A Source of Solace: My Journey to Becoming a Therapist by Tara

A Source of Solace: My Journey to Becoming a Therapist by Tara - March 2025 Scholarship Essay

One in five adults in the U.S experiences some sort of mental illness each year; and that’s only the people we were able to get data of. I’m only in High School and I already know countless students that go through mental health issues along with their stories of horrible therapist interactions. There is no doubt that our generation is going through a mental health crisis and that there’s a significant shortage in mental health field workers. In 10 years from now, I hope to be an exceptional and well-known therapist in my community, using my education to bring hope where it’s needed most.
I don’t hope to make a change or a difference in society–I want to and I will. I don’t care that I seem unrealistic or too ambitious, people’s lives are at stake and that’s something I genuinely care about. I have witnessed many sensitive things from a young age, and all I can say is that it starts as early as elementary school. Innocent young children have to worry about things they shouldn't even have to know about. Why? Why is this? Have we failed this bad as a society? Whatever it is, I want to contribute to healing people; young or old; man or woman; it does not matter. Being my friend group’s therapist is just simply not enough. I want a bigger audience, and to do that, my first step is education.
I plan to get a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and then work up towards a master’s degree so that I can finally study my passion and get on the road toward my dream career. The truth is, mental health is not an easy breezy field to get into. If I’m going to make my dream come true, I really have to put in effort and hard work into my education. Because a master’s degree is required, education will be my primary support in becoming a therapist in 10 years.
When I was a little girl, I used to comfort my friends in any way I could–and I loved it. I am proud to say that I’m the shoulder people seek to lean on when they need a listening ear. I mean it when I say I want to do that for the rest of my life. I’ve had my fair share of battles and each time I came out stronger, whether it's being evicted from our home or losing my pets, I still found courage to keep pushing. To give up is to let my younger self down. I used to seek reassurance in my future self when I was younger, asking if I ended up okay. I want to prove to her that she’ll flourish and help people with the same problems as her when she grows up.
I’ve learned to see these obstacles as growth; as stories to tell to empower my future clients. I’m going to make the most out of my education so that I can be the source of solace I’ve always wanted to be. My parents came to America in search of a better future, struggling so that I can have the opportunities they didn’t have growing up. In 10 years, I will make the most out of my parent’s sacrifice by healing others and alleviating mental suffering. I’ll prove that their struggles did not go in vain by prioritizing education in the upcoming years of my life and becoming a therapist. I look forward to making my own little office–filled with calming plants, comfortable furniture, soft lighting and a therapist badge on my chest.