"Not all wounds can be seen." Mine formed quietly, sitting in classrooms from middle school to high school, shaped by ridicule, mockery, and isolation. I was raised in a South Asian country, where fairness was ideal, and a darker skin tone was seen as "ugly". I was mocked for my appearance, my height, my teeth, even my voice, which was "too loud" and "too unfeminine" for a girl. Over time, in my eyes, these criticisms turned into my identity, and because I am not accepted, I am less worthy and undeserving of love. Home is a refuge, but my home was just walls with people living in it. My father was a very busy man, but even when he was home, he was emotionally distant. My struggles in his mind were easily dismissed compared to "bigger problems" of the world, leaving me feeling guilty for even speaking up. Mother was always tangled in responsibilities, had little to no time to notice my silent suffering. In a dysfunctional, tense household, I learned to suppress rather than express, and I made my diary my confidante, my only friend. Its pages were filled with my tears, a safe space I revisited every night before falling asleep, wishing I would not wake up. Mental health was something we ignored like it didn't exist, because we could not see it. Then one day, something shifted. I remember wiping my mother's tears as she talked about her turbulent marriage, and in that moment, I learned the power of presence. The idea that I may not be able to fix her pain, but just by staying by her side and listening to her would help. That realization went a long way, and so what if no one had been there for me? I chose to be there for them. Little did I know that one moment would inspire my entire life, leading me to pursue a career in mental health. My undergraduate degree in Psychology helped me understand not just myself but others as well. Practicing graduate studies in this discipline at Pepperdine University has helped me focus on behavior, trauma, multicultural competence, and mental health care. Beyond academics, I have been a voice against bullying by creating spaces for open conversation in my college magazine. Advocating for mental health on every platform and establishing initiatives in that direction. My undergraduate thesis was on the negative correlation between bullying and self-esteem. Volunteering with children with special needs and having my first clinical experience during my internship at a bariatric clinic, where I supported individuals with body dysmorphia, anxiety, and low self-esteem. However, the invisible struggles that I had left way behind me caught up to me through my health issues. In November, I underwent an emergency surgery (cystectomy) for a 7 cm cyst in my right ovary. Before I even completely healed, I received my biopsy reports, which indicated the cyst had a borderline mucinous tumor, and I was sitting at a cancer hospital first thing on my birthday. It was also around the same time that I was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition called scalp psoriasis, which triggered my anxious self that was dormant for years. A person who hated their body started living in more fear, sometimes starving themselves, hoping that would stop the tumor from returning. However, I credit my supportive husband for taking me to therapy. My life might have broken me, but my heart has always learned to rebuild, sometimes me and sometimes others, and by creating spaces where they are always seen, I would like to keep making that happen.

"An educated woman shapes an educated generation." A fact often neglected in society, but a fuel that drives my educational journey. When I was a little kid, I remember sitting in my mother's lap and wiping her tears. I did not understand her cause of pain, nor did I have any solutions- but there was something I learned that day, "Power of presence," and since that moment on, I knew my true calling: healing wounds that cannot be seen. I was raised in the Middle East, in a Pakistani Muslim family where women are often encouraged to dream small. My mother wanted to work in a lab as a biochemist, but after marriage, she had to give up her professional ambitions to devote herself to her family. Prioritizing family over dreams, I have utmost respect for homemakers, who are the quiet pillars of strength behind many generations. Our faith, however, tells a fascinating story of Hazrat Khadija (R.A), a successful businesswoman who stood side by side with our Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) as his greatest supporter and balanced family, ambition, and faith with grace. She is my guiding light. After completing my college in Pre-Medical sciences, I pursued a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, studying counselling, developmental, clinical, abnormal, cognitive, and forensic psychology, etc. My undergraduate thesis, "The Impact of Bullying on Self-Esteem in Adolescents", is currently under review for publication. I have volunteered at the Orange County Islamic Foundation, working with special children, and led community outreach projects to examine the psychological effects of cyberbullying among adolescents. These further increased my interest in learning about how chronic emotional distress, early trauma, and identity erosion can lead adolescents towards maladaptive coping mechanisms. Hence, mental health advocacy and giving preventive measures against bullying became my primary goal. I had my first clinical experience at the International Medical Center in Jeddah, as I worked under a clinical psychologist at the Bariatric Surgery department, conducting pre- and