Welcome to H.O.P.E. with Melissa!
Thank you so much for stopping by! Please allow me to tell you a little about my crazy life.
I’ve been married for almost 19 years and we have two sons, ages 14 and 8. We also have five cats; four of them all girls which just barely tips the gender majority in my favor in the house.
I’ve been a special education teacher for 14 years; I have worked with learners with special needs since I was a senior in high school. I started a new position this school year; I am teaching children who are patients at a psychiatric hospital–and it has quickly become my favorite job ever. I have two master’s degrees: one in strategic leadership and the other as a special education strategist. I will have my doctorate completed as soon as I finish one more thing…just my dissertation.
I am neither a medical doctor nor a trained mental health professional, but I am someone who has struggled with depression and anxiety throughout my entire life. I know firsthand how hard it is to survive some of those darker days…or even minutes. I am also the mom of someone who struggles with mental health issues, so I’ve also experienced things from a parent’s standpoint.
My “why” is to bring hope to others by sharing little things we can do to take care of ourselves and our families (and for my educator friends, our students, too!) even on those days when we may feel like we don’t matter or make a difference. Spoiler alert: You matter. Every. Single. Minute.
