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