Personal Statement

At four years old, I experienced homelessness for the first, but not last time in my life. My mother made a game out of the situation for my brother and me by saying we were just on a new adventure. Thirteen years later, my mother was the program director of that same homeless shelter. I grew up in poverty, but also with a role model who taught me that if I could not give to my community monetarily, I could give my time. Being personally affected by addiction, I have been involved in service to the recovery community for almost three years, serving in multiple capacities that conduct outreach and try to maintain personal connections during this period of isolation. Being of service gives me a sense of purpose and fulfillment. My goal for the future is to complete my Doctorate in Psychology with a focus on trauma. While I will always be engaged in on-the-ground service to my community, I feel that by doing research on generational trauma, I can serve a larger community. I want to see under-served communities get the necessary help, and I will dedicate my life to meeting that need.