Denise Morales

Born and raised in a Latin culture where higher education was not emphasized, this author discovered her passion for self-awareness and personal growth when she pursued her bachelor's degree in Communication and Leadership from the University of Texas at Austin. Along the way, she encountered numerous experiences that shaped her into the strong and courageous woman she is today, including mentorship, counseling, and leadership. These lessons continue to influence her everyday interactions with people in her community.

With a desire to nurture and facilitate growth in others, this author has started a new project called Be Nurtured, which aims to inspire change within individuals and their communities through transparency, growth, and perseverance. She has also become a motivational public speaker, delivering talks on breaking cultural norms, striving for higher education, and ethical leadership.

Looking to elevate the magnitude of Be Nurtured, this author aspires to seek a graduate degree in counseling. Her goal is to normalize seeking counseling by using her bilingual skills to appeal to a wider audience, thus filling the gap in her community that stigmatizes mental health. Her father's encouragement and support serve as a constant reminder of her pursuit towards success, and she hopes to break societal norms across communities through her work.