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Giving a community the tools to enhance mental health and remove stigma surrounding asking for help has always been very important to me. Growing up I had many members of my family struggle with their mental health. I think Psychology is a very new science that still has a long way to go. The thought of starting a career in something that still has so many avenues to explore is very exciting. (art work done by Ilaria Urbinati)

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The best way I express my Colombian culture is through food. Since I was a child, I have always loved the flavors and feel connected to my roots when I cook some empanadas from starch. Cooking in general is a form of creativity for me that allows me to relax and it feels really rewarding in the end.

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I'm half Colombian, half American. As a child, I struggled with the two differing cultures. Pictured here is a half sketched faced with the Colombian flag colors. I often felt like I had to pick one identity over the other. As I have grown I feel more comfortable expressing both identities in my everyday life. (Art work done by Sage Luna)

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Once I was in middle school touring the University of my dreams. UT has always symbolized my academic goals and work ethic. Education is so important to me because I know there are many parts of the world where young women do not have the same opportunities.

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Art is a way I process my feelings best. I can express my emotions best through art more so than words or any other form of media. As a single child I spent a lot of my time alone in my house working on art projects.

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As a young child I did not want to speak Spanish as I feared I wouldn't live up to the expectations of my Hispanic family. Now I try to embrace my journey to becoming a better Spanish Speaker and love to practice any chance I get. It feels great to be able to communicate with more people and learn from their experiences.

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Shown Carrie Fisher and Meryl Streep. Two of my role models that have shown that there is great power in womanhood especially when you are vulnerable about your experiences and emotions. Empowering women of all kinds has always been something that I have very openly stood for. It is crucial that young girls know they are equal and can do anything they strive for.

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This video shows all the people in my life that have helped me become who I am today. Entering into adulthood can be a very difficult time but these friends helped me build the confidence I needed to pursue my goals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3Y3qgYiwo8

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I spent most of my time as a only child exploring the house for things I could create or take apart and learn from. My parents gave me a lot of freedom to make at-home science experiments and art projects. I went to public school all my life. My Elementary school was very structured and only allowed for complete agency for projects outside of school. I do recognize that as a women who is half white and most of the time perceived as white my experience growing up was different from the students of color at the schools I went to.

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Watching the babies documentary made me reflect on my own experience as a child growing up. My experience growing up was torn between two cultures and because of that my childhood was a mixture between Hattie's experience and Ponijao's experience. The first two years of my life was in Colombia where my aunts raised me while my mother worked, it was a very communal effort. When we moved to the states I was often watched by a babysitter with a similar environment to Hattie's spending a lot of time in a house with toys all around and slightly more sheltered. I think in both worlds I was given a lot of agency to explore and express myself. Culture in a lot of aspects dictates HOW you are allowed to express agency.

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There are many Stereotypes that are associated with being a young Latina Women that impacted how I grew up. The sexualization of Latina women was very apparent to me starting at a young age. In films and TV shows Latinx people are often portrayed to support the main white character or used as a symbol. As a kid I really looked up to the shows Ugly Betty and Modern family. Ugly Betty demonstrated that latin Women can be smart and not depend on their looks to advance themselves. Sofia Vergara's Character in Modern Family was purposely portrayed as a sexy women but she was still an incredibly complex character. I do recognize that I am white passing some of the time because I am half white and know that latinx people with darker skin tones (like my mother) deal with stereotypes and prejudice on a greater level than I do.

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As a child I didn't recognize the advantages of speaking Spanish even though my mother was Colombian and both of my parents really encouraged me to speak both languages. I was very insecure about my Spanish speaking abilities and when I entered school, Spanish definitely was never heard or praised. I am very grateful that I finally accepted the beauty in speaking both languages and in August I will be graduating in Psychology with a Spanish business certificate. Teaching children multiple languages opens up a completely new world for them and gives them so many tools they will use for the rest of their lives.

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I think so far in this class this weeks discussion was the hardest for me to relate to. In that regard I think it is really important to pay even more attention so I can learn and reflect on these ideas. This week really showed me how I can be an advocate for those with disabilities. I was always physically able to express my agency as a child while others do not have the same opportunity because of the discrimination and stigma that surround these types of discussions. I also think it is incredibly important for people to realize that not all disabilities are seen. These perhaps more "mental" disabilities make it even harder for people to understand and have compassion toward.

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Culture is very important to me and has evolved greatly as I have gotten older. It took me years to truly understand and be proud of my culture because it was not the dominant culture. The community I grew up in did not embrace the Colombian side of me so it wasn't until I was older that I knew the value of many cultures including my own.

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I think my development was typical in most areas and was seen as "normal". In elementary school I had issues with my language development especially with pronouncing vowels. I would get pulled out of class for special tutoring which always embarrassed me. I think having standards for development can cause issues with children feeling as if they ARE the label we give them.

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I came from Colombia to The US as a little child and never really gave the land and where it came from much thought until later in school they taught us the history. Starting in Elementary they would teach us the censored version but as I grew older I learned more about the racism and displacement of Native Americans. The purposeful separation between the colonizer and the Natives has hundreds of years later STILL separated these two cultures. Learning more about how powerful people influence and control the usage of land is very eye-opening.

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When I grew up technology was only beginning to have a major role in the life of children. In school I rarely used the computer lab and when we did it was considered a special privilege. I really enjoyed playing on my DS as a form of entertainment when I got it. Now I believe that technology is ingrained in our society and it is much harder to avoid it. I think it is much more important now to monitor it to assure it is being used purposefully.

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I think I will be more compassionate around children now and be more understanding of their needs. I hope to encourage agency and for those children who experience obstacles and feel left out. I hope moving forward to take them seriously and to help them explore their passions. I learned so much during this class and am so thankful that I had this experience.