Meet Kassidy Butler

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

Kassidy, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?

I believe optimism is a continuous work in progress—not just for me, but for everyone. Life is a rollercoaster, full of unexpected highs and lows, each one testing our ability to hold onto hope in different ways.

For me, finding optimism has often felt like an uphill battle. From a young age, I struggled with my mental health, repeatedly surrounding myself with environments that made me feel unworthy of simply existing. This led to some of my darkest moments when hope felt completely out of reach. I lived in a cloud of depression and self-doubt, convincing myself that I wasn’t good enough, that I had no purpose, that I simply couldn’t. Over time, hopelessness became my comfort zone.

I feel my optimism was first ignited unexpectedly when I either had read somewhere or someone important in my life said the simple phrase of “Everything Happens for a Reason.”. For some reason, those words clicked. They gave me a new kind of comfort, the idea that everyone has a path in life, and that it’s much like a rollercoaster. The highs and lows of a rollercoaster are a part of the same ride because it’s the full experience. If there weren’t highs and lows in life, it wouldn’t be the full experience. I started to see that my negative experiences didn’t have to define my worth; instead, they could shape my purpose.

Even now, I still struggle with self-worth and holding onto hope through both good and bad times. It’s easy to fall back into old patterns, to let negativity feel familiar and safe. What gives me optimism is reflection on the past—whether it’s ten years, five years, or even just one—and knowing that I’m proud of the person I am today. I’m not ashamed of the negative experiences that I have gone through, because I know I would not be the person that I am today. As much as the phrase “Everything happens for a reason” might seem cliché, I truly believe that everything in my life has unfolded for a reason—and will continue to. Which keeps me optimistic about the long future of how I will feel.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

My journey through college has been anything but conventional, especially in finding my passion for interior design. Before studying Interior Design, I was an NCAA Women’s Lacrosse player. I had trained my entire life to be recruited onto a college team—lacrosse was my passion. However, my freshman year in 2020 (at the height of COVID) changed everything. College athletics were not the same, and I quickly realized I was unprepared for the shift from being the best player in my small Colorado town to competing at the NCAA level. I felt like I had failed myself and my lifelong dream.

I went through the recommended redshirting process, but instead of helping, it drained my love for the sport in an incredibly short amount of time. There were many factors in the play, including my ongoing struggles with mental health, but that year alone made me completely lose my passion for lacrosse. I resented everything about it. With my optimism at this time, I could tell my environment was not serving me to feel worthy, and I needed to go somewhere where I would feel worth. Through this, I was blessed with the opportunity to find a new passion that was going to grow throughout college.
When I had to go back to the drawing board and figure out what I truly loved outside of lacrosse, I struggled. I wasn’t sure I had any other interests. Then, I thought back to my childhood and remembered my fascination with home environments—how a home, a person’s sanctuary, could be designed to feel beautiful and comforting. I used to attend model home shows with my mom, putting on my imaginary hard hat and pretending I had designed them. That nostalgic memory sparked something in me.

After researching interior design and speaking with family friends in the industry, I decided to visit the nearest art school that offered the program. My mom and I traveled to Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), where I was introduced to a wonderland of creatives—something I knew I wanted to be part of. I transferred the following fall. Though I still felt resentment toward lacrosse, I remain grateful for the friendships I gained from that experience, especially my best friend Casey, who showed me what genuine friendship looks like after years of heartbreak in that area.

Starting at SCAD, I felt hopeful yet anxious. It was an entirely new experience. I even decided to give lacrosse another shot and played on the women’s team that fall. But one morning, I woke up feeling overwhelmed by anxiety—something I had never experienced before. That semester, I struggled with confidence in a way I never had. The mix of mental health challenges and self-doubt ultimately led me to quit lacrosse for good, a decision I still sometimes regret. But I remind myself that everything happens for a reason.

Without lacrosse in my daily routine, I was able to focus entirely on my classes. I never considered myself a “born artist,” and attending an art school like SCAD was a completely new challenge. I had been an athlete, all my life—creativity and design were unfamiliar territories. But a mentor once told me, “You don’t need to be born an artist. It’s just like lacrosse—you have to practice getting better.” That advice stuck with me and has guided me throughout my time at SCAD, reminding me that with dedication, I can improve and grow in anything I’m passionate about.

Now, as a senior, I can’t believe I’ve made it to this point. I have a vivid memory of sitting in the back of my mom’s car as a kid, counting how many years of school I had left—it was over eleven. I remember whining about how far away the finish line felt. Now, I find myself sad that this chapter is coming to an end.

I’m currently in my Capstone class, a 20-week project where aspiring designers identify a problem, they’re passionate about and explore how it can be addressed through research and design. My project focuses on the question:

How can interior spaces for partial hospitalization patients be reimagined to become more accessible for college students suffering from eating disorders?

This research stems from my passion for mental health advocacy and my personal experience as a patient in an eating disorder treatment center. During my sophomore year at SCAD, I was admitted to treatment and temporarily unenrolled from school. It was one of the lowest points in my life, but I knew I needed help. During that time, I realized how much improvement was needed in the design of spaces meant for healing—places intended to support both the body and mind. I’m now 75% through my Capstone project, and I’m incredibly excited to present my research and final designs for a hypothetical treatment center.

Graduation is around the corner, and while I’m excited, I also recognize how much I crave consistency and balance, something I haven’t had as a student. That lack of balance has taken a toll on me, and I’m eager to transition into a phase where I feel I have time and resources to focus on myself internally. Which is the balance I need. My dream is to enter the interior design industry with optimism, using my skills to create spaces that help people heal—mentally and emotionally.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

-The curiosity to find purpose and reasoning.
Shift your mindset. It’s all about the wolf you feed. (Good or Bad). If you feed the good wolf with self-love and encouragement the bad wolf just exists. Allowing for the self-epiphany moments to flow in. Creating a deeper understanding within oneself.

-You need to take time for yourself before you can become your best self.
When your body and mind are screaming for you listen to it. I do have a picture of my kid self I look at the remember who I’m fighting for.

-Use your traumas and hurtful experiences to be the fuel to your everyday battles.
I do have a picture of my kid self I look at the remember who I’m fighting for.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

My parents are truly my ride-or-dies. The most impactful thing they do every single day is believe in me—believing that I’m going to do good things and make the right choices, even when I feel like I can’t or won’t. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them fighting for me every step of the way.

My mom has been my best friend through everything. When I lost everyone, she was the one who remained. She has and does stand by me and is always the loudest voice on the sidelines, cheering me on.

My dad is truly my hero. He has faced immense adversity yet continues to fight for himself, his family, and what is right. Internally, we share many of the same traits—something he worries about, but I see as a bond that deepens our understanding of each other and the struggles we face.

I could not go without recognizing my two brothers Kyle and Sean who have been my partners in crime and always seek to want what is best for me always. Lastly my boyfriend Jordan who has supported and loved me through all my madness. All of these people have had such an incredible impact on my life and the person I have become today.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @kassidynicoleb
• Linkedin: -kassidy-butler- www.linkedin.com/in/-kassidy-butler-

Image Credits

N/A All from my phone