From Mental Illness Advocate to Summa Cum Laude Psychology Graduate: A Journey with Kids Minds Matter

She has always been passionate about helping others, especially those struggling with mental health issues. This led her to pursue a degree in psychology, which she completed with honors in 2022. As an advocate, her primary goal is to destigmatize conversations about mental health by sharing her personal experience with mental illness and offering mental health education to various audiences.

Her journey with Kids Minds Matter began while she was completing her associate’s degree at Florida SouthWestern College in 2020. She volunteered with the organization and later continued her involvement as a behavioral health intern at FGCU, where she helped organize events aimed at raising awareness about mental health. Through these experiences, she gained valuable knowledge and skills that have equipped her to further her advocacy work.

Now, having graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, she sees her degree as a stepping stone to making a positive impact in spreading awareness and understanding about mental health challenges. Prior to college, she was unaware that being a mental health advocate was a viable option, but now she hopes to utilize her degree to provide mental health education and destigmatize conversations about mental illness.