This is me five and a half years ago. When I was in undergrad working on my BA in counseling, I dealt with imposter syndrome almost constantly. I chose to pursue that degree over a fashion because of my passion for psychology and my personal experience with mental illnesses, but I was so worried that my struggle would disqualify me.
I wish I could go back in time and tell younger me that better psychiatric care would make a world of difference, and that therapy and a strong social network would be some of the other important supports in my life.
I recognize the many difficulties in accessing good psychiatric and psychological care, but if I can provide a word of hope, it would be that mental illnesses do not automatically disqualify you from your dreams.
When I took this picture, I never could have imagined that 5 years later I would be in my 4th year of a PsyD program. It hasn’t always been an easy road academically or in managing my mental health, but I am doing what I need to take care of my mental health and proud of how far I’ve come in pursuing my goals. I’m excited to work toward making mental health care more equitable and accessible in my career.
Happy world mental health day!
