The mind and why people act the way they do is complex and deserve to be understood. I want to become a Child Mental Health Therapist and specifically help kids in the black community. I want to be the person I didn’t have when I was younger for other people. Our childhood experiences shape our behaviors and beliefs as we enter adulthood. If I can talk to and give a child resources and solutions to help lessen the effect of whatever negative thing is happening in their life. I want to do that. I don’t ever want a child to go through what I went through and feel alone and helpless. There were days as a kid when I didn’t want to live to see another day. I eventually enrolled in therapy which helped a lot. It was my outlet, someone there to listen and help me. A person who wanted to see me succeed and wasn’t biased. Seeing others happy and not limiting themselves and their lives because of their mental health makes me happy. There is a huge stigma around mental health that shouldn’t be there. It makes people stray away from getting the help they need. Through me becoming a therapist I want everyone to know that they are powerful, loved, and deserve to be here. Therapy can make a huge impact on your life, it can help you manage your stress, help improve your communication skills, give you coping skills to improve your quality of life, etc. There is a huge stigma around mental health in the black community that needs to be destroyed. If my family brushed me off and just told me” to go to church” or that “since I’m a child, I can’t be stressed” I probably wouldn’t be on this earth. Therapy saved me. Sometimes you need that extra person in your life who won’t judge you or have preconceptions about you. A person who has the educational background and whom you have a couple of shared experiences with. No one should ever be ashamed of getting help. Being a child doesn’t mean you don’t have problems or stressors. Maybe that child has to care of their family member with schizophrenia or they’re getting bullied. You never know what someone else is going through. Kids can also deal with getting bullied, abused, etc. Age doesn’t matter. According to the National Science Foundation, black women make up about 6.5% of the U.S., population. But only 2% of the STEM workforce is very disappointing. We are significantly underrepresented. I hope to break barriers in this field and help other women do the same thing. I will make sure my services are affordable and attainable. Your financial status shouldn’t matter or prevent you from getting the help that you need. Getting help shouldn’t be a luxury. Your mental health affects your entire life. Psychology is also very interesting, getting to understand people’s behaviors, cognitive processes, minds, etc. There are many branches of psychology such as Clinical, Developmental, Occupational Forensic, etc. There are so many career possibilities, yes it takes many years of schooling but you will get a very fulfilling career. I am determined to finish my schooling and help the world. I am so excited to see where this journey takes me.

The world needs more caring and empathetic people. I want to become a Child Mental Health Therapist and specifically help kids in the black community. I want to be the person I didn’t have when I was younger for other people. I deal with my mental health challenges. I am diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety. I haven’t let it stop me, I take it one day at a time, talk to a therapist, and use my coping skills. Our childhood experiences shape our behaviors and beliefs as we enter adulthood. If I can talk to and give a child resources and solutions to help lessen the effect of challenging experiences in their life. I want to do that. I don’t ever want a child to go through what I went through and feel alone and helpless. There were days as a kid when I didn’t want to live to see another day. Seeing others happy and not limiting themselves and their lives because of their mental health makes me happy. There is a huge stigma around mental health that shouldn’t be there. It makes people stray away from getting the help they need. Through me becoming a therapist I want everyone to know that they are powerful, loved, and deserve to be here. Therapy can make a huge impact on your life, it can help you manage your stress, help improve your communication skills, give you coping skills to improve your quality of life, etc. There is a huge stigma around mental health in the black community that needs to be destroyed. If my family brushed me off and just told me” to go to church” or that “since I’m a child, I can’t be stressed” I probably wouldn’t be on this earth. Therapy saved me. Sometimes you need that extra person in your life who won’t judge you or have preconceptions about you. A person who has an educational background and who you have a couple of shared experiences with. No one should ever be ashamed of getting help. Being a child doesn’t mean you don’t have problems or stressors. Maybe that child has to care of their family member with schizophrenia or they’re getting bullied. You never know what someone else is going through. Kids can also deal with getting bullied, abused, etc. Age doesn’t matter. According to the National Science Foundation, black women make up about 6.5% of the U.S., population. But only 2% of the STEM workforce is very disappointing. We are very underrepresented. I hope to break barriers in this field and help other women do the same thing. I will make sure my services are affordable and attainable. Your financial status shouldn’t matter or prevent you from getting the help that you need. Getting help shouldn’t be a luxury. Your mental health affects your entire life. Psychology is also very interesting, getting to understand people’s behaviors, mental processes, minds, etc. There are many branches of psychology such as Clinical, Developmental, Occupational Forensic, etc. There are so many career possibilities, yes it takes many years of schooling but you will get a very fulfilling career and be getting paid well. I am determined to finish my schooling and help the world. I am so excited to see where this journey takes me.

