Service Array:
Individual Skill Development and Enhancement
I grew up in Pewaukee, Wisconsin to a small family of four. I was raised by a first-generation Lebanese mother and a Caucasian American father. Much of my time growing up was spent learning to play musical instruments such as piano and violin, paint, and eventually, rock climbing. These hobbies ended up getting pushed to the wayside when my life became completely consumed by OCD and anxiety in early childhood. This made social interactions especially challenging as every waking hour was consumed by intrusive thoughts, doubts, fears, and uncontrollable mental compulsions. This clouded all judgement, and it left no stone unturned; my sexuality, morality, and sense of identity were all targets for my obsessions. Therapy and psychiatric treatment helped me to continue functioning fairly normal as I continued to battle my mind during my early years
After getting into my first year of college studying neuroscience, my life began to crumble right before my eyes. My OCD began to get worse than before, and this time depression followed suit. After transferring schools twice, I was at rock bottom—a mere shell of my former self. Music became a chore, and I lacked the attention span to interact with my former interests. My mission of helping others with their mental health was slipping through my fingers. This led to me taking a gap semester dedicated to reclaiming control of my life. After a deep dive into the power of meditative practices, along with continued therapy and psychiatric treatment, I was successfully able to overcome nearly all my mental health challenges.
Now, I am happy to say that I have successfully taken back my life. I now find meaning through music, meditative practices, understanding the mind, and learning all sorts of random things about the world (especially about science and philosophy). I have since learned to find clarity in my thoughts and use every challenge as a means to continue to grow. Although I enjoy helping people of all mental health backgrounds, I have a particular passion for helping those who struggle with anxiety, identity issues, and finding their purpose in life.