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Shyla Marcella Brown

865

Bold Points

1x

Finalist

Bio

I’m a mom, entrepreneur, and future massage therapist passionate about holistic healing. I’m working toward a career focused on myofascial release and trauma-informed care for women. My purpose is to create stability for my daughter and build a wellness program that helps women and teen girls break generational trauma and reconnect with their power.

Education

Cortiva Institute-Baltimore

Trade School
2025 - 2026
  • Majors:
    • Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Trade School

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Alternative Medicine

    • Dream career goals:

    • Administration and Food Pantry

      Jewish Family Services
      2016 – 20193 years

    Sports

    Swimming

    Varsity
    2002 – 20042 years

    Soccer

    Varsity
    2002 – 20053 years

    Awards

    • MVP

    Equestrian

    Junior Varsity
    1996 – 19971 year

    Arts

    • Joan Pritis Casting

      Acting
      2011 – 2012

    Public services

    • Volunteering

      Rock Island Animal Shelter — Surgery Sanitation
      2008 – 2008
    A Man Helping Women Helping Women Scholarship
    I am a mother, wellness practitioner, and aspiring massage therapist dedicated to helping women heal emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Much of my life has been shaped by overcoming instability, financial hardship, and personal challenges, and those experiences have fueled my passion to create healing spaces for others. I believe that women who are supported and empowered in their bodies and minds can break cycles of trauma, rebuild confidence, and make lasting positive impacts in their families and communities. I am currently studying massage therapy with a focus on myofascial release and emotional trauma release. This specialization is deeply meaningful to me because the body often holds onto stress and generational patterns long after the mind has tried to move forward. Through massage and trauma-informed bodywork, I want to help women release tension, process emotional pain, and reconnect with their inner strength. My studies equip me with the technical skills, professional knowledge, and holistic understanding I need to create safe, effective, and transformative experiences for those I serve. In addition to hands-on practice, I am working on a wellness app designed to provide women and teen girls with tools for self-care, emotional regulation, and nervous system balance. My goal with this app is to extend the reach of my work beyond individual sessions, making healing practices accessible to those who may not yet have access to in-person care. By combining technology with bodywork, I hope to help women and girls develop long-term skills for self-regulation, confidence, and wellness. This project is a tool to magnify the impact of my mission and reach those who need support most. My long-term vision is to build a national wellness brand and a comprehensive program for women and teen girls, combining in-person therapeutic services with digital tools like the app. I want to empower women to break generational trauma, understand their bodies, and cultivate resilience and emotional health. I also want my work to show my daughter that building a life of independence, purpose, and healing is possible, even after facing hardships. Through this career, I hope to contribute to a world where women are not just surviving but thriving. When women heal, they transform households, communities, and society as a whole. By combining massage therapy, trauma-informed care, and innovative tools for wellness, I want to make healing practices accessible, practical, and sustainable for women everywhere. My mission is to provide spaces and resources where women feel safe, supported, and empowered to reclaim their peace and strength. I am driven by the belief that one person’s healing can ripple outward, creating positive change that spans generations. Every step I take in school, in business, and in my personal life is guided by this commitment to uplift women, support my daughter, and leave a lasting impact on the world.
    Promising Pathways-Single Parent Scholarship
    The moment I realized my life had to change was the night my daughter looked at me and asked, “Mom, are we going to be okay?” We were dealing with instability, financial stress, emotional pressure, and an environment that did not feel peaceful or secure. That simple question cut straight through me. I knew I wanted to build a better life for her. One that was rooted in stability, healing, and long-term independence. That moment is what pushed me to return to school and pursue massage therapy and trauma informed bodywork. I am currently studying massage therapy with the intention of specializing in myofascial release and emotional trauma release for women. This field is deeply important to me because I’ve experienced how untreated stress, trauma, and instability can build up in the body. My studies allow me to understand the physical, emotional, and energetic layers of wellness, and I plan to use this training to help women release stored tension, regulate their nervous systems, and connect back to themselves. Massage therapy aligns with the work I already do in the wellness community and represents the next step in building something meaningful and sustainable. Being in school as a single parent has come with significant obstacles. Over the years, I’ve overcome homelessness, bankruptcy, a car repossession, and the emotional difficulty of separating myself from family members who were not healthy for me. I’ve experienced being taken advantage of, being scammed by people I thought I could trust, and having to start over more than once. Alongside that, I’ve had to juggle the pressures of entrepreneurship, parenting, and trying to maintain my sense of self-worth and direction. The biggest challenge has been learning to build stability while living in an environment that does not always support my independence. As I work toward moving out and creating a peaceful home for my daughter, I face financial pressure and emotional instability that makes the balance between school, work, and motherhood even more difficult. Despite all of this, I continue showing up for my daughter and for my goals because I want her to grow up seeing resilience instead of survival mode. I want her to understand that breaking cycles, whether emotional, financial, or generational is possible. Once I complete my degree, my goal is to build a career that provides long-term financial independence, stability, and generational wealth. I plan to expand the services at Sacred House Wellness Studio and eventually build a national brand focused on feminine healing, nervous system regulation, and trauma-informed care. I also want to create a dedicated wellness program for women and teen girls, helping them understand their bodies, heal from emotional injuries, and develop confidence rooted in self-awareness and safety. My mission is bigger than one career. I want to help women break cycles of trauma and reclaim their peace, especially those who grew up in environments where emotional wellness wasn’t taught or encouraged. I want my daughter to see me build something that lasts. Something that shows her she can create a life from strength rather than fear. Returning to school has been a powerful step toward that future. This program is giving me the knowledge, training, and structure I need to become fully licensed and professionally prepared. It is the foundation for the life I’m building for my daughter, for my community, and for myself. Every assignment, every exam, every moment of studying is a step toward the stable, empowered future I want for both of us.
    Shyla Marcella Brown Student Profile | Bold.org