Nothing worth having comes easy I graduated high school in 2021 and was lost about what I wanted to do with my life after. I wanted to go to University, Dental School, become a Cardiac Sonographer, etc. I had so many ideas and knew I didn’t want to waste money. I decided to enroll in Community College for a year to give me some extra time to make up my mind. During that year I took a Psychology class and fell in love so I decided to transfer to Winston-Salem State University to get my Bachelor's Degree in Psychology. After I want to go to Graduate School to obtain my Master's Degree and become a Child Mental Health therapist. Since the decision was made on a whim I didn’t have that much money saved to go. I put all of my money towards the down payment for school and my mother had to take out thousands of dollars from her retirement fund to help me enroll. I was overjoyed and grateful but in the back of my mind, I knew it wasn’t going to be a breeze. It wasn’t enough to cover the whole semester. When I moved on campus I was working 2 jobs, at Dunkin Donuts and Popeyes trying to pull money together. I had to support myself along with paying for college. On most nights instead of being on campus chilling with my friends, I would be out until 2 am door dashing. Instead of going to football games, I had to clock into work. I was breaking my back trying to live the “regular college life” while working full-time. I was jealous, exhausted, and burnt out. I didn’t understand why life was so hard. Most of my friend's parents took out loans and barely had to work meanwhile I couldn’t do that. I was trying my best to accomplish my goals no matter what. I am a first-generation college student trying to pave the way for my family and trying to make an impact in the STEM field. There needs to be more black therapists and representation. I want to be the person I didn’t have when I was younger for other people. If I can talk to and give a child resources and solutions to help lessen the effect of challenging experiences in their life, I want to do that. According to the National Science Foundation, black women make up about 6.5% of the U.S., population. But only 2% of the STEM workforce which is very disappointing. We are significantly underrepresented. I hope to break barriers in this field and help other women do the same thing. I always kept faith in God and his plan for me, me going through these trials and tribulations will pay off in the long run.

The world needs more caring and empathetic people. I want to become a Child Mental Health Therapist and specifically help kids in the black community. I want to be the person I didn’t have when I was younger for other people. I deal with my mental health challenges. I am diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety. I haven’t let it stop me, I take it one day at a time, talk to a therapist and use my coping skills. Our childhood experiences shape our behaviors and beliefs as we enter adulthood. If I can talk to and give a child resources and solutions to help lessen the effect of challenging experiences in their life. I want to do that. I don’t ever want a child to go through what I went through and feel alone and helpless. There were days as a kid when I didn’t want to live to see another day. Seeing others happy and not limiting themselves and their lives because of their mental health makes me happy. There is a huge stigma around mental health that shouldn’t be there. It makes people stray away from getting the help they need. Through me becoming a therapist I want everyone to know that they are powerful, loved, and deserve to be here. Therapy can make a huge impact on your life, it can help you manage your stress, help improve your communication skills, give you coping skills to improve your quality of life, etc. There is a huge stigma around mental health in the black community that needs to be destroyed. If my family brushed me off and just told me” to go to church” or that “since I’m a child, I can’t be stressed” I probably wouldn’t be on this earth. Therapy saved me. Sometimes you need that extra person in your life that won’t judge you or have preconceptions about you. A person that has the education background and who you have a couple of shared experiences with. No one should ever be ashamed of getting help. Being a child doesn’t mean you don’t have problems or stressors. Maybe that child has to care of their family member with schizophrenia or they’re getting bullied. You never know what someone else is going through. Kids can also deal with getting bullied, abused, etc. Age doesn’t matter. According to the National Science Foundation, black women make up about 6.5% of the U.S., population. But only 2% of the STEM workforce is very disappointing. We are very underrepresented. I hope to break barriers in this field and help other women do the same thing. I will make sure my services are affordable and attainable. Your financial status shouldn’t matter or defer you from getting the help that you need. Getting help shouldn’t be a luxury. Your mental health affects your entire life. Psychology is also very interesting, getting to understand people’s behaviors, mental processes, minds, etc. There are many branches of psychology such as Clinical, Developmental, Occupational Forensic, etc. There are so many career possibilities, yes it takes many years of schooling but you will get a very fulfilling career and be getting paid well. I am determined to finish my schooling and help the world. I am so excited to see where this journey takes me.

