Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ayan McCardell. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ayan , appreciate you joining us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

Growing up in Baltimore City was definitely not always “ideal”. I was raised by a single mother and my big sister and they did their best to shield and protect me from the hardships of my city. Developing into an early teen, finances weren’t always absolute for me and my family, however, my mother did her best to make sure that me and my sister got everything we needed or wanted. While going through these times, my mom always made sure that I understood the importance of love and being kind to people. She always used to tell me “Love is the greatest gift in life, spreading it with pure intention can make the world better.” This has always stuck with me, and I live by it everyday. It influenced me to create Healing Hornets, spreading my love and passion for mental health to my peers had fulfilled me in indescribable ways. During the creation of the organization, I will say there were a few obstacles & still are. However, my mother’s resilience and determination to get things done definitely has pushed me to keep going. These principles instilled in me at such an early age was definitely something that was done right by my parents.

Ayan , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Of course!

My name is Ayan McCardell, I am a rising junior attending Delaware State University. I am a Social Work major and the founder of Healing Hornets. Healing Hornets is a mental health based organization that I created to bring students together with similar stories or struggles. I know that students on my campus feel as though engaging resources are limited when it comes to mental wellness. I wanted to foster a community, whereas though students feel comfortable enough to be vulnerable, express themselves, and try new techniques to improve their mental health. I take a lot of pride in helping others, especially with battles that take place internally, because those are the ones that ultimately cause the most damage. Creating Healing Hornets has allowed me to bond with my peers on deeper levels and connect them with reliable resources that could potentially help them in their journey. HH also touches bases with creative expression and connecting to the inner child. We host a series of events that challenges students to come out of their comfort zone and express themselves. In creating this family, the main message that I wanted to convey is that no matter where you com from, who you are or what you look like, your mental health matters.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Honestly, I feel like the entire reason for me starting the organization shows my resilience and adaptability. I founded Healing Hornets while grieving my father, which was a time I felt most alone. You know how you’re not alone, but you just feel like you are? Yeah, I was experiencing that, and it was not the best feeling. It encouraged me to think of the student body and how they may be experiencing similar obstacles. While actually creating the organization, I have had a few bumps in the road. Finding my balance for being an involved student, attending an HBCU and founding an organization was challenging. There were plenty of nights where I stayed up super late whipping my tears because I was still grieving, tired, and felt like I wasn’t doing enough. Those nights were hard, but I did not give up, I withstood them because I knew the impact Healing Hornets could have on others. Choosing this mindset has carried me through the journey entirely.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

I would say to lead with intention, and encourage individual self-care most importantly. Celebrate your board’s accomplishments and promote team unity by being inclusive. Respond quickly to issues and make equity and variety the top priority within the board. Set a good example by acting with transparency and perseverance. To improve team morale and effectiveness, get feedback and execute adjustments accordingly.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @healinghornets
• Email: [email protected]