As a current music therapist, @badeline_strawberry is a soon-to-be licensed professional counselor; she’s currently working on her master’s degree for clinical mental health counseling! So, it’s no surprise that the BroadcastHER Student Scholarship winner wants to advocate for mental health awareness in her stream — while playing a variety of games!

What is your dream as a digital broadcaster?

I want to advocate for mental health within the gaming industry. As someone who has several mental health diagnoses, I want to show others that they can still have a large impact in the world. I want to show those who are struggling that they are not alone. I also want to help alleviate the negative stigma associated with gaming and violence.

How will the BroadcastHER Student Scholarship from the 1,000 Dreams Fund help you reach your goals?

This award will help me raise the quality of my content online. With a higher quality camera and microphone, I will be able to create more engaging content for viewers to watch.

What does being the recipient of the BroadcastHER Student Scholarship mean to you?

It means that someone took a chance on me and believed in what I am aiming for. It means more than I can even express.

Women are underrepresented in gaming, broadcasting, and e-sports. What can we do to change this?

We can continue to support women in gaming spaces, and push for equality on all events/staff teams. Women need to be represented, as gaming can include the whole gender spectrum.

What are some of the challenges you have faced along the way?

I’ve had some serious financial challenges as well as mental health-related challenges to take care of before I could start working on this dream. Once I started my content creation, I was met with a lot of resistance. Many people told me that I wasn’t funny enough, or pretty enough, or serious enough, etc.

What advice do you have for women who want to start broadcasting?

Anyone who has an interest in streaming should just jump in headfirst and begin learning — whether you learn best by doing or by watching tutorials! The biggest piece of advice I have is to create something that you love — and something that you love to watch.

How do you stay motivated and focused on your goals?

I’ll admit, sometimes it can be difficult to stay focused on my goals. In the times that I lose my motivation, I slow down. Most of the time, my lack of motivation comes from a need for self-care and attention. Then, I can rekindle my love of advocacy and motivate myself again.