In May 2022, I graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Africology and African American studies. After graduating, I decided to explore new opportunities and career paths opened by my new degree. Concluding numerous interviews, I received an offer for a position as a Crisis Advocate at Women Organized Against Rape (WOAR)- Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence. After working for WOAR for seven months, I earned the opportunity to become the Lead Crisis. As the Lead Crisis Advocate, one of my responsibilities is coordinating and communicating with universities throughout Philadelphia to establish volunteer and internship opportunities for undergraduate students. I train and supervise all incoming undergraduate interns. My other responsibility is to support victims/survivors of sexual assault. I provide check-in calls, medical/ forensic exam accompaniment, group services, and follow-ups. My role is to assist victims/ survivors in getting to the next step of individual trauma counseling. I have grown to love my work and invested in joining the next phase of the victims’/ survivors’ journey: healing and counseling. I am a full-time Lead Crisis Advocate and a full-time student in a graduate program at Thomas Jefferson University. In August 2023, I began my Master of Science in Community & Trauma Counseling with a concentration in Trauma, Addictions, and Recovery Concentration. My determination and work ethic will lead to my academic and professional growth. To do so, I changed my work schedule to accommodate graduate classes. I have to work on homework during my commutes to work, breaks, and leisure time. I must have the discipline to maintain my career and education. As I receive my academic purpose of getting a Community & Trauma Counseling Master of Science, I am taking professional steps to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). I want to become an LPC to provide mental health services to individuals, families, and groups in treating trauma, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional problems and disorders. As an LPC, I would give client-centered services, not primarily illness-centered ones. Ultimately the goal would be to have healthy and sustainable individuals by addressing their mental health and trauma. Recently, mental health has been a topic that has been highly acknowledged and prioritized. As the field develops, there needs to be more individuals like myself willing to be committed, compassionate, and understanding to make a change. I want to provide guidance and health to communities to help them thrive mentally, behaviorally, and emotionally. Obtaining a Licensed Professional Counselor would advance my ability to help diverse cultures, populations, and age groups. My passion for helping individuals from all walks of life will allow me to flourish as a Licensed Professional Counselor. In all, becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor will assist me with positively contributing to society.

In May 2022, I graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Africology and African American studies. After graduating, I decided to explore new opportunities and career paths opened by my new degree. Concluding numerous interviews, I received an offer for a position as a Crisis Advocate at Women Organized Against Rape (WOAR)- Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence. My role as a Crisis Advocate determines strong leadership which includes communication, resilience, unselfishness, determination, and a strong work ethic. In terms of strong leadership, I have worked at WOAR for one year and after six months, I earned the Lead Crisis Advocate position. As the Lead Crisis Advocate, one of my roles is coordinating and communicating with universities throughout Philadelphia to establish volunteer and internship opportunities for undergraduate students. I train and supervise all incoming undergraduate interns. Also, as the Lead Crisis Advocate, my role entails supporting victims/survivors of sexual assault. I provide check-in calls, medical/ forensic rape exam ( FRE) accompaniment, group services, and follow-ups. Being resilient and selfless in the field that I work in is a must. Forensic rape exams are where I demonstrate these skills the most. You experience the raw emotions and cognitive processing of survivors. You must be resilient in being an advocate and reassuring that this is only one part of their journey. I provide whatever I can to the survivor, whether verbal, emotional, or physical affirmations. At this moment, selflessness is needed to allow survivors to have the capacity to let their hypervigilance and fight or flight mode down. I am a full-time Lead Crisis Advocate and a full-time student in a graduate program at Thomas Jefferson University. In August, I began my Master of Science in Community & Trauma Counseling with a concentration in Trauma, Addictions, and Recovery Concentration. My determination and work ethic will lead to my academic and professional growth. To do so, I changed my work schedule to accommodate graduate classes. I have to work on homework during my commutes to work, breaks, and leisure time. I must have the discipline to maintain my career and education. I demonstrate strong leadership through communication skills, resilience, unselfishness, and determination by being a Lead Crisis Advocate. Being a leader encompasses receiving feedback from your team. As a leader, growth and guidance is the goal for everyone. You must check in with those you lead so everyone is with you. Also, ensure you are leading efficiently or creating a new path that must be paved. I have grown to love my work and invested in joining the next phase of the survivors’ journey: healing and counseling. As I receive my academic purpose of getting a Community & Trauma Counseling Master of Science, I am taking steps to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). I want to become an LPC to provide mental health services to individuals, families, and groups in treating trauma, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional problems and disorders. Ultimately, the goal would be to have healthy and sustainable individuals by addressing their mental health and trauma. In the future, I will have a private practice for mental health services in North Philadelphia. I will provide affordable mental health resources to children, adolescents, and adults. I want an all-inclusive mental health facility that has individual and group counseling. The groups would be Women’s Group, Men’s Group, LGBTQ+ Group, Teens Group, and Trauma Processing Yoga Group. In addition to our groups, we would have group sessions that involve arts: poetry, music, painting, and dance.

During February 2018, my mental health was declining rapidly. Mentally, I was distraught and drained by not being my authentic self. At this time, I was a senior in high school and a college student at the Community College of Philadelphia. In my senior year, my school paid for students to take two college classes, and one I enrolled in was Sociology. One of our sociology assignments was to find a media that represented a population. I picked 1-800-273-8255 by Logic. The music video was about LGBTQ youth who were struggling with suicide. I decided to play the song and write my paper to feel the emotions that arose during the song. While writing, I became hysterical. I felt like the youth in the video were hopeless, alone, and depressed. The video was a depiction of my inner thoughts and feelings. My dad walked in on me crying and typing my paper, sat on my bed and said when you are ready to talk, I am here for you. That weekend, my father and I rode to the King of Prussia mall by the street and talked. I had a conversation about my sexuality with my dad. I told my dad that I was interested in dating girls but never had the courage to because of the remarks, stigmas, and fear that I had. Growing up, my mother made homophobic remarks about the LGBTQ community and masculine presenting women. I did not have a relationship with my mother that felt safe, so I internalized being queer and would not date until I left her home. My father betrayed my trust and told my mother that I was interested in dating girls, and things became worse. One day after school, my mother approached belittling and shaming me for liking girls. During this incident, I remember vividly my mother saying the devil had me. My home was no longer safe. My mother was passive-aggressive, distant, and cruel towards me. In school, I managed to keep academic proficiencies; however, I neglected myself mentally, emotionally, and socially. I was forced to stop hanging out with my masculine presenting female friend by my mother, I stopped finding joy in socializing after school, and I felt lost. For the next few years, my household was uneasy and traumatic. The relationship became so bad that I was kicked out of my mom's house. Fast forward to 2023, and I am in a completely different place mentally and emotionally. Mentally, I am living in my truth. Rupual has a saying, "You are not too much; You are everything," which is a guide to being who I am. Being able to expect an openly queer Black woman has been a relief. I do not have to hide that I am queer or my love for women. The shedding of fear and loneliness improved my mental health. I created my chosen family, who loved and supported me.

In the morning, I wake up to a quiet home. I stroll the halls in great appreciation and admiration of my house. There are four bathrooms, two baths, a garden, a backyard, an open kitchen, a dining room, a living, and my home office. Before my wife and children begin my morning routine, I would exercise for approximately 30 to 45 minutes. Then, repeat my affirmations written in my cursive exhalation in the mirror. Then, I would pray for all of my growth, success, and blessings that I have received thus far. Before waking my family, I would shower and get dressed before the morning rush. As my wife and kids prepare for the day, I make breakfast and add the final snacks to their lunches. Concluding our daily breakfast, we all share hugs and kisses as my wife takes our children to school and she goes off to work herself. My day as a businesswoman begins. By this time, I will be a woman of many titles and degrees. I will have obtained my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, a minor in Afrciciology and African American Studies, a Master’s of Science in Community and Trauma Counseling, and The Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology. I will be a licensed professional counselor, a certified addiction and recovery counselor, a registered play therapist, and a hip-hop therapist. My private practice for mental health services is in North Philadelphia. I must provide affordable mental health resources to children, adolescents, and adults. I want an all-inclusive mental health facility that has individual and group counseling. The groups would be Women’s Group, Men’s Group, LGBTQ+ Group, Teens Group, and Trauma Processing Yoga Group. In addition to our groups, we would have group sessions that involve arts: poetry, music, painting, and dance. Furthermore, my private practice would also connect to other Black businesses that support sufficient healthcare for Black people and those of color. After work, I would go home to my lovely wife and children. I would greet my wife and children with open arms and kisses. I would help my wife prep dinner and help our children with homework at the dining room table. Once we completed homework, we would sit at our table and eat. Dinnertime is our time to connect and bond. Once a week, we would have family and friend game night. Our children’s friends could come over and play board, bond, and enjoy various takeouts. My ideal life is having my dream career and family. I want to build a business that impacts the community I care about while creating a family with security, support, warmth, and love.