The world needs more caring and empathetic people. I plan on becoming a Child Mental Health Therapist, making sure no child around me goes unheard. I want to help minority children specifically, I want to be a role model. I want to show them that even if the odds are against you, you can still prevail. There aren't many black women in this field which is disappointing, I am working to change that and to open more doors for women that look like me. It’s a proven fact that your experiences in childhood affect how you act, your personality, etc in adulthood. If I can come into a child’s life and have a positive impact, I want to do that. Our childhood experiences shape our behaviors and beliefs as we enter adulthood. If I can talk to and give a child resources and solutions to help lessen the effect of whatever negative thing is happening in their life. I want to do that. I don’t ever want a child to go through what I went through and feel alone and helpless. There were days as a kid when I didn’t want to live to see another day. I eventually enrolled in therapy which helped a lot. It was my outlet, a person that was there to listen and help me. A person that wanted to see me succeed and wasn’t biased. I deal with my mental health challenges. I am diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety. I haven’t let it stop me, I take it one day at a time, talk to a therapist and use my coping skills. Without having a therapist and a mother that advocated for me life would be so different. I am currently in school to get a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and eventually go to graduate school. I know there is a big stigma around mental health in the black community that needs to be destroyed. If my family brushed me off and just told me” to go to church” or that “since I’m a child, I can’t be stressed” I probably wouldn’t be on this earth. Therapy saved me. Being a child doesn’t mean you don’t have problems or stressors. Maybe that child has to care of their family member with schizophrenia or they’re getting bullied. You never know what someone else is going through. Sometimes you need that extra person who won’t judge you or have pre-conceptions about you. A person that has the education background and who you have a couple of shared experiences with. No one should ever be ashamed of getting help. Through my becoming a therapist I want everyone to know that they are powerful, loved, and deserve to be here. Therapy can make a huge impact n your life, it can help you manage your stress, help improve your communication skills, give you coping skills to improve your quality of life, etc. I will make sure my services are affordable and attainable. Your financial status shouldn’t matter or defer you from getting the help that you need. I am so excited to see where this journey takes me.

I have watched my mother be in abusive relationships for the majority of my life, whether it was physical or mental, it was always there. From the age of around eight until now. When I was younger it was just me, my twin sister, and my younger sister. My younger sister was the daughter of my mom’s boyfriend and that played a big part in what was happening. Every day there was constant arguing and bickering in the house, most of the time when my mom and her boyfriend started to argue my mom would tell me and my siblings to go into the room. But other times we would see everything. I would see my mom get punched, screamed at, and pushed around. When he would be coming at me and my twin she would try to intervene but it would just create more backlash for her. I felt trapped, I didn’t want to tell my family members because I didn’t want anything bad to happen. But even as a little kid, I knew things weren’t right. When I would stay at my grandparent's or godparents' house it wasn’t the same as being at home. The dynamic was different; there was more love over there and I was seen. I didn’t have to walk on pins and needles and be scared that something would pop off at any moment. But at home, I worried every day. At first, my mother was the only person being abused but then it seemed like her boyfriend turned on me and my twin sister. I felt like I was Cinderella and my younger sister was Cinderella’s sister. I felt like I was below my younger sister, she would get everything she wanted from her dad and I would be ignored. When we were arguing and she was clearly in the wrong I would get my head bashed in and she would come out on top. It made me not want to speak up anymore and just do what I was told. Now 10 years later some of the same things are still happening. My mother ended up leaving her ex-boyfriend and getting married. I thought after they broke up life would get better. It did for a couple of years until things took a turn for the worse. My stepdad has a lot of the same traits that my mom’s ex has, he mentally abuses everyone in the household and pushes my mom around and it seems like he does those things and gets away with it. That’s why I plan on getting my education and moving out. I am currently a freshman at Winston-Salem State University majoring in Psychology. I want to be a Child Mental Health Therapist or a therapist in general. I want to cater to the black community and be a reliable resource. I want more black women to be heard, not just women going through domestic violence but anyone with mental health problems. There is a stigma around mental health, especially in the black community. This makes people not want to reach out or think you are just a “crazy person” and not trying to find the core of the problem. I don’t ever want a person specifically children to go through what I went through and have no one to talk to. I want everyone to know there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I got through it and so can you.

A healthy and wealthy black therapist helping my community be heard and understood.