post-psychological assessments, helping clients navigate their way through anxiety, body image distress, depression, trauma, and the challenges of compulsive eating. I remember during a session, I helped a patient through a severe panic attack using grounding and breathwork techniques- an experience that taught me how healing begins when people feel acknowledged, supported, and safe. Currently, I am attending Pepperdine University for a Master of Arts in Psychology, where I completed my first semester with a 4.0 GPA. As a newly married woman who recently moved to LA, continuing my education has required resilience, especially when I, too, was raised in a stigmatized culture of neglecting mental health and prioritizing marriage over higher studies. Fortunately, my husband recognizes my drive and supports my education, standing by me against any obstacle. However, financial challenges still pose a threat, as immigration delays due to government shutdowns prevent me from working, and my husband has to cover my medical bills from emergency surgery, living expenses, and tuition out of pocket. It has been tedious, but I remain passionate, unwavering. Ismat Tariq is a reflection of my mother's story and the countless lives of other Muslim women. This scholarship has given me the opportunity to honor their sacrifices and ensure the next generation does not have to choose between faith, family, and dreams. My goal is to earn licensure by pursuing Psy.D., and to open a culturally sensitive and trauma-informed care serving under-deserved and stigmatized communities, to support and pay forward the debts of Muslim women and others who only keep giving and endure hardships silently. Upholding my mom's belief of: "Be a superhero, one visit at a time."

"Not all wounds can be seen." This neglected truth is the reason why I chose mental health as my career path. From an early age, I have felt a profound calling to help others through presence, humility, empathy, and understanding. The drive I have towards this field has guided my academic journey, my experiences clinically, and my efforts to advocate and spread awareness with multicultural competence, especially to individuals in marginalized and stigmatized backgrounds. My commitment to this field has been shaped by the heavily stigmatised culture in which I was raised. Where I have witnessed people suffering in silence, and because of shame, have never sought help. In my eyes, wounds are not just the ones that can be seen; some are felt in the loneliness of the room. I have completed my Bachelor of Science in Psychology, where my courses were developmental, abnormal, clinical, cognitive psychology, and counselling, which has strengthened my understanding regarding human behavior. To continue my journey to licensure, I am currently pursuing my Master of Arts in Psychology at Pepperdine University, where I just completed my first semester with a 4.0 GPA. Taking classes on campus has reinforced how important ethical, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed care is- especially for the minorities that have been raised in marginalized and stigmatised backgrounds. I am a first-generation student pursuing higher education, as women in my family are expected to follow societal norms that prioritize early marriage and caregiving over education. My path to helping others began in college with my mental health awareness initiatives. Setting up a mental health department as the student body president and making a column for mental health disorders, while working as the chief editor of my college magazine. During my undergraduate studies, I wrote a thesis centered on how bullying can affect self-esteem in adolescents, which is now under review for publication. The community outreach projects focused on cyberbullying- highlighting chronic emotional distress and erosion of identity, which leads to maladaptive coping. Despite academics, I have also volunteered at OCIF, supporting children with special needs. I had my first clinical experience at the International Medical Center in Jeddah, where I worked under a clinical psychologist at the Bariatric Surgery department. I used to conduct pre- and post-psychological assessments, helping clients navigate their way through anxiety, body image distress, depression, trauma, and the challenges of compulsive eating. I recall a particularly challenging moment during one of my sessions: when a 19-year-old female client started experiencing an acute panic attack, so I used grounding and breathwork techniques I had learned in school to help her regain control and her sense of safety. This further reinforced my belief that "Healing actually begins when individuals feel respected, acknowledged and uplifted." Continuing my path has been financially challenging, regardless of my academic excellence and dedication. Due to the government shutdown, there have been delays in my employment authorization following my family-based adjustment of status application. As much as I would love to contribute to the field, I am unable to work. During this time, my husband has been covering my tuition, medical bills from an emergency surgery, living expenses, utilities, documentation fees, etc, all out of pocket. These hardships pose a real risk to my path to continue my education. After completing my master's, I plan to pursue a Psy.D. and earn licensure, dedicating my life and career to people and providing culturally sensitive, trauma-informed care. Meaningful healing is rooted in human connection, which is why I aim to build spaces where individuals feel seen, safe, heard, and supported.

