As I wrap up my time as Storyteller in Residence, I step back and reflect on the times I attended the S.W.A.T. (Spreading Wellness Around Town) Youth Council here in Monroe County and the impact it had even ’til this day.
At 15 years old, I was transitioning back home from a residential treatment facility. I had no idea how my life would be once back home. I didn’t know if my family would understand my new awareness and change. Would they would judge me because I was partaking in “services”?
Even more, what truly turned my gut was school. I wondered if my friends even knew what had happened to me, and if there would be a trauma-informed, trusted adult ally that would know I was in the middle of a transition and support me.
In the end, my family welcomed me, my friends had moved on to other schools or dropped out, and school staff had no idea I existed. It was the S.W.A.T. Youth Council, who kept me grounded and connected to my community during – and after – my discharge.
To be completely honest, in the beginning, I didn’t really want to attend the meetings, but I had already verbally committed. Surprisingly to me, though, even on my first day, S.W.A.T. helped me feel as though I was an important component of something. Apparently, my voice mattered. Our youth engagement specialist, Jerard Johnson, would say things like “systems change “and that “youth at the table mattered.” Terms like “coping skills” and “trauma-informed,” “family-focused,” “youth-guided”.
I had no idea what all that meant, yet somehow, unaware of the meaning and impact of it all, we clearly felt the intention. Words of impact had heavy weight when understood and applied appropriately.
Having the privilege of getting aligned with the right people at the right time saved me from going back to the previous patterns sooner than expected. Every meeting helped me grow out of my shell. I met other youth who had similar circumstances and without judgment we built rapport. We practiced self-advocacy, public speaking, and, above all, empathy. I was surrounded by people who championed youth voices and leadership skills; who were trauma-informed and, for the most part, culturally competent. Adult allies who guided me and opened doors I would have never seen.
It is no secret that I am an artist – anyone can tell you that.
Yet it was because of S.W.A.T. that I attended the 2008 National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health Conference
and entered my first art competition. They believed in my artistic expression and encouraged me to enter the 2008 conference art poster contest.
I entered my artwork, titled “hope,” without expectations whatsoever – and WON. It’s still amazes me! At 15 years old, my first $500 ever!
I remember hearing my first name, then hearing my last name butchered. Realizing I won, I soon felt self-conscious and overwhelmed.
There were people I did not know congratulating me. Not to mention, I was struggling with a bad hair day I had hoped would go unnoticed.
One of them took a picture of me and asked, “What do you plan to do with the $500? My response was simple: “Buy more art supplies.”
Even before I learned the correct terminology, I cannot express enough how art has always been my coping mechanism and Mirror-Writing my coping strategy.
When my heart, mind, and spirit were chained, my voice felt weak. The shape, colors, and opposite attractions spoke for me.
As a child I understood the dance of words; how they can make or break someone, how they motivate, trigger, and inspire.
It took a while, due to self-doubting my talent, but nearly 17 years later, after winning the National Federations for Children’s Mental Health Poster contest,
I’ve honed and united my coping skills to create SINBoundaries ARTWORK. Free of expectations and judgment, I got rid of the idea of perfectionism,
took a dark moment in life, and triggered an epiphany.
My professional journey and lived experience gave shape to mirror-writing-art. I choose to be trauma-informed and culturally competent
in all aspects of my life, including my essence. The end goal is to inspire and spread “hope” via every canvas. Because as you may know,
life may answer questions via reflections…
Today, I reflect on a youth’s Odyssey. Emphasizing that growth is non-linear. Highlighting the importance of being surrounded by people
who encourage and take the time to pull you into a zone of growth. As I wrap up my time as a Storyteller in Residence for the TINRC, I just want to
formally say THANK YOU to each and every person who was part of that journey. Especially those who helped me get art supplies! It never went unnoticed.
Thank you.
The NYS TINRC ENews is produced by CCSI. The views, opinions, and content expressed in this article do not necessarily
reflect the views, opinions, or policies of the New York State Office of Mental Health (NYS OMH).
