My name is Savanna Littlejohn. I attend college at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. I am majoring in social work with a minor in psychology. One of my career aspirations is to be an advocate for children with special needs, which is why this scholarship will benefit me. I have disabilities as well. Having these disabilities has been a challenge, and I have overcome them through my support system that includes my family, friends, and the school system. I want to provide my future clients with the same opportunities that I have had. My career goals align with helping those who are struggling with their social-emotional well-being and intellectual needs. My first career goal is to give my clients the tools that have helped me in the past. This can include coping skills such as journaling or self-care. I will give them a list of coping skills and see if those strategies work for them. I will teach them how to calm themselves down in highly stressful or overwhelming situations or conflicts. I will guide them by helping them separate themselves from the problem, take some time to reflect, and then return to the conflict or situation with a clear mind. This strategy has helped me in the past and has been proven effective in my own life. Another career goal is to serve my clients. As a future social worker, this is one of the core values that we apply to our practice. This can look like providing resources such as support groups and school accommodations. I can give them knowledge about how the school system works and how to advocate for their needs. These services will provide them the support they need to be successful. My other career goal is to support children in their identity development. Children who have a disability have a hard time being comfortable with having a disability. I, too, have struggled with this. To help them through this, I can share my experience, and I hope it will inspire them to be content with themselves and their disabilities. I can also help them grow as a person by giving them attainable goals to achieve and helping them plan out how they will reach those goals. This can teach them how to mature and support their growth. My next career goal is to address barriers to their education and overall well-being. I will work directly with the school system to advocate for their needs. I can address the barriers to their education by making the school staff aware of these issues and what they can do to support their student. I will also help them through any adversity they are currently facing. I will point them to the right authorities that can solve this problem. These adversities could be exclusion, bullying, or unfair treatment. I will teach them how to handle adversity and offer them some encouragement. Children with disabilities face adversity every day. All they need is for someone to stand up for them, so I will be that person for them. Because I know that can make you feel lonely and that no one understands what you are going through. My last career goal is to strengthen counseling skills. When I am dealing with children with disabilities, I first need to do some research on their disability and provide them with proper therapeutic treatment. For example, a child struggling with severe anxiety might benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy. I will also work on building trust with my client. I want them to feel safe and trust me with their problems. I will get to know them by letting them tell me their experiences living with a disability. I want them to know that I have been there before, having many disabilities myself. I want my client to entrust me with their needs and challenges they are facing. As a social worker and a person with disabilities, I understand what these children are going through. I had a great support system that was willing to advocate for me. However, not all children have this experience. That is why it is my job to be their support system, and I will make sure that I can do that for them. Children with disabilities are often ignored and tossed to the side, but I will make sure that doesn’t happen to them.

My name is Savanna Littlejohn. I am pursuing my bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and a minor in psychology at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. I am currently a junior. I have dealt with a lot of adversity in my lifetime. I have overcome so many obstacles and always come out on top. I hope that my story will inspire and encourage others who are going through similar struggles. When I was 22, I was diagnosed with depressive schizophrenia. It all started with a psychosis episode. I was having delusions that I had a boyfriend who was my high school crush. I went to his house and started banging on his door, almost breaking it. That day was fuzzy, so I don’t know all the details. This episode led me to a mental hospital, where I got a lot of psychotic medicine that I didn’t need. After this hospitalization came many more, and bouncing from rehab to rehab. I have been in the rehab cycle for 4 years. I got diagnosed while I was in rehab for the second time. I drank heavily, which contributed to my psychosis episodes and delusions. These downward cycles became very overwhelming, and at one point, I completely gave up. My last residential rehab got me stable on my medication, where I could manage my mental health issues. I also learned what my downward spiral looks like before I go into psychosis. My last partial hospitalization program helped me get back on my feet. I learned that if I wanted to become mentally stable, I had to do the work and get serious about my mental health and sobriety. Over the years of being in rehab, I have learned a lot. I gained healthy coping skills, learned how to communicate when I am depressed, and I regained relationships that I had lost. I also gained sobriety skills like going to support group meetings, working a twelve-step program, and working through cravings for alcohol. I know how to manage my medication by setting alarms to take them and knowing the consequences of not taking them. Therapy while in rehab was a challenge. I have seen multiple therapists in my life; however, I knew how to manipulate them by making them believe that everything was okay and that I was getting better. This was the total opposite. I am now open and honest with all therapists, and I am still in therapy. My advice to someone who is dealing with schizophrenia is to get a support network that understands and is willing to learn about schizophrenia. Surround yourself with people that you trust and love. Isolation will only send you backward. You need to know what triggers your schizophrenia like negative emotions, substances, etc. Take your medication as prescribed, even if you don’t think you need it. Substances should not be consumed under any circumstances. If you go to rehab, take it seriously and commit to your mental health recovery. Use your resources, especially if you aren’t doing well. Your resources could be mental health hotlines, your support network, therapy, etc. Having schizophrenia doesn’t make you crazy. I believe there is a certain stigma with people who are schizophrenic that we could never be productive members of society, because of our mental illness. This is simply not true. I have it, and I am now going to college and am attentive to my daily life skills. Don’t let anyone hinder you from becoming successful, whatever that looks like for you.

I am Savanna Littlejohn, a junior at the University of Tennessee- Chattanooga. I am majoring in social work with a minor in psychology. A couple of my mental health diagnoses are depressive schizoaffective and Asperger's. Making my mental health a priority has been a challenge for me in the previous three years. A time when I made my mental health a priority started when I had my first psychosis in 2021. After that, I had a slew of psychoses, and I was in and out of mental hospitals and treatment centers for three years. The last time I went into treatment, I got stabilized on my medication at a residential treatment center, then was sent to a partial hospitalization treatment center. I began to accept my diagnosis of depressive schizoaffective disorder, and that’s when I started to change. I started to make my mental health a priority, and I continue to do so. I learned a lot from this experience. With the help of therapy that was provided in treatment, I noticed my depressive schizoaffective symptoms by describing what it looks like when my mental health starts to decline. I learned new ways to cope with these symptoms and how to get myself back to being mentally stable. I started journaling whenever I got depressed or when I felt I needed to get my thoughts down on paper. I told my support system to give me a “reality check” whenever I would tell them something that was a delusion or when they see me talking to voices in my head. I was raped and sexually assaulted by my cousin when I was a child. I began to work on this trauma with guided journals about sexual trauma, and talking about it in therapy. Since being out of treatment, I use the tools I learned to help maintain my mental health, such as therapy and medication management. Overall, I learned that mental health is an ongoing battle, but I can manage it better with the tools I have been given. In the future, I want to be a special needs advocate for children. I want to make sure that my client’s mental health needs are taken care of and making sure that their mental health is a top priority. Having Asperger’s can help me relate to those special needs children who have the same diagnosis or something similar. I can teach them how I learn to cope and better understand the world, living with Asperger’s. I will teach them the social strategies that have helped me and get them out of their comfort zone. I want children with special needs to know that they have someone in their corner to listen to them and meet their needs. I have had my share of ups and downs, but I didn’t let that stop me from achieving my goals, and it didn’t destroy me. I had to pick up the pieces and put my life back together. And I did exactly that.

I am Savanna Littlejohn, and I am a junior at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. I am majoring in social work and minoring in psychology. I have always liked helping others. It brings me great joy when I can solve other people’s problems, which is why I have a passion for social work. I have a passion for helping children who face unique challenges, specifically those with disabilities and those who are in foster care. A cousin sexually assaulted and raped me as a child, so I can relate to other children in foster care who have experienced this too. I also have ASD, so I can relate to the struggles of those children with disabilities. I want children with these challenges to know that I love and support them. I also know that the biological parents who have substance abuse issues, causing their children to be taken away from them, because I, too, have struggled with addiction. I want to provide the biological parents with resources that will help them overcome their addiction, such as rehab and support group meetings. Although I am not helping those biological parents with addiction, I can guarantee that their child will be put in a safe and loving home. I will care for these children like they are my own, and that will make me a good social worker. For my educational goals, I want to graduate with my bachelor’s in social work, then work on getting my master’s degree. While in college, I will keep up my good grades in all my classes. I want to master core subject areas in my major and minor. I want to overcome procrastination and build self-discipline by sticking to a schedule for schoolwork and studying. I want to become a good student with a strong work ethic. For my career goals, I want to be a pre-K teacher while I’m getting my master’s degree, because I have an associate’s degree in early childhood education. After I get my master’s degree, I want to work with older children and teens in the foster care system to help them get adopted or be a special needs advocate for children. I want to improve my networking skills by getting connected with people who work in the social work field. I also want to build a relationship with possible mentors who have more experience in social work. I will research what my career will entail, either working in the foster care system or being a special needs advocate. These goals are achievable and possible. I hope to make a positive impact on the communities I plan to serve. When it comes to those children with disabilities, I can share my struggles living with ASD and the challenges I face daily, and explain how I have overcome these challenges. I will let them know that I am there to support and listen to their problems and come up with solutions if needed. I want them to feel comfortable with me and know that I am there to help them. As far as those children in foster care, I want to take them away from an abusive home and let them know that I am here to help. I will share my story of sexual assault and rape from a cousin and let them know they are not alone. I want what’s best for them by helping them get adopted by a loving and caring family. Foster children come with tons of trauma, and they need to know that I am in their corner and they can trust me. My studies will help me become a great advocate and teach me more about the fields of social work I want to work in. Adversity comes in many forms, and as a child, it can have a lasting impact on their lives, positive or negative. It’s my job to make sure no one gets left behind or forgotten.

I am Savanna Littlejohn, and I am a junior at the University of Tennessee- Chattanooga. I am majoring in social work with a minor in psychology. I have had a share of my own mental health and substance abuse challenges. During the time of these struggles, I was in and out of treatment facilities for three years. I haven’t been back to treatment in almost two years now. Now that I am not in treatment anymore, I am becoming a successful college student. I am worth the dreams that I aspire to achieve because everything that I have been through has shaped me into someone who refuses to give up. My journey hasn’t been easy. I have faced emotional battles, challenges with mental health and substance abuse, and moments where I question my value. I have endured pain and had my heart broken in the process. This process taught me that I can make it out on the other side, and I am capable of making my dreams happen. Going to treatment several times gave others in treatment hope that there is a way out and that if I can do it, they can do it too. That strength, that willingness to heal and grow, proves that I deserve to turn my dreams into reality. My dream to work in social work, advocate for foster youth, and support children who are disabled is a passion that I feel strongly about. It is about using my pain and experiences to create hope for others. I know what it feels like to be unheard, misunderstood, or overlooked. And that is why I am so passionate about making a difference for those who need someone to believe and effectively advocate for them. I am worth my dreams because I have earned them. Not just through survival, but through the compassion and determination I carry with me every day. I have overcome a lot in life, from mental health challenges to believing in my worth. Through these journeys, I have learned and gained hope for the future. I also learned the value of hope and how hope inspires others. It taught me that no matter how many times life has knocked me out, I can still come out of it swinging with all of my might. I believe in my future because I am building it with heart, with purpose, and with the unwavering belief that I am enough.

