Ganas & Go

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Ganas & Go

"Ganas" or "tener ganas" means having desire or urge to do something. ¿De que tienes ganas? Let's discuss your goals and get you on a plan of action!

16/11/2025

Resilience Reimagined: A School Psych’s Path to Licensure
The Mindful EPPP Journey & Beyond Podcast explores the "ganas" behind becoming a Licensed Psychologist.
Next, we have a wonderful guest, Alana Smith, who shares her journey in passing the EPPP on her second attempt at the masters level. In case you didn’t know, the EPPP isn’t just for doctoral level clinicians. For North Carolina, to become a Licensed Psychological Associate (LPA) at the M.A. level, the passing score is 440. Alana first took the EPPP in February 2025 and got a 385. On her second and final attempt on October 8th, she scored a 444! She’s got a unique perspective and am excited to explore her journey!
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Alana L. Smith, M.A., NCSP, LPA is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist and Licensed Psychological Associate in North Carolina. She has over 12 years of experience supporting students in traditional, charter and virtual school settings, with expertise in promoting academic, social, and emotional growth. A proud graduate of the University of Miami (B.S. in Psychology) and Loyola Marymount University (M.A. in Educational Psychology), Alana has also served as a Learning Specialist at the collegiate level, guiding student-athletes and general education students toward success.
At the heart of her work is a deep commitment to helping youth to learn, think, and develop in healthy, supportive environments. Recently licensed as an LPA in North Carolina, Alana plans to expand her impact by establishing a private practice focused on assessment and therapy for children and adolescents. Her areas of speciality include culturally relevant psycho-educational evaluations, neurodivergent learners (ie. ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, Gifted), navigating special education (ie, IEP, 504 plans), social skills, self-esteem, anxiety, emotional regulation and coping skills. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys fashion production, family time and college football.
Join us Sunday, November 16, 2025, at 1:30pm PST to hear about her journey and her resilience and ganas in her efforts towards licensure!
Join us LIVE where you can engage with us and ask us questions. If you are unable to make it live, you can catch the replay on YouTube Live ([youtube.com/](https://www.youtube.com/) )or on my website, [mindfulepppjourney.com](https://www.mindfulepppjourney.com/)

11/06/2025

Today, I wanted to share with you my EPPP anniversary. Or as members of my BIPOC accountability group say, my "EPPP Pass-a-versary!" (TM)
I can't believe it's been 4 years since I passed and now am a Licensed Psychologist. What a journey!
I don’t remember my graduation date or defense date or my anniversary with my partner, but I sure as hell remember this day for the rest of my life!! 💪🏽✊🏽🥳🤣
Today, I celebrated with family as they were an integral part of this journey. Through the tears, the fears, the anger, resentment, and hopelessness, to the resilience, perseverance, ganas, and post-traumatic growth. Today was a celebration for us all. They also went through a lot with me.
I vividly remember the proctor handing me the single sheet of paper and the tears running down my face while saying, "You don't know how much I've worked so hard for this. It's been suuuuch a journey!!" Even they cried.
I was at this since 2017 with an unsuccessful attempt in 2018 (423), two in 2019 (480, 490), and October 2020 during the pandemic (480). I finally passed on June 10, 2021 with a 511. I was unemployed, underemployed, and had a lot of life happen during this journey. Now, I help others pass this dreadful exam. Through this pain and sorrow, I found my life's mission. To help other license-eligible clinicians pass the EPPP and increase the number of licensed psychologists, particularly BIPOCs and ADHDers so that we can address the mental health needs of the world. Because ya'll, the world is on fire and we are gravely needed. I do this with joy, humor, and with advocacy.
I hope this post gives you a little hope and inspiration to keep going if you're still on the journey. And if you've passed, congratulations and please let me know if you'd like to share your story on my podcast.
Please remember, "It always seems impossible until it's done." --Nelson Mandela
Keep at it my dear colleague friends. As I always say, I know you will pass. I just don't know when. But trust me that you are capable of passing this exam. If I did it, you sure can too.
In solidarity, 💪🏽✊🏽
Dr. Cheli (Licensed Psychologist and EPPP Coach)
https://www.mindfulepppjourney.com/

23/07/2022

The Mindful EPPP Journey & Beyond Podcast: Dr. Jennifer Nosker's Journey

The Mindful EPPP Journey & Beyond Podcast explores the "ganas" behind becoming a Licensed Psychologist.

Dr. Jennifer Nosker shares her journey of passing the EPPP on her 1st attempt! 🥳💪🏽🤩👏🏽😍🙌🏽

Dr. Jenny's story is INCREDIBLE because she took the exam a few weeks before officially receiving her doctoral degree AND she will be walking into her neuropsychology post-doc EPPP freeeeeeee!!!! Wow, what an achievement!

Dr. Jenny had the fortitude of meeting Dr. Naudia Moorley, who provided mentorship and guidance on how to navigate the EPPP and was the mentor who we ALL wished we had! Dr. Naudia will be our special guest interviewer and together, we explore Dr. Jenny's EPPP journey and what it took to pass on the first go.

Join us on Saturday, July 23, 2022 at 2:30pm PST to hear how she passed and how you can do it too!

Join us LIVE on Facebook or visit the podcast link on my podcast page

https://www.facebook.com/events/1049122859044827

05/05/2022

OMG!!!! Guess what?!? I'm a fu***ng LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST!!!!!!! 🎉🍾🎉😭😍🤩🥳🥂🥂🥂

The journey started in 2016 and this chapter is finally closed!!!

