Today we’d like to introduce you to Brionna Kirkendoll.
Hi Brionna, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
In 2018, my dreams came true and I was accepted to the University of Southern California to pursue my Masters in Social Work. This was a huge deal to me because not only am I a first generation college student but I’ve longed for this moment, to be accepted to a prestigious university. Once I started school, things became difficult. I was still working full time and class assignments started to increase drastically. During this time, I felt like I was losing myself as it became very difficult for me to maintain my work school life balance. In 2019, after completing one year in my two year program, I can recall weighing myself and realizing I had hit my heaviest weight. I was extremely devastated. I felt awful physically and mentally. I told myself I had to figure something out because I wanted to not only be happier but feel healthier.
As a master’s of social work candidate, I thought to myself “How can I take care of others if I am not taking care of myself?”. That’s when I pushed through and was focused on making some changes. I conducted research on ways to become healthier, set some goals and was determined to lose this extra weight that I have gained and begin to work on regaining my work, school life balance. I soon after made an Instagram page to hold myself accountable, not knowing that this would be a life-changing experience. I was able to lose weight, gain confidence and motivate others along the way.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
This was not a smooth road, as many obstacles tried to keep me from reaching my goal. The second and final year of the program started and I began an internship which took a tremendous amount of my time. Soon after Covid-19 arrived and Los Angeles began to shut down. I found myself once again picking up old habits and struggling to find balance, but I soon was able to reverse those habits and stay on plan. I believe these obstacles only made me stronger!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a Clinical Therapist here in Los Angeles who provides mental health services to a culturally diverse population. I’m not only an advocate for mental health but I now consider myself a health and wellness influencer.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
My advice for anyone who is working on themselves is to never give up! You may face obstacles along the way but find your “WHY” so that you can stay motivated to push through. I would also say always remember it is okay to ask for help 🙂
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Lowcarbwithbri
