Giving back to others has always been a central part of my life, rooted deeply in my own journey of addiction and recovery. I began drinking alcoholically at the age of fourteen and struggled with substance use for many years before seeking help in 2018. Those early years were marked by chaos, isolation, and a constant battle to feel in control of my own life. Recovery was not easy, but it transformed my perspective, teaching me resilience, empathy, and the importance of supporting others who face similar challenges. Now, nearly eight years sober, I have dedicated myself to helping others navigate the difficult path of recovery, drawing on both my lived experience and professional knowledge. For the past five years, I have worked in the addiction treatment field, supporting individuals struggling with alcohol and substance use disorders. This work has allowed me to witness firsthand the profound impact that compassionate, trauma-informed care can have on a person’s life. I have guided clients through the complexities of early recovery, helped them develop coping skills, and encouraged them to envision a future beyond addiction. Each person I work with reinforces my belief that recovery is possible when individuals are met with understanding, structure, and encouragement. I have also observed the unique challenges that women and marginalized populations face in treatment, which has motivated me to advocate for equitable, inclusive, and empowering care for all clients. Giving back also extends to my personal involvement in the recovery community. I am an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous, serving as a sponsor and mentor to others who are beginning their journeys. Sharing my story allows me to validate the experiences of others, foster hope, and help clients develop strategies to manage cravings, navigate triggers, and rebuild relationships. Through this work, I have learned that support, accountability, and a sense of community are critical elements in sustaining long-term recovery. Looking ahead, I plan to continue this work by pursuing a graduate degree in social work and becoming a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). Achieving this goal will allow me to provide deeper, evidence-based interventions while maintaining the empathy, insight, and authenticity that come from lived experience. My vision is to integrate personal experience with professional training to create therapeutic environments where clients feel heard, validated, and empowered. I hope to continue advocating for patient-centered care, challenging stigma, and providing individualized support that addresses both mental health and substance use needs. Ultimately, giving back and helping the world for me means transforming my personal challenges into a source of guidance, empowerment, and hope for others. By continuing to work with individuals in recovery as a licensed therapist, I aspire to help clients reclaim their lives, develop resilience, and recognize that healing and growth are possible. My mission is to provide care that is compassionate, inclusive, and transformative, creating a ripple effect of recovery, empowerment, and hope that extends far beyond the walls of the treatment center. Through my work, I aim to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those navigating addiction and mental health challenges, and to help build a world where everyone has the support they need to thrive.

I have been living with depression for as long as I can remember. From my earliest memories, there has been a persistent weight, a cloud that made even the simplest tasks feel daunting. For the past fifteen years, my depression has fluctuated in intensity, ranging from periods of deep, almost crippling despair to moments where I was able to function and engage with life. Throughout these years, I have had to navigate the complex interplay between my mental health, my relationships, and my ambitions, often feeling misunderstood by those around me or overwhelmed by my own internal battles. Living with depression has required a level of perseverance that has shaped who I am today. Daily life sometimes felt like moving through thick fog, where even small tasks like getting out of bed, maintaining work responsibilities, or socializing with loved ones could feel insurmountable. There were times when I questioned my own strength and my ability to endure, yet I continued to push forward, learning through trial and error what helped me survive and gradually regain a sense of stability. Therapy, supportive relationships, and self-reflection became essential tools for coping. Over time, I also found a medication regimen that works for me, providing a foundation that allows me to manage symptoms and engage more fully with life. The difference it has made is profound — not as a cure, but as a steadying support that enables me to face challenges without being overwhelmed by them. My experience with depression has profoundly shaped my professional goals. I want to use my lived experience to support others struggling with mental health challenges, particularly in the field of addiction treatment. I understand the despair, the shame, and the hopelessness that can accompany mental illness, and I know how critical it is to be met with empathy, validation, and evidence-based care. Through my work, I hope to provide that same understanding, offering guidance, support, and a safe space for clients to process their experiences and build the tools they need for recovery. I am committed to helping individuals recognize that their mental health struggles do not define their worth or potential, and that healing, though often nonlinear, is possible. Beyond my professional aspirations, living with depression has taught me resilience, patience, and empathy. It has shaped my perspective on human suffering and recovery, providing me with insight into the challenges that clients face, and motivating me to advocate for compassionate, individualized care. I have learned the importance of persistence — that even in the darkest moments, small steps can accumulate into meaningful progress. I have also come to understand that mental illness is not a personal failing, but a human experience that requires understanding, support, and comprehensive care. Ultimately, my journey with depression has inspired me to dedicate my life to helping others navigate their own mental health challenges. I want to be a clinician who not only provides treatment but also models hope, resilience, and self-compassion. By combining professional training with lived experience, I hope to empower clients to reclaim control over their lives, build coping skills, and cultivate the belief that their struggles do not define them. My goal is to contribute to a field where people with mental illness and addiction feel seen, heard, and supported in every step of their recovery.

