Today we’d like to introduce you to Samitriya Kroll.
Samitriya, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was raised by a single mother, and growing up it was just me, my mom and my little brother. I received a Track Scholarship to Texas State University where I started to work to make decisions toward my career goals. I have always been a person that enjoys giving and helping people.
My mother guided me into nursing and I was accepted into Lamar University. While obtaining my Associate of Science in Nursing degree, I started a program called Divine Purpose that educated youth girls in foster care at Safe Haven on maintain safe and healthy practices. I was inducted into the Nursing Honor Society at The University of Texas at Austin where I received my Bachelors of Science in Nursing. Afterward, I moved to Atlanta and began traveling as a Psychiatric Travel Nurse and started a program called The Concrete Rose Project which focused on promoting education and health in the youth community. At the start of advancing my career, I started the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program at The University of South Alabama along with a non-profit organization called Hope Contained which strives to impact mental health through education and awareness.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t been a smooth road but learning to manage rejection, loss, and setbacks has been one of the best lessons yet. I had been rejected from Nursing school six times and the University of Texas, twice, I never gave up. I always kept the vision and refused to lose sight of the goal. During nearly every transition season, I’ve endured a significant setback whether it be the lost multiple loved ones going into my nursing career or being set back a year or semester in my career or academic goals. I’ve always found myself managing many uncertainties especially with balancing school, career, and my purpose here on this earth. I continue to stay faithful and persistent despite the circumstances, stay the course and trust my purpose.
Please tell us about Hope Contained.
Hope Contained is a nonprofit organization that provides housing and educational resources for individuals with mental illnesses. We specialize in holistic mental wellness. We strive to encourage and uplift the mental health community by providing them with the opportunity to unite with others who have undergone similar challenges and become self-sufficient. We host events that focus on the promoting education, increasing awareness, and providing an opportunity for those individuals who struggle with mental challenges a platform to share their gifts and therapeutic strategies for others to benefit from. I am mostly proud of the Art Exhibition and Silent Auction Fundraiser hosted in May 2018 for Mental Health Awareness month, which allowed individuals with mental struggles to showcase their art as a therapeutic coping strategy. Hope Contained is set apart by our therapeutic programming and activities based on nursing intervention strategies and research that has proven successful outcomes and benefit over health and wellness.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite childhood memory is the first time I traveled outside of Texas, it was my first summer running summer track for Dallas Gold, and I made it to Jr. Olympics with a Team of about ten girls. We went to New Orleans, LA for a whole week. I created some of the best memories and established lifelong friendships, those girls became my family. Not to mention, we won!
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.Hopectd.org
- Email: skroll@hopectd.org
- Instagram: Nursemimz
Image Credit:
Deneva McCullough, Maureen Eno, Eli Ibraham
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