good place, I am able to focus more clearly, stay motivated, and give my best effort to my assignments. When I do not take care of my mental health, I notice the opposite happens. I struggle to concentrate, I procrastinate, and I feel overwhelmed by even simple tasks. Over time, I have learned that protecting my mental health is not optional. It is the foundation that allows me to succeed as a student and as a person. In my academic life, mental health affects my ability to stay consistent and confident. Graduate courses are demanding, and working full-time while pursuing my degree makes the workload even heavier. There are moments when stress and self-doubt creep in, and I begin to feel like I am not capable of managing everything at once. In the past, I might have tried to push through without acknowledging those feelings, but I now recognize that this approach only leads to burnout. Taking my mental health seriously has helped me develop better study habits, time management skills, and a healthier mindset toward learning. I give myself permission to rest, which allows me to return to my work with energy and focus. In my personal life, my mental health impacts how I show up in my relationships and how I care for myself. When I neglect my mental well-being, I find myself withdrawing from loved ones and losing interest in the things that normally bring me joy. On the other hand, when I actively care for my mental health, I am more present with my family and friends, and I am able to maintain a healthier balance between school and personal life. I want to succeed academically, but I also want to live a full and balanced life outside of the classroom. To make my mental health a priority, I take intentional steps each day. I set boundaries around my time so that I do not stretch myself too thin. I practice self-care through exercise, journaling, and prayer, which help me release stress and refocus. I also seek support when I need it, whether that means talking with a mentor, reaching out to friends, or reminding myself that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. These practices keep me grounded and prevent me from becoming overwhelmed by the pressures of school and work. Overall, my mental health is deeply connected to both my academic performance and my personal life. I have learned that in order to achieve my goals, I must first take care of myself. By making mental wellness a priority, I am able to pursue my education with resilience, maintain healthy relationships, and continue growing into the person and professional I want to become.

The first time I realized how deeply mental health affects our lives was when I watched people I love suffer in silence. In my family and community, there was often an unspoken rule: we do not talk about mental health. We endure, we survive, and we carry our burdens quietly because that is what it means to be strong. I saw the pain that silence caused, and I saw the damage that came from avoiding conversations that could have led to healing. Those experiences stayed with me and shaped the way I see the world. They have guided my beliefs, impacted my relationships, and inspired me to dedicate my career to the field of counseling. How Mental Health Shaped My Beliefs Growing up, I was taught the value of strength and resilience. While those qualities are important, I now understand that they can sometimes become barriers to healing. Many Black women, including those in my own family, feel pressure to always be strong and to never show weakness. The problem with this belief is that it often leads to silence, suffering, and a fear of seeking help. Through my personal experiences with mental health, I have come to believe that true strength is not found in carrying pain alone but in having the courage to be vulnerable, to reach out, and to heal. I also believe that mental health is just as vital as physical health. We do not hesitate to go to the doctor for a broken bone or the flu, yet so many hesitate to seek counseling when they are experiencing emotional pain. This belief has transformed the way I live my own life. I prioritize self-care, reflection, and mental wellness because I know that ignoring those needs does not make them go away. Instead, it allows wounds to deepen. My faith has also shaped my beliefs about mental health. I was raised in a home with both Christian and Muslim influences, and while I still navigate my own spiritual path, I strongly believe that God calls us to care for our whole selves: mind, body, and spirit. For me, counseling is not just a profession. It is a calling to serve others with compassion, patience, and empathy. Galatians 6:2 teaches us to “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” This scripture reflects exactly how I view my role in counseling: to walk alongside others in their struggles, helping to lighten their load and guiding them toward healing. How Mental Health Shaped My Relationships My experiences with mental health have also influenced the way I connect with others. In my family, silence was often the default response to struggle. Over time, I realized how damaging that silence could be. Instead of avoiding difficult conversations, I began encouraging open dialogue about mental health with my loved ones. I started asking questions, offering support, and reminding those close to me that they did not have to face challenges alone. This shift has not always been easy. Sometimes my efforts to talk about mental health were met with resistance or discomfort, especially because of the stigma that exists in many communities of color. But over time, I have seen the positive impact of being open. My relationships have become stronger because people feel they can come to me without judgment. I have watched family and friends take steps toward counseling, and I have been grateful to see them begin their own journeys of healing. These experiences taught me the power of compassion and listening. They showed me that simply being present for someone can make a profound