Eight years ago was my first day at Round Rock ISD. I had always wanted to work in K-12 education and was amazed I finally had a chance. My job? Grant coordinator. I was so excited and yet so scared at the same time. I knew it was my next step in my career but…

Haven’t always been this wayI wasn’t born a renegadeI felt alone, still feel afraidI stumble through it anyway I wish someone would have told me that this life is ours to chooseNo one’s handing you the keys or a book with all the rulesThe little that I know I’ll tell to youWhen they dress you…

Dear Dr. Rachel Martin, Today is the day you defended your dissertation. A day that seems like it would never come. A day you have looked to with excitement, anxiety, hesitation, stress.  A day many think is the pinnacle of all the work you have done. A few days ago, you asked me if I…

Today, I had the honor of doing a virtual presentation for a large company. I had originally been connected with them through my work with AFSP, but today they asked me to speak on Women and Mental Health; We need boundaries… and boy did I need to hear my own words. The presentation started with…

I pride myself on living authentically… I don’t pretend and I write off anyone who is not authentic. Too much of life is filled with those who are pretending to be something they are not. Social media and the prevalence of our lives being online only increase the rate of which people stop truly being…

Dear Governor Abbott, I couldn’t help but see your tweet last week: Clearly money is not an issue for the state of Texas at this time… which for someone who works in mental health and education, I am excited to hear…. I am less excited to hear that your only thought is to cut taxes…

For some reason today, I can’t stop listening to the song, Try Everything. It has been on repeat for majority of today… I won’t give upNo, I won’t give in ’til I reach the endThen I’ll start againNo, I won’t leaveI wanna try everythingI wanna try even though I could fail When I got home…

I think it was my 13th birthday. We were having dinner at County Line in Lubbock ( my favorite place to eat). My mom and dad gave me a pearl and diamond necklace. I loved it. It was beyond special to me and I reserved wearing it for special occasions…. I haven’t thought about this…

When it is 1998 and your mom dies by suicide, you really don’t have much time to think. You definitely don’t have time to thoughtfully consider what you want her obituary to say. You go along with the standard because anything more would leave you paralyzed and unable to take a step forward. The guilt,…

Ever since my mom killed herself the day after my 19 birthday in 1998, my birthday has been complicated. I go from wanting to fully embrace the day to hide under a rock. I anticipate the conflicting emotions each year and no matter how much I prepare, I struggle. As much as I try to…