Meet April Waugh | Engineer, Runner, Model, Mental Illness Warrior

We had the good fortune of connecting with April Waugh and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi April, what role has risk played in your life or career?
It used to be that when left alone to my devices, I would always gravitate to being extremely risk-averse. Mental illness definitely changed that for me. Coming so close to suicide was both terrifying and (later on) emboldening. When you get to that brink you realize just how bad things can get… and yet I still survived. Imagine the amazing things I can do now that I’ve experienced the “worst case scenario?”

I ran my first marathon, I finally got a long-overdue promotion at work, and I really focused on being a fantastic (not just a decent) mom… all AFTER my hospitalization. There are many other smaller victories peppered in between the major ones, but the point is this: it shouldn’t take a brush with death to spur us to take risks. The only thing I regret is all the years I spent being too fearful to take any risks.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m an engineer who works in the space industry. I have my degree in electrical engineering and have always had a fascination with space. Getting my degree 19 years ago was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done – as I was living with undiagnosed/untreated mental illness. I didn’t know it at the time but I definitely sensed I was “different” from a lot of other students. It wouldn’t be until nearly 13 years later that I finally got the help I needed. Looking back, I am astonished at how I managed to earn such stellar grades while being in such mental turmoil. If I could go back and get help sooner, I WOULD!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my bestie was in town, we’d run EVERY picturesque mountain half marathon we could cram into just a few days! Maybe a concert at Red Rocks, followed by a visit to the (new, revamped!) Casa Bonita! I’d also want to spend some time at Garden of the Gods, and Estes Park! I feel like there are just too many amazing places here in Colorado for just one week… can it be a month? I can work with a month!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to thank my husband and my daughter for being the solid ground during the worst of my days.

Also, my mom – who always answered the phone when I called her in tears and afraid. You never stop needing your mom.

Lastly, I’d like to thank Susan: the psychiatric nurse who showed me SO much kindness and SO much compassion when I was nothing but a shell. I’m convinced she’s an earth angel.

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