The mind and why people act the way they do is complex and deserve to be understood. I want to become a Child Mental Health Therapist and specifically help kids in the black community. I want to be the person I didn’t have when I was younger for other people. Our childhood experiences shape our behaviors and beliefs as we enter adulthood. If I can talk to and give a child resources and solutions to help lessen the effect of whatever negative thing is happening in their life. I want to do that. I don’t ever want a child to go through what I went through and feel alone and helpless. There were days as a kid when I didn’t want to live to see another day. I eventually enrolled in therapy which helped a lot. It was my outlet, someone there to listen and help me. A person that wanted to see me succeed and wasn’t biased. Seeing others happy and not limiting themselves and their lives because of their mental health makes me happy. There is a huge stigma around mental health that shouldn’t be there. It makes people stray away from getting the help they need. Through me becoming a therapist I want everyone to know that they are powerful, loved, and deserve to be here. Therapy can make a huge impact on your life, it can help you manage your stress, help improve your communication skills, give you coping skills to improve your quality of life, etc. There is a huge stigma around mental health in the black community that needs to be destroyed. If my family brushed me off and just told me” to go to church” or that “since I’m a child, I can’t be stressed” I probably wouldn’t be on this earth. Therapy saved me. Sometimes you need that extra person in your life that won’t judge you or have preconceptions about you. A person that has the education background and who you have a couple of shared experiences with. No one should ever be ashamed of getting help. Being a child doesn’t mean you don’t have problems or stressors. Maybe that child has to care of their family member with schizophrenia or they’re getting bullied. You never know what someone else is going through. Kids can also deal with getting bullied, abused, etc. Age doesn’t matter. According to the National Science Foundation, black women make up about 6.5% of the U.S, population. But only 2% of the STEM workforce is very disappointing. We are significantly underrepresented. I hope to break barriers in this field and help other women do the same thing. I will make sure my services are affordable and attainable. Your financial status shouldn’t matter or defer you from getting the help that you need. Getting help shouldn’t be a luxury. Your mental health affects your entire life. Psychology is also very interesting, getting to understand people’s behaviors, cognitive processes, minds, etc. There are many branches of psychology such as Clinical, Developmental, Occupational Forensic, etc. There are so many career possibilities, yes it takes many years of schooling but you will get a very fulfilling career and be getting paid well. I am determined to finish my schooling and help the world. I am so excited to see where this journey takes me.

I want to become a Child Mental Health Therapist and specifically help kids in the black community. I want to be the person I didn’t have when I was younger for other people. Our childhood experiences shape our behaviors and beliefs as we enter adulthood. If I can talk to and give a child resources and solutions to help lessen the effect of whatever negative thing is happening in their life. I want to do that. I don’t ever want a child to go through what I went through and feel alone and helpless. There were days as a kid when I didn’t want to live to see another day. I eventually enrolled in therapy which helped a lot. It was my outlet, a person that was there to listen and help me. A person that wanted to see me succeed and wasn’t biased. Seeing others happy and not limiting themselves and their lives because of their mental health makes me happy. There is a huge stigma around mental health that shouldn’t be there. It makes people stray away from getting the help they need. Through me becoming a therapist I want everyone to know that they are powerful, loved, and deserve to be here. Therapy can make a huge impact on your life, it can help you manage your stress, help improve your communication skills, give you coping skills to improve your quality of life, etc. There is a huge stigma around mental health in the black community that needs to be destroyed. If my family brushed me off and just told me” to go to church” or that “since I’m a child, I can’t be stressed” I probably wouldn’t be on this earth. Therapy saved me. Sometimes you need that extra person in your life that won’t judge you or have preconceptions about you. A person that has the education background and who you have a couple of shared experiences with. No one should ever be ashamed of getting help. Being a child doesn’t mean you don’t have problems or stressors. Maybe that child has to care of their family member with schizophrenia or they’re getting bullied. You never know what someone else is going through. Kids can also deal with getting bullied, abused, etc. Age doesn’t matter. According to the National Science Foundation, black women make up about 6.5% of the U.S, population. But only 2% of the STEM workforce is very disappointing. We are very underrepresented. I hope to break barriers in this field and help other women do the same thing. I will make sure my services are affordable and attainable. Your financial status shouldn’t matter or defer you from getting the help that you need. Getting help shouldn’t be a luxury. Your mental health affects your entire life. Psychology is also very interesting, getting to understand people’s behaviors, mental processes, minds, etc. There are many branches of psychology such as Clinical, Developmental, Occupational Forensic, etc. There are so many career possibilities, yes it takes many years of schooling but you will get a very fulfilling career and be getting paid well. I am determined to finish my schooling and help the world. I am so excited to see where this journey takes me.

