I am a high school math teacher of 21 years who lost her husband to suicide in 2019 and after 5 years of the hardest healing journey I’ve ever experienced now have a burning passion for helping others. I am a mom of 2 adult children, and a Nana to 2 of the most precious little boys. I joined the Board for the local chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention last year and have been actively involved in many local mental health events. I started my teaching career late in life after working as a hairstylist for 15 years. Funny thing is that I originally was going to school to become an art therapist, but had a very bad experience with my first art professor which turned me off course, and I ended up going the math route. I don’t regret it for a minute because ultimately it is what led me to meeting my husband. We shared a beautiful life together. Unfortunately, no one knew he battled mental health issues until that tragic day in July. That is when my passion for art therapy reignited. Within a week of his death I was drawing and painting. It was the only thing that would calm my mind; it was my meditation and still is. I am looking forward to learning everything I can from this course, as I know I still have my own healing to do, but am hoping to gain more insight into helping others as well.