For a long time I thought that pursuing higher education and a career that can be meaningful and impactful was a luxury that I would not be able to afford. I come from a family and town where most people work to survive, and higher education is seen as either useless (just a piece of paper, most don't work in their degree field) or as not a worthy investment (seen as a major debt and liability instead of an asset). Having challenged the limitations and expectations of my small town and learned the value and investment of education and its impact on the social and economic outcomes of families, I am proud to pursue a career that is both impactful to people and surpasses the limits of my family and town. As a first generation college student, I am working to build a future where mental health is taken seriously and prioritized. I am working to become a mental health professional where my desire is to educate, encourage, and inspire others to become the best and healthiest versions of themselves. I aim to use talk and art therapy to help individuals, couples, families, and communities process, heal, grow, learn sustainable healthy practices, and thrive in their personal and professional lives. My aim is to build trust, access to mental health resources, and healthier communities. Starting with internal work and developing healthy tools is essential. It empowers people to pursue education and meaningful careers that align with their passions, make a powerful impact on their own lives, and contribute to their communities and the world around them. I believe that mental health practices go beyond just the negative aspects of the perception of traditional therapy such as hurt, trauma, or illness. I believe mental health professionals should also be empowered to educate individuals, young and old, and equip them with the tools to live healthy and sustainable lives. As Benjamin Franklin said, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." I seek to contribute both - prevention and pathways to healing - to improve, empower, and build a future where communities and society can thrive. I have seen firsthand how mental illness can negatively impact individuals and families, and how the stigma around mental help can prevent people from living their fullest lives, finding opportunities beyond the limitations they were raised around, or even simply healing. I believe change starts with the education of positive practices that can equip people with the tools to process their emotions, learn communication and expression, and healthy preventative practices. Building a world where mental health is taken seriously and people are empowered to live their dreams and make an impact starts with healing and preventative practives. I am excited and eager to dive in to this important and impactful field!

Growing up, mental health was not talked about in my family. We did very little emotional communicating, expressing, or connecting, despite the fact that childhood trauma and mental health challenges were present in previous generations and impacting the lives of those around me. I first developed a personal interest in mental health while in high school. One of my favorite musical artists released an album where each song explored a different mental health disorder and personality type. My curiosity quickly grew into a passion, and I even purchased the DSM-5 to read on my own as a teenager. What began as an academic interest would later become deeply personal. Shortly after graduating high school, my family experienced significant upheaval. My parents' marriage ended, and many unresolved struggles surfaced. As I watched people I loved grapple with trauma, isolation, substance use, and mental health challenges, I began to understand how profoundly mental health affects every aspect of a person's life. These experiences changed my closest relationships, my understanding of people, and ultimately my educational goals. One lesson that has stayed with me came during a year I spent volunteering with a nonprofit organization. During a weekly breakfast we hosted for members of the local unhoused community, a woman I had befriended pointed out a man in a wheelchair. She explained that while we could clearly see his physical disability, there are many illnesses people live with every day that no one can see. She shared her own experiences with mental illness and reminded me that we can never fully know what struggles another person may be carrying. That conversation fundamentally changed how I view others. It taught me that many people are fighting invisible battles. Since then, I have made a conscious effort to approach people with empathy, patience, and curiosity rather than judgment. As a student, mental health is important to me because I have seen firsthand how untreated mental health challenges can impact individuals, families, relationships, education, and future opportunities. I believe that emotional well-being is just as important as physical health, and that students thrive when they have the support, resources, and safe spaces needed to navigate life's challenges. I advocate for mental health in my community by creating opportunities for honest conversations and by striving to be a supportive presence for others. Friends, family members, and coworkers have often described me as a good listener with a calming presence, and I try to use that strength to help people feel heard and understood. I openly discuss the importance of mental health, encourage others to seek support when needed, and work to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health challenges by treating them with compassion rather than shame. My experiences have also inspired my future career path. I am pursuing a degree that will lead to a career in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Art Therapy. Through both education and future practice, I hope to help individuals process trauma, develop healthy coping skills, and find healing and growth. I am led by hope: hope for greater mental health education, stronger communication within families, and communities where people feel safe seeking help. Through my studies, advocacy, and future career, I hope to contribute to a world where mental health is understood, supported, and valued.

