"I grew up in a military town in North Carolina, leaving for Virginia in my early 20s. Growing up in a military town introduced me to many different cultures, people and ideas that were different from what I knew in my own family. I’ve always found learning very interesting, and these different ways of life were also fun for me to learn. I find that this still shows up in adulthood, and is a factor in finding myself pursuing a career in mental health. My experience with mental health began with my own personal struggles, with significant events occurring around the time I was deciding what kind of education to pursue. This led me to experiences including ABA therapy moving into mental health counseling down the line. In working in mental health, I often find myself working with a population that differs from my own, whether that’s race, age, gender or mental health issues, and I find that my upbringing has been helpful in showing both curiosity and respect to these differences. When I am not working, I enjoy spending time cuddled up with my cat and finding new shows to watch. I also enjoy cooking and baking, and finding new places to go out and have a good meal or cup of coffee. I also enjoy playing video games in my downtime, with some of my biggest time killers being The Sims, Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing. Despite sounding like a homebody, I do enjoy going out to try a new activity and spend time with my friends and family."