After graduating from a liberal arts university with a double major in psychology and philosophy, I became a barista at Barnes and Noble and later Starbucks. In this time, more than anything I learned how to be a critical, efficient, and quick thinker and how to relate to others to achieve effective results. My background of growing up with a minimally impactful but very obvious neurobiological condition in Tourette's Disorder lent me an enhanced understanding of how people can struggle when they feel they are different and what they tend to need in support. Given this insight, I knew that I wanted to use that skill to begin helping people. This led me to Signal Centers, where I had the opportunity to engage in providing services to clients of all ages with disabilities from our community.The following year, I began work toward a Master's Degree in Counseling. In this time, I was able to provide counseling during practicum to the Collegedale community and students of the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga at no charge. Now, I am ready to begin my professional journey outside this learning institution and do good for the real world.I am skilled in listening and understanding a need, difficulty, or feeling the first time and responding with a creative and lasting solution that can be implemented consistently. I enjoy building professional relationships that are friendly and enriching to those involved. I am a constant learner and picking up new strategies all the time.