Anna De Bekkar: When Fashion Becomes Philosophy
October 10, 2026
Sham Johnson combines a genuine passion for healthcare with a strong commitment to education and mental health advocacy. With over 12 years of experience in healthcare and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, she continues to develop her professional expertise while working toward her future goals. Through her platform, Her Health, Her Voice, Sham encourages women to prioritise their well-being and speak openly about their mental health. In this interview, she shares her personal experiences, the challenges that have shaped her journey, and her ambitions to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
Sham, what made you decide to study psychology and pursue a career in medicine? Was it something you had always wanted to do?
My journey into psychology and healthcare began with my mother. She worked as a nursing assistant for more than 30 years, and growing up, I followed in her footsteps. I initially pursued nursing because I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives, just as she had done throughout her career.
However, after losing my mother to cancer in 2019, I struggled with grief. I fell behind in nursing school, and eventually, I made the difficult decision to step away. After years of working as a nursing assistant, I also began experiencing burnout. I knew I still wanted to work in healthcare, so I returned to Herzing University, where I earned my associate degree in Medical Professions, along with an additional certification in the medical field.
At that point, I told myself I was finished with school. But life had other plans for me. I was still grieving my mother’s death, struggling with my mental health, and navigating the trauma of a relationship involving domestic violence and sexual assault. Eventually, I was diagnosed with moderate depression. I was trying to find my way through some of the darkest moments of my life, and I began asking myself questions: Why was I feeling this way? What was happening in my mind? How could I begin to heal, and what could I learn that might help someone else going through a similar experience?
Those questions sparked my passion for psychology. I wanted to understand the human mind, the impact of trauma, and how our experiences shape our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. More importantly, I wanted to learn how to help people heal, overcome their challenges, and improve their quality of life. I didn’t want my education to benefit only me; I wanted to use what I learned to make a difference in the lives of others.
Today, I am proud to say that I am a survivor, and I refuse to allow the most painful chapters of my life to define my future. Studying psychology has opened doors for me that I never imagined possible. I currently work at a behavioral treatment center, where I have the opportunity to support individuals with behavioral and mental health needs. I am also working toward my master’s degree in Health and Human Services Leadership, with the long-term goal of continuing my education and earning my doctorate in behavioral health.
Looking back, I realize that this was not necessarily the path I originally planned for myself, but it has become a path that holds deep meaning for me. My experiences have taught me that sometimes the very things that break our hearts can lead us toward our purpose. I may have started this journey wanting to follow in my mother’s footsteps, but I am now building a legacy of my own—one rooted in compassion, understanding, advocacy, and service.
My goal is to turn my pain into purpose and remind others that their struggles do not have to be the end of their story. Sometimes, the experiences we fight hardest to overcome become the very reason we are equipped to help someone else.
You’ve chosen to speak about the pressure African American women face to always appear strong. Why is this subject so personal and important to you?
This subject is personal to me because I know what it feels like to carry pain while trying to appear strong.
After losing my mother to cancer in 2019, I struggled with grief while also experiencing domestic violence and sexual assault. Eventually, I was diagnosed with moderate depression. I learned firsthand what it means to smile on the outside while silently hurting within.
As African American women, we are often expected to be strong for everyone else, but sometimes our strength causes people to overlook our need for support. Through my healing journey, I learned that asking for help is not a weakness, and we deserve the same compassion we give to others.
That is why my platform, Her Health, Her Voice, means so much to me. I want to encourage African American women to prioritize their mental and physical health, advocate for themselves, and seek help without shame.
My motto is: “You can be strong and still need support. Your voice matters, your health matters, and you matter.”
My mission is to turn my pain into purpose and remind every African American woman that she does not have to suffer in silence or fight her battles alone. We deserve to be heard, supported, and cared for, too.
Do you think Black women sometimes find it difficult to admit when they’re struggling emotionally because they feel others expect them to handle everything?
Absolutely. I believe many Black women struggle to admit when they are hurting emotionally because society has taught us that we must always be strong, dependable, and capable of carrying everyone else’s burdens. We become the women who show up for our families, our workplaces, and our communities, even when we are silently struggling ourselves.
There is a stereotype that Black women are strong enough to handle anything, but sometimes that expectation makes it difficult for us to say, “I’m not okay, and I need help, too.” We may worry about being judged, misunderstood, or perceived as weak when, in reality, we are human.
As a Black woman who is passionate about mental health advocacy, I want to remind other women that being strong does not mean suffering in silence. We can be educated, ambitious, dependable, and resilient while still experiencing sadness, anxiety, exhaustion, or moments when we need support.
Black women deserve to be celebrated for their strength, but they also deserve a safe space to lay that strength down and be human.
When people talk about going to college, they often focus on the opportunities and achievements. What do you wish more people understood about the challenges minority students face along the way?
I wish more people understood that being a minority student is about so much more than getting accepted into college or earning a degree. Sometimes, it means being the first in your family to walk a path that no one before you has had the opportunity to take. I come from a small town in Longview, Texas, where neither of my parents attended college. My father did not graduate from high school, and although my mother did, I knew that if I wanted something different for my future, I would have to be willing to work for it.