I am Savanna Littlejohn, and I am a junior attending the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga with a major in social work and a minor in psychology. I am diagnosed with Asperger’s and depressive schizoaffective disorder. I have been in mental health and substance abuse treatment for three years, so I know how important mental and physical health is, especially as a student. Mental and physical health are important to my recovery in many ways. I deserve peace and strength that allows me to experience joy, balance, and clarity, even in difficult times. Caring for myself is an act of self-respect and self-love. I need my health and strength to stay focused, energized, and resilient. A healthy mind supports critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and perseverance, which are vital for my future. Others depend on my presence. When I am well, I can be present and supportive to others. My wellness allows me to be a source of strength and healing for others without losing myself in the process. I have faced mental health and substance abuse challenges, and prioritizing my wellness is a way to honor that. This is how I continue growing, rebuilding, and turning pain into power. I have a vision for who I want to be and what I want to change in the world, and to reach that vision, my wellness must come first. Self-care isn’t selfish; it is preparation for the future I am building. Taking care of my mental and physical health is a way of saying, “I matter. My dreams matter. My future matters.” As a student, I have faced some challenges in maintaining good mental and physical health. I tend to consume myself in my schoolwork, leaving no time to focus on myself or to socialize with others. When I first started college, I struggled with making new friends and isolating myself in my dorm room. I didn’t feel comfortable reaching out to mental health services on campus until I got accepted into the Mosaic Program (a program for people with Autism living on campus). They encouraged me to reach out to different resources on campus related to mental health. I had trouble adjusting to living on my own. I had roommate conflict, trouble keeping up with my chores and hygiene, and poor eating habits. My poor eating habits would entail getting fast food on campus most days instead of going to the cafeteria to eat a balanced meal. As a college student, maintaining good mental and physical wellness isn’t always easy, but over time, I have learned to adjust and change the way I live. I am learning that wellness isn’t about being perfect, it’s about being intentional. Prioritizing my well-being isn’t selfish; I must grow, thrive, and succeed not only in college but in life beyond it.

I am Savanna Littlejohn, and I am a junior at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. I am majoring in social work with a minor in psychology. I want to become a foster care worker or a special needs advocate for children. I want to grow as a community member through being purposeful, responsible, and productive. To be a purposeful community member, I live with intention. I understand my values and goals, and let them guide my actions. I engage in causes and efforts that align with my beliefs, such as helping others or supporting social justice. I will make a positive difference, and I aim to leave an impact. Being responsible is also an important quality in a community member. I embody this by taking ownership of my actions and decisions, and following through on commitments. I respect others by treating them with kindness, fairness, and understanding. To be a productive community member, I don’t just talk about change; I make it happen. I contribute my skills, ideas, and energy to support my community’s needs. I want to inspire others to become engaged and involved. These qualities mean showing up for others to become engaged and involved. These qualities mean showing up for others, acting with integrity, and working toward a better future. Not just for myself but for everyone around me. Embodying these qualities in the future will guide me in my community involvement. I will set meaningful goals that reflect my passions, whether it’s helping foster youth, advocating for mental health, or promoting equity in my community. I will make daily choices that reflect what matters to me. For example, I want to pursue a career in social work because I’m passionate about justice and healing. Whenever challenges arise, I will remind myself of the reasons behind my actions. I want to be someone others can rely on by keeping my word and learning from my mistakes. As a future social worker, I want to use my voice to uplift others while acting with honesty and fairness. I will continue to support my community by showing up consistently, mentoring others, or stepping up when I see a need. I will take the initiative to make a difference in my community. I will use my talents when help is needed. I will stay open to new knowledge and perspectives that can make me more effective in helping others. I hope that these qualities will make me impactful in my community. By staying focused on my purpose, taking responsibility for my actions, and working hard toward meaningful change, I will naturally grow into the kind of community member who inspires others and helps build a better world.

I am Savanna Littlejohn. I am currently attending the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. I am pursuing a bachelor’s degree in social work, with a double minor in psychology and early childhood education. I am a first-generation college student who is very successful in school. It means a lot to my parents to graduate from college and become successful after college. Being a first-generation student in college gives hope to my parents that I can obtain a higher education, which was never given to them. They will see college as a real and achievable goal because I did it. I will take pride in achieving this monumental achievement. Graduating from college is a symbol of hope and a new beginning, hoping it will inspire the younger people in my family. In college, I am pursuing a degree in social work. I want to work in the foster care system, helping teenagers and older children get adopted. These children are often left behind by those families trying to adopt. I want to help more of them get a loving family and home. My other option is to become a special needs advocate for children. I want to advocate for those who can’t do it for themselves because of their disability. I want to be a voice to the voiceless. I am very passionate about this, which will help me be a good worker in this field. After I graduate with my bachelor’s degree, I need to get my master’s degree in social work. While I am getting my master’s degree, I want to become a preschool teacher. I want to gain some independence, which means living on my own in an apartment or house in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where I attend college. After receiving my master’s degree, I will start looking for jobs in the foster care system or apply to be a special needs advocate. I will then decide which field is best for me by seeing which one I will excel in the most. I want to gain a good relationship with my clients by showing them that I care about them and I want what’s best for them. These long-term goals are achievable and obtainable if I focus on school by excelling in all my classes. Being the first in the family to graduate from college means a lot to me and my parents. I hope that I will continue to inspire future generations to go to college and obtain a degree. I want them to know that it is possible to graduate from college and learning all they can while in college. College is the gateway to success, and it is possible for anyone, no matter who you are or what family background you have.

I am Savanna Littlejohn, and I am currently a junior attending the University of Tennessee- Chattanooga with a major in social work and a double minor in early childhood education and psychology. I am an African American woman. I have disabilities which include depressive-schizoaffective, ASD/Asperger’s, and anxiety, and I am also a recovering alcoholic with two years of sobriety. All of which makes me a marginalized/minority American. These identities make up who I am. Through my degree in social work, I can make a positive impact on marginalized communities. I want to work in the foster care system, helping older children and teenagers get adopted. These age groups are often left behind and eventually age out of the foster care system, never getting adopted. This is partly because of their age, and they also come with a lot of traumas, causing them to act out. Families don’t want to deal with their behavior problems, which is a result of their trauma that led them into the foster care system. I want them to know that I will help find them a home that is the best fit for them. I would encourage families who are trying to adopt to consider fostering an older child or teenager. I want them to be aware of their trauma and give them the tools to help them, like therapy, a support network, etc. I want them to know I am here to assist them if any challenges arise from their newly adopted foster child. Overall, I want to give foster children the resources to help their mental well-being and find them a loving and safe home. My beliefs are based on my mental struggles that I have experienced. One of them is self-worth. I struggle with self-esteem mostly because of my body image. It took some time to gain my self-worth back through therapy, and I have been able to improve on this. I also believe that my past doesn’t define me. I am a sexual abuse survivor who was raped and sexually assaulted by a cousin when I was a child. I had a distorted view that all men were going to take advantage of me, the way my cousin did. I know now that this doesn’t have to consume me. I came to realize that this trauma will not break me; it will only make me stronger. I know that my mistakes are part of learning. When I was abusing substances, I made a lot of mistakes. I learned how to grow from those mistakes and move on. These beliefs have helped me grow and develop who I am today. Pursuing a career in the foster care system, I can bring awareness to abuse and neglect by taking the necessary actions that are best for the child. If my clients are adopted, it is my job to investigate whether the adopting family is a good fit and that they are in a loving home. I will provide mental health resources to foster children, whether they age out or get adopted. With my career in the foster care system, I can do some good and make necessary changes in the foster care system by getting older children and teenagers adopted. I want all children to be successful in the foster care system, even if they age out. I want them to know that I care about them and will make decisions that will best support them and their needs. I want the children to be able to rely on me if they need any assistance or if their needs aren’t being met.

I am Savanna Littlejohn. I am currently a junior at the University of Tennessee- Chattanooga. I am majoring in social work and double minoring in psychology and early childhood education. I hold an Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Georgia Highlands College. I live in a Christian household. I go to a Baptist church where I have attended children’s church, bible study, and Sunday morning service. I was in the children’s choir and dance ministry at my church. My mom was on the usher board ministry, and for four years, she was the head usher. My little brother was in the children’s choir with me. I grew up in the church, and some of the people at my church are like family to me. I have a good relationship with the pastor and the first lady at my church. I got baptized when I was 7 or 8 years old. This church has been my home church since I was 5 years old. Growing up as a Christian didn’t guarantee that I would later have struggles regarding my relationship with God. My journey with Christianity hasn’t been easy. In middle school, I almost attempted suicide by taking a bunch of my prescribed medication. I believe God stepped in when I tried to take them, because I stopped myself from taking them even though they were in my hand. I lost trust in the Lord because I was so depressed that I could find any hope, so I thought he just gave up on me. I was brought to the altar by my pastor during the benediction (this is when it is time to go to the altar to ask to be baptized or saved, and is also for any prayer request). He prayed over my depression, and with time, I began to trust God again. This isn’t the end of my struggle with my faith. At the age of twenty-one, I started drinking heavily, and my mental health took a turn for the worse. I had my first psychosis episode after drinking all night. I was then sent to my first mental hospital. I spent three years going in and out of rehab and mental hospitals. My second time in rehab, I confessed to my parents that I was sexually assaulted and raped by my cousin when I was a child. When I told them this, I still wasn’t ready to stop drinking and prioritize my mental health issues. During all this, my faith was damaged. I was disconnected from God because I felt like he was punishing me for my sins. I felt like my life circumstances were all his fault, and I blamed him for everything bad that happened in my life. I felt that he didn’t protect me when I was sexually assault and raped; if her were there, I wouldn’t have happened. I felt hopeless and lost. I promised God many times that I would stop drinking, but I always failed. It wasn’t until I got down on my knees and prayed to him, asking him to step in and fix me. The day that I was sent to rehab for the last time, I planned on drinking the next day, because to me, God was taking too long to answer my prayer. But he stepped in before I could drink by making my family send me back to rehab one last time. Now I have unimaginable faith. I have repaired my relationship with God. I take full responsibility for my sins, forgive myself and those who have hurt me, and live life according to God’s will for my life. I know now that he put me through those hard times, because He knew I could handle it. He was there the whole time; I just had to believe in Him. I had to find peace and joy within myself, and everything began to fall in place. It may not take place immediately, but prayer and hearing God’s word every Sunday, my faith continues to grow. I learned in support group meetings that I should let my Higher Power be in the driver’s seat, because there are things out of my control, and I need to recognize and understand that. I wouldn’t have made it without God. I am majoring in social work. I want to work in the foster care system, helping older children and teenagers get adopted. This opportunity will help me succeed in finding those who are often neglected in the foster care system, a safe and loving home. My other option is to become a special needs advocate for children. This opportunity will help me learn about those with special needs and how to best support them. My goals are simple: I want to gain independence and get good grades. This opportunity will help me with my dorm living and housing costs, which will help me learn daily living skills, like basic hygiene routines, budgeting money, medicine management, etc. As far as getting good grades, this scholarship will help me pay for my continued education, which will relieve me of the financial burden, and it will give me more time to focus on schoolwork. Through my journey of Christianity, I have had ups and downs, and I have good days and bad days. All I need to remember is that God is there, even when times get hard. Just because I repaired my relationship with God, that doesn’t mean I don’t have struggles regarding my faith. It means that I am human, and I am not perfect. That is why I believe that Jesus died at the cross for you and me. God loved us so much that he sent his son to be our savior, and I am truly grateful for that. He is always in control, and He has made my life better. As long as I make my religion a priority, God will work out the rest. This scholarship opportunity will help me pay for my education and help me with my success in the social work field.