"Not all wounds can be seen." This neglected truth is the reason why I chose mental health as my career path. From an early age, I have felt a profound calling to help others through presence, humility, empathy, and understanding. The drive I have towards this field has guided my academic journey, my experiences clinically, and my efforts to advocate and spread awareness with multicultural competence, especially to individuals in marginalized and stigmatized backgrounds. My commitment to this field has been shaped by the heavily stigmatised culture in which I was raised. Where I have witnessed people suffering in silence, and because of shame, have never sought help. In my eyes, wounds are not just the ones that can be seen; some are felt in the loneliness of the room. I have completed my Bachelor of Science in Psychology, where my courses were developmental, abnormal, clinical, cognitive psychology, and counselling, which has strengthened my understanding regarding human behavior. To continue my journey to licensure, I am currently pursuing my Master of Arts in Psychology at Pepperdine University, where I just completed my first semester with a 4.0 GPA. Taking classes on campus has reinforced how important ethical, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed care is- especially for the minorities that have been raised in marginalized and stigmatised backgrounds. I am a first-generation student pursuing higher education, as women in my family are expected to follow societal norms that prioritize early marriage and caregiving over education. My path to helping others began in college with my mental health awareness initiatives. Setting up a mental health department as the student body president and making a column for mental health disorders, while working as the chief editor of my college magazine. During my undergraduate studies, I wrote a thesis centered on how bullying can affect self-esteem in adolescents, which is now under review for publication. The community outreach projects focused on cyberbullying- highlighting chronic emotional distress and erosion of identity, which leads to maladaptive coping. Despite academics, I have also volunteered at OCIF, supporting children with special needs. I had my first clinical experience at the International Medical Center in Jeddah, where I worked under a clinical psychologist at the Bariatric Surgery department. I used to conduct pre- and post-psychological assessments, helping clients navigate their way through anxiety, body image distress, depression, trauma, and the challenges of compulsive eating. I recall a particularly challenging moment during one of my sessions: when a 19-year-old female client started experiencing an acute panic attack, so I used grounding and breathwork techniques I had learned in school to help her regain control and her sense of safety. This further reinforced my belief that "Healing actually begins when individuals feel respected, acknowledged and uplifted." Continuing my path has been financially challenging, regardless of my academic excellence and dedication. Due to the government shutdown, there have been delays in my employment authorization following my family-based adjustment of status application. As much as I would love to contribute to the field, I am unable to work. During this time, my husband has been covering my tuition, medical bills from an emergency surgery, living expenses, utilities, documentation fees, etc, all out of pocket. These hardships pose a real risk to my path to continue my education. After completing my master's, I plan to pursue a Psy.D. and earn licensure, dedicating my life and career to people and providing culturally sensitive, trauma-informed care. Meaningful healing is rooted in human connection, which is why I aim to build spaces where individuals feel seen, safe, heard, and supported.

