Gemima LongodjoGemima is a proud Congolese woman, born and raised in the heart of Central Africa-the vibrant city of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She spent the first decade of her life there before immigrating to the United States with her mothr and four younger brothers, a journey made possible by her father, who had arrived two years earlier and secured their visas.Since moving to America, Gemima has completed high school and recently earned her associate's degree in psychology. She is currently pursuing her bachelor's degree in social work, with a deep passion for helping others heal. Her academic and personal journey has been shaped by a calling to be a voice of empathy and compassion, especially for those who come from cultures like hers, where mental illness is often misunderstood or silenced.For much of her life, Gemima was taught that mental illness did not exist. It wasn't until the global pandemic of 2020 that she was forced to confront her hidden traumas and begin an intense personal journey toward healing. That moment of reckoning led her to do what once seemed impossible: ask for help.Facing her truth meant acknowledging that the world she grew up in was not always safe, and that her life had been marked by deep pain. At times, she felt lost, unsure of her purpose or place in the world. But out of that darkness, poetry became her lifeline. Writing gave her a way to process her emotions, name her wounds, and slowly begin to reclaim her power. Read More Read Less