I want to become a Child Mental Health Therapist and specifically help kids in the black community. I want to be the person I didn’t have when I was younger for other people. Our childhood experiences shape our behaviors and beliefs as we enter adulthood. If I can talk to and give a child resources and solutions to help lessen the effect of whatever negative thing is happening in their life. I want to do that. I don’t ever want a child to go through what I went through and feel alone and helpless. I was diagnosed with Anxiety and Depression as a teen, which stemmed from the things that occurred in my childhood and being overwhelmed. I didn’t know how to cope. Everyone around me thought that I was okay, meanwhile, I was struggling. I eventually got therapy and it changed my life. Seeing others happy and not limiting themselves and their lives because of their mental health makes me happy. There is a huge stigma around mental health that shouldn’t be there. It makes people stray away from getting the help they need. Getting a secondary education will open many doors for me, I plan on not only taking courses in school but also networking. Sometimes knowing a friend of a friend can get you far. I would love to start getting internships next summer and maybe shadowing someone already in the field. I am a first-generation college student and getting my education will show others in my family and the community that they can do it too and beat the odds. I am paying for everything myself, I have a part-time job while balancing full-time school. It can be very overwhelming and lonely at times. Being away from my family, having a lot on my plate, and just trying to figure out my way in life is stressful. Through me becoming a therapist I want everyone to know that they are powerful, loved, and deserve to be here. Therapy can make a huge impact on your life, it can help you manage your stress, help improve your communication skills, give you coping skills to improve your quality of life, etc. There is a huge stigma around mental health in the black community that needs to be destroyed. If my family brushed me off and just told me” to go to church” or that “since I’m a child, I can’t be stressed” I probably wouldn’t be on this earth. Therapy saved me. According to the National Science Foundation, black women make up about 6.5% of the U.S, population. But only 2% of the STEM workforce is very disappointing. We are very underrepresented. I hope to break barriers in this field and help other women do the same thing. I am so excited to see where this journey takes me.

Higher education can open more doors and give you more resources. There are specific jobs you can't get without a degree. Also, the college experience is very intriguing to me, whether you're going to a college in-state or out of state there are so many new people to talk to and build connections with. People from different backgrounds, ethnicities, family dynamics, etc. Personally, I am working on getting my Bachelor's in Psychology, I want to become a Child Mental Health Therapist and specifically work with minority children. Without higher education, I wouldn't be able to get my dream job. Going to college can increase your earnings and set you and your family up for life. Even an Associate's Degree looks better to a job than a High School Diploma. It shows that you took the next step and applied yourself. That you are qualified for the position or at least have some background knowledge. When I graduated high school I was so lost, I wanted to be a Dental Assistant, Sonographer, Beautician, Clothing Designer, etc. I took some time to listen and learn about myself. I thought about my life and what challenges I have faced and the things that I love. Then mental health and counseling came along, I decided to take a couple of Psychology classes at Community College and I was sold! I transferred to my dream school which is the illustrious Winston-Salem State University. I am a first-generation college student so going to college is a big step for my family and me. No one else has done what I am doing, I am taking a leap of faith and seeing where it takes me. Of course, I have a Plan A, B, and C, you have to try to be prepared for everything. College also gives you a taste of the real world, no one will make you go to class or turn in assignments. In high school, they were very hard on you and pushed you to be successful, now everything is up to you. You have to manage your time well and network. I manage being a full-time college student, working a part-time job, running a business, and being in organizations on campus. I am determined to get the most out of college. College isn't always peaches and cream, there are days you feel unmotivated and don't want to go to class. Days where you are very homesick and lonely. But you just have to remember this is a new journey and you have to go through the process. Everything you are doing right now will pay off in the long run.

Mental health affects a person indefinitely. Your thoughts and feelings are important and you deserved to feel wanted and be heard. Our mental health affects how we feel, think and act. It matters just as much as when you are a child to becoming a adult. When your mental health is good you feel more positive, enjoy life more and just feel good. Happy thoughts are what gets us through the day. You should think highly of yourself. I know when I am struggling with my mental health I seclude myself, stop eating as much, listen to sad music, start procrastinating etc. I'm not my best self. Whenever I'm not feeling good I eat/ drink my comfort sweets which are coffee and mint chocolate ice cream. I either vent to someone or type out my feelings in my notes which makes the weight of whatever situation feel lighter. Most importantly I cry, which is normal. I used to try to hold in my emotions and just move on like nothing happened but that is not healthy. One day those bottled up emotions will explode and you will be left with a bigger mess than before. That anger from past situations will just move on to something else so you might think one small thing is the end of the world. When I suffered a devastating loss it made me hate the world, I was mad at everyone, God included. My mental health was at a all time low. My heart felt so heavy, I felt hate, envy, aggression, etc. I wasn't myself and everyone around me recognized that. For a while it made me "hard" in order not to deal with what happened and I shut everyone out. Looking back doing that was only hurting me. It's okay to feel your feelings. I started therapy and reminded myself of all the good times we had. I started to recognize who the loss was making me become. I didn't like that person. I started to understand that life goes on, being stuck on this situation is blocking my blessings. I deserved to smile again and be genuinely happy. Life is too short to walk around mad all of the time. It was time to be grateful and get back on the right track. I kept reminding myself of who I am, my goals, and what I will hopefully accomplish in my life. You have to choose you everytime. Life is worth living, someone out there loves you and wants to see you succeed. Everyone on this earth has a purpose.

