UFLi Digital Archive

Template Example

Author: jcr5 (Page 7 of 11)

Julio Reyes (’12) and Renata Mauriz (‘17.5)

By

On November 21, 2019

In Identity Center

This week, we’re introducing our newest project highlighting our collaborations with identity centers on campus. To kick off the project, we interviewed our very own Julio Reyes (he/him/his) and Renata Mauriz (she/her/hers). Reyes ’12 is the Program Director of the U-FLi Center & Mauriz ’17 is the Student Success Coordinator and works closely with the FLi Students Program (FLiSP). Read more below:

How are you? How’s your year going so far?
J: I’m doing well. I’m a little sick. It’s the end of September. I think a lot of students have been sick recently but I’m feeling good about the year ahead and all the things we’re going to be doing.

R: I’m doing well. I’m proud to have managed to not have gotten sick throughout September when everyone around me was on Vitamin C on a daily basis. I’m a little sad it’s 50 degrees today but I’m hoping my light lamp will lift up my mood.

Jumping right in, can you talk about the equity-asset-based approach and how that ties into the programming at the center?
J: An equity-asset based approach, or EAB, is doing multiple things simultaneously. I think it’s understanding that there are systemic issues and problems that impact a students ability to be here at Brown or succeed academically. It’s acknowledging the systems of oppression students might be confronting. The asset based piece says, yes we have a systemic analysis, but we also understand that regardless or maybe in spite of those challenges, students come to Brown with different strengths and values that make them stand out and help them navigate the institution. It’s what happens, unfortunately, at private elite institutions like the one we’re at right now. Some of those values U-FLi students might have aren’t normalized in our current culture. Our work is to make sure we’re helping students really understand what those strength are and helping them map that onto how they navigate Brown. 

R: And the equity aspect of this also comes in thinking about, we’re not saying things are not going to be hard, or that there are no barriers to access or to success in our community. We’re acknowledging that there are, both outside the institution as larger systems like the immigration system, the economic system, and in the institution. So we’re saying let’s work with administrators to assess what those barriers are on a more systemic level instead of creating band-aid solutions.

How do you see the programming at the UFLi center in conversation with the programming of other identity centers? How have past collaborations come about?
R: Part of shifting away from doing our programming as a center individually has been really critically thinking about the experiences students hold and the identities they bring once they enter Brown through an intersectional lens. A student may come into Brown, maybe queer, maybe low-income, maybe first-gen, maybe a person of color — why should our programming not reflect that intersectionality with their identities and experiences?

J: I think by having us think very intentionally about the concept of intersectionality, but also intersectional identities, we understand that people come with different experiences and backgrounds but also understand the ways in which oppression underlies all of that. I think it’s been important for us to look at how we’re providing avenues or platforms for people who sit at the margins of communities. So you’ll notice that a lot of our programming does center queer and trans people of color. Not always, but that’s where we’re focusing our work right now. We’re making sure we’re highlighting different experiences and the work of different people who are doing interesting things, either at Brown or elsewhere. Then we also have the opportunity to collaborate with other centers that have similar social justice values that we do and want to work really intentionally on these projects.

R: It all starts with relationships as well. Julio and I try to be very intentional about actually getting to know other staff that we’re collaborating with and even ask does this idea feel good for us to do as a team? Not necessarily doing something because we feel like we have to but doing something that’s also thinking about ourselves and what we’re bringing but also what we’re taking from an experience together.

What are you hoping to see in this year’s programming?
J: We have ideas. We haven’t necessarily sat down and determined exactly what we’re going to do and who we’re going to invite. We’re really thinking about issues related to class, but also things that impact immigrant communities. We want to do it in a way that also centers the idea of creation. What are people having to create due to whatever circumstances they’re living in? I think that really does speak to an EAB approach. Yes, there are systemic issues in the problem but there are people in the world that fall within particular identities that we work with under the U-FLi center that are cultivating communities or creating new programs or creating new initiatives or creating things as artists that are counter to some of these trauma narratives we’re so used to hearing about working class immigrant communities. That’s kind of what we want to focus on this year.

R: I think starting with the three DJs that we brought to campus was a way for us to think about the folks sitting at the margins in specific industries as well. We invited them not necessarily for them to speak about their experiences as queer undocumented women of color, but for them to speak about how have they, despite of all of the lack of access to opportunities, how have they created the spaces and the opportunities and the work that enables them to thrive through a creative lens. It’s putting out there different forms of resistance and different ways of being in relationship with one another and creating and working that are conducive to the type of world we want to live in.

