Shivathmika Ankam

I believe in second chances every time, so I feel like this is not the life to end up at. I always want to help them make change so that they'll be the best citizens out there. I want to redirect them from their behaviors, maybe their substance use, maybe their drug dealing, anything, but I want to show them different paths that they have and many opportunities which are out there so they'll be successful individuals. That's what drives me.

The best career advice I received came from a mentor at Howard University when I was considering my educational path. I did my master's in public health, and before that, I didn't know there would be a subject which is leading to public health completely, like as a wholesome. I had planned for biotechnology since I did my bachelor's in biotechnology and chemistry. But this mentor gave me the suggestion to do Master's in public health, which really made my aspect of science think really different. Like, I would stick to biology and zoology, but it's more vast than that. I feel education is the most sacred advice one can give, like the right path by seeing us, what we are up to. This is the best thing that I received so far. It was a very flipped change, but it all made me good friends. I love what I do now.

If there is someone who can help somebody to achieve something, I will obviously recommend them doing behavioral health, because it's a very vast subject. I don't think it has that much knowledge in people, like there is no advertisement of this behavioral health, so I feel everyone has to know this. There is a subject called behavioral health, and you can do much more than mental health. It's really important work that needs more awareness.

The most challenging part is communicating with the clients and making them understand what our goal is. The clients will be having different situations. Their mental health or behavioral health is not that on point. It's not an easy job to communicate with individuals. They are not welcoming. They don't want to be in the facility, they don't want to be talking to someone about their mental health or behavioral health. So the biggest challenge is really breaking through that resistance and helping them see that we're there to help them change their lives.

My personal life values, I always want to implement them in my professional life too, because you are what you make change in your professional life. I believe people have capability to change. I always believe that people can change. I always believe that I can help them change. These are my values in my professional life too. This belief in people's ability to transform themselves is what guides everything I do.