I am a hardworking teenager who's dedicated to removing the stigma around mental health and helping people in need. I am one of five children and am the second oldest, I go to college, work part-time, have my own business, and am involved in clubs around campus. I want to become a Child Mental Health Therapist and specifically help kids in the black community. I know becoming a therapist takes a lot of hard work and dedication but I am committed. I want to be the person I didn’t have when I was younger for other people. Our childhood experiences shape our behaviors and beliefs as we enter adulthood. If I can talk to and give a child resources and solutions to help lessen the effect of whatever negative thing is happening in their life. I want to do that. I thought about my life and what challenges I have faced and the things that I loved. Then mental health and counseling came along, I decided to take a couple of Psychology classes at community college and I was sold! Getting a secondary education will open many doors for me, I plan on not only taking courses in school but also networking. Sometimes knowing a friend of a friend can get you far. I would love to start getting internships next summer and maybe shadowing someone already in the field. According to the National Science Foundation, black women make up about 6.5% of the U.S, population. But only 2% of the STEM workforce is very disappointing. We are very underrepresented. I hope to break barriers in this field and help other women do the same thing. I have struggled with Anxiety and Depression all of my life. At a point, I didn’t want to be on this earth. So getting my degree means so much to me. I have wanted to throw in the towel many times but stuck it out, I know I have a purpose to fulfill. Going to mental hospitals and taking medication when I was at my lowest has taught me that life is worth living and that I can conquer anything. If I would have committed suicide I never would have graduated high school, never would have been able to attend my dream school, or got the chance to help raise my nephew. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel. With my profession I intend on helping the world, I never want a child to feel the way I did.

The world needs more caring and empathetic people. I plan on becoming a Child Mental Health Therapist, making sure no child around me goes unheard. I want to specifically help minority children, I want to be a role model. I want to show them that even if the odds are against you, you can still prevail. There aren't many black women in this field which is disappointing, I am working to change that and to open more doors for women that look like me. It’s a proven fact that your experiences in childhood affect how you act, your personality, etc in your adulthood. If I can come into a child’s life and have a positive impact, I want to do that. I deal with my own mental health challenges. I am diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety. I haven’t let it stop me, I take it one day at a time, talk to a therapist and use my coping skills. Without having a therapist and a mother that advocated for me life would be so different. I am currently in school to get a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and eventually go to graduate school. I know there is a big stigma around mental health in that black community that needs to be destroyed. If my family brushed me off and just told me” to go to church” or that “since I’m a child, I can’t be stressed” I probably wouldn’t be on this earth. Therapy saved me. Being a child doesn’t mean you don’t have problems or stressors. Maybe that child has to care for their family member with schizophrenia or they’re getting bullied. You never know what someone else is going through. Sometimes you need that extra person in your life that won’t judge you or have pr-conceptions about you. A person that has an educational background and who you have a couple of shared experiences with. No one should ever be ashamed of getting help. Through me becoming a therapist I want everyone to know that they are powerful, loved, and deserve to be here. Therapy can make a huge impact on your life, it can help you manage your stress, help improve your communication skills, give you coping skills to improve your quality of life, etc. I will make sure my services are affordable and attainable. Your financial status shouldn’t matter or defer you from getting the help that you need. I am so excited to see where this journey takes me.

I just want to genuinely happy and be a light in everyone's lives around me. I want to become a Child Mental Health Therapist and a High School Counselor. Everyone deserves to be heard and feel like they belong on this earth.

I chose Psychology because I want to become a Child Mental Health Therapist and specifically help kids in the black community. I know becoming a therapist takes a lot of hard work and dedication but I am committed. I want to be the person I didn’t have when I was younger for other people. Our childhood experiences shape our behaviors and beliefs as we enter adulthood. If I can talk to and give a child resources and solutions to help lessen the effect of whatever negative thing is happening in their life. I want to do that. But when I graduated high school I was so lost, I wanted to be a Dental Assistant, Sonographer, Beautician, etc. I took some time to listen and learn about myself. I thought about my life and what challenges I have faced and the things that I loved. Then mental health and counseling came along, I decided to take a couple of Psychology classes at community college and I was sold! Seeing others happy and not limiting themselves and their lives because of their mental health makes me happy. There is a huge stigma around mental health that shouldn’t be there. It makes people stray away from getting the help they need. Getting a secondary education will open many doors for me, I plan on not only taking courses in school but also networking. Sometimes knowing a friend of a friend can get you far. I would love to start getting internships next summer and maybe shadowing someone already in the field. I am a first-generation college student and getting my education will show others in my family and the community that they can do it too and beat the odds. I am paying for everything myself and will most likely have a part-time job in school while being a full-time student. I will have to sacrifice a lot but nothing worth having comes easy. According to the National Science Foundation, black women make up about 6.5% of the U.S, population. But only 2% of the STEM workforce is very disappointing. We are very underrepresented. I hope to break barriers in this field and help other women do the same thing