I am Savanna Littlejohn. I am a junior at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. I am majoring in social work and minoring in early childhood education and psychology. Regarding my social work degree, I want to be a special needs advocate for children or work in the foster care system, helping older children and teens get adopted. I am different in so many ways. For starters, I have mental health diagnoses, which are ASD and depressive schizoaffective. I was diagnosed with ASD in middle school. I struggled with social cues, being anti-social, and having trouble maintaining friendships. I often found myself isolating during COVID-19, causing me to create delusions and talk to voices that were made up in my head. I had my first psychosis episode at the age of twenty-one, not too long after I graduated with my associate’s degree. My memories from that day are jumbled up, but what I do know is that I was banging furiously on a neighbor’s door, thinking that I had a boyfriend who lived there. They called the police, and I was put into a mental hospital. Several psychotic episodes have happened since then, which led to rehabs and other mental hospitals. At one point, I became hopeless and thought that this cycle of going in and out of rehabs and mental hospitals would never end. Until I was put in my last residential rehab, where they got me stable on my medication, and I was then able to go to my last partial hospitalization program, Chattanooga Recovery Center. They taught me life skills, medicine management, etc. I don’t know where I would be if it weren’t for my loving parents sending me to these two places to end the cycle I thought was never going to end. While all this psychosis was going on, I was drinking heavily, becoming an alcoholic. I began drinking when I turned twenty-one, and I couldn’t control my drinking, nor could I become a productive member of society. Alcohol had consumed my life and made me do things that go against my morals just to have another drink. I did things like stealing, lying, manipulating others, etc. I had to accept that I had a problem, then I started doing something about it by going to support group meetings and working their twelve-step program. That is when I became serious about my addiction. I have now been sober for two years, and I haven’t been back to rehab or mental hospitals in over a year. As I stated earlier, I want to work in the foster care system, helping older children and teens get adopted. I want to love them, because they weren’t loved in the home they came from. I want to make sure that they don’t feel alone by introducing them to the other foster children who have similar traumas. I will encourage their new foster family to get them into therapy because of their upbringing. No child should be left behind, and it's my job to make sure that doesn’t happen. I can relate to these children in several ways and can help them by providing the resources that have helped me. I didn’t let my struggles break me, and I want to help others find their inner strength. I want them to know that I understand and I’m here to help, not hurt them. Being different doesn’t mean you aren’t capable; it just means that you have the strength to go through it.

I am Savanna Littlejohn. I currently attend the University of Tennessee- Chattanooga as a junior. I am majoring in social work and minoring in early childhood education and psychology. In the social work field, I want to become a special needs advocate or work in the foster care system, helping older children and teens get adopted. I possess several unique talents and skills. One of them is being optimistic. I tend to brighten people’s days by being more positive. I am very generous. I tend to give back whenever I can, whether that is donating old clothes or donating money to charity. I also encourage others to give back. I am also caring. I care about people who have hurt me, because I don’t enjoy seeing others suffer. When my mom had preventative cancer surgery, I look care of her because I love her. One of my unique talents is that I am good with children. Children tend to cling to me, and I connect with them on a deeper level. I want people to know that children are innocent, and they shouldn’t be taken advantage of. Children have feelings, too, and the world needs to remember that more often. As I stated in the beginning, I want to be a social worker in the foster care system, helping older children and teens get adopted. I want each of them to know that their circumstances or upbringing do not define them. They can’t let it break them; instead, I want them to know they will grow stronger and resilient. I want the children in the foster care system to trust me to protect them and put them with a nice family who loves them no matter what. Children need love, especially when they have been abused/neglected. I want them to be safe and comfortable in their new home and environment. Overall, I want to provide children with a safety net, such as a support network and family, whether that be blood or chosen. I also want them to feel safe with me, and they can come to me when they need help or need assistance to avoid getting in trouble. Helping those children who come from traumatic situations is a passion of mine, and I want to show that I do care, and I am looking out for them. Every child deserves love, no matter where they come from, their family history, or the trauma that follows them through childhood and adulthood.

I am Savanna Littlejohn. I currently attend the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga as a junior. I am majoring in social work with minors in psychology and early childhood education. In the social work field, I want to be an advocate for children with special needs. There are several ways I work with a child who has a rare disorder like Rebecca’s. I would first do some research on the child’s disorder to better understand it. I would also get to know the child on a personal level so that they know I am here to help them. I will discover their strengths and weaknesses and help them improve on them. I can find them a support group related to children with disabilities. I would like it get to know the people in their support network, especially their guardians/caregivers. If they don’t have a support network, I would suggest that they reach out to their local community, like churches/religious groups, school staff members, etc. I will provide the parents with affordable and accessible resources to help fund their child’s disability. These are things that could help the child grow and learn in the best way possible. I have a couple of methods to reach and teach the child with a rare disorder. One of them is social and emotional learning. This would consist of building relationships with their peers, because children with disabilities have a hard time making friends. Provide them with an everyday routine schedule that includes hygiene, homework, etc. I will scaffold difficult learning materials, giving them a step-by-step guide to understand the concept. I will use visual aids, like pictures, charts, etc. I could provide them with a text-to-speech device when the child is nonverbal, and it will help me communicate with them. I will encourage them to participate in school when they are learning new things. These tools will help the child with social and emotional skills, making them successful and improving their goals. The second method I would use to reach and teach the child with a rare disorder is assisting with getting an IEP or 504 plan. As a special needs advocate, I can intervene when I feel that my client needs a new accommodation. I will help with the process of setting up an IEP or 504 plan, and ensure they are getting all the accommodations they need. I will explain to the child their accommodations and how to use them. I will explain the importance to the caregivers of speaking up when their child’s accommodations aren’t being met and guide them in that process. These two methods will help the child become successful in school and any further education. Families play a big role in the education and progress of their disabled child. There are several ways families can incorporate education into their homes. They can utilize time at home for learning, like learning games on devices, reading materials, etc. They should acknowledge and celebrate when their child has reached a goal, which will boost their child’s confidence. Suggest that they should enroll their child in preschool, so they are ready for kindergarten. These are tools that will help the child succeed in their education. A child with a rare disorder comes with many challenges. It is my job to make sure they are given the right resources and support that they need. I hope that because of my efforts to help them, they will use these tools when they go to further education.

I am Savanna Littlejohn, and I am currently attending the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. I am majoring in social work and getting a double minor in psychology and early childhood education. I was diagnosed with ASD in the sixth grade. Getting diagnosed wasn’t easy. My whole childhood my mom tried to get me diagnosed, going to several different therapists and psychiatrists. My mom was about to give up until my pediatrician recommended a therapist who ended up diagnosing me and became my therapist all through high school. I know that ASD isn’t common in girls. I want to help those children who are having a hard time getting diagnosed or being misdiagnosed with a disorder/disability. I can make a positive impact in this field by becoming a special needs advocate for children. I want to help children who are having trouble getting diagnosed with ASD or any other disorders that are difficult to diagnose, especially girls. I can help them obtain a 504 plan or an IEP, which will provide them with the necessary support in school. I can provide children with social skills and encourage them to make new friends at school. I know that it is difficult for those children with disabilities to be social, but I don’t want them to isolate themselves. I would suggest coping skills, such as playing with fidget toys or coloring, when individuals are experiencing negative emotions or struggling with a challenge. I want to find support groups for those struggling with their disability or any specific challenges they are trying to overcome, such as addiction or an eating disorder. I also want to find support groups for parents, because I know it cannot be easy to understand what their child is going through. I will help families access accessible and affordable resources, such as health insurance or therapy. I will encourage parents/caregivers to try out different types of therapy for their child, such as exposure therapy or physical therapy. Overall, I want children and families to trust and confide in me, because I understand what it is like living with a disability and how it can affect them when they don’t have the proper support. When you have a disability, you will need a support network that includes family, friends, etc. People with disabilities often can’t speak up for themselves, so it is my job to do that for them. I hope that children with special needs know that I care for them. I want them to feel like they are in good hands. I hope that my efforts to help them will have a big impact on their lives.

My name is Savanna Littlejohn. I am a junior at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. I am pursuing a degree in social work and double minoring in education and psychology. I have an associate’s degree in early childhood education from Georgia Highlands College. My mental health journey started three to four years ago. I experienced my first psychosis episode at the age of twenty-one. It was partially caused by alcoholism, depression, and due to COVID-19, isolation. There were signs that my mental health was declining. I started having delusions of having a boyfriend, and I was hearing voices and seeing things that weren’t there. I have experienced psychosis many other times in the four years leading up to my recent diagnosis, depressive schizoaffective. My substance abuse played a big part in my mental health journey. I became dependent on alcohol as an unhealthy coping mechanism. When I didn’t want to deal with my mental state, I would drink. Sometimes I would drink just because I wanted to, no particular purpose. I am proud to say that I am two years sober, and I haven’t been back to rehab in almost a year and a half. My mental health journey taught me a lot about myself and how to become the best version of myself. It has influenced my beliefs, relationships, and career aspirations. My beliefs align with my recovery in many ways. My spirituality plays a role in my mental health recovery. My relationship with God is more potent because He was with me through it all, even when I couldn’t see it. When I was in middle school, I almost attempted suicide, which makes me grateful for being alive. I live every moment and every day like it’s your last, because you never know when your time on Earth is up. Staying positive improves my mental health and motivates me to continue working on myself. Believing in myself is the key to my overall well-being. Even when times get rough, I must remember to believe in myself, and then everything works out. When I don’t believe in myself, I get stuck in a rut, and my mental health will slowly start to decline. My relationships were damaged but repairable because my support system loves me. When I was showing signs of potential psychosis, my parents ignored it because they wanted to get me through graduating with my associate's degree. They didn’t understand what to do at first, but then they did their research about my depressive schizoaffective disorder. By doing that research, they helped me. I want to be a social worker. I want to be an advocate for children with special needs. I want to help them get what they need to become successful, along with resources and accommodations. I want to help be a guide by sharing my personal story and giving reasonable advice when they need it. I want to let them know that they can succeed in life despite their disability and/or disorder. It will not hinder them, and it won’t make them a burden to other people, because I felt like that as a child and a teenager. I believe that life can throw curveballs at you at any given moment, even if it is inconvenient. These experiences and curveballs made me the woman I am today. I have never felt this happy and content with my life. I have been through so much, but through it all, I made it out on top.

My name is Savanna Littlejohn. I am a junior at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. I am majoring in social work and minoring in early childhood and special needs education and psychology. I have an associate’s degree in early childhood education from Georgia Highlands College. I want to be a teacher for several reasons. One of the reasons is that I love how children’s minds work such as how they learn or their different learning styles. I am interested in their development of social skills and how they learn them. For example, learning how to share, one student may be “stingy,” while another student might be more willing to share. As a teacher, I need to be an example of what the social norms are and how to use them in real-life situations. I love the rewards and encouragement that come with being a teacher, whether that be students showing me affection or their energetic presence that they bring to class each day. They will reassure me that I am doing a great job as their teacher by helping me win a reward from the school or by showing up to school every day ready to learn. I want them to know that I am doing my best and that I am not just here to teach, but I also care about them. I want to inspire the new generation of children. I can do this by teaching them life lessons that I hope they will carry with them through life. I want to encourage my students to become successful and to reach for the stars when it comes to their goals/dreams. Regarding learning, I want to give them the confidence they need to excel academically. This generation needs teachers who are not only good examples, but also someone who cares about them. My students can also inspire me and help me grow as a teacher by giving me their honest feedback and how I can help them to be successful in my classroom. I can gain and enhance skills through my teaching experience by trial and error or by taking advice from a more experienced co-worker/teacher. I want all my students to know that I am giving them my best every day. A teacher who changed my life is my high school chorus teacher, Ms. Poole. Her classroom was a safe space, and she was always my go-to when I needed advice or words of encouragement. She listened to my problems and guided me in the right direction. She also taught me that there is always room for improvement. For example, I had trouble with sight-reading music, meaning how to sing notes from looking at sheet music. She would break it down for me and encouraged me when I was struggling. She saw me as a leader by keeping me in the beginner’s chorus class all through high school, because she believed that I could help others succeed in her class. Although I hated being in the beginner’s class, I eventually began to appreciate the opportunity. Seeing me as a leader gave me the confidence and ability to accomplish anything and from then on, I began seeing myself as a leader. Teachers are the most influential people in young children’s lives. We are with them most of the day and we not only teach them the curriculum, but we also help them grow as an individual. Teachers should make time and effort not just to get to know each student but also care for and love them no matter what.

