Hi there! My name is Maria Chappa. I am the new Peer Leader for TurningPointCT. I am so excited to begin working on this project and provide helpful recourses to you all!
A Little About Me
I am 24 years old and graduated college in 2020.
I have dealt with mental health struggles for most of my life and for many years felt very alone in it. I hope to use my experience of learning how to cope and function with anxiety and depression to help others. I am very passionate about making sure the people around me know it is important to lean of your support system and be honest about how you are feeling.
A big hobby of mine is painting. Typically I paint with acrylics on canvases, but also paint with
watercolor. I love making gifts for friends and family and am constantly working on projects for
myself. For me, painting is a way to quiet my mind and truly relax. When I’m not painting you
can find me reading. My favorite authors are Taylor Jenkins Reid and Collen Hoover! I also love
spending time outside whether it’s going for a walk on the local trail or simply sitting outside in
the sun.
Fun Fact
In 2019 I traveled to Costa Rica to become a certified Wilderness First Responder. While on my
trip I learned how to care for someone injured in austere environments away from medical
care. Not only did I learn many skills, I also learned how to surf, zip lined through the jungle and
went white water rafting! A few months after my trip I was chosen to go on a second trip, but
this time as a teaching assistant. Going back as a TA allowed me to work on my leadership skills
and sharpen the skills I had learned just months before.
– Maria
