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Anxiety to Advocacy

A Mental Health Story

By Arianna Silcott-Lo, MBAPublished 12 months ago 3 min read
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Anxiety to Advocacy
Photo by Tingey Injury Law Firm on Unsplash

Jasmine's formative years were a constant state of alertness due to the tough environment they lived in. She was impoverished, and her family couldn't access basic needs like security, food, or even good education. In such an environment where chaos was the order of the day, focusing on education was daunting but important for Jasmine's mental well-being.

Despite these challenges, Jasmine never lost sight of her dreams. She knew that education was the key to breaking the cycle of poverty and wanted to become a lawyer to help people who shared similar struggles. Jasmine worked hard in school, studying days in and days out, and eventually went on to college. It wasn't easy, but she refused to let her circumstances define her. In college, she worked three and four jobs to make ends meet. She worked to pay for college courses and her room and board since her mother could afford it.

After college, Jasmine decided to pursue a career in law. She wanted to help people going through similar struggles as she did. She knew firsthand how difficult it was to navigate the legal system when you didn't have the resources or knowledge to do so. She continued to watch and learn how the judicial system worked and how unfair it was to children of color. She saw that there were limited resources, and the system wasn't designed to help children remain safe and thrive in rough households.

Jasmine worked tirelessly to become the best lawyer she could be. She spent countless hours reading and studying, eventually taking on pro bono cases to gain experience. Her passion for helping others drove her to succeed, even when things seemed impossible.

Over time, Jasmine became known as one of the most talented lawyers in the country, specializing in child welfare cases. She used her expertise to fight for children who were victims of abuse or neglect. Her clients loved her for her compassion and dedication, and she quickly gained a reputation for being a fierce advocate for justice.

Despite the challenges she faced, Jasmine struggled with anxiety and depression, making getting through school more difficult. Living in a tough neighborhood and growing up in poverty had affected her mental health. However, she knew she needed help and reached out to a therapist who helped her work through her issues and develop coping strategies to manage her anxiety and depression.

With the support of her therapist, Jasmine continued to thrive in her career. She took on more and more challenging cases, and her reputation grew stronger. Her work made a real difference in the lives of countless children and families.

Jasmine's success inspired others from similar backgrounds to pursue their dreams. She would then develop an accelerated program for people like her where they could come and practice their cases, and she became a role model for young people who felt they had no hope or opportunity. She showed them that with hard work and determination, anything was possible.

Years later, Jasmine looked back on her life with pride. She had overcome so many obstacles to become the person she was today. She was grateful for the people who had helped her along the way and the strength and resilience she had gained through her struggles.

Jasmine's incredible tale underscores just how powerful determination can be - especially when paired with seeking help from others when necessary. By paving the way to being an example herself, Jasmine's accomplishments proved inspiring not only those like herself but also teaching people the importance of hard work and determination towards achieving their goals against any obstacles.

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About the Creator

Arianna Silcott-Lo, MBA

Just a Doctoral Student & Writer trying to help better the world through my thoughts and skills.

Instagram: @becomingdrlo

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