I can’t believe I almost went to bed not seeing this! May the 4th be with me!! 💪🏽

If I can do it, so can you!! 💪🏽🥳✊🏽

26/09/2021

This post is long overdue...about 3 months overdue! It's taken this long to recover, but here goes....

It’s finally my turn to share my story of triumph in pole vaulting the EPPP on my 5th attempt! I can finally move on to the next step (i.e., CPLEE) in officially becoming a bilingual/bicultural Spanish-speaking, Latina, Licensed Psychologist!!

I passed on Thursday, 6/10/2021 with a 511. This is the text I sent out to friends and family that were anxiously praying, cheering, and waiting for my results on Thursday:
“I FU***NG DID IT!!!! I passed!!!!!! 🙏🏽😍🤗💪🏽💪🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽”

I was DELIGHTED to see the ONE sheet of paper! I CRIIIIEEEED when the proctor handed me the single sheet of paper with a passing score! I even made them cry when I said, “It’s been such a looong journey.”

It has been a journey folks! I cried. People cried! I’ve been at this since 2017 with unsuccessful attempts in 2018, two in 2019 (I got close with a 490), and October 2020 during the pandemic. I’ve been unemployed, underemployed, and had a lot of life happen during this journey.

Tune in to my upcoming podcast episode where I will share my process, both personal and internal to finally passing the EPPP!! 🎤

09/03/2021

In honor of International Women’s Day, I’d like to raise a graduation cap to all the women who are SUPERCHINGONAS in pursuing their education. I'm grateful to my family for their support in my educational journey. Especially grateful to my parents who said, "We don't have an inheritance to leave you with, but your education is the only inheritance we can leave you with that no one can take away."

Here's to all the first-gen women working with GANAS to achieve their dreams!

👩🏻‍🎓💪🏽

01/09/2020

For those that are in the process of studying for the EPPP exam to get licensed as psychologists, I'm excited to share that I am officially opening the doors to a study group I developed to help increase the number of bilingual/bicultural psychologists and first-gen BIPOC psychologists!! This has been a labor of love and triumph over adversity.

After talking to so many PhD/PsyD's, hearing their stories, listening to their pain and suffering due to being in unlicensed limbo, including my own, and not being able to call ourselves Psychologists, I turned my anger, frustration, and helplessness into a social justice mission. To help us pass the exam!!

If you or anyone you know is interested in joining, I'm offering a free day pass so people can get a feel for the group and see if it's right for them. It's called the Mindful EPPP Journey. 😀🦸‍♀️🌱🌴

I'm very exited to share this with you all as we are needed now more than ever! 💪

mindfulepppjourney.com

28/08/2020

This EPPP has been a rollercoaster of a journey for me. I declare today as a great success in that I was able to accomplish a lot in just a couple of hours.

I'd like to share my wins for the week and would love to learn about yours! Post in the comments below a win, big or small.

Whatever your goal is, every step counts!! :D

27/08/2020

It’s National Dog Day! This is my cohost for my upcoming podcast. 🤣

Spunky, intelligent

This little guy brings me such joy!! He spent all day “hiding” his bone in his bed. 🦴

12/08/2020

Accommodations Request Approved! 🎉

I've been waiting for this email for some time. It took a lot of work for my request for accommodations to get approved. It's definitely been a mindful journey! 🧘🏽‍♀️

I've been working on this since I failed the EPPP exam last December 2019. I finally got health insurance in January 2020 and was able to access a provider who filled out the paperwork in February. Then COVID hit and didn't get around to sending it to the Board until June. My request got rejected. I appealed noting the health disparities I faced and the adverse impact that this exam has caused. The reviewer had some compassion for my case and I completed what they requested. Today, I received the email that stated that I was approved. Hallelujah! 🙌🏽

No more rushing to use the restroom, doing jumping jacks in the bathroom, stuffing my face with a snack and running back in so as not to eat into my exam time. That clock don't stop! ⏰

I feel confident that with the extra time to take breaks, I will be able to re-charge and pass this exam once and for all!!! 💪🏽🏆💪🏽

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Ganas & Go!

Ganas = Desire

"Ganas" or "tener ganas" means having desire or urge to do something. According to Urban Dictionary, the term was popularized by Edward James Olmos where he played Jaime Escalante, a math teacher in the movie Stand and Deliver. He is quoted to say, "You're going to work harder here than you've ever worked anywhere else. And the only thing I ask from you is 'ganas.' Desire...If you don't have the ganas, I will give it to you, because I'm the expert."

Throughout my educational and professional trajectory and influenced by my Mexican culture, "ganas" has been embedded in my way of being. Nothing is too hard, a challenge is always overcome, and when I feel like giving up (e.g., attaining my doctoral degree), somewhere somehow, I draw up the energy and "ganas" to keep going. In research, it's what we call grit, resilience, persistence, and perseverance.

I've met so many successful and driven people like myself, that sometimes find that it's a bit challenging or overwhelming to keep up our stamina with the amazing things that we do. We often find ourselves, "oh...I want to do this," "I plan to do that," or "I'll get to that sometime." Sometime doesn't exist. The time is now. I want to help you capitalize on your "ganas" and support you in moving forward with your goals. I've been thinking about coaching for a while and while watching my new favorite show, The Profit, I came up with the idea of "Ganas & Go!" Let's take your ganas...and go! Let's achieve your goals and dreams, because you have a lot to contribute to the world and universe. What do you have ganas for? What have you always wanted to do but were afraid to take the first step? What are you currently working on that you'd like to successfully complete?