OUR STORY

My name is Ashley Guillermo, and I started Project Ring when I was 16 years old. Growing up, I often felt like I was alone in my struggles with mental health. It wasn’t until I was placed in a therapeutic program in high school that I realized how many people were facing similar challenges—yet the lack of education and the stigma surrounding mental illness kept many from talking about it. Society wasn’t learning enough about mental health, and as a result, people like me felt isolated. I wish I had known then what I know now: I wasn’t alone, and I was bigger than my anxiety, pain, and fear.

For years, I coped in unhealthy ways, But on my 16th birthday, I got my first tattoo—a semicolon with a heartbeat leading into a butterfly. Inspired by the Semicolon Project, it symbolized that my story wasn’t over. The heartbeat reminded me that I was still here, and the butterfly came from a therapy exercise where we drew butterflies on our skin instead of self-harming, giving them names and purpose to protect them—and ourselves.

That same year, I started Project Ring. It began as a way to give back to the unhoused population and has since evolved into a mission to raise awareness about mental health and break the stigma surrounding it. Over the years, I have raised thousands of dollars by selling beaded bracelets, with all proceeds going to nonprofits that provide housing, clothing, food, and mental health support for those in need. Since starting Project Ring, I’ve had the privilege of helping others find healthier coping skills, recognize their worth, and understand that things do get better.

Today, I’m 25 years old, married, and working as a paramedic in Jersey City. In my career, I see firsthand how mental health struggles impact people’s lives—whether it’s a patient in crisis, someone who has lost access to treatment, or an individual experiencing homelessness due to untreated mental illness. My experiences, both personal and professional, have only strengthened my commitment to Project Ring and its mission.

Even though sharing my story is deeply personal, I do it because I want others to know they’re not alone. Your struggle does not define you, and it does not determine your future. Healing is possible, and life does get better—I’ve lived it, and I’ve seen it happen for others, too.