I have never critically analyzed the origins of my world views. As I begin my pursuit as a social worker, I was asked to reflect on my cultural background. Growing up in white suburban and rural areas, and attending private Catholic schools I grew up in a bubble where I noticed differences in my life but did not see inequalities for what they were. As a history major in college I studied areas that I had little understanding of such as, Eastern European, African and Asian civilizations. What I learned in college outside the usual American and Western history lessons, was that I began to notice cultural differences. My bubble was not pierced until I experienced living with a mental health condition and struggling in my early young adult life, I felt the disparities around me. I was self-medicating, getting into legal trouble, bouncing in and out of mental health hospitals. My eyes were opened to the inequalities, stereotypes and discrimination in our society. As I struggled to recover and find my way through, I began to volunteer and later employed by mental health non-profits, such as NAMI, National Alliance on Mental Illness. One of my first jobs was working at a mental health clinic, where there was a day program. I met people with severe mental health conditions like myself, who were homeless, had developmental disabilities, had no support other than the program. I didn’t know what trajectory I would land but knew then that I wanted to help myself and others who had severe mental health diagnoses. I met my spouse, a military service member and we had two girls together. We came to Florida where he retired, and I continued to work in mental health. I transitioned to working in child welfare, where the prejudices and systemic discrimination was even more prevalent. Beginning my social work journey, I have the intent to help others professionally without judgement and to break down these stereotypes. I am now more self aware and constantly hope to challenge myself to grow.

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