Today we’d like to introduce you to Mercedes Hickman.
Hi Mercedes, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My story, where do I begin. I was born in Austell, GA, but raised in St. Louis, Missouri. My favorite motto is Georgia made me, but St. Louis raised me. I was raised in an underserved community where various family upbringings were observed. One particular family was a neighbor who resided downstairs from my family. I recall at the age of ten years old hearing this six years old child yelling and crying at the top of her lungs from a beating she received. It was that moment that I realized I wanted to save children, protect them, you know overall be a safe haven. Fast forward to undergraduate at Southeast Missouri State University where I majored in Social Work, volunteered at Big Brother Big Sister, and was a member of a service fraternity that was strictly dedicated to providing community service in the local area.
After completing undergraduate school, I worked for the Department of Family and Children Services and CORE service agencies before attending graduate school at Clark Atlanta University (CAU). At CAU, I studied and received my master’s in Social Work with an emphasis in mental health. I interned at Peachford Hospital and this is where I obtained my true passion for crisis work. I later became a full-time employee at Peachford. Another lesson I learned working was “this work is stressful.” During group sessions, one of the most well-received ice breakers was guided imagery (a relaxation technique where you visualize positive or peaceful settings). My peaceful place is a beach, something about the sounds of the ocean makes me forget any and all troubles of the world near or far. In 2014 after graduating from CAU, I rewarded myself with a trip to the Dominican Republic. It was then that I promised myself and my travel agent that I needed to escape everyday life at minimum once a year to the Caribbean. I have honestly kept that promise to myself, so much so that my travel agent is now my mentor as I run my own travel agency business called Mellow Escapes. Before starting Mellow Escapes, I worked as an agent under my travel agent/mentor. It was the push she gave me at the beginning of the COVID pandemic to start my own business.
I mean seriously, who starts a travel business in the middle of a pandemic and the world shutting down, LOL. Nonetheless, I stuck through it. Helping my clients plan their vacations to the Caribbean (my specialty) excites me as I envision helping them escape the daily stressors of the world to relax, relate, and release. Now today, I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I am a supervisor for the Veterans Crisis Line, managing a team of 12. I provide support to my team by pressing self-care. We explore of course traveling, financially feasible places to travel to, staycation ideas, or even how to make your home a “vacation.” I am successfully running Mellow Escapes Travel Agency creating budget-feasible escapes for clients. Mellow Escapes specializes in Caribbean and Mexico travel for groups, solo travel, and couples travel for any occasion. Along with being a therapist and a travel agent, I continue to give back to the community. When I travel, I donate to schools in the destination that I travel to. I also continue to give back to local schools. Most recently, I have enjoyed donating to Harper Archer Elementary School as well as being a part of the Christmas Angel Program at the school.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
If you can name a road that is smooth, it has to be a road less traveled, LOL. The biggest struggle along the way has honestly been myself, you know, learning how to get out of my own way. I remember my plan was to never go to college. I wanted to study cosmetology and open a salon to run from behind the scenes. Now that I answer this out loud, how crazy does it sound to go to school for something then hide your talents by never wanting to work in the salon. Anyway, it was my parents who told me I had no choice but to attend college. It was the best decision after I learned how to again, get out of my own way, put one foot in front of the other, and stop trying to figure how to control every outcome of things. I have anxiety disorder and with it, the main thing is I worry too much about the what-ifs. Worrying about the what ifs has probably kept me from succeeding sooner, making connections with others, better yet, telling my story to Voyage ATL. I have to be in control of things and know the exact answers of everything before I can apply whatever to business, work, and/or personal life. When things aren’t in control the way that I want it to be, all anxiety breaks loose, I shut down and lose focus. It’s my family and friends and a therapist voice in my head that screams, “GET OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY” that keeps me going.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I like to think of myself as one of the many lifesavers in the world of clinicians. Currently, I am employed with the Veterans Crisis Line as a Crisis Responder Supervisor. I worked as a Crisis Responder myself for approximately five years before becoming a supervisor. I provide clinical support to a substantial amount of staff on the crisis line. I also provide direct supervision and support to my direct team of 12 fabulous lifesavers. I am also a business owner of a travel agency. Mellow Escapes was developed in 2021. My travel agency specializes in Caribbean group, solo, couples travel. Recently I’ve added cruises back to our destination list. I started this business with just myself, but I also recently just hired a sub-agent who also specializes in Caribbean and Mexico travel as well as domestic travel. I believe the major thing that sets my travel agency apart from others is that I do not have hidden fees or agendas. I truly understand how it is to want to travel but feel like you cannot afford to do so. I do my best to provide budget-friendly options without the goal of having a hidden agenda or making someone feel like they are being taken advantage of. I am known for being a therapist, confidant and a travel agent. I can listen to your problems and tell you how to escape your problems (did I mention being known as a comedian too). LOL, seriously though, I am proud of being able to provide services to so many people in the world when the world seems like it’s crashing down on them. I am proud of continuing to get out of my own way and be on the forefront of running my own business (remember I mentioned running a business in the distance). Like I’m literally the face of Mellow Escapes. I am just proud of simply being the person that I was created to be.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson I’ve learned along my journey is that it is MY journey. There are so many pressures of the world that can easily make one feel like they are not where they should be. For example, my grandmother asks me all the time, “When are you going to have children, my daughter is ready to be a grandmother.” Her question alone and observing other women my age around me with children made me question my journey years ago. However, now at the age of 36, my only answer to questions like that is, “It’s MY journey” with no further explanation. Being confident in knowing that my life’s journey has me exactly where I’m supposed to be, surrounded by the friends/family that I need, and I’m glad about it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mellowescapes.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mellowescapesllc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mellowescapes
