I am currently pursuing my PsyD degree so that I can be a mental health professional and researcher. My ultimate goal is to provide community-based individual and group therapy and work in academia as a professor, so I can mentor students. I also work in the biotechnology field as a manager of patient advocacy. In my role, I am responsible for advocating on behalf of rare disease patients and patient organizations so that my company can ensure the community perspective is incorporated in to both research and business decisions. I also perform patient experience research in order to better understand unmet needs and potential solutions within patient communities. The results of my research are then shared with patient advocacy organizations and my own organization so that we can collaboratively generate resources to address unmet needs. Outside of my work and school, I love to spent time cultivating my creativity. I enjoy making rugs and textiles by hand, learning about digital art and illustration, reading all genres of books, and writing. I also teach and practice yoga regularly, which has been a wonderful source of friendship, spirituality, self-care, and community.