My mother gifted my brother and I a Nintendo Wii in elementary school. One of the first games we had was Super Mario Bros. During the summer of my fifth-grade year, we experienced an extreme heat wave. The temperatures were well above 100 degrees, so we stayed in and played the Wii all day. My brother, dad, cousin, and I were getting closer and closer to saving Princess Peach until we could not get past a level. We attempted this level for about 10 minutes straight. We were in four-player mode on the last attempt; each had one life left. One by one, Mario, Luigi, and Blue Toad died. Then there was the Yellow Toad. My seven-year-old brother was our knight in shining armor. My brother managed to make it to the checkpoint of the challenge, and he managed to finish it all by himself. It was a victory for us all. We jumped joyfully on the couches and hugged like our team had won the Superbowl. We were ecstatic. After the victory, my dad treated us to celebratory pizza and wings from News Station, our favorite pizza store. Super Mario Bros. is my favorite game because it reminds me of my childhood. It reminds me of bonding with my family, which was a much simpler life of my life. My brother and cousin spent plenty of time together throughout our summer as kids. They are my favorite people. Our childhood may not have been perfect; however, the memories of us jumping for joy as we won that level were memorable.

In May 2022, I graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Africology and African American studies. After graduating, I decided to explore new opportunities and career paths opened by my new degree. Concluding numerous interviews, I received an offer for a position as a Crisis Advocate at Women Organized Against Rape (WOAR)- Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence. As the Lead Crisis Advocate, one of my responsibilities is coordinating and communicating with universities throughout Philadelphia to establish volunteer and internship opportunities for undergraduate students. I train and supervise all incoming undergraduate interns. My other responsibility is to support victims/survivors of sexual assault. I provide check-in calls, medical/ forensic exam accompaniment, group services, and follow-ups. My role is to assist victims/ survivors in getting to the next step of individual trauma counseling. I have grown to love my work and invested in joining the next phase of the victims’/ survivors’ journey: healing and counseling. I am a full-time Lead Crisis Advocate and a full-time student in a graduate program at Thomas Jefferson University. In August, I began my Master of Science in Community & Trauma Counseling with a concentration in Trauma, Addictions, and Recovery Concentration. My determination and work ethic will lead to my academic and professional growth. To do so, I changed my work schedule to accommodate graduate classes. I have to work on homework during my commutes to work, breaks, and leisure time. I must have the discipline to maintain my career and education. As I receive my academic purpose of getting a Community & Trauma Counseling Master of Science, I am taking professional steps to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). I want to become an LPC to provide mental health services to individuals, families, and groups in treating trauma, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional problems and disorders. As an LPC, I would give client-centered services, not primarily illness-centered ones. Ultimately the goal would be to have healthy and sustainable individuals by addressing their mental health and trauma. Recently, mental health has been a topic that has been highly acknowledged and prioritized. As the field develops, there needs to be more individuals like myself willing to be committed, compassionate, and understanding to make a change. I want to provide guidance and health to communities to help them thrive mentally, behaviorally, and emotionally. Obtaining a Licensed Professional Counselor would advance my ability to help diverse cultures, populations, and age groups. My passion for helping individuals from all walks of life will allow me to flourish as a Licensed Professional Counselor. In all, becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor will assist me with positively contributing to society. I would be stepping towards financial security by obtaining the Barbara J. DeVaney Memorial Scholarship Fund. As I embark on my graduate school journey, I will work as a full-time student and Crisis Advocate. With the scholarship, I can satisfy a financial need: books, supplies, or tuition. It would lessen the load and worries. I can focus on academics successfully. I would be able to develop the skills and characteristics it takes to succeed in the mental health profession. Ultimately, it would support me in becoming the Licensed Professional Counselor I know I can become.

As a The Office fanatic, I resonate most with The Best Boss, Michael Scott. If you are a superfan like myself, the first thought of Michael is, “How is he the manager?”. He is highly overbearing, over the top, and lacks personal and professional boundaries; however, you witness his growth throughout the seasons. A few qualities Michael has that resemble mine are his sarcasm, enthusiasm, humor, loyalty, inclusivity, and lovingness (of course, when appropriate). Despite his qualities, Michael ideally wants to be the best at his job and lead his team correctly. I am the Lead Crisis Advocate and responsible for undergraduate interns and volunteers. I have a monthly check-in with the volunteers and a weekly check-in with my interns. I ensure I support, teach, and lead them like Michael. Like Michael, I am very loyal. Michael was faithful to Dunder Mifflin as an employee and his employees as a friend. I have had the same friends for about eight years and beyond. My friends have seen my lowest and highest points, yet they have supported, loved, and encouraged me, and I have done the same for them. Lastly, I am like Michael because of his enthusiasm. When Michael walks into a room, he brightens it with laughter, smiles, and humor. He is unapologetically him. I am infectious with style, aura, smile, and giggly personality when I walk into a room. I am Yahnierra, and there can only be one, like Michael Scott. The show has shaped my sense of humor and perspective on workplace dynamics. For instance, if something happens, I turn to my imaginary camera crew and think, “Did you see that ?”. Also, my humor consists of The Office references and memes. My perspective on workplace dynamics has changed completely. I used to have an Angela mindset: seriousness only, get your work done, barely socialize, go home, then repeat the next day. Most of your time is spent with your coworkers and supervisors as a full-time employee. I realized it is okay to laugh and joke with coworkers, have lunch, share hobbies, and even become friends beyond the job. I embraced that joy, laughter, and happiness can be brought to work. Work does not always have to be task after task; it can be enjoyable. If someone ever asked me who I resonate with the most in The Office, the last person I would respond with is Michael Scott. Today, after analyzing Michael and looking behind the vast personalities of Prison Mike, Michael Scarn, Michael Klump, and Mykonos, you will see an affectionate, outgoing, silly, and happy-go-lucky guy. The Office has made me more open to building relationships with my coworkers and enjoying the 40-hour work week with laughs and smiles.

