Hello, name is Gabriela Alfaro! Originally from California, I moved to North Carolina in 2017. I attended Hunter Huss High School from 2021-2025 and graduated third of my class, with a 4.4 GPA. I am currently an undergraduate student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. As a child, I always had an eclectic mind, constantly indulging in topics that interested me, such as writing and reading. It wasn't until middle school that I began to engage with social science in response to personal changes and societal shifts; the further I dove into the Psychological world, the more I realized how much power the mind held. As a clinical psychiatrist, I aspire to dismantle obstacles faced by Queer, BIPOC, women, and other minorities in the field, aiming to be a role model for others. During my childhood in a low-income area of Los Angeles and mixed background in North Carolina, I witnessed numerous accounts of people who needed assistance but were hesitant to seek it due to financial concerns, distrust of the system, or other reasons. These experiences have deeply impacted me and motivated me to promote the importance of mental health within these communities. Thankful for all the opportunities provided through my schooling, I have participated in and led multiple community-based initiatives. Outside of academics, I enjoy snuggling up with a good book of any genre or hiking to ease my mind – I can't preach mental health without practicing it!