Higher education is something I wanted for myself from a young age, but it always felt like a far-off privilege - something impossible for someone with my background. Neither of my parents attended college. Because of the debt and uncertainty they associated with higher education, they discouraged me from pursuing it. They had seen stories of people who accumulated student loans only to never use their degrees, and they wanted to protect me from that risk. Trusting the advice of the adults who had cared for me my entire life, I followed in their footsteps and joined the workforce. Most of my adult life has been spent working in warehouses. Concrete walls, no windows, overnight hours. Mind-numbing physical labor surrounded by dusty cardboard boxes and wooden pallets, wearing out both my body and spirit. In the small towns I come from, warehouse work is one of the best-paying options for people without a college degree. For years, I was miserable in my work but saw no end in sight. My mom and I worked together in the warehouse, where she remains today. My dad opted out of the workforce altogether, losing his home, car, and financial security. Seeing my parents' lived reality made me realize I wanted a different future for myself. I could climb the ranks at my job, but there were limitations. I wanted opportunities that extended beyond the ceilings I saw around me. I decided on a career pivot, to something that was more fulfilling than warehouses and could hopefully take me farther in life. Eventually, I took advantage of the education benefit my job offered and began pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design. Nearing my five-year anniversary at the warehouse, halfway through my degree and with a design internship on the table, I decided to take a leap of faith. I quit my job despite losing my school benefits and began building a career in design. During this season, I built my first portfolio, volunteered for nonprofits, and found my own clients, including being commissioned to create branding assets for Adobe. Through this work, I discovered that my favorite projects were those connected to human stories and organizations making a meaningful impact on people's lives. Creativity became more than a skill - it became a tool for connection, expression, and healing. As I reflected on my interests, I realized I wanted more than creative fulfillment. I wanted to help people. My long-standing fascination with psychology and human behavior led me to discover Art Therapy, a career path that beautifully combines creativity, mental health, and service to others. Education is important to me because it has the power to change the trajectory of my life. It has shown me possibilities I once believed were out of reach and given me the confidence to pursue them. As a first-generation college student, earning a degree represents more than personal achievement. It means breaking cycles of limited opportunity and creating a different future for myself and those who come after me. It represents freedom and taking control of my own life and future. The legacy I hope to leave is one of courage, growth, and service. I want to show others that their circumstances do not define their potential. Through my education and future career, I hope to help people heal, flourish, and create meaningful lives for themselves. I strive to live as an example. Most importantly, I hope future generations of my family, and those currently around me, will see my journey and believe that they, too, can create the future they envision for themselves.

My decision to pursue a degree related to mental health has been shaped by both personal experiences and a deep desire to help others navigate life's challenges. Mental health has impacted my family in profound ways, and witnessing those struggles has given me both a passion for understanding human behavior and a clear sense of purpose for my future career. Growing up, mental health was rarely discussed in my family. Emotional communication and vulnerability were uncommon, despite the fact that trauma and mental health challenges were present in previous generations. As a teenager, I became fascinated by psychology and mental health. One of my favorite musical artists released an album in which each song explored a different mental health disorder and personality type. What began as curiosity quickly turned into a genuine interest. I spent hours researching psychology and even purchased the DSM-5 to read on my own simply because I wanted to better understand the human mind. My interest became deeply personal after high school. While I was away volunteering with a nonprofit organization, my parents' marriage ended and my family began facing significant emotional and mental health struggles. When I returned home, I found myself trying to support family members who were carrying years of unresolved trauma, fear, loneliness, and emotional pain. One of the most difficult experiences was watching my father struggle with his mental health while refusing professional support. My sister and I repeatedly tried to help him, encourage him, and connect him with resources, but we ultimately learned that healing is something a person must choose for themselves. The experience was heartbreaking, but it also taught me important lessons about compassion, boundaries, and the complexity of mental health challenges. These experiences transformed the way I view people. I have learned that many individuals carry invisible burdens that others may never see. Behind difficult behaviors are often stories of trauma, grief, fear, or unmet emotional needs. Rather than judging people for their struggles, I have developed a deep empathy for those who are suffering and a desire to help them find hope and healing. My experiences have led me to pursue a career in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Art Therapy. I believe that everyone deserves access to support, understanding, and healthy tools for processing life's challenges. I am particularly passionate about helping individuals who have experienced trauma, family dysfunction, mental illness, or significant life transitions. Art and creativity can provide powerful avenues for self-expression and healing, especially for those who struggle to put their experiences into words. Ultimately, I am pursuing a degree in mental health because I have seen firsthand how deeply mental health affects individuals, families, and communities. I want to dedicate my life to helping others navigate those challenges, build resilience, and create healthier futures for themselves. The struggles my family faced have given me empathy, purpose, and a calling that continues to guide my education and career goals.