“I’ve grown up in India and America, and it’s so evident that mental health, therapy and depression are so taboo and not talked about. It is something that is very present in our communities, whether people want to acknowledge it or not.”

In community college I didn't know what I wanted to do. So I took a psych class in my first quarter and I really enjoyed it. So I took another one and I again really enjoyed it.

I have always been very passionate about mental health, especially in our community where therapy is very stigmatized, and there isn't that much awareness about it. I decided in my second year of community college that this was a space I wanted to get into. Going to UCLA solidified my aspirations because I joined clubs and did more intense classes and I still enjoyed it.

I've grown up in India and America, and it's so evident that mental health, therapy and depression are so taboo and not talked about. It is something that is very present in our communities, whether people want to acknowledge it or not. Growing up, I've had friends, family, and extended family who've struggled through a lot and could benefit from therapy, but would never even think of approaching that subject because of how badly it's looked upon in our society. Even with my friends who did go to therapy, I could see people in the community look down upon them.

At UCLA I was part of this organization that recruits students and trains them to be a coach for other students who are participating in online cognitive behavioral therapy. I did about three quarters of very extensive training. This past quarter, I was able to do one on one coaching sessions for students who were part of the therapy. And that was a really proud moment because even though I've done all the training, being one on one in sessions where you're supporting actual students is definitely the most clinical and challenging type of experience I've had. It was nerve wracking but I think I did really well and the students that I coached really seemed to benefit from the sessions.

I think by going into this field, I want to make it a point to work with my community. I want to do anything along the lines of breaking down barriers of talking about mental health or raising more awareness. As these new generations pop up, the more they know about mental health, the easier it is to get the help they need. And they’re less ashamed of it.