Enrolling in college was one way for me to break the cycle of poverty and addiction in my family. I am about to start my senior year of a bachelor’s degree program in mental health and human services (MHHS) at the University of Maine at Augusta (UMA). I feel passionate about helping people who are going through similar situations that I once did.

I have struggled with substance use disorder and mental illness for most of my life. I have battled homelessness and incarceration and was a single parent until recently. My husband, Patrick, was released from prison one month ago and we are living in housing of our own, working, and enrolled in school full time.

At first, I worried I wouldn’t do well in my classes, because I was not a good student in high school. But I have a 3.9 grade point average, and I am achieving things I never thought possible.

I really enjoy my classes. I can usually skim a textbook and get the information I need, but I recently took Fundamentals of Psychopathology, a class on mood and personality disorders, and I’m enjoying it so much that I’m reading and re-reading the textbook!

The GEN Scholarship I received is greatly helping me attain my goals because I can focus on my education instead of having to either work as much as possible while attending school or take out loans to survive.

Before I started at UMA, I worked as a Dunkin manager. When I had my daughter, I decided to pursue my education. I’ve been working as a nanny, caring for a friend’s son, since he was an infant. I can bring my daughter to work with me and the kids play together. Being a mom and a nanny is rewarding, and both give me the opportunity to see developmental changes in kids in real time. I didn’t know I wanted to be a child psychologist, but that is my plan.

At the start of my MHHS program, I earned my SART (Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Technician) Certificate. I plan to work using that certification while I pursue my Master of Social Work (MSW) degree next.

When I was younger, I didn’t value myself. Believing in myself has been really important.

Having been on the consumer side of mental health services for most of my life, I know that it is a career field that desperately needs qualified workers. I want to be on the helping side–to bring hope to people who think their mental health or difficult circumstances will always rule their lives.