At sixteen years old, in one moment, I was blowing out my sixteen birthday candles, and these subsequent thoughts began to assail my mind like life was over, there was no point to living, and hopelessness settled in for weeks. I was unaware of how drastically these thoughts altered my life for many years. Conversations occurred throughout my adulthood that helped me understand a little that these were not everyone's thoughts. My beliefs at the time included just getting over it and trusting God. In my early twenties, while my beautiful children slept, I knelt on my kitchen floor and held a knife to my wrist. I felt hopeless, alone, and tired of the struggle. I was a person of faith! How did I end up here? In that moment, life stepped in, and I committed to understanding what was happening to me and helping others. Yes, trusting God was a part of it! But God gave us intelligence to pursue knowledge, and I needed knowledge! I researched, asked questions, and came to understand that I suffered from clinical depression. The ebb and flow of depression eased with conversations with others who had experienced what I had. I began to pray, practice mindfulness, and take walks in nature. I have shared my experience with many people who don't see me as someone who experienced hopelessness. They see a person who has empathy for the brokenness in others, hope for life, and someone who encourages others to chase their dreams. I also came to understand that my husband, a Vietnam Veteran, suffered from PTSD. I went into research mode and sought to understand the effects of PTSD, treatments, and how to support someone with PTSD. Treatment had changed since my husband had left the Marine Corp. Little was known about treating PTSD fifty years ago. However, research has made a significant impact on the understanding of PTSD and effective treatments. In 2020, my youngest son was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. In an attempt to understand how to support him, I fell in love with psychology. I pursued a Bachelor's in Psychology and completed it this year. I am currently working toward a Master's in Counseling for Mental Health. My goal is to support others in understanding that a mental health diagnosis does not define them; it is a challenge, unique to each individual, and to help people overcome those challenges in pursuit of their dreams. Mental health awareness has grown over the last decade, and I am excited to be a part of that growth! Yet, there is still much to accomplish! Part of my career goal is to advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves. Whatever someone is struggling with, gaining understanding is a powerful tool! To understand a diagnosis and how it affects your life, and yet not let it define who you are or limit your dreams, is possible. I am living the reality of that concept! Pursuing a degree in my fifties has been challenging, yet so worth it if I can see others empowered by my story!

A lack of cultural understanding led to a rough start with my new mother-in-law over thirty-seven years ago! My husband is from a Hispanic/German background. When I met my mother-in-law, she offered to cook some food for us. I declined, trying to be polite and not be a burden to her. She was deeply offended by my refusal. We worked the conflict out but it was an eye-opening moment for me. I thought, also coming from a German heritage, that I would understand her. However, she identified more with her husband's culture than her own. People from Hispanic cultures offer food to guests out of respect and to honor them. Refusal is similar to a slap in the face! It is a refusal of a gift freely offered and tells them that you believe you are better than them. The next time she offered to feed us, I accepted with thankfulness! Understanding culture, perspectives, and environments broadens our knowledge of how others think and live. We can avoid situations like I experienced with my mother-in-law by simply exploring the cultures around us. However, that can only be the beginning of understanding cultural diversity. In the United States, cultures tend to mix together as acculturation occurs. Traveling to other countries where the cultures are fully celebrated provides the opportunity to become fully immersed in it. The experience broadens our perspectives and provides insights into how others adapt to challenges, overcome adversity, and celebrate life. Traveling to other countries can open our eyes to our own biases. We may not be aware of them until a situation causes us to reconsider our thoughts. Generalizations about other cultures can be revealed. Perhaps an idea about another culture was planted into our thoughts through a generalization offered by someone. When we see the culture firsthand, it breaks down those generalizations. We begin to see people more clearly. Seeing people more clearly opens up the potential for personal growth and development as preconceived ideas are revealed and we take the opportunity to change them. Travel provides the opportunity to experience cultures in their fullness and creates opportunities to grow through further exploration of our own ideas.

Amazing breakthroughs happen when people feel accepted and are encouraged to develop their strengths! Too often, those with mental health issues feel they are their issues and lose sight of their strengths. My philosophy is that there are times when people need someone to walk with them, be heard, bear witness to their struggles, and then be empowered to continue their journey! I joined the American Psychological Association to be a part of advocacy. Advocacy is vital to establishing services for people, and the American Psychological Association is a part of that advocacy. My husband, a Vietnam Vet, struggled with PTSD. I never understood how I could help him. I read articles and pursued an understanding of how PTSD develops and treatment plans. My younger sister had a son with autism. I was frustrated that I had no answers for her. Then, my adult son was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. In an attempt to help him walk through that diagnosis, I started studying psychology and developed a passion for helping people with mental health disorders. From a young age, I wondered why people say or do the things they do. Helping my husband without doing further harm, and the event with my son brought that back. Simply understanding was not enough. When I spoke with my sister about pursuing a degree in psychology at 52, she made a statement that resonated with me. She said, "You're spending time anyway, why not do what you love?". The decision was made, and I obtained a Bachelor's in Psychology. However, my pursuit felt unfinished even as I celebrated the accomplishment. I desired to know more and began a Master's in Counseling for Mental Health. Being well-trained in this field is vital to the well-being of others. Mastering any craft is challenging yet rewarding. Time, good study habits, and encouragement play a significant role. Educational costs do, too. My challenge to finish is financial. To make an impact on mental health, I need to continue pursuing the understanding necessary to create change on a societal level. I want to advocate for others with the most profound knowledge I can obtain and be a voice for those who cannot advocate for themselves. I will be halfway to accomplishing this goal when finances run out. This scholarship will cover a substantial part of the cost to get me across that finish line so I can empower others to cross their finish line!