CIS Helps Student Transform Pain into Purpose

In honor of mental health awareness month, we asked our CIS Student Support Specialists to share about some of their students who have made great progress in the area of mental health. Here’s one student who has been able to transform her pain into purpose, with a little help from CIS:

17-year-old Olivia Droddy has worked with Dr. Christina Navarro, CIS Mental Health Specialist, over the past 2 years at Lamar High School to help manage the symptoms associated with her mental illness through writing poetry and artwork.  Last year, she won 3rd place in the Texas Mental Health Awareness contest for her work titled, “My Dearest Caterpillar.”  This accomplishment spurred Olivia create a book of art and poetry detailing her struggle and triumphs with mental illness that is now published and available on Amazon.  This school year she credits participation in the re:MIND Depression & Bipolar Support on the Lamar campus and help from Dr. Christina for a successful school year.  Next year, she looks forward to being a senior and continuing to work with Communities In Schools and Dr. Christina.

Olivia is one of many students CIS has been able to help on her road to recovery. During the 2016-17 school year, CIS mental health professionals provided mental health services to 7,374 Houston area students.