I am Savanna Littlejohn. I attended the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga as a junior, getting my bachelor’s degree in early childhood and special needs education with a minor in psychology. My mental health diagnoses are depressive schizoaffective disorder, generalized anxiety, and highly functioning autism. I have been in and out of rehab for three years and I am now two years sober, continuing further education. Mental health is important for my sobriety, helps me stay focused on school, helps me grow as an individual, and allows me time for self-care. Substance abuse affects my mental health in a variety of ways. When I am not sober, I isolate which then transitions to a state of psychosis, which leads me back to rehab. I also would drink and take prescribed medication, making my symptoms worse. According to helpguide.org, “roughly 50 percent of individuals with severe mental disorders are affected by substance abuse”. When it comes to school, being mentally stable helps me succeed in school. When my mental health declines, it affects my ability to be a good and productive student in a negative way. As a student, I should attend to my mental health needs first before I can focus on my education. Education is a big priority, but so is my mental health. I have grown a lot. I am aware of my triggers, such as cravings, loud noises, etc., and I know how to cope when they are activated. I have learned how to have open communication and be vulnerable with close friends and family. I am aware when my mental health starts to decline by being able to get back to my normal self without going back to those harmful coping skills. This is how I have grown and plan to continue growing throughout my life. Self-care plays an important role in my recovery. It helps me relax and live in the present instead of focusing on what lies ahead. It helps me release stress in a healthy manner. It also helps me make time to recuperate after a long, stressful day. I implement a self-care routine starting with hygiene, skin-care regimens, and relaxing activities such as taking a walk or reading a book. Self-care is an important tool for mental health, even when you are having a good day. I advocate for others in different communities that I am involved which include my school community and religious community. In my school community, I tend to point people to the right resources on campus, such as counseling, support groups, etc. I also teach my peers how to be good students while still making their mental health a priority. I do all of this by being a supportive friend, listening to others rant, and depending on the situation, I call for help or guide them to those resources mentioned above. In my religious community, I help them realize that people need outside help and that God doesn’t fix your problems in a day or a week. I remind them that mental health is an everyday battle that requires not only God but also other supportive people. I want them to know that mental health requires work from within yourself, and faith is how you will get there. Everyone struggles with mental health in some way or another. As college students, we need it to become successful adults while in school and after we graduate. Mental health should be a priority, just like school. Don’t allow your mental health to define you instead become something more than your diagnosis or struggles.

My name is Savanna Littlejohn. I am a junior at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, majoring in early childhood and special needs education. I have an associate’s degree in early childhood education from Georgia Highlands College. As a child, I wanted to be in many careers. I had big dreams and hopes for the future. I wanted to be in the entertainment industry, own a business, etc. I am now going for a more realistic and less risky career which is a teacher. Although I had many career aspirations as a child, the most interesting career to me was becoming an actor. Some of my acting-related experiences as a child were church plays and doing church speeches. Some things that I practiced in my free time were monologues and acting out scripts as multiple characters. I enjoyed these things and I thought I would be good at them and later win an Oscar and/or an Emmy. I would get to work alongside my favorite actors like Will Smith, Jennifer Aniston, etc. As I got older, I was in musicals from middle school to my senior year in high school. I was often told that my acting was excellent, but I just couldn’t sing so I couldn’t play the main characters and sometimes sub-characters that I was auditioning for. I tried a beginner's theater class during my sophomore year in high school, but I dropped the class. There were too many people in there who just wanted to goof off, and I was there to learn and get involved in the nonmusical theater plays. These experiences, good or bad, made me think that I wanted a career in acting. Although acting was a dream, I decided not to pursue it. One of the main reasons was that I was too afraid to take the risk and apply to Howard University in Washington, D.C. where many actors and comedians have graduated from and become famous/successful. I live in Georgia and this college was too far away from home. I was afraid of the struggle that every actor faces with trying to make it big in the acting industry. Even after I graduate from college with a degree in theater, I am not going to be guaranteed a big acting role right off the jump. I would have to work towards it and wait patiently for that big opportunity that would ultimately launch my successful career. I also don’t know if my parents and I will make it financially. I also don’t think my parents would support me, because being an actor isn’t considered a stable job. These risks were too high and scary leading me to pursue another more stable career, teaching. I now want to be a Pre-K teacher, Kindergarten teacher, 1st grade teacher, or an elementary special needs teacher. I love children. Their minds are so interesting and watching them develop through learning is fascinating to me. I like the rewards of being a teacher like the hugs received from my students or them brightening up my day with their energy and eagerness to learn. I hope to inspire them to dream big and never give up. It is satisfying at the end of the day when students have gone out of my classroom with new knowledge, and I hope they will use that knowledge to mature as full-grown adults.

My name is Savanna Littlejohn. I am a junior at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. My major is early childhood and special needs education, and I minor in psychology. Success looks different for everyone. My definition of success may not be the same as another person’s definition of success. Success is complex and it has a certain value that varies among each of us whether that be money, accomplishments, etc. We view success through social media, television, etc. Some of these might define success for you, but not all of them are what define success for me. When people think of successful people in the world, they automatically think of how much money a person has. Materialistic things don’t define success, and money doesn't either. Just because you have fancy cars, or a high net worth doesn’t mean you are successful; it just means you are “rich.” Success doesn’t have to start with much money but with a vision or idea attached to hard work and dedication. Having multiple awards and achievements may or may not mean anything to you. You can have a multitude of awards and achievements but still not feel successful, wanting to strive and work for more until you are satisfied with your progress and, eventually, your success. There is always a story behind a successful person. Many of these stories begin with little money but a huge vision/idea. To launch your success is going to be risky, and you will have to work for it. There are struggles when you are first starting, but if you put time and commitment into it, you can make it to the top. We often see the achievements and awards people have without knowing the story behind the success. If success were easy, everyone would be successful, however, that isn’t how success works. For me, success looks different when applied to me. I indulge myself in my schoolwork and I work hard in all of my classes, whether it is difficult or easy. My grades will reflect my hard work by getting all A’s and B’s. I commit my time at school to homework and studying while avoiding distractions such as dorm parties, going out with friends, etc. I show up at my classes every day and learn all I can about becoming an educator. If I am having difficulty in a class, I go to my professor’s office hours and come prepared with questions and clarity on the things I am struggling with in that class. While being a student is a top priority, so is my mental health. I have a self-care routine that includes hygiene, reflecting on my day/week by writing in my journal, and a skincare regimen. I take study breaks when needed so that I don’t get stressed or overwhelmed. I go to therapy once a week and I take my medicine when I'm supposed to. I use my healthy coping skills when I feel that my mental health is declining, such as reading, coloring, etc. On top of all these things, I am sober and have been sober for two years. When I am struggling with my sobriety, I go to support group meetings and share what I am thinking/feeling. This scholarship opportunity will help me pay for my education so that I can continue being a hard-working student who also prioritizes their mental health needs. I am also a first-generation student which means a lot to my parents, who want to see me succeed. This opportunity will relieve my parents of the financial worries of paying for college. Being a successful teacher is important to me so this scholarship will help me do that.

I am Savanna Littlejohn. I am a junior attending college at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. I am majoring in early childhood and special needs education. In my life, I have overcome substance abuse and mental health issues. My mental health diagnoses are highly functioning autism, ADHD, and depressive-schizoaffective disorder. I am a Christian and I have grown up in the church my whole life. However, going through my challenges in life, I have let my faith slip. This opportunity would help me to continue my education, and I hope my story will inspire others who are going through similar challenges. I have been in and out of rehab and mental hospitals for three years, from 2021 until the spring of 2024. I have had my challenges regarding my faith while being in rehab. I lacked trust in God because as far as I was concerned, he wasn’t there when I needed Him. I blamed God for everything bad in my life and the mistakes I have made. I didn’t want to take accountability for my actions so instead, I blamed it all on God, because I didn’t want to deal with the consequences of my actions. When I was little, my cousin sexually assaulted and raped me. I felt like God wasn’t there to protect me if he had, that would have never happened. God wasn’t there when I cried myself to sleep most nights trying to cope with what my cousin did. I started drinking heavily because I was depressed and the sexual trauma I had ignored for years started coming up. My drinking and mental health issues got worse which led me to rehab and many more rehabs after that. I am now two years sober and I haven’t been back to rehab since the spring of 2024. I have now reconciled with God. I realized that God was there the whole time when I was facing these challenges. He was there when I was in rehab and He helped me get out of rehab by giving me a new life and a sense of purpose. I let God be in control instead of trying to control everything and everyone, especially when I can’t control it. I say the serenity prayer I have learned at support group meetings. “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.” This prayer has changed my life. It helps me stay in the present instead of worrying about what lies ahead. I have been going through the process of trusting God again. It’s an everyday battle, but I manage to still trust in the plan He has for my life. To maintain my relationship with God I go to bible study, attend online church, pray, etc. I hope sharing my story will help others who are also struggling with their relationship with God. I want them to know that there is a God who loves them no matter who they are or what they have done. God is always with us even when it feels like He is not listening. God gives his toughest battles to His strongest soldiers. I believe that with all my heart.

I am a current student at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. I am majoring in early childhood education and a minor in psychology. I have a few mental health diagnoses which include depressive-schizoaffective disorder, highly functioning autism, generalized anxiety, and ADHD. I am also a recovering alcoholic. With these diagnoses and substance abuse, I have had a 3-year long process to become the person I am today. I have been diagnosed with disabilities and disorders throughout my life. I was diagnosed with depressive-schizoaffective disorder in 2022, highly functioning autism in sixth or seventh grade, generalized anxiety in 2008, and ADHD in 2009. I first experienced psychosis when I was 21 years old. Leading up to the psychosis episode, I was having delusions about having a boyfriend that my parents restricted me from seeing him. In psychosis, I went to his supposed house and began banging on the door and threw up on his front porch. The family inside of that house called the police and they sent me to a mental hospital. A treatment center, Southern Live Oak Wellness, diagnosed me with depressive-schizoaffective disorder after my second psychosis episode which was led by hearing voices and having delusions. I have been to treatment five times and mental hospitals four times for 3 years. These treatment centers have taught me how to manage my mental health while still being a productive member of society. I have gained healthy coping skills, life skills, and independent living skills. I got a good medicine regimen from a residential treatment center, Red Top Wellness, after trying for 3 years to get stable on my medication. I started school at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga while being in treatment at Chattanooga Recovery Center in the spring of last year. In the fall of last year, I left that treatment center and started college in the fall of 2024 living in a campus dorm room. This was not an easy journey, but it taught me a lot and helped me to recover from mental health. As I mentioned earlier, I am a recovering alcoholic. I started drinking heavily around the same time I was first experiencing delusion. I drank when my parents weren’t home or when they were asleep, and I stole their liquor blaming it on my uncle who lived with us at the time. I started drinking because I was spiraling into a deep depression that I couldn’t get myself out of. To cope with the depression, I started drinking. Alcohol made me a bad person it brought out the worst in me. It made me lash out at my family whenever they would ask me questions about my well-being. I would drink while also taking mental health medication. Eventually, it would lead to a psychosis episode. My drinking was one of my parent’s biggest concerns during my time in treatment. They were worried that it would get worse and they were right. I wasn’t my usual self when I was drinking. I normally am a kind and goofy person however, drinking made me the total opposite. I was mean, cruel, and manipulative. I didn’t want to hear anything you had to say because it would only make me angry and resentful. I had to accept that I had a drinking problem. However, that didn’t stop me from continuing to drink. I have relapsed many times. It was mainly because I wasn’t taking my recovery seriously. I just did it to make my parents happy. Eventually, I got tired of doing this treatment cycle. It was taking a toll on me. I told myself that if I wanted to live, I had to do away with drinking. This was the beginning of becoming who I am today. I am now 2 years sober and I haven’t been back to treatment since the beginning of 2024. I have learned independent life skills like hygiene, medicine management, etc. I am in therapy and working on childhood trauma. In school, I want to maintain good grades by not procrastinating and falling behind. I use my on-campus resources like the program I am in called the Mosaic program and using the disability resource center for accommodation needs. To continue to manage my recovery, I go to therapy once a week. I take my medicine as prescribed and daily. I go to support groups on campus related to substance abuse. I am making new friends and finding other clubs to join. I use my healthy coping skills when I am struggling. All these things helped with my recovery and I learned these things in treatment and therapy.

