I am a 47-year-old master's student in counseling, and I believe it is never too late to fully step into the work you were meant to do. My path to this degree has been shaped by personal lived experience. Throughout my lifetime, I have fostered deep empathy and an unshakeable commitment to showing up for others. I have channeled that drive into my community in multiple ways. I am a CASA advocate standing up for children who need a voice. I also serve as Board President of AVA Community Art Center, nurturing creativity as a force for connection and healing. Additionally, I was a small business owner who used resourcefulness, creativity, and hard work to build something from the ground up. My passions live at the intersection of mental health, art, and advocacy. I believe the creative process is profoundly therapeutic, and that access to both counseling and the arts should not be a privilege but afforded to all. My goal is to open my own practice that serves at-risk youth, families, and underrepresented communities. Utilizing evidence-based counseling, art therapy, and advocacy is foundational. By integrating every chapter of my life, my goal is to help people heal, grow, and be seen.