difference. They also reinforced my belief that conversations about mental health need to be normalized. When we share openly and without shame, we create space for others to do the same. My relationships taught me that healing often starts with connection, and that realization has shaped the kind of counselor I aspire to be. How Mental Health Shaped My Career Aspirations The most significant influence of my experiences with mental health has been on my career aspirations. I am currently pursuing my graduate degree in counseling while working full-time. This path has not been easy, but I see it as an essential step toward my larger purpose. I want to become a licensed counselor who not only provides therapy but also creates lasting change within my community. In my dream career, I see myself opening a practice that is warm, welcoming, and culturally affirming. I want clients to walk through the door and immediately feel understood and supported. I also want to go beyond traditional counseling by creating resources and programs that serve underserved communities. This includes hosting support groups, providing workshops, and offering interactive therapy options such as art therapy, meditation, and other holistic approaches. My vision is to build spaces where healing feels approachable, especially for those who have been told their whole lives to stay strong and keep silent. I also aspire to partner with schools, churches, and community organizations to expand access to mental health education. Many people in marginalized communities do not have easy access to counseling, but through workshops and outreach programs, I hope to break down those barriers. Whether it is teaching coping strategies, creating safe spaces for youth, or equipping families with resources, I want my work to touch people beyond the walls of my office. What inspires me most is knowing that this career allows me to combine my personal passion with a larger mission of service. Counseling is more than a job for me. It is the way I live out my calling to care for others. It is a way of turning my own experiences with pain and silence into something that can help others find their voice. Conclusion When I think about how my experiences with mental health have shaped me, I see a clear thread connecting my past to my present and my future. My beliefs have been transformed. I no longer see strength as silence, but as vulnerability and courage. I believe this is the life God is calling me to: a life where I can serve others with compassion, break down stigmas, and guide people toward hope and healing. Galatians 6:2 reminds us to carry each other’s burdens, and that is exactly what I want to do through counseling. My experiences with mental health have not only shaped who I am, but they continue to guide me toward the purpose I was created to fulfill.

For me, the life of my dreams is a life where I am living out my purpose as a counselor, helping people heal and reminding them that they do not have to carry their struggles alone. As a Black woman, I have seen how stigma around mental health affects our community. In my own family, I have watched loved ones suffer in silence because they felt embarrassed or afraid to ask for help. Those experiences are what pushed me toward counseling and gave me a passion for changing how we view mental health. Growing up, many of us are taught to always be strong, to push through no matter what. Strength is important, but it can also become a heavy weight. For Black women especially, that pressure to be strong can make us feel like we are not allowed to ask for help, even when we need it most. In the life I imagine for myself, I want to change that narrative. I want to show that strength can also look like being open, vulnerable, and willing to heal. I want people to see that seeking counseling does not take away from who they are, but instead allows them to grow into who they were meant to be. In my dream, I see myself as a licensed counselor who not only provides therapy but also works to make mental health care more accessible and welcoming in the Black community. I imagine opening a practice that feels warm, affirming, and judgment-free. I want people to walk in and feel understood, to see someone who looks like them and who knows what it feels like to carry those cultural expectations. I want young Black girls and women to know that getting help is not a weakness, but an act of strength and self-love. My dream goes beyond having a private practice. I want to create programs and resources within the community that serve those who are often overlooked or underserved. This includes organizing support groups, hosting workshops, and collaborating with local organizations to provide mental health education. I want to offer interactive and creative services such as art therapy, meditation, and other holistic approaches that make healing more approachable. These community-based efforts would give people a safe space to learn about mental health, connect with others, and build tools to care for themselves and their families. Pursuing my graduate degree while working full-time is not easy, but it is part of building this dream. Each class I take, each late night of studying, and each moment of growth as a future counselor is an investment in the bigger picture. For me, education has always been about more than a degree. It represents freedom, opportunity, and the power to create change. That is why I am committed to being a lifelong learner, continuing to grow and expand my knowledge so I can better serve others. Beyond my career, I picture a life that is balanced and fulfilling. I want to be present for my family, give back to my community, and mentor other young women who are chasing their own goals in education and mental health. The life of my dreams is about more than just my own success. It is about using what I learn and the person I become to break cycles of silence, uplift others, and leave behind a legacy of healing and empowerment for generations to come.

