Hansen, Madeline M.

University of Lynchburg Personal Statement

I always knew when I was younger that going to the doctor was a normal scheduled

visit for my physical well-being. I was always told directly by the doctor of my illness and the

correct antibiotic to make me feel better again. I would leave the office knowing what was

going on and how to fix it. Six years ago, I walked into an unknown medical facility that was

smaller and more comforting. However, when I walked out of the place, I did not understand

anything that the psychiatrist told me. Parallel to what I had received at the doctors my whole

life, I was given a diagnosis and medication to “fix” what I thought was a temporary problem. I

wasn’t given any explanation about my mental illness and thought as long as I took my

medication, I would not have to worry about the diagnosis again. I only knew of the stigma the

media was portraying to young adolescents about mental illness, which was widely

misunderstood based on everything I know now. After learning about the different types of

disorders, I realized that my psychiatrist left out a lot of information and did not fully explain

the processes occurring inside my brain. Learning about mental health more throughout college

and going in depth about the disorders in my classes, I had an epiphany- every individual

should be given thorough explanation and support for their mental health no matter the age or

situation. I strive to give others the knowledge and satisfaction of knowing they are not alone

and that mental illness is not their fault.

Mental health is a huge factor in today’s society. It does not only affect the brain, but also

the body and daily living, which includes physical, emotional, psychological, and social well-

being. Due to this contributing tremendously to day to day life, there should be an emphasis on
receiving mental health care, not just for individuals clinically diagnosed, but for everyone.

Mental health is dynamic and continuous. One of my main goals to take away from this graduate

degree is to educate those individuals who were in a similar situation as me. This consisted of not

fully understanding my diagnosis and how it affected not just my mood, but also the chemical

imbalances in my brain. I want to teach others the importance and acceptance of mental illness.

Another goal of mine is that I want mental health to be a safe and open environment to talk

freely without being afraid of judgement. One of the main concerns I desire to diminish is the

stigma surrounding this topic. The stigma is majorly misunderstood by the general public due to

a lack of education, awareness, perception, nature and complications of mental illness.

My personal experiences during undergraduate brought up substantial awareness on this

issue. I was able to recognize how mental health impacts daily life and how it is not a huge

subject of discussion due to the stigma surrounding it. I was involved in a varsity sports team and

a sorority. During my time on the sports team, there were noticeable individuals struggling with

mental illness that were ultimately dismissed by the staff and were not recognized as important.

During my junior and senior year, I researched mental health within student-athletes at the

collegiate level and found that this population is at high risk for mental health issues.

Additionally, in my sorority I noticed a lack of support for mental health, so I was able to serve

those women struggling for the need of an outlet. Moreover, these populations have a lack of

mental health education, which is extremely important during this time of their lives. I found a

passion through not just my schoolwork, but also within my personal life to aid others in

understanding, accepting and being comfortable with mental health.

During my senior year this past spring, I obtained an internship at Pathways Recovery
and Addiction at Virginia Baptist Hospital through Centra Health. During this experience, I was

an assistant for a Mental Health Professional who served as admissions for the program. I read

everything I could about mental health, but actually being in the field itself gave me a deeper

appreciation for my classwork. I was one of the first students to become an intern for this

program, so I helped to create the guidelines and expectations for future interns. I also helped

research marketing outlets, such as surrounding health facilities, local businesses, and statewide

programs of relevance. This internship was unfortunately interrupted by COVID-19, but I

continued the work I was able to do at home. This experience was eye opening and it drove my

focus to begin the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at the University of Lynchburg.

I am positive that being a part of the University of Lynchburg’s graduate program would

push me and give me every opportunity to succeed. Being an undergraduate of the U of L

exposed me to the small yet connected community it offers. This gave me the ability for one-one

experiences with professors and other faculty members that I would otherwise not have. I have

grown to be the person I am today at this University and I would like to thank you for your

consideration of me as a potential student for the graduate program.