I knew I wanted more for myself. I did not want my circumstances, my background, or other people’s expectations to determine how far I could go. I tried nursing school twice, and things did not work out the way I had hoped. I remember having to pray, reflect, and trust God enough to understand that sometimes a closed door is not the end of your story; sometimes, it is a redirection toward your purpose. That experience led me to psychology, mental health advocacy, and a greater understanding of the impact I want to make in people’s lives.
What people don’t always see is the financial struggle behind the dream. Minority students can face barriers that go far beyond the classroom. We worry about tuition, scholarships, student loans, and how we will afford to keep going while working to support ourselves. Even now, I am struggling to pay for my education out of pocket.
There have been moments when I have worked multiple jobs, sacrificed sleep, and pushed through exhaustion because I refuse to let financial hardship convince me that my dreams are too big for me.
I am not just working toward a degree; I am working toward changing the legacy of my family. My dream is to become the first doctor on both sides of my family. For me, that would mean so much more than a title. It would mean breaking generational barriers, creating new possibilities for the people who come after me, and showing the next generation that where you come from does not determine where you can go.
I want to be the woman a young Black girl can look at and say, “She came from a small town. She struggled. She faced obstacles. It wasn’t easy, but she did it. If she can do it, so can I.”
That is why I refuse to give up. I want my story to remind students who feel overlooked, underestimated, or financially discouraged that they are worthy of the opportunities they dream about. You do not have to come from a family of doctors to become one. You do not have to have everything figured out to begin. And you do not have to let your current circumstances define your future.
By God’s grace, I am still here, still learning, still fighting, and still believing. I may be the first in my family to take this path, but I pray I will not be the last. I want to leave behind a legacy that tells future generations that they are capable, they are worthy, they are powerful, and they can reach as far as their faith, determination, and hard work will take them.
You graduated with a degree in psychology in 2025. Looking back on your years as a student, what were some of the hardest moments, and what helped you get through them?
When I graduated, I was celebrating every difficult day, every sacrifice, and every moment I wanted to quit but chose to keep going. I was celebrating the little girl inside me who dared to dream of a future bigger than her circumstances.
My journey was not easy, and I often think of my education as building a house. Before you can build something strong and beautiful, you must first lay a solid foundation. For me, that foundation was built through faith, sacrifice, perseverance, and the determination to keep going even when life became difficult. There were times when I felt like my foundation was shaking, when financial struggles and uncertainty made me question how I would reach my goals. But I learned that you cannot rush the building process. You have to take your time, learn from the setbacks, and keep laying one brick at a time.
Earning my bachelor’s degree in Psychology in 2025 was one of the most meaningful milestones in building my foundation. It reminded me that even when the process is difficult, something beautiful can still come from it. I am still building, still growing, and still trusting God with the next chapter of my life.
I may not have the entire house built yet, but I am proud of the foundation I have laid. One day, I hope to stand in the home I have built through education, faith, and hard work, knowing that I did not just build it for myself, but for the generations coming after me. I want them to see that their dreams are worth building, no matter how long it takes.
Another subject you want to discuss is burnout among healthcare workers. Who do you think takes care of the people who spend their days taking care of everyone else?
As a nursing assistant working full-time and caring for the elderly, I understand firsthand what it means to pour into others every single day.
We are often the first faces our residents see in the morning and the people they depend on when that call light goes off. We help them start their day with dignity, compassion, patience, and love because they deserve to feel valued and cared for.
The truth is, healthcare workers, especially nursing assistants, are often overworked, understaffed, and underappreciated. Sometimes we go home physically exhausted and emotionally drained, yet we return the next day because we know someone is depending on us.
But despite the challenges, the smile on a resident’s face, the gratitude in their eyes, and the knowledge that we made someone feel safe and loved make it all worthwhile.
I believe healthcare facilities must prioritize mental health resources, adequate staffing, emotional support, and a workplace culture where employees can speak up without feeling ashamed. We cannot continue to expect people to pour from an empty cup without ever acknowledging the cost.
Sham, between your education, your interest in mental health, and your future in healthcare, what are you most excited about achieving in the coming years?
What excites me most about the coming years is knowing that my story is still being written.
My journey has not been easy, but every challenge has strengthened my determination to keep pursuing my dreams. As a woman with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology who is continuing her education in Health and Human Services Leadership and has a passion for mental health, I dream of earning my doctorate in behavioral health and using my knowledge to change lives.
After more than 12 years in healthcare, I have witnessed how much compassion, patience, and understanding can mean to someone who is struggling. I want to be a voice for those who feel unheard, especially individuals facing mental health challenges and families who don’t know where to turn for help. I want people to know that they are more than their struggles and that asking for help does not make them weak.
My biggest dream is not simply to put another degree behind my name; it is to put purpose behind my name. I want to make my family proud, honor the experiences that have shaped me, and show other women that even when life gets difficult, they should never give up on themselves. By God’s grace, I believe the struggles I face today are preparing me for the people I am called to help tomorrow. My goal is to leave a legacy of compassion, advocacy, and hope and to be able to look back one day and say, “I didn’t give up on the woman God was calling me to become.”