Something you’re looking forward to?
J: I’m looking forward to connecting with more students and seeing the center grow. By that I mean the amount of engagement we see with students. We’ve already seen an increase just this past month but I’m excited to see where we go with that, how we can connect with more first year students and get to know them, and hearing what students might want and need from the center.

R: Similarly to Julio, I do look forward to continuing to cultivate genuine relationships with students and being someone who I wish I had a relationship with when I was a student. In a lot of ways I’ve been able to do a 360. As I was a student struggling at some point in this university, now I have an opportunity to be on the other side of things and be a system of support, not just in times of crises but also in times of joy and celebration. So I’m looking forward to creating more spaces for joy among our student population like our block party. I’m looking forward to taking over more spaces where I see laughter and see community happening in real time.

Santi Hernandez (’21)

By

On November 21, 2019

In Student Group, Student Highlight

This week, we interviewed Santi Hernandez (they/them), a junior from Los Angeles, CA, for our weekly student highlight series. Hernandez is concentrating in Public Health & Ethnic Studies. They are involved with the Queer Alliance (QA), Nurturing Alignment through the Brown Center for Students of Color (BCSC), The Next Thing (TNT), and Bonner Community Fellows through the Swearer Center. Read more below:

How’s your semester so far?
Where do I even start? I think this semester, I don’t know what about it, but I’ve been reflecting a lot and reevaluating, especially because I’ve hit the halfway mark of Brown. I’ve kind of gotten into a half-college-crisis of what I’ve done these past few years, how I’ve grown these past few years, and what I want to accomplish in the rest of my time here. So it’s really daunting to think about but I think it’s forced me to reevaluate how I want to spend the rest of my time here and how I want to be present.

What are you most excited for this semester?
I’m really excited for two things: The Next Thing, which we call TNT, and Nurturing Alignment. Aquielle, the other TNT coordinator, has been putting in a lot of work to really build up the community of queer and trans people of color on campus and to make our presence visible. I’m really excited to support her in that. For me, my role is more of support because Aquielle is really taking on the work of planning meetings and holding space, whether it’s just to build community and make ourselves known and seen and really affirming each other.

For Nurturing Alignment, they’re focusing on specific skills that are applicable. We’re putting into practice making practical tools that you can use whether in this community or through skill building workshops. One that’s coming up is on how to build boundaries. Others we’re exploring are how to address harm, how to get more in tune with your body and with your emotions.

Favorite memory at Brown?
I think I’ve had this moment with a lot of people, but it’s been the one on one conversations that have really been an a-ha moment. That’s the best way I can explain it – kind of like an epiphany. Those one on one conversations where I learned something about myself and learned something about another person. I feel like those talks have especially shaped the way that I move around at Brown. I think I’m not a person that thrives in big groups, so I would say it’s not one favorite memory because right now I can think to a couple people that I talked to that have really changed my perception in some way.

Advice you’d give your freshman year self?
Oof — I feel like if I’m giving real advice, it might be something along the lines of, things are going to be shitty and the transition is going to be ugly but know that all these obstacles are going to help you grow in the long run. Most of all, be gentle with yourself. I think that’s something I’ve been telling all my friends when I give advice. I say you have to be gentle with yourself. Treat yourself the way you treat other people. I find I’m more hard on myself so take things day by day, week by week.

I think if I had just been patient, not rushing growth, I think I could have been in a much better headspace. I think that would be my overarching advice: don’t rush growth. 

Agnes Tran (’22)

By

On November 21, 2019

In FLiSP Scholars, Student Group, Student Highlight

We’re excited to share we’ll be continuing U-FLi student highlights into the new academic year! For our first highlight of the semester, we interviewed Agnes Tran (she/her/hers), a sophomore from Covina, CA. Tran is considering Public Policy/Econ or International and Public Affairs as her concentration. She is also a member of IMPULSE Dance Company, Vietnamese Students Association, and a writer for Visions Magazine. She’s also looking to interview UFLi students as her project for the Storytellers for Good Fellowship. Read more below:

How are you? How’s your semester so far?
I’m good. I think it’s been pretty good. Mainly getting into the groove of doing school work after a summer of not reading. This summer, I interned at a multimedia journalism company in Vietnam. About 90% of my time was spent translating articles into English. I can’t read Vietnamese so I spent a lot of time on Google Translate.

