Behavioral Health Personal Statement

I am applying to your Masters of Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. I have earned my undergraduate degree in Biblical Studies from Mount Vernon Nazarene University. During my time earning my undergraduate degree I also minored in psychology. I am motivated to earn this degree because of the experiences that I have had while growing up in a home with a workaholic father and a bed ridden mother. This childhood has inspired me to work with those who are struggling emotionally and are in need of guidance and assistance.

I have chosen to enter the field of Mental Health Counseling at this particular time in my life because I would like to learn the skills needed to help people with their life and mental health issues. While attending the University of Saint Joseph during my undergraduate years I took various courses that have led me to making my decision. The courses I took focused on business, biology, social work, and psychology. After graduation I decided to take a year off and gain work experience in customer service and health care. I wanted to experience working with the people in my community. I was hired as a pharmacy technician at a Walgreens in Vernon. Working as a pharmacy technician has been a very rewarding experience for me and I learned a lot about people and their unique needs. I also learned about patient care and how to be pacient and understanding under stressful situations.

My passion and determination to undertake study within the mental health sector dwells from the insight I have been privileged to gain in my current role as a link care coordinator, working with people who suffer from a range of ailments within the mental health spectrum; from learning disabilities, Alzheimer’s, Dementia, OCD, Autism to name but a few.

Pursing a career as a medical doctor is an opportunity for me to mentor youth in underserved populations. As a child, I was raised in the low income, urban community of Roxbury, MA. Although not as notorious today, the neighborhood had garnered negative attention for its high crime rates. My mother emigrated from Haiti and raised me as a single parent. Due to our financial circumstance, Roxbury became our permanent residence. I have always felt there was something lacking in Roxbury in comparison to other towns I visited. My teenage years were largely spent in the suburban town of Stoneham where I attended high school. There was a literal difference in air quality and a psychology contrast in future prospects. While native students of

There are few certainties of what one will encounter during life. A common joke names two: death and

I began my career in the behavioral healthcare field when I was nineteen years old. Years later, when discussing my initial interview with my supervisor, she remarked the reason why she hired me was due to a statement I made “I’m not looking for a job, I’m seeking to begin a career”. Today, over a decade later that statement still rings true as I seek to further my skills and education with a Doctorate in Behavioral Healthcare focusing in management. Integrative Behavioral Healthcare is a burgeoning field within a changing marketplace. Possessing an increased knowledge of the primary care system, enhanced medical understanding and techniques to integrate behavioral healthcare services at a program level, will provide a great advantage in the

As a working nurse on a behavioral health unit, I service many patients that are disadvantaged and/or vulnerable harm. There is a large population of people that are susceptible to developing illnesses and diseases. This population includes people who are: “educationally disadvantaged, economically disadvantaged, mentally disabled, handicapped, homeless, pregnant women, alcohol and substance abusers” (Henry, 2012, table 8). These people lack access to resources needed for medical care and everyday needs to sustain good health. In most cases the disadvantaged and vulnerable individuals lack daily hygiene, nutrition, sleep and physical activity. As stated in an article on the National Institute of Health (NIH) website:

In my current profession, as a Targeted Case Manager for the Mental Health Center, I work with a number of human services programs. Such as, Medicaid, Medicare, SSI, SSDI, TANF, WIC, HRDC, LIEAP, Housing Authority, OPA, Family Service, Salvation Army, Harvest Church and Chase Hawks. I am responsible for assisting, advocating and linking my clients to resources that enhance and stabilize their lifestyle. I assist my clients with paperwork, advocating with community agencies, applying for resources, maintaining their current benefits, and assisting in obtaining Social Security. Whether, that be the initial application, subsequent paperwork, attending the clients hearing, and/or linking them with a lawyer to assist in the appeals process.

I firmly believe in myself, in my capabilities, in my skills, in my character, and in my integrity. I also firmly believe in my abilities to achieve my educational and personal goals. I intend to achieve my goal of receiving Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling. I will pursue this area of study in college, focusing on the necessary course work.

I was intrigued by the profession of a Nurse at a young age. However, what truly sparked my interest in this thriving career was when a close friend of mine was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Ever since she was diagnosed I wanted to help to create an encouraging, loving and supporting environment around in her time of need and sorrow. Since then I have always been fascinated and interested by the scientific and academic side of nursing along with the caregiving duties of the profession. Because of this, it has lead me to study Level 3 Health and Social Care programme. I am particularly enjoying my Level 3 Health and Social Care programme as it allowed me to carry out the theoretical side of my course in a real life environment as I have a work placement with a care agency. Now I am striving to further my knowledge and proficiencies through taking a university level course in Nursing.

When I was fourteen years old I made a very hard decision to move across the world, away from my loved ones so I could follow my passion and learn English. My love for English started in first grade when my parents signed me up for private English lessons. At first I was not too happy about it, because I was already enrolled in music school, which included: piano lessons, rhythmic class and choir. Since day one I fell in love with English. I could not wait for the next class so I could learn more. Music school on the other hand was a different story, I disliked it and wanted to quit. My parents would not allow me to quit so they made me a deal, if I graduate from music school (eight years) they would take me on a trip to the United States so I could use the skills I have learned in my classes. I said deal! I was a very busy little girl. I had no time for friends, but all I could picture was my trip to the US. My

I am currently a sophomore working towards a Psychology and Biology degree on a pre-health track. Following these degrees, I plan on attending medical school. Although I have not yet decided on a specialty I feel involvement in different disciplines will help me come to a decision. Having the opportunity to participate in a research lab will help me succeed in the direction I am headed towards through gaining exposure and insight on what a lab entails. Although I have not yet had experience in lab research I am eager to join one, especially one involving ADHD.

My mother taught me that a key factor to being successful is having the right tools for the job. I learned what that meant to me in my early years at Southern Illinois University. Growing up, I was challenged by Dyslexia. A disability that made school difficult. Until college, I found ways around it.

Through the last two years as a student at Manchester Community College, I have been able to experience numerous classes and meet wonderful professors. In my first semester of college, I decide to take a general psychology class with Dr. Francine Rosselli-Navarra. She taught me that psychology is a science, which studies our minds and behaviors. After that class I knew that I did not just want to study the physical feature of the brain and the brain process, but how the interactions with and within our brains that produce our cognitive functions. After completing that psychology class I realized that I did not wish to be a biology major anymore, instead I wished to study in the field of Neuroscience, which is a combination of both biology and psychology.

In our lives, we have to make important choices, and sometimes our choices determine our happiness or sadness. As a Filipino, our families tell us to do well in school and to not make bad choices because they want us to be successful and to have ethical morals. Growing up as a Catholic, I was taught to be obedient and respectful to my family which has shaped who I am today. Yet, I too made some mistakes, and I learned from the consequences. From my failures, I learned to not belittle myself, but to grow.