THEN: On the outside, everything looked fine. On the inside, it felt like I was dying.
After enduring a series of traumatic events as a child, I attempted to fill my emotional voids in a variety of unhealthy ways, including drugs and alcohol, binging and purging, cutting and other self-harming behaviors, ultimately leading to severe depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts as a teen and young adult.
Hiding behind academic achievements, I earned my Bachelors Degree in early childhood education and a Masters Degree in Montessori education before teaching Kindergarten for 12 years.
While working with 5- and 6-year-old children in the classroom on a daily basis, I found it easy to recognize the signs of a student in crisis, and then implement emotional supports to help him/her cope and overcome.
Each year however, I observed more and more students suffering from what appeared to be early signs of stress and trauma, negatively impacting the child’s social skills, emotional resilience and academic performance.
NOW: I’m a mental health activist delivering messages of hope and healing to those who are hurting.
Desperately searching for ways to help young children find purpose and passion to increase their self-esteem, I resigned from teaching in 2012 to create Giving Families and its Good Mail Challenges.
After presenting “Helping Our Littlest Helpers” at TEDx in 2014, I was invited to share my personal experiences with mental health and addiction -as well as the healing power I’ve experienced from helping others- with teens at a local high school.
Now I deliver messages of hope and healing to those who are hurting, no matter their age or stage in life. To learn more about the presentations and workshops I offer, click here.
To access a copy of my printable bio, please click here.