AS

Hello! My name is A.S. and I am a first-generation Filipina sophomore at UC Berkeley. Growing up, my family and I moved a lot because we couldn’t pay for housing and childcare and it took a toll on my mental health as I was pressured to succeed at school in hopes of providing my family with a better economic life. However, I pushed myself too hard in college and was burnt out. I began to develop self-destructive habits and my symptoms worsened to the point that I had to take a reduced course load and drop my extra-curriculars. In the spring semester of 2021, I got involved with a fellowship called NavCal that encouraged me to become a go-getter by applying for scholarships and seeking mental health services. My NavCal mentor told me about the Orion Fund grant which I used to pay for my therapy sessions.

As a low-income person of color, there are many constraints we face that cause our mental and physical health to deteriorate. In the future, I want to pursue a PhD in Public Health or Sociology to do research on community health as well as work for a nonprofit that works to increase the representation of minorities in higher education. Though this path is not for certain, I know that I’ll continue to get involved with organizations that empower marginalized communities as I want to represent their interests and focus on what makes us resilient.