Kids diagnosis led me to psychology by Mariah

Kids diagnosis led me to psychology by Mariah - February 2024 Scholarship Essay

My children are my world. I have two daughters. As any parent can attest to raising children is not always easy. Unfortunately, both of my daughters have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and dyslexia. Having kids with ADHD and dyslexia have presented unique challenges for my husband and myself.
These neurodevelopmental disorders can significantly impact various aspects of a child's life, including academic performance, social interactions, and overall well-being if left untreated. My oldest daughter was struggling in school for a long time. She couldn’t read and was so far behind her classmates. As I watched her I began to suspect that she had dyslexia to some extent. My mother had dyslexia, so I knew the signs. Such as switching similar letters such as D and B, reversing words and having memory issues. I brought it up to the school and they refused to do anything for her without an official diagnosis plus they were convinced that she would grow out of it. I started the long fight with my insurance to get my child evaluated. The evaluation turned out to be a long four-hour test. My heart hurt for her, knowing this was going to be a struggle.
In the end it turned out my daughter had severe Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and severe dyslexia. This diagnosis was a bit of a relief. There is no worse feeling than knowing your child is suffering and having no clue why or how to help them. With the diagnoses we were able to go to the school and receive accommodations, and support from the school staff that they had been unwilling to offer beforehand.
This experience with my children made me realize that I would like to be able to help families of children who are struggling with mental and behavioral issues. These issues would range from individuals, struggling with autism, ADHD, PTSD, and many more issues. Having two children with severe ADHD I have become quite passionate about teaching individuals to not let their mental health struggles run their lives. Mental health challenges can be difficult, they do not justify mistreating others or engaging in negative behavior.
I want to help children understand that they can seek help and develop coping strategies to manage their struggles without using their struggles as excuses. Instead I want to help them recognize the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. I plan to teach children effective problem-solving skills to deal with their challenges constructively. I want to encourage the children to find alternative ways to manage their emotions or seek support when needed. Helping them understand that there are healthier ways to cope with their struggles rather than resorting to poor behavior.
I want to create a safe and non-judgmental environment where children feel comfortable discussing their mental health struggles. Encourage them to express their emotions and thoughts freely. This will help them understand that their struggles are valid, but they still need to take responsibility for their actions. I want to allow children to understand their mental health struggles are nothing to be ashamed of, instead it makes them unique and special.
One way I would like to help families and individuals is by guiding them to access community programs. This would be in addition to receive in counseling for the child and family. In order to do this effectively, I would need to research these support groups so that I would be able to offer the best advice I can. I know firsthand how effective these support groups can be. These support groups can offer new perspectives and coping mechanisms that may be able to help the child and family. For many just knowing that others have gone through the same struggles that they are going through makes the struggle that much easier.
My education goals are going to help me in the future as it will teach me how to best help the children and families that I work with. I will be able to learn the best strategies and theories that would be best for different mental issues. Studying psychology will also help me develop growth in interpersonal skills, such as compassion, empathy and communication. These skills will help me work with my future clients.