“Leadership is the capacity to translate a vision into reality” – Warren Bennis
By Tori Primeaux
On October 30, 2023, I heard about an opportunity through the American Indian College Fund for a fellowship for Native students who are veterans to grow as leaders as they adapt to higher education after military life. The fellowship offered mentorship and training opportunities, as well as resources and tools to strengthen their visions. I was selected with fellow veteran Cynthia Jones to participate, and in November of 2023 began to plan how I would implement my vision of becoming a mental health leader in my community.
Cynthia and I, along with our peer mentor, Kameia, were invited to attend a Women’s Leadership Program and Native Veterans Student Convening in February 2024.There we received information to help me gain a better understanding of how to step into my leadership role. It was astonishing to meet other women who held higher positions in their careers making executive decisions. Those interactions helped to boost my confidence and to allow me to be decisive as I accepted my leadership role. I also realized that Indigenous individuals can fill higher positions. The stories other women at the conference shared of building their careers from the ground up influenced me as well. All of these things opened my mind to how I wanted to begin my own leadership journey and incorporate all that I had learned from this experience.
Back home, we met every week from March 15 until April 15 to discuss our plans and how to implement them. I wanted to prioritize mental health and raise awareness of the importance of seeking help, stress management, meditation, and prayer. As a college student who lives on a reservation, I know how mental health is overlooked 80% of the time. Stress is the number one factor that contributes to poor mental health in students with tests, exams, due dates, and other projects alongside maintaining physical health. The reservation is isolated and there are not enough resources there to help Native Americans. It is not easy to attend a gym like one would in a city. There are limited resources, and this is often when drugs are abused to fulfill the urge to be engaged in an activity.
As we continued to plan our event, we gathered information about how to engage with students on campus who deal with this issue. I wanted students to be engaged and want to be involved in gaining a better understanding of how to self-regulate and exercise for their well-being. On April 29, I created a presentation on mental health, sharing facts, such as how to receive help, along with how to spot friends and family who need help but may not know how to ask for it. I asked questions, involved the students, and explained my personal experience to gain trust. I explained how to get help in our community and on campus. I also led a group exercise, and those who participated received gifts and prizes. It was a day that allowed students to be involved and gain recognition for competing in an activity they can continue to use that is not expensive, doesn’t require a car, and costs nothing and can help release negative thoughts. It was a fun day for them to be exposed to tools and valuable information about mental health and to help them understand that mental health is just as important as any other health concern.
Through this opportunity I gained a better understanding of how I will use my degree to help my community and be a voice for those who need help. I learned that to understand a situation you must first put yourself in the position to know what needs to be done. I want to make more resources available and be involved.
As a veteran, I have served my country, and now, I see it as only fair that I serve my community on the reservation. I have gained a lot of knowledge and understanding to take on this role that I now know I can fulfill. The conference sparked a fire in me that I know will soon become a flame that will create a bigger fire within everyone I help. This has been an amazing experience, and I cannot wait to set forth with my commitment.