Living with a chronic medical condition has profoundly shaped my life, my sense of self, and my understanding of resilience. For many years, I experienced extreme fatigue, persistent pain, brain fog, and other symptoms that made even basic daily tasks feel overwhelming. There were periods when I felt entirely powerless over my own body, struggling to maintain work, social connections, and personal routines. The invisible nature of my condition often left me feeling isolated, misunderstood, or dismissed by others who could not see the depth of my struggles. Navigating these challenges taught me invaluable lessons in patience, self-compassion, and adaptability — qualities that have become central to my personal growth and professional development. Despite these limitations, I have been inspired to persevere and continue striving for meaningful accomplishments. I have learned to celebrate small victories — completing tasks that once felt impossible, pushing through particularly difficult days, and finding ways to remain engaged in my personal and professional life despite physical constraints. These experiences have reinforced my belief that resilience is built not in the absence of challenge, but through the intentional practice of perseverance and self-advocacy. This mindset has guided me to pursue education and professional work in healthcare, where I can use my personal insight to support and empower others facing similar obstacles. Living with a chronic condition has also heightened my empathy and awareness of the struggles others face when navigating healthcare systems, managing stigma, and balancing self-care with societal expectations. I have developed a deep understanding of how important it is to feel seen, heard, and validated, and I am committed to creating spaces where others can experience that recognition. My goal is to empower individuals to reclaim agency over their lives, develop resilience, and recognize their own strength, even in the face of adversity. Ultimately, my experiences have shown me that limitations do not define a person’s potential. Living with a chronic medical condition has strengthened my commitment to advocacy, compassion, and service. It has given me the tools to transform my personal challenges into a platform for helping others, offering support, guidance, and validation to those navigating their own struggles. I aim to contribute to a more equitable and empathetic world — one in which every person is empowered to pursue their potential, overcome obstacles, and live fully, regardless of the challenges they face. My journey has taught me that even in the midst of chronic illness, it is possible to create meaning, impact, and hope for oneself and others.

I chose a career in healthcare because of my personal journey with addiction and recovery, and because I want to contribute to a system that empowers patients, particularly women and other marginalized groups, to reclaim control over their lives. Having experienced the challenges of mental health struggles and substance use firsthand, I understand how transformative compassionate, trauma-informed care can be. My recovery taught me that healing is possible when people are met with respect, empathy, and practical tools to advocate for themselves — and I want to create that same environment for others. I know what it feels like to be vulnerable, silenced, or underestimated, and I am committed to being a healthcare professional who amplifies the voices of patients and supports them in making choices that honor their autonomy, identity, and lived experiences. Working in the treatment field for the past five years has reinforced my belief that healthcare is not just about treatment, but about empowerment. I have witnessed how trauma-informed, person-centered care helps patients reclaim agency over their recovery, whether it is managing cravings, processing difficult emotions, setting boundaries, or repairing relationships. My lived experience allows me to connect deeply with clients, fostering trust and understanding that helps them see their own strength and potential. I have seen firsthand how healthcare systems can fail women and marginalized individuals, from dismissing their concerns to overlooking the impact of trauma, and I am motivated to be part of systemic change — creating spaces where every patient’s experience is validated, supported, and treated with dignity. Healthcare, for me, is both a calling and an opportunity for advocacy. I want to use my professional knowledge and lived experience to dismantle stigma, challenge inequities, and ensure patients feel safe, empowered, and supported. I am particularly passionate about helping individuals struggling with addiction and mental health challenges navigate systems that often overlook their needs. By combining clinical skill with personal insight, I aim to offer care that is both effective and transformative, encouraging patients to trust themselves and their capacity for recovery. Ultimately, I chose healthcare because it allows me to be a catalyst for change, using my voice, experience, and education to empower others. My goal is to support patients in reclaiming their lives, advocate for equity and inclusion, and contribute to a healthcare system that recognizes strength, resilience, and autonomy as essential components of recovery. I am committed to creating spaces where individuals, especially women and marginalized populations, feel seen, validated, and capable of leading their own journeys toward health and healing.

