Michelle “Mickey” Harcrow
Degree: Spanish and Human Development and Family Studies with a concentration in Prevention and Intervention Sciences
Mickey Harcrow (she/her) has been recommended as an Outstanding Graduate for the College of Liberal Arts by Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Studies Allyson Brothers. Most notably, Mickey has displayed exceptional perseverance, dedication to growth, and admirable positivity.
Learn more about Mickey’s story below:
1. Why did you choose to study at CSU and how has your background shaped your experience here at CSU? What advice would you give to students of similar identities?
“I chose to study at CSU because I wanted to stay in-state and play ice hockey on the CSU Women’s D1 club ice hockey team. I grew up in a middle-class area where the opportunity to obtain a higher education was fortunately available to me. I experienced some hardships along the way that made my journey difficult and long, but after many years of determination and perseverance, I have finally made it to the end and accomplishing my goal of graduating here at CSU. For other students who have experienced adversity – trauma, mental illness, addiction, hard life events – I would say that those hard feelings are temporary, things get better when you keep trying. Don’t give up. “For this thing we call “failure” is not the falling down, but the staying down.” – Mary Pickford.”
2. What accomplishments from your educational career at CSU are you most proud of? How were you able to accomplish those things?
“I am most proud of my academic journey. I started my freshman year here at CSU in 2013 and had experienced an extreme amount of adverse life events, which stunted my ability to thrive in life and I wasn’t able to succeed academically. After many years of healing through using many resources available to me (many of which were from CSU), I was able to come back, pick a major that I fell in love with, and have success. I played on the CSU women’s ice hockey team each year, and now I’m finishing with two degrees. I feel accomplished in that I didn’t give up when life hit me and that after many years, I finally can say that I am getting my degree!”
3. What has been the most challenging aspect of your educational career so far? How have you overcome those difficulties?
“The most challenging aspect of my educational career so far has been balancing school full-time, serving as the Captain and playing on a college hockey team, coaching hockey, and working a job in the mental crisis field by taking calls for Colorado Crisis Line. I overcame these difficulties by making my mental health my number one priority. Nothing is more important than my own well-being. I show up for myself and self-care is non-negotiable in my day-to-day plan. I find that the more I show up for my body and mind, the more my body and mind show up for me.”
4. What are your post-graduation plans and goals?
“After I graduate, I plan on looking for opportunities to further my education so I can work with people dealing with trauma, addiction and/or mental illness to help guide them into recovery. After I graduate, I will intern at the CSU Trauma and Resilience Assessment Center (CTRAC) while continuing my work at Rocky Mountain Crisis Partners as a Peer Support Specialist. I will also be coaching soccer, ice hockey with my hockey training business – Harcrow Hockey Training – and volunteering at Harvest Farm working with adults in recovery from substances and homelessness. For now, those are my goals, and I am excited to see how they evolve in the future.”
