From Personal to Professional: My Journey to Further Education by Bree

From Personal to Professional: My Journey to Further Education by Bree - April 2024 Scholarship Essay

Dear Varsity Tutors College Scholarship Committee,

My name is Bree Rust and I am a rising first-year graduate student at Richmont Graduate University, pursuing my master’s in counseling. The motivation to further my education and stay focused on my goals comes from my life experiences and the need for understanding providers. Throughout my high school years I was focused on medical classes- convinced that I wanted to be a nurse or doctor. During this time I began to deal with my mental health, and the mental health of those around me. I learned very quickly how addiction can obliterate someone’s life by having someone close to me experience it. Looking back, it seems that I always wanted to help those who felt mental distress. After taking my first psychology course in high school I knew that I did not want to be a nurse anymore.
While completing my Bachelor’s at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga I became very interested in psychological research. I joined Dr. Ashley Howell’s research lab, which looks into anxiety-related symptoms and trauma. From participating in research studies and lab work, I was not only trying to understand the psychology of others, but also myself. The symptomatology that I experienced affected all aspects of my life- relationships, school, and work. Due to this I realized that I needed to reach out to professionals for help. This decision not only saved my life, but allowed me to grow professionally, mentally, and spiritually. By doing this, I have been able to continuously work on myself and recognize my symptoms as they occur. Despite my growth, I have to work every day on my mental health to ensure personal growth.
My professional and academic goal is to provide one on one therapy care to clients that showcase a variety of clinically termed “serious” mental health symptoms/illnesses. I plan to ensure this by completing my master’s in counseling through Richmont Graduate University. Along with this, I intend to pursue a doctorate in Clinical Psychology later in my professional career. Moreover, I seek to work with clients who are typically underrepresented in therapy or psychological services. This can include groups based on mental health status or diagnosis, socioeconomic status, geographic location limitations, race and/or ethnicity, and gender or sexual orientation. Primarily, my interests fall upon issues such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Psychotic Disorders, Personality Disorders, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, and Complex PTSD.
Currently, I am working at Elevate Behavior Services as a behavioral therapist. Elevate Behavior is a private practice ABA clinic that helps children with various developmental disabilities/issues. This job has also allowed me to work with those who are prone to become aggressive and create more intense situations than others. Having this experience has trained me on how to ensure client and provider safety within escalated moments. It has also helped me grow by recognizing when my triggers come up and developing appropriate coping strategies when working while stressed. Working with a wide range of clients with behavioral issues has allowed me to be more empathetic for all types of clients.
My motivation for staying focused on my goals has come from not only my experiences but also the reality of social understanding on mental illnesses. Most mental health diagnoses have stigmas and stereotypes that persist even throughout psychological circles. These harmful narratives can keep those suffering from an intense disorder out of treatment for fear of rejection or shame, from not only the rest of society but also providers. This has consistently motivated me on my goals and staying focused on obtaining them, as providers who want to work exclusively with those who are termed “serious” is uncommon.
My experiences have led me to develop a passion for helping those in need of mental health services. My background has guided me to always keep an open mind and heart when a friend, family member, or client tells me something they deem important. The motivation I have found throughout my life has come naturally to me from myself and those around. Thus, my lifelong goal is to create hope for those who feel hopeless and bring an end to fear and shame.