According to Webster-Merriam's dictionary, tenacity is the quality or state of being tenacious. Tenacious is persistence in maintaining, adhering to, or seeking something valued or desired. My introduction to this world has been nothing more or less than persevering through adversities. Born and raised in North Philadelphia, I have witnessed murders, drug usage, homelessness, criminal violence, and gun violence. Product of one's environment: allowing one's neighborhood to dictate one's future. Some assume the environment defines a person. One must venture into diverse horizons and experience more than the surrounding neighborhoods. I deny my environment. In May 2022, I graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Africology and African American studies because I have hope for my community. The practices of psychology and Africology are opposites in philosophy, studies, and target audience, yet there needs to be pairings of the disciplines to engage and support African Americans. Mental health significantly impacts African Americans and people of color. Many minorities are affected by the intersectionality of discrimination, sexism, ableism, and sexual orientation. Within many upbringings of African-American communities, families, and neighborhoods, mental health is stigmatized. Within the mental health field, there are diagnoses. However, some African Americans view them as labels. They view it as a label that shapes and hinders an individual. Black communities are not open to saying that mental health matters. Rather than being transparent about how mental health impacts life, it is dismissed as "bad nerves," "tiredness," or "overworking." African-American communities must acknowledge their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors regarding how we are and where we want to be. Mental health care and advocacy can ignite social justice for African-American communities. Having mental health services in African-American communities demonstrates generational growth and awareness. Generational change and awareness help break cycles and meet one's expectations. In my experience as a Crisis Advocate, helping clients obtain counseling is one of my responsibilities. Many clients have asked, "Is a person of color or Black therapist available?" Representation is critical for vocalization, safety, and understanding. Mental health care needs African-American therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists, and advocates. For advocacy, organizations and companies can bring awareness to July. July is National Minority Mental Health Month. Getting attention to The Office of Minority Health (OMH) supports and acknowledges the mental health of racial and ethnic minorities. There needs to be more advocacy for those splitting through the cracks. Many undiagnosed African Americans need mental health care, but it is not affordable or local. Stigmas, unconsciousness, and generational traumas negatively impact our mental health in African-American communities. Ideally, society's motto for mental health is self-awareness, support, and systems. Each word represents a step in pursuing guidance for mental health. Therefore, having mental health care and advocacy brings forth presentation and awareness. Mental health care and advocacy give Black people resources and networks for their healing journeys. I envision self-awareness, support, and systems as a motto to assist everyone in this society. Self-awareness allows us to be conscious within. We are acknowledging our mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health. Support will enable us to tell our stories to people we trust, such as friends, family, team members, coworkers, etc. Support lessens the load that one is carrying. Systems allow us to have counseling or psychiatric care. Systems engage the start of our mental health journey and metamorphosis. Not only am I entering this field because of the stigma, but I also want to help others overcome adversities and traumas I have been affected by and overcome silently. As a child, I experienced many traumatic experiences like molestation, being raised in a domestic violence household, and having an incarcerated father. From the time I was nine years old, I would write. I wrote about my frustrations, pain, sadness, and joys. Writing made me feel like I was in another dimension, my little universe. In middle school, I recall learning about poetry. Initially, I was not interested because it required schemes, patterns, rhyming, and stanzas, which all felt overwhelming until I discovered free verse poetry. Free verse was a free expression; I did not have to follow the rules of poetry; my words could exist on paper written in cursive exhalation. Shortly after creating my poetry, I began to read others' poetry to hear their voices. In the readings of others, I found similarities between pain, healing, and spiritual awakening differences, such as anger, depression, and heartbreak. Poetry is a haven. It is a way of conveying the inner soul, thoughts, and quietness. Poetry gave a voice to many people who fell silent in the past. I used the newfound voice to speak to my parents about the effects of molestation and upbringing around domestic violence. Working in the mental field would assist individuals in finding their voice. In times of trauma, everyone copes differently. However, I noticed that many people bury it within themselves and never discuss it, so it goes without being treated. Like an untreated wound, it affects the individual in different ways with emotional, physical, and mental health. In relation to being a sexual assault survivor, I embarked on a journey of working with fellow survivors. In November of 2022, I received an offer for a position as a Crisis Advocate at Women Organized Against Rape (WOAR)- Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence. I have worked at WOAR for nine months, and after six months, I earned the Lead Crisis Advocate position. As the Lead Crisis Advocate, one of my roles is coordinating and communicating with universities throughout Philadelphia to establish volunteer and internship opportunities for undergraduate students. I train and supervise all incoming undergraduate interns. Also, as the Lead Crisis Advocate, my role entails supporting victims/survivors of sexual assault. I provide check-in calls, medical/ forensic rape exam ( FRE) accompaniment, group services, and follow-ups. One of my favorite responsibilities is to conduct check-in calls. During check-in calls, clients can discuss their daily activities, mental state, mood, or the past; it is open to their discretion. While conducting these calls, I observed a shift in clients; the trust, length of our conversations, topics, and trauma processing led to a new path for the client. The change in the clients' openness and drive to heal has led to my passion for therapy. Therapy opens the opportunity to have a haven to openly address one's fears, hidden traumas, triggers, and memories that are within. Therapy allows for thoughts to become spoken words and for words to be addressed and understood. Therapy is a gateway to a new journey. That journey is a roller coaster of emotions ranging from exhaustion, frustration, happiness, and peace, yet it is a path worth traveling. As a Crisis Advocate, my passion for assisting clients beyond check-in calls has risen. I love my work and am invested in joining the next phase of the individual's journey in counseling. In August 2023, I am beginning a graduate program to obtain a Master of Science in Community & Trauma Counseling with a concentration in Trauma, Addictions, and Recovery Concentration. As I receive my academic purpose of getting a Community & Trauma Counseling Master of Science, I am taking steps to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). In August 2023, I am beginning the Community & Trauma Counseling Master of Science Program at Thomas Jefferson University because I hope for my community. As I obtain my academic purpose of getting a Community & Trauma Counseling Master of Science, I am taking steps to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). I want to become an LPC to provide mental health services to individuals, families, and groups in treating trauma, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional problems and disorders. As an LPC, I would give client-centered services, not primarily illness-centered ones. Ultimately, the goal would be to have healthy and sustainable individuals by addressing their mental health and trauma. Recently, mental health has been a topic that has been highly acknowledged and prioritized. As the field develops, there need to be more individuals like myself willing to be committed, compassionate, and understanding to make a change. I want to provide guidance and health to communities to help them thrive mentally, behaviorally, and emotionally. Becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor would advance the ability to support diverse cultures, populations, and age groups. My passion is helping individuals from all walks of life. I am passionate about pursuing a career in therapy because the impact is transformative. I would be stepping towards financial security by obtaining the Darclei V. McGregor Memorial Scholarship. As I embark on my graduate school journey, I will work as a full-time student and Crisis Advocate. With the scholarship, I can satisfy a financial need: books, supplies, or tuition. It would lessen the load and worries. I can focus on academics successfully. I would be able to develop the skills and characteristics it takes to succeed in the mental health profession. Ultimately, it would support me in becoming the Licensed Professional Counselor I know I can become.

My proudest accomplishments are graduating and finding my first big girl job. In May 2022, I graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Africology and African American studies. I am a first-generation graduate. It was an honor to graduate from my city, in my neighborhood, immersed in support from my family and friends. Graduation personally demonstrates dedication. Over four years, I endured so much. I shared with my mom that I was queer, resulting in her views of me changing, getting kicked out, and staying with my grandparents. Then, I almost had to drop out because my mother would not complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Lastly, I lost my great-grandfather. It felt like the odds were stacked against me, but I pushed through. Walking across that stage was more than getting a degree; it was surviving and thriving through adversities. After graduating, I decided to explore new opportunities and career paths opened by my new degree. Concluding numerous interviews, I received an offer for a position as a Crisis Advocate at Women Organized Against Rape (WOAR)- Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence. I have worked at WOAR for nine months, and after six months, I earned the Lead Crisis Advocate position. As the Lead Crisis Advocate, one of my responsibilities is coordinating with universities throughout Philadelphia to establish undergraduate volunteer and internship opportunities. My other responsibility is to support victims/survivors of sexual assault. I provide check-in calls, medical/ forensic exam accompaniment, group services, and follow-ups. I have grown to love my work and invested in joining the next phase of the victims’/ survivors’ journey: healing and counseling. I am a full-time Lead Crisis Advocate and a full-time student in a graduate program at Thomas Jefferson University. In August, I began my Master of Science in Community & Trauma Counseling with a concentration in Trauma, Addictions, and Recovery Concentration. My determination and work ethic will lead to my academic and professional growth. To do so, I changed my work schedule to accommodate graduate classes. I have to work on homework during my commutes to work, breaks, and leisure time. I must have the discipline to maintain my career and education. As I receive my academic purpose of getting a Community & Trauma Counseling Master of Science, I am taking professional steps to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). I want to become an LPC to provide mental health services to individuals, families, and groups in treating trauma, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional problems and disorders. Ultimately, the goal would be to have healthy and sustainable individuals by addressing their mental health and trauma. Recently, mental health has been a topic that has been highly acknowledged and prioritized. As the field develops, there needs to be more individuals like myself willing to be committed, compassionate, and understanding to make a change. Obtaining a Licensed Professional Counselor would advance my ability to help diverse cultures, populations, and age groups. In all, becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor will assist me with positively contributing to society. I would be stepping towards financial security by obtaining the Adam Montes Pride Scholarship. As I embark on my graduate school journey, I will work as a full-time student and Crisis Advocate. With the scholarship, I can satisfy a financial need: books, supplies, or tuition. It would lessen the load and worries. I can focus on academics successfully. I would be able to develop the skills and characteristics it takes to succeed in the mental health profession. Ultimately, it would support me in becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor.

