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Resilience Redefined: Terrah’s Triumph Over Life’s Challenges
Posted on Dec 05, 2024
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Growing up in a single-parent household, Terrah encountered significant challenges that deeply influenced her perspective on mental health and resilience. She witnessed her mother’s struggles with mental illness and her father’s health concerns and personal difficulties, which required her to mature quickly. Navigating these family hardships, Terrah faced her own mental health struggles and experienced a prolonged period of depression during high school. These difficulties made academic success an uphill battle, further compounding the challenges she faced in school.
During her junior year of high school, Terrah Sullivan experienced a mental health breakthrough. She sought help, began practicing mindfulness, and found clarity. This experience inspired her to pursue a career helping others navigate similar challenges. It also led her to pursue higher education, choosing “Thee” Fort Valley State University (FVSU) as the institution where she would major in Psychology with a concentration in mental health. Despite her initial doubts about whether she would make it to graduation, Terrah is now a proud first-generation college student preparing to receive her degree.
During her tenure at FVSU, Terrah embraced every opportunity for academic and personal growth. She interned with Atlanta Public Schools for two consecutive years, gaining valuable insights into students' mental health needs. She was also selected as a member of the My HBCU Matters Scholar cohort, an honor that highlighted her commitment to excellence.
On campus, Terrah immersed herself in organizations that allowed her to develop leadership and community-building skills. She was an active member of the Royal Elite Modeling Troupe, Psychology Club, Pep Squad and the Student Government Association Senate. Her contributions were recognized with awards such as Freshman of the Year and Senator of the Year. She won second place in the undergraduate social sciences research poster presentation at the 14th Annual Research and Creative Works Symposium. In addition, she received high academic achievement awards for three consecutive years.
Terrah also served as a Gold Standard Ambassador, upholding principles of school pride, self-pride, empathy, honesty and commitment. As vice president of Every Mind Matters, she worked to promote mental health awareness and support among her peers. She was a member of the 2023–2024 FVSU Royal Court, serving as Miss Second Attendant, and recently became a Spring 2024 initiate of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated, where she holds the position of parliamentarian.
As she prepares to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, Terrah reflects on her incredible journey and the resilience she has developed. She plans to continue her education by pursuing a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Looking back, there is nothing anyone could have told 14-year-old Terrah to make her believe she would achieve all of this and grow into the accomplished, driven young woman she is today. For this, she is deeply grateful to her institution, peers, professors, and family for their unwavering support over the past four years.
Terrah Sullivan truly embodies the spirit of FVSU’s motto to “Empower the Possible.”
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