Recovery, to me, means freedom — freedom from alcohol, from fear, and from the shame that once controlled my life. I started drinking alcoholically at around the age of thirteen after being sexually abused, and began using alcohol to escape uncomfortable emotions. For years, my drinking shaped my relationships, decisions, and sense of self. It wasn’t until 2018 that I asked for help, entering treatment terrified but ready to change. For the first time, I felt understood and connected, and I began the long process of rebuilding my life through therapy, structured support, and Alcoholics Anonymous. With almost eight years sober, I understand recovery as a daily commitment to honesty, growth, and self-compassion. It’s not just abstaining from substances — it’s learning to cope, to take responsibility, and to show up fully for myself and others. Recovery has also given my life purpose: I’ve been working in the treatment field for five years, supporting others in their journeys and witnessing firsthand the power of connection, empathy, and hope. This experience has inspired me to pursue a graduate degree in social work. My goal is to become a licensed therapist, helping others find freedom and meaning through recovery. I continue to manage my sobriety through AA, regular sponsorship, self-reflection, and maintaining a strong support network. Recovery has given me life, purpose, and the desire to help others heal — and it is the foundation on which I build both my personal and professional future.

My experience with addiction started when I was just thirteen years old. After suffering sexual abuse around that time, I felt I needed to escape. From the beginning, I drank alcoholically — not socially or occasionally, but as a way to cope. I didn’t understand it at the time, but alcohol quickly became the solution to every uncomfortable feeling I had. What started as something I thought I could control turned into a dependence that shaped nearly every part of my life. I spent years stuck in a cycle of guilt, denial, and fear, telling myself things weren’t “that bad” while knowing deep down that I was losing pieces of myself along the way. It wasn’t until 2018 that I finally reached a point where I couldn’t continue living the way I was. Asking for help was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but it also became the turning point of my life. When I first entered treatment, I felt broken and full of shame. But sitting in a room with other people who understood what I was feeling changed everything. For the first time, I didn’t feel alone. Through treatment, therapy, and the program of Alcoholics Anonymous, I began to learn who I really was underneath all the layers of fear and pain. Recovery gave me the tools to face life on life’s terms and the courage to be honest—with myself and others. Today, I have almost eight years sober. Recovery has taught me that sobriety isn’t just about not drinking—it’s about showing up, growing, and learning to live with purpose. Over the past five years, I’ve been working in the treatment field, and it’s become my passion. I’ve worked with people in all stages of recovery, and I’ve seen firsthand how powerful it is when someone begins to believe in themselves again. My own experience allows me to connect with clients on a deeper level because I’ve been where they are. I know what hopelessness feels like, but I also know that change is possible. I am able to share my testimony on sobriety to clients and give them hope that if I got sober, they can too. Those experiences have inspired me to continue my education and pursue a graduate degree in social work. My goal is to become a licensed therapist so I can help others heal the same way others helped me. I want to be able to provide both clinical support and genuine empathy to people struggling with addiction and mental health issues. I believe that recovery work is not just a career for me—it’s a calling. I continue to manage my recovery through active participation in Alcoholics Anonymous, regular meetings with my sponsor, and ongoing personal reflection. I also make it a priority to stay connected to my support network and to give back to others in recovery whenever I can. I know that recovery is a lifelong process, and I remain committed to nurturing my spiritual, emotional, and mental health every day. Addiction took a lot from me, but recovery has given me so much more. It gave me purpose, gratitude, and a genuine desire to help others find freedom, too. My education is the next step in turning that purpose into a lasting impact.