In May 2022, I graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Africology and African American studies. After graduating, I decided to explore new opportunities and career paths opened by my new degree. Concluding numerous interviews, I received an offer for a position as a Crisis Advocate at Women Organized Against Rape (WOAR)- Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence. As the Lead Crisis Advocate, one of my responsibilities is coordinating and communicating with universities throughout Philadelphia to establish volunteer and internship opportunities for undergraduate students. I train and supervise all incoming undergraduate interns. My other responsibility is to support victims/survivors of sexual assault. I provide check-in calls, medical/ forensic exam accompaniment, group services, and follow-ups. My role is to assist victims/ survivors in getting to the next step of individual trauma counseling. I have grown to love my work and invested in joining the next phase of the victims’/ survivors’ journey: healing and counseling. I am a full-time Lead Crisis Advocate and a full-time student in a graduate program at Thomas Jefferson University. In August, I began my Master of Science in Community & Trauma Counseling with a concentration in Trauma, Addictions, and Recovery Concentration. My determination and work ethic will lead to my academic and professional growth. To do so, I changed my work schedule to accommodate graduate classes. I have to work on homework during my commutes to work, breaks, and leisure time. I must have the discipline to maintain my career and education. As I receive my academic purpose of getting a Community & Trauma Counseling Master of Science, I am taking professional steps to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). I want to become an LPC to provide mental health services to individuals, families, and groups in treating trauma, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional problems and disorders. As an LPC, I would give client-centered services, not primarily illness-centered ones. Ultimately, the goal would be to have healthy and sustainable individuals by addressing their mental health and trauma. Recently, mental health has been a topic that has been highly acknowledged and prioritized. As the field develops, there needs to be more individuals like myself willing to be committed, compassionate, and understanding to make a change. I want to provide guidance and health to communities to help them thrive mentally, behaviorally, and emotionally. Obtaining a Licensed Professional Counselor would advance my ability to help diverse cultures, populations, and age groups. My passion for helping individuals from all walks of life will allow me to flourish as a Licensed Professional Counselor. In all, becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor will assist me with positively contributing to society. I would be stepping towards financial security by obtaining the VonDerek Casteel Being There Counts Scholarship. As I embark on my graduate school journey, I will work as a full-time student as a Lead Crisis Advocate. With the scholarship, I could satisfy a financial need: books, supplies, or tuition. It would lessen the load and worries. I can focus on academics successfully. I would be able to develop the skills and characteristics it takes to succeed in the mental health profession. Ultimately, it would support me in becoming the Licensed Professional Counselor I know I can become.

In May 2022, I graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Africology and African American studies. After graduating, I decided to explore new opportunities and career paths opened by my new degree. Concluding numerous interviews, I received an offer for a position as a Crisis Advocate at Women Organized Against Rape (WOAR)- Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence. My role as a Crisis Advocate determines strong leadership, communication, resilience, unselfishness, determination, and a strong work ethic. In terms of strong leadership, I have worked at WOAR for nine months, and after six months, I earned the Lead Crisis Advocate position. As the Lead Crisis Advocate, one of my roles is coordinating and communicating with universities throughout Philadelphia to establish volunteer and internship opportunities for undergraduate students. I train and supervise all incoming undergraduate interns. Also, as the Lead Crisis Advocate, my role entails supporting victims/survivors of sexual assault. I provide check-in calls, medical/ forensic rape exam ( FRE) accompaniment, group services, and follow-ups. Being resilient and selfless in the field that I work in is a must. Forensic rape exams are where I demonstrate these skills the most. No matter how often I support a survivor getting a forensic rape exam, it is not easy. You experience the raw emotions and cognitive processing of survivors. You must be resilient in being an advocate and reassuring that this is only one part of their journey. During a FRE, I am a support person for the survivor. I provide whatever I can to the survivor, whether verbal, emotional, or physical affirmations. At this moment, selflessness is needed to allow survivors to have the capacity to let their hypervigilance and fight or flight mode down. I am a full-time Lead Crisis Advocate and a full-time student in a graduate program at Thomas Jefferson University. In August, I began my Master of Science in Community & Trauma Counseling with a concentration in Trauma, Addictions, and Recovery Concentration. My determination and work ethic will lead to my academic and professional growth. To do so, I changed my work schedule to accommodate graduate classes. I have to work on homework during my commutes to work, breaks, and leisure time. I must have the discipline to maintain my career and education. I have grown to love my work and invested in joining the next phase of the survivors’ journey: healing and counseling. As I receive my academic purpose of getting a Community & Trauma Counseling Master of Science, I am taking steps to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). I want to become an LPC to provide mental health services to individuals, families, and groups in treating trauma, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional problems and disorders. As an LPC, I would give client-centered services, not primarily illness-centered ones. Ultimately, the goal would be to have healthy and sustainable individuals by addressing their mental health and trauma. I demonstrate strong leadership, communication skills, resilience, unselfishness, and determination by being a Lead Crisis Advocate. Being a leader encompasses all the qualities listed above and receiving feedback from your team. As a leader, growth and guidance is the goal for everyone. You must check in with those you lead so everyone is with you. Also, ensure you are leading efficiently or creating a new path that must be paved.

Mental health has impacted my beliefs, relationships, and career aspirations. Firstly, mental health has made me conscious of how I cope and provide myself with self-care. Secondly, my mentality has influenced me to pursue relationships that impact me positively and vice versa. Concerning my career, mental health has inspired me to give back to communities. All firsthand experiences of mental health have changed actions, behaviors, and goals. In beliefs, it is essential to practice self-preservation. I maintain my well-being by using writing as an act of self-care and coping. In my poetry, I discuss various topics like queerness, ethnicity, culture, and society. I can reflect on the past, present, and future and assess how I want things to change. In those moments of evaluating, I am also making peace with topics that have circled my head. In relationships, I have allowed myself growth and detachment. I realized that relationships are not independent variables but dependent. Relationships depend on time, actions, emotions, opportunities, connection, etc. External factors impact the inner relationships with family, friends, or acquaintances. Mental health has opened my eyes to detaching from relationships that no longer serve my purpose. Initially, I was disheartened at letting go of some relationships, but mentally, it was draining and overwhelming. I realized that positive relationships feel like growth, security, and happiness. In career aspirations, mental health has inspired me to become a counselor. I obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Africology and African American studies because I have hope for my community. After graduating, I became a Crisis Advocate at a non-profit organization called Women Organized Against Rape- Philadelphia Center Assault Sexual Violence. My role is to provide support to victims/survivors of sexual assault. I provide check-in calls, medical/ forensic exam accompaniment, group services, and follow-ups. During check-in calls, clients can discuss their daily activities, mental state, mood, or the past; it is open to their discretion. While conducting these calls, I observed a shift in clients. The change in the clients' openness and drive to heal has led to my passion for therapy. Therapy opens the opportunity to have a haven to openly address one's fears, hidden traumas, triggers, and memories that are within. Therapy is a gateway to a new journey. As a Crisis Advocate, my passion for assisting clients beyond check-in calls has risen. I love my work and am invested in joining the next phase of the individual's journey in counseling. In August, I began my graduate program in Community & Trauma Counseling Master of Science. As I obtain my academic purpose of getting a Community & Trauma Counseling Master of Science, I am taking steps to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). I want to become an LPC to provide mental health services to individuals, families, and groups in treating trauma, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional problems and disorders. Ultimately, the goal would be to have healthy and sustainable individuals by addressing their mental health and trauma. In all, mental health has impacted my life. Mental health has changed the way I view and sustain my well-being. It has also transformed my career aspirations to assist people who require mental health support.

