By Mary (Honey) Mathieu, DLE communications intern and a senior at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, IL

Hi friends! I am a senior at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Illinois, with a quadruple major in English, Crinimal Justice, Social Work and Psychology, along with a double minor in Writing and Pre-Law. My purpose in life is to make a difference, one word at a time.

Before transferring to Trinity, I was at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, IL, for four years. By the time I graduate, I will have been an undergraduate student for eight years. I plan to then pursue a triple master’s degree in Creative Writing, Criminal Justice, and Social Work, with the goal of attending law school one day.

I have a deep passion for learning and difference-making, and I dream of becoming the next Jazz Thornton–a child welfare and mental health advocate, author, nonprofit founder, content creator, and public speaker. Due to personal experiences with both the child welfare and mental health systems, I have always felt called to walk alongside youths as they come to know that they are worth fighting for.

As a prolonged childhood abuse and neglect survivor, I struggled to have a voice for the longest time. However, my eighth-grade English teacher helped me discover the gift of writing when she wrote the words “Keep Writing” in my yearbook. Ever since then, writing has become my voice, and it is with this voice I intend to help as many people as I possibly can.

In my two years at Trinity, and with two more years left, I founded a Mental Health & Service Club on campus and worked for my College’s Marketing Department as a writer and as an intern for Trinity’s Center for Transformative Neighborhoods. This upcoming academic year, I will serve as a writing tutor and student leader for Oasis, a student group that offers safety, belonging, and support for Trinity’s LGBTQ+ students and their friends. I enjoy being a safe person for others and am looking forward to using my passion for advocacy and service to continue to make a difference on campus.

I am excited to use my writing voice as a communications intern for the DLE–hearing and writing about the stories of incredible individuals and working alongside an amazing team that is dedicated to helping others grow, both personally and professionally!