What makes me different is the way I’ve chosen to turn my healing into my purpose—and my pain into creative power. I’ve faced challenges that could have closed me off from the world, but instead, I’ve used them to build bridges for others. As a Black woman, an artist, and someone living with PTSD and depression, I’ve learned to lead with empathy, softness, and intention. My difference lies in my ability to see healing not just as something we do for ourselves—but as something we offer to others, even when we don’t know they’re watching. I founded Sacral Alchemy, my spiritual wellness and sustainable fashion brand, as a way to share my journey through art, ritual, and design. I focus on creating tools and wearable pieces that center womb healing, feminine energy, and emotional restoration—especially for Black women and femmes who are often expected to be strong without space to be soft. Everything I create—whether it’s a journal, a handmade garment, or a social media post—is infused with the hope that it might reach someone at the exact moment they need it. Often, I don’t know who is watching, but I know that someone is. I’ve had people message me saying a piece I posted brought them comfort after a long day. Others have told me that my vulnerability gave them permission to reflect on their own emotional needs or reconnect with their spiritual practices. These moments remind me that authenticity is powerful. Simply showing up as my full self—creative, sensitive, healing, imperfect—can have a ripple effect far beyond what I can see. My uniqueness comes from the intersection of my identities and how I’ve woven them into my purpose. I’m not just an artist or designer—I’m a healer, an intuitive, a guide. My creative work is grounded in care and shaped by my lived experience. I don’t create to be seen, but to reflect truth and wholeness back to those who need it. That’s why even the smallest details of my work matter: the textures I use, the colors I choose, the words I write, the energy I infuse into each offering. It’s all a form of service. I believe we are always influencing others, even in silence. Sometimes, it’s not about what you say or do directly—it’s about how you carry yourself, how you honor your truth, how you move through the world with purpose. That quiet courage can spark something in someone else. My goal is to embody what I needed when I was younger: someone who reminded me that softness is not weakness, that healing is possible, and that creativity can be a sacred act of resistance and renewal. I may not always know who’s watching, but I know that by living my truth and sharing it through my work, I’m helping someone else feel a little less alone—and that is more than enough.

My experience with mental health has profoundly shaped the way I see myself, the world around me, and the work I feel called to do. Living with PTSD and depression has been a journey of deep unlearning and remembering. It forced me to slow down, to listen to my body, and to explore healing outside of traditional systems that often overlook the cultural and spiritual dimensions of trauma—especially for Black women. At my lowest points, I felt isolated, ashamed, and emotionally numb. But through that pain, I began to ask myself honest questions: What does healing look like on my terms? What makes me feel whole? What is my body trying to tell me? That’s when I turned to creative expression—not as a cure, but as a tool. Making art gave me language when I had none. It became a space where I could hold both grief and hope, where I could process my experiences through color, texture, symbolism, and ritual. That creative process didn’t just help me heal—it helped me define who I am. These experiences radically transformed my beliefs. I no longer see emotions as things to hide or “fix,” but as messengers. I believe healing is non-linear, deeply personal, and something that must include the body, the spirit, and the ancestral self. I also believe that creativity is medicine—that our ability to express, reflect, and connect with others through art is vital to our emotional well-being. My relationships have also evolved. I’ve learned the importance of boundaries, softness, and honest communication. I’ve become more discerning with who I share space with, and more intentional about building community rooted in care, vulnerability, and mutual respect. Living with mental health challenges has taught me how to hold space for others in their own journeys, and how to ask for what I need without guilt or shame. These lessons have directly influenced my career aspirations. As a student at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago studying Fashion Design, Psychology, and Art Therapy, I’ve built an interdisciplinary foundation to support my mission: to create healing-centered spaces for Black women through art, design, and storytelling. I founded Sacral Alchemy, a sustainable fashion and spiritual wellness brand that helps women reconnect with their bodies, creativity, and feminine energy. My work focuses on womb healing, emotional restoration, and the sacred power of adornment. Through Sacral Alchemy, I’ve realized that my purpose is not just to create beautiful things, but to offer tools for transformation. I plan to continue designing intentional garments, ritual tools, and journals that support emotional and spiritual healing. I also envision building community workshops, retreats, and collaborations that combine art therapy, fashion, and ancestral practices to support women who, like me, are seeking to come home to themselves. Mental health is not a weakness—it’s a teacher. My journey has made me more compassionate, more self-aware, and more committed to creating a world where softness, rest, and healing are seen as essential, not optional. I want my work to reflect that truth and to create space for others to heal, feel, and rise.