My name is Savanna Littlejohn. I am pursuing my bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and a minor in psychology at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. I am currently a junior. I have dealt with a lot of adversity in my lifetime. I have overcome so many obstacles and always came out on top. I hope that my story will inspire and encourage others who are going through similar struggles. When I was 22 I was diagnosed with depressive-schizophrenia. It all started with a psychosis episode. I was having delusions that I had a boyfriend who was my high school crush. I went to his house and started banging on his door almost breaking it. That day was fuzzy, so I don’t know all the details. This episode led me to a mental hospital where I got a lot of psychotic medicine that I didn’t need. After this hospitalization came many more and bouncing from rehab to rehab. I have been in the rehab cycle for 4 years. I got diagnosed while I was in rehab for the second time. I drank heavily which contributed to my psychosis episodes and delusions. These downward cycles became very overwhelming and at one point I completely gave up. My last residential rehab got me stable on my medication where I could manage my mental health issues. I also learned what my downward spiral looks like before I go into psychosis. My last partial hospitalization program helped me get back on my feet. I learned that if I wanted to become mentally stable, I had to do the work and get serious about my mental health and sobriety. Over the years of being in rehab I have learned a lot. I gained healthy coping skills, learned how to communicate when I am depressed, and I regained relationships that I had lost. I also gained sobriety skills like going to support group meetings, working a twelve-step program, and working through cravings for alcohol. I know how to manage my medication by setting alarms to take them and knowing the consequences of not taking them. Therapy while in rehab was a challenge. I have seen multiple therapists in my life, however, I knew how to manipulate them by making them believe that everything was okay and that I was getting better. This was the total opposite. I am now open and honest to all therapists and I am still in therapy. My advice to someone who is dealing with schizophrenia is to get a support network that understands and is willing to learn about schizophrenia. Surround yourself with people that you trust and love. Isolation will only send you backward. You need to know what triggers your schizophrenia like negative emotions, substances, etc. Take your medication as prescribed even if you don’t think you need it. Substances should not be consumed under any circumstance. If you go to rehab, take it seriously and commit to your mental health recovery. Use your resources especially if you aren’t doing well. Your resources could be mental health hotlines, your support network, therapy, etc. Having schizophrenia doesn’t make you crazy. I believe there is a certain stigma with schizophrenic people that we could never be a productive member of society, because of our mental illness. This is simply not true. I have it and I am now going to college and am attentive to my daily life skills. Don’t let anyone hinder you from becoming successful whatever that looks like for you.

My name is Savanna Littlejohn and I am a junior at the University OF Tennessee, Chattanooga. I am majoring in early childhood and special needs education with a minor in psychology. I grew up as a Baptist Christian and as a child I went to church with my family every Sunday. I got baptized when I was 7 years old. When I was little, I would attend children’s church and as a teenager to adulthood, I would stay in the regular church service. I was in the children’s choir and I was involved in the praise dance ministry. I am a recovering alcoholic with 2 years of sobriety and I have been to many rehabs. My faith played a big part in my addiction. I became disconnected with God, because I felt like He wasn’t there for me and had abandoned me. I no longer went to church every day unless I was forced to by my parents which wasn’t often. I didn’t want to pray because I thought God didn’t want to hear from me nor would He help me. I became angry at God for not coming to save me out of the darkness that I was in. When I finally became serious about getting sober, I began to repair my relationship with God. I wrote a letter to Him in rehab expressing how I felt about Him. This helped me to realize He was there all along and that I just didn’t want Him to save me, because I couldn’t save myself. Some scriptures that kept me going were my favorite scripture John 3:16 and Philippians 4:13. I know that through Him is where my strength lies and that He will save all His children. My current relationship with God is more personal and unexplainable. I have grown into the woman I am today because of God’s love and guidance. My faith has helped me to stay sober for 2 years and more years to come. I say the serenity prayer every night which is, “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” This means I must stop trying to control the things I cannot and take a seat in the passenger’s side and let God be my driver. If I can control things, I need God’s wisdom and guidance to do it according to His will not mine. Through recovery support group meetings I have learned how spirituality looks different for everyone. Some might need to repair their relationship with God, or some might need to strengthen their relationship with God. Also, I learned that everyone needs some type of faith to stay sober because we cannot do it by ourselves. Having a Higher Power is vital to recovery no matter what religion you are or who you believe in. My parents sent me to rehab the day before I was going to drink and I also didn’t have to drink because I had to pack and we left that day. This was my last time going to rehab but this time God stepped in and worked it out. I believe God can save anyone no matter what the sin is. He loves us all and is there for us through thick and thin. I know now that God is greater than any obstacle you have to face and He will never give up on you. If you trust Him and follow his will, everything else will fall into place.

My name is Savanna Littlejohn. I am a current student at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga and I am majoring in early childhood and special needs education with a minor in psychology. I am currently a junior. My goals are to maintain consistent grades, maintain spiritual and physical health, and learn how to budget money. To maintain consistent grades, one thing I need to do is build better study habits like highlighting my notes, making flashcards, etc. Along with this, I need to find the best place to study whether that is in the library on campus, at the disability resource center, or in my room. I need an organization system. This will include storage bins for stationary things, a binder that has an organization feature, and use a calendar and agenda to keep up with assignments and tests. I need to work on not procrastinating. To do this I can make a schedule to complete an assignment or task. I need to manage my time wisely by sticking to a schedule while also making time for other things like social events on campus. To maintain my spiritual needs one thing I will do is dedicate time each day to pray. I will set an alarm at nighttime to remind me to pray. I also need to learn how to pray. I could talk to a preacher or religious leader on topics I could pray about. I could also ask other people who share the same faith for advice on how to pray. I can write down my prayer and then recite it when I go to pray. To maintain my physical health, I need to eat healthy. I could start by eating a balanced meal that includes meat, pasta or rice, and some vegetables. I can make a meal plan that consists of a schedule of when I eat and what I eat each day of the week. Another thing I need to do to maintain my physical health is to exercise every day. I could find a friend to go to the gym with and create my own workout routine. If I don’t want to go to the gym or I can’t make it there, I will find a guided workout on YouTube. To learn how to budget my money, I could first make a budget plan that includes things like groceries, leisure activities, etc. The next thing I should do is record when I spend money so I can keep up on what I'm spending and adjust my budget based on the unnecessary things that I spent my money on. I should also make sure I spend money on priorities first, then think about spending it on other things that I want. When I get money, I should try not to spend the money right away and think about it before I spend it. I should have a financial safety net if I need it in case of an emergency or to make a huge payment. These goals will help me grow as a person and keep me healthy physically, financially, and spiritually. Having these goals will help to succeed throughout life. I need to be dedicated to these goals and be consistent. These goals will not only help me, but it will get me through life. School is my number one priority, but I also need to prioritize these certain life skills so that I can function as an adult.

My name is Savanna Littlejohn. I am a junior at the University of Tennessee—Chattanooga. I am majoring in Early Childhood and Special Needs Education and getting a minor in Psychology. I received my associate’s degree in early childhood education from Georgia Highlands College. I have developed a lot of skills throughout my life. I am selfless. In my addiction I was very selfish always putting my addiction above myself and others. I am sober now and have learned to be more selfless by prioritizing my sobriety and not always thinking about myself but other people as well. I am a very committed person. When I commit to something, I do it with a purpose and a plan. I won’t make a commitment that I can’t keep. I also am motivated. My motivation is what makes me a hard-working student. Without motivation, I couldn’t function or be productive. I simply can’t thrive without motivation it is what keeps me going. Another skill of mine is strength. I had to gain my strength back. When I was going through hard times, I couldn’t see the strength that pulled me through. There were many times I wanted to die (not anymore) and I wanted to give up, but because I had strength I made it. Just when I wanted to give up my strength told me, “No.” When I rediscovered my strength, I carried myself differently with a smile on my face and my head held high. I am an open-minded person, but when it comes to new experiences, I am not so open-minded. When my therapist told me about the Mosaic Program (a program for people with autism) at UTC, I initially didn’t want to do it. I thought it would hinder me from learning like a “normal” student. I gave it some thought and decided to apply. I have now been accepted into the program. I am entering into the program with an open mind to all the opportunities and new people I will meet. My passion is to become a special needs teacher from Pre-K to 1st grade or a regular teacher from kindergarten to 1st grade. I want to help my students succeed. I also want to help those kids who are less fortunate than others by giving their parents resources, checking in on them regularly, etc. I want to teach them how to be kind to others especially those who are different from them. I want to give them encouraging words when they are frustrated or experiencing difficulties. I will continue to develop and improve on the skills that I have learned. I also want to develop any new skills that I need to succeed and grow. I hope to make a difference in the field of education by making an impact on my students. I will continue to be a better person and strive to succeed in life. As I grow, I want to show and inspire others that they can get through any obstacles that come their way.

My name is Savanna Littlejohn. I am a junior at the University of Tennessee—Chattanooga, where I am pursuing my bachelor’s in early childhood education and special Needs Education. I have loved kids since I was a child. They have always fascinated me. I don’t want to just teach. I also want to inspire the future generation of children, and I hope to impact their lives. I value education first because it is the key to becoming successful. I also value equality not just for my race but for all people. I believe everyone deserves justice especially when there are some unjust actions taking place. The purpose of education is to teach the future generation of students and help them to become successful adults. Education is vital not only for success but also for daily living. I am a Black woman with Autism, so it is important for me as a teacher to understand and accommodate my student’s needs. I will provide feedback with constructive advice meaning giving students praise while also challenging them more positively. I want to provide my students with good communication skills like voicing their feelings, how to ask for things nicely, etc. The teaching methods I have learned from my other teachers are interactive learning. To apply this strategy, I will give my students various activities that involve working with others. Another strategy used by my classroom teachers is projects. I will apply this by creating projects that involve some creativity. I will also let them present their projects to the class, so I know they have learned something. These teachers taught me some hands-on learning skills. I will give students opportunities to learn with objects, technology, etc. One way I want to impact my students is to be an example of how to treat others who are different. I want to show them that just because someone is different, it doesn’t mean they aren’t “normal.” I want to inspire at least one of them to become educators. One of my academic goals for my students is to try their best in class. If I know that they are trying their best but still struggling, I will help them the best way I can. If they aren’t trying their best, then I will remind them of their potential. I also want them to gain confidence in learning, meaning that they are ready for any tests or graded assignments. As I go further in my career, I want to mentor those first-year teachers and/or those teachers who are just starting their careers. To improve and adapt to meet the diverse needs of my students I have a couple of strategies. One of them is to learn how to adjust my teaching methods to those students who need more attention because they are struggling academically. I will base that on how that student learns best. For those who have special needs, I want to make them feel comfortable, safe, and not afraid to ask for help. I will not exclude them from learning experiences and activities. I will still challenge them like I do with my other students. I will do my best to meet their accommodation needs. Being a teacher is rewarding. I want my students to know that they are not alone and that I understand them. I will treat them all equally, no matter how different or unique they are. My job is not only to teach but also to ensure that they succeed in their learning. I want them to know that I am here to help.

