Cassetta Scott shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Cassetta, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What is a normal day like for you right now?
Yes! I would love to introduce myself to readers and tell them about me! My day-to-day life would hardly be considered “normal.” I wear many hats and hold numerous responsibilities, so each day requires flexibility, openness, and a willingness to handle whatever comes my way. I work a standard 8-to-5 schedule as a supervisor, overseeing multiple counties across North Carolina—including Montgomery, Rockingham, Randolph, Guilford, Alamance, Person, Caswell, Orange, Durham, Wake, and Johnston County.
After that, I continue my passion for service by providing outpatient therapy to clients across four different platforms. My evenings are often filled with nonprofit work through Chrissy’s Place of Refuge and spending quality time with my children and grandchild. When time permits, I share uplifting and positive messages through Chrissy’s Voices of Reason to inspire hope and encouragement in others.
Each day presents new challenges and opportunities, and I approach them all with gratitude, determination, and the best of my ability.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Cassetta Scott, though most people in my family and community know me as Chrissy—a nickname I proudly embrace. I’m often described as a go-getter, and I carry that spirit into everything I do. I am a mother of three—ages 26, 20, and 18—and a proud grandmother of one.
Despite my flaws and imperfections, I strive daily to do what’s right and to live with purpose. My nonprofit organization, Chrissy’s Place of Refuge, serves as a reflection of that mission. As mentioned in previous interviews, I work a standard 8-to-5 schedule as a supervisor, overseeing multiple counties across North Carolina, including Montgomery, Rockingham, Randolph, Guilford, Alamance, Person, Caswell, Orange, Durham, Wake, and Johnston. Alongside that, I provide outpatient therapy through four different platforms and will begin my Ph.D. program in Psychology this January to further expand my clinical knowledge and impact.
Through Chrissy’s Place of Refuge, we are working diligently to finish the year strong in partnership with Cherry Crawford and Kingdom of Priest Mamlekhet Kohanim, focusing on feeding Title I schools and supporting families throughout the holiday season. In the face of economic challenges, we remain committed to building bridges within the community—not just speaking about change, but showing it through action.
I am also finalizing a mental health workbook and coloring book in collaboration with Below the Brim LLC, an incredible artist and creative partner. This project aims to connect thought, emotion, and creativity as tools for healing and self-discovery. The workbook is designed to help individuals explore who they once were, who they are now, and who they aspire to become, encouraging deep reflection and emotional growth.
I don’t view myself or my organization as “unique” in the sense of being different for the sake of distinction. There are many others doing meaningful work to uplift those in need. However, I believe that true uniqueness lies in authentic connection in allowing people to see our hearts and determine for themselves what sets us apart. Helping others isn’t about standing out; it’s about showing up. Our goal is simply to be an asset to others, to serve with compassion, and to make a lasting impact where it’s needed most.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
This is truly a hard question to answer—not because I don’t know who I am, but because of the journey my life has taken to shape the person I am today. With tears in my eyes, I respond, believing that transparency can be a blessing and a guide for someone else’s journey toward change.
As a child, I believed there was no beauty inside me. My heart and mind were filled with darkness, shaped by being fatherless and carrying the pain inflicted by others. I thought to be beautiful, my skin needed to be lighter, and to be happy, I had to fit in and be accepted by others. These beliefs were not created in a vacuum, they were the result of others’ brokenness spilling over onto me, distorting my sense of self.
I had to learn not to let my father’s brokenness, or the pain of my past define me. Today, my beauty is defined by how I treat others and how I view myself. My skin tone is no longer a source of self-doubt. I now see myself as whole, resilient, strong, radiant, and ravishing. I’ve learned that my peace and tranquility are nurtured by limiting my encounters with those who do not see my true value and embracing the company of those who recognize my beauty unconditionally. I cannot heal in environments that nearly broke me, which is why I guard my peace so fiercely.
True understanding, emotional intelligence, and unconditional love require no explanation. To those individuals, I love and appreciate you! Their selflessness and acceptance embody true friendship, family, and support.
I’ve also learned that life is about creating your own story, not solely based on where you started, but on the vision of who you want to become. You cannot achieve this by trying to serve your own purpose while also trying to meet the needs of those who lack the emotional intelligence to understand you. Give others space and grace to grow into who they are meant to be if that is their desire. This teaches us that it is okay not to have it all together. What matters is not how you start, but how you finish, building a life of purpose, meaning, and fulfillment.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
Wow! Another deep, but meaningful question! If I may, I’d like to approach this from a slightly different perspective. My mind naturally shifts perceptions and explores alternative ways of thinking.
An unknown author once quoted, “The mask we wear to protect our pain often keeps the light from finding us!” I personally believe that you cannot hide pain. It speaks, not only in words, but in the subtle, nonverbal ways we carry ourselves. Yet, every day that we choose to get up and try again, we empower ourselves. Pain becomes our superpower when we allow it to motivate us and guide us in helping and healing others.
There is no specific timeline for when this transformation occurs. Life has allowed me to feel pain, gain empowerment, and wield my superpower simultaneously. Even today, I still feel pain, but those experiences remind me to stay focused on my goals and to carry the lessons I’ve learned forward. These experiences have shaped and molded me. Without them, we risk forgetting the journey it took to get here, and we lose sight of what truly matters.
I never want to become self-centered or arrogant. True success is measured not only by the good moments, but also by the challenges, the setbacks, and the lessons learned along the way. Every part of the journey matters because it all contributes to the person we become.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
My perspective has shifted with this question as well. I don’t feel that smart people are inherently “wrong.” But are we assuming that being smart means a life without struggle, or that it automatically equals success? Perspective shapes everything—how questions are asked, how we respond, and how we interpret life.
I believe that opportunity and lack of experience with struggle often cause people to misunderstand or undervalue the concept of hardship. When you struggle, you take life and circumstances more seriously. You appreciate what you have because you understand the effort, sacrifice, and resilience it took to achieve it.
Being smart is not a deficit in my eyes. Intelligence does not preclude understanding life, recognizing challenges, or knowing how things should be done. However, when smartness is mixed with judgment, greed, or arrogance, then the perspective becomes flawed. To feel entitled, that all that matters is where you are, what you have, or what you receive—and to dismiss the struggles of those without support or head starts is a misunderstanding of life.
Life is ultimately influenced by chance, and chance can shift the scales of success in an instant. Recognizing struggle, appreciating effort, and staying humble are what make intelligence meaningful.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
I love this question! I love it because it allows me to see things that many people don’t understand often. I recognize that our experiences shape our connections and the ways we show up in the world. A missing or emotionally unavailable parent can cause more pain and long-term impact on a child than many realize. I also understand that people often expect others to behave in certain ways, even when they have never been taught or exposed to those behaviors.
You cannot get more from someone than what has been put into them. If a person has never experienced love, you cannot expect love in return. You cannot expect someone to know how to love you if they have not yet mastered the concept of loving themselves. Misconceptions and misunderstandings often lead us to believe in ideals that do not exist, and this has caused much pain and brokenness over the years. This is one reason why families are fractured, and why many struggle to treat each other with care and understanding.
Lastly, I understand that when people experience pain without fully grasping its magnitude, it can make them impulsive, numb, or guarded in how they think and feel. These behaviors are often judged by others who don’t know the battles that shaped them. Once you connect the pieces and gain clarity, you begin to see how profoundly experiences impact everyone’s life, and how much compassion and understanding are truly needed.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://chrissysplaceofrefuge.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrissysplaceofrefuge?igsh=MXcyc251MG96YXNjMA==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/17fwF34rtp/