My experience with mental health has profoundly shaped the way I see myself, the world around me, and the work I feel called to do. Living with PTSD and depression has been a journey of deep unlearning and remembering. It forced me to slow down, to listen to my body, and to explore healing outside of traditional systems that often overlook the cultural and spiritual dimensions of trauma—especially for Black women. At my lowest points, I felt isolated, ashamed, and emotionally numb. But through that pain, I began to ask myself honest questions: What does healing look like on my terms? What makes me feel whole? What is my body trying to tell me? That’s when I turned to creative expression—not as a cure, but as a tool. Making art gave me language when I had none. It became a space where I could hold both grief and hope, where I could process my experiences through color, texture, symbolism, and ritual. That creative process didn’t just help me heal—it helped me define who I am. These experiences radically transformed my beliefs. I no longer see emotions as things to hide or “fix,” but as messengers. I believe healing is non-linear, deeply personal, and something that must include the body, the spirit, and the ancestral self. I also believe that creativity is medicine—that our ability to express, reflect, and connect with others through art is vital to our emotional well-being. My relationships have also evolved. I’ve learned the importance of boundaries, softness, and honest communication. I’ve become more discerning with who I share space with, and more intentional about building community rooted in care, vulnerability, and mutual respect. Living with mental health challenges has taught me how to hold space for others in their own journeys, and how to ask for what I need without guilt or shame. These lessons have directly influenced my career aspirations. As a student at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago studying Fashion Design, Psychology, and Art Therapy, I’ve built an interdisciplinary foundation to support my mission: to create healing-centered spaces for Black women through art, design, and storytelling. I founded Sacral Alchemy, a sustainable fashion and spiritual wellness brand that helps women reconnect with their bodies, creativity, and feminine energy. My work focuses on womb healing, emotional restoration, and the sacred power of adornment. Through Sacral Alchemy, I’ve realized that my purpose is not just to create beautiful things, but to offer tools for transformation. I plan to continue designing intentional garments, ritual tools, and journals that support emotional and spiritual healing. I also envision building community workshops, retreats, and collaborations that combine art therapy, fashion, and ancestral practices to support women who, like me, are seeking to come home to themselves. Mental health is not a weakness—it’s a teacher. My journey has made me more compassionate, more self-aware, and more committed to creating a world where softness, rest, and healing are seen as essential, not optional. I want my work to reflect that truth and to create space for others to heal, feel, and rise.

My passion for public service is rooted in healing—healing myself, my community, and the spaces that have historically failed to support the mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being of Black women. As someone who has lived through mental health struggles and personal trauma, I know what it feels like to search for spaces that reflect your truth and still come up empty. I’ve turned that experience into a lifelong mission: to help others, especially young Black women, access healing that is holistic, culturally rooted, and creatively empowering. Public service, to me, is about care. It’s about showing up with intention and creating spaces where people feel seen, safe, and supported. I’ve already started this work through Sacral Alchemy, the sustainable fashion and wellness brand I founded to help women reconnect with their bodies and sacral energy—the center of creativity, pleasure, and emotional balance. My art and design practice is not just aesthetic—it’s therapeutic. I use fashion, ritual tools, and journaling as forms of healing, especially for women carrying the invisible weight of trauma and societal expectation. I am currently a student at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, studying Fashion Design, Psychology, and Art Therapy. This interdisciplinary education equips me with both the creative tools and the psychological insight to serve my community with depth and sensitivity. I plan to use these skills to build programs and spaces that integrate design with mental health care—offering accessible, trauma-informed, and culturally relevant healing experiences. My long-term vision includes opening a community healing studio in Chicago where women can participate in art therapy sessions, attend workshops on womb healing and self-expression, and access sustainable self-care resources that reflect their heritage and spirit. In addition to one-on-one and group healing work, I also aim to develop public programming and curriculum that can be used in schools, shelters, and local organizations. I want to help shift the way we talk about wellness in Black and brown communities—to move away from shame and silence, and toward collective care, ritual, and creativity. Whether it’s through creating sacred spaces, designing intentional clothing that empowers wearers, or facilitating healing through community art projects, I believe public service is about building bridges between personal healing and community transformation. Chicago has shaped me, and I want to give back by being part of the next wave of artists, healers, and educators reimagining what wellness and public care can look like—especially in underserved communities. I’m committed to meeting people where they are, honoring their lived experiences, and offering support that is affirming, not clinical; creative, not restrictive; and grounded in culture, not disconnected from it. My work in public service will always come back to this question: How can we create a world where Black women feel safe to be soft, creative, and whole? Through the skills I’m gaining in my education and the community-rooted vision of Sacral Alchemy, I’m building that world—one piece, one workshop, one sacred moment at a time.

