A Big Dream
Donation protected
Hi, I’m Karina, blogger-creator of ‘I Will Not BE My Mental Illness’.
I’ve been struggling to keep up with life for over 7 years of mental health struggles. I’m 23 and desperately want to improve my life. Since my last suicide attempt and hospitalization, I’ve been making tremendous progress. I’m finally regaining some hope and motivation! I’m back in school and I’m on track to continue working (albeit only one day a week to make sure I can handle it). However, I’m still in a vulnerable position - both mentally and financially. I’ve accumulated a lot of debt during my sick leave. It’s also impossible for me to cover my expenses alone yet I can’t realistically work the hours I would need right now.
Beyond that, I have a big dream. After years of hopelessness and questioning what I would like to do as a career, I finally discovered it! The truth is that it was there all along, buried beneath tremendous insecurity. My dream is attainable but very difficult. I had long dismissed it as impossible, only to recently realize that it can’t be ignored. I’m almost shy to share my bold aspiration, but it’s the first step.
I want to be a professional race car driver. I want to begin with rally driving and eventually compete in NASCAR. There, I said it. Why? There are many reasons, one being that between my Bipolar, ADHD and BPD, I often feel chronically empty. Driving is my happy place - my meditation and medication. My car, (which I struggle to afford), is my sanctuary. I’m also a woman…one suffering from multiple mental illnesses. This is going to be difficult on so many levels, but I want to become a beacon of hope. Like the goal of my mental health blog, I want to share my journey and inspire others. I want fellow mental illness fighters and women to see what incredible things can be achieved…the walls we can tear down! But, just like recovering from mental illness, I can’t do this alone. Racing is expensive and frankly, I don’t have the means. I need to take courses, I need to earn my way up, I need sponsors and I need a car I can modify and that withstands getting beaten up. In short, I need some sort of financial backing.
I know you’re busy with you’re own life and personal struggles. Money might be tight for you too. But please know one thing: If enough people read this and support my endeavour, donating just a few dollars can make the difference between reaching my dream or continuing to live life in a state of limbo.
Thank you for your time!
I’ve been struggling to keep up with life for over 7 years of mental health struggles. I’m 23 and desperately want to improve my life. Since my last suicide attempt and hospitalization, I’ve been making tremendous progress. I’m finally regaining some hope and motivation! I’m back in school and I’m on track to continue working (albeit only one day a week to make sure I can handle it). However, I’m still in a vulnerable position - both mentally and financially. I’ve accumulated a lot of debt during my sick leave. It’s also impossible for me to cover my expenses alone yet I can’t realistically work the hours I would need right now.
Beyond that, I have a big dream. After years of hopelessness and questioning what I would like to do as a career, I finally discovered it! The truth is that it was there all along, buried beneath tremendous insecurity. My dream is attainable but very difficult. I had long dismissed it as impossible, only to recently realize that it can’t be ignored. I’m almost shy to share my bold aspiration, but it’s the first step.
I want to be a professional race car driver. I want to begin with rally driving and eventually compete in NASCAR. There, I said it. Why? There are many reasons, one being that between my Bipolar, ADHD and BPD, I often feel chronically empty. Driving is my happy place - my meditation and medication. My car, (which I struggle to afford), is my sanctuary. I’m also a woman…one suffering from multiple mental illnesses. This is going to be difficult on so many levels, but I want to become a beacon of hope. Like the goal of my mental health blog, I want to share my journey and inspire others. I want fellow mental illness fighters and women to see what incredible things can be achieved…the walls we can tear down! But, just like recovering from mental illness, I can’t do this alone. Racing is expensive and frankly, I don’t have the means. I need to take courses, I need to earn my way up, I need sponsors and I need a car I can modify and that withstands getting beaten up. In short, I need some sort of financial backing.
I know you’re busy with you’re own life and personal struggles. Money might be tight for you too. But please know one thing: If enough people read this and support my endeavour, donating just a few dollars can make the difference between reaching my dream or continuing to live life in a state of limbo.
Thank you for your time!
Organizer
Karina P.-Odell
Organizer
Sainte-Adèle, QC
