My experience with mental health has been central to the brief story of my life, which is why I am pursuing a degree in mental healthcare. I grew up with a father who was verbally and emotionally abusive and a mother who was emotionally unavailable because she sacrificed her mental and emotional health to protect my sister and me. Our home had an atmosphere of fear because of my father's volatility and anger. I spent much time hiding from my dad and raising myself and my sister. The trauma of my home life led to anxiety and social struggles at school. I had issues with my self-confidence, and looking back, I understand I was experiencing depression. I got bullied at school but took responsibility for it because that's what I learned at home. My life before I turned 18 years old felt like a dream! I didn't know in elementary school that I was bullied, that I had panic attacks at school, that feeling nervous all the time wasn't a universal experience, or that how my dad treated me was inappropriate. Knowledge and awareness are virtues that could have been life-changing for me when I was younger. Instead, I flew under the radar as a child victim of domestic abuse needing mental help. Isn't it tragic that my mother, my sister, and myself were trapped in ignorance for so long? And the thing is, there are those far less fortunate than I who remain trapped forever, whether by ignorance or otherwise. This is the primary reason I am studying to become a mental health counselor – to liberate those without the knowledge to free themselves. There is a great need for professionals who can interrupt the cycles of abuse and mental distress. My sister, mother, and I needed professional help when we were young, but our lack of education kept us stuck. I seek a rigorous and comprehensive education to give me the skills and scholarship to relieve others. I have already dedicated much time to the service of those suffering from mental health issues. Shortly after beginning my psychology bachelor's degree, I found a job at a residential treatment center for teens in trauma recovery. I'll admit, my initial impression was that I would just be hanging out with teenagers all day and having fun. I could not have been more wrong! Although I did many fun things with my teenagers, many hard things came with the job. I had to monitor for suicidal ideations and self-harm behaviors, disordered eating patterns, bullying, and eloping. Crisis management was a critical skill I developed very early on. I am committed to the destigmatization of mental health services and advocacy for those who have suffered because of a lack of systemic support. I am a student in a Clinical Mental Health Counseling program in my first year. I plan to graduate in the winter of 2025 and begin practicing immediately. I know that as I continue my education and receive my license, I will become a powerful force for the mental healthcare community.

My experience with mental health has been central to the brief story of my life. I grew up with a father who was verbally and emotionally abusive and a mother who was emotionally unavailable because she sacrificed her mental and emotional health to protect my sister and me. Our home had an atmosphere of fear because of my father's volatility and anger. I spent much time hiding from my dad and raising myself and my sister. The trauma of my home life led to anxiety and social struggles at school. I had issues with my self-confidence, and looking back, I understand I was experiencing depression. I got bullied at school but took responsibility for it because that's what I learned at home. My life before I turned 18 years old felt like a dream! I didn't know in elementary school that I was bullied, that I had panic attacks at school, that feeling nervous all the time wasn't a universal experience, or that how my dad treated me was inappropriate. Knowledge and awareness are virtues that could have been life-changing for me when I was younger. Instead, I flew under the radar as a child victim of domestic abuse needing mental help. Isn't it tragic that my mother, my sister, and myself were trapped in ignorance for so long? And the thing is, there are those far less fortunate than I who remain trapped forever, whether by ignorance or otherwise. As I read about your mother, Sherri, I was reminded of my own mother and her struggles with depression. I send my condolences and reach a virtual hand out to you. I consider myself lucky that I did not lose my mother entirely, yet I recognize that my mother was mentally absent from me because of the brokenness of the system we operate in. She was told to submit to my abusive father, and she did not seek help because it was stigmatized and little was known or discussed about mental health treatment at that time. This is the primary reason I am studying to become a mental health counselor – to liberate those without the knowledge to free themselves. There is a great need for professionals who can interrupt the cycles of abuse and mental distress. My sister, mother, and I needed professional help when we were young, but our lack of education kept us stuck. I seek a rigorous and comprehensive education to give me the skills and scholarship to relieve others. I have already dedicated much time to the service of those suffering from mental health issues. Shortly after beginning my psychology bachelor's degree, I found a job at a residential treatment center for teens in trauma recovery. I'll admit, my initial impression was that I would just be hanging out with teenagers all day and having