College Plus – From Feeling Broken to Breakthrough to Triumphant

“Voice and Vision was the launch into all my accomplishments. I can never forget those experiences at Voice and Vision. I genuinely felt heard. I went from feeling so small to feeling bigger and bigger.”

Recently, Ezri, a former College Plus student, met with us to say “thank you” for the role Voice and Vision played in her success.  We are grateful to Ezri for allowing us to share her story with all of you.

Ezri struggled as a youth with mental health challenges, repeated hospitalizations, and even a residential placement. She felt “broken.” Then she became involved as a volunteer with the Youth Advisory Board at Voice and Vision. Being around other youth who were “kindred spirits” with similar experiences helped her see that the difficulties she experienced could be worth something – that she was worth something. The other youth on the Advisory Board and Voice and Vision staff shone a light on her strengths and saw value in things that others said needed “fixing.” Above all, she learned that her story wasn’t something she needed to hide; rather, her story was “important, wonderful, and a point of connection.” She and the other youth were given a voice – a chance to tell their story. Ezri learned that mental illness is a part of her story, but it’s not who she is. And maybe that part of her story is not necessarily negative. As part of the Youth Advisory Board, she wrote a grant proposal for a Youth Center and performed in the Voice and Vision skit “Wisdom of Oz.”

Ezri’s time on the Advisory Board led to a job at a child-serving agency as a peer mentor. Yet, she still questioned her value in the workplace because she lacked some basic skills as a result of her childhood battle with mental health challenges. This led her to search for something more and to consider the College Plus program at Voice and Vision. Ezri realized College Plus would provide the emotional support she needed by connecting her to the College Plus Certified Peer Specialist. Also, College Plus would pay for tuition, books, and fees for the first semester, so she could try going to college risk-free.  Even if she failed, she wouldn’t lose any money! 

Ezri explained that when you have mental illness as a child, you miss a lot, and no one talks to you about going to college. So, you become afraid to ask questions because you don’t even know what questions to ask and don’t want to appear stupid! With the College Plus peer support, she always had someone “safe” to turn to which relieved her anxiety. It was empowering to be with others with mental illness going to college. Seeing others struggling but moving forward made her think that she could do the same. After her first semester, her confidence increased. She learned to reach out to the Accessibility Office and ask her professors for accommodations when needed. She even started an Honors Club at the community college.

After successfully completing her courses at Bucks Community College, Ezri continued her education and graduated from Delaware Valley University with a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology with a focus on social justice. She currently works with adults with traumatic brain injury, most of whom live in a supported residential setting. Her own past experience in a residential program as a child enables her to understand the experience of the people she now serves. She makes a point of helping each person to feel valued and noticed. She even uses her experience to train other staff to increase their empathy.

Ezri also shared that she was receiving Social Security Disability benefits for four years before coming to Voice and Vision and needed a lot of government aid. Because of College Plus, she was able to succeed at college. And now she no longer needs disability benefits or other government aid.

Throughout her college years, Ezri engaged in various community theater programs. She shared that many people living with mental health challenges find a home in theater because creativity is often a strength that helps with recovery, and the theater is a place to connect. She said that community theater programs are usually accepting of everyone. A community theater program can help build self-esteem and skills for people impacted by mental illness and also provide them with a “second family.” Here are some pictures of Ezri in costume in various theater productions:

As Ezri looks toward the future, she hopes to start an Arts Center where people with mental health challenges are welcomed and supported.

Ezri’s Lessons Learned

• Every person needs to have a role; no jobs should be considered too menial or demeaning.

• You don’t know what you can do until you try it, so try it! (Voice and Vision can increase the chance that your “try” will be successful!)

• She proved to herself that she could deal with crisis; in fact, she found out that dealing with crisis is often a strength for people diagnosed with bipolar.

• Relationships need to be reciprocal. People need to feel needed and productive, not just connected.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Photos taken by Richard Lutz

---