Sharing my relationship with mental health has been one of the most challenging yet rewarding journeys of my life. Through my experiences, I learned that vulnerability is not a weakness it is a bridge. A bridge that allows us to connect, heal, and remind one another that we are not alone.

Serving as an 8th-grade classroom mentor with the Girls Empowerment Network has been especially meaningful to me. Walking alongside young girls during such formative years has reinforced my belief that our hardships are not meant to be carried in silence. Often, we go through difficult seasons not just to survive them, but to one day speak about them, so someone else feels seen, understood, and less alone.

My academic background has given me a deeper understanding of the complexities of the human mind, and I am a strong advocate for counseling and professional mental health support. Seeking help is an act of strength, not failure. You do not have to navigate life’s challenges by yourself.

If you take anything from this space, let it be this: your presence matters. Your story matters. And the world is undeniably better with you in it.

"Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly." 

— Barbara Haines Howett