fun. I could not have been more wrong! Although I did many fun things with my teenagers, many hard things came with the job. I had to monitor for suicidal ideations and self-harm behaviors, disordered eating patterns, bullying, and eloping. Crisis management was a critical skill I developed very early on. I learned trauma-informed practice from them and from the book our work was based on: The Anatomy of Peace, a book by the Arbinger Institute. I have studied this book extensively! It teaches individuals how to heal broken relationships and attachments. The most important lesson I learned from this book was viewing people as people, not objects. That is key to resolving conflict and healing emotional wounds, and it was vital in developing a healing relationship with my students. I became a shift manager at this center about six months after I started working because my manager was let go for safety reasons. This placed all responsibility for each evening on my shoulders. Out of necessity, I became a strong leader very quickly. I learned how to teach others the principles of emotional, psychological, physical, and social health to those I was responsible for. I taught communication, warning signs of self-destructive behaviors, and proper behavioral and emotional data documentation. I learned and modeled how to connect with another person in a manner that provided safety for raw emotions. My experiences at the treatment center were life-altering. I had never been aware of anyone who had lived a life like mine. The adolescents there understood me, and I understood them because we all experienced trauma. They motivated me to continue my recovery as I assisted them with theirs. I dove deeper into therapy and sought more knowledge and resources to understand healing and destigmatizing mental health. Since my time at the treatment center, I have worked in a psychiatry clinic, a special needs classroom, and as a Registered Behavior Technician. My passion for advocacy and mental health has only grown and will continue to grow as I work in this field. I am committed to the destigmatization of mental health services and advocacy for those who have suffered because of a lack of systemic support. I am a student in a Clinical Mental Health Counseling program in my first year. I plan to graduate in the winter of 2025 and begin practicing immediately. I know that as I continue my education and receive my license, I will become a powerful force for the mental health community.

My motivation to become a counselor is woven from the experiences I've had in my life so far. I'm a Utahn born and raised, and I came into a small family by Utah standards. I have one younger sister who was my worst enemy until I moved out of the house. Aside from her and me, my mom and dad were the only other family members. My dad started verbally and emotionally abusing my mom about three years into marriage. Our home had an atmosphere of fear because of his volatility and anger. My mom was mentally unavailable because she sacrificed her mental and emotional health to protect us. I spent much time hiding from my dad and raising myself and my sister. The trauma of my home life led to anxiety and social struggles at school. I had issues with my self-confidence, and looking back, I understand I was experiencing depression. I got bullied at school but took responsibility for it because that's what I learned at home. My life before I turned 18 years old felt like a dream! I didn't know in elementary school that I was bullied, that I had panic attacks at school, that feeling nervous all the time wasn't a universal experience, or that how my dad treated me was inappropriate. I watched my sister slowly change from a happy little kid to a very angry and irritable one; now, I recognize these symptoms can indicate depression in children. I also saw my mother withdraw from the world around her, and any trace of joy left her eyes. I understand now that she was deeply depressed. It went untreated for twenty years. Knowledge and awareness are virtues that could have been life-changing for me and my family when I was younger. Instead, I flew under the radar as a child victim of domestic abuse needing mental and emotional help. Isn't it tragic that my mother, my sister, and myself were trapped in ignorance for so long? And the thing is, there are those far less fortunate than I who remain trapped forever, whether by ignorance or otherwise. This is why I have chosen to become a counselor specializing in helping children. Shortly after beginning my psychology bachelor's degree, I found a job at a residential treatment center for teens in trauma recovery. I had never heard of a residential treatment center before, and I was thrilled to be able to spend my time helping kids who had experiences I had a chance to understand. I'll admit, my initial impression was that I would just be hanging out with teenagers all day and having fun. I could not have been more wrong! Although I did many fun things with my teenagers, many hard things came with the job. I had to monitor for suicidal ideations and self-harm behaviors, disordered eating patterns, bullying, and eloping. Crisis management was a critical skill I developed very early on. I entered this job with a naiveté that initially made it hard for the kids to like me. I learned trauma-informed practice from them and from the book our work was based on: The Anatomy of Peace, a book by the Arbinger Institute. I have studied this book extensively! It teaches individuals how to heal broken relationships and attachments. The