This piece is part of a series of spotlights on our New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) Suicide Prevention Program (SPP) team members at Pan American International High School and Civic Leadership Academy. We asked each team member 1) why this work is important to them and the people they serve, and 2) to describe a memorable moment or client that stands out to them about why they do this work. I find my work meaningful because it allows me to connect with my commun

Three things stand out about the way I grew up. First, there was always a lot of family joy. Though we were not privileged with wealth, we were rich in love and support. My memories revolve around family time. We could make anything a party. It didn’t matter what we had, as long as we were together. We might have been eating tuna fish sandwiches, but it felt like a feast because we were laughing and enjoying one another. From an early age, I learned that joy is not about an a