Can you tell me a bit about what you’re involved with here at Brown?
On campus, I’m part of IMPULSE Dance Company so I dance a lot with them. I’m also on the academic proposal team for the Southeast Asian Studies Initiative and part of the Vietnamese Students Association. Sometimes I write for Visions Magazine. 

This year, I’m on the board for IMPULSE. I’m the Community Chair. Technically I’m in charge of workshops so I thought I should try to lead some of them. Last Saturday was my first time doing it. It was very scary but probably one of the most memorable things I’ve done at Brown so far.

Why did you audition for IMPULSE?
I saw IMPULSE before ADOCH and I really remember thinking this is the kind of school I want to go to. In auditions, I came in with the mindset that it was a workshop so I wouldn’t be too stressed about it.

I heard you’re also working on a storytelling project. Can you tell me more about it?
Students are able to apply through the Swearer Center with project ideas so mine was talking about first-gen low-income narratives at Brown or other elite institutions. It’s a year long project. You can write, make a podcast, use photography, or video.

I really like writing and I wanted to use storytelling as a venue for social change and policy. I feel like a lot of students at Brown aren’t familiar with FLi narratives so maybe this would help bridge the gap between those two groups.

I’m looking for anyone who’s interested in sharing stories. If anyone has any experiences they’d be comfortable sharing, I’d love to talk them.

What does it mean to you to be UFLi?
I think it means being resilient and resourceful. Being a part of two worlds and knowing how to navigate that. I think a lot of it is remembering who helped you get here, why you’re still here, and the people in your life that have shaped you for the better – and for me it’s family.

Lastly, advice you’d give your freshman year self?
You’re not going to be a neuroscientist – or anything related to STEM. You need to breathe because you still have 3 years to figure things out.

Morgan Brinker (’21)

By

On November 21, 2019

In Student Highlight

Our last UFLi highlight for the semester is with Morgan Brinker (she/her/hers), a rising junior concentrating in Health and Human Bio. She is from Merrillville, Indiana. Read our interview below:

How’s your sophomore year going?
I’ve been grateful for the opportunities I had this year. I think I had this in the first half, kind of in the second half, but it allowed me to build on the lessons I learned my first year.

How has your perception of Brown changed since last year?
I think the lovely parts wore off of this place, being like wow everything is perfect and it’s like Disney World. I appreciate that it comes with its ups and downs and challenges. While this place wasn’t designed for me, I can be an agent of change.

What’s something you wish you could tell your freshman year self?
Stop trying to be perfect. You don’t have to prove yourself to any other people. I struggled a lot with imposter syndrome. But those people I thought about don’t pay for my tuition, they’re not me, so why should I worry about what they think? You’ve got to focus on yourself sometimes. 

Who’s an influential person in your life right now?
Dr. Rudnicki from the chemistry department. When I felt I was so disadvantaged coming to chemistry, I feel like she really said okay, you may have had those disadvantages in the past but we’ll try to catch you up. She kicked out people who were taking the class but knew the materials. She’s written letters of recommendation for me, and we have breakfast sometimes.

What’s your favorite part of your concentration?
I like how I can focus on a certain part of my concentration, like a theme, and really allow myself to explore things outside of biology. It also lets me look at health and medicine from an interdisciplinary perspective. I came in as biology and english because I didn’t know if I wanted to be premed or prelaw, and I also thought the only way to take an interdisciplinary approach was to keep them separate. I didn’t know I could combine them under one concentration. 

I don’t know if they told me specifically, but I remember my RPL, Gabriel, telling me about health and human bio. Someone also told me about Focal Point, so I looked through the Health and Human Bio page. It really encouraged me to explore.

AJ Clifforde Alcover (’20)

By

On November 21, 2019

In Student Highlight

This week, we interviewed AJ Clifforde Alcover (he/him or they/them), a junior from Hawaii. AJ is concentrating in Health and Human Bio. Read our conversation below:

How’s your junior year going?
It was definitely rough for the majority of 2018. It was just not the best mental health wise but I told myself to change my attitude over winter break, which I think helped in the beginning. I was really happy at the beginning of 2019, but things come up. Exams don’t get the best, grades go down – so that happened. Now I’m like, this semester needs to be over.

I think hanging out with friends, being more proactive in
trying to connect with people, seeing friends I haven’t seen in a while – that has really helped in trying to stay positive.

