Future Counselor Jadyn Erickson Shares Her College Journey

Photo Credits: Jadyn Erickson

By Rebekah McCubbins

Jadyn Erickson is proof that ambition and a strong support system pay off.

Erickson is a first-generation college student who just graduated from Mars Hill University in North Carolina with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Growing up, she watched both of her parents work hard in their entrepreneurial endeavors–her mother sells jewelry and accessories, and her father provides handyman services throughout their community. Erickson says that while her parents did not pursue higher education for themselves, “they’ve always supported me.”

When Erickson first enrolled at Mars Hill, she didn’t intend to major in Psychology. “I started out my whole life wanting to do elementary education,” she shares. “And then I [started] college and took Intro to Psychology, and just fell in love with it.” Erickson says that this first Psychology course prompted her to change her major. “I fell in love with the idea of helping people with their mental disorders.”

Now that she has completed her bachelor’s degree, Erickson says that she plans to pursue a master’s in Clinical Counseling, then possibly work toward a doctorate. She plans to use her education to offer counseling services, specifically focusing on teens and the mental health issues that they face, including “anxiety, depression, and PTSD.” She says that she has developed a passion for teens because “they think if they show they have a mental health disorder, such as anxiety, they’ll get made fun of in school. I want to be that counselor that shows it’s okay to speak up about it and not be embarrassed about it,” she says. She hopes to help break the stigmas surrounding mental health in teens. Her interest in working with teens is also informed by her own experiences. “I’ve struggled with anxiety my whole life, and it definitely affected my teenage years, so I want to help other teenagers with that.”

Erickson shares that she has found many people intimidated by the idea of studying Psychology–but she has found it to be deeply rewarding. “Not many people really want to do Psychology, because they think it’s hard to get the degree. It’s not easy, I will say that. But it is very rewarding being able to help people. And mental health is a bigger issue than people actually think it is.”

Along with her Psychology major, Erickson received two minor degrees, in Community Nonprofit Leadership and Business Administration. While working toward her Community Nonprofit Leadership minor, she completed a year-long internship through the North Carolina Guardian Ad Litem program, which entailed “advocating for neglected and abused children in the courtroom.”

In addition to the work she has done in the community, Erickson has also been active in extracurricular activities at Mars Hill. She served as a Lion Leader on campus, “welcoming the incoming students and showing them around the campus,” she shares. “It was a lot of fun getting to know the incoming students.” She also pursued her passion for cheerleading while attending Mars Hill. “I’ve cheered my whole life,” she says, “so that’s pretty much been my hobby in my free time, because it takes up a lot of time.”

As she plans for the next chapter of her journey, Erickson is excited for the future. She plans to use her cheerleading skills and experience as a source of income while she continues her studies: “I’m going to be coaching a local high school JV cheer team,” she shares. In both her personal and professional life, Erickson will continue to succeed through her dedication to all she does and the support of her family.