My experience with mental health has profoundly shaped the way I see myself, the world around me, and the work I feel called to do. Living with PTSD and depression has been a journey of deep unlearning and remembering. It forced me to slow down, to listen to my body, and to explore healing outside of traditional systems that often overlook the cultural and spiritual dimensions of trauma—especially for Black women. At my lowest points, I felt isolated, ashamed, and emotionally numb. But through that pain, I began to ask myself honest questions: What does healing look like on my terms? What makes me feel whole? What is my body trying to tell me? That’s when I turned to creative expression—not as a cure, but as a tool. Making art gave me language when I had none. It became a space where I could hold both grief and hope, where I could process my experiences through color, texture, symbolism, and ritual. That creative process didn’t just help me heal—it helped me define who I am. These experiences radically transformed my beliefs. I no longer see emotions as things to hide or “fix,” but as messengers. I believe healing is non-linear, deeply personal, and something that must include the body, the spirit, and the ancestral self. I also believe that creativity is medicine—that our ability to express, reflect, and connect with others through art is vital to our emotional well-being. My relationships have also evolved. I’ve learned the importance of boundaries, softness, and honest communication. I’ve become more discerning with who I share space with, and more intentional about building community rooted in care, vulnerability, and mutual respect. Living with mental health challenges has taught me how to hold space for others in their own journeys, and how to ask for what I need without guilt or shame. These lessons have directly influenced my career aspirations. As a student at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago studying Fashion Design, Psychology, and Art Therapy, I’ve built an interdisciplinary foundation to support my mission: to create healing-centered spaces for Black women through art, design, and storytelling. I founded Sacral Alchemy, a sustainable fashion and spiritual wellness brand that helps women reconnect with their bodies, creativity, and feminine energy. My work focuses on womb healing, emotional restoration, and the sacred power of adornment. Through Sacral Alchemy, I’ve realized that my purpose is not just to create beautiful things, but to offer tools for transformation. I plan to continue designing intentional garments, ritual tools, and journals that support emotional and spiritual healing. I also envision building community workshops, retreats, and collaborations that combine art therapy, fashion, and ancestral practices to support women who, like me, are seeking to come home to themselves. Mental health is not a weakness—it’s a teacher. My journey has made me more compassionate, more self-aware, and more committed to creating a world where softness, rest, and healing are seen as essential, not optional. I want my work to reflect that truth and to create space for others to heal, feel, and rise.

Art saved my life—and continues to transform it. As someone living with PTSD and depression, I turned to creativity not just as a way to express myself, but as a form of survival and spiritual restoration. Making art gave me space to process my emotions, reconnect with my body, and begin reclaiming parts of myself I thought were lost. Through that journey, I realized I didn’t want to just create for myself—I wanted to build something that could support others in their healing too. That vision led me to found Sacral Alchemy, a spiritual and sustainable fashion brand centered on healing, ritual, and feminine power. My work focuses on helping women—especially Black women—liberate themselves emotionally, energetically, and spiritually. I create garments, journals, and ritual tools that support womb healing, intuitive reconnection, and the alchemy of pain into personal strength. Every piece is created with intention and reverence, rooted in the belief that art can be a sacred practice—and healing can be wearable. I’m inspired artistically by the process of transformation. I’m drawn to the themes of softness, rebirth, and divine feminine energy. Nature, astrology, ancestral wisdom, and the cyclical rhythms of the body all influence my work. I often use natural materials—like hand-dyed fabrics, crystals, herbs, and found textures—because I believe that energy is carried through every part of the process. My pieces are slow-made, intentional, and spiritually infused. I see them as tools, not just designs—vessels for self-reflection, protection, and empowerment. Studying Fashion Design, Psychology, and Art Therapy at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago has deepened my ability to combine creative expression with emotional insight. I’ve learned how trauma lives in the body and how creativity can open pathways to healing that traditional methods might miss. This interdisciplinary training has shaped my commitment to designing not only beautiful pieces but experiences and offerings that support mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Pursuing art allows me to serve my community in a way that feels authentic, culturally rooted, and holistic. I want my work to help Black women feel seen, sacred, and safe in their softness. In a world that often expects us to be strong to the point of invisibility, I want my creations to be gentle reminders that we are allowed to slow down, to feel, and to heal. Whether it’s through a healing garment, a guided journal, or a moment of ritual, I aim to offer people a mirror that reflects their wholeness back to them. I chose art because it gave me back my voice. It showed me that beauty and purpose can rise from even the most painful places. Now, I create to help others find their way home to themselves.