Mental health has impacted my beliefs, relationships, and career aspirations. Firstly, mental health has made me conscious of how I cope and provide myself with self-care. Secondly, my mentality has influenced me to pursue relationships that impact me positively and vice versa. Concerning my career, mental health has inspired me to give back to communities. All firsthand experiences of mental health have changed actions, behaviors, and goals. In beliefs, it is essential to practice self-preservation. I maintain my well-being by using writing as an act of self-care and coping. In my poetry, I discuss various topics like queerness, ethnicity, culture, and society. I can reflect on the past, present, and future and assess how I want things to change. In those moments of evaluating, I am also making peace with topics that have circled my head. In relationships, I have allowed myself growth and detachment. I realized that relationships are not independent variables but dependent. Relationships depend on time, actions, emotions, opportunities, connection, etc. External factors impact the inner relationships with family, friends, or acquaintances. Mental health has opened my eyes to detaching from relationships that no longer serve my purpose. Initially, I was disheartened at letting go of some relationships, but mentally, it was draining and overwhelming. I realized that positive relationships feel like growth, security, and happiness. In career aspirations, mental health has inspired me to become a counselor. I obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Africology and African American studies because I have hope for my community. Born and raised in North Philadelphia, I have witnessed trauma, generational curses, murders, drug usage, homelessness, criminal violence, and gun violence. It is normalized that seeing such traumatic events is a part of life. Not fully comprehending or suppressing traumatic events only lets rumination occur. I want to support individuals on their healing journey. In August, I began my graduate program in Community & Trauma Counseling Master of Science. As I obtain my academic purpose of getting a Community & Trauma Counseling Master of Science, I am taking steps to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). I want to become an LPC to provide mental health services to individuals, families, and groups in treating trauma, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional problems and disorders. Ultimately, the goal would be to have healthy and sustainable individuals by addressing their mental health and trauma. In all, mental health has impacted my life. Mental health has changed the way I view and sustain my well-being. To be a sufficient individual, I must practice self-preservation, growth, detachment, and change, transforming my beliefs, relationships, and career aspirations.

Every kid goes through an obsessive hero, princess, or character stage. For my younger brother, that hero was Spider-Man. My brother had a Spider-Man-themed room from the bed set, chair and table set, wall stickers, light-up shoes, tee shirts, bookbags, stuffed toys, and action figures. If it was Spider-Man-themed, he had it. Growing up, we had a DVD player in my home, and my brother had all three of the Spider-Man movies featuring Toby Maguire. My brother would watch them nonstop. It came to the point that my brother could recognize the music that played before you began watching the movie and would run to join you. Eventually, Spider-Man rubbed off on me, and we would watch them together. My brother became so familiar that he could quote and reenact the scenes from the movie. My brother's favorite scene to reenact is from Spider-Man 3 when Peter Parker is walking down the street, strolling confidently, then doing a little dance. He would reenact the dance so often that it became regular for my brother to show family and friends when they visited. Toby Maguire is my favorite Spider-Man because it reminds me of bonding with my brother. My brother is one of my favorite people. Our childhood may not have been perfect; however, the memories of us cleaning the disc, making popcorn, sprinkling it with the kettle or cheddar flavor, and then watching Spider-Man movies are the fondest memories. Watching Spider-Man movies is a cherishable childhood memory, and I have Tobey Maguire to thank for that.

yahnib__

As a student and professional interested in mental health, being authentic and passionate has led to a positive impact. In May 2022, I graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Africology and African American studies. After graduating, I decided to explore new opportunities and career paths opened by my new degree. Concluding numerous interviews, I received an offer for a position as a Crisis Advocate at Women Organized Against Rape (WOAR). My role is to provide support to victims/survivors of sexual assault. I provide check-in calls, medical/ forensic exam accompaniment, group services, and follow-ups. One of my favorite responsibilities is to conduct check-in calls. During check-in calls, clients can discuss their daily activities, mental state, mood, or the past; it is open to their discretion. Check-in calls are an experience for the client and myself because no two check-in calls are the same. Everyone is in a different state mentally and emotionally, and being authentic and passionate aids in supporting them. In this time of vulnerability, my clients have appreciated my authenticity. I still bring myself to the session during check-in sessions, meaning I bring humanity to the situation. Every session does not have to be teary-eyed and sad, but we can laugh, joke, and share happy memories. Also, there are times when I am startled or become emotional about what a client says. I am a Crisis Advocate, but I am also a person. In addition to my authenticity, I am passionate about my client's healing journeys. I call my clients once a week to conduct check-in calls. One client, specifically, was a 14-year-old girl ( used they/them pronouns) going through a transitional phase from middle school to high school and having a history of trauma. I would call them every Thursday at 6 p.m. after their extracurricular activities, and we would stay on the phone for a minute or two at a time. I never asked, "What happened to you?" or "Why don't you like to talk for a long time?" I allowed them to warm up to me and gained their trust. Progressively, every week, our calls were longer and longer. We begin with simple topics like their interests and hobbies. Then, they were willing to talk about their sexual assaults and suicidal ideation. In the middle of one of our sessions, they thanked me for calling every week despite initially not staying on the phone for more than a minute. I told them I was grateful that they answered and tried every time. This client eventually moved to a different state, and their services stopped with WOAR, but I connected them with resources in their new town. My passion adds to the energy within the sessions and becomes present in the clients. While conducting these calls, I observed a shift in clients; the trust, length of our conversations, topics, and trauma processing led to a new path for the client. The change in the clients' openness and drive to heal has led to my passion for therapy. Therapy is a gateway to a new journey. That journey is a roller coaster of emotions ranging from exhaustion, frustration, happiness, and peace, yet it is a path worth traveling. As a student and professional, the actions I can take to have a positive impact are being passionate about the mission and authentic to myself and my clients.

Mental health has impacted my beliefs, relationships, and career aspirations. Firstly, mental health has made me conscious of how I cope and provide myself with self-care. Secondly, my mentality has influenced me to pursue relationships that impact me positively and vice versa. Concerning my career, mental health has inspired me to give back to communities. All firsthand experiences of mental health have changed actions, behaviors, and goals. In beliefs, it is essential to practice self-preservation. I maintain my well-being by using writing as an act of self-care and coping. In my poetry, I discuss various topics like queerness, ethnicity, culture, and society. I can reflect on the past, present, and future and assess how I want things to change. In those moments of evaluating, I am also making peace with topics that have circled my head. In relationships, I have allowed myself growth and detachment. I realized that relationships are not independent variables but dependent. Relationships depend on time, actions, emotions, opportunities, connection, etc. External factors impact the inner relationships with family, friends, or acquaintances. Mental health has opened my eyes to detaching from relationships that no longer serve your purpose. Initially, I was disheartened at letting go of some relationships, but mentally, it was draining and overwhelming. I realized that positive relationships feel like growth, security, and happiness. In career aspirations, mental health has inspired me to become a counselor. I obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Africology and African American studies because I have hope for my community. Born and raised in North Philadelphia, I have witnessed trauma, generational curses, murders, drug usage, homelessness, criminal violence, and gun violence. It is normalized that seeing such traumatic events is a part of life. Not fully comprehending or suppressing traumatic events only lets rumination occur. I am seeking a Community & Trauma Counseling Master of Science because I hope for my community. As I obtain my academic purpose of getting a Community & Trauma Counseling Master of Science, I am taking steps to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). I want to become an LPC to provide mental health services to individuals, families, and groups in treating trauma, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional problems and disorders. Ultimately, the goal would be to have healthy and sustainable individuals by addressing their mental health and trauma. In all, mental health has impacted my life. Mental health changed how I view and care for myself. In my beliefs, I practice self-preservation. In relationships, I practice growth and detachment. My career aspirations have driven me to a field where I can give back to the community I love dearly.