I am a 24-year-old black woman with an associate’s degree in early childhood education. I am a junior at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga getting my bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. I would like to be a Kindergarten or first-grade teacher. Being a black woman pursuing a degree in education, I feel like it is my duty to teach children about Black history, hoping they will be inspired by it. I embody the attribute of prospering with a purpose, and I need to improve on prioritizing and managing my time. My purpose in life is to teach the future generation of children, and I hope I will have an impact on their lives. I have had to overcome a lot in the past three years. My struggle with depressive schizoaffective disorder started at the age of 21. In my last year of getting my associate’s degree, I started to drink heavily, and I was making my medicine with alcohol. I started to have delusions about having a relationship with my high school crush. I became obsessed with this delusion, which led me to my first psychosis episode. My parents sent me to a mental hospital. After that incident came many more psychosis episodes and substance abuse relapses, which kept leading me back into mental hospitals and rehabs. I went to my last and final rehab last year, and I got out in the summer of 2024. I am now almost two years sober, and I haven’t had another psychosis episode for about two years. My purpose was to become the person I am today, which is mentally stable and sober. My life hasn’t been easy, but I come out on top every time. I need to improve on prioritizing and managing my time. I should take time out of my day to socialize and make friends on campus, whether that be going to campus events, making small talk to new people, etc. I wasn’t very social this semester, but I would like to make that a priority. I need to give myself some time for breaks from schoolwork, such as watching TV, reading, etc. I need to take more time to focus on more challenging subjects. Those more challenging subjects should be my priority subjects. I will make a school routine schedule that includes class time, breaks, homework, etc. I need to follow that schedule every day and add things to that schedule if needed. All of this will help me prioritize and manage my time. I have overcome a lot of mental health and substance abuse issues. I wouldn’t change those challenges I had to face because they made me the person I am today. I will continue to improve by prioritizing and managing my time wisely. I hope one day, my story will inspire others who are going through the same thing or something similar.

My name is Savanna Littlejohn, and I am from Douglasville, Georgia. I attend the University of Tennessee—Chattanooga and am a junior. I have an associate’s degree in early childhood education from Georgia Highlands College. I have been diagnosed with depressive schizoaffective disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and generalized anxiety. I am currently mentally stable, after many mental hospitals and rehabs/ treatment centers. My mental health can impact my academic performance in many ways. My grades go down when I am mentally unstable and vice versa. When I was at Kennesaw State University after being in rehab, I was drinking heavily and depressed. I was also having symptoms of psychosis, which was mainly hearing voices along with responding to them. I went back into rehab after two to three months of attending KSU because I went into another psychosis episode. During this time of being in school, I noticed that I wasn’t focused or motivated. I was always hungover from the night before, so I wasn’t really paying attention in my classes and my grades were slowly declining. I would show up to classes late because I couldn’t function from drinking too much the night before. Now that I am back in school being sober and mentally stable, I have noticed a huge shift in my academic performance. I am more motivated, I work hard, and I am productive. I attend tutoring at least 3 times a week and show up attentively. My mental health has had a great impact on my personal life while in school. When I was attending KSU, I was still having the same delusions that I had when I first entered treatment. I thought I had a boyfriend that my parents didn’t like, and I thought he had a stalker who was after me. Because of this, I didn’t have any friends, and I didn’t want to make any since I had this made-up relationship in my head. Now that I am attending UTC, I put myself out there to make friends. This looks like making friends with my classmates, I went to a couple of social events and made small talk with other people on campus. I got invited to bible study, and I went to their last meeting of the semester, but I plan to go regularly next year. I am almost two years sober, and I go to the support groups for addicts on campus. I also have a great sponsor who helps me through my addiction behaviors and compulsions. To prioritize my mental health, my number one priority is to take my medicine every day by setting scheduled alarms. I attend therapy and call my sponsor once a week along with going to the addiction support groups on campus. I make at least four to five goals every month and work on achieving them. I do any homework given by my therapist and homework given by my sponsor. I have developed different coping skills for triggers and negative emotions. For example, coloring when I am stressed or journaling when I don’t know what I am feeling. All these things keep me stable and sober. Having experience of what my school life looks like while I am unstable has helped me become a better student. I am no longer having delusions, and I haven’t heard any voices in almost a year. I utilize the tools I have learned in rehab and apply them in everyday life. I am proud of the person I have become.

My name is Savanna Littlejohn. I am currently attending University of Tennessee Chattanooga, and I am a junior. My mental health journey started when I was young. I have been diagnosed with ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, generalized anxiety, depressive schizoaffective disorder, and non-epileptic seizures. My recent diagnosis, depressive schizoaffective disorder, started to show up in 2021 when I had a psychosis episode and was sent to the mental hospital. After the first psychosis, came many more which led to a number of mental hospitals and treatment centers. My last treatment center got me stable on my medicine and then I went to another treatment center in Chattanooga, Tennessee where I started school at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. My mental health journey continues, and I am now mentally stable, and I am out on my own living on campus. A lot of things influence my beliefs regarding my mental health. For my political beliefs I believe everyone should have affordable health care for mental health including therapy, treatment, etc. We should all have equal access to services supporting inclusion including extra aides, support personnel, etc. I would also encourage families to get their children diagnosed early in life because they will have a better chance to get the support and necessities, they need to be successful. For my cultural beliefs, depending on the cultural they might not speak/recognize mental health issues. My job is to bring awareness and emphasize the importance of mental health. In my profession I want to work with parents on how to start addressing their child’s mental health struggles whether that be getting them diagnosed, going to therapy, etc. I will also encourage them to have and use a support system/network for their child and themselves. For my educational beliefs, I believe that if a child’s case isn’t extreme or noticeable, the system tends to overlook them. For example, when I was a child, I was on concentration medicine for my ADHD. Because I seemed focused at school, my teachers didn’t recognize that I was having trouble focusing at home. My mother took me off my concentration medicine to show the teachers that I was having trouble focusing and then I was diagnosed with ADHD. By middle school I was having trouble with my grades because I didn’t have an IEP. It wasn’t until I found a therapist that finally diagnosed me with autism spectrum disorder. She also advocated for an IEP, and I finally got one in the seventh grade. There are children out there who seem to not have trouble at school but at home it is a different story. My relationships have been affected my mental health greatly mostly because of my autism. I have bad social anxiety. I get overwhelmed in big crowds and I have trouble making friends. When I was having delusions about having a boyfriend it limited me from forming relationships with those around me and even seeking out romantic relationships. I have one best friend, and we are both loyal to each other. For me loyalty is the most important quality for a friend or partner. When I was struggle with psychosis it was mainly because of isolation and substance abuse problems. Which often led into a downward spiral and ending up in treatment again. Because of my multiple diagnoses, I want to be a special needs educator because I believe I can provide multiple insights on learning. I want to provide the resources to help kids get diagnosed early on, because I was never given when I was a child. I also want to provide cheaper ways to get help for those families who are less fortunate. I am open to learning how to provide assistance to those students with disabilities I am not familiar with. I want to help those who need more assistance with learning and guide them through their next phase in life whether that be academically or personally. Mental health to me means having a stable life and coping with daily life struggles. Going to therapy is an essential part of my mental health. When I don’t go to therapy regularly my issues go ignored or I get overwhelmed, and I slowly start moving backwards. Taking my medication daily in the mornings, afternoon, and night. When I don’t do this, I fall apart, and my life becomes chaos. Sticking to a schedule helps me stay focused and become productive. When I don’t have a schedule, I become lazy and be dependent on others which only sets be back. Mental health should be important for everyone even if you don’t have a diagnosis.

My name is Savanna Littlejohn I am a junior at The University of Tennessee Chattanooga majoring in Early Childhood and Special Education with a minor in psychology. I have had my share of mental health challenges, specifically in the past three years. It all started with my first experience with psychosis in 2021 while drinking all day. I was having delusions and hearing voices leading up to this. I was sent to a mental hospital for the first time. I went to the mental hospital three more times after that because I went into psychosis. My last time in a mental hospital was because of an almost attempted suicide. In between these hospitalizations, I was sent to treatment centers. My first treatment center, Southern Live Oak in Dunwoody, Georgia, I was diagnosed with Depressive Schizoaffective Disorder. While being in treatment I have learned what my cycle of depression looks like and how it leads to my psychosis. My last residential treatment center was Redtop Wellness in Georgia. There they finally got me stable on my medicine and then I was sent to a partial hospitalization program called Chattanooga Recovery Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee. There I could start college at my current university while still being in treatment. I left treatment in early May of this year and haven’t been hospitalized since. Mental health is important in so many ways. You need to care for your mind because the mind is the most essential piece of your body. Ignoring your mental health can lead to outbursts, aggression, depression, etc. I was suppressing a past traumatic event in my life involving my cousin who sexually assaulted me when I was about six or seven, and he raped me when I was about seven or eight. I didn’t tell anybody what happened to me, nor did I deal with it. I told my parents what happened when I was in treatment about two years ago. Now that I told them I can now deal with it in a healthy way and begin to unpack the impact it has had on my life. When we stuff down trauma it will sneak up on us and cause us to go out of control. This is the same for mental health. When we feel that our mental health is declining, we should deal or cope with it. For me to maintain my mental wellness I need to do several things. The most important thing is to take my medicine. It is what keeps me stable. I go to therapy once a week and talk about what is troubling me or just checking in what I have accomplished for the week. I have substance abuse issues so having a sober network, talking to my sponsor every day, and going to support group meetings is how I manage to stay sober. I should tell someone when I feel my mental health is starting to decline. I journal everyday and attend to my spiritual needs. Being mentally stable doesn’t mean having it all to together. It takes a lot of strength and effort to do the things that help you maintain it. It isn’t easy because when you have ignored your mental health for a long time you have teach yourself how to deal with by using outside resources. I have learned the hard way that you can’t do this alone. It is going to take a whole village to help overcome your mental health struggles.

My name is Savanna Littlejohn, and I am a junior at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga, majoring in early childhood education and minoring in psychology. I have an associate’s degree in early childhood education from Georgia Highlands College. When teaching young kids, I aim to provide them with the tools and resources they need to navigate the challenges faced by BIPOC women. I plan to empower and support BIPOC girls in three main ways. First, I will create a welcoming and inclusive environment in my classroom. Second, I will encourage my students to respect each other's cultural norms, traditions, and beliefs. Third, I will introduce different cultures and backgrounds to students who do not identify as BIPOC while teaching them to embrace diversity and avoid discrimination. To create a friendly environment in my classroom, I will incorporate numerous opportunities for group projects and collaborative learning activities. I will also schedule time for students to interact and play with each other beyond recess and encourage them to engage with peers they don't usually interact with. To foster respect for cultural diversity, I will lead by example by treating all students with respect and providing resources that align with the cultural and religious beliefs of BIPOC children, such as technology access and support groups. Additionally, I will educate students on the cultures of their peers when necessary to promote understanding and inclusivity. I am committed to actively engaging in my community to support BIPOC women. This can include participating in peaceful protests related to issues in the Black community, joining support groups based on my identity as a Black woman, volunteering at women's shelters, and contributing to non-profit organizations focused on social justice and equality. Effecting change for BIPOC women requires proactive effort on my part. I will stay informed about the current struggles of BIPOC women and take action to address any unfair treatment or discrimination I witness. In my career, I will provide information and resources to BIPOC girls and families facing financial or mental challenges. When personally encountering unfair treatment due to my identity as a Black woman, I will stand up for myself and report any issues to the proper authorities. My goal is to uplift my students and encourage them to believe in their potential regardless of their race or ethnicity. I want them to feel comfortable reporting any discrimination or adversity they experience in my classroom, and I will ensure that such situations are addressed appropriately. I aim to inspire the next generation of children to overcome adversity and pursue their dreams. Additionally, I want to empower and inspire others to act against discrimination and unfair treatment, both within and outside my career. Overall, I am committed to making a positive impact on the lives of BIPOC individuals, whether it's within my professional role or beyond.

