For years I allowed mental illness to have control over so many aspects of my life. My academics suffered to the point of being academically dismissed. My relationships became contentious playgrounds where childhood trauma played on repeat and my physical health went into a downward spiral. However, by faith, patience, and hard work I can confidently stand on the other side of this battle wiser and better equipped to help others. I understand now that my experiences have been for my growth and edification as well as the growth of those around me. As an intuitive empath, I have always found myself gravitating toward people who are in most need of help. Whether it be my students, loved ones, or strangers on the street; I’m always counseling and comforting those who have struggled with their mental health due to life’s inevitable challenges. With a background in economics, sociology, public administration, volunteering, and creative arts, I feel better equipped to tackle the root causes of mental illness and societal injustice within marginalized communities. For too long we’ve been either ignoring or putting a band-aid on complex and multifaceted issues when what it takes are deep-seated and thoughtful solutions that will heal and sustain progressive effects over time. These changes for me look like policy implementation, government assistance, revamped training practices, and non-profit management of social services. My goal is to operate a non-profit organization that provides social services to marginalized communities through the use of holistic and alternative medical practices. By incorporating aspects of meditation, nutrition, spirituality, and culturally competent mental healthcare I seek to implement effective changes within my community. At the age of 31, pursuing a degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling will be a significant shift but I will finally be trained and certified in an area that I believe has been my calling from the beginning. As a lifelong learner, I plan to not only attain this degree but to continue doing research, attending symposiums, and earning certifications that will inform the current body of literature and training that’s in place. I must ensure that the systems in place are culturally competent and beneficial to marginalized communities. I must facilitate open dialogue and foster genuine connections so that the stigma of seeking help is dismantled among communities of color. I must use every tool in my toolbox to create new methods of service that will sustain for generations while dismantling the dangerous systems that have decimated communities for decades. My legacy will be one of love, hope, and self-efficacy. They may not remember my name but they will remember what I’ve left behind and that is my ultimate goal.

One practical solution for helping more people that struggle with their mental health is to implement a designated period in which the government subsidizes a minimum of 10 free therapy sessions to every single American, regardless of their insurance provider. When I found myself in the throes of major depression I learned that my insurance company offered something called an EAP benefit in which I could receive 8 free sessions of therapy before my co-pay kicked in. In those 8 free sessions, I was able to gain a significant head start in my healing process without the worry of cost. During the pandemic, all Florida insurance providers offered free therapy sessions for over a year so I took advantage of those benefits again. It wasn't that I was severely depressed again but I was beginning a new phase in my life in the middle of a pandemic and it helped to have another therapist help me work through some of my thoughts and apprehensions. As we know cost, time, and even the diversity and availability of providers can cause barriers to access and deter people from ever seeking help. It's my philosophy that every single person needs a few sessions of therapy at least once in our lives to help us learn about healthy coping mechanisms. With inflation and a recession knocking on our door, loss of employment, illness and overall burnout from the pandemic, I believe that a certain amount of free therapy sessions is a step in the right direction.

Imagine being locked in a dark room as you frantically glide your hands along the wall looking for the light switch. The darkness is so intense that you can’t see your own hands in front of you. Your heart’s racing as your mind begins to imagine the most foreboding and twisted creatures lurking in the dark, waiting for your surrender. This is what major depression and generalized anxiety felt like for me. Not only did I feel alone but I felt misunderstood by everyone including myself. It wasn’t until I started intensive cognitive behavioral therapy at the urging of my mother that I realized that I didn’t have to live this way. For years I allowed mental illness to have control over so many aspects of my life. My academics suffered to the point of being academically dismissed. My relationships became contentious playgrounds where childhood trauma played on repeat and my physical health went into a downward spiral. However, by faith, patience, and hard work I can confidently stand on the other side of this battle wiser and better equipped to help others. I understand now that my experiences have been for my growth and edification as well as the growth of those around me. As an intuitive empath, I have always found myself gravitating toward people who are in most need of help. Whether it be my students, loved ones, or strangers on the street; I’m always counseling and comforting those who have struggled with their mental health due to life’s inevitable challenges. With a background in economics, sociology, public administration, volunteering, and creative arts, I feel better equipped to tackle the root causes of mental illness and societal injustice within marginalized communities. For too long we’ve been either ignoring or putting a band-aid on complex and multifaceted issues when what it takes are deep-seated and thoughtful solutions that will heal and sustain progressive effects over time. With a degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, I will finally be trained and certified in an area that I believe has been my calling from the beginning. As a lifelong learner, I plan to not only attain this degree but to continue doing research, attending symposiums, and earning certifications that will inform the current body of literature and training that’s in place. I must ensure that the systems in place are culturally competent and beneficial to marginalized communities. I must facilitate open dialogue and foster genuine connections so that the stigma of seeking help is dismantled among communities of color. I must use every tool in my toolbox to create new methods of service that will sustain for generations while dismantling the dangerous systems that have decimated communities for decades. My legacy will be one of love, hope, and self-efficacy. They may not remember my name but they will remember what I’ve left behind and that is my ultimate goal.