I love to connect with people and understand their experiences and views, as I believe the more we understand each other, the better the world can be. This has taken me to different areas in life and work, such as customer service, teaching, hospitality, volunteering (usually with art/animal and mental health-focused non-profits), and now into the health industry. All these areas taught me tremendous lessons, which I now have the honour of converging to provide person-centered and trauma-informed mental health care as a Mental Health Nurse and Psychology student. Born and raised in the English countryside, I longed to travel the world so I could meet new people, hear their stories, and understand all the different cultures. This longing has taken me to many corners of the earth and taught me the importance of empathy, connection, and non-verbal communication. These lessons are fundamental to my values and resonate within my practice. So where did I go? At 23, I taught Nature specialism in America, self-funding my travels across the country via boat, plane, bus, and train. At 26, I flew across the world and taught English in China, funding my travels across Hong Kong and Japan. Despite mental and physical fatigue, minimal resources, and limited income, I was able to see some of the greatest wonders our world has to offer and make unshakeable human connections. When I have a goal, no matter how the odds are stacked against me, I ensure I not only reach it, but I thrive. I graduated with my first degree at 25, this taught me the importance of standing with our voice and representing those whose voices are silenced. These lessons carried across to my work with the University through several societies and events, centered around representation, communication, and equality. All this drew me towards a purpose that I couldn’t quite place. At 27, I placed this purpose, the purpose of helping people through Mental Health Nursing. I got into my dream university and was given the tremendous honour of winning the Student Nursing Times Award for Mental Health Nursing Student of the Year 2022. I am now studying for a Postgraduate in Psychology to further build on this knowledge. My goal now is to take from these rich experiences and knowledge to help those who need it. To lend strength, kindness, compassion, and courage to those who are unable to pull from their own. So if you want to talk about the industry, discuss career prospects or have a natter about how I once was robbed by a snow monkey for a loaf of bread in a snowstorm, drop an email my way.