My name is Savanna Littlejohn, and I am from Georgia. I am junior at University of Tennessee Chattanooga and my major is early childhood and special needs education with a minor is psychology. I already have my associates degree from Georgia Highlands College in early childhood education. I want to become a special needs teacher, because I also have disabilities which are Autism, ADHD, Anxiety, and Non-Epileptic Seizures. I have a cousin who has down-syndrome. My brother and I used to travel to Illinois to visit my aunt and my cousin every summer. So, growing up, I always knew that some people were different than me. Special needs kids are always drawn to me. For example, I had to do observation hours at a special needs school. A child with autism who was non-verbal, and he sat in my lap and drew in my notebook. I could tell he felt safe and comfortable. To help my special needs students I would need to teach them how to be confident in their own skin and confident in their learning skills. My students must follow these three rules; respect others, be kind, and encourage each other. The statement stated in this prompt means to teach students how to accept their disability or disabilities to be confident in their own skin and to help them excel inside and outside the classroom. I want to teach my students to become aware of their physical space and understand appropriate verbal communication styles. I also want them to be aware of how they interact with their other peers. To teach them this I need to notice their faults in their behaviors and triggers they might have by explaining to my students why their behavior is inappropriate. I will give solve this by giving my students different coping skills, redirecting them, etc. I also want to give them confidence in their learning skills. I will do this by giving them verbal praise, rewards encouragement be their “cheerleader”, etc. My mission to accomplish the statement’s task I will ensure three non-negational rules. My first one is to respect others. I want all my students to get along and to treat each other with respect. Even if they have disagreements or conflicts, I want them to work it out and come up with a solution that each party can agree with. My second rule is to be kind to one another. I will not tolerate bullying in my classroom and there will serious consequences if I see another student bullying their peers. My third rule is for my students to encourage each other. I want students to recognize when their peer is improving on their learning skills. In my opinion, peer support can improve children’s ability to succeed. On top of these rules, I will let my students make new rules and edit them to rules that can be followed and understood by all of them. These three rules will make my classroom a safe place to verbally express their feelings or problems in an appropriate way. I want my classroom to have a safe and successful learning environment. My students are different than others. I want them to know that because they are different doesn’t mean that they can’t succeed academically and/or can become successful in the future. Being different means that you are a unique and special. Life may have its hardships, and they face adversity, but I want to give them the tools to overcome those things and that they are strong and capable of handling it well. There is a saying “was doesn’t kill makes you stronger.” That’s what teaching is all about: being able to teach your students that just because you are different doesn’t mean you are weak it makes you stronger. To help my special needs students I would need to teach them how to be confident in their own skin and confident in their learning skills. My students must follow these three rules; respect others, be kind, and encourage each other.

My name is Savanna Littlejohn. I am 24 years old, and I am currently attending the University of Tennessee Chattanooga as a junior. I have multiple disabilities. They include autism level 1, generalized anxiety, ADHD, depressive schizoaffective disorder, and non-epileptic seizures. I was diagnosed with autism level 1 in the 6th grade, generalized anxiety in the 5th grade, ADHD in the 3rd grade, depressive schizoaffective disorder at 22 years old, and non-epileptic seizures in the 8th grade. I have a lot of diagnoses, but they will never stop me from achieving my goals. My disabilities and/or disorders effected my personal life, school life, etc. For my Autism level 1 (previously known as Asperger's) became noticeable to my parents when I was a toddler. It started with temper tantrums because I couldn’t articulate my feeling or thoughts. The common symptoms I had were misunderstanding social cues which also lead to temper tantrums, crying spells, and not communicating correctly. Autism looked different for me because I wasn’t an “extreme” case. My generalized anxiety was noticeable by my parents when I was baby. I was sometime having nightmare waking up crying. I worry about things that are out of my control. I would also ruminate on my worries. I had trouble calming myself down from a panic attack. Taking anxiety medication as definitely helped me. My ADHD was often overlooked my teachers because of my good grades and the fact that I was on ADHD medication, so they couldn’t see the symptoms I was having at home. When I finally got an IEP, this helped me be able to be successful in school. My Depressive Schizoaffective Disorder didn’t come until I became an adult. I was having psychosis episodes leading me into mental institutions and treatment programs. I hear voices that get very aggressive. I have delusions that people are out to get me, thinking things that aren’t true, and making up false narratives. My depression episodes look like not eating, sleeping all day, not taking care of my ADLs, etc. I was diagnosed with non-epileptic seizures in the 8th grade. I started having these seizures in the 6th grade and they got progressively worse leading me to go to hospital to get seizure test done. They are caused by stress which usually because of school. I haven’t had a seizure since my first year of college. There are a lot of ways of how I manage life with these disabilities. Medicine management is big part of staying mentally stable. Red Top Wellness Center got me a good medicine regiment that works for me. When I am struggling, I use healthy coping skills. I am an alcoholic so staying sober is a priority as well as therapy. My major is going to play a big part of helping underserved communities. I am majoring in early childhood and special education with a minor is psychology. I want to teach students with disabilities. I can relate to my students because of my multiple diagnoses and mental health struggles. I want them to know that they can be successful despite their disabilities by giving them the tools that have helped me and others. After so many trials and tribulations I made it out. I never thought I would be going back college and getting my life back on track. I can love who I am and who I will become. I want all my students to know that there is hope even when you don’t believe it.

I am a 24-year-old African American woman. I have ADHD, Autism, anxiety, Depressive Schizoaffective, and I struggle with alcoholism. I have been in a treatment cycle for 3 years and I can officially say that cycle has ended. I am ready for college and my future. As far as my African American women I faced a few adversities in my life so far. Also as a person with many disabilities and disorders I had to overcome some challenging things. As a light complected African American I wasn’t black enough for the white kids, but I was always accepted by my own race. Living with Autism I often get misunderstood, because people give up on understanding me. People sometimes treat me differently when I say I have been in treatment and/or I am an alcoholic. I always had trouble concentrating in school. Since I was on medicine for my ADHD my teachers didn’t see that I had trouble concentrating. My mom took me off my medication and the teachers finally understood, but until 3rd grade did, I get diagnosed. Explain autism, Depressive Schizoaffective, and struggle with alcohol. I know I will be an addict all my life so I will have to make sure I am sober and explain how. Communicating with those around me when I am triggered because of past trauma and/or substance abuse. If they don’t understand or respect that, I will not let it affect me. Not everyone will understand me, and I am okay with that. As an African American teacher, I want minority children to see someone like them be successful and excel in their career. I would love to teach them about their race and the role it has played in America. I want other children who are a different race to treat others who do not like them with respect and treat them equally. I would like to introduce multicultural curriculum into public schools across America or in my state. Start clubs and organizations to help that curriculum pass into the Board of Education of America or Tennessee. Despite my adversity and my disabilities, I have persevered and overcome many obstacles in my way. I want the future generation to be inspired by using what they are taught in school and carry it over into adulthood. I don’t want to make it seem that being different is easy, but I do what to express that we are different because we were meant to conqueror our adversity.

My name is Savanna Littlejohn. I attend the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. I am currently a junior. I have my associate’s degree in early childhood education from Georgia Highlands College in 2021. My major is in early childhood education and special education and I my minor is in psychology. As a teacher I want students to feel safe and included in my classroom. I want to attend college to become a kindergarten or special needs teacher. My parents didn’t take the opportunity to go to college, so it motivates me to graduate from college. My dad flunked out because he was too busy partying and never attended classes. Then my grandma sent him to the military. My grandma died of breast cancer when my mom was supposed to go to college, and she never went. I want to experience college life which includes dorm life, going to on-campus events, etc. After I graduated from Georgia Highlands College in 2021, my mental health started to decline. So much so that going back to college to get my bachelor’s seemed impossible. My first semester in the spring of this year at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga was a success while I was still in treatment. I made the dean’s list and completed my classes with all A’s. My career goals include to become a licenses teacher. After a year or two of being a teacher, I want to work on getting my master’s, specialist, and doctorate degree. I want my classroom vibe to be a safe space for my students whether it be in a regular classroom or special needs classroom. My teaching method I want to achieve is making learning fun. School doesn’t always have to consist of lectures, worksheets, etc. I think students learn best when they are having fun learning new ideas and concepts. To make learning fun I would have several fun activities such as creative projects, experimental learning, etc. I want to build relationships with my students even after they leave my classroom. I want to hopefully inspire them in the future and impact their future success. My life goals include several of things such as living on my own successfully which looks like taking care of my ADLs, continue managing my medicine, etc. I want to start a family and manage my household which includes providing structure, implementing basic rules and consequences for breaking those rules, etc. I also want to work on balancing home and work life. I want to be present with my family while still being successful in my career as an educator. I want to stay sober and be mentally stable. I want to learn how to drive. In my leisure time I want to travel the world. This is what I want my future life to look like after college. I hope to excel in my career as an educator by getting higher degrees and be more experienced in the education field. I want to be able to know how to teach a regular classroom, while also having the skill/ability to teach a special needs inclusion classroom. I want to have a successful career while still making time to enjoy my home life. College is a big deal for me considering my mental struggles in these past three years. I want to carry on the skills and tools that were passed down to me through my teachers/mentors to my students.

I want to be an early childhood special education teacher. This is basically helping students with disabilities learn. I must meet each students’ needs based on their IEPs. My job is to teach my students at the level they are on and adjust my teaching method when necessary. I want my students to have a successful school year by giving them the tools to help them succeed in life. My goal is to find an elementary school that include inclusion in all classrooms where I will have the opportunity not teach all types of children those without disabilities and those with disabilities. Before I interview for schools in Chattanooga, Tennessee, I will research what inclusion looks like in that school. I am looking for their inclusion policy, how the implement inclusion, and what they do to maintain inclusion. I have experience with living with my own disabilities which in autism spectrum disorder (highly functioning), ADHD, and anxiety. I was put on medicine to help my ADHD before I was diagnosed with it, so my teachers thought I didn’t have it. My mom then took me off my medicine for months until my teacher recommended me to get tested for ADHD. Living with anxiety can be tough, but with medicine and healthy coping skills I can manage it. My autism spectrum disorder was a long and stressful battle to get diagnosed. As a child I went everywhere to get tested and tried several different therapists and nobody would diagnose me or said I didn’t have it. It wasn’t until 7th grade when I found a therapist that would diagnose me and got me an IEP. These experiences will help me to get children who are often overlooked because of their grades and/or their behavior diagnosed when I start to notice symptoms. The skills I have are patience, conflict resolution, creativity, and empathy. Working with students with disabilities I must learn to be patient with them, otherwise it won’t guarantee that my students will be successful in my class. Conflict will arise. No matter the problem I can come up with a solution that will work for everyone. I would highly encourage creativity from my students because it can be another outlet to help them learn or understand a concept. I have always been empathetic. I understand what it is like to have a disability, I have disabilities myself. I want all my students to know that they can reach out to me if they are having any difficulties that doesn’t have to do with learning. My interest is in special needs education and psychology. I want to be able to cater to each child’s need and get to know them personally. I want them to feel safe to come to me no matter what the issue is. Psychology will teach me how my student’s mind works with having a disability. It will teach me how to better assist my students by giving me the appropriate tools to help them. I know all too well about the difficulties of getting diagnosed with a disability as a child. I have disabilities myself I think that will make me more relatable. When my students are triggered, I will suggest different healthy coping skills that students can use in my classroom such as a sensory room, redirecting them, etc. I hope to make my students comfortable and know that they are heard and recognized.

