I began my journey with Mental Health Partnerships when I received sponsorship from DHBIS to undergo certified peer specialist training. After that, I took part in their practicum program, which offered me additional training, guidance, and support for my career development. At that point, I struggled to envision what a career as a Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) would entail in the real world. The practicum experience helped me bridge the gap by contextualizing the skills I had been working on, showing me how they could be applied beyond the program.

The knowledge and skills I've acquired have had a positive impact not only on my professional life but also on my personal life. I frequently find myself teaching techniques to help my family and friends cope with their mental health and emotional well-being.

I've even incorporated these skills into my interactions with my seven-year-old daughter. Like most seven-year-olds, she experiences frequent agitation, and being able to explain the concept of wellness tools to her has been transformative. Together, we've established a practice where we not only discuss her feelings but will then write them down and place them in a box we crafted together. Later, we revisit these emotions to have more meaningful conversations about them.