Tassel Worth the Hassle: Graduation!

Hello dear community!

The time has finally come! After almost six years of living in the Bay, and almost six years of working full-time in the direct-service public health field, I have made it to my graduation day. I am walking the stage on May 13th to receive my Bachelor of Science in Public Health from California State University East Bay. My passion for Public Health uncovered itself during the completion of three Associates Degrees in Social and Behavioral Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Health Sciences from Merritt College, where I graduated in 2021.

Through working in homeless outreach, street medicine, advocacy for substance use treatment and for the mentally ill, and finally in 911 crisis counseling in San Francisco, I have found my small corner of the world to change for the better. One day, I hope to take my experiences into research and policy development. Thank you to everyone that has helped me throughout this journey-- it has taken a village. I'm excited for you to see where I end up next!

Also, I have been selected as a finalist in the U.S. Department of State's Critical Language Scholarship! This includes traveling with a group of students to Malang, Indonesia, to participate in a 2-month intensive language immersion program. One issue here: I have been studying using a school-rented laptop that I must return after graduation. Any financial support received here will go toward a purchase of a personal computer to help me study in Indonesia, and toward getting a head start on paying back my school loans to help me navigate the post-graduation world. Although I have been working in public service full-time for the last five and a half years, I unfortunately do not qualify for the public service loan forgiveness program. Bureaucracy! Regardless, as a full-time student and full-time community service worker, I have already independently paid back over $35,000 in loans! Any support is greatly appreciated as I close this chapter and open the next. Please pour a toast from wherever you read this-- and thank you again.

A special thank you to Tiffany, Miguel, Zaashila, Rio, and Sierra. I would never have had the confidence to get to this point if it hadn't been for your unwavering belief in me.