According to Webster's Merriam's Dictionary, tenacity is the quality or state of being tenacious. Tenacious is persistence in maintaining, adhering to, or seeking something valued or desired. I was born with tenacity. My introduction to this world has been nothing more or less than persevering through adversities. Born and raised in North Philadelphia, I have witnessed generational curses, murders, drug usage, homelessness, criminal violence, and gun violence. I experienced traumatic childhood experiences, such as molestation, being raised in a domestic violence household, and having an incarcerated father. Each one of those things greatly impacted who I am today. Specifically, disclosing to my mother about being sexually assaulted as a child required tenacity. Growing up, I had a very controlling mother. I was not allowed to stay at my friends' homes overnight or go inside my friends' homes. My mother wanted it to be possible to see me at all times if I was not in school or at a family member's house. It was guidelines for having my mother, and as a child, I never understood that until I disclosed my sexual assault. In 2021, I discussed with my mother that a family member sexually assaulted me as a child, and I witnessed my mom's heartbreak. My mother told me that all her rules and guidelines were not to be controlling but protective and proactive. No parent wants to see their child in harm's way because they are our protectors. At this moment, my mom felt guilty for not protecting me. We talked for about an hour to two hours that day, and I felt at ease. I felt as though my voice was heard. I felt as though I was living in my truth. I felt free. Preserving through more than a decade of silence consisted of writing. Writing was essential to my mental and emotional health. The writing was about self-care and coping. Writing allowed me to self-regulate and access my emotions. Writing was my therapy. I discuss various topics in my poetry, like childhood, sexual assault, queerness, ethnicity, culture, and society. Writing allowed reflection. When writing, I can reflect on the past, present and future and assess how I want things to change. In those moments of evaluating, I am also making peace with topics that have circled my head. My writing was individualized. When writing poetry, there are no guidelines. In middle school, I recall learning about poetry. Initially, I was not interested because it required schemes, patterns, rhyming, and stanzas which all felt overwhelming until I discovered free verse poetry. Free verse was a free expression. Each poem expressed feelings of pain, healing, spiritual awakening, anger, depression, and heartbreak. Writing poetry is a haven. It is a way of conveying the inner soul, thoughts, and quietness. Writing gave me a voice even when I felt mute. I get to feel my feelings and write actively. In all, I learned about advocacy. As a sexual assault survivor, I felt loneliness, shame, and silence. I knew that it was essential to stand yourself and tell my truth. I learned the power, worth, and autonomy of my body. I learned how to turn my pain and silence into art with poetry. In all, tenacity allowed me to maintain my well-being and peace.

Mental health has impacted my beliefs, relationships, and career aspirations. Firstly, mental health has made me conscious of how I cope and provide myself with self-care. Secondly, my mentality has influenced me to pursue relationships that impact me positively and vice versa. Concerning my career, mental health has inspired me to give back to communities. All firsthand experiences of mental health have changed actions, behaviors, and goals. In beliefs, it is essential to practice self-preservation. I maintain my well-being by using writing as an act of self-care and coping. In my poetry, I discuss various topics like queerness, ethnicity, culture, and society. I can reflect on the past, present and future and assess how I want things to change. In those moments of evaluating, I am also making peace with topics that have circled my head. In relationships, I have allowed myself growth and detachment. I realized that relationships are not independent variables but dependent. Relationships depend on time, actions, emotions, opportunities, connection, etc. External factors impact the inner relationships with family, friends, or acquaintances. Mental health has opened my eyes to detaching from relationships that no longer serve your purpose. Initially, I was disheartened at letting go of some relationships, but mentally it was draining and overwhelming. I realized that positive relationships feel like growth, security, and happiness. In career aspirations, mental health has inspired me to become a counselor. I obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Africology and African American studies because I have hope for my community. Born and raised in North Philadelphia, I have witnessed trauma, generational curses, murders, drug usage, homelessness, criminal violence, and gun violence. Not fully comprehending or suppressing traumatic events only lets rumination occur. I am seeking a Community & Trauma Counseling Master of Science because I hope for my community. As I obtain my academic purpose of getting a Community & Trauma Counseling Master of Science, I am taking steps to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). I want to become an LPC to provide mental health services to individuals, families, and groups in treating trauma, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional problems and disorders. Ultimately the goal would be to have healthy and sustainable individuals by addressing their mental health and trauma. A positive experience I have with the mental health industry is working as a Crisis Advocate at a non-profit organization called Women Organized Against Rape- Philadelphia Center Assault Sexual Violence. It is a positive experience because the services provided are free. My role is to provide support to victims/survivors of sexual assault. I provide check-in calls, medical/ forensic exam accompaniment, group services, and follow-ups. One of my favorite responsibilities is to conduct check-in calls. During check-in calls, clients can discuss their daily activities, mental state, mood, or the past; it is open to their discretion. While conducting these calls, I observed a shift in clients. The change in the clients' openness and drive to heal has led to my passion for therapy. Therapy opens the opportunity to have a haven to openly address one's fears, hidden traumas, triggers, and memories that are within. Therapy is a gateway to a new journey. As a Crisis Advocate, my passion for assisting clients beyond check-in calls has risen. I love my work and am invested in joining the next phase of the individual's journey in counseling. In all, mental health has impacted my life. In my beliefs, I practice self-preservation. In relationships, I practice growth and detachment. My career aspirations have driven me to a field where I can give back to the community I love dearly.

In May 2022, I graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Africology and African American studies. After graduating, I decided to explore new opportunities and career paths opened by my new degree. Concluding numerous interviews, I received an offer for a position as a Crisis Advocate at Women Organized Against Rape. My role is to provide support to victims/survivors of sexual assault. I provide check-in calls, medical/ forensic exam accompaniment, group services, and follow-ups. One of my favorite responsibilities is to conduct check-in calls. During check-in calls, clients can discuss their daily activities, mental state, mood, or the past; it is open to their discretion. While conducting these calls, I observed a shift in clients; the trust, length of our conversations, topics, and trauma processing led to a new path for the client. The change in the clients' openness and drive to heal has led to my passion for therapy. Therapy opens the opportunity to have a haven to openly address one's fears, hidden traumas, triggers, and memories that are within. Therapy allows for thoughts to become spoken words and for words to be addressed and understood. Therapy is a gateway to a new journey. That journey is a roller coaster of emotions ranging from exhaustion, frustration, happiness, and peace, yet it is a path worth traveling. As a Crisis Advocate, my passion for assisting clients beyond check-in calls has risen. I love my work and am invested in joining the next phase of the individual's journey in counseling. In August 2023, I am beginning a graduate program to obtain a Master of Science in Community & Trauma Counseling with a concentration in Trauma, Addictions, and Recovery Concentration. As I receive my academic purpose of getting a Community & Trauma Counseling Master of Science, I am taking steps to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Recently, mental health has been a topic that has been highly acknowledged and prioritized. As the field develops, there need to be more individuals like myself willing to be committed, compassionate, and understanding to make a change. I want to provide guidance and health to communities to help them thrive mentally, behaviorally, and emotionally. Becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor would advance the ability to support diverse cultures, populations, and age groups. My passion is helping individuals from all walks of life. I am passionate about pursuing a career in therapy because the impact is transformative.