What community at Brown has been most influential in making it feel like home?
I think it’s pretty hard to answer that because there are so many different humans that provide support in different aspects. For example, the Filipino Alliance, especially my first year, was very influential because it allowed me to connect with other Filipino folk at Brown. But I also find community with first-gen low-income people and people of color generally, and also those with identities of queerness. I think all my friends are queer. I also find community in people that don’t always share identities with me, not in the sense that I can relate to them, but they don’t always have to talk about the problems I face. I find that in some spaces we focus so much on our problems and experiences, but I’d rather we also give time to support solution-based strategies.

Organizations have limitations in lots of places, but having more time in conversation with each other about the amazing things we have – an asset-based approach. I want to try to change the conversation and branch out a bit because sometimes we get so against this institution. Yes we’re at this institution, and yes it’s not great for us, but we can still learn and take from it.

How has your perception of Brown changed over the years?
I was so much more happy at first. I felt like my horizons were wider, not because of opportunity or positionality or privilege from the Brown degree, but I was more excited and more creative. I was allowed to do what I wanted to do.

Brown kind of brings you this mentality of, wow you’re kind of worthless if you don’t get certain grades, you have to do this if you want to succeed, and it takes away from the creativity of students and makes you forget how you got in here. I think Brown tells you all of these things that affect certain groups of people a lot more because they don’t have as much capital in certain aspects of their life. For us, it’s like, oh we don’t have money. All of that is already pushing us down, and Brown is adding all these extra pressures.

I will say though that I’m very happy to see that there are minority, PoC, indigenous professors. It’s good to see a good community with those professors. There is some support within faculty, but there aren’t enough of them. 

Favorite part of your concentration? 
For me, it’s the ability to incorporate humanities in there. I think everyone needs to have a humanities part to their education, and humanities in different aspects – religious studies, sociology, ethnic studies. I like having the freedom to add certain humanities courses.

Loretta Eboigbe (’20)

By

On November 21, 2019

In Student Highlight

This week, we interviewed Loretta Eboigbe (she/hers), a junior concentrating in psychology. Loretta was born in Italy but currently lives in New York. She identifies as Nigerian. Read our conversation below:

How are you? How’s your junior year?
My junior year is going well. I feel like it took me a while to figure out what I wanted to do. I felt like I could connect that with my interests as a person – it’s been really nice seeing how psychology manifests in different parts of my interests.

I’ve been working on movement art, dance, and that’s been really exciting for me. Thinking about different things I can do to remain well and healthy. I’m definitely trying to prioritize things that make me happy and incorporate them as much as I can instead of making them an add-on or after thought. Institutions like this make it seem like there’s only one way to succeed and thrive. The most important thing I want to take from here is knowing what to do when things get difficult, and not relying on toxic behaviors. I feel much happier during my junior year. I’m in a better mindset of, okay the future is going to be okay and I’m going to be okay.

Something you wish you could tell your freshman year self?
I would tell my freshman year self to give people chances and give myself a chance to know more. I feel like college, especially freshman year, is very idealized. You’re going to find your best friend, and fall in love, and these things may happen temporarily or not at all. I feel like when you have moments with people you might think, these are my people for life, and not to discredit that – because it happens and it’s super great – but there’s still a need to put myself out there, to stop idealizing and not listen as much to the idealized version of what college is supposed to be.

What’s your favorite memory of Brown?
Something that I want to take away from my time at Brown is the experience of dancing with people. Freshman year, I used to dance on the Main Green a lot with my friends. We had so much energy, and I found different spaces through dance groups, attending workshop, classes that incorporate a dance portion. Now I’m doing a free form, not any specific group but trying to make sure I’m putting myself out there. I just went to a salsa social. I love freely dancing with people and just enjoying each other. We talk with our bodies, and the energies we radiate off each other – that’s been my favorite part. I’m realizing that’s a big part of my identity because I’ve been dancing for a long time but never anything formally.

What community at Brown has been most influential in making it feel like home?
I think the MPCs I met during TWTP who are now graduating. I’m going to their graduation. I feel like I met so many of them who literally led the way for me in being a leader and what it means to be a caring and thoughtful leader. I’ve seen them wear different caps, and being there for me when they weren’t required to. They also provided the space for me to be vulnerable and break down when I needed to in the most dramatic way possible.

The Bonner program is another community. Being in that space was really great because it gave me an intentional space to think about what it means to be involved with community engagement and community change, to work with students who are working toward that mission, and it gave us space to talk about our experiences of being here. That was one of the initial communities that shaped the way I think about how I want to be involved with communities outside of my own personal interests.