My name is Savanna Littlejohn. I am a junior at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga getting my bachelor’s degree in early childhood and special needs education and minoring in psychology. I chose the field of education and psychology because of my experiences growing up and my educational and mental health struggles. I love giving back to my community in numerous ways. I donate clothes to homeless shelters and donate to food drives. I volunteer through community or church events. I also like to donate money to a go fund me that I found either on social media or through a friend or family member. I love giving back and helping those who are less fortunate than me. My mentor was my chorus teacher in high school Mrs. Peeler. The chorus room was one of my safe places in high school. I needed a safe space for me to have support and make new friends who loved doing the same thing I did. Mrs. Peeler always made everyone feel welcomed and she loved all her students whether they were good or bad. She would encourage me to get out of my comfort zone and suggested that I should audition for musicals every year, until I finally did it my senior year. I wish I would’ve listened because I loved being dance ensemble. I stayed in beginners chorus throughout my high school years. I got discourage in my junior year because I wasn’t getting moved up to the next level of chorus. Not too long before graduation I asked her why she never moved me up and she said that I was always a big help in beginner’s chorus. Although I did improve over the years, she still wanted others to learn from me. She supported all her students even after graduation. Mrs. Peeler has taught me that being an educator is more than just teaching course curriculum. It is about how you can inspire the next generation. Mrs. Peeler’s teachings will help me become a memorable educator. I will love all my students regardless of their behavior. I will push my students to reach their potential. I will never give up on encouraging a student to get out of their comfort zone and advance their learning. Those students who I see as leaders I will let them help others. I will show support to my students by going to their club events and sporting events until they go to middle school. I will make my room a safe atmosphere by using decorations, have a welcoming attitude, and making it a fun environment where kids can feel comfortable. Mrs. Peeler’s teaching and mentorship will live on in my classroom. I want to share my love of learning to my students by using the methods that I was taught through other teachers. I will create accomplishment events for test score, grade averages, etc. and I will not leave anyone out. I will give advance learners optional learning opportunities. I would suggest to parents of students who are academically struggling to use their school and community resources. If a student is struggling behaviorally, I will have a parent-teacher conference to suggest different consequences of bad or good behavior. Whether students are struggling or exceling I will treat all of them equally. I want to convey the message that I observed from other teachers in my past. In the future I want to impact other kids to teach or become successful. I look forward to teaching the next generation of young children.

My name is Savanna Littlejohn. I am 24 years old and a junior at University of Tennessee Chattanooga. In 2021 I started having delusions about a crush from high school who I thought was my boyfriend. I was about to graduate at a two-year college, Georgia Highlands College with an associate’s degree in early childhood education. My parents saw the signs of my delusion, but they were focused on me graduating. Not too long after I graduated, I went into psychosis for the first time. I don’t remember much of that day, but I do know it was about the delusions I was having. I was sent to the mental hospital for the first time. My second time going to the mental hospital I was sent to a treatment facility after my stay to continue receiving help. I then went to that same treatment center three times and the mental hospital four times. I also went to Chattanooga, Tennessee for treatment twice. My second time at this treatment center before I could stay there, I had to go to Red Top Wellness Center. This is where I finally got stable on my medicine, and it took three years to stablize on my medicine which involve going through the treatment cycle more than once. I started drinking when I was almost 21. When I started drinking, I couldn’t stop. My drinking led to a downward spiral, and it affected my mental health severely. I was in denial for about a year. I thought that I could control the problem, as they say in addiction meetings you must surrender to the program and your higher power to stay clean. I was diagnosed with Autism in the sixth or seventh grade. I didn’t get an IEP plan until the seventh grade. My whole life my parents have been trying to get me diagnosed and no one would diagnose me. Then I met my most previous therapist Dr. Lightfoot, and she did the diagnosis. I struggle with communicating, understanding social cues, socializing, etc. I often was misunderstood in my regular school years, because of these struggles. I now have the tools to manage my social skills in a healthy way. When I went into treatment at the Southern Live Oak Wellness (SLOW) for the second time going there I got diagnosed with Depressive Schizoaffective Disorder and I got diagnosed officially from Dr. Lightfoot in 2022. When I have a depression episode and I don’t use my healthy coping skills, I eventually go into psychosis. My psychosis starts coming on when I either have delusions or hearing voices or sometimes both. The last time I went into psychosis after I came to, I started hearing voices again only this time they were very aggressive. I didn’t know how to stop them, and I made it obvious that I was hearing them. A “reality check” always helps me get out of my psychosis episodes/symptoms. At Red Top I learned how to recognize and cope with my depressive schizophrenia by learning what slowly leads to my psychosis through a great therapist. Chattanooga Recovery Center (CRC) was the best treatment center I ever went to. The first time I was there I had six months clean then I relapsed on alcohol. I would relapse three more times after that. The last time I relapsed there I went into psychosis and was sent to Arbor Wellness. I got really depressed and didn’t do what I was supposed to do which includes going to groups. meeting with a therapist, etc. I went back to CRC, and I was there for 2 months and without relapsing I went into psychosis again then was sent to SLOW. After I finished SLOW’s program, two months later I went to Red Top Wellness and as explained before they got me stable on my medicine. After I got out of Red Top Wellness I went back to CRC and this time there was a new director, Autumn Cain and my therapist was Angela. They have an excellent staff of BHTs, therapists, and a psychiatrist. Working with the staff I was able to recognize some past trauma and learned how to cope with it in a healthy way. I learned daily living skills, how to deal with difficult roommates, etc. During this stay I went to mental health and substance abuse meetings and had to go to group which is group therapy. I stayed sober this time and I still am. I am current a year and seven months clean. While still attending the activities at CRC I applied to University of Chattanooga Tennessee (UTC) and started in the spring. CRC took me to my classes, and I did two classes online/hybrid. The spring semester of 2024 was successful. I made all A’s and made the dean’s list while balancing school and being in treatment. I never had all A’s nor ever made the dean’s list. I am going back to UTC in the fall of this year, and it will be my first time living away from home in the college dorms. At UTC I am getting my bachelor’s degree in early childhood and special education, and I am minoring in psychology. After I graduate, I want to get a job as a kindergarten or Pre-k through first grade in the Chattanooga area and I love to have the opportunity to teach at an inner-city school. I would like to have an apartment of my own and live successfully independent while overcoming the obstacles that come with having disabilities. The changes I want to accomplish in my field of study is to learn how to teach children of this generation. This generation of children are different than any other generation. They are more sensitive and get disciplined at home very differently than I was disciplined and how my parents were disciplined also. Technology is more prevalent than it was when I was growing up. I plan to implement technology in my classroom, but also still teaching without technology. The changes I want to make within myself have to do with my mental health. I want to be socially confident enough where I can socialize with others without being guarded. I want to start making my sobriety a priority. I want to improve on my independent living skills like doing my ADLs, chores, etc. I need to work on budgeting my money. I have a habit of spending money right when I get it. I don’t drive because my mental health started declining. I want to be mentally stable enough to learn how to drive. To accomplish my goals, I need to put a lot of effort in it. I would seek out support groups for mental health and addiction and attend them regularly. I would like to find a therapist in Chattanooga and see them regularly. I could look up college events online and take a roommate or classmate with me. I need to take medication as prescribe daily to stay stable. When it comes to budgeting money, I am getting a joint account with my mother, so she can see my spending habits.

In the #booktok community there are several book recommendations. The book I chose to read is “Circe” by Madeline Miller. This book is about a goddess named Circe, daughter of Helios, god of the Sun. Circe discovers her witchcraft powers which gets her exiled to an island named Aiaia. Some people come to her island like the famous hero Odysseus and many more. Circe makes an Olympian god angry, so she does everything in her power to protect those she loves. The main theme I want focus on is Circe’s growth and self-discovery. Circe’s character development is one of the most important themes in the book. She deals with self-doubt, isolation, etc. I will highlight my top 3 moments of Circe’s character development. These moments are that are vital to how Circe changes throughout the book. In the end, she always comes out on top no matter what the gods do to her. Circe is constantly hiding from her past because she doesn’t want people to know who she really is on the outside. Everyone that she has a connection with doesn’t know anything about her past, because she never tells them. Eventually she falls in love with Telemachus, Odysseus’s son, and she tells him about her past, but she still nervous about his reaction as she shares. He just listens and Circe likes that. Telegonus, Circe’s son, wants to leave Aiaia and travel to Ithaca to meet his father, Odysseus. To ensure that Athena doesn’t kill Telegonus Circe goes to Trygon wanting his tail that is filled with a powerful poison that can kill any God. To get the tail Circe must prove to Trygon that she can withstand the poison and she does. She fills her son’s spear with Trygon’s tail. This shows her strength and unconditional love for her son. At the end of the book, Circe casts her strongest spell that turns her into a mortal. This decision demonstrates her belief that divinity was never a part of her true self. To continue to change as an individual Circe believes that mortality is the best tool. Change can and should be an ongoing process rather than the finish line. I think that this is the most important theme throughout the whole book. Tik Tok has had an influence on this book and its popularity through the #BookTok community. I watched TikTok compilations on YouTube about “Circe”. People were sharing quotes, making art, showing pictures, etc. They also talked about how inspiring Circe’s story was and they absolutely loved the ending. The artwork that was made in the videos reflected Circe based on who she was not what others saw her as. I would 10 out of 10 recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Greek mythology or religion in general. Other books I would put on my ideal bookshelf from the #booktok list is “The Song of Achilles” and the 7-book series “Hade x Persephone Saga”. Other Greek mythology books that aren’t on the #booktok list includes the “Percy Jackson” book series and “The Odyssey.”

Netflix has many good shows and movies. The one Netflix show that sticks out to me is Dear White People. Dear White People is based on the 2014 movie with the same title. The shows follow the complicated politics of identity in a fictional Ivy League college, Winchester University. It all started with a blackface party held on campus held by white students. The results of this party brought up racial tensions that some students ignored, and they are now being dealt with. Racism is still prevalent today and still effects our lives. Anyone can have some racism when they are brought to light, we need to speak up and let our voices be heard. There are many reasons why you should watch this show. For starter the director, Justin Simien, is a gay black man and a transgender woman. Meaning he was experienced racism and homophobic people. This show doesn’t support the notion that only bad people are racist, and good people aren’t. Sometimes we all get it wrong and other times it sucks being right. It has an ensemble cast that doesn’t just focus on one character but many others. Dear White People talks about heavy racism topics like police brutality, gun violence, colorism, etc. It also talks about serious LGBTQ+ issues within the black community. This show is known for their great soundtrack which is played when the conflict ends. The show sheds a light on current racism that is still prevalent today. This show creates good and insightful discussions about how we experience racism in America. While addressing serious issues, the show also adds humor to some parts of the show. This is a great show that is sometimes comical but serious at times also. I would highly recommend this show not only to minorities, but also to white people. In the show it follows a mystery of an all-black secret society at Winchester University that include mainly elite alumni of the college. They are called The Order of X. There are twelve secret societies on campus including this one. One of the character, Lionel Higgins, realizes that the school’s systematic racism comes from these secret societies. Secret societies are real. They date back to at least the 1730s which was when the Freemasons were created. They appeared on college campuses in the 1800s. Some political leaders are a part of these societies, including Harry Truman (Freemasons) and former Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg who was supposably an honorary member of Quill and Dagger at Cornell University. In George W. Bush’s autobiography, her admits that he is a member of Yale’s Skull and Bones. Black societies were formed because of a lack of socioeconomic opportunity and racial segregation. I say all of this to point out these societies, real or fake, want to control the way America runs. Racism is still prevalent today and still effects our lives. Anyone can have some racism when they are brought to light, we need to speak up and let our voices be heard. Racism will always be present no matter what country you go to. The issues addressed in Dear White People are giving us the problem and demonstrate on how to dela with it. Next time you need a good Netflix show to watch consider Dear White People it will open your eyes and keep you “woke.”