When I first started at the University of Washington, I thought learning was mostly going to happen in massive lecture halls, measured by exams and our GPA. But looking back on my time here, I realized some of the most important things I learned didn’t happen in those settings but rather when I connected with real people. My undergraduate journey has completely shaped who I am, turning my interest in mental health into a real passion for educational justice, specifically for multilingual learners and students who face language barriers in our school systems. 

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This passion wasn’t something I just stumbled upon but really started during my time volunteering with multilingual students at Garfield High School. During my time with them I saw firsthand how much pressure and stress these kids were under, trying to learn English while simultaneously trying to keep up with all their schoolwork. I met brilliant, creative students who really flourished when they felt supported and not judged. I realized that language isn’t just about the words we speak, but for some students it can be directly tied to their identity and confidence. When schools don’t have the right resources for multilingual students, it sends a message that their native language and culture are problems they need to fix rather than strengths to celebrate. This realization helped me start focusing on how systemic inequalities and language barriers affect students' mental health. 

 

My life outside the classroom helped solidify these ideas by joining different campus organizations, which allowed me to have a community that felt like home. These spaces pushed me out of my shell, taught me how to advocate for myself, and reminded me of the importance of lifting up others. They taught me that if you want to help a community, you have to truly listen to them first. 

 

As you look through my portfolio, you’ll see a collection of memories and projects that show my growth. From someone who came from a lower-income community, I know exactly how I want to show up in the world next. Which is why I am very eager to begin my journey to become a School Psychologist. I'm not just going into this field to do assessments or fill out paperwork. Im going in to be an advocate and a bridge-builder. I want to make sure all students that I work with in the future never feel isolated and instead walk into schools that fully support and celebrate exactly who they are.