Andrew Castillo (’20)

By

On November 21, 2019

In Student Highlight

This week, we interviewed Andrew Castillo (he/him), a junior from Los Angeles, CA concentrating in Public Policy and Sociology. Read our conversation below:

How is your junior year going?
Well to start, last semester I was doing the Brown in Washington program. The main reason I did it was because I was stuck between doing econ and public policy, and I think being in D.C. really helps you get views of both sides. I worked with Senator Reed of Rhode Island. That whole experience – taking classes there, working on the hill, meeting so many incredible people – made me realize I wanted to go into policy.

Favorite memory during your time at Brown?
If I had to pick one, I’d say my best semester was in D.C. I think it was when, on the final day of working at Senator Reed’s office, they told the interns to go deliver a present because we were doing secret santa. We get to this room, drop off the present, and there are more than 30 senators. You see Kamala Harris grabbing a present and dipping, Ted Cruz in the corner. I had so much appreciation for that moment because not many people can say I saw so and so senators, or have the opportunity to be in a place that holds so much power. It was a good reflection of how far I’ve come.

Who is the most influential person in your life?
My parents. I don’t think I realized how much they’ve sacrificed for me, like the after school programs they enrolled me in. I could stay and do homework and play but looking back, part of that was due to them having to work to support the family. 

My parents are from Ecuador, and I’m realizing the importance and value of family has motivated me to try harder. I feel like in high school I thought I just have to try hard to go to college. But now that I’m in college I’m like why do I have to do well? Do I have to stay up late to do this assignment? So much has gone into me being here, but I’m finding inner motivation to stay.

Favorite part of your concentration?
I think my favorite part has been the way I ended up deciding public policy. I went to after school programs when I was little and that motivated me to give back to them, so I volunteered there. Working with early childhood education motivated me to intern with the program that I had been with over the summer. I started getting involved with nonprofit work. As much as they can impact students’ lives, there are so many resources that they don’t have. That’s when I started working with policy because it felt like that’s where real change happens. You can volunteer at after school programs, but policy changes structures. Washington D.C. helped me recognize the power of policy and working on different bills.

Bruno Felalaga (’20)

By

On November 21, 2019

In Student Highlight

This week, we interviewed Bruno Felalaga (he/him/his), a junior from Accra, Ghana studying electrical engineering. Read his interview below:

Do you remember your first day at Brown? What was that experience like?
My first day at Brown was my first time in the states. I got here at night. I was super tired. I couldn’t even hold a long conversation with Gabriel [my roommate] but in the morning I was so excited about getting to Brown and meeting people. I walked around Providence and the mall and went to Walmart with Alan. He was so nice. He was the very first friend besides my roommate that I made. We spent the whole day walking around. Because I came here early for Excellence at Brown, no one was here so we walked around the city, and we talked about so many things. It was so nice to meet him and Gabriel.

Brown was my very first exposure to the US. Since then, I haven’t seen much of the states or what’s outside of Brown. My window to what the US is like is mostly what I see at Brown and on social media.

Who is the most influential person in your life?
At different points in my life, I have different people, but I think my mother has always been that person. She’s just a combination of humble and generous, and it’s very inspiring. Once she sets her mind to do something, she’ll do anything to make it happen, especially for us, the kids.

Currently, there’s a really young professor of Biostats named Lorin Crawford. He’s just life goals, and he’s really young as well. He’s young, black, and a professor before 30. He’s really inspiring – the kind of work he’s doing and the kinds of fellowships he already has.

Favorite part of your concentration? What led you to it?
With electrical engineering, it’s very hands on and we get to practice what we learn. There are classes but also labs, a lot of labs, which might be too much but I like that they try to make it hands on. It lets us use our fingers to use what we actually learn. The engineering department has changed a lot in the last couple of years. It looks a lot better and fancier. The professors are very approachable and it’s easy I think to get connected with most of the professors in the concentration.

When I came to Brown, I was biomedical engineering. I had no idea what I wanted to do coming to Brown. I just figured, I wanted to be a doctor ever since I was a kid. In Ghana, after high school, you can go straight to med school. It wasn’t like you had to be a pre-med student before you can be a doctor. Here it’s a different system. You have to be pre-med, go to med school, residency, and I don’t have time for that.

So I decided to study biomedical and still be pre-med just in case I want to go to med school, and then I realized after my freshman year that I’m really not a pre-med kid. I found courses for electrical so much more fun and hands-on, and very intriguing to me.