Mental health and suicide prevention are critical issues for my generation because we are living through unprecedented levels of pressure, isolation, and uncertainty. We’ve grown up in a time of social media, racial injustice, climate anxiety, economic instability, and a global pandemic—all while being expected to succeed, perform, and appear okay. Many of us are carrying invisible wounds, and yet the stigma around mental health still lingers. For Black communities especially, there can be a generational silence around emotional pain. We're taught to survive, to be strong—but not always how to process, rest, or ask for help. My experience with mental health has been life-shaping. I’ve been diagnosed with PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, and my journey toward healing has been layered, ongoing, and transformative. It has taught me the importance of being present with my emotions, honoring my boundaries, and building spaces where vulnerability is not only allowed, but encouraged. For a long time, I felt ashamed of my struggles. But over time, I began to see that my sensitivity was not a weakness—it was a source of wisdom and creativity. This shift in perspective completely changed the way I relate to myself and others. It deepened my empathy and made me more intentional about the energy I surround myself with. It also showed me how important it is to center mental wellness in every part of my life—including my creative work. I began to use art as a form of self-therapy: journaling, designing, creating ritual objects, and learning about holistic healing. That’s what led me to create Sacral Alchemy, a brand and platform that centers healing for Black women through sacred design, sustainable fashion, and spiritual practice. My work is rooted in helping women reconnect with their bodies and their power—especially through womb healing, creative expression, and the alchemy of emotional pain into personal strength. I believe that mental health isn’t separate from our everyday lives—it’s in how we dress ourselves, how we express our stories, how we care for our energy, and how we hold space for one another. As a student at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where I study Fashion Design, Psychology, and Art Therapy, I’m building the skills to merge creative design with trauma-informed care. I want to continue creating sacred, therapeutic spaces—both physical and wearable—where people can reflect, process, and restore. Whether it’s through a handmade garment, a healing workshop, or a journal made with intention, I want my work to remind others that they are not alone. Mental health and suicide prevention are not abstract issues—they’re personal, urgent, and deeply human. I’ve lived through darkness, and I know what it feels like to wonder if you’ll ever feel whole again. That’s why I’m committed to making healing visible, accessible, and culturally rooted—especially for those of us who are often overlooked in mainstream conversations. My experience with mental health has made me more compassionate, more grounded, and more committed to being part of the solution. Through my art, my studies, and my community work, I hope to contribute to a world where care is prioritized, healing is celebrated, and no one has to suffer in silence.

I plan to make a positive impact on the world through art that inspires healing, self-discovery, and empowerment—especially for Black women. As the founder of Sacral Alchemy, my creative work blends sustainable fashion, ritual tools, and sacred design to support women in reconnecting with their bodies, creativity, and spiritual power. My art is deeply personal and rooted in the belief that healing can be both beautiful and transformative. Through my studies in Fashion Design, Psychology, and Art Therapy at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, I’ve developed an interdisciplinary approach that combines aesthetics with intention. I design garments and tools that honor the womb, celebrate feminine energy, and create space for reflection and restoration. In a world that often encourages disconnection and burnout, I want my art to serve as a reminder of softness, slowness, and self-worth. Whether through a piece of wearable art, a handmade journal, or a guided workshop, my goal is to help women feel seen, held, and whole. By creating from a place of intention and care, I hope to contribute to a world where healing is accessible, culturally rooted, and creatively empowered.

