Michaela Bileau

Community involvement was an important part of my upbringing. Growing up, the Rhode Island Children's Crusade (now Onward We Learn) a non-profit organization supporting RI’s low-income urban youth, which highlighted academic involvement and community service had a significant influence on me from an early age. Their message about education, service, connection, and giving back to your community left a lasting impression. Looking back, I think those experiences helped build resilience and shaped many of the values that continue to guide me today. One experience that stands out was participating in a 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens workshop during high school. At the time, it provided practical tools and perspectives that I found incredibly valuable. The programs and opportunities available to me through community organizations, including sports, volunteer opportunities and extracurricular activities reinforced the importance of support, mentorship, and connection. In many ways, those experiences inspired my desire to continue that legacy by creating opportunities for others and giving back to the communities that helped shape me. I also have an identical twin sister, who has been a significant influence throughout my life. We shared many of the same interests and often pursued similar paths, particularly in service-oriented and helping professions. We both developed a strong commitment to community involvement from an early age.

One of the most impactful pieces of advice I ever received came in the form of a quote. During my clinical internship, I had a supervisor who was exceptionally skilled in the field of substance abuse and recovery. She shared a quote by Wayne Dyer that has stayed with me ever since: "When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." At the time, that message resonated with me, and it continues to influence both my personal and professional life. It speaks to the importance of perspective. If we focus only on the challenge itself, we can miss the opportunities that may exist within it. But when we shift our perspective, new possibilities often emerge.

For example, instead of seeing a challenge solely as an obstacle, we might ask: What opportunities does this create? How can this situation bring people together? Who in our community has the skills, wisdom, or experience that could help us navigate it? Those questions can open doors to collaboration, creativity, and growth.

While this wasn't specifically career advice, it became a guiding principle that has shaped the way I approach challenges in every area of my life. In many ways, the lessons we learn professionally often become lessons that support us personally as well. That simple shift in perspective has remained one of the most valuable tools I've carried forward.

First, similar to the quote above, the invitation is to be open to perspective. It doesn't mean challenges don't exist or to to ignore the difficulty that comes with challenges, it's to be open to the opportunities is can also present. Second, find the things that bring you joy. Seek out the activities, interests, and experiences that resonate with you. The more we learn about ourselves the more awareness and discernment we can build. Also, what we focus on expands and ensuring that we are balancing in experiences that are uplifting and supportive ins crucial to well-being. What I've found is that when individuals take interest in the journey to healing and self discovery, they are healthier, more involved in their communities, pursue opportunities, start creative projects, or even launch businesses aligned with their passions. Investing in yourself in this way helps us remain resilient during difficult times and contribute significantly to our mental, emotional, and overall well-being.

One of the biggest challenges I see right now is that we are living through a time of significant change. Many individuals, families, and communities are navigating uncertainty, stress, loss, and rapid shifts in their personal and professional lives. At the same time, the demand for support continues to grow, creating challenges around access to care, available resources, and the need for more providers and community-based support. While these challenges are real, I also see opportunity. Periods of change can also invite innovation, collaboration, and new ways of supporting one another. Much of my current work is focused on creating opportunities for connection, education, and community engagement. This summer, I am launching two initiatives that reflect that vision. The goal is to strengthen connections, encourage collaboration, and celebrate the many resources that already exist within our communities. The second is an educational series that brings together insights from psychology, resilience, mind-body approaches, and personal development. Inspired by both my clinical and academic work, these offerings are intended to make educational resources more accessible and provide community members with opportunities to learn, grow, and engage with topics that support overall well-being.

For me, this is where the opportunity is. While there is certainly a growing need for support, there is also an opportunity to come together, share knowledge, build stronger communities, and create spaces that help people navigate life's shifts with greater awareness and resilience.

I resonate most with integrity and being intentional about embodying the change I wish to see in the world. I believe these qualities are especially important for those in positions of leadership, influence, or service within a community. When people lead with integrity and intentionally remain grounded in their values, they help foster trust, connection, and a stronger sense of community. I also believe that young people benefit greatly from seeing these qualities modeled in their communities. I am intentional about holding myself accountable to these values while striving to model them through my work, community involvement, and interactions with others.