In 1996, I made a life-changing decision to move to Baltimore to attend the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). At the time, I knew no one in the city and had little idea of the challenges I would face. I was driven by a sense of adventure, eager to explore my creative potential. However, I quickly realized that the road ahead would be much harder than I had imagined.

My mental health struggles have been a constant presence in my life, and as I navigated the rigors of both… more