My “Why”
When I reflect on the exact moment when I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in the mental health field, I am brought back to a night spent on the quad of Miami University during a pre-college program in the summer of 2021. Sitting cross-legged in a circle, we were able to create a safe space in which we felt vulnerable enough to share our struggles and secrets. We were strangers, and yet, we were able to create an environment of empathy so easily. My undergraduate experience has only fueled this fascination. A major in psychology coupled with a minor in creative writing has allowed me to explore the metaphorical capacity of the arts to facilitate stress relief and community healing. When I write a poem, I enter a state of flow that not only allows me to de-stress, but also express myself in ways that I cannot do verbally. Considering this, I was driven to show others what this feeling is like and how they can implement it as a daily habit.