As I stroll through the streets, I glance at the businesses owned by the people in my community. There is a Black-owned clinic, dentist, physician, nail salon, beauty store, barbershop, therapist office, nutritionist office, produce market, and so much more. To see people succeed whose faces mirror my own provides fuel and safety. The Black community thrives on our people's positivity, productivity, and prosperity. A community that goes beyond the depths of saying our skin color is the same, yet emotional vulnerability and intelligence are compatible. A society that goes beyond the sayings of "what happens in this house stays in this house" and "stay in a child's place." In this society, we engage in self-awareness, support, and systems. Self-awareness allows us to be conscious within. We are acknowledging our mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health. Support will enable us to tell our stories to people we trust, such as friends, family, team members, coworkers, etc. Support lessens the load that one is carrying. Systems allow us to have counseling or psychiatric care. Systems engage the start of our mental health journey and metamorphosis. Mental health is affected by societal factors. Many minorities are affected by the intersectionality of discrimination, sexism, ableism, and sexual orientation. By withdrawing those from life experiences, people would be at ease. External factors are uncontrollable, yet we can change internally with our thoughts and views. Internally, we have to address our mental health. Within mental health care and advocacy, people of color and Black people need transparency and openness. Mental health diagnoses are often avoided or neglected in Black communities. I have often heard an elderly Black person say, "Ain't nothing wrong with that child. She is shy and quiet around people; rather than seeking professional guidance and addressing that the child could have a social anxiety disorder. The Black community neglects diagnosis because of social stigma. Black communities are not open to saying that mental health matters. Rather than being transparent about how mental health impacts life, it is dismissed as "bad nerves," "tiredness," or "overworking." We must acknowledge our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to how we are and where we want to be. Mental health care and advocacy can ignite social justice for Black communities. Having mental health services in Black communities demonstrates generational growth and awareness. Generational change and awareness help break cycles and live in one's expectations. In my experience as a Crisis Advocate, helping clients obtain therapy is one of my responsibilities. I have encountered many clients that ask, "Is there a person of color or Black therapist available?" Representation is critical for vocalization, safety, and understanding. Mental health care needs Black therapists, psychiatrists, counselors, psychologists, and advocates. For advocacy, it would be great to bring awareness to July. July is National Minority Mental Health Month. Getting awareness to The Office of Minority Health (OMH) supports and acknowledges the mental health of racial and ethnic minorities. In Black communities, stigmas, unconsciousness, and generational traumas negatively impact our mental health. Ideally, the utopian society's motto for mental health is self-awareness, support, and systems. Each word represents a step in pursuing guidance for mental health. Therefore having mental health care and advocacy brings forth presentation and awareness. Mental health care and advocacy give Black people resources and networks for their healing journeys.

I envision a life of fulfillment, peace, prosperity, and happiness in the spiritual, entrepreneurial, familial, social, and financial realms.

In May 2022, I graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Africology and African American studies. After graduating, I decided to explore new opportunities and career paths opened by my new degree. Concluding numerous interviews, I received an offer for a position as a Crisis Advocate at Women Organized Against Rape. My role is to provide support to victims/survivors of sexual assault. I provide check-in calls, medical/ forensic exam accompaniment, group services, and follow-ups. One of my favorite responsibilities is to conduct check-in calls. During check-in calls, clients can discuss their daily activities, mental state, mood, or the past; it is open to their discretion. While conducting these calls, I observed a shift in clients; the trust, length of our conversations, topics, and trauma processing led to a new path for the client. The change in the clients' openness and drive to heal has led to my passion for therapy. Therapy opens the opportunity to have a haven to openly address one's fears, hidden traumas, triggers, and memories that are within. Therapy allows for thoughts to become spoken words and for words to be addressed and understood. Therapy is a gateway to a new journey. That journey is a roller coaster of emotions ranging from exhaustion, frustration, happiness, and peace, yet it is a path worth traveling. As a Crisis Advocate, my passion for assisting clients beyond check-in calls has risen. I love my work and am invested in joining the next phase of the individual's journey in counseling. In August 2023, I am beginning a graduate program to obtain a Master of Science in Community & Trauma Counseling with a concentration in Trauma, Addictions, and Recovery Concentration. As I receive my academic purpose of getting a Community & Trauma Counseling Master of Science, I am taking steps to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Recently, mental health has been a topic that has been highly acknowledged and prioritized. As the field develops, there need to be more individuals like myself willing to be committed, compassionate, and understanding to make a change. I want to provide guidance and health to communities to help them thrive mentally, behaviorally, and emotionally. Becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor would advance the ability to support diverse cultures, populations, and age groups. My passion is helping individuals from all walks of life. I am passionate about pursuing a career in therapy because the impact is transformative.

Born and raised in North Philadelphia, I have witnessed generational curses, murders, drug usage, homelessness, criminal violence, and gun violence. It is normalized that seeing such traumatic events is a part of life. Not fully comprehending or suppressing traumatic events only lets rumination occur. I experienced traumatic childhood experiences, such as molestation, being raised in a domestic violence household, and having an incarcerated father. Each one of those things greatly impacted who I am today. As a sexual assault survivor, I know loneliness, shame, and silence feels. I learned the power, worth, and autonomy of my body. Being raised in a domestic violence household, I realized that violence is not an expression of love. Having an incarcerated father taught me how to become responsible, dependable, and self-sufficient to support my mother and brother. All of those things shaped me into the person that I am today. Facing adversities impacted my decisions in education and career goals. My mindset in undergraduate school was: I am fortunate to thrive beyond my obstacles, and I want to assist others in succeeding too. That mindset is continuous in my drive to succeed. In May 2022, I graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Africology and African American studies. After graduating, I decided to explore new opportunities and career paths opened by my new degree. Concluding numerous interviews, I received an offer for a position as a Crisis Advocate at Women Organized Against Rape. My role is to provide support to victims/survivors of sexual assault. I provide check-in calls, medical/ forensic exam accompaniment, group services, and follow-ups. My role is to assist victims/ survivors in getting to the next step of individual trauma counseling. I have grown to love my work and invested in joining the next phase of the victims'/survivors' journey, which is healing and therapy. In August 2023, I am beginning a graduate program to obtain a Master of Science in Community & Trauma Counseling with a concentration in Trauma, Addictions, and Recovery Concentration. There is a demand for more individuals like myself who are willing to be committed, compassionate, and understanding to make a change. I have hope for my community and those who have experienced traumatic and life-changing events like myself. There is redemption in their stories, and their trauma does not have to be the conclusion of their journey. As I embark on my educational journey, I am taking steps toward my career aspirations to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). I want to become an LPC to provide mental health services to individuals, families, and groups in treating trauma, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional problems and disorders. As an LPC, I would give client-centered services rather than primarily illness-centered ones. Ultimately the goal would be to have healthy and sustainable individuals by addressing their mental health and trauma. I would step toward financial security by obtaining Charles Cheesman's Student Debt Reduction Scholarship. As I embark on my graduate school journey, I will work as a full-time student and Crisis Advocate. With the scholarship, I could use saved money to satisfy a financial need: books, supplies, or tuition. Also, with the saved money, I advance financially in my savings, checking, and investing accounts. Ultimately, it would support me in becoming financially secure.

In May 2022, I graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Africology and African American studies. After graduating, I decided to explore new opportunities and career paths opened by my new degree. Concluding numerous interviews, I received an offer for a position as a Crisis Advocate at Women Organized Against Rape. My role is to provide support to victims/survivors of sexual assault. I provide check-in calls, medical/ forensic exam accompaniment, group services, and follow-ups. My role is to assist victims/ survivors in getting to the next step of individual trauma counseling. I have grown to love my work and invested in joining the next phase of the victims’/ survivors’ journey, which is healing and therapy. In August 2023, I am beginning a graduate program to obtain a Master of Science in Community & Trauma Counseling with a concentration in Trauma, Addictions, and Recovery Concentration. As I receive my academic purpose of getting a Community & Trauma Counseling Master of Science, I am taking steps to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). I want to become an LPC to provide mental health services to individuals, families, and groups in treating trauma, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional problems and disorders. As an LPC, I would give client-centered services, not primarily illness-centered ones. Ultimately the goal would be to have healthy and sustainable individuals by addressing their mental health and trauma. Recently, mental health has been a topic that has been highly acknowledged and prioritized. As the field develops, there need to be more individuals like myself willing to be committed, compassionate, and understanding to make a change. I want to provide guidance and health to communities to help them thrive mentally, behaviorally, and emotionally. Becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor would advance my ability to support diverse cultures, populations, and age groups. My passion for helping individuals from all walks of life will allow me to flourish as a Licensed Professional Counselor. In all, becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor will assist me with positively contributing to society. I would be stepping towards financial security by obtaining the Morgan Levine Dolan Community Service Scholarship. As I embark on my graduate school journey, I will work as a full-time student and Crisis Advocate. With the scholarship, I could satisfy a financial need: books, supplies, or tuition. It would lessen the load and worries. I would be able to focus on academics successfully. I would be able to develop the skills and characteristics it takes to succeed in the mental health profession. Ultimately, it would support me in becoming the licensed professional counselor I know I can become.

