Growing up in a single parent household was very challenging for me as my mom was also 16 years old when she had me. My father was an alcoholic who never showed any interest in helping her with me in any way. My mother also struggled with substance abuse issues throughout my childhood. I am also someone who has struggled with mental illness. For instance, I have received help in therapy for depression and PTSD. As I have grown older, I have found that my only saving grace has been through getting an education and focusing on work. In the work I do now and will do in the future, I am committed to helping people who suffer from substance use disorder and mental health issues, as my parents did. To conclude, I am someone who has faced their own struggles and lived to tell about it. I have done this work for over 15 years as a certified substance abuse counselor. Today I am in my senior year of my bachelor's program in community psychology with hopes of completing my master's degree in family therapy. My goal is to help families and relationships recover from trauma and substance abuse disorder issues. My education and my life experiences have prepared me to do this important work. I especially want to help families and women who have been through domestic violence and are in need of recovery from those issues because I know what it feels like to have been in a situation where you feel trapped, hopeless, and unable to find happiness. I especially want to help marginalized families in our community because I have several friends who are trying to make a new life by surviving similar situations. My background allows me to empathize with these groups, and my counseling training has prepared me to provide the support and guidance they need in order to help them lead happier, healthier lives. Although my upbringing was difficult, I have established a new life in which I am determined to help others lead happier, healthier lives as well. This decision to pursue my Master's degree in family therapy provides an opportunity for me to continue helping others while building a satisfying career and supporting myself. In the future, I can see myself successfully advocating for the underprivileged or even directing a non-profit organization or large governmental agency dedicated to social welfare.