most important lesson I learned from this book was viewing people as people, not objects. That is key to resolving conflict and healing emotional wounds, and it was vital in developing a healing relationship with my students. I became a shift manager at this center six months after I started working because my manager was let go for safety reasons. This placed all responsibility for each evening on my shoulders, and it was terrifying to know I was trained by someone who ultimately was fired! Out of necessity, I became a strong leader very quickly. I learned how to teach others the principles of emotional, psychological, physical, and social health to those I had responsibility. I taught communication, warning signs of self-destructive behaviors, and proper behavioral and emotional data documentation. I learned and modeled how to connect with another person, which provided safety for raw emotions. My promotion gave me the unique opportunity to participate in the treatment team of all our resident teenagers. I was assigned a caseload of a few students and was responsible for goal-setting and helping them one-on-one in their recovery—this involved weekly check-ins with the students and updates to their parents. In treatment teams, I had to report the residential progress of the students assigned to me to their academic advisors, therapists, and residential managers. I also got to hear reports from those people as well. Observing treatment planning up close was incredibly valuable because it helped me understand people different than me in new ways. I could never understand the horrors my students went through, but I could understand what happened and how to help them. I gained immediate empathy for my students, which helped me be a better caregiver. I also gained much emotional wisdom from working closely with the therapists of my students. To me, they seemed like wizards in the way they helped and understood the kids. It made me more than ever want to continue on the counseling road. I learned humility from this job and a multitude of different perspectives. One of the greatest honors I felt when I was there was when my students told me they didn't feel judged by me, even though they felt judged by many people of my religion. Working in a place with more diversity and culture than my environment was enlightening. I noticed the disparities in my ability to receive personally relevant mental health care compared to people from different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. I want unbiased mental health care readily available to all children, not just white, middle-class children. I want to deconstruct my biases and learn about others in a way that helps me appreciate their beliefs and unique worldviews. I attribute my ability to see people as people and love them no matter what to these kids. I truly loved them. The kids at the residential suspected I had ADHD, and after trying a desk job at a mental health psychiatry clinic, I knew it was time to get assessed for it. It was no surprise when the test results said I have ADHD combined type. I was able to start my treatment shortly after, which has been life-changing for me. This motivated me to start a blog and multiple social media platforms to spread awareness of common mental health issues so people don't go years without treatment. My endeavors here have given me an excellent understanding of technology usage, including social media strategies and online writing. My life experiences have taught me there is no need to suffer in silence. I started therapy three years ago and have not turned back. I have seen a reduction in trauma responses and panic attacks. I have also seen improvement in my relationships and quality of life. I feel genuinely happy and safe and believe it is a fundamental human right to experience happiness and safety. Since these discoveries, I have fervently sought out any opportunity to improve others' mental and emotional health. I don't pretend to know everything about trauma, healing, and therapy. Still, I believe that the knowledge I have now and will accumulate in the future can liberate people who have struggled as I have. This is the primary reason I am studying to become a mental health counselor – to liberate those without the knowledge to free themselves, especially children. There is a great need for professionals who can interrupt the cycles of abuse and mental distress for children early in their lives. My sister, mother, and I needed professional help when we were young, but our lack of education kept us stuck. I seek a rigorous and comprehensive education to give me the skills and scholarship to relieve others. On my healing journey, I have felt immense gratitude for the mental health professionals, family members, and friends who have helped me recover. Receiving this scholarship would provide funding for my education to obtain my clinical mental health counseling license, specializing in child and adolescent counseling. I plan to advocate for those who may be too young to advocate for themselves. Unfortunately, children's voices are often not heard or even dismissed. I will hear them, just as I needed to be heard. I commit to three primary directives: 1. To make mental healthcare accessible to everyone, 2. To educate and help families and children have a better life than I did, and 3. To practice and abide by the ACA code of ethics that guides counselors to the highest therapy standards. As I continue my journey in this crucial helping profession, I thank you for your consideration and time.

