Mental Health Stories | Kevyn Tapia

Video Credit: Kevyn Tapia

What is your story?

I was always the kid in the background from as early as elementary school. A lack of perception, intimacy, and real friends led me to close myself into a bubble. Despite having everything a kid needs, something was always missing inside me, and it definitely wasn't food because I had a lot of that as a kid. My self esteem and pride was pretty low, and I simply didn't know who I was as a human being. I would spend most of my time in bed, scrolling through social media, watching adult content, experimenting with drugs, and hiding my pain through laughter. At every opportunity I would distract myself from "the truth". That was until one day my being could no longer handle the internal chaos I was facing. This led me to have a spiritual awakening and realize that there was more than my existence. The stories I told myself, and the image I attached to who I was. At long last, I could see hope in the horizon. Today, I still have my struggles, but I owe everything to what I went through because without it I wouldn't be me.

How has your story impacted who you are today?

My story led me to speak to a camera. I created my own YouTube channel (Kevo Nobody) to share my story with the kids like me. As someone who understands what most will go through growing up, I speak on the behalf of my experiences to reflect back onto those that need to know things will be okay. It has inspired me to better myself as a human, not only for myself, but to cause the same ripple effect on others.

What has your mental health journey looked like?

My mental health journey started off with meditation. The first time I paused to listen to my inner voice shocked me, I could finally inner-stand that nothing was wrong with me, I was just lost. I then began to frequently exercise and eat healthier, which boosted my mood. As for speaking to a camera, I found it to be the most effective and therapeutic thing I have ever done. Recording my words and rewatching them is like a stream of consciousness that allows me to see and comprehend my thoughts or issues.

What encouragement would you give to someone who shares a similar story?

The encouragement I would give to someone is to find what drives your heart insane. The thing that makes you tick and want to wake up everyday. Because despite life's hardships and obstacles, if you are doing what you love, you will always find a way to live authentically and with love. When you do this, you will make change, in yourself, in others, and in the world. Follow your heart.

Photo Credit: Mya Rose

Mental Health Stories | Tracy Wilson

Video Credit: Kevyn Tapia

What is your story?

Growing up in a single-parent home with a mother who was anything but the present, was difficult. Adding that there were 4 other siblings in our house at the time made it almost impossible and sadly the pain and hardships didn't end there. Being forced to provide and care for your then 5-year-old brother by stealing money from people to buy things that are closely associated with a 7-year-old, like twinkies and orange soda, took a heavy mental toll on me at a young age. My older siblings were trying to find their own ways of dealing with their turbulent lives and weren't mature or intelligent enough to look after me and my younger brother while my mom couldn't. After finding out my absent dad had also fathered my cousins, my older brother, Isaiah, tied me to a chair and attempted to set me on fire. My grandmother finally had enough and took legal custody of me and my younger brother. My grandmother has had her fair share of battles in life and did herself contribute to mine and my younger brother's early childhood trauma, due to her mental illness and fits of rage. I am 21 now, and despite everything that has happened to me that I shared and more, I still have an unshakeable desire to move forward.

How has your story impacted who you are today?

My story has impacted me in more ways than I have ever noticed, until now. I have become someone obsessed with knowledge and understanding, in a family defined by drug and alcohol abuse, teen pregnancy, and high school dropouts. I feel a responsibility to end the cycle of hatred and unhealthy behavior that has stained my family's lives forever, and everything I do is in preparation for when I start my own family one day.

What has your mental health journey looked like?

My mental health journey has been one that has primarily existed in mystery. My early experience with therapy was hurtful to my mind since my grandmother insisted she be there for mine and my brother’s DCFS mandated therapy sessions to ensure that neither I nor Madison attributed any of our pain and sorrow to her. Due to this, therapy was less of a way to help me and more of a 2v1 assault on everything I had seemingly done wrong in my life, even as a 7-year-old. I was defeated but I learned to bottle my feelings up and turn them into a rage as a child, using things such as sports to exercise my godly amounts of sadness and aggression. As a teenager, I struggled with invalidating myself of the hardships I'd be through, constantly telling myself "It could be worse", "stop crying", "accept people aren't good for you and move on", and never really allowing myself to feel those feelings. Now as a young adult, I am enrolled in an awesome therapy program and have begun the process of allowing myself to feel, accept, and manage so then I can strive to move on from my trauma.

What encouragement would you give to someone who shares a similar story?

Situations like this are never easy. Adults are supposed to be that overwhelming sense of protection and love in children's lives, but when they're more cold and distant it can make adjusting hard. Being so thirsty and dehydrated at 6 that you begin crying yourself to sleep on the bathroom floor because even the water had been cut off after all the other utilities, due to your mother using the bill money on drugs, is a hard story to tell. But for anyone who has a similar upbringing to mine, remember that no matter how far or how fast you run, you'll always bring yourself with you. This being said, allow yourself to feel, mourn, accept, and move on. The past doesn’t get easier but the future doesn’t have to get harder.

Photo Credit: Mya Rose

Our Last Day | Spring 2022 Mentorship

It’s here, our last day together. We are so proud of all that our mentees have accomplished throughout our 12 weeks together. It's sad to be at the end, but we are excited to see what our mentees do post-mentorship! On our last day, each mentee presented their brands to the rest of the group. Those who created websites showcased their finished sites explaining logos, color choices, photos, and when their websites will launch. Each person was then offered some advice and feedback to better their websites from our mentors and fellow mentees.

Once everyone presented their brands, we had mini graduation for our mentees. Each person was awarded a certificate of completion and the graduation song was sang via acapella from our staff and mentees. It was bitter-sweet to be here at this moment, but it was so much fun. We also recognized our staff that will be transitioning off. We want to thank Sandra, our Mentorship Coordinator, Mariah, our Mentorship Assistant, and Lu’Cretia, Our Creative Project Manager, for all that they have done for TFD.

Once everyone received their certificate, we stepped outside to hop into an Uber headed to Thai Time to celebrate an amazing cohort completion. Until next time friends!

Photo Credit: Mariah

Creating A Brand | Part 7

Well it's here, our last Wednesday of Spring 2022 Mentorship. Can you believe it?!? One more day together and we are done. To celebrate our last Wednesday we set aside time to add last-minute touches to everyone's websites. Each group got together to edit their logos and update any details on their websites. Sandra, our Mentorship Coordinator, assisted each group with turning their logos into files so they can have a copy of the digital file after the mentorship. On Saturday, we’ll have all groups present their finishing products.

After everyone finished with those updates, we transitioned into our last photo shoot of Spring 2022 Mentorship. Our mentees have grown throughout our 12 weeks together and it is amazing to show their progress through photos. Today we had many laughs, awkward moments, so much fun, and a little bit of confetti! We cannot wait to share all of the amazing photos we took from today!

Creating A Brand | Part 6

As the mentees continue to work through their businesses, it is also the last week of mentorship. Today, the mentees started off with a fun bell ringer of “Guess Who”. Each mentee wrote a person down and stuck it to their forehead for the rest of the mentees to give them hints on who they were. Some celebrity guesses were Kanye West, Beyonce, and Bill Murray.

After the game, the mentees were focused and went right into continuing to build their businesses. Jasmine and Jocelyn continued a design job TFD was hired to do. On this day, they worked on putting photos into the client’s website design. Tracy continued to work on his denim design by finding new inspiration. Jordynne, Jamia, Cameron, and Kendall all worked more on their website designs. Lastly, Julian finished his website design and plans on starting to record his podcasts! As we wrap up the last week of our spring mentorship program, everyone is starting to feel the bittersweet moments. Nonetheless, we are so proud and grateful our mentees have found a business they want to continue with.