What community at Brown has been most influential in making it feel like home?
I’m part of the Brown/RISD Catholic Community. I come from a very religious background – everyone in Ghana is religious, so finding a community like that here would help me grow as a person and find people who are similar to me. I thought a community like that would help me stay with the faith I want to keep.

Peter Simpson (’20)

By

On November 21, 2019

In Student Highlight

This week, we interviewed Peter Simpson (he/him), a junior from New York City concentrating in History and Africana Studies. Read our conversation below:

How are you? How’s your junior year going?
I’ve been good. Over all my year has been pretty good. A bit more preprofessional than previous years, in terms of senior year and graduation.

Where are you studying abroad and why did you choose to go there?
I’m in Cape Town, South Africa. I chose to come here because I had never been to the continent of Africa before. I also study history with a focus on Africa, and so in terms of my concentration, it made sense as well.

Favorite part of your concentrations? What led you to your concentrations?
I took a history class my freshman year about South African history and I realized I wanted to learn more about history through Africana Studies. My favorite part of both departments is how committed they are to their students. It’s great that the teachers know your name and follow up, and say hey I haven’t seen you around what’s up? I love the commitment of the teachers to me and what I’m interested in.

Something you wish you could tell your freshman year self?
I wish I could tell myself to be more patient with myself in terms of finding out what my interests actually were, and to reach out to professors. Reach out more in terms of general support; in terms of faculty, friends, organizations, and people who are receptive to who I am as a person and what I bring to spaces.

What community at Brown has been most influential in making it feel like home?
These people fit into lots of different communities, but the first program is the Bonner program. Most people I hang out with are UFLi students from the BCSC, but having an intentional program and weekly meetings made us closer. I think it’s hard to find community sometimes at Brown, especially as a new place, but that helped.

Gabriel González (’20)

By

On November 21, 2019

In Student Highlight

This week, we interviewed Gabriel González (they/them or he/him), a junior from South Gate, CA concentrating in Health and Human Bio. Gabriel is also a PLME (Program in Liberal Medical Education) student. Read our conversation below:

How’s your junior year going?
I don’t know how she’s doing right now. I’m kind of doing okay in two classes. I understand what’s going on, but with orgo right now, it’s just not fun and very stressful. I feel like I’m constantly playing this catch up game with all the classes, though I technically do now what I’m doing. But it doesn’t really feel like that so it’s kind of just like the shrug emoji ¯\_(ツ)_/¯  

But things are exciting too because ever since my first year, my relationship with my family has gotten much better. My parents are trying to figure out how to deal with their discomfort with me being gay and preferring feminine things. I’m still able to talk to them so that’s good. Now I’m thinking about the real possibilities of studying abroad and doing research over the summer and thinking of doing a thesis. Things are exciting, but kind of weird.

Favorite memory during your time at Brown?
One option is finally seeing CupcakKe with friends. Also, during this past TWTP, seeing all the queer and trans people, especially those of color, seeing them come in – it’s something that gave me life and still does.

How has your perception of Brown changed over the years?
Lol. I first thought I understood that Brown is this really rich, fancy place with lots of white people, lots of wealth, but I didn’t realize the extent of it. Some of it is nice. It’s nice to say you go to an Ivy League, but it’s still kind of strange.

With regards to PLME, I thought there would be more PLMEs who were or are U-FLi, who hold stigmatized identities instead of upper middle class students whose parents are doctors. I thought I would be seeing less of them, so I guess it’s something that’s been weird for me to navigate. That’s why it’s all the more important to make sure FURM is still going strong since it’s inception last semester, after lots of student stress, advocacy, and push back from administration.

Favorite part of your concentration? What led you to it?
It’s really flexible. I think it’s really flexible and I’m able to combine what I think is important to prepare me to become a physician down the road and advocate for queer and trans people. My interests are focused on queer and trans health, and why providers are causing negative experiences for these people.

What community at Brown has been most influential in making it feel like home?
I feel like my close circle of friends is U-FLi, QTs of color. They make me feel validated, affirmed, loved, all this good stuff, and I really appreciate them for that.

Who is the most influential person in your life? 
She’s not at Brown, but she’s really been a role model for me. Her name is Berenice Estrada. She’s from Huntington Park in California. The amount of resilience she carries with her is really striking for me. I know it’s really corny and everything but her mind is literally like, ugh, I can’t. She’s great.


Page 7 of 11

← Previous

Next →

Recent Posts

Categories

Archives

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén