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Imani Kinyanjui

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Bio

Hello! My name is Imani and I am currently attending community college at the College of Lake County as a transfer student to, later this fall, attend a four-year university as a psychology major to become a clinical psychologist in the future. My passion in psychology strongly revolves around helping others who struggle with their mental health. Growing up, I've seen many individuals around me struggle with experiencing mental health stigma within their family/friend groups, causing them to hesitate or refuse in reaching out to receive the proper mental health support and resources they need, and instead suffer through their pain alone. This has resulted in myself wanting to help combat the mental health stigma and help people, whether it is just one person or even a community, understand that they are not alone in their mental health struggles, and should not feel ashamed or fearful to seek professional help. In addition to this, I also moved from the United States to East Africa (Kenya) from the age of nine up until graduating my high school in Nairobi at the age of eighteen. After studying, gaining professional experience, and helping people with their mental struggles in the United States as a clinical psychologist, I would like one day to return to Kenya to provide better mental health resources to the country and culture that has tremendously shaped me into the person I am today.

Education

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Bachelor's degree program
2024 - 2026
  • Majors:
    • Psychology, General
  • Minors:
    • Public Health

College of Lake County

Associate's degree program
2022 - 2024
  • Majors:
    • Psychology, General

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

    • Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Mental Health Care

    • Dream career goals:

      Clinical Psychologist

    • Waitress

      Jolly Rogers Restaurant and Theme Park (Kenya)
      2017 – 20203 years

    Sports

    Soccer

    Varsity
    2018 – 20224 years

    Awards

    • Awarded "Most Improved Player"
    • Won 1st place at the ICSA East African Tournament in Uganda
    • Soccer Captain Senior Year of High School
    • Team won second place in the KAISSO tournament in 2020
    • Team won third place in the KAISSO tournament in 2022

    Basketball

    Varsity
    2019 – 20223 years

    Awards

    • Team won second place at the KAISSO tournament in 2019

    Volleyball

    Varsity
    2021 – 20221 year

    Arts

    • Choir

      Music
      2017 – 2019
    • Pottery

      Ceramics
      2021 – 2022
    • Orchestra (Violin Player)

      Music
      2013 – 2019

    Public services

    • Volunteering

      Heshima Children's Center. — Interacting with the children/helping them during their classtime.
      2016 – 2018
    • Volunteering

      Tania School/Rehabilitation Center. — Helping sweep the floors/interacting with the children.
      2016 – 2016

    Future Interests

    Advocacy

    Volunteering

    Philanthropy