I am a survivor of domestic violence and abuse. This experience is one of the deepest triggers for my PTSD and has profoundly shaped my healing journey, my creative practice, and my purpose. Being in an abusive relationship at a young age left me feeling powerless, disconnected from my body, and emotionally fragmented. Like many Black women, I was taught to be strong, to endure, to keep going—but that strength came at the cost of my softness, my sense of safety, and my connection to myself as a woman. For a long time, I struggled in silence. I didn’t see many healing spaces that felt made for me—as a Black woman carrying trauma, searching for both safety and spiritual restoration. Traditional therapy helped, but I needed more than talk. I needed practices that honored my body, my culture, my creativity, and my soul. That’s when I turned inward and began exploring healing through fashion, art, ritual, and ancestral wisdom. I found myself reclaiming my femininity—starting with my womb. That reconnection became the foundation of Sacral Alchemy, the brand and healing platform I founded. It is rooted in womb healing, sacred adornment, and the belief that Black women deserve to feel safe, seen, and spiritually whole. I design wearable art, create handmade journals, and offer tools for spiritual self-care—all focused on helping women heal their wombs, liberate their sacral energy, and transform trauma into power. Sacral Alchemy is both my personal testimony and my contribution to a larger movement of healing justice. My higher education is a vital part of this mission. As a rising senior at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, I study Fashion Design, Psychology, and Art Therapy. This interdisciplinary education equips me to not only create meaningful, trauma-informed designs, but to understand the psychological and emotional needs of survivors on a deeper level. I am learning how to use visual storytelling, material culture, and therapeutic practices to support holistic healing in ways that are accessible and culturally relevant. I plan to use my education to improve care for African American women impacted by domestic violence by developing creative wellness programs, trauma-informed fashion therapy workshops, and sacred healing spaces grounded in both ancestral knowledge and contemporary mental health practices. I want to collaborate with therapists, community centers, and shelters to create spaces where survivors can process trauma through creativity and reconnect with their bodies through adornment and self-expression. I believe that healing must be personal, embodied, and culturally specific. For African American women, that means addressing not only the trauma we experience in relationships, but the inherited trauma of generations—violence, invisibility, and emotional suppression. It means creating care models that don’t just focus on survival, but on joy, beauty, and spiritual restoration. Through Sacral Alchemy and my academic work, I am building a bridge between art, therapy, and community. I want to change the narrative around what healing looks like for Black women. I want us to feel powerful in our softness, rooted in our rituals, and worthy of love and safety—not just from others, but from ourselves. This scholarship would support my continued study and help me expand Sacral Alchemy into a platform that offers both creative products and educational tools for healing. It would help me continue turning my personal pain into collective purpose—so that more Black women can find their way back to wholeness, just as I continue to find mine.

A problem I’m deeply passionate about solving is the lack of culturally grounded, accessible healing spaces for young Black women. I’m especially concerned with how mental health, identity, and self-worth are affected by systemic trauma, generational wounds, and societal expectations. Too often, young women like me are expected to keep going, to be strong, to carry burdens quietly. But what happens when that pressure breaks us down? I realized how urgent this problem was during my own mental health crisis. I was diagnosed with PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder in my late teens, and in that moment, I felt lost. Therapy helped, but I often found myself having to explain parts of my identity to providers who didn’t fully understand the cultural or spiritual nuances of what I was experiencing. I didn’t just want to survive—I wanted to feel whole. I wanted to heal in ways that honored my full self: my Blackness, my womanhood, my creative spirit, and my ancestral roots. This led me to turn to art and fashion not just as hobbies, but as lifelines. I began creating clothes, journaling, and surrounding myself with crystals, herbs, and handmade objects that brought me comfort. Slowly, I began to realize I was building a healing practice. I wasn’t just making things—I was remaking myself. I started to wonder: what if the very tools that helped me could help others too? That’s when I created Sacral Alchemy, my brand and spiritual practice rooted in sustainable fashion, art therapy, and holistic healing. Through it, I share wearable art, handmade journals, and creative offerings that are all designed to support inner work. Every piece I make is inspired by the idea that healing can be beautiful, intentional, and personal. I use sustainable materials and fiber arts not only for environmental reasons, but because I believe that slow, intentional creation carries medicine. Through Sacral Alchemy, I’m building more than a brand—I’m building a movement. One where healing is not one-size-fits-all, but rooted in culture, creativity, and care. I want to make sure young Black women know that they are not alone, and that their healing doesn’t have to fit into systems that were never built with them in mind. I believe in alternative paths to wellness—ones that honor the body, spirit, and community. This passion is also what led me to study Fashion Design, Psychology, and Art Therapy at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. My studies give me the tools to deepen my practice—not just in design, but in how people think, feel, and heal. I’ve also worked as a mentor and summer camp leader, sharing creative practices with girls ages 7–17. It was powerful to see how even simple projects like making vision boards or painting stones could open up conversations around emotions, self-worth, and dreams. It confirmed what I already knew in my heart: that creativity is a portal to healing, especially for those who are rarely given permission to pause, reflect, and care for themselves. In everything I do, I’m driven by the question: how can I help others feel seen, safe, and sacred? That’s the problem I’m obsessed with solving. I want to build spaces—physical, digital, and wearable—where healing is not just possible, but deeply personal and empowering. This scholarship would support my journey by helping me continue to research, create, and expand this mission in sustainable and impactful ways.