A past CASA Mental Health patient is realizing her academic goals of becoming a nurse, thanks in part to a CASA scholarship.
Piper Przybylski is the recipient of the 2024 Emily Taylor Scholarship. The scholarship was created by Rick and Stephanie Taylor in honour of their daughter Emily, who died by suicide in 2013, with the aim of helping other adolescents who struggle with mental illness advance their education.
In January 2017, Piper was admitted to CASA House, a live-in program for teens in Grades 7 to 12 living in Edmonton and northern Alberta.
The program serves youth with various needs including severe mental health challenges, addiction issues, complex learning needs, family problems or social issues.
While she was nervous about going into CASA House, Piper says it was a “very safe, welcoming place” and she was able to make instant bonds with some of the staff.
“Going to CASA House, it showed me, safe people exist,” says Piper. “When I left CASA, I left with that knowledge…That whole mindset stuck with me. Just knowing that people care and want to help… I would say it sparked hope in a way.”
During a hospital stay about a year after attending CASA House, Piper saw one of the nurses she had in the program.
“I didn’t have family or anything, but she was there, and I’ve known ever since then I just want to be in a position to be able to (support) someone like she did for me.”
Piper is currently in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at Northwestern Polytechnic, which is a collaborative degree program with the University of Alberta.
While she wants to get experience in all fields, Piper says she is leaning towards adolescent mental health.
Piper says she doesn’t have a lot of outside financial support and has used the scholarship funds to purchase textbooks for her program.
“It definitely has been able to help me focus on school more, as opposed to having to work while I’m in school, because I was a little worried that that would end up happening.”
She says the textbooks are used throughout the entire degree program. “A lot of nurses will just keep them,” says Piper. “A lot of them will reference their textbooks, so I’m set for life now.”
When asked if she could imagine being where she is now prior to attending CASA House, Piper said she thought about a future but not in depth.
“Honestly, I never would have pictured myself here, even going through junior high. I was in my Grade 9 year when I ended up at CASA. I never thought I would end up here. It didn’t seem realistic.”
In 2024, CASA awarded three scholarships to current or past CASA patients. For more information about CASA’s scholarship program and eligibility, please visit https://casamentalhealth.org/scholarships.
