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Before I discovered my passion for therapy and helping others most of my days were spent outdoors playing sports. It began with soccer at the age of 4 where I progressed from recreational to travel soccer over the course of 11 years. After that, I began running in track and field and cross country in high school. I was fortunate enough to run at the varsity level in track and eventually competed in three years of varsity-level pole vault. Even though my running days are long behind me, those years allowed me to learn countless lessons that set the stage for the competitive attitude I take toward the goals I want to achieve.

My interest in psychology hasn’t been lifelong but rather a passion that began as I needed help. As I began to recognize my anxiety through speaking with my high school counselor, he introduced me to the idea of doing this for others. When I started learning more about psychology in college, it only confirmed that therapy was what I wanted to do. After moving to Fayetteville Arkansas my junior year of college, I started a job at a PRTF suited to the needs of adolescent girls who have been affected by trauma. It’s difficult to describe the impact working right next to these girls had. I learned firsthand the effects of neglect, abuse, addiction, depression, anxiety, and so much more. But, through that difficult learning process, I also learned how to be empathetic, respectful, and compassionate to all the residents I interacted with.

My goal for the future is to obtain my Master’s and license in Clinical Counseling in hopes of continuing to learn how to become an even better communicator to those who need it and one day become the counselor for others like I needed at that important time in my life.