I am striving to get a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. I am a first-generation college student and would love to make myself and my family proud. I want to become a Child Mental Health Therapist and specifically help kids in the black community. I know becoming a therapist takes a lot of hard work and dedication but I am committed. I want to be the person I didn’t have when I was younger for other people. Our childhood experiences shape our behaviors and beliefs as we enter adulthood. If I can talk to and give a child resources and solutions to help lessen the effect of whatever negative thing is happening in their life. I want to do that. But when I graduated high school I was so lost, I wanted to be a Dental Assistant, Sonographer, beautician, etc. I took some time to listen and learn about myself. I thought about my life and what challenges I have faced and the things that I loved. Then mental health and counseling came along, I decided to take a couple of Psychology classes at community college and I was sold! Seeing others happy and not limiting themselves and their lives because of their mental health makes me happy. There is a huge stigma around mental health that shouldn’t be there. It makes people stray away from getting the help they need. Getting a secondary education will open many doors for me, I plan on not only taking courses in school but also networking. Sometimes knowing a friend of a friend can get you far. I would love to start getting internships next summer and maybe shadowing someone already in the field. My education will show my family that I really “made it” and pushed through everything that’s happened. I have struggled with Anxiety and Depression all of my life. At a point, I didn’t want to be on this earth. So getting my degree means so much. I always wanted to throw in the towel but stuck it out. I know I have a purpose to fulfill. I am a first-generation college student and getting my education will show others in my family and the community that they can do it too and beat the odds. I am paying for everything myself and will most likely have a part-time job in school while being a full-time student. I will have to sacrifice a lot but nothing worth having comes easy. According to the National Science Foundation, black women make up about 6.5% of the U.S, population. But only 2% of the STEM workforce is very disappointing. We are very underrepresented. I hope to break barriers in this field and help other women do the same thing. Minority children need a role model and someone there to listen to them. A person who can relate to some of the things they have experienced as being black in America. Diversity in the workplace is very important, no one wants to feel like an outsider. Having people from different backgrounds and countries brings spice to the company. It makes the company more creative and the employees can learn from each other. Whenever I see another black girl, I am more comfortable and know I’m not alone.

I want to become a Child Mental Health Therapist and specifically help kids in the black community. I know becoming a therapist takes a lot of hard work and dedication but I am committed. I want to be the person I didn’t have when I was younger for other people. Our childhood experiences shape our behaviors and beliefs as we enter adulthood. If I can talk to and give a child resources and solutions to help lessen the effect of whatever negative thing is happening in their life. I want to do that. But when I graduated high school I was so lost, I wanted to be a Dental Assistant, Sonographer, beautician, etc. I took some time to listen and learn about myself. I thought about my life and what challenges I have faced and the things that I loved. Then mental health and counseling came along, I decided to take a couple of Psychology classes at community college and I was sold! Seeing others happy and not limiting themselves and their lives because of their mental health makes me happy. There is a huge stigma around mental health that shouldn’t be there. It makes people stray away from getting the help they need. Getting a secondary education will open many doors for me, I plan on not only taking courses in school but also networking. Sometimes knowing a friend of a friend can get you far. I would love to start getting internships next summer and maybe shadowing someone already in the field. My education will show my family that I really “made it” and pushed through everything that’s happened. I have struggled with Anxiety and Depression all of my life. At a point, I didn’t want to be on this earth. So getting my degree means so much. I have wanted to throw in the towel many times but stuck it out. I know I have a purpose to fulfill. I am a first-generation college student and getting my education will show others in my family and the community that they can do it too and beat the odds. I am paying for everything myself and will most likely have a part-time job in school while being a full-time student. I will have to sacrifice a lot but nothing worth having comes easy. According to the National Science Foundation, black women make up about 6.5% of the U.S, population. But only 2% of the STEM workforce is very disappointing. We are very underrepresented. I hope to break barriers in this field and help other women do the same thing.

