Maryanyely, Maryland

Finding My Purpose in the Hardest Places

"I grew up knowing what it feels like when the world doesn’t see you."

My parents came to this country from Mexico and Guatemala with nothing but hope and determination. I’m a first-generation American, and I’ve always been proud of both my Hispanic roots and my American identity. But pride didn’t erase the hardship.

I grew up in extreme poverty in Connecticut. I lived in a home filled with fear, abuse, and instability. For years, I watched my mother navigate raising children while surviving daily domestic violence. CPS came and went, but the system didn’t protect us. The pain wasn’t only physical. The emotional toll stayed with me long after I left home at twenty-two.

Even now, when I look back, I know that what I needed most as a child was connection, safety, and someone who could see the little girl behind the chaos and say, “You deserve better, and I’m here for you.”

That person never came. So I became her.

That's why I am an early childhood mental health therapist today.

Maryanyely

My Purpose

I work in Baltimore Head Start programs, supporting children ages three to five, their educators, and their families. I run parenting workshops, provide classroom mental health consultation, and train teachers on how to respond with empathy, understanding, and developmentally appropriate support.

Every day, I meet children who remind me of myself. These kids who come to school carrying invisible stories. They are smart, full of potential, and fighting battles they’re too young to explain. And when they walk through the door, I want them to feel what I never did:

You matter.
You are safe here.
You are not alone.

My work is about more than therapy. It’s about advocacy.

Maryanyely

A Future Built on Care

I speak up for families who don’t have a voice. I stand beside educators who want to help but need resources and support. I show parents, especially immigrant parents, that their culture and language are strengths, not barriers.

I know firsthand that a safe, nurturing early environment can change the entire trajectory of a child’s life. If I had received that kind of support when I was little, my mental health challenges would have been far less severe. I didn’t learn English until I was six, and I didn’t have anyone in school who understood my language or my experience. That isolation shaped me. Today, I make sure no child I work with ever feels that way.

Share