My experience with mental health has been central to the brief story of my life. I grew up with a father who was verbally and emotionally abusive and a mother who was emotionally unavailable because she sacrificed her mental and emotional health to protect my sister and me. Our home had an atmosphere of fear because of my father's volatility and anger. I spent much time hiding from my dad and raising myself and my sister. The trauma of my home life led to anxiety and social struggles at school. I had issues with my self-confidence, and looking back, I understand I was experiencing depression. I got bullied at school but took responsibility for it because that's what I learned at home. My life before I turned 18 years old felt like a dream! I didn't know in elementary school that I was bullied, that I had panic attacks at school, that feeling nervous all the time wasn't a universal experience, or that how my dad treated me was inappropriate. Knowledge and awareness are virtues that could have been life-changing for me when I was younger. Instead, I flew under the radar as a child victim of domestic abuse needing mental help. Isn't it tragic that my mother, my sister, and myself were trapped in ignorance for so long? And the thing is, there are those far less fortunate than I who remain trapped forever, whether by ignorance or otherwise. This is the primary reason I am studying to become a mental health counselor – to liberate those without the knowledge to free themselves, especially children. There is a great need for professionals who can interrupt the cycles of abuse and mental distress for children early in their lives. My sister, mother, and I needed professional help when we were young, but our lack of education kept us stuck. I seek a rigorous and comprehensive education to give me the skills and scholarship to relieve others. I believe God has given me the strength to overcome my challenges to serve others. On my journey of healing, I have found Him over and over, and I feel Him urging me to find others, too. Receiving this scholarship would provide funding for my education to obtain my clinical mental health counseling license, specializing in child and adolescent counseling. I plan to advocate for those who may be too young to advocate for themselves. Unfortunately, children's voices are often not heard or even dismissed. I will hear them, just as I needed to be heard. "But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 19:14

Mental health is critical to the wellness and success of my life, as it is for the lives of all people. Abraham Maslow was a motivational theorist who described the hierarchy of human needs (McLeod, 2018). In this hierarchy, psychological needs are placed before self-fulfillment or achievement of potential. Failure to meet psychological needs creates a barrier between an individual and their complete satisfaction and success. I grew up with a father who was verbally and emotionally abusive and a mother who was emotionally unavailable because she sacrificed her mental and emotional health to protect my sister and me. Our home had an atmosphere of fear because of my father's volatility and anger. I spent much time hiding from my dad and raising myself and my sister. The trauma of my home life led to anxiety and social struggles at school. I had issues with my self-confidence, and looking back, I understand I was experiencing depression. I got bullied at school but took responsibility for it because that's what I learned at home. My life before I turned 18 years old felt like a dream! I didn't know in elementary school that I was bullied, that I had panic attacks at school, that feeling nervous all the time wasn't a universal experience, or that how my dad treated me was inappropriate. Knowledge and awareness are virtues that could have been life-changing for me when I was younger. Instead, I flew under the radar as a child victim of domestic abuse needing mental help. Isn't it tragic that my mother, my sister, and myself were trapped in ignorance for so long? And the thing is, there are those far less fortunate than I who remain trapped forever, whether by ignorance or otherwise. This is the primary reason I am studying to become a counselor – to liberate those without the knowledge to free themselves, especially children. There is a great need for professionals who can interrupt the cycles of abuse and mental distress for children early in their lives. My sister, mother, and I needed professional help when we were very young, but our lack of education kept us stuck. I seek a rigorous and comprehensive education to give me the skills and scholarship to relieve others. I approach my well-being from a scientifically studied approach by Myers & Sweeney (2008), which indicates that wellness comprises different factors of the self: physical, essential, coping, social, and creative. Creative and social factors come pretty easily for me. I enjoy learning, framing bouquets, sewing, painting, music, and spending time with friends and family. Incorporating physical, essential, and coping factors into my daily life is more challenging. Recently, I began a tumbling class to increase activity in the physical component, returned to therapy for the coping part, and reengaged in my spirituality for the essential element. I have noticed a significant increase in my overall mental wellness and ability to handle stress! In conclusion, the intentional care of each individual's mental health is essential for the success and quality of life every person deserves. I am in the process of obtaining education and pursuing licensure as a clinical mental health counselor for the purpose of helping individuals receive the care they need. I hope to make mental health care more accessible and educate those around me on what it means to take care of their mental health. References: McLeod, S. (2018). Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Canada College. https://canadacollege.edu/dreamers/docs/Maslows-Hierarchy-of-Needs.pdf Myers, J. E., & Sweeney, T. J. (2008). Wellness Counseling: the Evidence Base for practice. Journal of Counseling and Development, 86(4), 482–493. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6678.2008.tb00536.x