1. I deserve this scholarship because I am rich and famous and just want more cash in my pocket to travel the world and never help anyone else with their financial problems. 2. I want to graduate college and never use my degree, just sit in front of the television and watch horror movies all day. 3. I don't have problems/ obstacles in my life, the world spins on its axis because of me. I can snap my fingers and whatever I want presents itself in front of me. I love it!

“The influence of a mother in the lives of her children is beyond calculation.” —James E. Faust My mother, is a resilient and powerful lady, a woman who makes things happen, a woman who has gone through many hardships and still walks with her head held high. My mother is the strongest woman that I know, she has shaped me to be a successful and caring young lady. I strive to have her drive, her carelessness, and her tough skin. She has loved me unconditionally despite my attitude, mental health problems, and hard headiness. it's like she can pull things out of mid-air, all the odds will be against her and she will still prevail. I have such a high drive to succeed because of her, if I want something I will go and get it, whether it's me having to work four, twelve hours shifts to buy it or it's me speaking up for myself. Even with 5 kids, she tries to make sure everyone feels loved and knows that they have a special place in her heart. She has taught me the importance of loving yourself and learning about yourself. Without her, I wouldn't be me.

My name is Nykiaya, and I am a 19-year-old businesswoman. One of my favorite hobbies is running a jewelry business called JewelrybyGoldenK. Where I sell Bangles, Safety Keychains, Airpod Cases, Custom Clothing, etc. I started the business at 16 years old, the idea fell into my lap. I was on a road trip with my family and was scrolling on Instagram, I saw a lady selling bangles, I showed my mom and she was instantly on board. She bought the materials we thought we needed and we went from there. This wasn’t my first business, I had a Custom Clothing/ Merchandise business before this called GoldenKDesigns. So I was already used to being a creator and selling a product(s). But Jewelry was out of my league, yes I always wore jewelry but I didn't know where to find vendors, what materials were good and bad. Where to get cheap but quality charms, how to attach a charm to a bracelet, etc. I knew me launching this jewelry business everything wasn’t going to be perfect but it was worth a try. Three years later I am still doing it and I am in love, even though running a business is stressful, I wouldn't trade it for the world. I am working day in and day out, taking quality pictures, packing orders, updating inventory, marketing my products on Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, etc. While living my life as a regular teenager, working full-time and balancing school. I am transferring to Winston-Salem State University in the fall and I plan on running my business out of my dorm. I love what I do, I go to vendor events and sell my products across North and South Carolina. Doing this gets me out of my comfort zone. I am a very quiet and introverted person but I know as soon as I step foot at an event I put my business hat on and it's time to get this money and network. Having this business has changed me for the better and expanded my mind. I am making my family proud and doing something I enjoy everyday. This business it my baby and there has been many ups and downs but I am dedicated to stick with it and see where it takes me.

​​​​ My name is Nykiaya Williams-Brown and I am nineteen. I currently am a freshman at Rowan Cabarrus Community College who in the Fall will be transferring to Winston-Salem State Universality to major in Psychology. I am a first generation college student which I am very proud of. With that degree I aspire to be a Child Mental Health Therapist, I feel pulled to the mental health field because I want to be the person I didn’t have growing up to others. I don’t ever want any child to not feel seen or wanted. Everyone has a purpose on this earth. I am one of the two owners of a Jewelry & Accessorize business called JewelrybyGoldenK. I started the business when I was 16 and it has opened so many doors for myself and pushed me out of my comfort zone. My slogan is “ Let Me Accessories Your Life” , I want everyone to feel cute whether they are wearing a charm bracelet or a sneaker keychain. People deserve to look nice and have it be affordable. I love School, Working and running my business but it hasn’t always been smooth sailing. I have Depression and Anxiety so sometimes little tasks don’t seem so little, just going up to someone to sell something or just make a new friend is exhausting and scary. Sometimes I just want to lay in my bed all day or crawl into a ball but I know that isn’t the way to go. To cope with everything I do counselling every two weeks, and music is a very big help. Whenever I am not feeling okay I tend to turn on music and let the beat take me away. But if I’m not at home I tell myself over and over in my head that “it will be okay”, “I am not alone”. If I don’t feel like expressing my troubles to anyone I simply go on the Notes app on my phone and express my feelings there. Sometimes these things help, sometimes they don’t. Some days are better than others, I just have to remember to take it slow. Coping with your mental illness isn’t a one day job, it is a lifelong journey. Whenever I am really going through it I remind myself of what I am looking forward to. That might be looking forward to payday, looking forward to in two weeks getting my hair done. Or thinking about myself in 10 years, how different life will be. How all my handwork will pay off, one day I will be financially stable, one day I will be able to do what I want at my own leisure. One day my troubles won’t hurt as much.