"Not all wounds can be seen." This neglected truth is the reason why I chose mental health as my career path. From an early age, I have felt a profound calling to help others through presence, humility, empathy, and understanding. The drive I have towards this field has guided my academic journey, my experiences clinically, and my efforts to advocate and spread awareness with multicultural competence, especially to individuals in marginalized and stigmatized backgrounds. My commitment to this field has been shaped by the heavily stigmatised culture in which I was raised. Where I have witnessed people suffering in silence, and because of shame, have never sought help. In my eyes, wounds are not just the ones that can be seen; some are felt in the loneliness of the room. I have completed my Bachelor of Science in Psychology, where my courses were developmental, abnormal, clinical, cognitive psychology, and counselling, which has strengthened my understanding regarding human behavior. To continue my journey to licensure, I am currently pursuing my Master of Arts in Psychology at Pepperdine University, where I just completed my first semester with a 4.0 GPA. Taking classes on campus has reinforced how important ethical, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed care is- especially for the minorities that have been raised in marginalized and stigmatised backgrounds. I am a first-generation student pursuing higher education, as women in my family are expected to follow societal norms that prioritize early marriage and caregiving over education. My path to helping others began in college with my mental health awareness initiatives. Setting up a mental health department as the student body president and making a column for mental health disorders, while working as the chief editor of my college magazine. During my undergraduate studies, I wrote a thesis centered on how bullying can affect self-esteem in adolescents, which is now under review for publication. The community outreach projects focused on cyberbullying- highlighting chronic emotional distress and erosion of identity, which leads to maladaptive coping. Despite academics, I have also volunteered at OCIF, supporting children with special needs. I had my first clinical experience at the International Medical Center in Jeddah, where I worked under a clinical psychologist at the Bariatric Surgery department. I used to conduct pre- and post-psychological assessments, helping clients navigate their way through anxiety, body image distress, depression, trauma, and the challenges of compulsive eating. I recall a particularly challenging moment during one of my sessions: when a 19-year-old female client started experiencing an acute panic attack, so I used grounding and breathwork techniques I had learned in school to help her regain control and her sense of safety. This further reinforced my belief that "Healing actually begins when individuals feel respected, acknowledged and uplifted." Continuing my path has been financially challenging, regardless of my academic excellence and dedication. Due to the government shutdown, there have been delays in my employment authorization following my family-based adjustment of status application. As much as I would love to contribute to the field, I am unable to work. During this time, my husband has been covering my tuition, medical bills from an emergency surgery, living expenses, utilities, documentation fees, etc, all out of pocket. These hardships pose a real risk to my path to continue my education. After completing my master's, I plan to pursue a Psy.D. and earn licensure, dedicating my life and career to people and providing culturally sensitive, trauma-informed care. Meaningful healing is rooted in human connection, which is why I aim to build spaces where individuals feel seen, safe, heard, and supported.

From an early age, I have felt a profound calling to help others through presence, humility, empathy, and understanding. The commitment I have towards mental health has guided my academic journey, my experiences clinically, and my efforts to advocate and spread awareness with multicultural competence. It has shaped my dedication to helping others emotionally and my plans for the future, pursuing mental health as my career. I have completed my Bachelor of Science in Psychology, where my courses were developmental, abnormal, clinical, cognitive psychology, and counselling, which has strengthened my understanding regarding human behavior. To continue my journey to licensure, I am currently pursuing my Master of Arts in Psychology at Pepperdine University, where I just completed my first semester with a 4.0 GPA. Taking classes on campus has reinforced how important ethical, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed care is- especially for the minorities that have been raised in marginalized and stigmatised backgrounds. My path to helping others began in college with my mental health awareness initiatives. Setting up a mental health department as the student body president and making a column for mental health disorders, while working as the chief editor of my college magazine. During my undergraduate studies, I wrote a thesis centered on how bullying can affect self-esteem in adolescents, which is now under review for publication. The community outreach projects focused on cyberbullying- highlighting chronic emotional distress and erosion of identity, which leads to maladaptive coping. Despite academics, I have also volunteered at OCIF, supporting children with special needs. I had my first clinical experience at the International Medical Center in Jeddah, which further honed my abilities to support my clients. I worked under a clinical psychologist at the Bariatric Surgery department, conducting pre- and post-psychological assessments, helping clients navigate their way through anxiety, body image distress, depression, trauma, and the challenges of compulsive eating. One challenging moment I remember during a session was a client experiencing an acute panic attack. Using grounding and breathwork techniques, I helped the client regain control and their sense of safety, and learned that "Healing begins when individuals feel understood and supported." After completing my master's, I plan to pursue a Psy.D. and earn licensure, dedicating my life and career to people and providing culturally sensitive, trauma-informed care. Meaningful healing is rooted in human connection, which is why I aim to build spaces where individuals feel seen, safe, heard, and supported.