Greetings, I am thrilled to take part in this scholarship opportunity! I am a recent graduate from the #1 Public HBCU, Florida A&M University, where I received my Bachelor of Science degree in psychology with a minor in criminal justice. I am now continuing my education, online, at Nova Southeastern University where I am pursuing a master's in counseling with a focus on mental health. During my senior year of High school, I was determined to attend an HBCU for my education. After a visit to FAMU I fell in love with the campus and the people; The people were welcoming, the atmosphere was empowering, and the campus was historical. FAMU ended up being the best decision I made for myself. During my time in college, I attained so many new skills that built me up into a better student, learner, and overall women. After receiving my undergraduate degree in Psychology, my passion and determination has only grown for the field. As a current College Graduate student pursuing a career in mental health counseling, I’ve learned there are simple actions individuals can take to create change in their community. Firstly, simply being kind to others. Treat others how you want to be treated because you never know what someone else is going through. One individual has the ability to create a chain effect of positive gestures; kindness is contagious. Secondly, put judgment to the side and instead offer support and gratitude, always. Many individuals in our society are quick to look down on others, rather than offering a helping hand. Everyone is in the same boat, no one is above someone else. Even if it isn’t affecting an individual directly, it has an indirect effect on the community. In my future career, I aspire to provide therapeutic services in underprivileged areas to educate and familiarize individuals in the community. I will organize workshops, seminars, and community events to provide education about mental health. By making these resources more accessible, significant positive change can be made for individuals mental health and wellness. I also wish to tear down harmful stigmas that have been embedded in our society, especially for people of color, specifically men. I plan to immerse myself in diverse communities, listening to their stories and understanding their unique experiences with mental health. By consistently engaging with underprivileged, diverse communities, my goal is to create trust, openness, and safe spaces in order to create open dialogue about mental health. I also strive to increase representation of Black mental health professionals in the field, because seeing someone who looks like you can significantly reduce stigma and increase help-seeking behavior in the community. I aspire to create my own clinic/practice in an underprivileged area with a diverse team of therapist that are all working to tackle the same goal and produce change in the community. Overall, my goal is to be a beacon of hope and empowerment in this fight against mental health stigma

Greetings, I am thrilled to take part in this scholarship opportunity! I am a recent graduate from the #1 Public HBCU, Florida A&M University, where I received my Bachelor of Science degree in psychology with a minor in criminal justice. I am now continuing my education, online, at Nova Southeastern University where I am pursuing a master's in counseling with a focus on mental health. Although I spent four years of undergraduate in Tallahassee, Florida, I am currently back residing in my hometown in Illinois. During my senior year of High school, I was determined to attend an HBCU for my education. After a visit to FAMU I fell in love with the campus and the people; The people were welcoming, the atmosphere was empowering, and the campus was historical. FAMU ended up being the best decision I made for myself. During my time in college, I attained so many new skills that built me up into a better student, learner, and overall women. I met many open-minded teachers that challenged my thinking and taught me discipline. From taking classes like black psychology to women of psychology, I was given an experience and tools throughout my education that not everyone has the opportunity to receive. After receiving my undergraduate degree in Psychology, my passion and determination has only grown for the field. In my future career, I aspire to provide therapeutic services in underprivileged areas to educate and familiarize individuals in the community. I will organize workshops, seminars, and community events to provide education about mental health. By making these resources more accessible, significant positive change can be made for individuals mental health and wellness. I also wish to tear down harmful stigmas that have been embedded in our society, especially for people of color, specifically men. I plan to immerse myself in diverse communities, listening to their stories and understanding their unique experiences with mental health. By consistently engaging with these communities, my goal is to create trust, openness, and safe spaces in order to create open dialogue about mental health. I also strive to increase representation of Black mental health professionals in the field, because seeing someone who looks like you can significantly reduce stigma and increase help-seeking behavior in the community. I aspire to create my own clinic/practice in an underprivileged area with a diverse team of therapist that are all working to tackle the same goal and produce change in the community. Overall, my goal is to be a beacon of hope and empowerment in this fight against mental health stigma