In May 2022, I graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Africology and African American studies. After graduating, I decided to explore new opportunities and career paths opened by my new degree. Concluding numerous interviews, I received an offer for a position as a Crisis Advocate at Women Organized Against Rape. My role is to provide support to victims/survivors of sexual assault. I provide check-in calls, medical/ forensic exam accompaniment, group services, and follow-ups. My role is to assist victims/ survivors in getting to the next step of individual trauma counseling. I have grown to love my work and invested in joining the next phase of the victims’/ survivors’ journey, which is healing and therapy. In August 2023, I am beginning a graduate program to obtain a Master of Science in Community & Trauma Counseling with a concentration in Trauma, Addictions, and Recovery Concentration. As I receive my academic purpose of getting a Community & Trauma Counseling Master of Science, I am taking steps to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). I want to become an LPC to provide mental health services to individuals, families, and groups in treating trauma, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional problems and disorders. As an LPC, I would give client-centered services, not primarily illness-centered ones. Ultimately the goal would be to have healthy and sustainable individuals by addressing their mental health and trauma. Born and raised in North Philadelphia, I have witnessed trauma, generational curses, murders, drug usage, homelessness, criminal violence, and gun violence. It is normalized that seeing such traumatic events is a part of life. Not fully comprehending or suppressing traumatic events only lets rumination occur. I am interested in Community Trauma Counseling because I have been affected by traumas I silently overcame. I experienced many traumatic experiences as a child, such as molestation, being raised in a domestic violence household, and having an incarcerated father. Each one of those things greatly impacted who I am today. As a sexual assault survivor, I know how wanting to be alone, shamed, and silenced feels. I learned the power, worth, and autonomy of my body. Being raised in a domestic violence household, I realized that violence is an expression of love. Having an incarcerated father taught me how to become responsible, dependable, and self-sufficient to support my mother and brother. All of those things shaped me into the person that I am today. My educational goal is to obtain a Master of Science in Community Trauma Counseling. There is a demand for more individuals like myself who are willing to be committed, compassionate, and understanding to make a change. I want to provide guidance and health to communities to help them thrive mentally, behaviorally, and emotionally. I have hope for my community and those who have experienced traumatic and life-changing events like myself. I was fortunate to thrive beyond my obstacles, and I want to assist others to succeed too.

Writing is essential because it positively affects my mental, emotional, and physical health. Writing is an external and eternal way of self-care and coping. Writing allows me to self-regulate and access my emotions. In all, writing is therapy. Writing is self-care. Self-care is maintaining your mental and emotional self before a crisis. In my poetry, I discuss various topics like queerness, ethnicity, culture, and society. Writing as a self-care experience has allowed reflection. When writing, I can reflect on the past, present and future and assess how I want things to change. In those moments of evaluating, I am also making peace with topics that have circled my head. Writing is individualized. When writing poetry, there are no guidelines. In middle school, I recall learning about poetry. Initially, I was not interested because it required schemes, patterns, rhyming, and stanzas which all felt overwhelming until I discovered free verse poetry. Free verse was a free expression; I did not have to follow the rules of poetry; my words could exist on paper written in cursive exhalation. Each poem expressed feelings of pain, healing, spiritual awakening, anger, depression, and heartbreak. Every poem was individualized to have its fingerprint and meaning. Writing is coping. Coping is behaving in a crisis that affects your mental, emotional, and physical self. From the time I was nine years old, I would write. I recall the first time I wrote a poem. I was in the third grade and received the news that my cousin was murdered. I was spinning then but recalled picking up my yellow and pink butterfly sticky notes and writing. I may never precisely remember the words, but I wrote how I felt. In moments of frustration, pain, sadness, and joy, writing made me feel like I was in another dimension, my little universe. Writing poetry is a haven. It is a way of conveying the inner soul, thoughts, and quietness. Writing gave me a voice even when I was quiet. I get to feel my feelings and write actively. In conclusion, writing is significant because it is self-preservation. Self-preservation allows me to maintain my well-being and peace. When things are uncontrollable, writing manages to be consistent and reliable. Writing supports me by being a haven. Writing allows me to be in tune with myself, my thoughts, and my emotions. Writing allows for the emotional, mental, and physical assessments of self. Ultimately, writing is a resource.

A part of me was free from the past as I told you my pains I tried to explain myself yet I never said you were to blame I asked was ever considered in your gruesome love games Stillness and silence Death was in the air "Sorry but you should let it go" Words that I did not expect to hear Shaky words filled with tears and fears Holding hands with my inner child Giving her comfort but also wanting to yell That little girl is still dying in there I gathered myself to say thank you and have a nice day Reflecting and contemplating Am I the source of the pain? Am I the one holding on to these traumatizing things? She always said closed mouths don't get fed Yet I am still starving Craving more than " let it go" Not all scenarios end in closure It's another thing checked off of the things on to do list in the healing journey.

In 2020, I came across an Instagram called Happiness Project. The Happiness Project's Instagram page was full of quotes, advice, and resources for mental health. After examining the page thoroughly, I found the mission, which stated, "Our mission is to elevate happiness throughout the world while supporting those impacted by mental health issues. No one has to go through their journey alone. Our brands strive to show that it's okay to not be okay." Concluding reading the mission, I followed the page because I support bringing mental health awareness, spreading positivity and change. Shortly after following the page, I subscribed to receive their quotes. A year later, I am still receiving texts from the happiness project. On April 19, 2021, at 10:03 am, I received a text from the Happiness Project saying, "Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise." The quote did not resonate because everything was on a steady path. At 10:12 am, my MomMom received a call that her father had passed away. I recall consoling my MomMom but also preparing myself to be the barrier of sad news. That morning, I told the remainder of the family the information. Later that night, I sat on my bed and pondered this quote: "Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise." I thought this was my great grandfather's telling me that this aching and pain was temporary and I would see better days again. Then I thought I was looking too much into this quote, so I forgot about it. Approximately three weeks left in the spring semester of my junior year at Temple University, and I am exhausted. I am completing the end of my coursework for six classes and preparing for finals while grieving. I had a breaking point, and I reached out to my professors, explaining my great grandfather's death and asking for a week or two expansion on my assignments. All but one of my professors were supportive and understanding. One of my professors said it was too much to ask for expansions at the end of the semester, no matter the circumstances. She suggested I take an incomplete for that class and finish it in the fall semester. At that moment, I was saddened, upset, and defeated. I was saddened at the idea that the professor had no empathy or sympathy for losing a loved one. I emailed the professor back, stating that I would instead complete the assignments and push through. Gadget Man, as I liked to call my great grandfather, knew I enjoyed learning and blossoming in school my entire life. As a child, Gadget Man paid me to attend a Catholic school to get the best education in our neighborhood. When it became too expensive and I had to withdraw, he brought me a Kindle Fire to read about everything I was curious about. In high school, I would stay after school to type my papers because I did not have a computer at home, so he brought me a blue gradient touchscreen HP laptop and a printer. Also, when I need a veteran to interview, I use him. He gave me all his certifications, plaques, and medals from the Korean war. Gadget Man always supported my educational endeavors from kindergarten to twelfth grade. Once I got into Temple, he was beyond proud of me and tried to help as much as possible. At that moment, being told I could take an incomplete for the course, I knew my Gadget Man would not like it, so I focussed on getting through that course and the entirety of the semester. Months later, the quote still lingered in my mind. I made it a permanent reminder and got it tattooed on my forearm. The quote reminded me of my Gadget Man and how effective, supportive, and resourceful he regarded my educational journey. He was looking forward to the day that the family would have their second university graduate. I used that to fuel my drive to graduate in May of 2022. I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and minored in Africiology and African American Studies. A few weeks after the graduation, we drove two hours to visit the gravesite, and it was gray and dreary until our arrival, then the sun came out. At the gravesite, I told him I had graduated and was unsure what was next for me, but I knew great things were on the horizon. Today, March 2023, I am in the direct service field using my psychology degree and am still eager to learn. I am enrolling in Jefferson University's Community Trauma Counseling M.S. Program. I always told myself I would become Dr. Bellamy with our family's last name, and I am one step closer to that accomplishment.