Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Erica Coppola of Staten Island

We recently had the chance to connect with Erica Coppola and have shared our conversation below.

Good morning Erica, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
Since I haven’t been working for the past two years and am focused on being a full-time student in a graduate program, I have been concentrating more on myself and my mental health. When you’re always busy, you can often neglect taking good care of yourself because you don’t have enough time. I’ve had to realize that it’s okay not to constantly be busy, and that taking care of myself and my needs is actually productive. Since I deal with chronic anxiety and depression, I sometimes try to distract myself from my feelings or juggle too many tasks, which can lead to burnout and overstimulation. It’s okay to just be and approach everything moment by moment.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Erica Ann Coppola. I am 32 years old and was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. I have been living in Staten Island for the last eight years. I am a full-time graduate student and a mental health blogger and advocate. I started my blog website “Ever Powerful Warriors” and my Instagram (Ever Powerful Warriors) after writing my first self-published book, “Ever Powerful,” in 2021. My ultimate goal and passions are to spread awareness on various mental health disorders, share my story along with others I have connected with through online networking and mental health support groups. I hope to help people feel less alone and isolated in their mental health struggles and journey. I aim to post a new blog post on my website at least once a month and keep my Instagram account up to date with educational and informative content for fellow mental health warriors.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Growing up as an only child with Italian-American parents allows you to share a bond that not everyone is fortunate enough to have. Family is everything to Italians, and my parents always know me, what I am going to say, and how I feel before I do. They have supported, motivated, and encouraged me over the years when I was struggling with what I want to do in life and what I am capable of. We can all think we know ourselves completely, but sometimes the people closest to us can see the most just by being there and observing.

When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I have struggled with my mental health since I was a teenager and am open with close friends, family, and use a journal to express my feelings. In my late twenties, after going through many life changes, ending several toxic friendships and relationships, I realized I was still carrying loads of unresolved trauma, emotional pain, and baggage that needed to be unpacked. I decided that it was the perfect time for me to start therapy. It’s scary to open up to someone who doesn’t know you or your story, but it’s also therapeutic to gain insight, coping mechanisms, and have a non-judgmental ear to just listen and to vent. Through therapy, joining online support groups, and connecting with others who are facing similar struggles, I felt less alone and stronger. Being vulnerable isn’t always easy, but it is brave. Removing and dropping the “mask” that we tend to show the world can take loads off us. If I can help anyone else feel less alone or supported by sharing my story, that makes me feel powerful and proud.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
I feel like my closest friends would say that supporting them and encouraging them in everything they want to do really means a lot to me. I am not a perfect friend, daughter, or girlfriend by any means, but I have always done my best to check on others as much as I can, plan outings for us all to reconnect and have fun together, and to show them how much I appreciate them for being by my side, no matter what. Making memories is very important to me. I value loyalty and consistency, and strive to show those who are closest to me and matter most to me the same. I think this is also because when suffering from mental health struggles, I can often feel alone and isolated, so fostering connection means everything to me.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
I would stop doubting myself so much. I am my usual toughest critic. I can talk to myself so negatively. I talk to my friends and family so kindly and give them so much grace and understanding, but barely do the same for myself. I feel that if I continue to speak more positively to myself and believe in myself more, it will help me build more confidence in myself, my skills, and my abilities.

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