Given enough time and continued personal growth, I aspire to become a peer support specialist or crisis intervention counselor. Further down the line, maybe even become a therapist and share the insights I’ve gleaned from my own recovery journey.

Although I’m still relatively early in my own recovery, I strive to inspire others by being a beacon of light in their lives. I aim to show compassion to everyone I meet, hoping they will soon be able to extend that same loving kindness to themselves. Admittedly, I’m still working on becoming more compassionate with myself, but that remains an ongoing process.

Currently, I am actively working on recovering from an eating disorder, self-harm, and substance abuse issues. I have also struggled with depression and anxiety for many years due to complex childhood trauma. I share this openly because I want you to know that you are not alone in this fight. I understand the hopelessness, the darkness, and the desire to give up. As a survivor of child sexual, emotional, and verbal abuse from my late father, I’m reminded daily of an important truth, one that I will now also share with you:

Every day we live, we are taking back a day they thought were theirs. Collectively, we are using our voices to ensure their labels do not define us. The truth is, they don’t. We are more than their opinions and more than the product of their actions. It is time we remember our worthiness, our lovability, and our importance. We are deserving of wonderful things.